the other towns and places in the poffeffion of France abovementioned in this treaty; and also after the manner specified in this treaty; as likewife all the reft of the entire monarchy of Spain be yielded by France as a preliminary.

ARTICLE

XXII.

And whereas experience hath fhewn of what importance it is to Great Britain and the United Provinces, that the fortress and port of Dunkirk should not be in the poffeffion of France in the condition they are at prefent; the fubjects of both nations having undergone fuch great loffes, and fuffered fo much in their trade by the prizes taken from them by privateers fet out from that port; infomuch that France by her unmeafurable ambition may be always tempted to make fome enterprizes upon the territories of the QUEEN of Great Britain and their high mightineffes, and interrupt the public repofe and tranquillity; for the prefervation of which, and the balance of Europe against the exorbitant power of France, the allies engaged themselves in this long and burthen

fome

fome war; therefore the faid QUEEN of Great Britain and their high mightineffes agree and oblige themselves not to enter into any negotiation or treaty of peace with France, before it fhall be yielded and ftipulated by France as a preliminary, that all the fortifications of the faid town of Dunkirk, and the forts that depend upon it, be entirely demolished and razed, and that the port be entirely ruined and rendered impracticable.

REMARK S.

These two articles are likewife omitted in the barrier treaty; whereof the firft regards particularly the interefts of the houfe of Auftria; and the other about demolishing Dunkirk those of Great Bri

tain.

It is fomething ftrange, that the late miniftry, whofe advocates raise fuch a clamour about the neceffity of recovering Spain from the house of Bourbon, fhould fuffer the Dutch to ftrike out this article, which I think clearly fhews the reason why the States never troubled themfelves with the thoughts of reducing Spain or even recovering Milan, Naples, and Sicily

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Sicily to the Emperor; but were wholly fixed upon the conqueft of Flanders, because they had determined those provinces as a property for themselves.

As for the article about demolishing of Dunkirk, I am not at all furprized to find it ftruck out; the deftruction of that place, although it would be useful to the States, doth more nearly import Britain, and was therefore a point that fuch minifters could more eafily get over.

The fentiments of prince EUGENE of Savoy, and of the count DE SINZENDORF, relating to the barrier of the States-general, to the upper quarter of Guelder, and to the towns of the electorate of Cologn, and of the bishoprick of Liege.

A

LTHOUGH the orders and inftructions of the courts of Vienna and Barcelona upon the matters abovementioned do not go fo far as to give directions for what follows; notwithstanding, the PRINCE and COUNT abovementioned, confidering the prefent ftate of affairs, are of the following opinion:

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First,

First, that the counter-project of Eng land, relating to the places where the States general may put and keep garrifons, ought to be followed, except Lier, Halle to fortify, and the caftle of Gand. Provided likewise, that the fentiments of England be particularly conformed to, relating to Dendermond and Oftend, as places in no wife belonging to the barrier; and which, as well as the caftle of Gand, canonly ferve to make the States-general masters of the Low-countries, and hinder trade with England. And as to Lier and Halle, those who are acquainted with the country know that these towns cannot give any fecurity to the States-general; but can only make people believe, that thefe places being fortified would rather ferve to block up Bruffels and the other great cities of Brabant.

Secondly, as to what is faid in the feventh article of the counter-project of England, relating to the augmentation of garrifons in the towns of the barrier in cafe of an open war; this is agreeable t› the opinions of the faid prince and count; who think likewife, that there ought to S $ 3

b:

be added to the eighth article, that no goods or merchandise fhould be fent into the towns where the States-general shall have garrifons, nor be comprehended under the names of fuch things as the faid garrifons and fortifications fhall have need of. And that to this end the faid things fhall be infpected in thofe places where they are to pafs; as likewife the quantity fhall be fettled that the garrifons may want.

Thirdly, as to the ninth article relating to the governors and commanders of those towns, forts, and places where the Statesgeneral fhall have their garrifons; the faid prince and count are of opinion, that the faid governors and commanders ought to take an oath as well to the king of Spain as to the States-general: but they may take a particular oath to the latter, that they will not admit foreign troops without their confent; and that they will depend exclufively upon the faid States in whatever regards the military power. But at the fame time they ought exclufively to promife the king of Spain, that they will not intermeddle in the affairs of law, civil power, revenues, or any other matters,

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