hath been expended, and those heavy debts which have been contracted in the course of so long and burdensome a war. This reasonable expectation could no way have been better answered, than by some provision made for the farther security, and the greater improvement, of the commerce of Great Britain: but we find ourselves so very far disappointed in these hopes, that in a treaty not long since concluded between your majesty and the states-general, under colour of a mutual guarantee given for two points of the greatest importance to both nations, the succession and the barrier, it appears, the interest of Great Britain hath been not only neglected, but sacrificed; and that several articles in the said treaty are destructive to the trade and welfare of this kingdom, and therefore highly dishonorable to your majesty.

Your commons observe, in the first place, that several towns and places are, by virtue of this treaty, to be put into the hands of the statesgeneral; particularly Newport, Dendermond, and the castle of Ghent; which can, in no sense, be looked upon as part of a barrier against France; but being the keys of the Netherlands towards Britain, must make the trade of your majesty's subjects in those parts precarious; and whenever the States think fit, totally exclude them from it. The pretended necessity of putting these places into the hands of the states-general, in order to secure to them a communication with their barrier, must appear vain and groundless: for the sovereignty of the Low Countries being not to remain to an enemy, but to a friend and an ally,

that

that communication must be always secure, and uninterrupted besides that, in case of a rupture, For an attack, the states have full liberty allowed them to take possession of all the Spanish Netherlands, and therefore needed no particular stipulation for the towns abovementioned.

Having taken notice of this concession made to the states-general for seizing upon the whole ten provinces, we cannot but observe to your majesty, that in the manner this article is framed, it is another dangerous circumstance which attends this treaty: for had such a provision been confined to the case of an apparent attack from France only, the avowed design of this treaty had been fulfilled, and your majesty's instructions to your ambassador had been pursued: but this necessary restriction hath been omitted; and the same liberty is granted to the States to take possession of all the Netherlands, whenever they shall think themselves attacked by any other neighbouring nation, as when they shall be in danger from France; so that, if it should at any time happen (which your commons are very unwilling to suppose) that they should quarrel even with your majesty; the riches, strength, and advantageous situation of these countries may be made use of against yourself, without whose generous and powerful assistance they had never been conquered.

To return to those ill consequences which relate to the trade of your kingdoms, we beg leave to observe to your majesty, that though this treaty revives and renders your majesty a party to the fourteenth and fifteenth articles of the

treaty

treaty of Munster, by virtue of which, the impo sitions upon all goods and merchandizes brought into the Spanish Low Countries by the sea are to equal those laid on goods and merchandizes imported by the Scheld, and the canals of Sass and Swyn, and other mouths of the sea adjoining; yet no care is taken to preserve that equality upon the exportation of those goods out of the Spanish provinces, into those countries and places, which by virtue of this treaty are to be in the possession of the States. The consequence of which must in time be, and your commons are informed that in some instances it has already proved to be the case, that the impositions upon goods carried into those countries and places by the subjects of the states-general, will be taken off, whilst those upon. the goods imported by your majesty's subjects remain; by which means Great Britain will entirely lose this most beneficial branch of trade, which it hath been in all ages possessed of, even from the time when those countries were governed by the house of Burgundy, one of the most ancient, as well as the most useful, allies to the crown of England.

With regard to the other dominions and territories of Spain, your majesty's subjects have always been distinguished in their commerce with them, and both by ancient treaties, and an unin terrupted custom, have enjoyed greater privileges and immunities of trade, than either the Hollanders, or any other nation whatsoever. And that wise and excellent treaty of the grand alliance provides effectually for the security and continuance of these valuable privileges to Britain, in

such

:

such a manner, as that each nation might be left at the end of the war upon the same foot as it stood at the commencement of it. But this treaty we now complain of, instead of confirming your subjects rights, surrenders and destroys them: for, although by the sixteenth and seventeeth articles of the treaty of Munster, made between his catholick majesty and the states-general, all advantages of trade are stipulated for, and granted to the Hollanders, equal to what the English enjoyed; yet, the crown of England not being a party to that treaty, the subjects of England have never submitted to those articles of it, nor even the Spaniards themselves ever observed them: but this treaty revives those articles in prejudice of Great Britain, and makes your majesty a party to them, and even a guarantee to the states-general for privileges against your own people.

In how deliberate and extraordinary a manner your majesty's ambassador consented to deprive your subjects of their ancient rights, and your majesty of the power of procuring to them any new advantage, most evidently appears from his own letters, which, by your majesty's directions, have been laid before your commons: for when matters of advantage to your majesty and to your kingdom had been offered as proper to be made parts of this treaty, they were refused to be admitted by the states-general, upon this reason and principle, that nothing foreign to the guarantees of the succession, and of the barrier, should be mingled with them; notwithstanding which, the states-general had no sooner received notice of a treaty of commerce concluded between your majesty

jesty and the present emperor, but they departed from the rule proposed before, and insisted upon the article of which your commons now complain, which article your majesty's ambassador allowed of, although equally foreign to the succession, or the barrier; and although he had for that reason departed from other articles which would have been for the service of his own country.

We have forborn to trouble your majesty with general observations upon this treaty, as it relates to, and affects the empire, and other parts of Europe. The mischiefs which arise from it to Great Britain are what only we have presumed humbly to represent to you. As they are very evident, and very great; and as it appears that the lord viscount Townsend had not any orders or authority for concluding several of those articles which are most prejudicial to your majesty's subjects, we have thought we could do no less, than declare your said ambassador, who negotiated and signed, and all others who advised the ratifying of this treaty, enemies to your majesty your kingdom.

and

Upon these faithful informations and advices from your commons, we assure ourselves, your majesty, in your great goodness to your people, will rescue them from those evils, which the private counsels of ill-designing men have exposed them to; and that in your great wisdom you will find some means for the explaining and amending the several articles of this treaty, so as that they may consist with the interest of Great Britain, and with a real and lasting friendship between your majesty and the states-general.

HER