ART. XX. And whereas, by the fifth and ninth articles of the alliance, between the Emperor, the late King of Great-Britain and the StatesGeneral, concluded the 7th of September 1701, it is agreed and ftipulated, that the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, with all the dependencies of the crown of Spain in Italy, shall be recovered from the poffeffion of France, as being of the last confequence to the trade of both nations, as wellas the Spanish Netherlands, for a barrier for the States-General; therefore, the said Queen of Great-Britain, and the States-General, agree and oblige themselves, not to enter into any negotiation or treaty of peace with France, before the reftitution of the faid kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, with all the dependencies of the crown of Spain in Italy, as well as the Spanish Low-Countries, with the other towns and places in the poffeffion of France, above-mentioned in this treaty, and alfo after the manner specified in this treaty; as likewise, all the rest of the entire monarchy of Spain, be yielded by France as a preliminary.

ART. XXII. And whereas experience hath fhewn, of what importance it is to Great-Britain and the United Provinces, that the fortrefs and port of Dunkirk fhould 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 suffered so much in their trade, by the prizes taken from them by privateers fet out from that port; infomuch, that France,

by

by her unmeasureable ambition, may be always tempted to make some enterprises 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, againft the exorbitant power of France, the allies engaged themfelves in this long and burthenfome 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 said town of Dunkirk, and the førts that depend upon it, be entirely demolished and razed, and that the port be entirely ruined, and rendered impracticable.

REMARKS. These two articles are likewise omitted in the barrier-treaty: whereof the first regards particularly the interefts of the house of . Auftria; and the other about demolishing Dunkirk thofe of Great-Britain. It is fomething ftrange, that the late miniftry, whofe advocates raise such 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 themselves with the thoughts of reducing Spain, or even recovering Milan, Naples, and Sicily to the Emperor; but were wholly fixed upon the conqueft of Flanders, because they had determined

determined thofe provinces as a property for themselves.

As for the article about demolishing of Dunkirk, I am not at all furprised to find it ftruck out; the destruction 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 SENTIMENTS 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 Bishopric of Liege.

ALTHOUGH the orders and inftructions

of the courts of Vienna and Barcelona, upon the matters above-mentioned, do not go fo far, as to give directions for what follows; notwithftanding, the Prince and Count above-mentioned, confidering the prefent ftate of affairs, are of the following opinion:

First, that the counter-project of England, 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 nowife belonging to the barrier; and which, as well as the caftle of Gand,

Gand, can only ferve to make the States-General -mafters 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 to the opinions of the faid Prince and Count: who think likewife,, that there ought to be added to the eighth article, that no goods or merchandise fhould be fent into the towns where the States-General fhall have garrifons, nor be comprehended under the names of fuch things as the faid garrisons 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 garrisons may want.

Thirdly, As to the ninth article, relating to the governors and commanders of thofe towns, forts, and places where the States-General fhall have their garrifons; the faid Prince and Count are of opinion, that the faid governours 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'; VOL. II.

Rr

and

and that they will depend exclufively upon the faid States in whatever regards the military pow

But at the fame time, they ought exclufively to promise the king of Spain, that they will not intermeddle in the affairs of law, civil power, revenues, or any other matters ecelesiastical or civil, unless at the defire of the King's officers to affist them in the execution; in which case, the said commanders fhould be obliged not to refuse them.

Fourthly, As to the tenth article, there is nothing to be added, unless that the States-General may repair and encrease the fortifications of the towns, places and forts where they fhall have their garrisons; but this at their own expence. Otherwise, under that pretext, they might seize all the revenues of the country.

Fifthly, As to the eleventh article, they think the States ought not to have the revenues of the chatellanies and dependencies of these towns and places, which are to be their barrier against France; this being a fort of fovereignty, and very prejudicial to the ecclefiaftical and civil œconomy of the country. But the faid Prince and Count are of opinion, that the States-General ought to have, for the maintenance of their garrisons and fortifications, a sum of money of a million and a half, or two millions of florins, which they ought to receive from the King's officers, who fhall be ordered to pay that fum before any other payment.

Sixthly, And the convention which shall be made on this affair between his Catholic Majefty and the States-General, fhall be for a limited time. Thefe