Mr. Mountague, were made acquainted with it. The refult of all whofe opinions were tranfmitted to his Majefty by the Lord Sommers, whofe Letter having been Printed, we fhall refer the Reader to, as being too long to have place here, and fhall only fay, that they propofed to his Majefty all the objections before-hand, which upon the Publication of this Treaty were afterwards made. The Treaty in the mean time went on, and on the 29th of August, N. S. was Concluded. The Conditions whereof.

were,

I. That the Peace of Ryswick should be Confirm'd. II. That in Confi deration of the ill State of the King of Spain's Health, and for preferving the publick Peace in cafe of his Death without Iffue, That Naples and Sicily, the Towns belonging to Spain on the Coafts of Tuscany, and the Marquifate of Final on that fide of Spain; and the Province of Guipifco, with Fonterabia, St. Sebaftian and Port Paffige, on the other fide of Spain, fhould be given to the Dauphin, in confideration of his Claim to the Crown of Spain. III. That Spain and the Spanish Wefl-Indies &c. fhould defcend to the Electoral Prince of Bavaria. IV. That the Dutchy of Milan fhould be given to the Arch-Duke Charles the Emperor's fecond Son. But this young Prince Dying foon after, a fecond Treaty was made the next Year, wherein the Arch-Duke Charles was put in his Place.

This Treaty was the Ruin of King William's Reputation, He had hither, to been efteem'd the beft Politician, as well as the beft Soldier, but France fo out witted him in this, that his Character Sunk with all the World. For (befides all other objections as he had only the French King's Word that he would abide by this Treaty, which indeed 'tis faid he fo far gave as to declare by Letter under his own hand that even a Will of the King of Spain in favour of his fon fhould not alter it, 'twas Universally thought by his beft Friends that the Security was not ftrong enough. And fo it appear'd, for the French Court immediately fet to Work at Madril to de ftroy it. And even this very Summer, their Ambaffador the Marquifs de Harcourt was buify with the Grandees, in his nfinuations against the House of Austria. But the Queen who was nearly related to the Emperor, Labour'd hard with the King her Husband to fupport the Intereft of that Family, and to get a ratification of the Will of Philip IV, his Father, whereby the Succeffion, in default of Iffue by his Son, was fettled upon the German Branch of the Auftian Family.

The other Foreign Affair wherein we were concern'd, was the Peace be tween the Turks and the Confederate Chriftian .rinces. Wherein our King was Mediator, and exceedingly Inftrumental. The Traffick our Na tion maintains in the Dominions of the Grand Seignior, hath always made our Embaffador at the Port refpected, and therefore the King's Overture of Mediating a Peace which they very much wanted was acceptablə enough.

The Lord Paget was at this time the King's Embaffador at Conftantinople, he was in the Year 1689 fent over Envoy extraordinary to the Empe ror, with whom he had refided ever fince; But sir William Haffey fift, and afterwards Mr. Harbord, who was fent to fucceed him at Conftantinople, both Dying, the Lord Paget was remov'd thither, and now in Cons junction with Mr. Colier the Dutch Embalador, had the Honour to Mediate and perfect this Peace, About the Middle of Auguft, they aniv'd at

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the Turkish Camp near Belgrade,and foon after they fix'd the Place of Trea ty to be at Carlowitz, 'a fmall Town in Sclavonia, between Peterwaradin and Salankement, the Turkish Minifters refiding at the laft Place, the Confederates at the firft, and the Mediators between both. The firft Conferences were held Nov. 7. and were fo well purfued, that by the 25th of December, 1698, a Truce for two Years was concluded between the Muscovite and the Turk, and on the 26th of January the Emperor and the Poles concluded the Peace on their Parts. And the Venetians did the same a Month after.

His Majefty arriv'd in England on the 3d of December; and three Days after the Parliament mèt, and having chofen Sir Tho. Littleton Speaker. The King made a Speech; Wherein he recommended to them the confideration of what Strength ought to be kept at Sea, and what force maintain'd at Land the next Year for the fecurity of the Nation, and to preserve the Influence England at that time had on the Councils of all Europe. He al fo recommended to them the making a farther progress in the payment of the Publick Debts. And wifh'd they could find out fome way of Emploving the Poor and encouraging Trade.

This House of Commons were as little difpos'd to comply with the King's Defire in refpect to a ftanding Force as the Laft, nay lefs, for they feem'd to think it lay upon them to perfect what the other had but begun in that Matter, and therefore Voted on the 16th of December, That all the LandForces in England fhould be reduc'd to 7000 Men, and those to be all his Majefty's natural Born Subjects. And that the Forces in Ireland be reduced to 12000 Men. All above thofe numbers being order'd to be Dif banded. The King fruggled hard for preferving his Dutch Guards, but could not obtain it. The number of Men to be kept at Sea was agreed to be 15000, to confift of Seamen only. So jealous were they of the King's keeping up any of the Army under the colour of Marines. For the maintenance of these they gave an Aid of 94840157. by a Land-Tax and Subfidy of 3 s. in the Pound. Wherein a Claufe was added to empower the Earl of Dhedi, Francis Annesley, Fobn Trenchard, Fames Hamilton, Sir Rich. Leving, and Sir Francis Brewster, or any four of them, as Commifkoners, to take an accouot of the Eftates Forfeited in Ireland during the Rebellion, and fince Feb. 1688, and the Quality, Nature and Value of all fuch Eftates; as alfo of the Grants and Difpofitions thereof.

TheDebates this Seffion took up much time,altho' the Bufinefs tranfacted was not much. Several Acts paffed as ufual, but none of them of so publick a Nature as to deferve place in Hiftory. Some Complaints were made by the House in an Addrefs to the King April 3. of Mifmanagements in the Navy, which the Earl of Orford taking to be levell'd at him, he wifely furrendred his laces. The Houfe of Commons Refolved March the 28, that provifion fhould be made for paying off divers of the publick Debts; but as they made no Progrefs in it, 'tis needless to say more of it. At laft, May 4 the King came to the Houfe, and having paffed many Acts, made a Speech. and then the Parliament were prorogued to theft of June.

The othe publick Affairs at this time were these. The Farl of Warwick and Lord Mohun were feverally tried at Westminster in the latter end of March by the House of Peers, for the Murther of Rich. Coore Efq;. They were both acquitted of Murther, but the Earl of Warwick was found guilty

of

of Man-flaughter. The Earl of Ferfey, who had been Ambaffador in France after the Earl of Portland, was now upon his return made Secretary of State May 14. and the Earl of Manchester was nam'd for Ambaffador to France. The Earl of Pembroke was made Prefident of the Council, and the Lord Lonsdale Lord Privy-Seal.

The Scotch Eaft-India Company making fresh Complaints, they were anfwer'd, that their Ships were arriv'd on the Coaft of America, the particular Defign whereof the King was unacquainted with. To which they Reply'd, that they had Landed at Darien, upon the Ifthmus of America, where the Spaniards had no Colony or Settlements, and were kindly re ceiv'd by the Inhabitants, and thought they might without injuring the Spaniards, make a Settlement and carry on a fair Trade, which they conceived might be of great Advantage to the Nation. But the King of Spain in the mean time having complained of this as an Invafion of his Territories (for it feems the Spaniards had poffeffed that Country as long as the unwholfomnefs of the Air would give them leave)and a breach of the Alliance. The King gave Orders to the Governous of the Plantations to afford them no Relief or Affiftance; accordingly in April this Year Proclamations were iffued at Pamaica, Barbadoes, New-England,and New-York, to forbid all Commerce with the Scots of Darien. The Spaniards at the fame time came down with Arms against them, so that they were foon after obliged to quit that Settlement, having again in vain Petitioned the King for Protection.

The Parliament in Ireland fat laft Winter, and made a provifion for maintaining the 120co Men, which the English Parliament had Voted fhould be kept up there, and for the building and finishing the Earaques. They alfo paffed divers good Acts for the fervice of the Country, which having receiv'd the Royal Affent, the Parliament were Prorogued. And not long after a Commiffion was fent over, conftituting the Duke of Bolton, the Earl of Berkley, and the Earl of Galloway, Lords Juftices of Ireland,

The King went over to Holland, and Landed there June the 3d. His Majefty receiv'd the Vifits and Complements of all the Foreign Minifters. But especially he receiv'd Letters from the Grand Seignior, and from the Czar of Mufovy, in acknowledgment of his Majefty's good Offices in Mediating the Peace.

The King return'd to England october the 17th. And the Parliament met the 16th of November tollowing. The Speech was more than ordi ry Gracious, in order to put them into good Humour. A provifion for the fafety of the Kingdom both by Sea and Land. And the making good the Deficiencies, together with the Payment of a Debt due to the Prince of Denmark, were the principal Matters that his Majefty recommended to their Care.

The House of Commons from the beginning of the Seffion discover'd an Afpect disfavourable to the Court. On the 4th of December they prefented an Address to the King of Complaint, as if fome about his Majefty had endeavour'd to mifreprefent and create Diffatisfaction in his Majefty against them. To which the King in the frankeft manner declar'd, that their apprehenfion was groundlefs.

We told you that a Claufe was added in the Land-Tax laft Seffion, to empower Commiffioners to take account of the Forfeited Eftates in Ire

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1ind. Thole Commiffioners now made their Report, the fubftance where, of was, That the number of Persons that were Out-law'd, were 3921, Whereof 1283 had been allow'd to Reverse thofe Outlawries by Adjuca tions, as included in the Articles of Limerick and Galloway, or otherwife exempted. That the Total of the Lands forfeited to the Crown by those Outlawries, were 1050792 Acres. The Value whereof reckoning Lives at fix Years Purchase, and Inheritance at thirteen Years purchase amounted to 2685130% Whereof there had been reftored by Ajucations as aforesaid, 233106 Acres. The Value whereof was 7249231. That Incumbrances and feveral Deductions neceffary to be made, amount to the value of near 30000l. more: So that the Neat Value amounted to but 1699343. Befides the Eftate granted to Mrs. Viliters, the Rents whereof were 25995 1. the total Value, 3379431. Note, This was the private Eftate of King James while Duke of York, and was granted but for the Term of his Life, after which it would defcend to the Princess of Denmark.

This Report extended into lenghth, by reafon that all the Circumftances relating to Grants, Sales, Wafts, Fees for favour in reverfing Outlawries, and what else could be put in by the fmarteft Inquifitor, were exhi; bited. Two of the Commiffioners, Sir Richard Leving, and Sir Francis Brewster, did not Sign the Report, and for that reafon were allow'd but 500l. each, whereas the reft had each 1000l. affign'd them out of the Forfeitures. Moreover, Sir R. Leving was committed to the Tower, upon occafion of his having faid, that a certain Member of the Houfe wrote to the Commiffioners to make a feparate Article of the Lady Orkney's Mr. Villiers Grant because that might reflect upon fome Body. [Every Body knew that the King had a great Affection for that Lady, but thofe that knew him moft intimately difcharg'd him of any Crime in it which being spoken of in the Houfe, and the Perfon from whom it came denying it, Sir Richard was Voted the Author of an Afperfion, and Committed.

Upon the 15th of Dec. it was Refolved, That aBill be brought in to apply all the Forfeited Eftates and Interefts in Ireland, and of all the Rents and Re venues belonging to the Crown fince Feb. 13, 1588, to the Ufe of the Publick. They Refolved alfo, That no Petitions fhould be receiv'd touching the Grants or Forfeited Eftates. Fin. 18. and Feb. 13. they paffed fevere Votes against thofe that had procured and the Ministers that had paffed Grants of the Forfeited Eftates. And laftly, they Voted, That the Forfeited Eftates fhould be applied for the paying off the Army. It was Order'd, That the Report which the feveral Votes now madel and those in former Years relating to the Forfeited Eftates, fhould be Printed and Publifhed. To fecure the paffing of this Bill, it was tack'd to the LandTax; however an attempt was made of dropping it in the House of Lords, which put the House of Commons into fuch a Ferment, that the King fent to the Lords to pass it without the Amendments which they had made to it.

Upon the Bufinefs of the Supply it was Voted, That 70co Men fhould be the Guard at Sea next Year, and a Provifion was made for their Pay. That 90000 1. be raised for the extraordinary Charge of the Navy; 18col. for Bounty-Money to the Officers of the Fleet; 250001. for the Ordi nance, and 300000 7. for Guards and Garrifons, which they raised by a Land-Tax of 2 s. per Libra, And by continuing feveral Duties at the Cu

ftom

Atom-Houfe. The House alfo made a provifion for paying a Debt due to his Royal Highnefs upon his Marriage-Settlement.

Upon occafion of the Lords attempting to throw out the Refumption Bill, the Commons Voted an Addrefs to the King, That no Person who was not a Native of his Dominions except his Royal Highness, be admit ted to his Majefty's Councils. This was Voted April the 10th, 1700. But the King thought fit to prevent their Prefenting it, by coming to the House the next Day and paffing all the other Acts that were ready; among which was an Act for continuing the Old Eaft-India Company a Corporation. And then the Parliament were prorogued to the 23d of May. it was remarkable, that the King made no Speech to them, for indeed they had used him too hardly to expect his Thanks as usual.

Another Matter which gave the King difturbance was the Affair of the Scotch E-India Company. A Petition from them to the King was fent to London in December, in behalf of a Captain of one of their Ships, who went into Cartagena to Refit, and was there detained with thirteen of his Men, and very hardly treated. But the Lord Bifil Hamilton who brought it, having not waited upon his Majefty when he was formerly at London, or given any teftimony of having own'd his Government, the King would not admit him to his Prefence, but allow'd hin to deliver it to the Secretary. And the King Anfwer'd the Company, that he would demand of the King of Spain the release of the Captain and his Crew. The Company were netled at the denying access to the Lord Hamilton, and expoftulated upon it, but to no purpofe; for on the 12th of February the Houfe of Lords in England, prefented an Addrefs to the King, reprefenting that the Scots Settlement at Darien might tend to the great prejudice of England, and poffibly to the disturbance of the Peace with Spain. And faid as much as decently could be to difcourage them from proceeding in that Affair, having already Voted, that the Settlement at Darien was inconfiftent with the good of the Plantation-Trade. Soon after the Scors made à National Addrefs upon this Affair, with large Subfcriptions, which was presented to the King on the 25th of March.

During the fitting of the Parliament the fecond Partition Treaty was made, whereby the Arch-Duke Charles was to have all the Spanish Monarchy, except what was by the former Treaty affigned to the Dauphin; And the Duke of Lorrain was to have Milain instead of his own Country, which was to be given to France..

The King made a Step now which occafion'd much Cenfure from his old Friends; The Lord Sommers had been attack'd in the House of Commons this Seffion, but the Majority appear'd in his favour, and fo the question for an Addrefs to the King to remove him from his Councils pa's'd in the Negative. Whether for this Reafon, or in hopes by changing the Miniftry he might gain the favour of the Party in the Houfe which appear'd fo much against the Court, the King was pleafed to take the Great-Seal from from the Lord Sommers, and on the 21ft of May to give it to Sir Nathan Wright.

A New Favourite had of late grown up at Court, Mr. Keppel, whom the King created Earl of Albemarl, and now further honour'd by the beftowing on him a Garter; in which Order, he together with the Lord Pembroke, were inftall'd Fune 5. And foon after the Lord ferfey was made Lord Chamberlain.

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