bled by our assistance to
retrieve all that she had lost by the ill success of her arms, and by
her indecent and contemptuous treatment of Spain. Thus was the German
emperour dispirited and weakened; thus were we deprived at once of our
allies and our reputation.

Our loss of reputation, the greatest loss that bad measures can bring
upon a nation, is made evident beyond controversy, by the insolence with
which the Spaniards have treated us while we were flattering, enriching,
and supporting them. While we were fitting out squadrons to convey their
princes to Italy, and increasing their dominions at our own expense,
they seem to have considered our good offices, not as the benefits of
friends, but the drudgery of slaves, and, therefore, could scarcely
refrain from insults while they employed us, at least when they no
longer wanted our immediate assistance. They renewed their contempt and
cruelty, their robberies and oppressions; they prescribed laws to our
navigation, and laid claim to our colonies.

To these ravages and injuries what did we oppose? What but humble
intreaties, pacifick negotiations, and idle remonstrances? Instead of
asserting our just claims, and incontestable possessions, instead of
preventing war by threatening it, and securing ourselves from a second
injury by punishing the first, we amused ourselves with inquiries,
demands, representations, and disputes, till we became the jest of that
nation which it was in our power to distress, by intercepting their
treasure, and to reduce to terms almost without bloodshed.

Thus, my lords, did we proceed, new questions ever arose, and the
controversy became more intricate; commissaries were despatched to
Spain, who returned without obtaining either restitution or security,
and in the mean time no opportunity was neglected of plundering our
merchants, and insulting our flag: accounts of new confiscations and of
new cruelties daily arrived, the nation was enraged, and the senate
itself alarmed, and our ministers, at length awakened from their
tranquillity, sent orders to the envoy at the Spanish court to expedite
an accommodation; these directions were immediately obeyed, and produced
the celebrated convention.

What was given up, or what was endangered by this detestable treaty,
your lordships have often had occasion to observe, and the consequences
of it were so obvious, that the nation was astonished. Every man saw
that we were either treacherously betrayed