tle hopes of male issue, and that his family would be
consequently in danger of losing part of the honours and dignities
which it had so long enjoyed, turned his thoughts to the security of
his hereditary dominions, which he entailed upon his eldest daughter,
to preserve them from being broken into fragments, and divided among
the numerous pretenders to them; and that this settlement might be
preserved from violation, employed all the opportunities which any
extraordinary conjunctures presented to him of obtaining the
concurrence and ratification of the neighbouring states.

As it was always the interest of this nation to support the house of
Austria, as a counterbalance to the power of France, it was easy to
procure from us a solemn accession to this important settlement; and
we, therefore, promised to support it, whenever it should be attacked.
This was, in reality, only a promise to be watchful for our own
advantage, and to hinder that increase of the French influence, which
must, at length, be fatal to ourselves.

The like engagements were proposed to many other powers, which
proposals were by most of them accepted, and among others by France,
upon consideration of a very large increase of her dominions; and it
was hoped, that whatever might be determined by the electors with
respect to the imperial dignity, the hereditary dominions to the house
of Austria would remain in the same family, and that France would be
hindered by her own engagements from disturbing the peace of the
empire.

But no sooner did the death of the emperour give the enemies of the
house of Austria hopes of gratifying without danger their resentment
and ambition, than almost all the neighbouring princes began to revive
their pretensions, and appeared resolved to recover by force, what
they alleged to have been only by force withheld from them. Armies
were raised on all sides, invasions either attempted or threatened
from every quarter, and the whole world looked upon the daughter of
Austria either with pity or with joy, as unable to make any stand
against the general confederacy, and under a necessity of yielding to
the most oppressive terms, and purchasing peace from her enemies at
their own price.

It cannot be mentioned, without indignation, that this universal
combination was formed and conducted by the influence of the French,
who, after having agreed to the Pragmatick sanction, omitted no
endeavours to promote the violation of it; and