ill
be found but that they eat, and eat at the expense of Britain. This
assertion is, indeed, somewhat more contestable than the former, but
is at least credible; since, if we may be permitted on this, as on
other occasions, to judge of the future from the past, we may
conclude, that those who have let pass such opportunities as their
enemies have in the height of contempt and security presented to them,
will hardly ever repair the effects of their conduct, by their bravery
or activity in another campaign; but that they will take the pay of
Britain, and, while they fatten in plenty, and unaccustomed affluence,
look with great tranquillity upon the distresses of Austria, and, in
their indolence of gluttony, stand idle spectators of that deluge, by
which, if it be suffered to roll on without opposition, their own
halcyon territories must at last be swallowed up.

The last assertion which I shall extract from this formidable
pamphlet, is more worthy of attention than the former, but, perhaps,
may be suspected to border more nearly upon treason: I shall, however,
venture to quote, and, what is still more dangerous, to defend it.

It is proposed that, instead of squandering, in this time of danger,
the expenses of the publick upon troops of which it is at best
doubtful, whether they will be of any use to the queen of Hungary,
whether they can legally engage against the king, and whether they
would be of any great use, though they were set free from any other
restraints than regard to their own safety; instead of amusing our
ally with an empty show of assistance, of mocking her calamities with
unefficacious friendship, and of exposing ourselves to the ridicule of
our enemies, by idle armaments without hostility, by armies only to be
reviewed, and fleets only to be victualled, we should remit the sums
required for the payment of the Hanoverians to the queen of Hungary,
by whom we know that it will be applied to the great purposes for
which the senate granted it, the establishment of the liberties of
Europe, and the repression of the house of Bourbon.

This proposal, however contrary to the opinion of the ministers, I
take the liberty of recommending to the consideration of the house,
as, in my opinion, the most effectual method of preserving the remains
of the greatness of the house of Austria. It is well known, that these
troops are hired at a rate which they never expected before, that
levy-money is paid for forces levied