the queen of Hungary is not intended, since the troops
which have been hired under that pretence, are such as cannot march
against the emperour. It is known, that the Hessians have absolutely
refused to infringe the constitution of the German body, by attacking
him who is by a legal grant acknowledged its head; nor is it easy to
conceive, why there should be a different law for Hanover than for the
other electorates.

The long stay of the troops in Flanders, a place where there is no
enemy to encounter, nor ally to assist, is a sufficient proof that
there is nothing more designed than that the troops of Hanover shall
loiter on the verge of war, and receive their pay for feasting in
their quarters, and showing their arms at a review; and that they in
reality design nothing but to return home with full pockets, and enjoy
the spoils of Britain.

There may, indeed, be another reason, my lords, which hinders the
progress of the united forces, and by which the Britons and
Hanoverians may be both affected, though not both in the same degree.
It is by no means unlikely, that the king of Prussia has forbidden
them to advance, and declared, that the king who was chosen by his
suffrage shall be supported by his arms; if this be his resolution, he
is well known to want neither spirit nor strength to avow and support
it; and there are reasons sufficient to convince us, that he has
declared it, and that our troops are now patiently waiting the event
of a negotiation by which we are endeavouring to persuade him to alter
his design, if, indeed, it be desired that he should alter it; for it
is not certain, that the elector of Hanover can desire the restoration
of the house of Austria to an hereditary enjoyment of the imperial
dignity; nor can it easily be shown why the politicks of one house,
should differ from those of all the other princes of the German
empire.

The other princes, my lords, have long wished for a king with whom
they might treat upon the level; a king who might owe his dignity only
to their votes, and who, therefore, would be willing to favour them in
gratitude for the benefit. They know, that the princes of the house of
Austria considered their advancement to the empire as the consequence
of their numerous forces and large dominions, and made use of their
exaltation only to tyrannise under the appearance of legal right, and
to oppress those as sovereigns, whom they would otherwise have
harassed as conquerors.

B