example: the bravery of a single man may withhold an army from flight,
and other nations will be ashamed to discover any dread of that power
which France along sets at defiance. They will be less afraid to
declare their intentions, when they are convinced that we intend to
support them; and if there be, in reality, any prince who does not
favour our design, he will be at least less inclined to obstruct it,
as he finds the opposition, which he must encounter, more formidable.

For this reason, my lords, I am far from discovering the justness of
the opinion which has prevailed very much in the nation, on this
occasion, that we are not to act without allies, because allies are
most easily to be procured by acting, and because it is reasonable and
necessary for us to perform our part, however other powers may neglect
theirs.

The advice which the senate has often repeated to his majesty, has
been to oppose the progress of France; and though it should be
allowed, that he has been advised to proceed in concert _with his
allies_, yet it must be understood to suppose such allies as may be
found to have courage and honesty enough to concur with him. It cannot
be intended, that he should delay his assistance till corruption is
reclaimed, or till cowardice is animated; for to promise the queen of
Hungary assistance on such terms, would be to insult her calamities,
and to withhold our succours till she was irrecoverably ruined. The
senate could not insist that we should stand neuter, till all those,
who were engaged by treaty to support the Pragmatick sanction, should
appear willing to fulfil their stipulations; for even France is to be
numbered among those who have promised to support the house of Austria
in its possessions, however she may now endeavour to take them away.

Even with regard to that power from which most assistance may be
reasonably expected, nothing would be more imprudent than to declare
that we determine not to act without them; for what then would be
necessary, but that the French influence one town in their provinces,
or one deputy in their assemblies, and ruin the house of Austria in
security and at leisure, without any other expense than that of a
bribe.

It was, therefore, necessary to transport our troops into Flanders, to
show the world that we were no longer inclined to stand idle
spectators of the troubles of Europe; that we no longer intended to
amuse ourselves, or our confederates, with negotiati