As our duty to our Sovereign makes it neceffary for us to return fome fort of Address by way of answer to his Majesty's Speech from the Throne, at the opening of a Seffion, and as this practice has been established by immemorial custom, I fhall be excufed if I introduce my Motion with my sentiments upon that furprizing turn which has been lately given to the affairs of Europe, by his Majesty's wisdom and conduct.

In order to do this, Sir, I muft begin with obferving, the difmal prospect we had of the affairs of Europe about eighteen or nineteen months ago. I think there is no maxim in politics more certain than this, that it is inconfiftent with the liberties of Europe, to allow France to increase her own power, or to divide the power of Europe into so many branches, as to make it impoffible for any one Prince or State, to think of oppofing her in any of her ambitious fchemes; for it is very certain, that, as foon as the thoughts of Oppofition end, those of Dependence begin; and consequently, if France could once effect this purpose, all the Princes and States of Europe would become dependent upon her; and most of them would, at all times, think of preferving their infignificant fhadow of sovereignty only by being obedient to her commands, and affisting her against those who should bravely dare to rebel. We fhould then be in the fame circumftance as Europe, or, I may fay, the world was, when the grandeur of the Romans was at its greatest height. Some of the Princes and States of Europe, might be dignified with the deceitful title of Socii Gallici Imperii; but if ever any one of them should ever dare to behave otherwife than as the most abject slaves, even that empty title they would be ftript of, and their territory would be converted into a province of the French empire. Our Royal Family, like that of Macedon, might, for fome time, be left in poffeffion of their throne; but if any one of our future princes fhould endeavour to shake off his dependency, a powerful invasion would be the certain confequence; and if France were the fole miftrefs of the Continent of Europe, or

had

had it entirely at her command, our natural barrier would prove ineffectual: fhe would then come up against us with such a power as we could not oppofe either by fea or land: our Royal Family would be cut off; our noble and great families would be all carried captives into France, and Britain would, from thenceforth, be divided and governed by French Intendants or Lieutenants, as Macedonia was by Roman Prætors or Proconfuls.

This confequence was forefeen, Sir: this confequence all Europe was fenfible of in the laft age: I wish I could say the fame of the present: but, by what fatality I know not, the prefent age feemed, a few months ago, to be ftruck with fuch a blindness as prevented their feeing this danger, though it was never more apparent. Several of the Princes of Europe, governed by a selfish private intereft, had actually joined with France in pulling down the House of Auftria, though that was the only power, on the Continent of Europe, that could, by itself, pretend to limit or fet bounds to the ambitious Court of France. By this means the Queen of Hungary was environed by fuch numerous hoftile armies, that it was impoffible for her to refift for any long time; and the confederacy against her was fo powerful, that no counter-confederacy equal to it could be formed. This, I fhall grant, was, in some measure, owing to her own unfeasonable obftinacy, as well as to the felfish views of fome of her enemies; for however unjust she might think her pretenfions, in common prudence the fhould, upon the death of her father, have yielded to those that were the most moderate, in order to enable her to resist those who were fo immoderate as to aim at the total overthrow of her House.

This was, Sir, from the beginning of the prefent troubles, his Majefty's advice to her; but this prudent advice she would not, for a long time, give the leaft ear to; and this not only united her enemies amongst themselves, but increased the views and demands of each; which reduced his Majefty to the fatal

neceffity

neceffity of waiting till her obftinacy should be foftened, and the eyes of fome of her enemies be opened, by time and future accidents. This he was obliged to do before he could openly declare in her favour, or affift her in any other shape than by granting her fums of money; but this he did with a steady defign to take advantage of every accident that should happen : and the behaviour of the French in Germany, efpecially about the time of the battle of Crotzka, was such as furnished him' with an opportunity which he wifely took care to lay hold of, and to make the best use of it he could, whereby he prevailed upon both the kings of Pruffia and Poland to withdraw themfelves from the French alliance, and to make peace with the Queen of Hungary, upon terms which she readily agreed to.

By this prudent conduct of his Majefty, it became now poffible to form fuch a confederacy in Europe as might, with fome hopes of fuccefs, endeavour to oppose the ambitious defigns of the Court of France; and to give courage to the other Powers of Europe to enter into fuch a confederacy, he refolved to fend a body of his British troops to Flanders, in order to have a numerous army formed there; which, before the end of the campaign, raised such terrors in France, as prevented their fending fufficient reinforcements to their troops already in Germany, and likewife prevented their joining the Spaniards with fuch armies as might have overwhelmed the king of Sardinia, or compelled him to defert the alliance he had before, by his Majefty's interpofition, entered into with the Queen of Hungary. At the fame time, proper orders were given to his Majesty's Admirals in the Mediterranean, to prevent the Spaniards from fending any reinforcements or provifions by fea to their army in Italy; and our squadron there was reinforced and instructed, so as to enable it to execute these orders, against whofoever should dare to abet the Spaniards in any fuch attempt.

By thefe means, Sir, the Queen of Hungary was, before the end of the campaign, restored to the poffeffion of Bohemia,

Weftphalia

Weftphalia was freed from the burden and terror of a French army, and the Spaniards were, during the whole campaign, defeated in every attempt they made against Italy: but there were two things ftill remaining to be done; which were to drive the French entirely out of Germany; and to establish, upon a more folid bafis, the alliance of the King of Sardinia, in order to drive the Spaniards entirely out of Italy, for which purpose it was requifite to obtain the hearty concurrence of the Dutch. These things were to be the work of the next campaign, and therefore as early as the feason would permit, the army which had been formed in Flanders marched into Germany; and his Majefty not only joined it with a confide rable body of his electoral troops, but went in person to command the army, and by his valour and conduct, chiefly, the glorious battle of Dettingen was obtained, which compelled the French to evacuate Germany, and not only put the Queen of Hungary in poffeffion of all Bavaria, but opened a free paffage for her armies to the Rhine; fo that France, from being the invader of the dominions of others, had now enough to do to defend her own.

Whilft his Majefty was thus triumphing over the arms of France in the field, he equally triumphed over her councils in the Cabinet; for, notwithstanding the utmost efforts of France to the contrary, he prevailed with the Dutch to fend a body of 20,000 men to the affistance of the Queen of Hungary; and a definitive treaty of alliance was concluded at Worms, between his Majefty, the Queen of Hungary, and the King of Sardinia, by which, alliance, and affiftance of that Prince was established upon a firm basis: and experience has already fhewn the great use it may be of to us, in defeating the defigns of our enemies the Spaniards in Italy; which will convince that haughty nation of its being neceffary for them to cultivate a good correspondence with Great-Britain, if they have a mind to be quiet in their own poffeffions, or to disturb the poffeffions of any of their neighbours.

Thefe

These great and unexpected events, Sir, have been all brought about by the wisdom and vigour of his Majesty's Councils, and therefore we cannot in gratitude omit taking notice of them upon this occafion. I was very sensible, that there were many Gentlemen in, this House, who could have fet them in a clearer light, and recommended them to your confideration with greater energy than I can; but I knew your affection and duty to your Sovereign, and the luftre of those events, was in itself fo refulgent, that I thought it required no high degree of eloquence to excite your grateful acknowledg→ ments; therefore I ventured to undertake the tafk, and hope I fhall be forgiven my arrogating to myself the honour.

Honourable Edward Coke, Dec. 1, 1743

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