But to prove yet more particularly, that better measures may be taken,
and that more useful troops may be retained, and that, therefore, the
honourable gentleman may be expected to quit those to whom he now
adheres, I shall show, that in hiring the forces of Hanover, we have
obstructed our own designs; that we have, instead of assisting the
queen of Hungary, withdrawn part of her allies from her; and that we
have burdened the nation with troops, from whom no service can be
reasonably expected.
The advocates for the ministry have, on this occasion, affected to
speak of the balance of power, the Pragmatick sanction, and the
preservation of the queen of Hungary, not only as if they were to be
the chief care of Britain, which, though easily controvertible, might,
perhaps, in compliance with long prejudices, be admitted, but as if
they were to be the care of Britain alone; as if the power of France
were formidable to no other people, as if no other part of the world
would be injured by becoming a province to an universal monarchy, and
being subjected to an arbitrary government of a French deputy, by
being drained of its inhabitants, only to extend the conquests of its
masters, and to make other nations equally miserable, and by being
oppressed with exorbitant taxes, levied by military executions, and
employed only in supporting the state of its oppressors.
Pages:
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355