Let us remember, that we are to owe our
preservation only to ourselves, and redouble our efforts in proportion
as others neglect their duty. Let us show mankind, that we are neither
afraid to stand up alone in defence of justice and of freedom, nor
unable to maintain the cause that we have undertaken to assert.
But if it should be thought by any of this noble assembly, that the
concurrence of the Dutch is absolutely necessary to a prospect of
success, it may be reasonably answered, that by engaging in measures
which can leave no doubt of either our power or our sincerity, the
concurrence of the Dutch is most likely to be obtained. By this method
of proceeding, my lords, was formed the last mighty confederacy by
which the house of Bourbon was almost shaken into ruins. The Dutch
then, as now, were slow in their determinations, and perhaps equally
diffident of their own strength and our firmness; nor did they agree
to declare war against France, till we had transported ten thousand
men into Flanders, and convinced them that we were not inviting them
to a mock alliance; but that we really intended the reduction of that
empire which had so long extended itself without interruption, and
threatened in a short time to swallow up all the western nations.
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