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INTERESTS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 4231maintenance of the neutralityof the Austrian Netherlands,and generally to making proposals of peace which howeverwere not accepted. The issue is well known. France concluded the preliminariesof the treaty of Vienna with Austriawithout any interruption from England. 2 It acquired foritself in return for the bare promise of recognising the Pragmatic Sanction, the dukedom of Lorraine ;and the queen ofSpain was eventually contented to accept the kingdom ofNaples and Sicily, in lieu of Parma and Tuscany, for herson Don Carlos, in hope of recovering also at the first opportunity the other Italian territories for her second son.The course pursued by Walpole during the progress ofthese events, was perhaps most consistent with the momentary advantages of England, but it was not consistent. Thevery minister whose whole energies were roused into actionthe moment that a single twig of the politicaltree was set inmotion, now looked on with indifference while the wholestem was shaken !How could he any longer hope to find afaithful ally he, who was so deeply interested in such connexions if he saw his most recent and almost his only allydespoiled of his most valuable territories, without tenderinghim the least assistance ? It might certainly be a matter ofindifference to England who continued to sit on the Polishthrone, but after all that she had hitherto done, was it possible that the fate of Italy and the aggrandizementof Francecould be so likewise? We are far from meaningto assertthat England ought to have taken up arms in every suchemergency. The presumption, of being able to decide suchpoints has already cost the world !enough But still I repeatthat this conduct in comparison with his former policy wasnot consistent. History never presumes to determine whatwould have happened in any given case, but the suppositionis at all events not without foundation, that if Austria hadbeen at that time vigorously supported, Europe might havebeen spared the whole war of succession.Meanwhile the times were approachingin which all theanxiety of the minister to maintain peace was unavailing,since the nation was unable any longer to endure the blessings of tranquillity. England was plunged into two wars at1By a treaty with Prance at the Hague, Nov. 24, 1733.2October 3, 1735.