BOOK IV He had true ideas of the nature and ends of go1702. vernment and the beneficial effects of his noble and heroic exertions will probably descend to the latest generations, rendering his name justly dear to the friends of civil and religious liberty, and 'his memory GLORIOUS and IMMORTAL. ANNE. BOOK V. State of Europe on the Accession of Queen Anne. Her Reso- 1704. Battle of Blenheim. Naval Operations. Gibraltar Campaign of 1705. Capture of Barcelona. Session of Parliament. State of Eu Accession of Queen Anne. The Whigs recover their Ascendency. Obnoxious Motion of the Tories to bring over the Princess Sophia. Church declared to be not in Danger. Articles of the Treaty of Union agreed upon. Battle of Ramillies. Campaign, A. D. 1706, in Flanders. in Italy. Advances made by France for obtaining Peace. Affairs of Scotland. Articles of the Union debated. Session of Parliament in England. Articles of the Union ratified by both Parliaments. Intrigues at Court. Dismission of Sir Charles Hedges. BOOK V. NEVER did the death of any monarch, that 1702. of Gustavus Adolphus in the midst of his career rope on the of victories against the house of Austria perhaps excepted, excite throughout the kingdoms of Europe such general grief and consternation as that of king WILLIAM. Though the grand alliance against France was now completed, the different powers of which that vast body was composed, deprived, by this unexpected stroke, of the hero in whose wisdom and rectitude they confided, and under whose banners they had been accustomed to engage, no longer exhibited any symptoms of animation and vigor. Such was the prevailing dread of the power of France-which, from the commencement of the administration of cardinal Richelieu, had been elevated to the present alarming height by an almost uninterrupted series of military triumphs-that the alliance now formed was considered as by no means adequate to the accomplishment of its object, in case of the BOOK IV. defection of England. And how far Anne, the 1702. lution to join the Grand Al liance. only surviving daughter of the late king James II. and by marriage princess of Denmark, who now swayed the sceptre of that powerful kingdom, was disposed to adopt the councils, or to pursue the mighty projects formed by her illustrious predecessor, was considered as a question highly problematical. The doubt however was quickly and happily resolved. By an act passed some years previous to the death of the king, the parliament, notwithstanding that event, still continued to sit. Three days after her accession, the queen, Her Resorepairing in person to the house of peers, with the usual solemnity, made a speech from the throne, purporting "her fixed resolution to prosecute the measures concerted by the late king, whom she styled the great support, not only of these kingdoms but of all Europe. And she declared, that too much could not be done for the encouragement of our allies to reduce the exorbitant power of France." An expression which occurred in the conclusion of her speech," that her heart was entirely English," was thought, by those who regarded the proceedings of the new sovereign with jealousy, to glance obliquely upon the honor of the late monarch, and was resented accordingly. In answer to the address of the clergy, presented by the archbishop of Canter 1702. BOOK IV. bury, she expressed her high regard and attachment to the church; and to that of the dissenters she gave assurances of protection, and protested "that she would do nothing to forfeit her interest in their affections." These primary measures of the new reign were chiefly influenced by the representations of the fords Marlborough and Godolphin, who demonstrated the imminent danger to which the liberties of Europe would be exposed, were England to act with indifference or indecision in the present crisis. And to give efficacy to a system so opposite to the hopes and expectations of the tories, lord Godolphin was advanced to the office of lord high treasurer; and the earl of Marlborough declared captain-general of the forces of Great Britain at home and abroad, and at the same time appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States General. That assembly had been struck with amazement at the unexpected intelligence of the death of the late king. Lamenting in moving terms their irreparable loss, they embraced each other, and promised mutually to adhere, at whatever risque, to the interests of their country. And they issued letters to the different towns and provinces of the union, exhorting them to resolution and perseverance. In a few days they were comforted and re-assured by the transmission of |