The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 11.: Parlimentary Debates II.Johnson, Samuel
History
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 11.: Parlimentary Debates II.
Johnson, Samuel
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons -- History -- 18th century
There may, indeed, be another reason, my lords, which hinders the
progress of the united forces, and by which the Britons and
Hanoverians may be both affected, though not both in the same degree.
It is by no means unlikely, that the king of Prussia has forbidden
them to advance, and declared, that the king who was chosen by his
suffrage shall be supported by his arms; if this be his resolution, he
is well known to want neither spirit nor strength to avow and support
it; and there are reasons sufficient to convince us, that he has
declared it, and that our troops are now patiently waiting the event
of a negotiation by which we are endeavouring to persuade him to alter
his design, if, indeed, it be desired that he should alter it; for it
is not certain, that the elector of Hanover can desire the restoration
of the house of Austria to an hereditary enjoyment of the imperial
dignity; nor can it easily be shown why the politicks of one house,
should differ from those of all the other princes of the German
empire.
The other princes, my lords, have long wished for a king with whom
they might treat upon the level; a king who might owe his dignity only
to their votes, and who, therefore, would be willing to favour them in
gratitude for the benefit. They know, that the princes of the house of
Austria considered their advancement to the empire as the consequence
of their numerous forces and large dominions, and made use of their
exaltation only to tyrannise under the appearance of legal right, and
to oppress those as sovereigns, whom they would otherwise have
harassed as conquerors.
Before we can, therefore, hope for the concurrence of the princes of
the empire, we must inform them of our design, if any design has been
yet laid out. Is it your intention to restore the house of Austria to
the full enjoyment of its former greatness? This will certainly be
openly opposed by all those powers who are strong enough to make head
against it, and secretly obstructed by those, whose weakness makes
them afraid of publick declarations. Do you intend to support the
Pragmatick sanction? This can only be done by defeating the whole
power of France; and for this you must necessarily provide troops who
shall dare to act against the present king. So that it appears, my
lords, that we are attempting nothing, or attempting impossibilities;
that either we have no end in view, or that we have made use of an
absurd choice of means by which it cannot be attained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account