The two French statesmen professed in their master’s name the most earnest desire, not only that the peace might remain unbroken, but that there might be a close union between the Courts of Versailles and Kensington.  One event only seemed likely to raise new troubles.  If the Catholic King should die before it had been settled who should succeed to his immense dominions, there was but too much reason to fear that the nations, which were just beginning to breathe after an exhausting and devastating struggle of nine years, would be again in arms.  His Most Christian Majesty was therefore desirous to employ the short interval which might remain, in concerting with the King of England the means of preserving the tranquillity of the world.

Portland made a courteous but guarded answer.  He could not, he said, presume to say exactly what William’s sentiments were; but this he knew, that it was not solely or chiefly by the sentiments of the King of England that the policy of England on a great occasion would be regulated.  The islanders must and would have their government administered according to certain maxims which they held sacred; and of those maxims they held none more sacred than this, that every increase of the power of France ought to be viewed with extreme jealousy.

Pomponne and Torcy answered that their master was most desirous to avoid every thing which could excite the jealousy of which Portland had spoken.  But was it of France alone that a nation so enlightened as the English must be jealous?  Was it forgotten that the House of Austria had once aspired to universal dominion?  And would it be wise in the princes and commonwealths of Europe to lend their aid for the purpose of reconstructing the gigantic monarchy which, in the sixteenth century, had seemed likely to overwhelm them all?

Portland answered that, on this subject, he must be understood to express only the opinions of a private man.  He had however now lived, during some years, among the English, and believed himself to be pretty well acquainted with their temper.  They would not, he thought, be much alarmed by any augmentation of power which the Emperor might obtain.  The sea was their element.  Traffic by sea was the great source of their wealth; ascendency on the sea the great object of their ambition.  Of the Emperor they had no fear.  Extensive as was the area which he governed, he had not a frigate on the water; and they cared nothing for his Pandours and Croatians.  But France had a great navy.  The balance of maritime power was what would be anxiously watched in London; and the balance of maritime power would not be affected by an union between Spain and Austria, but would be most seriously deranged by an union between Spain and France.