and Namur, on Hainault, Brabant and Antwerp, on Flanders East and West?  Was it certain that the united force of all her neighbours would be sufficient to compel her to relinquish her prey?  Was it not certain that the contest would be long and terrible?  And would not the English and Dutch think themselves most fortunate if, after many bloody and costly campaigns, the French King could be compelled to sign a treaty, the same, word for word, with that which he was ready uncompelled to sign now?

William, firmly relying on his own judgment, had not yet, in the whole course of this momentous negotiation, asked the advice or employed the agency of any English minister.  But the treaty could not be formally concluded without the instrumentality of one of the Secretaries of State and of the Great Seal.  Portland was directed to write to Vernon.  The King himself wrote to the Chancellor.  Somers was authorised to consult any of his colleagues whom he might think fit to be entrusted with so high a secret; and he was requested to give his own opinion of the proposed arrangement.  If that opinion should be favourable, not a day must be lost.  The King of Spain might die at any moment, and could hardly live till the winter.  Full powers must be sent to Loo, sealed, but with blanks left for the names of the plenipotentiaries.  Strict secresy must be observed; and care must be taken that the clerks whose duty it was to draw up the necessary documents should not entertain any suspicion of the importance of the work which they were performing.

The despatch from Loo found Somers at a distance from all his political friends, and almost incapacitated by infirmities and by remedies from attending to serious business, his delicate frame worn out by the labours and vigils of many months, his head aching and giddy with the first draughts from the chalybeate spring.  He roused himself, however, and promptly communicated by writing with Shrewsbury and Orford.  Montague and Vernon came down to Tunbridge Wells, and conferred fully with him.  The opinion of the leading Whig statesmen was communicated to the King in a letter which was not many months later placed on the records of Parliament.  These statesmen entirely agreed with William in wishing to see the question of the Spanish succession speedily and peaceably settled.  They apprehended that, if Charles should die leaving that question unsettled, the immense power of the French King and the geographical situation of his dominions would enable him to take immediate possession of the most important parts of the great inheritance.  Whether he was likely to venture on so bold a course, and whether, if he did venture on it, any continental government would have the means and the spirit to withstand him, were questions as to which the English ministers, with unfeigned deference, submitted their opinion to that of their master, whose knowledge of the interests and tempers of all the courts of Europe was unrivalled.  But there was one important point