Select passages from the diary and letters of the late John Blackader, Esq.

54 SELECT PASSAGES FROM [1707.
Dr Sommervile * has given very fatisfying
reafons for our believing that there was
greater duplicity on the part of the En-
glim Miniftry in this tranfa&ion, than on
that of France, and has anfwered the ve-
nal arguments of the Chaplain general of
the army, Dr Hare, who proftituted his pen
in defending the continuance of the war.
It feems indeed too certain, that the ruling
fadion, and the Duke of Marlborough in
particular, were willing rather to prolong
its evils and miferies, than to deny their
luff of dominion and glory, and to part
with the emoluments and patronage it af-
forded them f. Ah ! how little do man-
kind, feduced by the delufions of felfifhnefs
and ambition, confider, that the crimes and
the horrors which unrighteous and unne-
ceffary war produces, fhall receive at the
hand of God a juflly tremendous and ever-
lafting retribution ! How little even do
* Hiftory of Great Britain during the reign of
Queen Anne, Appendix, No. xxvii.
t Befides the aggrandizement and immenfe
riches beftowed on the Duke and on bis family in
peipetuity by Great Britain, and by the conti-
nental powers, his knoiun annual revenue a.ifing
from the war amounted to above L. 54.000 per
annum ; and the Dutchels, befides this, poiiefied
between L. 9000 and L. 10,000 per annum, in of-
fi.c*s and government emoluments.