Chapter XV: REIGN OF WILLIAM III. (concluded)

William Meets his Parliament--Reduction of the Standing
Army--Visit of Peter the Great--Schemes of Louis--The East
India Company--Spanish Partition Scheme--Its Inception and
Progress--Somers's Hesitation--The Treaty is Signed--New
Parliament--Tory Reaction--Dismissal of the Dutch
Guards--William forms an Intention of Quitting England--Attack
on the late Ministry--Jobbery in the Admiralty--Paterson's
Darien Scheme--Douglas's Reasons against It--Enthusiasm
of the Scots--Departure of the First Expedition and
its Miserable Failure--The Untimely End of the Second
Expedition--Second Partition Scheme--Double-dealing of the
French--New Parliament--Attack on Somers--Report on the Irish
Grants--Resumption Bill passed--William's Unpopularity--Death of
the Duke of Gloucester--Conclusion of the New Partition Treaty
and its Results--Charles makes over his Dominions to the French
Candidate--His Death--Disgust of William at Louis's Duplicity--Tory
Temper of the House--The Succession Question--Debates on Foreign
Policy--The Succession Act passed--New Negotiations with
France--Attack on the Whig Ministers--Acknowledgment of the Spanish
King--Impeachment of the Whigs--The Kentish Petition--Its Reception
by the House--The Legion Memorial--Panic in the House--Violent
Struggle between the two Houses--The Impeachments dropped--William
goes Abroad--The Grand Alliance and its Objects--Beginning of the
War--Death of James II.--Louis acknowledges the Pretender--Reaction
in England--New Parliament and Ministry--The King's Speech--British
Patriotism is Roused--Voting of Supplies--The Bills of Attainder
and Abjuration--Illness and Death of William--His Character 502