An Answer to a paper written by Count d'Avaux, the French king's ambassador in Sweden concerning the proposals of peace made by France to the confederates.

XXIX.

To hear Monsieur d'Avaux reason at this rate, one would be apt to think he had quite forgot the Circumstance of Time. If his late Ʋncle had made this Harangue at the Treaty of Munster, it might have pass'd; but what Alterations have we not seen since that time in the Affairs and Interests of State? Has it been forgotten, that since the Peace of Munster, and especially during and after the Negotiation at Nimeguen, France has endeavour'd to mortify the King of Sueden a hundred ways, to create him Enemies, and to entangle him into Wars? That she has dispos'd of the Lands of that prince, as if he had been under her Guardianship, and of her Dependancy: That she has abus'd his Ministers: That she has made a League against him, and come to that height as to send her Squadrons against him into the Sound: That she has offered to hinder him from making Defensive and Harm∣less Alliances; witness the noise she made at Ratisbonne and in other places, against that was then made between the Emperor, the King of Sueden, some Electors, and several Princes of the Empire, in the very same year she made an end of her seizing the Dutchy of Deux-ponts; where she had no more regard for the King of Sueden, than she would have had for the least State of the Empire. On the other hand, Is it not visible, that at the present Juncture of time, the Emperor's and King of Sueden's Interests are absolutely the same? And that 'tis morally impossible to seperate them, since one cannot be sav'd without the other. And 'tis for this reason, that the Houses of Brandenburgh and Lunenburgh are in a strict Alliance with that King; and that far from thinking of getting ground upon him in the Territories he possesses in Germany, they are as ready, as they are oblig'd, to defend them against any body whatsoever.

But how does this agree with the pretended Ʋnion of Interest which is imagin'd to subsist at present between France and Sueden? Is it not ridiculous to endeavour to move the King of Sueden to authorise and

to be the Guarantee (if one may say so) of the Superiority and the Conquests of the French King? since the latter has declared and made War against the Empire and its Allies, without acquainting him in the least with it; nay, rather against himself, in his Dutchy of Deux-Ponts, and by the Desolation of the Palatinate. Besides, France de∣mands this Guarantee, without being willing to let the King of Sue∣den share in the Conquests she has made, and that are directly against his Interest: For 'tis evident, that if the War with the Confederates, and the need the French King stands in of Sueden, had not brought him a little to reason, never would he have thought of restoring the Dutchy of Deux-Ponts to its right Owner: Nay, he would have pre∣tended also to retain the best part of the Palatinate, to the prejudice of the Ancient and Natural Rights of Succession of that King. Was there ever such a Confederacy, unless that of the Lion in the Fable?