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Ibe levell'd against him, will find him Work enough to obferve her Movements, and to defend his own Privileges and Dominions.

The King of SWEDEN has been invited, and seems moft willing to accede to the Treaty of Hanover. But this he cannot do of himself; he must first affemble the States of the Kingdom, and confult with them upon that Occafion; but 'tis scarce to be doubted, but that they will come into the fame Measures.

The STATES GENERAL have always been fo true to their ancient Alliances, and to their Interefts, that there is not the least Question to be made of them; and the most powerful of the Seven Provinces, to wit, that of Holland, has already voted for the Herenbaufen Treaty. And indeed the Dutch and English can never too zealously join against such an Alliance as that of Spain and the Empire. The latter have obtained of the former feveral Privileges in Trade, which in Equity they could not grant; the fame Privileges having by former Treaties been given away to the English and Dutch, who ought, and 'tis believed will, defend them to the laft. This Oftend India Company might have been crush'd in time; but it was at firft look'd upon as an idle Project, that wou'd ruin the Undertakers, and drop of it self; but the Charter fince given 'em by the Emperor, the Commerce granted 'em by the King of Spain, an Archdutchefs affuming the Government of the Auftrian Netherlands, with an Intent chiefly to protect and encourage them, fufficiently fhew that they are to be trifled with no longer; nor is the French India Company of fo little Importance to 'em, but they will be very ready to fupprefs all Intruders, and to crush the Invaders of their Trade and Property.

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There is still another Point, and of as great Importance, that makes it neceffary for England to unite against Spain. This Kingdom cannot with Patience fee two of her strongest Places difmember'd from her Body, notwithstanding that they were conquer'd in a former War, and yielded up to the Conqueror by fucceeding Treaties. They are of the greatest Security to the British Commerce, and confequently a Nation that has always been fo jealous of its Trade, will never part with 'em; and indeed the Poffeffion of "em would add fuch a Power to Spain, as to make it become formidable to its Neighbours.

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There is fcarce any thing left to fpeak of but ITALY, a Country once the glorious Seat of Arts, and Arms, now over-run with Ignorance and Superftition, and corrupted by Sloth and Priest-craft; infomuch that when we come to converfe with its Inhabitants, we begin to think it impoffible that this Country fhould have given Birth to the Cæfars and Scipios, or that a Virgil and a Horace had their Education in it. A whole Age fcarce produ ces a famous Man amongst 'em now, and him at beft but a Painter or Mufician. Rome, once the Retreat of the brave Unfortunate, the Protectrefs of injured Monarchs or oppreffed Subjects, famous throughout the World for a ftrict Administration of Juftice, is become the Sanctuary of Rebels and Ufurpers, the Broacher of Treafons, and Fomenter of Rebellions. But to my Purpose..

The Ecclefiaftical State of Rome governed by the Pope is of very little Importance; nor wou'd its Friendship or Enmity be of great Confequence any where but in Italy, where there are fo many petty Princes. The Pope feldom wages War, yet is perpetually in Difpute with fome one or other; for Ecclefiaftical States ever were encroaching: however, their Difputes are generally adjusted. in a friendly manner, after fome Years have been spent in wrangling. People had great Hopes when the prefent. Pope was chofen, that they fhould fee a Reformation in the Roman Church, for which Purpose he had call'd a Council; but all the Reformation ended in a few Externals, the Ecclefiafticks were obliged to throw by their Perukes, and to flap down their Hats. His Holinefs too was at firft faid to be of a very moderate Spirit, and one that hated Perfecution; but his approving of the Maffacre of Thorn, and encouraging the Poles not to make the Protestants any Satisfaction, and promifing 'em a Supply of Men and Money for their Defence, fufficiently demonftrate the contrary. Befides which, he has lately writ five Letters with his own Hand to the Emperor, to perfuade him not to make any Conceffions to the Proteftants, who for fome Years paft have fuffer'd many Grievances in Germany, and on the redreffing of which depends the Peace and Tranquillity of the Empire..

The Great Duke of TUSCANY is one of the moft powerful Princes in Italy; but he begins to grow in Years, and has no Succeffors; fo that the ancient Houfe De Medicis will by his Death become extinct, and a Foreigner poffefs himself of his Dominions.

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The most potent Pretender to this Country is Don Carlos, Infant of Spain, who is alfo to inherit the Dutchies of Parma and Placentia; and in which if he fhould fucceed, the Power of Spain will grow very great in Italy.

The King of SARDINIA feems to concern himself very little with his Neighbours Affairs. He has already been driven out of one Kingdom, and is not willing to give any Occafion for his being turn'd out of another; he therefore ftrives to live peaceably, and to maintain his own: But the Part that Prince has acted in the two laft Wars, are fufficient to make us guefs what he will do in the next.

The Republick of VENICE will naturally embrace the Party of the Imperialifts, who muft protect 'em against the Turks; but not fo as to make themfelves a Party in cafe of a Rupture between the Emperor and his Neighbours. That of GENOA is too inconfiderable to mention; and the Cantons of SWISSERLAND having different Interefts to purfue, will probably chufe different Alliances.

I cannot conclude this Article from Italy without taking notice of an open Rupture between the Chevalier De St. George, and the Princefs Sobieski his Wife, who is retired into a Nunnery; the Occafion is Jealoufy, the Pretence Religion. She accufes Mr. Mur ray, by the Pretender created Earl of Dumbar, and appointed Governor to his eldeft Son, of being a Proteftant; but his Crime before her is being Brother to Mrs. Hay, the titular Countess of Inverness; and that Lady and her Husband have too great an Afcendant over the Chevalier, not to give the Princefs a great deal of Uneafinefs.

As by the above Account it appears, that every Turn of Affairs in Europe depends upon the two Treaties of Hanover and Vienna, a Sight of 'em will doubtlefs be very grateful to the Reader; we fhall therefore print the one in this Mercury, and take fome other Opportunity of publishing the other. But here 'tis neceffary to observe, that there have been feveral fpurious Copies of the Hanover Treaty fpread about; the following is taken from the Amfterdam Gazette; a Paper in very good Reputation, and whofe Author takes all poffible Care to print nothing of this Kind, but what he knows to be genuine.

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COPY of the Treaty concluded at Hanover the Third of September, 1725.

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HEIR Majefties, the King of Great Britain, the moft Christian King, and the King of Pruffia, having feen with Pleasure, how far the ftrict Union, that fubfifts between them, has contributed, not only to the Happiness of their respective Kingdoms and Subjects, but also to the publick Good and Tran quillity; being alfo affur'd, that the moft effectual Means to fe-cure and preferve thofe Advantages against whatever Accidents might happen, is, more and more to cultivate the faid. Union, and render it firm and lasting: And having maturely reflected on all the Treaties, which already fubfift, between their faid Mar jefties, (from which they declare,. 'tis not their Intention, in any wife, by the prefent Treaty, to derogate) they have thought fit. previoufly to take new Measures, for thofe Cafes which might raife a Difturbance in Europe, in agreeing between themselves on what fhou'd be moft proper and neceffary, not only for the Security and moft effential Interefts of their refpective Kingdoms, but alfo for the publick Good and Tranquillity. For thefe Reafons,, and in this View, their faid Britannick, moft Chriftian and Pruffan Majefties, have given their full Powers, (viz.) his Britannick Majefty to the Right Honourable Charles Viscount Townfbend, Baron of Lynn, Lord Lieutenant of the County, of Norfolk, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, &c. and his Se cretary of State; his moft Chriftian Majefty, to Francis Count de Broglio, Lieutenant-General of his. Forces, Director-General of the Horfe and Dragoons, Governor of Mont-Dauphin, and his Ambaffador to the faid moft Serene King of Great Britain; and · his Pruffian Majefty, to the Sieur John Chriftopher de Wallenrodt, his Minister of State, and Envoy-Extraordinary to the faid moft Serene King of Great Britain; who in vertue of the faid full Powers, (Copies whereof fhall be inferted word for word at the End of the prefent Treaty) having, with the greatest Attention, weigh'd and confider'd on the moft proper Meafures, to compass what their faid Majefties propofe to themfelves, have agreed on the following Articles

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I. There shall be from this time, and at all times hereafter, a‹ true, firm, and inviolable Peace, the moft fincere and intimate Friendship, and the ftricteft Alliance and Union, between the faid Three moft Serene Kings, their Heirs and Succeffors, their States, Countries and Cities, fituated on their respective Territories, and their Subjects and Inhabitants, as well in as out of Europe; and this Union fhall be preferv'd and cultivated in fuch manner, that the contracting Powers may faithfully promote their respective Interefts and Advantages, and prevent and repel allWrongs and Oppreffions, by the moft convenient Methods that they can think of..

II. As the true End and Intention of this Alliance between the faid Kings, is mutually to preferve the Peace and Tranquilli-ty of their respective Kingdoms, their faid Majefties promise their mutual Guaranty to protect and defend all their Dominions, Coun→ tries and Cities, as well in as out of Europe, which each Ally shall be actually in Poffeffion of at the figning of this Treaty; and alfo their Rights, Privileges and Advantages, and particularly those relating to Trade, which the faid Allies do, or ought refpectively to enjoy. And to that End, the faid Kings have agreed, that if, in Oppofition to this Alliance, or upon any other Pretence, any. of the faid Allies fhould be attack'd in an hoftile manner, or fuffer any Wrong in the things above-mention'd, from any Prince or State whatfoever, the others wou'd employ their good Officesto fee Justice done to the offended Party, and prevail on the Aggreffor to abstain from any future Wrong or Hoftility.

III. And if it fhou'd happen, that any of the contracting Powers fhou'd be openly attack'd, or molefted in the abovefaid Cafes, and the before-mention'd good Offices: fail'd of procuring a juft Redrefs and Satisfaction for all Wrongs and Damages fuftain'd by the injur'd Party, that then the other Powers within two Months after Demand, fhall furnish the following Succours, (to wit:)

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His Britannic Majefty 3000 Foot, and 4000 Horse.

In like Cafe, his moft Chriftian Majefty 8000 Foot; and 4000 Horfe.

And in like Cafe alfo, his Pruffian Majefty 3000 Foot; and 2000 .Horfe.

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