14

HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

CHAP.

XI ._

J6S9.

Williamhis ownministerfor for-eign af-fairs.

which the King stood to his Parliament and to his ministers hadbeen altered by the Revolution was not at. first understood evenby the most enlightened statesmen. It was universally sup-posed that the government would, as in time past, be con-ducted by functionaries independent of each other, and thatWilliam would exercise a general superintendence over themall. It was also fully expected that a prince of William’s capa-city and experience would transact much important businesswithout having recourse to any adviser.

There were therefore no complaints when it was understoodthat he had reserved to himself the direction of foreign affairs.This was indeed scarcely matter of choice: for, with the singleexception of Sir William Temple, whom nothing would induceto quit his retreat for public life, there was no Englishman whohad proved himself capable of conducting an important nego-tiation with foreign powers to a successful and honourable issue.Many years had elapsed since England had interfered withweight and dignity in the affairs of the great commonwealth ofnations. The attention of the ablest English politicians hadlong been almost exclusively occupied by disputes concerningthe civil and ecclesiastical constitution of their own country.The contests about the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Bill, theHabeas Corpus Act and the Test Act, had produced an abun-dance, it might almost be said a glut, of those talents whichraise men to eminence in societies torn by internal factions.All the Continent could not show such skilful and wary leadersof parties, such dexterous parliamentary tacticians, such readyand eloquent debaters, as were assembled at Westminster. Buta very different training was necessary to form a great ministerfor foreign affairs; and the Revolution had on a sudden placedEngland in a situation in which the services of a great ministerfor foreign affairs were indispensable to her.

William was admirably qualified to supply that in which the