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