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CHAPTER XVI: England

The expenses of a war so wholly unproductive to England had by this time exhausted the patience of the nation; and a change had taken place in the British cabinet that was unfavorable to Marlborough and his designs. Through the death of the emperor Joseph, which had just occurred, the archduke Charles succeeded to the imperial dignity; thus giving a new turn to the politics of the sovereigns of Europe, who were in alliance to prevent the union of the Spanish and German crowns: a great obstacle to the restoration of peace was therefore removed. Hostilities, however, continued, but with so little energy, that no event of importance occurred during the whole campaign. At length the English and French plenipotentiaries concurring in the same desire for peace, preliminaries were signed between England and France, at London, December 1712. The following year a congress was held at Utrecht for the general pacification of Europe; and a definite treaty of peace was signed on the 31st of March, 1713, by the plenipotentiaries of all the belligerent powers, except those of the emperor and king of Spain. It was stipulated that Philip should renounce all title to the crown of France, and the dukes of Berri and Orleans to that of Spain; that if Philip should die without male issue, the duke of Savoy should succeed to the throne of Spain; that the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Milan, and the Spanish territories on the Tuscan coast should be secured to Austria; that the Rhine should be the boundary between France and Germany; and that England was to retain Gibraltar and Minorca. In the following year the emperor signed the treaty of Rastadt, the conditions of which were less favorable to him than those offered at Utrecht; and Philip V. acceding to it some time after, Europe once more enjoyed tranquillity. Shortly after having thus extricated himself from all his difficulties, the long and eventful reign of Louis XIV. was terminated by his death; and his great-grandson, Louis XV., being a minor, the duke of Orleans was made regent of France.