enforcing them. He did not at the same time renounce these claims, and they existed for the purpose of disturbing, at some future period, the harmony which the armistice was intended to establish.

He complained, that the evacuation of Catalonia had not been executed with good faith by the Emperor, who still corresponded with the disaffected in this and other provinces of Spain. The Emperor recriminated by similar complaints of disturbances fomented in his Italian dominions, by the intrigues of the Spanish cabinet. The Spanish cabinet alleged, he was every day extending his power and influence in Italy, by new and unauthorised pretensions.

The long catalogue of rival titles, which both Princes continued to assume in all their public acts, preserved at once a hostile disposition, and would serve as pretexts to whichever was disposed to attack the other.

The Queen, regarding the Emperor as the principal obstacle to the establishment of her children, was easily persuaded by the view of any scheme, which promised to curtail his power.

An incident happened this year, which added weight to the suggestions of the minister, and dispersed any pacific sentiments which still adhered to Philip.

Don Joseph Molinez had resided many years at Rome, in quality of envoy from Spain. He was

a peevish, captious old man, and had been engaged in a variety of quarrels. The privileges and punctilios of the Spanish embassy, he maintained with the most pertinacious vehemence. One of the shirri, or officers of the papal police, having, in his opinion, violated them by exerting some act of authority in the Piazza D'Espagna, he had him unmercifully bastinadoed.

But the Emperor, and his adherents, particularly called forth his contentious disposition. He carried on incessant war with every Spaniard at Rome, who had shewn the least favour to the Emperor's cause, though belonging to provinces which at the time had been subjugated by the arms of that Prince.

The Pope had frequently been offended by his violence, and had complained of his conduct. His complaints, long unattended to, had obtained a favourable hearing, when the ambition of Alberoni had disposed the Spanish government to seek to gratify him. An order had been given for the recall of Molinez, and Cardinal Aqueviva, of a noble Neapolitan family, had been sent to replace him.

In this juncture, before Molinez had left Rome, happened the disgrace of Giudice. Molinez was appointed his successor in the place of inquisitorgeneral.

As soon as his appointment was notified to him, he prepared to set out for Spain, to exercise his

new office. Labouring under complicated infirmities, he did not think it expedient to go by sea, and he could not go by land without passing through the Emperor's dominions. Having with such indefatigable assiduity exposed himself to the resentment of the whole imperial party, he had reason to apprehend some disagreeable adventure, if once he got into the Emperor's power. The Pope gave him a passport, and plenty of indulgences. What would have been more to the purpose, was to have got a regular passport from the imperial ambassador. He however was satisfied with a very equivocal declaration on the part of the latter, and proceeded on his journey. Besides the resentment he had incurred, he was in further danger of being stopped, from the preparations of which the ports of Spain were then full. The Emperor's ministers thought his papers might give, some light into the object of these preparations; and their hopes on this head were strengthened, when it was known that he went to Placentia, and had a secret conference with the Duke of Parma. He had no sooner, therefore, set his foot in the Milanese, than, by orders of the governor, he, with all his papers, was conveyed to the castle of Milan.

The Marquis de Sant Philippe was Spanish resident in Genoa, a man of feeble understanding, as appears by his Memoires, full of transcendent notions of the dignity of his King, and believing

wonders of his power.

His letter, transmitting

intelligence of the stoppage and imprisonment of Molinez, was couched in language, such as Alberoni himself would have dictated. It expatiated on the affront offered to his Majesty. It represented the act of stopping the inquisitor-general, as an infraction of all agreements between the Emperor and Spain. Finally, it recommended immediate hostilities.*

Nothing could arrive more seasonably for Alberoni. His preparations for war, which had been long going on, were now complete. His negociation for a Cardinal's hat, promised to come immediately to a close. He wanted only a pretext for the hostilities he had been meditating, and a

*These are Sant Philippe's own words: The Marquis (himself) hearing the news, immediately communicated it to his Catholic Majesty, pointing out the outrage offered to his Majesty, in having dared to stop the inquisitor-general, who was passing through the Emperor's territories on the faith of a passport, and of the word he had received. This, he insisted, was a new infringement of the neutrality of Italy, which was secured by an engagement equivalent to an armistice. He concluded by a variety of reflections, which had for their object, to animate the King to take vengeance for the insult offered him. The Marquis flattered himself, these reasons would finally determine Philip to undertake the war of Italy. After this candid declaration, the same Marquis seems to complain, that Alberoni should have afterwards loaded him with the responsibility of the war. Mem. de Sant Philippe, p. 195.

vol. iii.

something to work on the King's mind, and engage him to give his consent.

Philip, notwithstanding his slender capacity, and the sort of lethargic stupor in which he was habitually plunged, was easily excited by what was represented to him as an affront, and would greedily catch at any scheme, which had the attraction of glaring colours to recommend it.

Having read the letter, he asked Alberoni's advice. Alberoni's promotion had not yet been determined upon at this time; and the hypocrisy he practised, is really curious. He recommended to

Popoli

the King to send the letter to the Duke of Popoli, for his opinion. Popoli had been rewarded with some of the spoils of the disgraced Giudice; succeeding him as governor to the Prince of Asturias. He was a model of courtly prudence and discretion, and never suggested any thing but what he thought would please. He flattered himself, that on this occasion he had hit precisely the views of the minister. He not only advised war, but war to be carried on exactly where he conceived the minister intended war,-in the island of Sardinia and the dominions of Naples. But Alberoni's refinement quite disconcerted him. "War! (wrote he to Popoli,)—the bare proposal struck me with horror and consternation !"-Popoli, at a loss what to think, abandoned himself, in answer, to a frank avowal of the motives of his conduct.