The new preliminaries were severely attacked by the whigs, who ridiculed and reviled the ministry in word and writing.

Pamphlets, libels, and lampoons, were today published by one faction, and to-morrow answered by the other.

They contained all the insinuations of malice and contempt, all the bitterness of reproach, and all the rancour of recrimination.

In the midst of this contention, the queen despatched the earl of Rivers to Hanover, with an assurance to the elector that his succession to the crown should be effectually ascertained in the treaty.
The earl brought back an answer in writing; but, at the same time, his electoral highness ordered baron de Bothmar, his envoy in England, to present a memorial to the queen, representing the pernicious consequences of Philip's remaining in possession of Spain and the West Indies.

This remonstrance the baron published, by way of appeal to the people, and the whigs extolled it with the highest encomiums; but the queen and her ministers resented this step as an officious and inflammatory interposition.
The proposals of peace made by the French king were disagreeable even to some individuals of the tory party; and certain peers, who had hitherto adhered to that interest, agreed with the whigs to make a remonstrance against the preliminary articles.