As she had borne the chief burden of the war, she had a right to take the lead, and dictate a plan of pacification; at least, she had a right to consult the welfare of her own kingdom, in delivering, by a separate peace, her subjects from those enormous loads which they could no longer sustain; and she was well enough aware of her own consequence, to think she could not obtain advantageous conditions.
THE QUEEN'S MEASURES OBSTRUCTED.
Such were the sentiments of the queen; and her ministers seem to have acted on the same principles, though perhaps party motives may have helped to influence their conduct.

The allies concurred in opposing with all their might any treaty which could not gratify their different views of avarice, interest, and ambition.

They practised a thousand little artifices to intimidate the queen, to excite a jealousy of Louis, to blacken the characters of her ministers, to raise and keep up a dangerous ferment among the people, by which her life and government were endangered.

She could not fail to resent these efforts, which greatly perplexed her measures, and obstructed her design.

Her ministers were sensible of the dangerous predicament in which they stood.