The great business of parliament from this period seemed to consist in restraining corruption, and bring ing to justice several offenders in high station, who had grown wealthy upon the plunder of the public. The number of laws that were now enacted every session, seemed calculated for the safety of the subject, but in reality, were symptoms of the universal corruption.
William was willing to admit all the restraints they chose to lay on the royal prerogative in England, upon condition of being properly supplied with the means of humbling the powers of France. Though a friend to liberty from inclination, he did not sufficiently under stand the complex nature of the British constitution to keep its parts in harmony. But if he could not be said to yield to his parliament from patriotic motives, he at least made his concessions the exchange for the means given to support him in great and laudable objects. The sums of money granted him for the prosecution of this Nvar were incredible, and the nation not contented with furnishing him with such supplies as they were immediately capable of raising, involved themselves in debts, which have since accumulated so formidably. For this profusion it has been remarked, that England gained only the reward of military glory in Flanders, and of saving the Dutch. But to have checked the ca reer of France, and to have prolonged fur a while the inder_ndenee of Europe, was certainly to have attained great objects.
The treaty of Ryswick at length put an end to this war. William returned to England in November 1697, and was received in London amidst the acclamations of the people. By the treaty of Ryswick, his title to the crown of England was acknowledged by France her self.
Amidst the distractions of foreign politics, William had little leisure or inclination to attend deeply to the domestic affairs of England, and still less to those of Scotland. An event now happened, which excited the most violent ferment in the latter kingdom. By the recommendation of Paterson, an individual of splendid and enterprising genius and views, a settlement was formed by the Scotch on the isthmus of Darien, a situa tion admirably fitted for accomplishing the most gigan tic efforts of commerce, and for uniting the trade of the European, Asiatic, and American continents. Twelve hundred settlers, after founding New Edinburgh, the capital of their intended colony, proceeded for some time with hopes and alacrity in forming their settlement, and repulsed the Spaniards who attacked them; but the English immediately demanded of William the sup pression of this colonial rivalship of the Scotch. Spain
remonstrated against a settlement on her territories; and William, afraid of a breach with Spain, coincided with the angry jealousies of both nations. The supplies of the colony were cut off from home; and after eight months, it was abandoned through famine and disease. Before the evacuation was reported, a second and a third expedition had sailed from Scotland, but they were again, as before, attacked by the Spaniards ; and though they gallantly repelled an army of that nation, they were forced to capitulate to a fleet from Carthagena, on condition of being allowed to return home. The ships which were to bring them home, were unprovided for so long a voyage; and the few adventurers who sur vived, were left to languish in Spanish prisons, or to starve on English plantations. The Scottish nation awaked from its dreams of immense wealth, stript of its credit, its resources, and its trade ; and there was scarcely one family which had not to mourn a lost rela tion, or a ruined fortune in this calamitous business. In justice to the memory of William respecting this trans action, it ought to be remembered, that the Scotch co lonists had no distinct right to settle in Spanish Ame rica ; and that a war with Spain, unpopular among the English, would have been the probable consequence of pleasing the Scotch.
William returned from humbling his enemies abroad, only to be watched, distrusted, and humbled by his own subjects at home. As the project of humbling France was never distant from his mind, he had come to regard a standing army as indispensible in England. It is not impossible that his great mind, through the power of habit, and by constant practice in war, had acquired that love of military pomp and parade, which, in itself, is so unworthy of greatness. This passion for a stand ing army was, however, wisely checked by his parlia ment, who passed a vote for disbanding all his foreign troops, and reducing the whole army to 7000 men. The mortification which he felt on this occasion, is said to have inspired him for a time, with the resolution of abandoning the English sceptre and returning to Hol land : his ministers, however, persuaded him to pass the bill for reducing the forces, and to change his reso lution.