has been fo far from bringing about the end propofed, that, as all Europe can witness, it has rather proved the great obstacle which hindered the Emperor from acceding to the faid treaties, inasmuch as the feparation of the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, fo long ufed to remain under the fame dominion, and to be called by the name of both the Sicilies, has not only been found oppofite to the common interefts and mutual prefervation of both kingdoms, but likewife to the repofe of all Italy, being conftantly productive of new commotions, while neither the ancient intercourse and mutual relation between the two nations can be deftroyed, nor the interefts of the different Princes can be eafily reconciled: for this reafon it is that the Princes, who firft made the Utrecht treaties, have thought it lawful for them, even without the confent of the parties concerned, to abrogate that one article of thofe treaties which regards the kingdom of Sicily, and is not any principal part of the faid treaty, founding themselves chiefly upon these reasons; That the prefent treaty will receive its increase and completion from the Emperor's renunciation; and that by the exchange of Sicily for Sardinia, the wars which threaten Italy may be prevented, inafmuch as the Emperor might rightfully attack Sicily, which he never yet renounced, and which, fince the infraction of the neutrality of Italy by the feizure of Sardinia, he may rightfully recover by force of arms: befides that the King of Sicily may become poffeffed of a certain and durable dominion by the benefit of fo folemn a treaty with his Imperial Majefty, and guarantied by the chief Princes of Europe. Being moved therefore by fo great reasons, they have agreed that the King of Sicily fhall reftore to his Imperial Majefty the ifland and kingdom of Sicily, with all its dependencies and appendages, in the ftate wherein they now are, immediately, or in two months at the fartheft from the exchange of the ratifications of the prefent treaty. And he fhall in favour of the Emperor, his heirs and and fucceffors of both fexes, renounce all rights and pretenfions whatfoever to the faid kingdom, as well for himself as his heirs and fucceffors, male and female; the reverfion thereof to the crown of Spain being entirely taken away. II. In return, his Imperial Majefty fhall yield to the King of Sicily the island and kingdom of Sardinia, in the fame condition wherein he fhall receive it from the Catholic King, and fhall renounce all rights and interefts in the faid kingdom, for himself, his heirs and fucceffors of both fexes, in favour of the King of Sicily, his heirs and fucceffors, that he may hereafter perpetually poffefs the fame, with the title of a kingdom, and all other honours annexed to the royal dignity, in the fame manner as he poffeffed the kingdom of Sicily; on condition, nevertheless, that the reversion of the said kingdom of Sardinia fhall be referved to the crown of Spain, whenever it may happen that the King of Sicily fhall be without heirs male, and all the Houfe of Savoy fhall likewise be deftitute of heirs male. But in the fame manner altogether as the faid reverfion was fettled and ordained for the kingdom of Sicily by the treaties of Utrecht, and by the act of ceffion in purfuance thereof made by the King of Spain. III. His Imperial Majefty fhall confirm to the King of Sicily all the ceffions made to him by the treaty figned at Turin the 8th of November, 1703, as well of that part of the dutchy of Montferrat, as of the provinces, cities, towns, caftles, lands, places, rights, and revenues of the state of Milan, which he now doth poffefs, in the manner wherein he actually doth poffefs them; and he will ftipulate for himself, his defcendants and fucceffors, that he never will disturb him, his heirs or fucceffors, in the poffeffion aforefaid on condition, nevertheless, that all other claims and pretenfions, which he may poffibly make in virtue of the faid treaty, fhall be and remain void. IV. His IV. His Imperial Majefty fhall acknowledge the right of the King of Sicily, and his Houfe, to fucceed immediately to the kingdom of Spain and of the Indies, in cafe of the failure of King Philip V. and his pofterity, in manner as is fettled by the renunciations of the Catholic King, the Duke of Berry, and the Duke of Orleans, and by the treaties of Utrecht; and his Imperial Majefty fhall promife, as well for himfelf as for his fucceffors and defcendants, that at no time he will directly or indirectly oppofe, or any way act contrary to the fame. It is declared, neverthelefs, that no Prince of the Houfe of Savoy, who fhall fucceed to the crown of Spain, may poffefs at the fame time any province or dominion on the continent of Italy, and that in fuch cafe thofe provinces fhall devolve to the collateral Princes of that House, who fhall fucceed therein one after another, according to the proximity of blood. V. His Imperial Majefty and the King of Sicily fhall give mutual guaranties for all the kingdoms and provinces which they actually poffefs in Italy, or which fhall accrue to them by virtue of this prefent treaty. VI. His Imperial Majefty and the King of Sicily, immediately after the exchange of the ratifications of thefe conventions, fhall put in execution all and every the conditions therein contained, and that within the fpace of two months at the fartheft: and the inftruments of the ratifications of the faid conventions fhall be exchanged at London within two months from the day of figning, or fooner if poffible. And immediately after the previous execution of the faid conditions, their Minifters and Plenipotentiaries by them to be named fhall, in the place of congrefs they shall agree upon, with all speed severally fettle the other points of their particular peace, under the mediation of the three contracting Powers. His above-named Imperial and Catholic Majesty, being extremely inclined to promote the peace propofed, and to avert the dreadful calamities of war, and out of his fincere defire to fettle an univerfal pacification, hath accepted the afore-mentioned conventions, and all and fingular the articles thereof, and hereby doth accept the fame, and accordingly has entered into a particular treaty with the three Powers abovesaid, on the following conditions. I. That there be and remain between his Sacred Imperial Catholic Majefty, his Sacred Royal Majefty of Great Britain, his Sacred Royal moft Chriftian Majefty, and the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Netherlands, and their heirs and fucceffors, a most strict alliance, in virtue whereof each of them are bound to preferve the dominions and fubjects of the others, as likewife to maintain peace, to promote mutually the interefts of the others as their own, and to prevent and repel all damages and injuries whatsoever. II. The treaties made at Utrecht and Baden shall remain in their full ftrength and force, and fhall be a part of this treaty, thofe articles excepted, from which it has been judged for the public good to depart; as likewife thofe articles of the Utrecht treaties excepted, which were abolished by the treaty of Baden. The treaty of alliance made at Westminster the 25th of May, 1716, between his Sacred Imperial and Catholic Majefty, and his Sacred Royal Majefty of Great Britain, as likewise the treaty made at the Hague the 4th of January, 1717, between the King of Great Britain and the moft Chriftian King, and the States General of the United Provinces, fhall nevertheless remain in full force in every particular. III. His Sacred Britannic Majefty, as likewife his Sacred moft Chriftian Majefty, and the Lords the States General of the United Netherlands, do covenant for themselves, their heirs and fucceffors, that they never will, directly or indirectly, difturb his Sa cred cred Imperial and Catholic Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, in any of his kingdoms, dominions, and provinces, which he poffeffes by virtue of the treaties of Utrecht and Baden, or which he fhail gain poffeffion of by virtue of this prefent treaty. On the contrary, they both will and ought to defend and guaranty the provinces, kingdoms, and jurifdictions, which he now poffeffes, or which fhall accrue to him in virtue of this treaty, as well in Germany as in the Netherlands and in Italy; and they promife that they will defend the faid kingdoms and provinces of his Imperial and Catholic Majefty, against all and fingular who may attempt to invade the fame in a hoftile manner; and that they both will and ought, when the cafe happens, to furnifh him with fuch fuccours as he fhall need, according to the conditions and repartition which they have agreed upon as hereafter mentioned. In like manner, their Royal Britannic and moft Chrif tian Majefties, and the States General, exprefsly bind themselves, that they will not at any time give or grant any protection or refuge, in any part of their dominions, to the fubjects of his Imperial and Catholic Majefty, who actually are, or hereafter fhall be by him declared rebels, and in cafe any fuch fhall be found in their kingdoms, provinces, or dominions, they fincerely promife that they will take effectual care to expel them out of their territories, within eight days after application made by his Imperial Majefty. IV. On the other hand, his Sacred Imperial and Catholic Majefty, his Sacred Royal Britannic Majefty, and the States General of the United Provinces, promife for themselves, their heirs and fucceffors, that they never will, directly or indirectly, difturb his Sacred moft Chriftian Majefty in any of his dominions to the crown of France now belonging. On the contrary, they will and ought to guard and defend the fame against all and fingular who may attempt to invade them in a hostile manner, and in that cafethey will and ought to furnish fuch fuccours as his most |