also, that Austria was no less desirous to rule in Italy than
the French, he clamoured for the fulfilment of the promises
made under the guarantee of England, and rejected with
scorn the evasive expedients of the imperial court. From
the same principle he was anxious to prevent the occupation
of Naples and Sicily, unless his acquiescence was purchased
by an equivalent in Lombardy. He was, at length, gratified
by an accommodation effected through the agency of Marl-
borough, by which he obtained the promise of the emperor
to fulfil the treaty of 1703. ^* Joseph also renounced his
claims to the Milanese as an imperial fief, and agreed to con-
sider it as part of the Spanish dominions.

The great object of the maritime powers was to employ
the combined forces in Italy in an invasion of Provence, with
the view of ruining the naval power of France in the Medi-
terranean, by the capture of Toulon, which was in an ill state
of defence. Marlborough was now engaged in arranging the
plan of operations and accumulating the means of attack.
With this view he obtained the consent of the German
princes for the continuance of their troops in Italy, and per-
suaded the Dutch not only to furnish pecuniary assistance,
but to join their fleet in furtherance of the design. He
found, however, great and unexpected obstacles. Both the
emperor and the duke of Savoy were less solicitous for the
destruction of the French navy, which they considered as the
peculiar object of the maritime powers, than for an attack
against Dauphiné and the Lyonnois, which would more effec-
tually contribute to the safety of Italy. Their consent was,
however, at length extorted, and preparations were made for
the execution of this momentous enterprise as soon as the
return of the season opened the passages of the Alps.

But neither party entered cordially into the design, and
the emperor, in particular, resolved to render it secondary to
his own views on Naples. With this intention he secretly
concluded with France, on the 13th of March, a treaty of
neutrality for Italy; and for the sake of accomplishing the
speedy reduction of the Milanese and Mantuan, permitted
the French garrisons to withdraw unmolested. This accom-
modation was not disclosed until it was too late to prevent its
completion; and the consent of the duke of Savoy being ex-

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