hailed the coming of the hour when he, with whom the
instincts of the European statesman and soldier were
always dominant over these of the domestic adminis-
trator, was once more summoned to activity in one of
the two arts in which he shone. On the 19th of April the
Commons presented an address to the Crown, in which,
after reciting the various acts of hostility committed
by Louis XIV. against their country, "particularly the
present invasion of Ireland," they assured William that
when he "should think fit to enter into a war against
the French king, they would give him such assistance in
a parliamentary way as to enable him to support and go
through with the same." To this invitation from his
Parliament William returned an answer of ready ac-
quiescence, while to those about him he exclaimed,
with unwonted animation, "This is the first day of my
reign."

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