Majefty, caufed most express inhibitions to be published against the exportation of all warlike ftores to the colonies of his Britannic Majefty in America; and against all fraudulent trade with the faid colonies and in order that the said prohibitions fhould be more effectually carried into execution, their High Mightineffes made no difficulty to take fuch further fteps as greatly circumfcribed their own navigation, and the trade of their fubjects with the Dutch colonies in the West Indies. It was to further the above purposes, that their High Mightineffes fent the most exact orders to all commanders, and governors of their colonies, and fettlements, as well as to the commanders of their ships of war, carefully to abftain from doing, in regard to the American flag, any thing from which could be justly inferred or deduced an acknowledgment of the independency of the faid colonies: and it is alfo, especially to the above intent, that their High Mightieffes having received a memorial prefented to them by the English Ambaffador, full of the heaviest complaints against the Governor of St Euftatia, condefcended to deliberate on the faid memorial; though couched in terms little confonant with the regard which fovereign powers owe to each other: the confequence of the faid deliberation was the immediate recall of the faid Governor, whom their High Mightineffes called to an account for his conduct, and who was not permitted to return to his refidence till he had cleared himself of all the charges brought against him, before a court of juftice; a copy of whofe proceedings was foon after tranfmitted to the minifter of his Britannic Majefty. By fuch measures as thefe, their High Mightineffes, who always earneftly wished to avoid giving the smallest cause of discontent to his Britannic Majefty, have conftantly endeavoured to promote and cultivate perfect harmony; but his Britannic Majefty's conduct towards the Republic has been diametrically oppofite. The differences between the Courts of London and Verfailles had fcarcely broke out, when they beheld the ports of England filled with Dutch veffels, which were unjustly seized and detained; these veffels navigated upon the faith of the treaties, and were not laden with any other merchandise than what the exprefs tenor of the treaties had declared free and legal. They beheld those free cargoes forced to fubmit to an arbitrary and defpotic authority. The cabinet at St James's knowing no other rule than an affumed right of temporary convenience, thought proper to appropriate those cargoes to the ufe of the Crown by a forcible purchase, and to employ them in the fervice of the King's navy. The most earneft and ferious reprefentations on the part of their High Mightineffes against those proceedings were ineffectual, and it was in vain that they urged, in the strongest manner poffible, the treaty fubfifting between England and the Republic. By this treaty, the rights and liberties of the neutral flag are decifively and clearly stated. The fubjects of Great Britain had fully enjoyed the advantages of this treaty, in the first and only cafe, wherein it pleafed the Court of London to remain neuter, neuter, whilst the Republic was engaged in a war. Certainly then in a reciprocal cafe that Court could not, without the greatest injuftice, refufe the enjoyment of the fame advantages to the Republic, and as little right as his Britannic Majesty had to withhold the advantageous effects of this treaty from their High Might ineffes, he had as little foundation for attempting to make them quit the neutrality they had embraced, and to force them to plunge into a war, the cause of which related immediately to the rights and poffeffions of his Britannic Majefty lying beyond the limits of defenfive treaties.And, notwithstanding, this treaty, his Majesty from the commencement of the difference with the Crown of France has made no fcruple of infringing and violating. The trefpaffes and infractions made on this treaty on the part of Great Britain, and the arbitrary decifions of the Courts of Juftice in that kingdom, directly contrary to the exprefs fanction of the fame treaty, multiplied daily. The merchant veffels became the innocent victim of the exactions and accumulated violences of the English men of war and privateers. They did not, however reft there. The very flag of the States was not spared, but openly and outrageously infulted by a hostile attack upon the convoy, under the care of Rear-Admiral Compte de Byland. The strongest representations from the States to his Britannic Majefty were difregarded, the fhips taken from the convoy were declared good prizes, and this infult on the flag of the Republic was very foon followed by an open violation of their neutral territory, as well in Europe as America. They will content themselves, however, with reciting two examples. At the island of St Martin his Britannic Majefty attacked, and carried away by force feveral veffels that lay at anchor under the cannon of the fort, where, according to the inviolable rights of mankind, the veffels ought to have found a fecure afylum. The infults committed by an armed English veffel on the coast of the republic, near Goedereede, furnish a fecond example of those violations. These infults were carried fo far, that many inhabitants of the island, who dwelt on the fhore, where they ought to have supposed themselves fecure from any disturbance, were exposed, by the violence of the fire from the fhips, to fuch imminent danger, that they were forced to retire to the interior part of the island. Yet, for these unheard of proceedings, the republic, notwithstanding the strongest and best founded reprefentations, has not obtained the fmalleft fatisfaction. Affairs being thus fituated, fo that their High Mightineffes had no other alternative left them, but to fee the navigation and commerce of their fubjects, on which the ruin or profperity of their republic alone depends, totally annihilated, or elfe to adopt measures hoftile to their old friend and ally; at this period the Empress of Ruffia, urged by a generous magnanimity of difpofition, thought proper to interfere, and with as much affection as humanity invited the republic to take the jufteft measures, and fuch too as were entirely confiftent with the treaty fubfifting between the States and other powers, for The grand fleet under Admiral Geary, failed June 8th, and returned to Spithead, Aug. 18th. Soon after, Admiral Geary refigned the command. Note 205. Lift of the French Fleet under the Comtes D'Estaing and de Guichen, that finally left Cadiz, Nov. 7th, and arrived at Breft in January. On the 9th of November, the French fleet were to be followed by the Spanish fleet, confifting of 27 ships of the line; part of which was to leave them off St. Vincent, and the other part off Finisterre. N. B. Admiral Darby had only a fleet of 22 fail of the line, and 2 fhips of 50 guns. †The Convoy confifted of Merchantmen for Bourdeaux, 41; for Nantz, 25 ; for La Rochelle, 4. Total, 70. 30 fail of merchantmen for Marseilles, were detached under convoy for that port before they left Cadiz. VOL. VI. Note Inftructions from the Commiffioners of the Admiralty to Captain Moutray. (See Vol. V. page 154.) Hilfborough, Mountfuart, Royal George, Godfrey, Gatton; and 18 victuallers, Store-fhips and tranfports, as Specified in the original. "Whereas we have ordered Captain Garnier, Commander of his Majefty's fhip Southampton, now at Spithead, to take under his convoy the five Eaft India fhips, whose names are in the margin, together with the victuallers and ftoreships, named in the inclofed lift, or fuch of them as may be arrived at Spithead; and also the trade bound to the Weft Indies, and any other victuallers, and ftorefhips bound thither, as may be ready to fail, and then putting to fea, with the very first opportunity of wind and weather, to proceed down the channel, fending the Thetis, which we have put under his command, a-head, to inform you of his approach, and upon your joining him, to follow your orders for his further proceedings. You are hereby required, and directed, to hold yourself in conftant readiness, to put out in the ship you command, when the Southampton makes her appearance in the offing, and taking her, and the Thetis, under your command, and the East India Company's fhips, with the victuallers, store-fhips, and trade above mentioned, under your convoy, put to fea, and proceed with them, as expeditiously as poffible, confiftent with their fecurity, towards the places of their deftination, touching at the island of Madeira, and taking in there, without a moment's lofs of time, fuch wine as may be neceffary for the companies of the faid fhips under your command; and then make the best of your way off Carlisle Bay, in the island of Barbadoes, feeing the Eaft India Company's fhips in fafety, as far as your way and theirs lie together. Upon your arrival off Barbadoes, you are to leave there the trade bound to that island and Tobago, and put the victuallers and storefhips, laden with provifions and ftores, for the ufe of his Majefty's land and fea forces, upon the Leeward Island ftation, under the charge of Captain Linzee of the Thetis, directing him to proceed with them to St Lucia, or where-ever elfe his Majesty's fleet and army may be; and, upon joining Sir George Rodney, or the commanding officer for the time being, of his Majefty's fhips on the abovementioned station, to deliver the inclofed pacquet, bearing his address, on putting yourself under his command, and follow his orders for your further proceedings. Having made this arrangement, you are to proceed in the ship you command, accompanied by the Southampton, to Jamaica, with fuch of the victuallers, ftore-fhips, and trade under your convoy, as may be destined to that place or Pensacola; feeing, in your way, the trade bound to Antigua, Nevis, Montferrat, and St Chriftopher's, in fafety to thofe iflands refpectively; and when you arrive off the eaft end of Jamaica, detaching the Southampton, with the trade bound to the ports on the north fide of it, with directions to her Captain, |