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es ed 
national difpofition. The merchants 
of the fouthern provinces, a great, 
powertul, and mumerous order of 
men, were alarmed by the apprehen- 
fion, that if Spain ihould be deferted 
in this emergency, the- would find 
herielf under a neceflity of conclud- 
ing a treaty with England, which, 
in its confequences, might prove 
highly prejzidicial. to. the interefts of 
France. The remonftrances and 
influence, of the merchants were fe- 
conded and confirmed by the report 
of the committee of alliances, which 
was highly favourable to Spain, and 
confequently adverfe to England. 
_. Things were in this train, when 
,de Montmorin, in the beginning 
of Auguft, laid before the national 
afflembly, a recent application from 
the court of Spain for the expected 
afliftance. The fitting out of a 
powerful fleet, and a defenfive alli- 
ance with Spain, were immediately 
mined upon; the aflerably at 
the fame time deprecating any alli- 
ance for offenfive purpofes; a. re- 
_ ferve which could operate only in 
words, as the affiftance muft from 
its nature prove offenfive. A fleet 
of above thirty fail was fitted out at 
eft with the utmotft poffible expe- 
dition; but the French naval force 
had by this time fhaken off all fub- 
ordination and difcipline, with the 
fame contempt that the army had 
one, and the feamen were become 
in all refpetts as diforderly and li- 
centious as the foldiers. They had 
ateay gone to fuch a length as to 
efufe to ferve under any officers but 
fuch as they liked; had inftituted 
committees to report upon the naval 
qualifications, and the political prin- 
- ciples, of their commanders; and 
, m fome inftances, cafhiered 
captains, and chofen new ones; 
a meafure deducible from, and fully 
: Vox. XXXII. 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
[145 
warranted by, that part of the new 
doétrines, which held, that’ kings 
were liable to be cafhiered for mif- 
behaviour like footmen. Thefe mu- 
tineers had likewife been. guilty of 
great diforders and exceffes in the 
port and town of Breft; and, it was 
faid, were encouraged and fupport- 
ed in all their enormities by the mu- 
nicipality of that place. 
M. Albert de Rioms, was firft ade 
miral, and commander in chief of 
this mutinous fleet, a man of good 
character, deemed an able officer, 
and fully competent to difcharge the 
duties of his command in all fitua- 
tions of fervice that could occur. 
It was faid, and is believed, that 
whatever the admiral’s other qualifis 
cations might be, he was fufpected 
of not being fo thoroughly demo- 
cratic in his principles as the violent 
party in the affembly wifhed. It was 
likewife {uppofed, that they wanted. 
to make the diforders at Breft.a pre- 
tence, for turning both that admiral - 
and the prefent minifters out of their 
offices together; at the latter of - 
whom, we have already feen, they 
had been long carping, without their 
being able to bring any one direct 
charge to the proof againft them. 
Some new penal mariné law or code, 
which had been haftily voted by 
the. aflembly, gave fuch offence to 
‘the failors, that a more violent mu- 
tiny than any which had yet taken 
place, fuddenly broke out at Brett. 
As every thing was now done by 
committees, one was immediately 
appointed, to enquire into and re~ 
port upon the caufes of thefe difor- 
ders. IM. Menou, the mouth of the 
committee, reported, that both the 
failors and the municipality were 
deferving not only of cenfure but 
punifhment; but he at the fame 
time reprefented, that the general 
[Xk—M]} diflike 
