652 



A. D. iTfcio. 



/ 



1 780 — Atier a long feries of altercations with the Dutch by remon- 

 rtrances on both fides, they ftill infifting on their right, as a neutral nation, 

 and more efpecially in virtue of the marine treaty of the year 1674, to 

 carry fupplies for the French, and the Britifh fhips of war ftill feizing 

 their veflels loaded with ftores for France, wherever they found them, the 

 Dutch determined to protect their navigation by an armed force, and 

 lent Admiral Byjand with five fhips of war to convoy a fleet of mer- 

 chant ihips. I'- January — Near Portland they were met by Commodore 

 Fielding, who requeiled the admiral's permiffion to fend his boats to 

 examine the merchant iliips, which was retuled. He notwithftanding 

 fent his boats, which were fired upon by the Dutch, whereupon Com- 

 modore Fielding fired a (hot ahead of the Dutch admiral, who im- 

 mediately fired a broadfide. Commodore Fielding returned the com- 

 pliment, and the Dutch admiral, without further coniefl, ftruck his 

 colours. All the merchant fhips, that had naval {lores onboard, were 

 Taken pofTeflion of; and the commodore gave notice to the Dutch ad- 

 miral, that he was at liberty to hoifl his colours and profecute his 

 voyage. He hoifled his colours, but infilled upon keeping by his convoy ; 

 and accordingly he attended the fleet into Spithead. The merchant 

 fhips, that wiere detained, were all condemned as legal prizes. The 

 Dutch were now more incenfed than ever, and exclaimed, that, in de- 

 fiance of treaties, their property was feized to a very large amount, and 

 alfo their flag grofsly infulted * : and they vehemently demanded im- 

 mediate fatisfaclion in a tone that made it very evident, that Holland 

 would foon be added to the confederacy againfl Great Britain. The 

 Britifh court, however, were fo far from yielding any thing to their 

 clamours, that they foon after iflued a proclamation, whereby all foreign 

 vefTels, found affifting the enemy with warlike flores, were declared law- 

 ful prizes to thofe who fhould feize them (21"^ January). 



The beginning of this year was diflinguifhed by the fuccefles of Ad- 

 miral Rodney againft the Spaniards. Having fallen in with a convoy 

 of fixteen fhips from S'. Sebaflians, bound for Cadiz under the protec- 

 tion of feven fhips of war from 64 to ic guns, he took the whole of 

 them, not oneWthe men of war or merchantmen efcaping {S^ January). 

 Of the later, twelve were loaded with wheat and flour, three with naval 

 flores, and one with tobacco. And foon after this important capture 

 he engaged the Spanifh fleet, confifling of ele%-en fail of the hne and two 

 frigates, whereof he took fix fhips of the line (16^^ January-). The refl, 

 except one fhip of 70 guns, which blew up, made their efcape. 



• It was xr'rth a verr bad grace that the Datch the moft glaring partiaL'ty, they threateiKd to 



pretended to vicdlcatc their ofBcioufnefs in the fer- punifti by feverc penalties a:;y oce of their fubiects, 



TJce ot France upon the principle of onlinijted ffho (hould ufe that freedom of commerce in fup- 



freedom of ccmiDcrce, while a the faice time, -sriih plying the garrifon of Gibraltar with pronGooi. 



