A. D. 1 78 1. 697 



fhould immediately be entered upon for the reftoration of peace. That 

 province was particularly engaged in commercial connections with Bri- 

 tain; and it was faid that near two thoufand * Britifh traders a(fliially 

 refided in Middleburg, the capital, befides great numbers in the other 

 towns of it. 



But the French intereft prevailed ; and all the efforts of the people to 

 induce their high mightinefles to feek for peace were ineffectual. In 

 the meantime applications were made by the Dutch government to the 

 northern powers, their late aflociates in the armed neutrality, alleging 

 their acceflion to that confederacy as the principal caufe of Great Bri- 

 tain entering into war with them, and therefor claiming their afTilkncc. 

 But, however defirous thofe powers might be of procuring unlimited 

 freedom to the commerce of their own fubjedts, and even of contribut- 

 ing to the humiliation of the naval power of Great Britain, they were 

 by no means willing to draw upon themfelves the adual hoftility of that 

 power. The emprefs of Ruflia fent orders to her ambalTador at London 

 to offer her mediation, and alfo fent Prince GaUitzin as her envoy-ex- 

 traordinary to the States-general to acquaint them of her kind inten- 

 tions in their favour. The king of Sweden in like manner fent offers 

 of mediation in favour of ' a nation entirely commercial,^ and alfo com- 

 plaints of the hardfliips fuflained by the commerce of the neutral na- 

 tions, and by his own commercial fubje£ls in particular, which mud be 

 increafed and aggravated by the further extenfion of the war. 



The offers of both thefe powers v/ere refpeclfully received bv the 

 Britifh court. The Ruffian otler of mediation was accepted, in cafe the 

 Dutch were really delirous of returning to a ftate of amity with Great 

 Britain : and the Swedilh ambaffidor was informed, that the preferva- 

 tion of public tranquillity was the firrt: objed of his Majefty's care. But 

 it was obferved, that the condud of the Dutch was very different t'rom 

 that of a nation merely commercial : for they had refufed to fullill 

 their engagements with Great Britain, and had moreover, with themoft 

 glaring partiality, given every affiftance to the enemies of this country. 

 Neverthelels, his Britannic Majefly had ftill expreffed ' the mod earncR 

 ' defire to bring back the republic to that fyftem of clofe union, effica- 

 ' cious alliance, and mutual proteclion, which has fo much contributed 

 ' to the prolperity and glory of the two Ihues.' And the ambaffidor 

 was civilly informed, that the emprefs of Rullia being jirior in her offer, 

 his Majefty would not fo far deviate from the refpcd due to herhnperial 

 Majelly, as to affociate ' to her mediation any other, even that of an allv 

 ' the moft refpeclable, and for whom the king cniertaiui. the molt lin- 

 ' cere friendihip.' 



Thefe negotiations were not attended with any faccefs. But ihcy arc 

 worthy of our notice ; bccaufe they fliew (as I had occafion to obfcrvc, 



• I fliouM fiippd'e, tills nu'iibcr may lisvc comprclitndcJ tlic fjmilici of the tra<icr$, including ihcir 

 cU-rks, and rvcn their tnciiial fcrvants. 



Vol. ni. + T 



