698 A. D. 1781. 



of the Rhodians in the antient part of my work) how much the intereft 

 and the fafciy of a nation, whom others confider as merely commercial, 

 engage the attention and goodwill of their neighbours. 



The emperor of Germany wifely kept clear of the war, and embraced 

 the favourable opportunity to promote the improvement of arts, manu- 

 fadtures, and commerce, in his dominions. He alfo gave a free toler- 

 ation of religion through all his territories, and in many other refpeds 

 confiderably curtailed the papal power. He traveled all-over his do- 

 minions, that he might fee with his own eyes the condition of his fub- 

 jedls ; and, when he was at Bruifels this fummer, he admitted all peti- 

 tioners to his prcfence, and, diverting himfelf of all pomp, allowed every 

 one to tell his own tale in his own way to xht father of the people. Upon 

 that occafion he alfo eftabliflied regulations for the improvement of the 

 inland navigation of the Netherlands, and on the 11'" of June he de- 

 clared Oftend a free port. 



Odober 9"' — The armed neutrality, which already comprehended 

 Ruflia, Sweden, Denmark, andPruffia, (the Dutch being no longer neu- 

 tral) was now flrengthened by the acceffion of the emperor, though 

 we are not told with what proportion of maritime force *. 



September — The combined fleets of France and Spain, to the number, 

 as was faid, of forty-nine fail of the line, cruifed for fome time at the 

 mouth of the Englifh channel, where they hoped to intercept our rich 

 homeward-bound fleets from the Weft-Indies, and alfo a large outward- 

 bound fleet, which, they knew, was foon to fail from Cork. Their 

 great number enabled them to form a line, or bar, from Ulhant quite 

 acrofs to Silley, fo that they were confident, that no vellel going in or 

 out could efcape them. Admiral Darby, who was then at fea with 

 twenty-one fail of the line, was indebted to the accident of receiving 

 notice of their fituation by a neutral vefTel for not fiilling into their 

 hands, to avoid which he put into Torbay, where his fleet was increafed 

 to thirty fhips of the line, with which he proceeded to fea on the 14'" 

 of September, his orders being to proted the homeward-bound merchant 

 fhips at all hazards. 



In the meantime an invafion was apprehended in the fouth of Ire- 

 land. The unfortified harbour of Cork could not protedl the rich fleet 

 of fliipsin it, and the vaft ftores of provifions colleded in the warehoufes 

 would be a moft defirable prize to the enemy. The military forces in 

 Ireland were therefor marched to the defence of that city ; and thelrifh 

 volunteers made an offer of their fervices, wherever they fliould be 

 wanted. 



While preparations to wdthftand their attack were going on at Tor- 

 bay, and in Ireland, a council of war was held onboard the combined 

 fleet, wherein fome of the admirals propofed to attack Admiral Darby 



* It is fcarcely worth while to take notice of a treaty between Ruflia and Portugal, whereby tlis 

 later acceded to the armed neutrality, in February 1783, when the war was at an end. 



