A. D. 1689. 637 



In the remarkable convention between the commillioners of King 

 William and thofe jof the flates of the United Netherlands, (dated in 

 Auguft 1689) concerning their prohibition of commerce with France, 

 it was ftipulated : 



' I) That the fubjeds of neither nation fliall be allowed to traffic to or 

 with thofe of France, either with fliips of their own or of any other na- 

 tion. Neither fhall they import into either country any merchandize 

 being the produce of the French king's dominions. 

 ' II) If, during this war, the fubjedts of any other potentate fliall 

 have commerce with France, or their fhips are met with in their paf- 

 fage thither, they fhall be feized and condemned as lawful prize. 



* III) The other potentates of Europe, at peace with France, fhall have 

 due notification, that if their fhips or vefiels fhall be found at fea, be- 

 fore this notification fhall have been given, making their way to France, 

 they fhall be obliged by the fhips of England and Holland forthwitli to 

 turn back ; and if failing from France, loaded with French merchandize, 

 they fhall be obliged to fail back to France, and there leave the faid 

 merchandize, upon pain of forfeiture. And in cafe the fhips of thofe 

 kings, princes, and flates, or their fubjeds, fhall, after the faid notifi- 

 cation, be found at fea, and failing either towards the ports of France, 

 or returning from thence, they fhall be feized and forfeited, together 

 with their cargoes, and fhall be reputed good prize. 



* IV) And as to the princes and allies who are already at war with 

 France, notification fhall be given them as aforefliid ; and thev fhall 

 be defired at the faine time to concur with fuch methods as are fo 

 conducive to the common interefi:, and to give and execute fuch or- 

 ders as tend to the fame end. 



' Done at Whitehall, Augufl 12th — 22d, 1689.' 

 Part of a fecret article, viz. 



' It is agreed, thatiii cafe either the one or the other party fhall be in- 

 ' commoded or molefled, by reafon of the execution of this prefent treaty, 



* or any article thereof, his Britannic majeily King William, and the 

 ' lords the flates-general, do promife and oblige themfelves to be gua- 



* rantee for and to one ai:iother upon that account.' [General coll. of 

 treaties, V. i, p. 284, ed. 1732.] 



Voltaire (in his Age of Louis XIV) obferves, " that France was ne- 



* ver in fo flourifhing a condition as in the period from the death of 

 ' Cardinal Mazarine to this war of 1689 ; contrary to the opinion of a 



* certain author, who (it feems) had affirmed, that France, fmce the 

 ' year 1660, had funk in real value 1,500 millions ; the very contrary 

 ' whereof was true ! Thus (adds he) in England, in^the moll dourifli- 

 ' ing times, papers are continually coming out to prove, that the king- 



* dom is undone !" Which obfervation is extremely juft. 



Although King Charles II, and his brother King James II, 



