112 A. D. 1786. 



advantage of the community in general, and the vaft increafe of the re- 



venue *. 



Aduated by the fenfe of thefe reciprocal advantages, and by the li- 

 berality of principles now generally gaining ground throughout the 

 world, both courts appointed plenipotentiaries, viz. Mr. Eden (now 

 Lord Aukland) on the part of Great Britain, and Mr. de Reyneval on 

 the part of France, who met at Verfailles, (September 26"^) and concluded 



A treaty of commerce and navigation betxveen Great Britain and France, 

 whereby (Article i") a perfed liberty of commerce and navig^jtion is 

 mutually granted to the fubjeds of both powers in their European do- 

 minions. 



2) In cafe of hoftilities the fubjeds of either power, fettled in the domi- 

 nions of the other, are tc* be permitted to remiun and continue their 

 trade undifturbed, unlefs their condud fhall render them fufpeded ; and 

 even in that cafe they are to be allowed twelve months to fettle their 

 affairs, provided they do nothing contrary to the eflablifjied laws. 



3) The fubjeds of either power are to abftain from all ads of hoftility 

 againfl the fubjeds of the other, and not upon any account to accept 

 commilfions for fitting out privateers from any prince or flatc at war 

 with either of the contrading powers. 



4, 5, 12) The fubjeds of either power may freely import in their own 

 vefTels into the European dominions of the other every kind of merch- 

 andize, not particularly prohibited. They and their families may re- 

 fide as long as they pleafe, either as houfe -holders or lodgers, free from 

 every reftraint with refped to religion, and from any exadion under 

 the name of head money or argent du chef, and under no other oblig- 

 ation than duely conforming to the eftablifhed laws of the land. They 

 may travel throughout the country without needing licences or paff- 

 ports ; and they may depart when they think proper. They may buy 

 all lawful kinds of merchandize from manufadurers or others, and they 

 may difpofe of their own goods in their wareheufes or elfewhere, at 



* It wns otjcAed to the treaty, that the voy- the teim natural enemy ? Is it next neighbour ? If 



ages to France would not fo effecUially form a fo, England and Scotland mud in former times 



body of feamen for manning the navy as more dif- have been continually natural enemies. But it is 



tant voyages; as if commerce were to be earned certain, that thefe two bordering kingdoms lived in 



on for no other purpofe but to prepare men for great harmony, without any national quarrels, and 



war, the deftruftion of commerce. Upon that without any warfare, except fome trifling battles 



principle we ou^ht to give up the trade to Hoi- in favour of parties in England, for two centuries, 



land, Germany, and even Portugal, the favourite before the inordinate ambition of Edward I light- 



objeft of the oppofers of the commercial treaty ed up a war, which continued, with intervals of 



with France, and only profecute voyages to India, infmcere pacification, to defolate both kingdoms, 



China, New Holland, and the north-weft coall of till their crowns were united upon one head. The 



America. But the ftrongeft objections feem to happy fituation of united Great Britain renders it 



have been founded on the vile and illiberal idea impoflible for any neighbour to quarrel with us 



(to call it no wotfe) that France is the natural upon the fubjeft of diiptted boundaries. 



enemy of this coimtr)'. — What is the meaning of 4 



