A. D. 1796. 381 



contributions for the continuation of the war, and prefen'ed in all re- 

 fpeds a flrid neutrality. And Spain, already detached from the con- 

 federacy, engaged now to take an adive part in the war againfc Great 

 Britain *. The French government in their treaties with all thofe powers 

 flipulated the mofl: favourable terms for the commerce of France ; and 

 they exprefsly infifted on an exclufion of Britifh vefTels from their ports 

 as the condition of their pacification with fome of them. As they 

 rightly confidered the Britifli comriierce as the feeder and fupport of 

 the war, they took pofleflion of the port of Leghorn, the capital ftatiou 

 of the Britifh trade in the Mediterranean fea, and feized all the Britifli 

 property found in it. 



The ports of all the continent of Europe were now fhut againll the 

 admillion of Britifh merchandize by authority of their fovereigns, ex- 

 cept the Britifli port of Gibraltar, thofe of Turkey, Portugal, Germany, 

 and the three northern powers; notwithftanding which, the accounts of 

 the infpedor-general fliow a greater amount of Britifli and foreign 

 merchandize exported in this year f, than there ever was in any preced- 

 ing one, which proves that they had found their way into the' forbidden 

 countries in fpite of the mofl rigorous prohibitions. And, indeed, the 

 cufl:om-houfe entries of fliipping fliow that many veUels aftually failed 

 from the ports of Great Britain for thofe countries. 



For fome time paft there had been much coolnefs between the two 

 great republics of France and America. The French charged the go- 

 vernment of the United fcates with conniving at a violation of the laws 

 of neutrality in not refenting the aggreflions of Great Britain in feizing 

 their vefl^Is, taking French perfons and French property out of them, 

 and even preiling American feamen to man Britiih fliips of war. 



At the beginning of the war (9'" May 1793) the national convention 

 of France iflhed orders to their fhips of war and privateers to act in the 

 fame manner with Britiili property found onboard neutral vefl*els, as the 

 Britifli cruifers fliould do with regard to French property : but they 

 very foon after (23*^ May 1793) made an exception in favour of veflels 

 belonging to their American allies, which continued to be obferved till 

 the feizure of American vefl^els, loaded with provifions for France, by 

 the Britifli, induced them to refcind it. The American veffelswere then 

 liable to be taken on both fides : and they continued in that difagree- 

 able fituation, till the French government, being informed that Mr. Jay 

 was fent from America to London to renionfl:rate againfl: the capture of 

 American veffels by Britifli cruifers, renewed the order in favour of 



* On the 5" of October 1 796 thtking of Spain -|- It is proper, however, to obferve that a mem- 

 pubUthed a manifefto, wherein he enumerates his ber of the houfe of common* objcftcd to the ac- 

 ijrlevances, and concludes by faying, that he is curacy of the account of exports of this year, and 

 forced to declare war againfl. th; king of England, pointed out particularly the article of coffee ex- 

 Jiis kint;dom and vaffals : and on the 9"" of Nov- ported co the incredible value of fix millions ; and 

 ember tlic king ordered letters of repriial againll that Mr. Pitt allowed, there might be a niiHaks- 

 KDain lo be iffiietU in that article. 



