1790.] SECRET NEGOTIATION AT PARIS. 209 



peace, and the principles of justice, which were, in future, to prevail 

 in France ; and that, taking into consideration the armaments then 

 in progress throughout Europe, and the dangers to which the 

 commerce and colonies of France might be exposed, the marine 

 force of the kingdom should be increased, without delay, to forty- 

 five sail of the line, and a proportionate number of frigates. 



Although this decree contained no direct promise of assistance 

 to Spain, yet it showed that the French government penetrated 

 the designs of the British, and considered them inimical to its own 

 interests ; while, at the same time, the report, on which the decree 

 was based, evinced an ardent desire, on the part of the French 

 reformers, to preserve peace. In the mean time, revolutionary 

 principles were making rapid progress throughout Europe. The 

 Dutch, who had engaged to assist the British with a fleet, in case 

 of a war with Spain, found their forces necessary at home ; Swe- 

 den having, much to the dissatisfaction of the court of London, 

 made peace with Russia, the latter power was left at liberty to pros- 

 ecute its schemes for the dismemberment of " England's old ally," 

 Turkey ; and, in the East Indies, Tippoo Saib was beginning that 

 war against the British power which he prosecuted so long and 

 vigorously. Moreover, the expenses of the British armament had 

 already amounted to more than four millions of pounds ; and the 

 financial condition of England was not such as to encourage her 

 government to commence hostilities, which would, most probably, 

 become general. Under these circumstances, the court of St. 

 James was under the necessity of lowering its tone, and of receding 

 from its first demands. The determination of lines of boundary to 

 the Spanish American dominions in the north and in the south was 

 no longer required ; and it was admitted that the navigation and 

 fishery of British subjects in the Pacific Ocean should not be 

 carried on within ten sea leagues of any existing Spanish settle- 

 ment, and that neither party should form settlements on the coasts 

 of South America, south of those actually occupied by Spain. Mr. 

 Pitt, moreover, knowing the intimate relations which still subsisted 

 between the French and Spanish governments, commissioned a 

 gentleman at Paris, upon whom he could rely, to sound Mirabeau, 

 and other leaders of the National Assembly ; and, having reason 

 to believe them sincerely anxious to prevent hostilities, he instructed 

 his agent to propose a secret negotiation, to be carried on through 

 the medium of the French government, for the restoration of a 

 good understanding between Great Britain and Spain. 

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