Chap. XX.} 1780. |
Oct. 5. |
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report which he made of his administration
to his king he relates: ‘The honor of this successful project has been ascribed to Russia, which in fact lent to it support; but it had its origin in the cabinet of your Majesty.’
A week later, France, like Spain, acceded to the declaration of Russia.
‘The war in which the king is engaged has no other object than the liberty of the seas.
The king believed he had prepared an epoch glorious for his reign, in fixing by his example the rights of neutrals.
His hopes have not been deceived.’
On the fifth of October, the United States of
America in congress, by a resolution which Robert R. Livingston had drafted, proclaimed the principles of the empress of Russia, and afterwards included them in their treaties with the Netherlands, with Sweden, and with Prussia.
By the other belligerent of that day, the armed neutrality was considered fatal to its sovereignty over the ocean.
The king was ready to having the question to an issue.
His ministry were of the opinion, that to tolerate the armed neutrality was to confess that British supremacy on the high seas was broken.
A half-official rumor was set afloat that England would declare war on the Netherlands if they should accept the invitation of Russia; and the cabinet established two points, from neither of which they would depart,——the one to attack any Netherlands convoy; the other to prevent the association of the Netherlands with Russia at all hazards.1
Even Lord Shelburne, the chief of the opposition in
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1874.
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