STATE PAPERS.
HS
oppofed by the Saius Populi, in all countries, in like circu- ftances.
His majffty fees with plea- fure the trade of his neighbours fiourifli, and would behold its in- creafevvith fatisfaction, if its prof- perity were not repugnant to this primary law. But he likewife per- fuades himfelf, that never, for the fake of fome tranfient profit to individuals, will his ancient allies be the firft to injure England in thisefiential part. Confidering the thing in this light, I cannot doubt but your high mightinefles will give the king the pleafure to hear that they, for their fubjecls, have honeftly abandoned it, and that this ftumbling block is for ever removed. In fettling this point, his majelly commands me to include in it the change, com- monly called Overfcheepen, which is made of a French vefTel into a Dutch vefrel, when the former dares not continue her courfe, and endeavours to fave herfelf by carry- ing neutral colours, in order to avoid feizure at fea by the king's fhips. Your high mightinefTes, while you acknowledge the jultice of my firft demand, cannot refufe the fecond ; fmce that would be to declare, that you treat with good faith, whilft, at the fame time, a more dangerous door would be left for fraud. Such a condud is unworthy of the equity of your high mightinelies, efpe- cially in the prefent cafe, when the queftion is the prevention of any objeft of future difpuce, and the reftoration of harmony and good neighbourhood between the two powers.
The laft point of my inftruc- tions, which relates to the ami- cable demands made by his ma- jefty to your high mightinefies, Vol. I.
requires a more minute confide- ration. I cannot enter upon that fubjeCl yet ; but referve it till afterwards. I muft, neverthelefs, obferve to you, that the king has feen, nut v/ithout pain, yet without giving them any molefta- tion, a great number of Dutch fhips pafs by his harbours, fince the commencement of the war, laden with all forts of materials for building and repairing his ene- mies fleets. His mbjelly aiks that certain articles of naval (lores may be comprehended in the clafs of contraband : but he will fo fettle it with your high mighti- nejl'es, as that the inoffenfive trade of your fubjeds to the north of Europe (if I may ufe that term) fhall not be involved in this ar- ticle. Your high mightinefTes, who are youjfelves a maritime power, and know how to contend for and defend your prerogatives as fuch, muft always allow, that in the prefent war againft France, it is both the king's intereft, and his duty, not only to hinder the marine of his enemy from be- coming too formidable, but alfo to employ all means to weaken it. Can it be difputed that naval ftores are not, in this view, as prejudicial as balls and gun- powder.
Let France be without fhips, and her warlike ftores will never make England uneafy. The im- portance of this article is fo evi- dent, that the king ventures to refer it to the judgment of your high mightinefTes. Thefe, my lord?, are my inftrudions with regard to the fatisfadion which the king would think himfelf en- titled to require from the friend- fhip and jullice of the republic, if he had no other foundation for L his
