against the common enemy, the Emperor of all the Russias was ready to afford him a succour of land forces, and he destined for that purpose forty-five thousand men, infantry and cavalry, with the necessary artillery." But this plan, "the pecuniary succours for which were to be supplied by his Britannic Majesty," was completely defeated by the obstinacy of the monarch in question, who firmly persisted in his adherence to a system of rigorous neutrality. It was, however, resolved, notwithstanding this adverse occurrence, that so considerable a body of troops should not remain idle; and Sir Charles Whitworth, knowing how much and how deeply England was interested in the overthrow of the Batavian republic, concluded a convention, dated June 22d, (11th) 1799, for the express purpose of employing a portion of them " for the expulsion of the French from the Seven United Provinces, and the deliverance of the latter from the yoke under which they had so long groaned."

But although Peter III. entered into the contest with a degree of enthusiasm worthy of the days of chivalry, and although his general, the celebrated Suwarrow, at the head of a chosen body of troops, conferred new lustre on the Russian arms, the sudden reverse that occurred in Switzerland, added to some misunderstanding relative to Holland, and a coolness that took place between the two Imperial Courts, were calculated to effect an alteration in the aspect of public affairs. This was completed by a domestic incident, for the introduction of an obscure actress produced a complete change in the politics of Russia, and all that had been achieved by the talents of our minister there was overturned by the arts of a cunning and intriguing female. The name of this personage was Madame Le Chevalier, and she is said to have been originally the mistress of the imperial barber, a Greek domestic who possessed great influence with his sovereign. The British factory offered to advance a large sum of money to Sir Charles Whitworth to produce a counter-action on the lady; but what were ten or fifteen thousand pounds to a rapacious wo

man, who had an absolute monarch, the autocrat of all the Russias, at her feet?

On the return of the English ambassador, he was created, March 21, 1800, an Irish peer, by the title of Baron Whitworth, of Newport Pratt, in the county of Galway.

The situation of this country soon after became very critical in respect to the northern states. They complained that their neutrality was no longer respected, that their shores and harbours were violated by the British cruizers, and that even their men-of-war were not permitted to afford protection to the convoys entrusted to their charge. They urged, at the same time, the procrastination, delays, and expences incident to the English Court of Admiralty, and seemed resolved to recur to decisive measures for the purpose of obtaining redress. Sweden deemed herself greatly injured on a variety of occasions, but particularly by the detention and condemnation of several merchantmen bound for the Mediterranean, under convoy of a ship of war.* She also complained that one of her merchantmen, without a cargo, had been seized by an English squadron, and employed in a hostile enterprize against two Spanish frigates in the bay of Barcelona, by which

On the 30th of June 1798, a fleet of Swedish merchantmen, carrying pitch, far, deals, and iron, and supposed to be bound to the ports of France, Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean, were seized in the British Channel by Commodore Lawford. It appeared by the instructions delivered to the captain of the frigate who convoyed these vessels, that in case the ships of any nation should pretend to the right of search, he was to discover the power to which he belonged by hoisting his colours and firing a salute; and in the event of violence, to resist force by force. He, however, only obeyed the former part of his orders, and was conducted with the ships under his protection to Margate Roads, in consequence of a special order from the Lords of the Admiralty. After the intervention of some delay, the vessels bound for Portugal were permitted to repair thither; and Sir William Scott (Lord Stowell) at length decided in the case of the Maria, the condemnation of which vessel and her cargo was followed by that of the remainder of the convoy. The judge asserted upon this occasion; first, that the right of visiting and searching merchantmen upon the high seas, whatever be the ships, cargoes, or destination, was an incontestible right of the lawfully.commissioned cruizers of a belligerent nation; secondly, that the authority of the sovereign of the neutral country being interposed in any manner of mere force could not legally vary the right of a lawfully-commissioned belligerent cruizer; and thirdly, that the penalty for the contravention of that right was the confiscation of the property so withheld from visitation and search.

stratagem they had both been captured. Denmark loudly enumerated her grievances. She asserted that a number of her vessels had been seized on the most frivolous pretexts, and even carried into the ports of Great Britain, although no species of contraband property whatsoever had been found on board. It was stated, at the same time, that the captain of one of her frigates had been detained and treated with harshness.* An event occurred soon after that occasioned much

* This alludes to the case of His Danish Majesty's frigate the Haufenu. Some English men-of-war having fallen in with this vessel and her convoy, in December, 1799, the commander of one of them demanded her destination, and on learning that she was bound for Gibraltar, replied, that if the captain was going thither he would not visit the convoy ; but, that in case it should not cast anchor in that port, the ceremony would assuredly take place. Captain Van Dockum having informed the officer who came on board, that he would resist a search, a signal was made to examine the fleet immediately, and a boat from the Emerald prepared to execute the order, on which some musquetry was fired from the Dane, and one of the English sailors was severely wounded. A boat belonging to the Flora was at the same time seized and detained until a threat of retaliation had been held out. On their arrival in the bay of Gibraltar, Lord Keith demanded to inspect Captain Van Dockum's instructions, but the latter refused to comply, observing, that he was commanded to prohibit the visitation of his convoy, and that he only obeyed his orders by firing on the boats of the English squadron. Having afterwards pledged his honour to this in presence of the admiral, and the governor of the garrison, and promised to surrender himself before a judge, he was permitted to return on board, but on entering his boat he transmitted a letter in which he refused to comply.. On this, Lord Keith stated, that if he attempted to withdraw himself from justice, the affair would be represented to his court. Mr. Merry, the minister of Great Britain at Copenhagen, accordingly presented a note on this subject to Count Bernstorff, dated April 10, 1800, in which he insisted on the right of visiting and examining merchant-vessels on the high seas, whatever their nation might be, and whatever their cargoes or destinations. He also stated, that His Britannic Majesty had no doubt of the displeasure which his Danish Majesty would feel on learning the violent and indefensible procedure of an officer in his service; and that the King was persuaded of the promptitude with which his Danish Majesty would make to his (Britannic) Majesty the formal disavowal and apology which he had so just a right to expect from him in the case, with a reparation proportionable to the nature of the offence committed. It appears, however, that neither apology nor reparation was made upon the occa. sion. On the contrary, Count Bernstorff, in his reply, asserted that none of the maritime and independent powers of Europe had ever acknowledged the right of searching neutral ships when escorted either by one or several ships of war. He added, that the captain of His Danish Majesty's frigate, by repelling a violence which he had no reason to expect, had done no more than his duty; and that it was on the part of the English frigates that the violation of the rights of a neutral sovereignty, and of a power friendly to His Britannic Majesty, had been committed.

perplexity, and was productive of the most disagreeable consequences. Although the armed vessels of the two northern powers had protested against a search, and one of them had actually recurred to small arms, yet nothing in the shape of a regular engagement had hitherto taken place. This, however, at length occurred. The captain of a Danish frigate, called the Freya, having refused to permit the vessels under his protection to be examined by an English squadron at the mouth of the channel, although he freely offered to exhibit all their papers for inspection, an action immediately ensued, and after having two men killed and five wounded, the Dane struck his colours, and was carried into the Downs. France also was at that time exerting a giant's might. Unawed by the formidable combination against her, she had combated a world in arms; and it began to be dreaded, even by men who were not unfriendly to her first efforts in behalf of domestic freedom, that a power was about to be created that would one day aspire to the domination of Europe. In the mean time, her rulers were unceasingly agitating the courts of the Baltic; and, under pretence of establishing a free trade, were evidently wishing to clip the wings of that commerce which had enabled a comparatively small country to contend successfully for ages with extensive territories and a numerous population. The trade which the States situated on the shores of the Baltic carried on with England, was certainly highly profitable to themselves; but it was absolutely necessary to the existence of this country as a maritime nation. The enmity of those States, therefore, was to be dreaded, and their friendship courted. But, above all things, it was to be feared lest any umbrage should be given to a capricious prince, who affected to possess all the magnanimity without exhibiting any of the solid talents of his mother; and who began to consider himself as the protector of the north of Europe. The American war had given birth to an "armed neutrality," formidable in the extreme, which had been suspended rather than dissolved; and which might at any time be brought into action with increased vigour. A powerful monarch at its head would

render such a league doubly portentous; and although we might at length prove conquerors, yet, during the struggle, our dock-yards and arsenals must be in want of naval and military stores, while a large body of our merchants must be deeply injured, if not wholly ruined.

In this posture of public affairs, it was resolved in the British cabinet, to select a diplomatist equally eminent for his talents and for his moderation; and accordingly, Lord Whitworth was nominated for the purpose. Having made the necessary dispositions with all possible promptitude, he repaired to Copenhagen in the character of plenipotentiary extraordinary; Mr. Merry, our resident minister, remaining, as usual, to discharge the customary official business of his department. While his lordship commenced a treaty with the Count de Bernstorff, a nobleman of great talents and influence, his mission was backed, and his arguments were supported, by a strong squadron, consisting of nine sail of the line, four bomb-ketches, and five gun-boats, which entered the Sound under the command of Admiral Dickson. Such guests were not to be slighted; and the Prince Royal, who had for some years taken upon himself the management of public affairs, immediately signified his wishes, in the form of an invitation, that they should anchor in Elsineur Roads. The court of Denmark, however, being at that period assured of support from the neighbouring states, her ministers held a high language, and considering England as the aggressor, affected rather to demand than to yield submission. But, after a considerable time spent in discussion, at length, by the exertions of our plenipotentiary, an adjustment took place on the 29th August, 1800.

As the Danish government stood greatly on the point of honor, and repeatedly and earnestly urged the disgrace offered to its flag, something on that score was very properly conceded. It was agreed that the frigate with the convoy should be released; and the former repaired in one of the ports of His Britannic Majesty; according to the usage among friendly and allied powers. The claim of visiting merchantmen while under convoy of a ship war, presenting greater diffi