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augmentation of our trade and marine, the CHAP. 76. improvement of our seamen, and the respect and 1782-1786. splendour of Spain, and its august sovereign. At this time ended the slavery of so many thousand persons, and the abandonment of their unfortunate families, from which resulted unspeakable detriment to religion and the state Now also ceased the export of enormous sums of money, which, in impoverishing us, enriched our enemies, and facilitated their armaments to molest us. Finally, there are now peopling and cultivating, with incredible celerity, about three hundred leagues of the most fertile territory, on the shores of the Mediterranean, which, from the terror of pirates, had been left desert. Whole towns and villages are formed, with capacious ports, to give passage to the productions and manufactures which flourish under the advantages of peace, and your royal protection.”*

* Florida Blanca's Statement, No. 14.- -Official documents in the Madrid Gazette, and other foreign periodical publications.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH.

1783-1789.

1783-1789.

Political and family union with Portugal-State of the principal european powers-Political system of the spanish cabinet-Negotiations with England-Demand of Gibraltar-Convention relative to the limits of the british settlements in the bay of Honduras— Ineffectual attempt to arrange a commercial treaty-Commercial disputes with France and Holland.

CHAP. 77. TRANQUILLITY being restored in the transatlantic dominions, and the spanish coasts delivered from the scourge of moorish piracy, the attention of the monarch was next directed to the court of Portugal, where his influence still continued undiminished, notwithstanding the death of his sister, the queen dowager. He accordingly cemented an union, which was necessary to preserve the peace of his western frontier, by concluding a double marriage between the two royal families. His eldest daughter, Charlotte, espoused John, heir apparent of the portuguese monarchy; and his third son, Don Gabriel, the infanta Maria Victoria.* He succeeded also in entangling Portugal in the political system of the

*Florida Blanca's Statement.

House of Bourbon, and employed his interest CHAP. 77. with effect in promoting a connection between 1783-1789. that country and France, in consequence of which the french were admitted to a share of those commercial privileges, hitherto exclusively enjoyed by England. When this alliance was afterwards endangered by a dispute relative to some portuguese forts on the african coast, which were demolished by the french, he again interposed, and gave a proof of his ascendancy at the court of Lisbon, by promoting an accommodation which reconciled the jarring pretensions of

the two nations to the african trade.*

These arrangements, joined to the alliance with France, having secured the tranquillity and safety of the peninsula, the spanish monarch was enabled to promote, with additional effect, the improvement of his own internal œconomy, and to take a share in the general system of european politics. It is, however, honourable to his character and principles to observe, that his interference was employed in securing, not in disturbing public tranquillity, and in preventing Spain from being involved in a new vortex, by those jealousies and troubles which were the natural effect of the animosity engendered during the late war.

England was at first astounded by the unfor-
Diplomatie Françoise, t. 7, p. 419.

*

CHAP. 77. tunate result of the contest, and the triumphant 1783-1789. exultation of her enemies. The national de

spondency was aggravated by the supposed deficiency in the finances, and the predictions of the gloomy, that by the loss of America the sun of Great Britain was set for ever. Party feuds rose to an alarming height; while the agitation which prevailed in every quarter of the empire evinced the mischiefs resulting from incessant attempts to rouse the passions of the people against the government, and to introduce the leaven of american republicanism into the great mass of the nation. The ferment derived new force from

the known misunderstanding between the sovereign and the coalition ministry.

But the cloud being dissipated, the nation resumed their wonted energy.

A new change took place in the government. The coalition ministry were removed, and the helm of state was confided to the hand of Mr. Pitt, who, at the early age of twenty-four, commenced the most permanent administration which had marked the reign of George the third. Retaining at the same time the favour of the sovereign, and the confidence of the people, the youthful minister displayed superior talents, genius, and eloquence, and effected as important a change in the system of peace, as his father had introduced in that of war.

The hopes of enemies, and the fears of friends,

proved equally groundless. The resources of the CHAP. 77. nation were called into action, commercial enter- 1783-1789. prise revived, tranquillity was maintained at home, and a new and efficient system of finance established. A surplus of near a million sterling, after providing for the current expenditure, was appropriated for the gradual redemption of the national debt. The country was not only delivered from the apprehensions of a public bankruptcy, but the foundation of a new system was laid against future troubles, which has since. enabled Great Britain to display resources beyond the comprehension of the most sanguine

statesman.

In foreign transactions, England had exhibited the same want of energy which marked her domestic policy; and for a time the government, as well as the nation, appeared to sink under the superior ascendancy of the House of Bourbon.

France, elated with having wrested an empire from her rival, and triumphing in the result of the contest, in the first enthusiasm of success, was as little conscious of her inherent weakness, as Britain of her native strength. She profited by the universal respect which the recent exertion of her power inspired. She domineered as before in every court of Europe, and extended her system of alliance and confederation, with a view to complete the humiliation of her antient

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