as possible) their cargoes entire, without proceeding to the confiscation of them: but it being now evident, by the hostile invasion actually made by the French King of our island of Minorca that it is the determined resolution of that court to hearken to no terms of peace, but to carry on the war, which has been long begun on their part, with the utmost violence, we can no longer remain consistently with what we owe to our own honor, and to the welfare of our subjects, within those bounds which, from a desire of peace, we had hitherto observed.

We have therefore thought proper to declare war, and we do hereby declare war, against the French King, who hath so unjustly begun it, relying on the help of almighty God in our just undertaking, and being assured of the hearty concurrence and assistance of our subjects in support of so good a cause; hereby willing and requiring our captain-general of our forces, our commissioners for executing the office of our high admiral of Great Britain, our lieutenants of our federal countries, governors or their forts and garrisons, and all other officers and soldiers, by sea and land, to do and execute all acts of hostility, in the prosecution of this war, against the French King, his vassals and subjects, and to oppose their attempts; willing and requiring all our subjects to take notice of the same, whom we hence forth strictly forbid to hold any correspondence or communication with the said French King or his subjects and we do hereby command our own subjects, and advertise all other persons of what nation soever, not to transport or carry any soldiers, arms, powder, ammunition, or other contraband goods, to any of the territories,

lands, plantations, or countries of the said French King; declaring, that whatsoever ship or vessel shall be met withal, transporting or carrying any soldiers, arms, powder, ammunition, or any other contraband goods, to any of the territories, lands, plantations or countries of the said French King; the same being taken, shall be condemned as good and lawful prize.

And whereas there are remaining in our kingdom of the subjects of the French King, we do hereby declare our royal intention to be, that all the French subjects, who shall demean themselves dutifully towards us, shall be safe in their persons and effects.

Given at our court at Kensington, the 17th day of May 1756, in the 29th year our reign.

God save the King.

THE FRENCH KING'S DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST THE KING OF ENGLAND, DATED AT VERSAILLES, JUNE 9th, 1756, AND PROCLAIMED AT PARIS THE 10th.

By the King.

All Europe knows that the King of England was the agressor against the possessions of the King in North America; and that in the month of June, last year, the English Navy, in contempt of the law of nations, and the faith of treaties, began to exercise the most violent hostilities against his Masjesty's ships, and against the navigation and commerce of his subjects. The King, justly

offended with this treachery, and the insult offered to his flag, suspended, during eight months, the effects of his resentment, and what he owed to the dignity of his crown, only through the fear of exposing Europe to the calamities of a new war." "Twas with this salutary view that France at first only opposed the injurious proceeding of England by the most moderate behaviour. At the time that the English navy was taking, by the means of the most odious violences, and sometimes by the basest artifices, the French ships that sailed with confidence under the protection of the public faith, his Majesty sent back to England a frigate which had been taken by the French navy, and the English ships continued their trade unmolested in the ports of France. At the time that the French soldiers and sailors were treated with the greatest severity in the British Island, and that the behaviour, with respect to them, was carried beyond the bounds prescribed by the law of nature and humanity to the most rigorus rights of war, the English travelled and inhabited freely in France, under the protection of that regard which civilized people reciprocally owe to each other. At the time that the English ministers, under the appearance of good faith, imposed upon the King's embassador by false protestations, at that very time they were putting in execution, in all parts of North America, orders that were directly contrary to the deceitful assurances they gave of an approaching accommodation. At the time that the court of London was draining the arts of intrigue, and the subsidies of England, in order to stir other powers against the court of France, the King did not even acquire of them those succors which, by guar

up

anties and defensive treaties, he was authorised to demand; and only advised them to such measures as were necessary for their own peace and security.

Such has been the conduct of the two nations. The striking contrast of these proceedings ought to convince all Europe of the views of jealousy, ambition and avarice, which incite the one, and of the principles of honour, justice, and moderation, upon which the other behaves. The King was in hopes that the King of England, purely from a consideration of the rules of equity and his own honour, would have disavowed the scandalous excess which his sea officers continually committed. His Majesty had even furnished him with an opportunity of so doing, in a just and becoming manner, by demanding the speedy and intire restitution of the French ships taken by the English navy, and had offered him, upon that preliminary condition, to enter into a negotiation with regard to the other satisfactions which he had a right to expect, and to listen to an amicable reconciliation of the differences concerning America.

The King of England having rejected this proposition, the King could not but look upon his refusal, as the most authentic declaration of war, as His Majesty had declared he should do in his requisition.

The British court might therefore have dispensed with a formality which was become unneccessary; a more essential motive should have engaged it not to submit to the judgement of Europe the pretended grievances which the King of England alledged against France, in the declaration of war which he caused to be published at London.

The vague imputations contained in that work, have in reality no foundation, and the manner in which they are set forth would be sufficient to prove their weakness, if their falsity had not already been strongly demonstrated in the memorial which the king caused to be delivered at all courts, containing the substances of the facts with the proofs thereof, as far as relates to the present war, and the negotiations which preceded it.

There is nevertheless one important fact, which is not mentioned in that memorial, because it was impossible to foresee that England would carry, as far as she has done, her want of delicacy in finding out ways to impose upon the public. The affair in question is the works erected at Dunkirk, and the troops which the king caused to be assembled upon the sea coast.

Who would not think by the King of England's declaration of war, that these two motives occasioned the order he gave to seize at sea the ships belonging to the King and his subjects! And yet nobody is ignorant that the works at Dunkirk were not begun upon till after the taking of two of his Majesty's ships, which were attacked in a time of full peace by a squadron of thirteen English men of war. It is likewise equally known by everybody, that the English Marine had seized upon French ships for above six months, when towards the end of February last, the first battalions that the King sent to the sea coasts began their march.

If the King of England ever reflects upon the treachery of the reports that were made to him upon both these occasions, how can he forgive those who engaged him to