Chapter XVII

THE WARFARE AGAINST COMMERCE DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
AND EMPIRE, TO THE BERLIN DECREE. 1793-1806.

Characteristics of the Warfare against Commerce 199

Measures of France and of Great Britain 200

Conduct of Napoleon and of the ministry contrasted 201

Identity of the methods of the Republic and of the Emperor 202

Primary measures of the belligerents 203

Twofold system of Great Britain for the protection of trade 204

Seamen a part of the military strength of a nation 205

The British Convoy Act 205

Results to France of her dependence upon commerce-destroying 206

Activity of French cruisers 207

Amount and distribution of British trade 207

Character of French Channel privateers 208

Indifferent efficiency of many British cruisers 210

French privateering in the Atlantic 210

French privateering in the West Indies 211

Its piratical character, arising from remoteness from Europe 213

Size and force of British East India ships 214

Consequent character of French privateering in Indian seas 215

Efficient protection of British trade in India 216

Advantages of the convoy system 217

Destruction of French commerce by British control of the sea 218

Numbers of British captures 219

The French flag swept from the sea 219

Annihilation of French commerce except the coasting trade 220

Discussion of the number and value of British vessels captured 221

Deductions as to the losses of Great Britain 226

Swelling prosperity of the country 227

Support to British trade contributed by neutral shipping 228

Conclusions thence drawn by the French government 230

Effect of the appearance of the United States as neutral carriers 231

Rapid increase of American merchant shipping 232

Other neutral carriers 233

Attitude taken by Russia in 1793 233

Severe restrictions on neutrals imposed by Great Britain 234

Rule of 1756 234

Seizures of American ships in West Indies, 1793 236

Jay's Mission to Great Britain, 1794 237

Terms of treaty concluded by him 238

Indignation of French government 239

Effect of Jay's treaty upon American relations with Great
Britain 240

Gradual shaping of British commercial war policy 242

Vacillating action of French government towards neutrals 242

France breaks off relations with the United States 244

French aggressions upon neutrals after 1796 244

Embargo upon American vessels in 1793 246

Growing exasperation between France and the United States 246

Effect of Bonaparte's successes upon French foreign policy 247

Early attempts to stifle British trade 248

Determination to arrest neutral trade with Great Britain 249

Law of January 18, 1798 250

Modification of channels of British trade caused by the war 250

Policy of Pitt in seeking to dominate the Caribbean Sea 252

Carriage of tropical produce by neutrals 253

Course of trade in Europe, 1793-1798 254

Effects of the law of January 18, 1798 254

Discussion in the Conseil des Anciens, January, 1799 255

Measures of the United States caused by the law of January 18 258

_Quasi_ war of 1798 with France 258

French reverses in 1799 259

French successes in 1800 260

Questions involved in the Armed Neutrality of 1800 260

Opinions of Pitt and of Fox on the disputed points 261

British conventions with the neutral Baltic States, 1801 261

Concession of the Rule of 1756 by Russia 262

Lessons as to belligerent interest in neutral trade, afforded by
the war between Great Britain and France, 1793-1801 262

Further lesson afforded by the short peace of Amiens, 1801-1803 265

Renewal of war, May, 1803 265

Bonaparte's measures against British trade, 1803-1805 265

Threatened injury to British commerce by neutral carriers 266

Extent of American trade with colonies of enemies to Great
Britain 267

Pitt's commercial measures upon resuming power in 1804 267

Methods of American trade between belligerent countries and
their colonies 268

Condemnation of American ships in British prize courts, 1804 269

Death of Pitt. Fox becomes Foreign Minister, 1806 269

Fox's desire to conciliate the United States 269

Order in Council of May 16, 1806, substituted for Rule of 1756 269

Character of the blockade of French coast thus imposed 270

Intention of the new measure, and its consequences 270

Death of Fox, September, 1806 270

War between France and Prussia 270

Napoleon enters Berlin and issues the Berlin Decree 271

Object of the decree 271