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Lib. J. R.
& U. S.
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france would disavow this Violence, and Injustice, we con-
tented ourselves with sending such a Force to America as
was indispensably necessary, for the immediate defence and
Protection of our Subjects, against fresh Attacks and In-
sults :
In the meantime great naval Armaments were preparing,
in the ports of France, and a considerable Body of ffrench
Troops embarked for North America; and though the french
Ambassador was sent back to England with specious pro-
fessions of a Desire to accomodate these Differences, yet it
appeared, that their real design was only to gain time for the
passage of those Troops to America, which they hoped would
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p. 116
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secure the superiority of the ffrench fforces in those parts,
and enable them to carry their ambitious and oppresive pro-
jects into Execution.
In these Circumstances we could not but think it incum-
bent upon us to endeavour to prevent the Success of so dang-
erous a Design, and to oppose the Landing of the ffrench
Troops in America, and in consequence of the just and neces-
sary Measures we had taken for that purpose, the ffrench
Ambassador was recalled immediately from our Court; the
ffortifications at Dunkirk which had been repairing for some
time, were enlarged; great Bodies of Troops marched down
to the Coast; and our Kingdoms were threatned with an
Invasion
In Order to prevent the Execution of these Designs, and
to provide for the Security of our Kingdoms, which were
thus threatned we could no longer forbear giving Orders
for the seizing at Sea the Ships of the ffrench King, and
his Subjects: Notwithstanding which as we were still un-
willing to give up all Hopes that an Accommodation might
be effected we have contented ourselves hitherto with detain-
ing the said Ships, and preserving them, and as far as was
possible their Cargoes entire, without proceeding to the Con-
fiscation of them; but it being now evident by the hostile
Invasion actually made by the ffrench 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 Honour and to the Welfare of our Subjects
within those Bounds, which, £rom 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
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