Terrible days indeed were these for distracted England. In India,
France, baulked twenty years earlier, was working for her entire
overthrow, and in North Africa, Spain was using the Moors to the
same end. As time passed the storm grew more violent. Before the
year 1780 ended Holland had joined England's enemies. Moreover,
the northern states of Europe, angry at British interference on
the sea with their trade, and especially at her seizure of ships
trying to enter blockaded ports, took strong measures. On March
8, 1780, Russia issued a proclamation declaring that neutral
ships must be allowed to come and go on the sea as they liked.
They might be searched by a nation at war for arms and ammunition
but for nothing else. It would moreover be illegal to declare a
blockade of a port and punish neutrals for violating it, unless
their ships were actually caught in an attempt to enter the port.
Denmark and Sweden joined Russia in what was known as the Armed
Neutrality and promised that they would retaliate upon any nation
which did not respect the conditions laid down.
In domestic affairs Great Britain was divided. The Whigs and
Tories were carrying on a warfare shameless beyond even the
bitter partisan strife of later days.
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