only are they not natural enemies, as men have hitherto vainly supposed, but they have interests which ought to bring them together. There was once a time when a cannon shot could not be fired in Europe without the consent of France and England, but now the Northern Powers aspire to act independently of us. Thus by our determination to injure one another we have both lost our position. Let us change principles so erroneous; let us unite; let us agree; and we shall dictate terms to the rest of Europe. You are not so blind in France as not to be convinced that on the one hand the policy of the Empire is unnatural, and that Russia wishes to play a part and has views equally unsuitable to the interests of France as of England. If we agree, we shall resume our ancient place, and put a stop to all violent changes in Europe." "There is," he continued, "another object which forms part of my policy: the destruction of commercial monopoly. I regard it as an odious invention, though the English nation more than any other is tainted with it. But this idea needs time and skill, because it is diametrically opposed to the catechism of the English merchants. I shall bestow my most serious attention upon it, and I flatter myself that I shall be able to come to an understanding with your Court on the subject, as well as upon a union in policy." He then went on to tell the French Minister of the difficulties he had had in bringing round the King to his views on these and other subjects. The previous Ministers, he said, had never spoken to the King except to tell him of his greatness and power; they had always elevated him above all the greatest monarchs and the greatest ministers of the world, and had told him that his resources were infinite and that a short war would be sufficient to destroy the power of France. These ideas were strongly rooted in the mind of the King, and it was no easy task to eradicate them. He believed however that he had already succeeded to a considerable extent in doing so.
In a final interview, before Rayneval left England, Shelburne recapitulated the main points on which he had
