[Declaration of War against France.] HIS MAJESTY'S. DECLARATION Of War against the French King. George R. The Troubles, which broke out in Germany, on Account of the Succession of the late Emperor Charles the Sixth, having been begun, and carried on, by the Instigation, Assistance, and Support of the French King, with a View to overturn the Balance of Power in Europe, and to extend the dangerous Influence of that Crown, in direct Violation of the From the Time, that We found Ourselves obliged, for the Maintenance of the just Rights of Our Subjects, to enter into a War with Spain, instead of observing a strict Neutrality, which We might have promised Ourselves on the Part of the French King, from whom We were even founded by Treaty to have demanded Assistance; he has given Encouragement and Support to Our Enemies, by conniving at his Subjects acting as Privateers under Spanish Commissions, both in Europe and America; and by sending in the Year One thousand seven hundred and forty, a strong Squadron into the American Seas, in order to prevent Us, from prosecuting the just War, which We were carrying on against Spain, in those Parts; And We have the most authentick Proof, that an Order was given to the Commander of the French Squadron, not only to act in a hostile Manner against Our Ships, either jointly with the Spaniards, or separately; but even to concert Measures with Our Enemies, for attacking one of Our principal Dominions in America; a Duplicate of that Order dated the Seventh of October, One thousand seven hundred and forty, having fallen into the Hands of the Commander in Chief of Our Squadron in the West Indies. This injurious Proceeding was greatly aggravated by the French Minister at Our Court, having declared on Occasion of sending the said Squadron, that the French King was very far from having any Design, or Intention, of breaking with Us. The same offensive Conduct was continued, on the Part of the French King, towards Us, by his Squadron in the Mediterranean, in the Year One thousand seven hundred and forty one, joining with, and protecting the Ships of Our Enemies, in Sight of Our Fleet, which was preparing to attack them. These unwarrantable Proceedings; The notorious Breach of Treaties, by repairing the Fortifications, and erecting New Works at Dunkirk; the open Hostilities lately committed against Our Fleet in the Mediterranean; the Affront and Indignity offered to Us, by the Reception of the Son of the Pretender to Our Crown, in the French Dominions; the Embarkation actually made at Dunkirk, of a considerable Body of Troops, notoriously designed for an Invasion of this Kingdom, in Favour of the Pretender to Our Crown; and the sending a Squadron of French Ships of War into the Channel, to support the said Embarkation and Invasion; will be lasting Monuments of the little Regard had by the French Court, for the most solemn Engagements, when the Observance of them is inconsistent with Interest, Ambition, or Resentment. We cannot omit taking Notice of the unjust Insinuations contained in the French King's Declaration of War against Us, with respect to the Convention made at Hanover, in October, One thousand seven hundred and forty one. That Convention, regarding Our Electorate only, had no Relation to Our Conduct as King of Great Britain: the Allegations concerning it, are groundless and injurious: Our Proceedings in that Respect, having been perfectly consistent with that good Faith which We have always made the Rule of Our Actions. It is unnecessary to mention the Objections made to the Behaviour of Our Ministers in Foreign Courts; since it is notorious, that the principal View, and Object, of the Negotiations of the French Ministers in the several Courts of Europe, have been, either to stir up intestine Commotions in the Countries, where they resided; or to create Differences, and Misunderstandings, between them, and their respective Allies. The Charge of Piracy, Cruelty, and Barbarity against Our Ships of War, is equally unjust and unbecoming; and We have all such Proceedings so much in Abhorrence, that, if any Practices of that Nature had been made appear to us, We should have taken effectual Care to put a Stop to them, and to have punished the Offenders in the severest Manner. We being therefore indispensibly obliged to take up Arms, and entirely relying on the Help of Almighty God, who knows the Uprightness of Our Intentions, have thought fit to declare, and do hereby declare War against the French King; and We will, in pursuance of such Declaration, vigorously prosecute the same by Sea and Land; being assured of the ready Concurrence and Assistance, of all Our loving Subjects, in so just Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Twenty ninth Day of March, 1744, in the Seventeenth Year of Our Reign. God save the King. London, Printed by Thomas Baskett and Robert Baskett, Printers to the King's most Excellent Majesty. 1744. 1 p. folio. Copies in B. M., and P. C.; also in John Carter Brown Library. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register, II Geo., vol. 9, p. 269. Printed in "London Gazette," March 31, 1744. The declaration was reprinted in Boston by T. Fleet, 1744, as a broadside. Copies are in the American Antiquarian Society and the Boston Public Library. |