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INTERESTS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 453admit of doubt, although an action which set at nought thehitherto recognised law of nations could not be a matter ofindifference even to England. Her policy can only be excused on the ground that she connived at what she couldnot hinder. But after the triple alliance her former maximsof policy were evidently changed, and England sought notonly to obtain an influence over the affairs of those countries,but even assumed a tone of dictation. If we may creditFrench authors/ she was actuated by a jealousy of thetreaty of commerce, which Russia had concluded withFrance, 1787, by which France had been greatly favoured ;in consequence of this, England herself felt an inclinationto do every thing to involve Russia in a war with Turkey,which it is well known broke out 1788. The truth of thisunauthenticated assertionmay reasonably admit of doubt ;but that the British policy here stepped beyond its propersphere, that England had thought herself able to dictatewhere dictation was not to be dreamt of of this the ministry were soon to experience a painful conviction.The mediation of England at the congress of Reichenbach,1788, was not without advantage but when the;British cabinet wished likewise to dictate to Catherine II. theconditions of peace with Turkey, she declared that she concluded peaces only for herself; nor was she alarmed at thedemonstration made by the equipment of a fleet; sheactually concluded the peace at Jassy 2 for herself, and onthe terms she wished, and the British cabinet gained nomore from its threats than the knowledge that it had threatened to no purpose.The first object to which the exertions of every cabinetshould be directed would seem to be, to comprehend clearly,and to determine precisely, the proper course of actionwhich its position and strength point out to it ;and thenceto deduce the fundamental maxims of its foreign policy.This assertion will not be supposed to imply that such atheory should be openly paraded, as it were, and be laiddown in public declarations ;but the fact that every state,*Compare Se