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by this Country) could not be detrimental to it's Interests in a Treaty with France; as it was hardly possible that either Great Britain or France could ever be engaged in a great maritime War, in which the others would not be obliged to take a part; so that neither of them could ever be in a State of Neutrality with respect to the other:- But Circumstances have happened, which would make the admission of such an Article in any Treaty of Commerce or Navigation, highly objectionable in the present Moment, because the Acknowledgment of such a Right in any one Instance, would tend to weaken the Assertion of a contrary Principle, so lately made in our Treaties with the Northern Powers of Europe; for they might think that we could not in justice enforce a due Observance of a Maritime Claim, to their detriment, after we catchword had /catchword