Abstract
Abstract European states in the eighteenth century were always concerned to tighten the economic bonds with their colonies: they attempted to do this, with varying success, by means of a closed ‘mercantilist’ system. In wartime, states which were weak at sea therefore suffered severely if communications with their colonies could be cut effectively. They usually reacted by trying to liberalise their ‘mercantilist’ systems so as to maintain communications with the aid of neutral shipping. Their adversaries on the other hand would have a vital interest in preventing this challenge to their command of the sea: parallel with the actual war a serious conflict would often develop between the belligerent powers and neutral maritime nations.
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