Soon after the revolt of the English colonies in America, France, Spain, and Holland made war upon England.' The armed neutrality was formed by Russia, Prussia, At Portugal, and Sweden but it was on account of the number of British officers in the Russian navy that it would not have been able to take any action against England, so Russia with!row from this agreement as soon ax it was made. Before the death of the great Empress Catherine in 1796 Russia had agreed to join England in opposition to France and their two floors were once more combined in active service. Thin alliance was high; ued by the British, for the Russian navy was at that time a really fine one and was numerically the second in the world, but history at that time or at any other period will be searched in vain to find what use they ever male of their naval power. In July, 1795, Vice-Admiral Hanickoff with twelve line-of-battle ships and other vessels in proportion. joined the flag of Vice-Admiral Duncan who had been since the spring blockading De Winter, the Dutch Admiral, in the Texel. The two fleets maintained a joint blockade until the spring of 1797, one of the longest known, and its success was principally due to the tact of Duncan who was highly respected by the whole of the Russian fleet.
England now approached the most desperate period of her history; she had lost her American col-nies, which misfortune was felt most keenly, and three great maritime Powers, France, Spain, and Holland, were to unite one great combined fleet to invade her, and fleets for this combination were fitting out in Brest, Cadiz, and the Texel. In December 1796 " powerful French fleet under Admiral Chérin actually did escape from Brest. It was made up of fifteen
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