ABSTRACT
While commercial relations with Continental Europe were indeed important, the key developments, as far as trade, empire and the relevant public debate were concerned, nevertheless took place over comparable relations with the trans-oceanic world. Townshend had proposed the same solution in 1728, but he was aware of its sensitivity. From the narrow commercial view, the opposition in 1738–9 advocated a foolish policy. In contrast, foreign policy in the 1730s had sought to favour trade by encouraging peace. In 1747, the British navy inflicted serious losses on the French maritime trading system. Negotiations in Vienna in 1739–40, however, revealed Austria’s determination to protect its own woollen industry, and initial British enthusiasm had waned in early 1740. In early 1740, the government pressed for Dutch co-operation against Dutch interlopers in this trade, who had obtained Prussian support, and thus could present themselves as benefiting from the international trading privileges of a sovereign state.
