ABSTRACT
The signing of the peace of Paris in early 1763, which ended the Seven Years War, seemingly witnessed Britain at the zenith of its power. France and Spain had been checked in Europe while Britain’s naval superiority allowed her to make important gains in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and India. To many English-speaking commentators it seemed that Britain’s empire was now comparable to that of Ancient Rome. The only downside was the widespread resentment in Europe at Britain’s success, especially in France where Choiseul, the King’s leading minister, was already strengthening the French navy in preparation for another war. 1
