enemy's flag from it, or allows it to appear only as a fugitive; and which, by controlling the great common, closes the highways by which commerce moves to and from the enemy's shores. This overbearing power can only be exercised by great navies, and by them (on the broad sea) less efficiently now than in the days when the neutral flag had not its present immunity. It is not unlikely that, in the event of a war between maritime nations, an attempt may be made by the one having a great sea power and wishing to break down its enemy's commerce, to interpret the phrase "effective blockade" in the manner that best suits its interests at the time; to assert that the speed and disposal of its ships make the blockade effective at much greater distances and with fewer ships than formerly. The determination of such a question will depend, not upon the weaker belligerent, but upon neutral powers; it will raise the issue between belligerent and neutral rights; and if the belligerent have a vastly overpowering navy he may carry his point, just as England, when possessing the mastery of the seas, long refused to admit the doctrine of the neutral flag covering the goods. FOOTNOTES: [16] Davies: History of Holland. [17] République d'Angleterre. [18] Lefèvre-Pontalis: Jean de Witt. [19] Martin: History of France. [20] Gougeard: Marine de Guerre. [21] Since the above was written, the experience of the English autumn manoeuvres of 1888 has verified this statement; not indeed that any such experiment was needed to establish a self-evident fact. [22] Chabaud-Arnault: Revue Mar. et Col. 1885. [23] The recent development of rapid-firing and machine guns, with the great increase of their calibre and consequent range and penetration, reproduces this same step in the cycle of progress. [24] Gougeard: Marine de Guerre. [25] Vol. lxxxii. p. 137. [26] Mémoires du Cte. de Guiche. À Londres, chez P. Changuion. 1743 pp. 234-264. [27] See Map of English Channel and North Sea, page 107. [28] Plate I., June 11, 1666, Fig. 1. V, van; C, centre; R, rear: in this part of the action the Dutch order was inverted, so that the actual van was the proper rear. The great number of ships engaged in the fleet actions of these Anglo-Dutch wars make it impossible to represent each ship and at the same time preserve clearness in the plans. Each figure of a ship therefore represents a group more or less numerous. [29] Campbell: Lives of the Admirals. [30] Plate I., June 12, Fig. 1, V, C, R. [31] Plate II., June 14, Fig. 1, E, D. [32] Fig. 1, V, C, R. This result was probably due simply to the greater weatherliness of the English ships. It would perhaps be more accurate to say that the Dutch had sagged to leeward so that they drifted through the English line. [33] Lefèvre-Pontalis. Jean de Witt. [34] Mémoires, pp. 249, 251, 266, 267. [35] Chabaud-Arnault: Revue Mar. et Col. 1885.