On March 8, 1780, Russia issued a proclamation declaring that neutral ships must be allowed to come and go on the sea as they liked.

They might be searched by a nation at war for arms and ammunition but for nothing else.

It would moreover be illegal to declare a blockade of a port and punish neutrals for violating it, unless their ships were actually caught in an attempt to enter the port.

Denmark and Sweden joined Russia in what was known as the Armed Neutrality and promised that they would retaliate upon any nation which did not respect the conditions laid down.
In domestic affairs Great Britain was divided.

The Whigs and Tories were carrying on a warfare shameless beyond even the bitter partisan strife of later days.