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 would have the assistance of France, who has always found her account in intermeddling with the affairs of Italy. Such was the situation of affairs in Europe at the time George VI, came to the crown.

there were but a few months of the truce with Russia unexpired, the King hastened the preparations for war with redoubled vigour. He had many obstacles to overcome, but the greatest was the want of money; the national debt was a bottomless gulf that swallowed up every thing. The navy was much behind hand in arrears, and many little mutinies had been raised by the sailors for the want of their pay, but at last,