These causes of mutual complaint being permitted to rankle for some time in the bosoms of both nations, produced a considerable degree of irritation.

The British merchants had large credits in America.

Those engaged in the colonial trade had been nearly ruined by the rupture between the two countries; and, without taking into the account the embarrassments in which the war had involved their debtors, they calculated, after the restoration of peace, on the prompt collection of the vast sums which were due to them.

But the impediments to the recovery of debts were, in many instances, permitted to remain; and the dispositions manifested by those states in which they were chiefly due, did not authorize a belief that any favourable change of measures was about to take place.

The complaints of the creditors were loud and incessant.