This discussion has been closed.
Posted by History Host (U14671356) on Friday, 21st October 2011
Morning everyone,
Here's this week's quiz - slightly later than advertised, had a few log-in problems today hence 'Historyhost'
Anyway, today’s entrée…
The end of which war in the 18th Century caused a surge in British smuggling? And why?
Katy
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Friday, 21st October 2011
The Seven Year War against France was a godsend to tea smugglers as the government piled duty on the product to meet the expense of the conflict.
But that was during the conflict, not after, so I reckon it's not what you're after, Katy.
Hi Nordmann,
No, you're right about the war. Within ten years of the war ending, Britain's trade with China had doubled meaning that there was now a lot more tea making its way Westwards. And a lot of it travelled in illicitly in massive, well-armed smuggler ships...
Over to you!
, in reply to message 3.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Friday, 21st October 2011
Keeping with the same war, so.
In what way could French snows be said to have been a windfall to the British, particularly in India, as the Seven Year War came to an end?
, in reply to message 4.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Friday, 21st October 2011
Bump.
Same war - or should we be considering the French and Indian War (or 4th French and Indian War)?
The French posessions in India, although returned, were demilitarised and were not allowed to have large enough garrisons to pose a threat to the EIC's power in the sub-continent. The snows - "a few acres of snow" in Voltaire's words, the defence of which cost France so dearly, were the French areas of Canada.
, in reply to message 6.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Friday, 21st October 2011
No. Google again. This is snow that cannot melt.
, in reply to message 7.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Friday, 21st October 2011
Bump
Snows that, perchance, cannot melt - but can float?
(no Google involved, actually - not before close of boards tonight.)
, in reply to message 9.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Friday, 21st October 2011
Bump
, in reply to message 10.
Posted by Vizzer aka U_numbers (U2011621) on Friday, 21st October 2011
I imagine that 'French snows' describes something. Sort of like 'Greek fire'.
Wild guessing here. Even the French word 'neige' or 'neiges' (plural) is drawing a blank. Was 'Les Neiges' perhaps the name of a ship or else a group of people?
, in reply to message 11.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Saturday, 22nd October 2011
Urn's floating googleference is, of course, quite relevant. A Norwegian historian, Knut Olstad, estimated Britain's windfall to have a value of around 50 billion pounds at 2007 prices, though its actual value over the next few decades was of course even greater.
The American diplomat William H.Crawford was even moved to remark after Napoleon's retreat from Moscow "The emperor's plight is nothing compared to all of our unending struggle against the French snows of Britain".
, in reply to message 12.
Posted by Vizzer aka U_numbers (U2011621) on Saturday, 22nd October 2011
Are 'French snows' a type of cotton? Or a breed of sheep maybe?
, in reply to message 13.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Saturday, 22nd October 2011
I can see how you're thinking, but no. However trade is the area in which to look, alright.
, in reply to message 13.
Posted by somewhatsilly (U14315357) on Saturday, 22nd October 2011
Are the 'French snows' a place, a strategically or economically important territory?
, in reply to message 15.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Saturday, 22nd October 2011
Nope.
The "snows" I was thinking of are a variant of a brig rig, with a leg-of-mutton spanker, rather than a gaff one, carried on a shortish mast immediately abaft the mainmast. The date indicated by the quote given earlier suggests the so-called War of 1812. Perhaps they were privateers preying on American seaborne trade?
, in reply to message 17.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Saturday, 22nd October 2011
Right snow, wrong war. As I said, the windfall occurred earlier.
, in reply to message 18.
Posted by Vizzer aka U_numbers (U2011621) on Saturday, 22nd October 2011
The use of the word 'windfall' is intriguing.
I've heard it linked to Lloyd George's Old Age Pensions in 1909 and it being said that if you remembered the Great Wind of 1839 then that meant that you were over the age of 70 by 1909 and so qualified for this new 'windfall'. It could be apochyphal, however, and it certainly doesn't seem to help with this question...aargh!
, in reply to message 19.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Monday, 24th October 2011
I think this had better go to Urn, though no one actually got the historical context. However in the interests of quiz revival it's best to move on ...
For what it's worth the answer to "In what way could French snows be said to have been a windfall to the British, particularly in India, as the Seven Year War came to an end?" is its sudden acquisition of 76 French snows.
The Treaty of Paris which ended the war saw France vacate many of its overseas ports, particularly in far-east Asia and the Indian sub-continent. Britain assumed control of these and rather cheekily also assumed "control" of everything in them - including warehouse provisions and ships at anchor, the majority of which were snows, the most popular long-haul design of French traders. At a stroke France was eliminated as a global trade rival, The Netherlands were reduced to also-rans and Britain's operational long-distance merchant navy fleet tripled in size. The USA was also to suffer. When British companies began off-loading these snows later it was primarily to fledgling US-British shipping enterprises which effectively killed the US ship-building industry dead for a crucial period in its development (hence Crawford's comment) and which seriously retarded the USA's subsequent development as a maritime power in its own right.
In his "History of the English-speaking Peoples" Churchill described this acquisition as the most significant step towards the establishment of the empire (as he knew it) and therefore all the more remarkable for its obscurity.
Thanks, Nordmann - it's a facet of those wars I had never encountered. Don't really see why the snow was so favoured by the French, but still ...
Anyone else fancy setting a question?
The History message boards are now closed. They remain visible as a matter of record but the opportunity to add new comments or open new threads is no longer available. Thank you all for your valued contributions over many years.
or Β to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
The message board is closed for posting.
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Β© 2014 The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.