No 19
Separate

My Lord My first Conversation with Mr de Vergennes was a pretty long one, and as friendly as possible ー After the first Compliments were over, He said "You find us here, My Lord, exactly in the same Sentiments in which you left us ー desirous of living in perfect Harmony with you, and very far from meaning to do anything that can tend to encrease the Embarras of your present critical Situation" ー I answered that We relied entirely upon the repeated assurance They had given us of their Friendship, which would always meet with a suitable Return on our Part, as I was authorized to declare in The King's Name, in the Audience which I was ordered to demand for that Purpose ー I added that after all They had said upon the Subject, and with the Justice We did to the Sincerity of the present french Ministry, and to their fair and frank manner of treating We could not but be persuaded that They never would give the American Rebels any sort of Countenance, ー Assistance or Supply, but I observed to Him, that it was very possible that attempts of that kind might be made, and escape all their Vigilance; and that whenever we had any Suspicion of that Nature, We should communicate it to them, that they might take the Proper Steps to prevent Attempts contrary to those friendly Sentiments and Intentions, which they had so often declared, and on which We loved to rely ー He answered that no Power on Earth, ever did or could prevent all Illicit Trade, which the Prospect of great Gain, would lead Men to attempt at every Hazard, and then quoted the famous answer of that Dutch Merchant, who said that if a Lucrative Trade could be carried on with Hell, he would send his Ships thither au Risque de bruler leur Voiles. ー "But, continued He ー whatever We can prevent We certainly will. The Intelligence you had of Ammunition being sent by the Governor of St. Domingo proves upon Inquiry to be void of all Truth ー We found upon Examination, that far from being able to supply others, He had not a sufficient Provision for Himself ー That Defficiency well supplied, but I again assure you that no Ammunition Stores or Assistance of any kind shall be sent to North America either by the Governor of St Domingo, or any other Governor or Person whatever, that is under our Controle, and that We will sincerely and bona fide prevent every thing that could be to your Detriment, as far as it is possible for any Government to prevent it" ー After I had said a few Words to thank Him for these Promises He of his own Accord, went on with the general Subject, which He entered into pretty largely ー He began with saying "Loin de vouloir augmenter Vos Embarras, Nous les voions avec quelque Peine" (that was his very expression) and then after a short Pause added ー "Ce qui vous arrive en Amerique n'est de la Convenance Personne" I answered that I was sure the Consequences could not escape a Man of his Reflexion and Penetration, and so used to extend his Views ー To this He replied that He might venture to say, that they did not escape Him ー "indeed added He, they are very obvious, as obvious as the Consequences of the entire Cession of Canada. I was at Constantinople when the last Peace was made. When I heard the Conditions, I told several of my Friends there, that I was persuaded England would not be long before She had Reason to repent of having removed the only check that could keep Her Colonies in Awe. My Prediction has been but too well verified ー I think I equally see the Consequences, that must follow the Independance of North America, if your Colonies ever should carry that Point, which they now so visibly aim at. In that Case they would immediately set about forming a great Marine, and as they have every possible advantage for Ship-building would not be long before they had such Fleets, as would be an over-match for the whole Naval Power of Europe, could it be united against them. With this Superiority and every advantage of Situation they might when they pleased, conquer both Your Islands and Ours. I am persuaded that they would not stop here, but would in Process of Time advance to the Southern Continent of America, and either subdue the Inhabitants, or carry them along with them, and in the end, not leave a foot of that Hemisphere in the Possession of any European Power. All these Consequences would not, indeed be immediate. Neither you nor I should live to see them, but for being remote they are not less sure. Short sighted narrow Policy may indeed, rejoice in every Destress of a Rival, without looking beyond the present Hour, but He who looks forward, and thinks of and weighs Consequences, must consider what now happens to you in America, as a General Evil, of which every Nation that has Settlements there, has its Share, and in that Light, I assure you, it has always appeared to Mc" ー All this My Lord Mr de Vergennes said entirely of his own Accord, and with the Air and Manner of a Man, who speaks his Real Opinion. Your Lordship will easily believe, that I expressed great Satisfaction at finding Him in such Sentiments, fell in and applauded his Reasoning, which I did with the better Grace, as He sees the Object in the same Light in which it has always struck Mc, I am as much convinced as He possibly can be, that not only our own future Fate, but much of the General Fate of Europe is involved, in our present unhappy Contest, and that this and every other Nation that has Settlements in America ought to wish Us Success, whether they readdy do so or not, I pretend not to say.

After my Audience I made a Visit to Mr de Maurepas,² and told Him that the Language The King his Master, had held to Me could not but be highly agreeable to my Court. He answered that He had already seen Mr de Vergennes and knew what had passed at my Audience, and then added "Je suis bien aise que Le Roi vous ait parle comme je nais qu'il pense. Soiez sur Melord, que Nous ne sommes pas Gens que cherchent à abuser des Circonstances et a pecher dans l'Eau trouble. Our Wish and Intention is to live in Peace and Friendship with you to maintain the public Tranquillity and to arrange the Affairs of our own Interior in the best Manner We can." I answered that I was persuaded that was ー the Real Plan of the present Ministry and that it was every way worthy of their Wisdom, and then repeated a Part of what I had said to Mr de Vergennes of our entire Reliance upon the assurances they had given Us, that they never would furnish the American Rebels with Ammunition or Stores of any kind He said ー "be assured We do not and will not directly or indirectly give them any Sort of Assistance you had a Notion that the Governor of St Domingo had sent them Gunpowder, but We find, upon the strictest Examination, that it was a groundless Report" ー We then, My Lord, spoke a little of the general Temper of the Nation, observed that it was strongly with Administration, which He said, was a great Point at all Times, but particularly in such Contests as these, and very properly, I think, attributed this general Disposition to the Americans having now clearly shewn, that they aim at absolute Independance. "Opinions, said He, may, be devided about this or that Measure; as for Instance, whether it was right or wrong to attempt to tax the Americans, but now that they shew that what they aim at is Une Independence absolue. Votre Nation sont bien que cette Independance ne sauvoit Lui convenir"

In this Respect at least, My Lord, I am persuaded both Mr de Maurepas, and Mr de Vergennes see the Thing in its true point of View, and are convinced that the Americans wish to be independent, and will make themselves so, if they can ー Mr de Maurepas, who always treats me as an old Acquaintance, talked to me with great seeming frankness and cordiality. He is perfectly well and has the appearance of a Man who is pleased with his Situation, ー and is firm in the Saddle ー I made my Visit short, as many People of the first fashion were waiting in his outward Room.

I have now given Your Lordship a particular, and I am afraid, too long an Account of what passed in these first Conversations the only interesting ones I have as yet had with either of the above-mentioned Ministers ー I think I have omitted nothing material ー I am sure I have added nothing of my own. I am [&c.]