Very Secret
My Lord, I am very happy to find by Your Lordship's Letter No 20., that the manner in which I transmitted the Intelligence I received with regard to the intended Armament at Brest, has met with His Majesty's most gracious approbation.
Without seeming to have taken the least Alarm, I make that Armament a principal Object of my Attention. All the Secret Intelligence I have been able to collect, agrees pretty nearly as to the Number of Ships, Vizt Four Ships of the Line, and one or two Frigates, but varies as to their Destination. I was assured the other day, but cannot entirely credit my Informer, that this small Fleet is designed, not for the East, but for the West Indies, is to go to S. Domingo, and carry thither a large Quantity of Ammunition, and some Troops to reinforce the Garrison there. It is pretended, that M. d'Ennery, who Your Lordship knows is an able active officer, closely connected with Choiseul, and bred in that School, represents S. Domingo in a weak defenceless State, says, that it would fall a prey to any Invader, and that he has not even Troops enough, to keep the Inhabitants in awe. This may be true, but it may likewise be a Feint, a Fleet, however small, sent to St Domingo at this time, would certainly deserve the utmost attention, especially if there were Troops on board. there is a French officer, whose name is Kersan, lately come from S. Domingo, who, as I am told, talks much of the Projects of the American Rebels, and the confidence they have of success.
What has been related to me of his conversation with regard to a Design they have of filling Sledges with combustible matter, and attempting to set fire to such of our Ships, as they can come at when the Frost sets in, seems too wild, and incoherent, to deserve the least notice; but, he speaks very positively, of a design to attack Boston in the Winter, and in general, talks I am told of every thing that relates to them, like a Man, who is zealous in their cause. This, My Lord, is no farther material than, as he may be supposed to eccho M. D'Ennery. The Sentiments of the Duke of Choiseul, and consequently of his Party, are indeed well known. He says openly, as I think I have already observed to Your Lordship, that the Ministers are Ideots for missing this golden opportunity; their Sentiments, however, are I hope entirely different; It is certain, that their Language upon all occasions, is uniformly the same, friendly to Us, and as pacific as possible.
Our Coffee house Politicians, on the contrary, and those Wits who take the lead in all Companies here, & who when they talk upon such Subjects as these, may fairly be placed in the same line with the Politicians I have named, Speak with great complacency of the late success of the Rebels in Canada. When I happen to be present, they moderate their Language but cannot conceal their Joy. I think no Stress is to be laid upon, or conclusions drawn from the Language & Sentiments of Men, who are incapable of distinguishing, sense, from sound, who are totallyignorant of the real Question, who know nothing of Liberty, & Independence, but the name; and, who are eternally led astray by that Declamation, which they retail. Their opinion can never be taken, as an Indication of that of the Ministers, who like Men of real knowledge, and Business, try things in very different Scales.
When I say this, I am far from meaning, to pledge myself for the Sincerity of any French Ministers' Professions tho' I am inclined to beleive, that the Professions of the present French Ministry are sincere, and their general Intentions, & Plan of Administration pacific. I am not however without Some Apprehension, that the present State of Canada, and the manifest Defection of the Lower Canadians, may throw a tempting Bait in their way. An Offer of Canada, which I am persuaded the Rebels would make without Hesitation, might be such a temptation, as it would be hard for the good faith of any French Ministry to resist; especially, if there was a probability of immediate, and easy Success.
I am no Stranger to the Intelligence, Your Lordship lately received, relative to this Object, and am making Secret Inquiry with regard to it; But, cannot yet discover any traces of such a Project. Your Lordship will have better Opportunities than I can have, of knowing from Brest, when the intended Fleet will be ready to sail, and what Troops, if any are to Embark. If those Troops should be the same with those mentioned in the Note Your Lordship received, it would be a very Suspicious Circumstance indeed, and Sufficient to give a real Alarm. A Fleet, which sails in appearance for S. Domingo, might but too easily go to Canada, when the Season permits. I will do what I can, My Lord, to discover its real Destination; The Progress of this Armament, & the motions of this Fleet when it does sail, will not escape the attention, & active vigilance, of him who so ably fills the first Place at our Admiralty board, and who, if he sees the least probability of such an Attempt, will no doubt take such Measures, and place such a Force there, as will prevent a possibility of Danger.
Nothing but the prospect of easy, certain success, would I think induce the present French Ministers, to hazard a Blow, which if unsuccessful, must be followed by shame and Disgrace.
I hope Your Lordship will do justice to the Motives, that have engaged me to give you this long trouble, and consider what I have said, as coming from a wish to guard against the Possibility of Danger, where so much is at Stake; not from any Intention of conveying Suspicions, for which, I as yet see no Sufficient Grounds.
I am with great truth and respect, My Lord, [&c.]
