7 Augst 1775, Versailles
I have shown the King, Sir, the proposition you made of bringing about the return to America of M. [Achard] de Bonvouloir whose acquaintances in, and understanding of, that country are known to you. I do not doubt but what you are sure he is what he says he is, for I must warn you that there is nothing in the Navy Bureau which proves that this Frenchman has been attached in any capacity to the Cape regiment. At any rate, His Majesty has arranged that M. de Sartines at your request draw up a commission as Lieutenant on the staff of the regiment: you will find it enclosed. As for the annual payment of 200 Louis that you propose, the King will authorize it and you will draw on me for extra charges for quarters; but the King in granting you this sum does not intend that you should give up what you proposed in procuring intelligence in the Bureau of Plantations. If it is interesting to be instructed about what happens in North America, it is equally interesting to know what orders can be sent there and even into the other colonies; this knowledge could only spread out some day over the existence of the project you suspect. The King strongly approves your resolution is sending M. de Bonvoiloir, with enough precaution that in any case his mission cannot compromise us. I believe we can allow him to take service among the rebels if his taste carries him there; he is a soldier of fortune whose personal steps can never be of consequence. We must be sure our correspondence cannot be intercepted. You should reduce his instructions, which can only be verbal, to two matters which seem to me to be the most essential: one, to render a faithful account of events and the general feeling of men's minds; the other, to reassure Americans against the fear which no doubt is being raised against us. Canada is the sore point for them and they must understand that we do not think about it at all and that rather than envying them their liberty and independence that they are working to acquire, we admire on the contrary the grandeur and nobility of their efforts and that, without interest in harming them, we shall with pleasure see those happy circumstances that allow them to frequent our ports; the facilities that they will find there for their trade will soon prove to them the esteem we have for them. The King counts on your vigilance and your care in informing him promptly Sir about everything you deem interesting. We are sure Sir that you will not postpone until the time of your weekly dispatch sending us knowledge that is urgent that you send to us
1. Doniol, Histoire, I, 155, 156, translation.