[Extract]
Yesterday, there was a conference at Lord Weymouth's. I took this opportunity to discus with this Minister various matters about which I had already conversed with Lord Suffolk:...
As to the liberties taken by their cruising vessels, I also read to him the letters from Messrs. d'Ennery and d'Argout, and I observed to him that I did not officially request M. [Robert] Keeler's punishment, but that by referring the conduct of this officer to him it was our intention to leave to the prudence of the British Ministry to judge whether the best way to have their orders carried out was to punish those who did not conform to them. I tried to make him feel how important this [was] to them as it to us by pointing out to him that the great care we take in this respect is the least equivocal proof of our desire to perpetuate the good intelligence. Lord Weymouth disapproves of the conduct of the English Officers, does not look for any excuses, does not mention the Americans smuggling with our Islands, falls back on the strict orders given to respect our Coasts and our Flag, promises to see to their execution and begs me to believe that they would be in despair if we had a ground to be unhappy. He will request information from the Admiralty concerning M. Keeler's conduct. Furthermore, up to now nothing seems to augur on the part of the English Ministers as offending an idea as that of limiting the direct trade of our Islands. Such pretentions may be ventured but they are nothing more than an act of sovereignty with regard to Holland and Denmark. I cannot imagine they would go that far with regard o France and Spain.
I shall remain on my guard, however, in order to wave aside as soon as I can see it coming a question which could only deeply hurt the King's dignity. The remark which you made so judiciously, My lord, about the behavior of the English during the disorders in Corsica had not escaped Doctor [Benjamin] Franklin who, before his departure for America, had quoted this example to me more than once; and I would have used it modestly without fail with regard to Lord Weymouth if he had led me to the subject of the similar contraband which afflicts them today. We found English guns in Corsica and we did not complain about it. If the English find French guns in America, they should wisely use the same reserve with us. The important point, My lord, is the one which you recommended to me with your usual foresight, I mean the prizes which the Americans might bring into our ports and which would be claimed by the Government. If we had to shape our attitude according to what the English would do in a similar situation, the problem would soon be solved because we would not return them. At least we would be authorized not to agree to anything until we received letters of concessions by which the English would reciprocate each time we would claim a French ship, but in order to be valid, this security would have to be sanctioned by Parliament. Furthermore, My lord, I have not yet heard anything on this matter and I will not lose time forwarding to you any information I may obtain. Meanwhile, the prizes that would be taken to our Islands would apparently be sold there before any claim could intervene.
As we were about to take leave after yesterday's conference, this Minister told me in a trifling manner as if to make conversation that there had been much talk concerning our important armaments. I had not yet received, My lord, your dispatch of the 21st. I answered that, to my knowledge, we were not arming, but that I was not unaware that England was armed and that, while the Sea was covered with her ships under the command of Officers who did not breathe peace as much as the British Ministry and were most capable to commit acts of boldness that might shorten the continuance of the said peace, I would not be surprised that we took on our side the necessary steps to be ready for any eventuality. Lord Weymouth said that we should know the purpose of their armaments and that we could not doubt their peaceful intentions. I replied that we did not doubt it but that, since they had established a Squadron of observation in time of peace, they were to expect that this example would be followed. The Minister said that this establishment was already old, and he asked me if I knew when the Duke de Chartres would return. I answered that I believed his cruise should last 3 or 4 months, but that I did not remember exactly at what time his Squadron had sailed.