[Extract]

You know, My lord, that Lord Weymouth mentioned our armaments only once and without pressing the matter. The more lightly he treated this matter, the more concerned he was, as I realized. Since then, he did not mention it to me any more. The other Ministers never spoke to me about it. Silence in such delicate matters is always suspicious; consequently I am more attentive than ever to all the movements of the English Navy. I had the honor to inform you previously that four Line of Battle Ships had been newly commissioned to serve as Guardships; orders have been given for six more to be commissioned for the same purpose, to wit, the Sandwich, 90, and St. Alban, 64, for Portsmouth; the Queen, 90, and the Bienfaisant, 64, for Plymouth; the Prince George, 90, and the Augusta, 64, for Chatham. A large quantity of cables, masts, and rigging are being sent to Halifax. Three new frigates are building. Finally, we have intelligence from Plymouth that the Belleisle and 64 is destined for the East Indies; that the Sloop Spy which was brought to this port by Sailors belonging to the Yachts in Deptford, formed her crew with detachments from Guardships with the addition of 20 Marines, and that she sailed on the 25th of last month for Newfoundland. You will also recall, My lord, the information I had the honor to send you with respect to 50 Vessels being furnished with arms to transport supplies to America. The Government also purchased a large Vessel called Union from the India Company. She received the name of Elephant and is being equipped with 16 guns to sail for America.

I can only see one reason behind all these maritime preparations. They are preparing here a large armament in case it should be needed. Among the Ships being brought to seaworthy condition, two are in want of repair and will necessarily require time. Furthermore, men are needed for their crews, and at the moment they are in America. Thus, this fleet should not be ready to put to sea before the end of this year, and this only with the help of an impressment. But if it should take place on any pretext, the most sudden and vigorous course on our part, My lord, if I may express my opinion, is that which will ensure our safety.

.... But of all these preparations, I must confess that I [am] most concerned with the least noticeable one. I am speaking of the expedition of the Sloop Spy to Newfoundland. The Squadron which is cruising in that Sea left a long time ago and I cannot imagine why this Ship should be sent at this time. But our weak condition in this part of the world, the importance for England to get hold of our best sailors early at the beginning of the war, the ease with which it can be done and our unfortunate experience in the past will always give me great cause to worry. It may be also that our Correspondent in Plymouth is ill-informed because the Office of the Navy indicated her destination as America. I am doing my best to find out the truth about the destination of this Sloop and the real purpose of her mission.²

The Frigates Perseus and Richmond left Portsmouth on the 30th of last month with 15 transports loaded with recruits, war ammunition and victuals for America.