[Extract]
No ships are being readied for the Mediterranean at this moment in any English port. The merchants would be the first to know if there were any hostile preparations against the Dey of Algiers, and the Government gives no indications to that effect. When this African Prince refused to receive the British Consul last year, the British Ministers confessed to me that, in spite of the importance of this wrong, they would not wage war against the Dey unless he incited a necessary revenge with new insults. Such a war would not be worth the trouble. Myd Rochford expressed this view and added that they would be content to leave the Dey in doubt about the intentions of the British Court. . . .
I informed you by mistake that the inhabitants of the Island of Nantucket were not included in the Bill that deprives New England of fishing in Newfoundland. They retain only the right to whale fishing, and it can be surmised that the Government intends even to take away from the Americans their fishing rights in Newfoundland completely and for ever, as you may have seen in the abstract of the sessions of the fifteenth and sixteenth of this month at the House of Lords, with the hope that the British Navy will benefit more from it. Furthermore, it is not in good faith that Myd Sandwich dared hold forth that American sailors are not used in the Royal navy. It has been proved that about 30,000 of them were spent in the last war. Even if it were not true that they are most usefully employed in the fleet at times of war, it would remain a fact that by providing men for the indispensable merchant ships, they leave the Royal Navy with much larger resources in finding crews for its warships among the British sailors . . . .
One speaks a great deal about two British ships cruising off Texel. The Minister from Denmark seems much concerned about it and fears apparently that ships will also be sent to the Straits of the Sund. However, the other foreign Ministers are not surprised that the Republic is so pusillanimous as to suffer such an insult and it would be rather embarrassing for the British government if the Dutch, in spite of their weakness, decided to give them chase; but it seems that the British Ministry knows with whom they are dealing.
The Count of Maltzahn, Minister from Prussia, claims that one of the British ships had visited a Dutch vessel loaded with goods for America as she came out of Texel; he reports that no war ammunitions whatever were found on board, only papers sent from London to Philadelphia.
The corvettes Nautilus and Merlin sailed from Spithead successively on the 13th and 17th of this month in destination of Boston wherefrom the former will proceed to Newfoundland. There are at present 275 marines boarding transport ships at Portsmouth in destination of Boston. The rest of the marines are embarking at Plymouth and all the infantry and cavalry will leave from Cork in Ireland. The information was received from Portsmouth that Worcester, a reserve ship of sixty-four guns, will sail with the transport ships, but it is only hearsay since this ship has not yet received orders to this effect. The transport ships gathered at Portsmouth at present number 27. Preston, with fifty guns and three hundred crew is being readied to sail for Antigua where she will relieve Chatham, also with fifty guns.
[P.S.] Without wasting a single moment, I will add the various branches authorised by His Majesty [French] to the organisation of the Secret Service. The branch at Plymouth has been active for some time. Those at Chatham and at the Office of Ordnance will be established without much trouble. The only real difficulties will be encountered at the Admiralty, and I am determined to make every effort in order to surmount them. I will also take great care in keeping you exactly informed of all progress which we will be able to make in this matter. You may rely, My lord, upon my zeal and my great care in the spending of the King's money. I wish to use it only when I am certain that the service of His Majesty will reap the greatest benefit from it.
First, I must investigate the various responsibilities assigned to each clerk in order to find out which one will be most useful to us. Then, I must ascertain his fancies and personality traits, and determine his position in life so that I may attack him at his weakest spot. It may be that chance will serve us better than all these precautions; at least, we had to be in a position to avail ourselves of every opportunity, and, My lord, this is what you have enabled me to do.
