[Extract]

M. de Beaumarchais

I received, Sir, on the 21st. and 23rd, your private letters of the 16th. and 19th. instant. My last courier having been despatched on the 20th., I have not had sufficiently safe opportunities to write to you, and I do not think the post is one of them. Not, however, that our letters might not be read there; it is not a question of a plot between us, but I begin to think that the Governments so extolled for liberty are much more suspicious than ours. I cannot help laughing to myself at the stir that is :inade over the Dickenson affair; I see nothing in it more interesting than. the profit which the ~apturing crew will draw from it, unless perhaps-that Lord Rochford, your friend, who regretfully sees himself removeq from public business, seizes on insignificant circumstarices, and attaches great importance to them, to constitute himself a secret Ministry. The King approves, Sir, that you should not refuse the overtures which that ex-Minister may make to you. You are prudent and cautious, I should be wjthout anxiety, even if you had a more important commission than that which M. de Sartine has given you. It was fortunate for you, however, that you had it, since it has served to avert all suspicion which they were disposed to conceive at your frequent journeys to London. It must be confessed that these English, whom we thought men, are much below women, if they are so easily frightened.

I have handed your letter to M. de Sartine; he read it before me, and he promised me that my courier should Bring you his reply. I hope he will refuse nothing which you have requested; but if it should not suffice to .strengthen your stays in order to cure Lord Rochford's distrust, what could he do to you? You are not iµ connection with proscribed people; and, moreover, you have no dealings which can compromise you ....

We have not yet a report from Germany of the departure of the first division of the Hessians; apparently there is a lack of vessels. If they are delayed ever so little, they may very likely not arrive at their destination until the end of the season fit for operations.

I have nothing but thanks to offer you for the news from America .which you are kind enoµgh to communicate to me. If South Carolina has joined the Colonies, it is.a. fresh incident which may bring a change in the plan of campaign. England is very powerful, but perhaps not sufficiently so for the engagement which she has entered into.