Tho Your Lordship can want no further Proofs of the Constant Duplicity and insidious Policy of this Court, Yet I think it my Duty to give You in this secret Manner some very strong ones
I have very good Reason to believe that not long ago M. de Vergennes sent a Message to Deane and Franklin to tell them that they were certainly betrayed, and to beg them to be more upon their Guard for the future
What passed with regard to the Dunkirk Pirate made the Rebel agents apprehend at first a change of System in this Court. Mr Deane has had several Conversations and Explanations on the Subject either with M. de Vergennes directly or through M. Girard which is the same thing, and has had the strongest and fullest assurances that there is No change of System but that France must proceed with great Caution not to provoke a War which the state of her Finances makes her desirous to avoid at least for the present — that she wishes the Americans every possible Success and will contribute to it by every Secret Succour in her Power. These Promises My Lord, are but too well kept. The french Ministers have within these three or four Days consented that between one and two hundred Tun of Brass shall be sent over to North America with proper Workmen to cast it into large Cannon, those formerly sent being all four Pounders. All this Brass or much the greatest Part of it will probably go by the Way of the french West Indies and will certainly be shipped from Marseilles. Your Lordship knows that the Amphitrite took but a Part of the Artillery, which M. de Coudray and Beaumarchais had prepared The Rest was deposited at Marseilles and Dunkirk. Two Brigs that are to convey this Artillery from thence have been chartered there, one of them is actually sailed viz the Brig which Mr. [Andrew] Frazer mentions to have sailed on the 10th Instant for St Pierre in the Island of Martinico having on board a Train of Field artillery and a large Quantity of entrenching Tools The other Brig will sail in a few days and is likewise to go to Martinico
All the articles from Marseilles will be conveyed in one large Ship under the Direction of a Capt Lundy [Pierre Landais] who was a Lieut to M. de Bougainville in his Voiage round the World He goes out to enter into the Naval Service of the Congress.
The order for the Release of Cunningham and the other Pirates was granted on the Sollicitation of Franklin and Deane They kept the order for some time without making Use of it, being Apprehensive that the Crew would disperse if they were released before another Ship was ready to receive them. They are Now I believe on board the Cutter called the Greyhound2 that Cutter which I have so often Mentioned to M. de Vergennes Notwithstanding all My Remonstrances She is to sail in a few days, but has positive orders to return no more to Dunkirk.
Pulaski is to embark at Nantes on board a Massachuchets armed Vessel Capt Fisk. Hynson is certainly gone to Nantes, to take charge of a french Ship that is to sail from thence laden with Goods and Stores The Ship is a bad one and much objected to as such which will occasion some delay Deane is gone to Rouen & Havre but the real object of his Journey seems doubtful The Equipment at Havre is Not I believe as considerable as some of my Informers make it.
The Farmers General have actually paid to the Rebel Agents One Million of Livres for which they are to receive Tobacco. This Payment was made very lately.
M. de Sartines has advised that all Prizes taken by the Americans and come into any french Port should be immediately sold and if possible before they come into the Harbour and without waiting for any instructions from the Rebel agents here He says that by this Means this Court will always be able to plead Ignorance of the Transaction and want of Time to prevent it.
All these Facts which I look upon as certain want no Comment. I earnestly beg that the Information I here give Your Lordship may be kept as secret as possible and I can venture to assure You that this Secrecy is very essential to His Majts Service. Deane thinks himself sure that France will never suffer the Colonies to return to their obedience without risking a War to prevent it I have no doubt that the french Ministers have given this Promise, and I am inclined to believe they mean to keep it, the Exe cution however will depend on Circumstances, in the present Moment they lie by, thinking the Rebels able to defend themselves and if We prosecute the War in America With the unrelenting Vigour that the Necessity of the Circumstances requires They may, and I am confident, will be surprized with the News of a decisive Victory before they are aware
With the Knowledge We have of their insidious Designs We are not only justified in taking every possible Measure of Defence but in my poor opinion are loudly called upon to be constantly on the Watch and to have a great Fleet ready to act instantly so that if the Necessity should arise we may be able to strike at once a decisive Blow which might end the War the Moment it began as Ld Torringtons Victory ended the War inSicily.
The whole Conduct of the french Ministry is the more extraordinary & the more dangerous to themselves, as it has not I believe the entire Sanction of the King their Master at least I know the Ct D artois who declares himself a friend to the Americans, said the other day that the King his Brother throws great obstacles in the Way Quand il entend parler de quelques Secours donnés aux Americains il est furieux was one of Ct D artois Expressions I can give Your Lordship this little anecdote as certain but I do not lay more stress on it than it deserves. I am however much inclined to believe that Many things the Ministers do in favour of the Rebels are concealed from his Most Xn Majty
I am with great Truth & Respect My Lord [&c.]
