[Extract]
No 45:

. . .I had learnt from Cadiz, that Orders had been received there by the Governor to notify to the Master of the Carolina Vessel in that port that he was not to attempt taking any Ammunition or warlike Stores on board, and that in consequence of this Notification, the said Ves­sell was lading with Salt.² . . .

Upon my opening to M. Florida blanca that I was apprized of the Steps which the Court of France had taken, he assured me that this Court would immediately issue. the same Orders to it's several Ports as those which had been given in France, the purport of which he explained to me by furnishing me with the Inspection of the Answer which had been given to Lord Stormont. Upon my explaining more par­ticularly to him the Plan which it was almost certain that the Americans would pursue, & that new Pretenses would be made by them, for the same Purposes, which had hitherto been openly carried on. He assured me in the most explicit Manner, that as the intention of this Court was really to avoid all Grounds of Umbrage or Distrust, he was ready to provide for all such Cases, to stop all Frauds, to receive all the In­formation which I should give him, &to oppose every Evasion by which the Americans might attempt to frustrate the present Measures. He re­peated to me the Desire which His Catholic Majesty sincerely entertained of preserving the Harmony existing between the two Crowns; to which I replyed in the fullest Terms, adding that nothing would more effectually prove the friendly Disposition of this Court, than an extensive Understanding & Support of the Principles now adopted, & not suffering them to be counteracted by any Distinction which might weaken or destroy the effect of them. I can venture to assure your Lord­ship, that I was satisfyed with the Manner in which he treated every part of this Subject. . . .