. . . He [de Maurepas] repeatedly said that we should have no farther reason to complain of the American Privateers — that Monsr de Chaffault had orders to keep them off the Coast and not let any of them into the Ports of France except in cases of real Distress — That henceforward neither they, nor their Prizes should be admitted into any of the French Ports, that they did Harm to both Nations, debauched the French Sailors, and raised a Piratical Spirit among them, that in a Word, he was determined to get rid of Ces gens la, et de Chasser cette Vermine. He told me he did not yet know if the three Privateers were gone out of Port,2 that is qu'il n'en avoit pas encore la Nouvelle, but assured me, that the Orders were sent, and would be punctually executed.
He solemnly promised that the two Jamaica Men,3 and as much of their Cargoes as it has been, or shall be possible to recover, should be restored to the Proprietors, on their producing a legal Title.
He would not promise the Sequestration and Restitution of all the Prizes that are in the Ports of France, or shall be brought into them, though I repeatedly pressed it, as the only sure expedient: However, My Lord, if the Order given to admit no Prizes is punctually executed, the Advantage to us, will, I think, be nearly the same. I know of no Prizes of any Consequence now in the Ports of France, except these two Jamaica Men, the Restitution of which was formally promised me, both by M. de Maurepas, and M. de Vergennes, whom I saw afterwards for a few Minutes. . .