Most Secret
No 19
My Lord
Having received further Confirmations, of the Intelligence I sent Your Lordship with regard to the five Ships, I mentioned in my Letter No 14 I thought the thing of too much importance, to be passed over in Silence, tho' at the same time I was aware of the Impropriety, of making a formal Complaint, I endeavoured to take a middle way, and spoke to M de Vergennes Yesterday, to the following Effect. I began with saying, that as his Excellency, and M de Maurepas had repeatedly given me, the strongest Assurances, of the friendly sentiments, and pacific Intentions of this Court, I was persuaded that I should second their views, by acquainting them with whatever came to my Knowledge, that carried a contrary appearance, et sembloit tendre a un But contravie.
After this short preface, which I made as polite as I could, I added, que partant de ce principe, I wciuld communicate to his Excellency, some information, that had come to me from various Quarters, since we met last. I then My Lord mentioned the five Ships, enumerated the five different Ports, from whence they are to sail, told him, that they were french Vessels, were to carry french Colours, and were laden with large quantities of Ammunition, Cloth, and other effects; All designed ultimately for the Rebels, nay more, actually belonging to them, at least in part, and already paid for by their Emissaries here, and the secret agents they employ. I said all this My Lord, as clearly, and strongly as I could, but with great Civility in the Manner, and without making the least Comment, as I waited to see what answer He would give me. He seemed rather embarrassed, assured me, that the whole was absolutely new to him; that indeed it did not, as I knew, relate to his Department, but to that of M de Sartine, to whom he would Speak upon the Subject. He then My Lord renewed the strongest assurances of the pacific Intentions, of the King his Master, and spoke like a Man who is much in Earnest, and who stands upon Truth.
After I had made a proper return to this He put a Question to me, which I easily saw was a premeditated one, He said that I should oblige him greatly, by giving him an Eclaireissement with regard to the Lettres de Marque, I had mentioned in a former Conversation; that he understood they were to be given to Merchant Ships, to authorize them to defend themselves, and make lawful Prizes of their Enemies, all which was most just, and reasonable, but what He wished to know was, whether the ships that had those Lettres de Marque would thereby be authorized to stop, and search Neutral Vessels; he owned, that as ships can hoist any Colours they please it was reasonable to examine them so far as to know whether they did, or did not, belong to the Nation, whose Colours they carried, but that the proper way of doing that was to examine Les Lettres de Mer that as to an actual Search there were infinite objections to it, it was a great interruption to Commerce, and brought on many disagreeable Discussions. I told Him, that it was not in my Power, to give him an Answer, without further information, and put him in mind, that I had spoke of those Lettres de Marque only as a thing in Contemplation. After he had admitted this, I brought him back to the original Subject, which I did not think we had sufficiently entered into, and begged him to consider, what Suspicions, and Jealousies, the Departure of these five ships, if it should take place must occasion in England. This whole Transaction cannot be a secret there in the first place Sir, I shall of Course mention it as is my Duty (He said I clearly ought to do so) but independent of the Information I give my Court, It is a secret, that is already in many Hands, and must soon cross the Seas. It is well known at Paris, tha,t Beaumarchais directs the whole of this Enterprize, that he Beaumarchais has frequent interviews with Franklin and Deane. M de Vergennes interrupted me here with an Exclamation (c'est le grand feseur que ce Beaumarchais) he said this, with a smile of Contempt, and spoke with derision, of the admirable Secrecy, with which He, and his Associates, conduct their Business. I answered with a Smile that we who wished. to be informed, were obliged to them for the facilities they gave us, and then added in a graver Tone that I had good Reason to believe, that the Rebels had a great Share, if not the whole of those Cargoes, and had actually paid for them, that it was therefore evident, they were ultimately designed for North America, whatever Port these Ships might give out they sailed for, that suffering the Rebels to be supplied, with Ammunition, was contrary to the friendship, this Gourt. professed for us, and in direct Contradiction to the friendly Declaration His Excellency had given me in writing, many Months ago. that the Suffering Ammunition to be conveyed to them in french Bottoms, was still more unfriendly, than. the winking at their getting it here en fraude and carrying it in their own Ships, that whether these warlike-Stores went directly to North America or touched first at st Domingo was in, ,fact a Matter of Indifference, that every body knew that this was not the way in which this Court apprevt~o;mer ses Isles. He interrupted me here to Say that they sometimes did send Ammunition on board Merchant Men, without controverting this I only answered that at least they did not send Ammunition that the Rebels had paid for,,.,which was the case here, I added that if these Vessels were met by an English Man of War, and between twenty, and thirty thousand Uniforms were found on board it would be impossible to suppose, that they were designed, for the Garrison of St Domingo. What said he hastily do they send uniforms ready made up. I answered that I was not Sure that that was the Case but had been,told so. I added, that I knew where the Rebel Emissaries, and their great Agent Beaumarchais, had bought large Quantities of Cloth On vend son Drap aqui on soent said he with a smile ー I replied that there was a great difference between letting the Rebels have Cloth, which I knew Clothiers would sell to those who paid for it, and sending it in french Vessels but that what I laid the greatest stress upon was the large Quantities of Ammunition with which they were to be supplied and the manner in which it was to be conveyed. I told him that I had already acquainted him with the Motives from which I spoke that I always endeavoured to speak before the Event, as my object was to prevent not to complain. I then My Lord added by way of Illustration tho' Your Lordship will easily believe that was not my real Reason, that I had done so with regard to the french Officers said to be designed for North America, and had spoke as he well knew before any of them had sailed ー What is become of them said He with a forced smile, that your Excellency must know better than I can ー I protest to You My Lord, I do not, believe me you know more of these Matters than I do, I see you do ー I answered that as I run about a good deal, I do now and then, pick up some Intelligence, but I cannot imagine my information can be better than Yours, however as You desire it I will without hesitation: tell you what I know I then My Lord told him with truth, ー that we believe at Paris that the ship which had those officers on board, and which was drove back by stress of Weather, had again put to sea, After I had said this, I was silent not chusing to be particular in my information ー He paused for a Moment and then said with a serious and even Melancholy Tone, You cannot conceive what Engines are at Work what wheels within wheels. be assured nous avons aussi Notre opposition
I answered that to speak to Him, not as a foreign Minister but as a friend. It was my clear opinion that the best manner to deal with all oppositions was not only _to take care of Essentials mais de ne jamais donner prise sur Foi dans les petites choses. And then My Lord being desirous to resume once more a Subject to which I probably shall not return. I said that I did not consider those officers as a formidable Recruit, but that was not the point; the Intention and appearance the Thing carried was greatly to be Attended to, that to be sure France might send to st Domingo what officers she pleased, but if those Officers whose Noms et surnoms were already known to many here, and who certainly could not escape the Vigilance of such an able and active Governor as M D Ennery should steal from st Domingo to North America, their appearance there must force such a conclusion as before the event I would never draw
To give Your Lordship very shortly the substance of M de Vergennes Answer (as I have already troubled You so long) it consisted in thanks for my Intentions, and for the Manner in which I had spoke to him, in a renewal of the most friendly professions an:d in a promise to acquaint the King and M de Maurepas with all that had passed
Notwithstanding the Encouragement His Majestys gracious approbation of my Conduct has given me, I should not have ventured to touch upon a subject of this Delicacy without Orders, if I had not been induced to it by reflecting that the Thing did not brook delay as my last Intelligence says the ships are preparing to Sail
I am with the greatest Truth and Respect
My Lord [&c.]
Stormont.
1. PRO, State Papers, 78/301, 126-31.