Most secret No. 14/
My Lord,
I will use my utmost Endeavours to procure Your Lordship the information you desire in your most Secret Letter No. 9. 'tho' it certainly is, as you so justly observe, a matter in which I must proceed with the utmost Caution. there is every Reason against any Step that could Shew the least Suspicion of the Sincerity of the friendly Professions of this Court, 'tho' it requires no great penetration, to know with what Grains of Allowance they are to be received.
A M.Hopkins, an officer who quitted the English Service some years ago, & obtained the Rank of Colonel in this with a Pension; an American by birth, & strongly attatched to that Cause, has been watched by a person whom Mr. [Horace] St.Paul set to watch him, and has repeatedly said to that person (who has contrived to get his Confidence), that several Ideas have been Suggested to the French Ministry, but that they reject them all, will give the Americans no Assistance and persist in their Resolution not to interfere; which Resolution this Mr. Hopkins speaks of with such Resentment, and Contempt, as makes all that he says upon the Subject still more credible. 2
'Tho' I am persuaded, My Lord, that-France does, & must see our difficulties with that Secret pleasure, with which it is natural to behold a Rivals distress, and tho' I believe it highly probable, that she does, and will contrive to give the Americans Such Secret assistance, as may tend to feed the Rebellion, and waste our strength by a long and difficult War; Yet I must say, My Lord, that I do not think it likely, that the present French Ministry will take a bold, and open part against us. I rest this opinion chiefly upon M de Maurepas' want of Enterprize, and Love of Ease, but then, My Lord, as I have more than once Observed to Yr. Lordship, We are Exposed to the Danger of a Chance, either from M. de Maurepas' Death or Removal. This Danger does indeed not seem immediate at present, as his health is good, and his Credit the same as Ever, Yet I happen to know, My Lord, that at this very moment, the Duke of Choiseul is not without secret hopes, that out of M. de Guines's Recall, the General Dissapprobation it meets with, & the Resentment of the Queen, something may arise to bring him Choiseul again into Play. Your Lordship will be so good to consider me, as speaking, only of M.de Choiseul's hopes, not of the Probability of his Success, of which cannot as yet pretend to give an Opinion. I am with great truth and Respect My Lord [&c.]
Stormont Lord Viscount Weymouth [Endorsed] Paris 14 febry 1776 Lord Stormont (No 14) most secret R[eceived] 19th.
