[Extract]
Whatever the case, the right which His British Majesty reserved to employ in Europe, and consequently in England even, the [foreign] troops which he has in his pay has not been opposed with as much violence as could have been expected. This observation, however, seemed to be related to the condition of weakness in which Great Britain and Ireland will be with respect to the national troops intended for their defense: seven thousand regular troops in the first of these kingdoms and six thousand effective troops in the second are indeed all that will remain by the month of April next to oppose any foreign invasion. But their sollicitude [by the members of the opposition] was concerned mostly with the intentions of France and Spain. They claim, therefore, that both of these powers having reasons to revenge themselves upon England would try to take advantage of this easy opportunity and overwhelm her . . . . [the Ministry] did not hesitate to point out that the National Militia would be in a condition to defend the Kingdom as efficaciously as experienced troops. Since this picture of the national defense was not likely to inspire much respect, the navy came to the rescue of the remnants of the Army and Lord Sandwich did not spare his assertions. During the summer he will have left ninteen guard-ships with crews. totalling 6,800 men. In his opinion, a few days of impressment in case of need would be sufficient to complete their armament and make them fit to face the French and Spanish forces. The Ministry is not in a position to wage war. It would mean its downfall as well as that of the country. Therefore, it hopes for peace above all; but since it is as indolent in its wishes as it is careless in its undertakings, we cannot rely upon its foresight nor trust its conduct. It will employ Admirals, Generals whose character, dispositions and interests are opposed to its peaceful system. It cannot deserve their respect nor punish them. These officers may even be so bold as to provoke with their insults the very powers they are supposed to respect the most, and we would already be at war that the Ministers would exhaust themselves, with as much uselessness as sincerity, in putting forth assurances of their peaceful intentions. I did not hide this from Lord North during a rather long meeting which I was honored to have with this Minister. My remarks could not have been more welcome. He told me that he considered everything I had said to him as a proof of friendship and that he had been much impressed by the soundness of the representations which I had been instructed to make to him at the start of the hostilities; therefore, he wanted to tell me in confrdence that he had been induced by them from then on torefuse the letters of marque eagerly requested by the English Shipowners who like to freebo0t a little by nature (this is the term he used); that they had therby avoided that the safety of the foreign flags be exposed to the uncontrollable avidity of the privateers. He assured me that their sea officers had been given such precise instructions that he was perfectly at rest in this respect and that, if against all appearances there were grounds for complaint, justice would quickly be dispensed ....
At least we know with certainty that the Americans are not falling asleep, that they are in no way inclined to give in to force and that, taking advantage of all the carelessness and all the acts of cruelty committed against them, their fanatic and relentless hatred of England does not keep them from combining with maturity, the resources which are most likely to assure their revenge and their separation fr:om the mother country. They have .iu~t seen Norfolk, an important city in Virginia, burned by the ships under the orders of Lord Dunmore, and they were present at the accomplishment of an act of Jury which cannot be very profitable to England. They have already captured and are continually capturing transport ships. They are arm1ng privateers in their main ports. They claim that they will have more than twenty frigates at sea by next summer, and Congress has ordered the construction of ships of the line. I know from a reliable source that on the 5th of January last five well armed.frigates left Philadelphia for an expedition which, .I was assured, will 'surprise Europe. Their destination ~s unknowri, b11t I have reasons to believe that their mission is different from that of the frigates already sent to the Cape or the Island of Ste. Helena in order to cruise against the . English vessels returning from the East Indies. 2 I believe really that the Americans will be neither discouraged nor ~ubjugated, in spite of the care taken by the Ministry to frighten them with our so-called hostile intentions towards them, an idea which I was told, is shared by several Members of Co~gress. Perhaps M.de Bonvoulofr from whom we have not heard yet will enlighten us on this point some day. Meanwhile, I shall not neglect any information which I may receive from oth'er sources. . . . . .
The expedition against Virginia may very well fail because the Squadron, commanded by M. Parker, which was to go there has been completely scattered. Several of the transports, loaded with troops and war ammunition, returned to England; others sailed towards Lisbon. The flag-ship, being disabled, was seen making sail for this port.
