[Extract]

Monsieur le Comte

I take advantage of a reliable opportunity to converse with you freely on the only really important affair of today ー America, and everything connected with it.

I had a long conversation, the evening of the day before yesterday, with the man whom you have thought it your duty to prevent entering France. 2

In bringing us together, M. de Laur[aguais] faithfully recounted to me all that they had said to each other in my absence, and likewise informed him of all that had passed between himself and me, before taking me to him.

This man appeared to me to be rather stupified than astonished at the absolute contradiction of his news which your long despatches brought you from the South. He cannot imagine whence the error can come. But his informants have so much interest in not deceiving him, that he believes he is well-informed. Moreover, perhaps Congress sent those two Deputies to the Governors of the Spanish possessions in America, or else to the commanders of their squadrons, without having sent them as far as Madrid.

For the rest, he is expecting immediately very certain news of all these matters, and of their sequel. He is informed that they have arrived in Holland, whence they are to be sent to him by very safe means, and in tweive days I shall know what to tell you of them. 3 Meanwhile, he does not cease asking whether we will absolutely do nothing for them. And, without wasting time in repeating to me how important their success is to France, because he does us the honour to think us in accord with him on this point, he simply says to me: ー "We want arms and powder, but above all we want engineers. There is nobody but you. who can help us, and who have a great interest to do so. And what we most need is some good engineers." I reply to him that this last matter is of extreme difficulty, because we cannot send men without giving them a commission: that these men talk, and it is that which compromises, whereas inanimate help is mute. "Well then, give us money," he replies to me, "we will get engineers from Germany, Sweden, Italy &c. ー and you will not be compromised." This, Monsieur le Comte, is our position, what do you wish me to reply?

Since the arrival at Bristol of the vessel intended for Messrs. Montaudouin of Nantes, concerning which so many representations have been made to me, and which you have been informed of, our friend has asked me to forward secretly to them the enclosed letter. I have the honour to send it to you, you can post it without adding a single word thereto, simply recommending it secretly.

The Americans are in other respects in as good a condition as possible. The army, the fleet, provisions, courage, all are excellent. But without powder and engineers, how conquer, or even defend themselves? Shall we let them perish rather than lend them one or two millions? Are we afraid that this money will not come back to us, in one way or another, after the war is over?

Note, Monsieur le Comte, the terror caused to England by the most absurd report which seems to come from France, and judge thereby of the real state of their affairs.

Colonel St. Pol [Horace St.Paul] brings to London a false and ridiculous report of a pretended new treaty between France .and Spain; immediately all securities fall in price.

It is rumored here foolishly and secretly, that the French have taken Jamaica, and notwithstanding that everybody says it is impossible, and that the report is laughed at as well as they can, that does not prevent securities falling immediately in the market.

The least papic with regard to us, has this certain effect on all the public funds. So, when Lord North said yesterday, in the Lower House, that the understanding between France and England was all the more perfect, that this understanding was much more necessary to the French than to the English, the whole Parliament had the common sense to laugh in his face. And when he added that, in spite of Dr.[Richard] Price's dreams, the nation had never been so flourishing, the whole Parliament again had the good sense to laugh in his face. But they ceased laughing, when that transient impulse gave way to the indignation of the orators of the Opposition. And without entering into all that was said yesterday in this House of Commons, because it has doubtless been reported to you, I cannot help enlarging on all the debates which have taken place there. Weakness and terror, that is all that is to be seen there; and the Minister continually closely questioned as to the intentions and proceedings of France, without a single word of reply being obtained from him. Why have the French, says one, 7 500 men in the Isle of Bourbon? To this, not a word. Why, says another, have the Spaniards nine war vessels at Hispaniola, with which ther no doubt protect the commerce of the continent? No answer. Governor [George] Johnston[e] rises. Why have the Spaniards independently of the fleet in America, two fleets at Carthagena and Cadiz ready to set sail. And why do you answer nothing, when I am certain of a coming war between France and England? Absolute silence. Charles Fox supports this, saying: ー what forces do you intend employing, then, against a fleet of 45 American privateers, good sailers, active, brave soldiers, protected by 20 roadsteads and ten seaports; protected by 20 foreign war vessels, always ready to help them with supplies, protected by two powerful nations, soon ready to help them openly and recognise them as allies? Still no answer. Why, asks Mr.[Isaac] Barre, does Lord Howe, who ought to command the fleet, not do so? No answer. The Speaker of the Commons, seeing the Minister without an answer, made reply, but without answering Mr. Barre's question, which was repeated by the latter with warmth.

Then Charles Fox, in an inspired tone, invokes, interrogates the honour of the Ministers, and replying to himself,. he says; ー '.'For a long time past, the honour of the Ministers has been a chimera, it is null, and has no voice in the unfortunate public affairs of England."

It is clear, Monsieur le Comte, that he who answers nothing here, is silent, because he has nothing to answer: terror and anger on one side, weakness and embarrassment on the other, that is the true picture. And you will be still more convinced of this truth, if you recall the nature of all their treaties with the Germans, and especially if you examine the nature and the rate of the new loan.

For every £ 100 sterling lent to the Government, there will be given an acknowledgement for £ 78 sterling, and 3 lottery tickets, worth £ 10 sterling each, and £ 30 sterling together, which gives at the commencement £ 8 sterling profit to the lenders, and, through the fluctuations of the market they have already risen, although not issued, to £ 11 sterling. Add to this 3 per cent interest which the Government will pay for the £ 78 sterling, and it will be found that it is borrowing at more than 14 per cent. These proofs of their embarrassments appear to me unanswerable. But when it is proved that they cannot stand more than one campaign at this horrible price, is it then really true, Monsieur le Comte, that you will do nothing for the Americans, which may put them on a level with their enemies?

Will you not have the courage to once more show the King how much he can gain, without striking a blow, in that one campaign? And will you not try to convince His Majesty that this poor help which. they ask, and upon which we have been debating for a year past, must enable us to gather all the fruits of a great victory, without having gone through the dangers of a battle: that this help may bring us, while we are asleep, all that the shameful Peace of 1762 made us lose: and that the success of the Americans, reducing our rivals to be nothing more than a second-rate power, replaces us in the first rank, and gives us, for a long time, preponderance over all Europe.

What greater object can occupy the King's Council? And what force your pleading will have, if you introduce there the contrary picture of all that the defeat of the Americans may cost us! 300 millions, our men, our vessels, our islands, &c. For after all, once united against us, their troops in good training, and their boldness increased by such a great success, it is but too certain that they will those very Frenchmen to sustain a fatal war, who could, with two millions, plunge them for ever into a peace equally shameful and ruinous.

In spite of the danger which I run, in writing such bold things to you from London, I feel myself twice as French here as in Paris. The patriotism of these people revives mine. It even seems that the precarious and dangerous state in which I find myself, through the suspicions and the severe inquisition to which all my doings are subjected, makes my zeal more ardent.

However, do not neglect, Monsieur le Comte, to urge M.de Sartine r~specting my safety: it is the least thing due to me. The King and he have had the kindness to provide for it; but those same merchants, bankers, brokets, goldsmiths,-&c., who, secretly questioned by the Ministry, have testified that l was in treaty with them for money exchanges, will not fail to reply soon that this is but a lure' a trap," if theydo not see me carry my proposals into effect, and proceed from the order: to the purchase. Two suspected Irishmen have been arrested here.. I have desired that I might be in a position to defend myself alone, and without committing the King, or you, in case the same thing should happen to me, until it may please His Majesty to acknowledge me, or it becomes absolutely indispensable. Till then, I am a dealer in Piastres or Moidores. In this character alone, well defined, J should, if necessary, be defended by the nation against the administration, and I should gain this case with costs. But another lawsuit! I am rather tired of them, I assure you. I hope (contrary to M. de Lauraguais' opinion) that they will not go so far as to arrest me when they see me carry out effectually a commercial affair acknowledged by the nation.

The public papers have no doubt informed you that Lord North has laid before Parliament the account of last year's expenses, amounting to £9,097,000 sterling, and how to meet present needs, he has in hand, he said, £9,118,444 sterling, counting in advance the three items ー exchequer bills, creation of sinking funds, and the loan at 3 per cent which I mentioned above: which make together an item of £6,300,000 sterling, so that, striking a balance, there remains in the treasury, to subjugate America, £21,444 sterling. The rest will go as events may allow.

Such is, at the moment I write to you, Monsieur le Comte, ー such is the state of England, America, Parliament, the public funds, and of the most devoted ?f all your servants ー myself.

I have omitted to tell you that an answer was much pressed for in Par.liament as to what had become of a frigate of observation sent off Brest to follow the fleet which should leave there, and that in this matter as in the others, Lord North remained silent.

Confer about it, I beg you, with M. de Sartine.