St James's 8th August 1777
[Extract]
No 49
. . . In addition to my No 48, I am further to signify to Your Excellency His Majesty's Commands, on the following points.
It is indispensably necessary that the Privateers said to be sequestrated in the ports of France, should be sent from thence, but without the convoy of a man of War; as Such a measure would be the most public avowal of the protection they have already clandestinely given to the cause of the Rebels. Your Excellency will therefore very strongly insist on the removal of these vessels, without delay.
It has been reported that the privateer the General Mifflin, on entering the Harbour of Brest, saluted M. du Chaffaud [Duchaffault], and that the Salute was returned. This was a compliment that surely was ill timed; and out of regard to this country, and the Vessel being known to be a privateer, might have been dispensed with. I cannot avoid on this occasion observing that les secours d'humanite which M. de Vergennes mentions, may be extended very far; more particularly as the Americans at Paris have boasted, that it was concerted with M. de Sartines, that when it should be materially convenient to Them to enter the ports of France, that they should stove their water casks, and pretend to have a leak in the Vessel. Your Excellency will urge the necessity that this Privateer the Genl Mifflin should immediately depart from Brest.
M. de Vergennes having desired that Your Excellency would acquaint Him with such circumstances as might arise by the non observance of the orders They profess to have given. You will state to Him that the Guernsey prize carried into Cherbourg, after having been ordered out as American property, was sold just without the Harbour; and then carried back into the port as French property. Such proceedings are not consistent with either the letter, or spirit of their engagements; and are collusions unworthy of a great nation. . . .
Your Excellency has on several occasions acquainted the French ministers that His Majesty did not propose to send any ships of the line to the West Indies, unless some should be sent from France. As information has been transmitted to Your Excellency that it is proposed by the French Court to send one Ship of the line on that service; You will acquaint the French Ministers that a ship of the line is ordered from hence on that service; and You will desire They will please to inform You whether They propose to send there any further naval force as their proceedings in that particular will govern ours. I am &c
