[Extract]

N^o 150

Most Secret

My Lord

Tho' I have no Expectation that any Endeavours of mine can correct the Duplicity of this Court, yet I continue those Endeavours, and I do it the rather My Lord as I happen to know, that it has been intimated to the Rebel Agents by the french Ministers themselves, that my repeated Representations distress and perplex them. It was upon this Principle, and without much Hope of success, that I waited upon M de Maurepas yesterday Morning, and had a pretty long Conversation with Him of which I will give your Lordships a particular account.

I began with saying, that I was doubly sorry to break in upon his Retreat, as I was come to talk to Him upon a very disagreeable Subject.—I will put no Embarrassing Questions to you Sir about what you do, or do not know, but will only say, that if the Information I am going to give you is really new to you, such Orders may yet be issued as will prevent much Mischief, if it is not, the Evil I doubt is remediless, Whatever be the case, I shall not repent this further Attempt to preserve the Public Tranquillity.

I have certain Intelligence Sir that several Vessels are building in Your Ports, particularly at Nantes, for the use of the Rebels: that Ship¹ I have frequently mentioned to M de Vergennes, and which is to mount 36 guns, twenty six of them Brass, will be Launched this Week, and will be ready to sail towards the End of the Month. She is to carry a Quantity of Arms, and Ammunition for the use of the Rebels—all that regards this Ship, Her sails, Rigging, Guns, Ammunition &c are all furnished in France, and She will be manned with french Sailors, and all this Sir is done in a country the Ministers of which continue to make us the most Peaceable and friendly Professions—

M de Maurepas Attempted an answer, but it was so lame a one that I am almost ashamed to repeat it: He began by denying the fact, and said that our Spies gave us false Intelligence-I insisted upon the Truth of my Information—He then said that if any thing of this kind was done, it was the Act of Individuals, of Merchants who had no orders from Court, who in this, as in every other Case consult their own Interest, and who built, and fitted out Trading Vessels whenever they thought proper—“but these are Armed Vessels"—They are armed only for their Defence—They are Vessels Sir Commissioned by Rebel Agents, and built for the use of the Rebels, and whether ordered by the Court or not it matters not for us to enquire, if such succours are suffered to be furnished in this country to the Rebels, c'est la France qui Leur fournit du secours, nous ne voions que cela Monsieur le Comte, et il est impossible d'yvoir autre chose—Without dwelling farther upon this Topic, to which I meant to return before the End of our Conversation, I went on to say, that I knew that the Hyppopotame, that old french Frigate which Beaumarchais had purchased, and refitted, was now ready to put to sea, was Laden with Arms and Ammunition, and was to sail at the same Time with the Frigates, that escort the Troops to the french Islands, in order to be protected by them. M de Maurepas replied that with regard to the Hippopotame, He could speak positively—as you had expressed some uneasiness said He, some suspicions with regard to this Ship, in order effectually to remove them, She is frétée pour le Compte du Roi will transport some of the Troops to S^t. Domingo, but will carry no Arms or Ammunition—I was the more surprized at this avowal, as my secret Intelligence says, that this is the very Point Beaumarchais has been endeavouring to carry. He has begged that two or three hundred french soldiers may be sent on board this ship, till she gets to a certain Latitude, I would not mention this for fear of a Discovery but only expressed my surprize, that a ship of War (this Frigate carries above forty Guns) should be employed as a Transport and asked Him whether He would engage that the Hypopotame should go to S^t. Domingo, and no where else. He replied that He could and did engage, that S^t. Domingo was her Destination that He could not say what would become of her Afterwards, but that she would like all other ships give a soumission to return directly to Europe—I answered, that we knew this ship, knew her Figure, Dimensions &c and that if she did go to America we should know her at once, and should know too what Wind carried Her thither, and from what Quarter it Blew; after this Reflexion I went on with my Narration.

That ship at Marseilles called l'heureux, which at my sollicitation, was stopt, and forced to unload the Cannon, Mortars and Ammunition She had on board, has now Sir, loaded the whole again; all this has been Winked at, and she has besides in Consequence of a tacit Permission taken on board Eight thousand stand of Arms, and has also a secret leave to sail, and is upon the point of putting to sea—, if she is not actually sailed.

Your Lordship knows that this is the ship that is commanded by Captain Lundy,² one of Bougainvilles Lieutenants, I hope our Fleet will be able to give a good account of Her as she passes the Streights. She surely would be a lawful Prize if ever there was one. When this Ship was stopt and unloaded it was believed that the Rebels were in no want of Warlike stores, and it was upon the News of their having lost such Quantities at Ticonderago, that a secret Permission was sent Her to load again, and set sail. Beaumarchais secretary Frances goes on board of her to distribute the Cargo.

M de Maurepas pretended that all He knew with regard to this ship was that she had been stopt, and obliged to unload the Canon, and Ammunition she had on board, He declared that He never had heard of her since, but would speak to M de Sartines upon the subject. It would not have been polite, and would have answered no good Purpose to contradict so positive an assertion, I therefore only said, that my Intelligence was sure and begged Him to consider, how directly contrary all this was to every Principle of friendship, and how impossible it was for us to believe, that they meant real cordial Peace, if they assisted our Rebels³.... I am [&c.]