[Extract]

N° 151

My Lord

This Morning I had the Honour of your Lordships Letter N^o 62,¹ and immediately waited upon Monsieur de Vergennes, and Monsieur de Maurepas, to both of whom I made those Representations your Lordship directs.

I gave M de Vergennes a list of the french Sailors taken on board the Lexington, and made Strong Remonstrances to His Exey and to M de Maurepas upon this Proceeding, so contrary to their repeated declarations and Professions. They both as sured me that the most positive Orders had been sent to all the Ports, to do every thing possible to prevent an Abuse, which they said was manifestly as prejudicial to France as it could be to us; they pretended it was impossible after the Orders that had been given that any french Sailors should be suffered to go on board American Vessels in the Ports, but that they probably slipt out to sea in small Boats and embarked there, being Allured by high Wages, and the prospect of Captures—I observed to them both, that this Evil might be corrected at once if they would cut the Root of it, by Shutting the french Ports to all American Privateers, to which they only answered, that the former Orders would be punctually executed.

In consequence of Information which I received this Morning, I drew up the inclosed Note,² which I delivered to M de Vergennes—after stating the circumstances of the Case.—He made his usual answer, that he would talk to M de Sartine upon the Subject. He spoke as if the whole had been new to Him, which I think can scarce be the Case, as Monsieur de Maurepas owned to me, that He, Maurepas, knew of the Arrival of the two American Privateers,³ knew that they had been admitted into the Port of L'Orient: He said that they were Leaky, and in great distress, and that as soon as they had received those succours which upon principles of Humanity cannot be refused, they Should be ordered to put to Sea; as to the Prizes⁴ He said he was persuaded they were gone off—I observed to Him that whilst the Orders given with regard to the American Privateers were evaded under various Pretences, no benefit whatever could acrue to us from them; that Vessels would always appear Leaky to those who had a Mind to think them so, and that in a Word the whole was a mere jest, and was considered as such by the Americans themselves, who were known to have said, that these Orders would change a little their mode of Operation but would do them no essentiel Harm—His answer to this was general and evasive, that the french Ministers did all they could, and were very sincere in their Professions, but could not prevent every abuse.... I am [&c.]