Secret
N^o 27
My Lord

The french King did not receive the foreign Ministers Yesterday, neither did M de Vergennes come to Paris.

I have now been a fortnight without seeing either Him or M de Maurepas, but no disadvantage to his Majesty's service can arise from this Circumstance, as nothing I could say would in the present Disposition of this Court be of the Smallest Utility. France has thrown the Die, and must now await the final Event; may it be such as is due to Her Treachery.

As Your Lordship most justly observes in your Letter N^o 10, no Representations with regard to the Destination of M la Motte Piquets Squadron, could be of the least use; any Orders that could have been sent me by the last Messenger would have arrived too late, as it is certain that the Squadron is actually sailed, consisting as I am assured, of Seven Ships of the Line, four Frigates, two American Frigates, which M la Motte allowed to join Him, and from Sixteen to twenty Merchant Vessels, which He is to Convoy, but to what Latitude is not exactly known. It is generally thought that He will convoy them only to Cape Finisterre, but I am persuaded He will go much farther.

Tho' it is pretended that these Merchant Ships are bound to S^t. Domingo, yet every body who is at all informed, knows that that is not their real Destination, knows that they are bound to North America, and laden with Arms, Ammunition, clothing Regimentals for 25,000 Men, Salt, and every Article the Americans can stand in need of. What advantage the Rebels will draw from such immense supplies if they are suffered to reach America, it is but too easy to see.

On Sunday last it was reported all over Paris, that when the two American Frigates joined M la Motte they saluted Him with fourteen Guns, and He returned the salute wit11 nine. Tho' this is positively asserted, I can by no Means warrant the Truth of it, on the contrary I have been assured that there is a Letter from an Officer on board M la Mottes Fleet, that says positively that He did not return the Salute.¹

I am privately informed that the Congress has recalled M^r. Silas Deane on Account of some fraudulent Contracts in which He and Beaumarchais have been concerned, and that M^r. George Adams is to be sent hither in his Room.²

M^r Arthur Lee is going immediately to Spain; I wrote Yesterday to L^d Grantham to acquaint his Lordship with M^r. Lees Intention, and gave Him my Opinion of the object of this Journey, which I have no doubt is to indeavour to induce Spain openly to espouse the Cause of the Rebels, by joining in all those treacherous Measures which France has taken of late with the Knowledge and secret Approbation of Her Ally.

I have just learnt that two French Officers, who served in Washington's Army are arrived at L'Orient. The Account they give of the Situation of both Armies is . - very contrary to the belief, and Expections of this Country; They represent our Troops as being in great Health and Spirits, and abundantly provided with every necessary of Life, and the Rebels as reduced to the greatest Distress for want of Shoes, Blankets, and Cloathing. They say this Distress is so great, that the Rebels must sink under it if they do not receive supplies from Europe. I own, My Lord that this Account, which tho' it may perhaps be exaggerated, has, I am persuaded a strong Foundation in Tmth, makes me doubly Anxious that the ships M la Motte convoys may never find their Way to America. I am [&c.]