[Extract]

I have already told you, Sir, that we have good reason to be satisfied with Md. Rochford's explanations concerning the orders given to the British ships which are cruising on the coast of the English Colonies of America; we could wish for nothing more in this matter, except that these orders be precise enough so as to contain the greed of the captains to whom they are addressed: it is in the interest of the British Ministry as well as ours, and this consideration reassures me as much as their statements, if not more so.

But while we may rest at ease with respect to the trade and navigation of our Colonies, we have every reason for expecting disagreeable incidents in the area of Newfoundland; indeed, the English will avail themselves of the Bill recently passed for the purpose of restricting the fishing rights of the Colonies in this area in order to visit, harass, and probably ransack our fishermen on the pretence that they are smuggling; you will be so kind, Sir, as to invite Md. Rochford's attention to these drawbacks; they should convince this minister that the clause upon which they are contingent could have been omitted, all the more because it is in itself completely useless and because it is open to a false interpretation which will become a source of countless chicaneries and quarrels between the fishermen of both nations: we deem these considerations to be so important that they cannot fail to impress the British Ministry; unfortunately this evil appears to be beyond remedy. It is to the same purpose that I discussed this matter with Lord Stormont; he seemed to agree with my observations and I believe that he will present them favorably to his Court.

It is difficult, Sir, to guess what motives prompted Lord North to bring forth his last motion at the House of Commons. I suspect that this minister may have had two reasons: first, to get himself out of a difficulty; second, to deceive the Americans. However, it is to be feared that it was a miscalculation on his part, for, as Mr Fox observed most appropriately, it would be difficult to convince the Colonies that the Government wishes in good faith to give way and come to agreement with them, and, at the same time, have the English believe that the metropolitan authority and the acts of parliament will be upheld. This contradiction points to the division among the ministers, the uncertainty of their projects and of their views; it allows us to foresee the fall of the present ministry and Md Chatham's triumph. Of course, this last event would bring about a new order of things, and it is much to be feared that it would be at the sacrifice of peace in Europe.

We are not supposed to know what goes on in the English parliament, but since the public papers have mentioned them, there can be no objection to our withstanding the false imputations and fabricated reports uttered in that place and which seek to gain credence: Md. Sandwich puts forth such imputations when he says that we are loading ships for America at l'Orient; you will be so kind as to deny this to Lord Rochford, not officially but in private; should we keep silent in this matter the facts would be assumed to be correct and since the ships suposedly destined for America would not leave, the British might believe that we changed our mind in this respect out of fear and weakness.