(No 43)
My Lord
The Letters from Your Excellency to No 107 have been received and laid before The King.
The proper representations made by Your Excy to the french Ministers with respect to the Cutter fitting out at Dunkirk; the Artillery and military Stores collecting for the use of the Rebels, and the several causes of Com plaint given by their Governors in the West Indies, meet with His Majesty's approbation
The inclosed copy of a Letter from Whitehaven will shew Your Excy that fresh Proofs have been lately given of the Protection held out to the Rebels in the french Ports where the three Privateers, the Reprisal, the Lexington, and the Dolphin have been supplied with every thing that was necessary to them for their Cruise, the last of them wholly fitted out at Nantes, and it appears that after their Cruise they returned to some of the Ports of France.2
This Account by His Majesty's Command has been taken into consideration by His confidential Servants, and their Opinion thereon submitted to His Majesty.
In consequence thereof I am commanded by His Majesty to signify to Your Excellency It is His Pleasure that You acquaint the french Ministers, that however desirous His Majesty may be to maintain the present Peace, He cannot from His Respect to His own Honour, and His Regard to the Interest of His trading subjects submit to such strong and public instances of support and protection shewn to the Rebels by a Nation that at the same time professes in the strongest terms its Desire to maintain the present Harmony subsisting between the two Crowns. The shelter given to the armed Vessels of the Rebels, the facility they have of disposing of their Prizes by the connivance of Government, and the conveniencies allowed them to refit are such irrefragable proofs of support, that scarcely more could be done if there was an avowed Alliance betwixt France and them, and that We were in a state of War with that kingdom.
"The Avidity of Gain will tempt Merchants in all Countries to do very irregular things, and that Avidity may not be easily controlled,"3 but the private views of the Traders of France are not concerned in these transactions otherwise than by buying below their value what is supposed to be sold clandestinely in the case of the Prizes carried into the french Ports. Such a circumstance cannot weigh with a great State, whose Views must be directed by greater considerations. The Views of the Rebels are evident. they know that the Honour of this Country, and the proper Feelings of the People in general will not submit to such open violation of solemn Treaties and established Laws acknowledged by all Nations. The necessary consequence must be a War, which is the object they have in view, and they are not delicate in the choice of means that may bring about an end so much desired by them.
These Reflections, My Lord, Your Excellency will communicate to thefrench Ministers, expressing at the same time that an explanation is desired, not a menace intended; but on full consideration of the presentcircumstances they must be satisfied Peace, however earnestly wished, cannot be maintained, unless an effectual stop is put to our just causes of complaint.
Lord Macartney & Governor Shirley have transmitted many depositions on oath, to ascertain the complaints, the particular subjects of which have been sent to Your Excy, but I do not trouble You with them as you need no proofs to be convinced that the french Governors are acting the most unjustifiable Conduct in the West Indies, where there is too much reason to suspect they are concerned in the piracies. I am &c
