Folio 119: Rochford to Shelburne. Reports are rife that 20 battalions are to go to...

Folio 119: Rochford to Shelburne. Reports are rife that 20 battalions are to go to Corsica, commanded by the prince de Beauveau and lt. general Narbonne. Other reports say they are assembled to intimidate Paoli or to go to Spain to prevent an insurrection, since Spanish troops cannot be trusted. Choiseul, while denying any obligation to inform him about French troop movements or plans, said no decision had yet been taken about Corsica. Rochford thinks that Corsica is not the object of the movements. They are merely an exercise to get people accustomed to them, when some great objective is in view in a year or so. A monsieur d'Angène, at present in England, has contacts there with people of quality and has been similarly employed at northern courts as a sort of honest spy (honnête espion). He is also going to Ireland. The duc d'Harcourt has gone to Normandy with 6 battalions, to quieten an insurrection caused by the price of bread.

Date and place: 1768 Mar 31 Paris.