Folio 59: Rochford to Shelburne. Porten had reported on talk with Choiseul, who had...

Folio 59: Rochford to Shelburne. Porten had reported on talk with Choiseul, who had solemnly declared his desire for peace and France's lack of preparedness for war. The Corsican issue need not alarm anyone. In reply Porten had stressed Britain's peaceful intentions. Choiseul again visited Rochford, who repeated Britain's concern as expressed in f.32. Choiseul had ordered Boswell's account of Corsica to be translated. Rochford encouraged Choiseul to talk freely, which he is prone to do, sometimes indiscretely. Choiseul referred to report of lord How being sent to the Mediterranean and said that the treaty with Genoa would show that France would occupy those parts held by Genoa and would remain until Genoa paid an agreed sum, which she might never do. France would negotiate with Paoli. There was no truth in the report that Corsica is to be given to the duke of Parma.

Date and place: 1768 June 2 Paris.