Folio 148: Harcourt to Rochford. This consists almost entirely of an account dated...

Folio 148: Harcourt to Rochford. This consists almost entirely of an account dated February 29th. The chevalier Law reports from Pondicherry great unrest among the Indians against English domination. If France sent troops, it would be easy to humble English power. But if she lets the chance slip, in two years she will have to renounce all trade as well as Pondicherry. Boynes does not want war for one or two years any more than Britain. It is likely that the plan to augment the navy through the employment of a company will be treated favourably. Changes in the administration and military organisation of St. Domingo and Martinique. A force of 60,000 enrolled seamen will be ready to go anywhere. An account dated March 1st refers to dispatches from Sweden. One concerned with orders for timber and completed ships. A big project for commerce between France Spain and Portugal is being considered, which would undermine British interests. End of accounts. Sousa appears soon as ambassador, bearing out the above.

Date and place: 1772 Mar 4 Paris.