Folio 250: Harcourt to Rochford. He quotes a report from Versailles (in French)....

Folio 250: Harcourt to Rochford. He quotes a report from Versailles (in French). The officers of the marine corps are to be ready from the 15th to 30th April. There is jealousy because the regiment of Brest is to have precedence over the other 7. The minister of the marine, in view of the news from India, is concerned about what to do, while the policy is to humour Britain. Boynes is anxious to get timber for the navy from French forests. In spite of British opposition the treaty with Portugal will be successful. Boynes also wants to imprive trade with the Levant and the manufacture of cloth in Languedoc and Provence. Aiguillon is pressing Spain to assist in the success of the Portuguese treaty. Boynes is counting on 5 million from a 12 million loan by the clergy to repair the navy and on a further sum taken from the army. Praslin has allowed the state of the navy to deteriorate. (end of report). Harcourt said that the person, who supplies this intelligence does not know that it is for him. He referred to a discussion with Aiguillon about Pondicherry and Chandernagore and French reinforcements.

Date and place: 1772 Mar 25 Paris.