Folio 161: St. Paul to Weymouth. He writes from a court `so full of contradiction...

Folio 161: St. Paul to Weymouth. He writes from a court `so full of contradiction and uncertainty'. Vergennes promised to prevent the ships from Amsterdam sailing from Nantes and Bordeaux [see f.86]. They will probably have gone direct to St. Eustache and Curaçoa. He encloses translation by Vergennes of the Portuguese memorial with his proposed alterations [f.165] and a copy of his letters to the Portuguese ambassador [f.167]. St. Paul fears that France may be drawn into Spain's plans by the family compact and does not entirely trust France. Vergennes wishes Britain and France to put pressure on Portugal to give satisfaction to Spain. St. Paul discusses how this might be done. He fears that Spain is not averse `to coming to blows'. Clugny has arrived. Choiseul, in spite of the queen's influence, has no hope unless anything happens to Maurepas. It is said she wanted Vergennes replaced by Guines but the king refused. While arming at Toulon and Brest is reduced, everything is to be kept in readiness, in case arming is needed.

Date and place: 1776 May 22 Paris.