Folio 174: Stormont to Weymouth. Vergennes read him the king's reply to his formal...

Folio 174: Stormont to Weymouth. Vergennes read him the king's reply to his formal protest in f.142 and agreed to him taking notes. He gives a summary here. The full text will be sent to Noailles. The king stated his desire for peace and determination to pursue justice and neutrality and to prevent any irregularities by his subjects. He has issued orders as follows: The Reprisal, Dolphin and Lexington having been ordered not to return to French ports, will be sequestered until security can be given that they will return to America without infesting European seas. No prizes recently taken or hereafter taken by the Americans and taken into French ports will be allowed to be sold but will be ordered to leave as soon as weather permits. This order to leave applies also to privateers. The activities of the Americans in French ports must not exceed the limits of legitimate commerce. The vessel taking the prize into Cherbourg was from Maryland not French. The king expects punishment of those English, who tried to fire on Americans in port, this violating the droit de territoire. He will not encourage or protect commerce prohibited by treaties but will not accept frivolous distinctions or the arrest and confiscation of French ships. Thus ends the king's reply.

Date and place: 1777 July 15 Paris.