Folio 27: Stormont to Weymouth. Maurepas told him that troops were necessary for...

Folio 27: Stormont to Weymouth. Maurepas told him that troops were necessary for the government and security of the French islands. The orders to send them could not now be changed. There was no intention of attacking British possessions. Stormont replied that, after the British declaration, reinforcements were unnecessary and said that the influence of Spain, France's close ally, caused Britain justifiable alarm. Britain had no troops to send and relied on her navy. Maurepas said that, if Britain sent ships of the line to the West Indies, France would not take alarm, provided orders were given to protect her trade and flag and that du Chaffault had orders to keep American privateers off the coast and not allow any of them into French ports, except in cases of distress. He solemnly promised the restoring of the 2 Jamaican ships and of as much of their cargo as could be recovered on the production by the owners of their legal titles. But he would not promise sequestration. Vergennes spoke with emotion of his strong desire for peace.

Date and place: 1777 Sept 4 Paris.