Folio 176: Stormont to Weymouth. A report of a long discussion with Maurepas. He...

Folio 176: Stormont to Weymouth. A report of a long discussion with Maurepas. He told him that several ships were being built in French ports for the rebels, particularly at Nantes. One ship, which he has frequently mentioned to Vergennes, to mount 36 guns, will beready at the end of the month and will carry munitions to the rebels. She will be manned by French sailors. Maurepas attempted so lame an answer that Stormont is almost ashamed to repeat it: Stormont's spies must be giving him false information. If anything of the sort was done, it was done by individuals. Their guns would be purely for defence. Stormont reacted strongly. France was helping the rebels. Britain could not interpret such actions in any other way. He then turned to the Hippopotame, bought and refitted by Beaumarchais and ready to sail loaded with munitions and going to shelter under the frigates convoying the troops. Maurepas replied that she would carry some of the troops to St. Domingo but no munitions and commissioned for the king. Stormont said the Heureux, which at his request had unloaded its cargo of munitions at Marseille had loaded them again, which `has been winked at'. Maurepas pleaded ignorance and said that the French government gave no assistance to the rebels. Stormont said Britain could not accept the distinction and that the government could stop these things if it wished. It seemed to be helping the rebels secretly until ready for open war. Britain cannot put up with nominal peace. If Maurepas does not now stop the ships at Nantes being built, there can be no excuse. Stormont doubts if war can be prevented but France is not yet ready.

Date and place: 1777 Oct 8 Paris.