Folio 190: Stormont to Weymouth. He prepared an extract of governor Morris' letters...

Folio 190: Stormont to Weymouth. He prepared an extract of governor Morris' letters for Vergennes, without revealing Morris' channel of information [see f.126], entitled `authentic advices from Martinico'. He complained that French ships met rebel ships outside French ports, bought their prizes and took them into French ports, where they were newly painted and passed for French ships. He cited the Mignonne and Duc de Chârtres in Nantes. This would not be tolerated in open war, when prizes would have to be legally condemned. Vergennes gave his usual reply, that the government could not prevent all abuses. Stormont said it was impossible to believe that the port authorities were not aware of what was happening and he listed other complaints. He then presented Vergennes with the extract about Martinique, accusing Bouillé and citing the activities of Préjean. Vergennes denied that Bouillé was acting on orders from the French court or with its approval. Maurepas replied in the same way.

Date and place: 1777 Dec 10 Paris.