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SP 78/268 - 276

Catalogue reference: Sub-series within SP 78

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Sub-series within SP 78

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Reference
Sub-series within SP 78
Title
SP 78/268 - 276
Note
These volumes consist mainly of correspondence between the Secretary of State for the Southern Department in London and the British embassy in Paris. The dates of the volumes are as follows:- SP 78/268, October 1765 to December 1765 SP 78/269, January 1766 to April 1766 SP 78/270, May 1766 to August 1766 SP 78/271, September 1766 to December 1766 SP 78/272, January 1767 to June 1767 SP 78/273, July 1767 to December 1767 SP 78/274, January 1768 to April 1768 SP 78/275, May 1768 to August 1768 SP 78/276, September 1768 to December 1768 Secretaries of State, Southern Department, were: July 1765 to May 1766 Conway, Henry Seymour May 1766 to August 1766 Lennox, Charles, duke of Richmond August 1766 to October 1768 Petty, William Fitzmaurice, earl of Shelburne October 1768 to December 1770 Thynne, Thomas, Viscount Weymouth The issue, which takes up the largest part of this correspondence, is the liquidation of the Canada paper. These tiresome negotiations go back to 1763 and are near agreement only in 1772. Other issues given considerable importance are: the French take-over of Corsica; French delaying tactics in completing the demolitions at Dunkirk; the on-going friction over fishing rights round Newfoundland; British claims to Turks Islands; payment by the compagnie des Indes for the maintenance of French prisoners of war in the East Indies; French encouragement of the young pretender's claims on the death of his father in Rome; French interference in Geneva; the refusal by France to order the release of some British-born children, who were detained in convents in order to convert them to catholicism. Reports from France concern the banishment of the jesuits, the clash between the king and the Parlements and the first signs of enmity between madame du Barry and the duc de Choiseul. There are interesting references to the Falkland islands, the situation in northern Europe and the death of the duke of York in Monaco. As well as indexing named ships under ships, there are also references there to incidents at sea. The index also includes a list of ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives and a list of treaties. The European power based on Vienna is variously referred to and these references are indexed under Austria, court of Vienna, unless the Empire is clearly intended. Folios which may be worth a special mention: 268/ff.30a, 35; 271/ff.67, 72, instructions to British ambassadors on appointment to Paris; 269/ff. 149 to 185, the composition of the French militia, 272/ff. 133, 149, about the Treaty of Commerce of Utrecht; 272/f.256, the situation at the French Court and Choiseul's position and 274/f.271; regulations for monastic orders in France.
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C78245/

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SP 78

Secretaries of State: State Papers Foreign, France

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Within the series: SP 78

Secretaries of State: State Papers Foreign, France

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SP 78/268 - 276

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