Item
Duplicate of SP 78/278 f.252 [see also SP 78/f.250].
Catalogue reference: SP 78/279/3
Date: 1769 nd
Duplicate of SP 78/278 f.252 [see also SP 78/f.250].
Sub-series
SP 78/302-306
Catalogue reference: Sub-series within SP 78
What's it about?
Sub-series within SP 78
Description available at other catalogue level
Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- Sub-series within SP 78
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Title (The name of the record)
- SP 78/302-306
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Note (Additional information about the record)
- These volumes cover the period from April 1777 to March 1778, when the ambassadors of Britain and France are recalled. It contains, in the main, correspondence between viscount Weymouth, secretary of state, Southern department, and viscount Stormont, British ambassador in Paris. SP 78/304 also contains some folios from June and September 1776, and SP 78/306 some folios from April 1778 to December 1779. There are a large number of reports and references to ships and incidents at sea. There is a full list of ships at the end of the Index and also a list of printed documents. Stormont's reports concern the worsening relations between Britain and France and the help being given to the American rebels by the French. Stormont reports on the activities of the rebel agents in France, led by Franklin and Deane, and on their French collaborators. He accuses the French government of deceit. Rebel privateers, sometimes with commissions from Congress, sometimes with French crews, are allowed to take their prizes into French ports in France and the West Indies and to sell them and their cargoes. The French port authorities and the West Indies governors ignore the king's orders. While the king wants peace, Maurepas, his first minister, is equivocal and wants a quiet life; Sartine, minister of Marine, wants war, as do the other members of the government and the public. Stormont warns of France's intentions and urges Britain to be prepared, even to making a first strike. His belief, that a treaty with the rebels was being negotiated, is confirmed by Noailles' declaration in March 1778 (306/f.345). War is inevitable. As well as the details indexed under the names of ships, there are many complaints and statements in correspondence sent back from the British governors in the West Indies and from British captains and owners reporting to the admiralty. From the French, many protests are lodged by Noailles, ambassador in London and by the French governors of Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Domingo. Stormont continues to keep watch on French naval preparations and on military reinforcements to Brittany and the West Indies. He comments on the unsuccessful moves to make reforms by Necker and St Germain. Other important issues referred to in these volumes are the settlement of the Spanish-Portuguese dispute in South America, Spanish pressure on France to join in a war against Britain, the dangers of a war between Russia and Turkey and the consequences for Europe of the death of the elector of Bavaria. Although in the class list a folio number is given against each description, that number does not form part of the ordering format. Readers should enter on the computer only the piece number, eg, SP 78/302. January 1991
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C78249/
Series information
SP 78
Secretaries of State: State Papers Foreign, France
See the series level description for more information about this record.
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