AN IRISH AND FRENCH ROYALIST FAMILY AND PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, 2Qih Decber. 1744.

Sir, — Are you still inclined that 1 should go forward to ask the King^ for a War-Ship of 50 or 60 guns, to which we would join a corvette to convoy 4 or 5 vessels of 3 or 400 tons laden with pro\àsions, which we would send to Martinique, and whilst thèse vessels made their traffic the warship and the corvette would cruise towards the English Isles to windward 1

My Society of the Emerald intends to undertake the equipment ; and begs you, when you are at Rochefort, if you join interests wilh us, to arrange immediately the equipment of the Man-of- War which the King may grant to us. Do not think of the Jason, for it will not be given to us.

Annexed is an extract of a letter written to the Comte de Maurepas ^ in the month of May last by a private person in London on whose opinion one can rely. It appears from this extract that the four ships having started about last June with provisions and supplies for two years, their intention would be to cruise during a year at least in the latitudes of our factories, on the coast of Malabar and on that of Coromandel. Supposing they doubled the Cape in Sepber. or Octber. it is not probable that they can be prepared

■ [Louis XV. — Tr.]

^ [Minister under Louis xv. and Louis xvi., ob. 1781. — Tr.]

2 A EOYALIST FAMILY AND

to pass it again in the first or second monsoon of next year, that is in Febry. or May next, from which I conclude that thèse four vessels bound for India could not hurt the project we hâve formed, that Monsieur Pépin de BeUisle ^ should go to the Cape or cruise to windward of St. Helena ; he surely would not find thèse vessels, which seem only to be destined to protect their commerce and injure that of our Company. I consider (submitting my opinion to yours) that our project of expédition should hold good.

I hâve the honour to be, with truth, my dear Sir, your very humble and very obedient Servant, D'Heguerty.

Since writing my letter, Sir, I hâve been asked to inquire if I could not find a friand able and willing to lend 200 ' livres ' ^ on the contracts of the Hôtel de Ville, of which a sale would be effected in due form, and in the event of this sum not being duly paid, in the period of one year, the said contracts on the Hôtel de Ville for the amount of the said 200 livres would remain the complète property of the lender, so that there would be no annoying conséquences to be feared. I hâve been solicited to address myself to you in the first place, because of the wish that you should hâve this obligation rather than any other ; between you and me, it is the Prince of Wales who requires this sum ; you may be sure it is not to squander,^ but to make purchase of things necessary for his views. Inform me if you and your friends can do him this faveur. Notlîing is asked of you without giving you ail the securities that you can reasonably ask from the Prince, and the King his Father. 1 shall await your answer to this, to communicate it to the person who eutrusted to me to write to you on the part of the Prince.

I hâve the honour to be, without reserve, my dear Sir, your very humble and very obedient Servant, D'Heguerty.

I need not recommend to you perfect silence as to this.

' Pépin de Bellisle, Captain of a ship of the Mercantile Marine.

^ [In tliis case probablj pouuds sterling, as the sum in francs wonld be so small. — Tr.]

■* ['Pour en faire bombance,' to make great feasting. — Ti!.]

PEINCE CHARLES EDWARD 3

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, 2ih Jany. 1745.

Sir, — I owe an answer to the three letters which you hâve done me the honour to write to me, of the 31st of the past month, and 2nd and 5th of this one. To the first was joined the letter which you wrote to M. Hibre de Rochefort, which I communicated to M. Pellevin, who sent new orders to the officers of the Port to faciUtate and hurry on the fitting out of the Apollon.

You propose to add the DutiUet to the three ships which we intend to send to America ; this is excellent, but I think that when the two ships which go to Martinique and Guadelouppe take their return cargoes, and are to be convoyed by the war vessel which is to be given to us, as far as the Caye St. Louis, to which we shall send the two other vessels, including the DutiUet, to return together in consort, it would not I think be prudent to abandon to its fate the loaded vessel which, carrying to Caye St. Louis wine and flour, would hâve to return alone laden with susrar. Hère therefore is what I conceive as to this project.

Snpposing the Apollon to be the war vessel, she would convoy four ships, viz.

The Redoutable, 340 tons, laden with provisions for Martinique.

The Vainqueur, 230 tons, laden with provisions for Guadelouppe.

The Elisabeth, 400 tons, laden with wine and flour for Caye St. Louis.

The DutiUet, laden with gunpowder and swords, cutlasses, bayonets,' cordage, etc., part to be for Martinique and part for Caye St. Louis, or ail for the Caye.

When thèse vessels reach Martinique they will separate, that is, the DutiUet will convoy from Martinique to Guadelouppe the Vainqueur, and from thence will continue her route with the Elisabeth to the Caye of St. Louis, where thèse two vessels will wait for the Apollon, which, after cruising about while the Bedoutahle and the Vainqueur carry on their trafilc, would return to Martinique to convoy the Redoutable, and from thence to Guadelouppe to fetch

' ['Armes blanches.' — Tr.]

the Vainqueur, convoying both to Caye St. Louis, so that ail five may start togetlier and return to France. As I hâve nothing like your expérience and capability, I refer it to you.

You did well to forbid the enrolled men ^ to pass to Rochefort till the Apollon is ready to go to sea, and I think that this equipment should not be hurried, because the best use we can make of this ship will be to convoy the said vessels to America and to cruise about during the trading. I believe the Minister would not grant it to us to go to Vera Cruz, because there is no cruising ^ to be done in those seas where there is only the commerce of the Spaniards carried on hère and there. You would not think, I suppose, of sending her to Carthagena, where there is still a great deal of dry goods unsold, and where flour and wine alone would sell well. (I hâve lately been well informed about this.) Now the only repayment on so considérable a cargo would be the freight of piastres in return ; that of course would be the only object, but you may be sure M. Vincent has an invoice ^ which will be preferred to yours, uniess you are sure that the treasure of Quito has arrived at Carthagena, in which case your house at Cadiz could easily obtain a considérable invoice.'

Write to Cadiz, you will hâve an answer before the Apollon is ready, and at the worst we could obtain another ; but pay attention, I beg you, that if I obtain permission for such a voyage, you must cède to me a third of the commission both for purchases and for returns either for Carthagena or for Vera Cruz ; you will easily guess the reason of this concession.* I write you this under the seal of inviolable secrecy. I wish you a speedy recovery, and am, without reserve, V.T.H.S.^ I flatter myself that we shall get the vessels adjudged to us on their sale. D'Heguebty.

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, I3th February 1745.

I HAVE received, my dear Sir, the honour of yours of the 9th, and with it a letter for M. Pellevin, to which I hâve added one which I

' [' Gens de levée ' : the men enrolled aa the flghting force on board the man-of-war. — Tr.]

^ i.c. Opportiinity of a 'course'in privateeiing. ^ ['Registre.' — Tr.]

'' To give an interesitto the Prince ofWales. * [Votre très humble Serviteur. — Tr.]

hâve written to him. The goût, which has kept me in bed a fortnight, does not permit me to travel to Versailles, which 1 should do without hésitation, to represent to the Minister the irregularity of his proceeding about your powder. I hâve expi-essed my opinion very strongly to M. Pellevin. You shall know what he answers me.

M. de Maurepas has positively refused me the permission to send the Apollon to our islands. It is true that if he permitted it, he would act diametrically in opposition to what he has planned for the convoys. Any way we cannot take any determined part till you receive advices from Cadiz. M. Vincent, who has just left the house, told me he expected ail his instructions by the ordinary (post) which should arrive from Spain this evening. It will be the letters from Spain which will guide us.

But permit me to represent to you that if the Apollon went alone to St. Domingue her voyage would not be as advantageous if you only count on lading there 300 tons, of which 200 in wine, and 100 in fleur.

This voyage would only be advantageous, supposing the Minister permits it, provided the Apollon were accompanied by a transport of 350 or 400 tons, then it would be very good. This vessel could be laden with beef, butter, candies, wines and meals.

Thèse vessels would pass by Martinique or Guadelouppe. They would sell there their beef and butter ; in return they would take cotton and coffee ; from thence they would proceed to St. Domiiigue where they would sell their wine and flour, and the Apollon would be laden as much as possible with indigo, and the transport with sugar. By this means a grand voyage could be made. Pay attention that if the Minister grants this permission, it will doubtless be on condition of paying 8 per cent, on the returns, independently of the 5th of the freight of the Apollon. But, as I hâve already said, we must wait till you hâve received your letters from Cadiz. I send you with this a copy of the letter I wrote the Ist of this month to your brother at Cadiz.

I hâve written to M. de la Cucutière to ask him for a master to be maintained at Rochefort ; I await his answer ; I think he

will do me this favour. I hâve heard of the illness of M. de Bellisle. I am delighted tliat he is out of the affair.

It is very strange that I hâve heard nothing of my Irish ships.

My frigate has, wlthin a few days, made 4 captures, of which one returning from Antigua was laden with sugar, cotton, and 23 éléphants' tusks, the three others laden with provisions leaving Cork for Jamaica. I estimate that thèse prizes may be worth ' 200/m.' 1 . D'Heguerty.

MONSIEUR WALSH

18//i Fehry.

I CONFIRM, Sir, my last letter of the 13th current, and I bave since seen M. de Maurepas. He told me he had received your letter in which you proposed to him to send the Apollon to the Isles to convoy the vessels and make a cruise there, which he absolutely refused ; and on what I represented to him of my having informed you of my ideas about this vessel, that it would be infinitely better to décide upon Vera Cruz, he consented to this voyage ; I must tell you that M. Pellevin had informed him about it the night before.

M. Vincent is obliged to address himself to M. Porée to command bis vessel the Elisabeth in place of M. de Bréville who has refused.

Between ourselves, if you think M. de Bellisle rather inexperienced to command our Apollon in a voyage of this conséquence, give him at least a second, experienced and wise, who has already made this voyage, and who knows the language, besides this voyage is as easy as that of St. Domingue.

I salute you, and count upon me inviolably having the honour to be very entirely, Sir, your very humble and very obedient Servant, D'Heguerty.

' [Probably 200,000 ' livres tournois ' (' tournois ' from the town of Tours), the value of a 'livres tournois' being 1| francs, the total value would be i;iO,000.]

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, 2UhFebry. 1745.

My dear Sir, — The letters from Spain which were expected on the 13th will only arrive to-night. We shall see what they will bring to M. Vincent.

Is it not time to think even now of the great equipment which we hâve meditated on a small scale ? Could one not from now arrange with the Minister for 4 or 5 Men-of-War or Frigates, and to secui'e afterwards part of their provisions, which would be sent to ' Cap Verd,' to conceal our design more perfectly from the enemy. I flatter myself that I shall be able to find hère a good part of the funds adapted to this enterprise. Send me your opinion upon this.

I hâve given, or rather I hâve sent, to M. Chauvel, director of the equipment of the frigate the Emeraude, a letter of recommendation and of crédit to you. I beg you to be civil to him ; he is a good and frank merchant. He goes to Nantes to assist at the sale of the Elisabeth and of her cargo, where we can make ourselves adjudicators of one or other, or perhaps of both. If he requires money you might supply him with it, taking his drafts on me, which I shall duly honour.

I hâve the honour to be, very perfectly, my dear Sir, your very humble and very obedient Servant, D'Heguerty.

27^;» Febry.

SiNCE my letter was written, Sir, I bave just rcceived the foUowing notice.

The 13th Febry. the Jerzay of 60 guns and the Ludlow Castle of 40 tons saUed from the ' Dunes ' ' for Spethead with the vessels outward bound.

The IGth Febry. there remained at the Downs the Winchester of 50 guns, the Harvick also of 50 guns. There were more than 5 Dutch Men-of-War, with three ships of the East India Company, which are to leave soon under the escort of the Dutch vessels.

D'Heguerty.

' [The Downs.— Tr.]

After the departure of this convoy I tliink one could go to the Downs.

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, lOthMarch 1745.

I HAVE received, my dear Sir, the lionour of yours dated from Rochefort. It informs me tliat you hâve arrived there in good health, on which I congratulate you. I hâve never doubted but what M. de Bellisle would be welcomed and assisted in his fitting out. Independently of my having recommended him, he has in himself ail that is necessary to gain the esteem and good will of people in oflBce. May my son some day walk in his footsteps.

I think that if the Apollon is accompanied by two corsairs of strength, she can try the adventure at the Downs, where, at the departure of a private individual who arrived 3 days ago from that country, there were only two warships with a thù'd of the crew, and they remained at the Downs to take by force some of the crews of ships returning into the river Thames. There were also sevei'al ships which had come down the Thames and were to go under convoy to Spethead.

If I obtain a copy of the project of de la Bourdonnaye for which I am going to ask, I will send it to you. M. PeUevin will reflect on the means of arranging this enterprise. You will do well on your side to send me the sketch of your plan, which I will work out, if you do not care to give yourself the trouble, in order to présent it afterwards to M. PeUevin who will incorporate it in his project, and when he has finislied it, I will send it to you. You can draw from Mr. Buttler the lights which he has on this enterprise, they will serve much to enlighten M. Pellevin. I think that it will not be objectionable that you should invite Mr. Buttler to start an exchange of letters with me on this affair. After aU there is no hurry yet about that ; you will hâve time to see him and to confer together on the measures, the number of ships, and of the troops.

Nothing more must be thought about the two frigates to be built at Brest, where there are neither masts, wood, nor hemp.

The ship of 50 guns constructing at Bayonne is to be given

PKINCE CHARLES EDWARD 9

to-day or to-morrow to M. Vincent. He ofFers 20,000 crowns down to hâve the vessel delivered witli its guns, complète rig ^ and sails, anchors," etc., in the month of August next. Thèse 60,000 francs are for only one voyage to Vera Cruz. I hâve given him up my share. He has acted tovvards me w^ith Uttle delicacy. O'Brien sends me the accompanying note.

I hâve the honour to be, without réservation, my dear Sir, yonr very humble and very obedient Servant, D'Heguerty.

[Enclosure.] Dunkerque, 8ih Mardi 1745.

Sir,- — I receive at this moment news from my friend of Ostend. I impart them to y ou, to fulfil my promise. At Portsmouth a squadron of 28 vessels is being fitted out, intended, it is said, for service in the channel. There is not a single war vessel in the Downs, the one which passed M. de Bellisle in Englaud is intended, with the two frigates, to cruise in the north. A new ship going down the Thames capsized in the river, the captain and more than two hundred people were drowned by this accident. I hâve the honour to be very perfectly, Sir, your very humble and obedient Servant, O'Brien.^

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, 13th March 1745.

I HAD the honour to write to you, my dear Sir, the 9th of this month. I hâve since had yours of the 5th. The Minister has decided we shall only hâve the 50 soldiers ordered. Regard thisorder given as a real favour, considering the circumstances. Envy has existed from ail time, it is only the envions who die, may M. de Bellisle nourish this unhappy passion till it gives him a mortal indigestion.

The orders to raze the poop * of the Apollon go by this courier. You will submit that it is your intention to replace it when we return the vessel to the king.

' ['Agrès,' more correctly 'agreits' or — Tr.] ' agrets,' the rigging. — Tr.] ■" Irishman settled in France. Devoted

-['Apparaux,' this tenu comprises sails, servant of the Stuarts. rigging, tackle, anchors, guns, etc., of a, ship. ■* [' Dunettes.' — Tr.]

I think that I shall be entrusted with the Memoir of la Bourdonnaye ; I hâve asked for it and will pass it on to y ou ; I bave a bigb opinion of the great affair, the only difficulty consists in obtaining vessels to be commanded by private individuals and to command the 1000 men of the marine. M. Pellevin will work hard to remove^ ail difficulties which might arise to retard and perhaps wreck this excellent project ; I will do my best that we shall only hâve officers chosen by the company, and 'Malouins' [Men of St. Malo] ^ chosen by you, to command thèse vessels. He urged that the naval officers that would be employed on this expédition would be in despair at seeing themselves commanded by private people drawn from commerce, and if the success depended on them would be capable of making it fail.

I give you notice that M. Pellevin counts on the Apollon serving in this expédition.

You will find with this the advice I hâve received from Dunkirque that if 2 corsairs of strength can be added to our vessel, even if they find no one at the Downs, they cannot fail to find the vessel and the two frigates which took Messrs. de Bellisle to England. The gazettes of Holland for the month of last January or February will tell you of what strength thèse frigates are.

A thousand friendly and cordial compliments I beg to M. de Bellisle. Embrace my idle son for me.

I bave the honour to be, without réservation, my dear Sir, your very humble and very obedient Servant, D'Heguerty.

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, 30th Mardi 1745.

I HAVE received yours. Sir, again without date, under the cover

of which was your acknowledgment in the name of Messrs.

Pellevin and La Porte which I hâve remitted to the former. This

rebate ^ of 1/16 bas corne very much to the purpose. You will certainly

' [' Lever,' the verb bas différent meanings, " [M. Walsh was born at St. Malo. — Tr.]

hère it muât be used in the sensé of remove. ^ [' Cession.' — Tr.]

— Tr.]

PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD il

want assistance with the Minister to calm his displeasure that the St. Joseph lias not fulfiUed lier engagements and followed out her destination to Spaiii. The Minister at Madrid will be no less irritated against you and your brother at Cadiz.

Be careful to make the Spanish passengers, of whom there are some it is said, sign the minutes of agreement/ and if there are piastres ' per also,' " déclare them in good faith to the Minister, or entrust to me, whichever you like, what you wish me to say to the Minister or M. Pellevin. This affair, from what I hear said, must cost you a distribution of piastres. If the thing is absolutely necessary, it should be rendered as little costly as can be. Make up your mind and let me know what you think fit.

The Comte de Maurepas does not know what he has done with the Memoir of M. de la Bourdonnaye. Take care, before proposing anything hère, to prépare a very circumstantial memoir. Mr. Buttler will be able to help you considerably. The project embraces many things and perhaps more than you foresee. I will inform you of ail that I know, and what I impart will not be indiffèrent. I warn you that I think the Minister affects to say he has lost the Memoir of la Bourdonnaye, in order to see you come, and judge by the memoir you send him if you and Mr. Buttler are sufficiently aware of the importance of the enterprise, and if you indicate the means of succeedinçr in it. I add to this reflection that it would be well that Mr. Buttler should arrange his affairs so as to be able to come and sacrifice three weeks hère near the Minister.

You hâve asked permission to hâve the poops^ razed. You hâve obtained the permission, and yet M. de Bellisle has started without having them razed.

We shall not hâve war with the Dutcli so soon.

I hâve the honour to be, very perfectly. Sir, your very humble and very obedient Servant, D'Heguerty.

' [' Procès verbal.' — Tr.]

- 'The meaniDg of this commercial term has not been traced. — Tr.]

'■'' [' Dunettes ' — hère mentioned in the plural. — Tk.]

12 A EOYALIST FAMILY AND

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, 7th April 1745.

I HAVE received, Sir, the honour of yours of the Ist of this month, in whicli you inform me of tlie departure of the Apollon. May his divine rays light a number of English vessels into our Ports. If the ship is a fast sailor I hope for some, if she is heavy I despair of any.

Orders will be given at the Ports to replace the sailors who may be lacking to the vessel where she touches. You no longer mention to me your Du Tillet. Shall you not send her or some other little frigate with the Apollon 1 It seems to me absolutelj^ necessary for the success of her cruise. Mr. Piuttelidge will send the Elisabeth to cruise in the North. I hâve no interest in this vessel, nor anything to arrange with this individual.

You cannot suiEciently occupy yourself with our great affair ; consider maturely with Mr. Buttler ail the measures which human knowledge and prudence suggest ; represent to yourself first ail the obstacles and difBculties which an enterprise of this importance may encounter, that nothing, not one difBculty, may escape you ; foresee them ail, if possible, to forestall them, that nothing may retard the expédition nor occasion its failure. Work up the plan together, so that the Minister, already favourably prepared, may see as in a picture by a master-hand, that you know perfectly what we hâve to undertake, and that the Memoir may be reasoned out and so circumstantial that he may hâve nothing more to désire.

Regulate first the number of vessels necessary for this expédition. I speak first of War ships, then of transports ; also of the number of marines, and whom you propose to command thèse vessels, and the soldiers who are to be landed ; from what place and at what time you will dispatch your provisions ; where you will hâve them taken to be stored, so as to conceal from the Enemy the knowledge of our design, for you doubtless understand that thèse vessels would only carry provisions for 3 or 4 months.

Not only will it be necessary to provide provisions for this squadron for 8 or 10 months, but also provisions for the troops which may be left yonder (if we succeed) for a year or more.

Do you intend to employ the Apollon in this expédition ? When you hâve well worked and revised your ideas with Mr. Buttler, it will be absolutely necessary that one of you two should corne hère for a fortnight. Adieu, my dear Sir, count upon my Sentiments of true attachment.

I hâve the honour to be your very humble and very obedlent Servant, D'Hegueety.

MONSIEUR WALSH

Fitz-James, llth April 1745.

The offers which you hâve already made to me of your services give me reason to hope that I may presently receive from you one which is of the greatest importance to me. Mr. Rutlidge, to whom I hâve entrusted this for you, vs^ill explain more particularly what it is about. You can hâve faith in ail he will tell you about it from me, but I take it upon myself to assure you that I shall préserve for you a very exact recollection of the zeal which you may évince to me on this occasion. I recommend above ail to you as well as to him an inviolable secrecy with regard to every kind of person, whoever it may be, without exception, and in the second place extrême diliofence.

A Dieu. Your good friend,

Charles P.

MONSIEUR WALSH'S REPLY to the Prince's Letter of 12th Apeili

My Lord, — My zeal for your Cause has no limlts, and I am prepared to undertake anything where the service of Your Royal Highness is concerned, who I hope will allow me to go to Paris to represent to him by word of mouth what cannot be said by letter owing to the risk it runs of falling into the hands of his enemies, who cover the seas on ail sides. If after my représentations Your Royal Highness persists in wishing to undertake the passage I will willingly give him a little frigate, a good sailor, which I will cause

1 [Communicated by V. Hussey Walsh, Esq., 1893.— Tr.J

to be ready as soon as possible, but on condition your Royal Highness will allow me to accompany him and share ail tbe périls to which he may wish to expose himself.

My disci-etion is equal to my zeal ; hence Your Royal Highness's secret is buried ; nothing will transpire on my part, on this he may dépend, as well as on the very great respect with which I am, my Lord, Your Royal Highness' most humble Servant,

Anthony Walsh.

Nantes, 22d April 1745.

MONSIEUR WALSH

21ih April 1745.

I HAVE just received y ours of the 22d April, and am very pleased with the zeal and affection which you évince towards me. You may reckon that I only seek the public good in what I undertake, but I shall distinguish in a very spécial manner those who hâve contributed towards it with me. As that which you engage to do on this occasion is the most essential service that can ever be rendered to me, you may be assured that the memory of it which I shall préserve will last as long as my life. I hâve charged the Chevalier Sheridan to write to you more in détail, ail that I wish from you, and you may implicitly trust ail that he makes known to you thereupon from me. — -Your good friend, Charles P.

MONSIEUR WALSH

Paris, SthiMay 1745.

SiNCE my last of the 5th current, I hâve received, my dear Sir, the honour of your last, of the 3rd (April ?). M. de Maurepas accepts the vessel the Anglezey on the footing of the judicial estimate of it, which will be taken at Port Louis, after which he will cède it to us, on the same conditions as the Ajwllon was granted to you ; and to put us in a position to equip it, it has been agreed to hâve paid to me as soon as the adjudication is made, 50,000 f. down, and the surplus in the terms which the Minister may désire. I shall the

less press him to advance the terras of payment, because he has consented to leave us this frigate till the complète payment of what may remain due to us of the price of the adjudication.

Pray observe that we shall be treated well or ill, according to the intelligence of the person you propose to watch over our interests at the time of the adjudication.

We must renounce our views about Mr. Macarty commanding this frigate, the Minister has absolutely refused me this, his présence being very necessary at Québec, to which he is to go immediately. I would willingly propose to you in his stead M. de St. Georges, Captain of the ships of the East India Company, but he wants to be indépendant, and woiUd not consent to sei've under the orders of M. de Bellisle. The Comte de Maurepas, to whom I spoke of him yesterday, told me to let him manage and he would try to bring him to my views ; let me know if they are yours, because if you had the least indifférence as to his nomination I would let the matter drop. I will observe to you that the Minister is much inclined for this oiËcer of the Company, which is partly the reason why I hâve cast eyes upon him, persuaded that the Minister will ses with secret satisfaction the vessels of the King, which he has destined to us for the grand project, pass gradually vmder the command of officers who know the map and their trade.

I hâve not been able to inform the Minister of the condition of this frigate, whether she sails well or ill, what are her steering powers, her nature, etc. I apply to you to give me news of this, that I may inform him ; do not trouble yourself about the équipaient, there is a treaty or convention between the Minister and the Company to furnish mutually the requirements for the fitting out of war vessels or those of the Company. I am very glad that this frigate is to be fitted out at Lorient, where everything needful for the equipment of a vessel is at hand, besides, the vessels of the Company having started, the whole port and the workmen will be at our disposai.

The difficulties which meet Mr. Buttler in the grand project, and which he has made you face, must be removed before undertaking anything of such importance ; with regard to the squadron of

16 A EOYALIST FAMILY AND

Barnett, composed of 3 war ships and a corvette, of which one carries 60 guns, and two 50 guns, we sliall know by the first vessels returning from India, either in England or in France, the route, the manœuvre, the project of the squadron and its success ; we shall learn also if it returns with the ships which the English Indian Company expect this year. This Httle squadron, if I mistake net, has 300 soldiers who hâve probably been landed on the island.

Should this squadron come back this year, and if only two war vessels went, they will no doubt follow next year the same manœuvre which Mr. Barnett may hâve done, and if he brings back the vessels, those which return next year will take the same route, and it is by this that we shall hâve to guide ourselves. I reserve myself however to converse with you and Mr. Buttler on this most serions affair on your arrivai hère. Be assured that M. Pellevin is informed every week of what happens in England regarding equipments of every kind. You say that we shall require 6 vessels of 50 or 60 guns, act so as to impress the spirit of the Mlnister with the success of the enterprise, and be sure that the ships will not fail us. Let me know I beg if M. de Bellisle is content with the sailing of his ship and of her captures.

It is true that the Elector of Bavaria ^ has made peace, and a very disgraceful peace ^ with the Queen of Hungary,^ he renounces his pretensions to the succession of Austria, of which he abdicates the title of Archduke, he has engaged to give his vote to the Grand Duke* at the next élection. The king* sends 3000 fresh troops to Bavaria to prevent the Queen of Hungary marching her troops either to Italy, or against the King of Prussia.

I shall await his '^ arrivai, to reason together upon the affair of . . . of which the success would be infallible if we took our measures beforehand ; your présence will be absolutely necessary at Nantes, and you will bave I think quite time to go there.

Un the 4th of this month we were 110 'toises'^ from the

' [Maximilien, son of Charles vu., who ^ [Francis of Lorraine, Grand Duke of

(lied at this period. — Tr.] Tuscany, husband of Maria Theresa. — Tr.]

■^ [Treaty of Fiissen.— Tr.] ■' [The Empress Maria Tlieresa of Austria aaJ (jueeu of Hungary. — Tr.]

Louis XV. of France. — Tr.] Whose î Probably M. de Bellisle.— Tr.] 'A ' toise ' = 6 ft.— Tr.]

MAPSHOWING THE ROUTE OF THE "DOUTELLE"

covered way of the city of Tournay.' The enemy that day, about 4 in the morning, made a sortie on the right and left of our parallel, but the ' louables cantons ' who made this attempt, did nothino- of importance.

Adieu, dear Sir. — Your humble and very obedient servant,

D'Heguerty.