I must either think this intelligence comes from the consuls (like the accounts of our preparing to besiege Gibraltar), or that Mr. Pitt's great employment has made him forget, not only that we have made the same armament for these two years past, but likewise twice before in the late King's reign; one, before the death of the queen his consort, and the other, during his sickness occasioned by her death, as it had been resolved upon before he fell sick. It would be as easy to answer the other articles as this; and it were to be wished, for the tranquillity of Europe, that the sentiments of that ministry with regard to peace were the same with those of his Majesty, of which he has given indisputable proofs, if they consider his conduct with attention. If they do so, they must at the same time do his Majesty the justice that is due to him.

WALL.

but himself be sensible how strongly the King is called upon, in the order of things, and from the indispensable motives of what he owes to his crown and people, to expect that the court of Madrid will come to some explicit and categorical éclaircissement with regard to the destination of her fleets, as well as with respect to her disposition to maintain and cultivate friendship and good correspondence with Great Britain: and this measure is become the more highly necessary, as the emissaries and partisans of France here are not a little active in endeavouring to infuse, particularly into people's minds in the city, for purposes too obvious to mention, that a rupture with Spain, in conjunction with France, is approaching."

THE MARQUIS GRIMALDI TO THE COUNT DE

FUENTES. (')

Paris, August 31, 1761. (2)

I RECEIVED yesterday your Excellency's despatches of the 25th. The advices contained in them, although not decisive, are of so much importance, in the present critical situation, that I thought it necessary to despatch a messenger today to our court with your Excellency's letters. I have had nothing to add in consideration of what Bussy writes; since every thing your Excellency mentions is so clear, that nothing more can be said. Thus I write to our court; having compared your Excellency's advices with those of Bussy.

66

(1) Endorsed, " translation of a letter in cipher."

6

(2) In a letter to Mr. Pitt, of the 20th of August, Mr. Stanley writes: "The Duc de Choiseul said to me, the other day, in the warmth of conversation, that the treaty with England had hurt him; and certainly the state of the negotiation has lately been very disadvantageous to his excellency in a private light, because it has given MM. de Stahremberg and Grimaldi an appearance of superiority over him, and has confirmed what they have incessantly urged against his plan. It is not, therefore, very clear to me, that the introduction of the Spanish affairs was a voluntary act of the Duc de Choiseul. M. Grimaldi, being an ambassador de famille, as it is here called, has perpetual opportunities of following the court: he acts on all occasions in concert with M. de Stahremberg, who is extremely well with Mdlle. de Pompadour, and I do not doubt that they are both deeply engaged on the other side of the question. I need not repeat what infinite advantages they have lately had."

I have a letter from M. Wall of the 17th, who, by the same post, communicated to your Excellency the King's entire approbation of your wise conduct. They had not given Lord Bristol the answer in writing; but, according to what they say, it would be conformable to your Excellency's discourses. The fear of our court, which is not badly grounded, is for the fleet. They want to gain time there, till she is arrived at Cadiz, and are privately sending twelve ships by way of convoy. (1)

As to the other despatch in cipher, I answer, that without this they have remained here entirely bound by the Family Agreement and the Convention; and even without this, what your Excellency mentions is not to be feared, unless it is to be believed that treaties are of no use; in which case, one will be of as much validity as the other: however, now there is no room for this fear, since both instruments were signed on the 15th, and I expect shortly the ratification. (2)

(1) On the 8th of September, Mr. Stanley writes to Mr. Pitt: "I this day heard, from good authority, that fifteen Spanish ships of war are to sail speedily, in order to convoy home the fleets which they expect."

(2) The following is an extract of a private letter from Mr. Stanley to Mr. Pitt, dated Paris, September 2.:- "I have secretly seen an article, drawn up between France and Spain, in which the former engages to support the interests of the latter equally with her own in the negotiation of the peace with England; it was entitled Article 10. I am as yet a stranger to the other nine, but shall endeavour to get them. This was on a separate piece of paper; I read it twice over, but it was not left me long enough to copy. I conceive it to be

In the article which I sent your Excellency it is very clear that France cannot finish the war without our affairs being settled. Bussy likewise has it from his court, with orders to conform himself to it; since which I do not see there is any reason for your Excellency's fears.

GRIMALDI.

THE MARQUIS GRIMALDI TO THE COUNT DE

FUENTES. (1)

Paris, September 13, 1761.

CHOISEUL has despatched a messenger to Bussy, with his answer to the ultimatum of England. (2)

very recent, for it was communicated in a lecter dated August 10, to M. de Bussy. He was directed not immediately to sign the peace, if it could be agreed with England; perhaps in order to get off from Spain more decently. I question whether this article has been signed, or totally concluded; but he was not allowed to proceed contrary to it. Spain has been pushing her negotiation ever since I came here, and had, about this time, gained great ground. I had the hint given me, and then enquired into it; you will find by mine of the 18th what answer I received. Some of my intelligence is of so secret a nature, that I am very apprehensive of the persons being guessed, if it comes to be at all communicated. I have seen some of M. de Bussy's letters; he knows more than he ought. It is only to those to whom the little leaf was first shown, that I trust in your honour to communicate what I now disclose."

(1) Endorsed, "translation of a letter in cipher."

(2) "I could not but observe," writes Mr. Stanley to Mr. Pitt, on the 8th, "that the Duc de Choiseul's behaviour this day, though personally very polite to me, was extremely grave, and that he appeared full of anxiety in his conversation with al

Your Excellency will see, that they give up every thing here: they only continue firm in regard to their allies, and consequently the system of this ministry is to remain true to us. Choiseul asked me, whether they should repeat in this last memorial, that the accommodation of our affairs should be a condition sine quá non. I think it should be our aim not to let France make peace without our inclusion; but, at the same time, we ought to wish that, if possible, it should not be said that peace has not been made on account of our differences with England.

So I answered Choiseul, that it was not necessary to mention Spain in the memorial, and that it would be sufficient to repeat to Bussy the order of the 10th of August, not to sign any thing without the accommodation of matters with Spain likewise, according to the stipulation of the Treaty (')

present. He mentioned to me, that if affairs had gone differently upon some points, and if he had seen better hopes of a reconciliation, he would have proposed a meeting with you, and have desired you either to send him a yacht, in order to his coming to Dover, or to have given him that opportunity on ship-board, between that place and Calais; that both should have had the authority of their sovereigns, in order to regulate the remaining difficult parts of the negotiation. I mention this more from its peculiarity, than from any consequence which I think it can possibly have."

(1) Afterwards so famous, under the title of the Family Compact. The discovery of the existence of this treaty confirmed Mr. Pitt's opinion of the hostile intentions of Spain. Considering war with that power on these grounds inevitable, he represented to the council, that "we ought, from prudence