Volume II Part 5 (1/2)
The conversation now turned on the delicate matter of Beaumarchais's mission. After showing his credentials for the buying up of Portuguese coin and frankly affirming that the affair with d'Eon was settled so far as he was concerned, he continued, ”'If there should be any pretended French agents in England, I am sure that if they could be captured, the government would disavow them, and even punish them....
”'And now, Milord, I offer you my sincere compliments for that which the king destines for you. If you accept the Vice-Royalty, I hope you will remember your ancient friends.h.i.+p for M. Duflos whom I recommend to you afresh. I hope you will charge him with the details of your house in Ireland as you have in France. He promised me this.' (This Duflos, M. le Comte, is a Frenchman whom I long ago secured for Lord Rochford; he is absolutely devoted to me, and through him you will always have certain news of the most intimate interior of the vice-royalty. I am a little like Figaro, M. le Comte, I do not lose my head for a little noise.)
”By the way, the Hessian troops have started. They took the oath of allegiance to England the 22nd of March.
”The Americans have actually twelve vessels of from twenty-two to forty-four pieces of cannon, and twelve or fifteen of twenty pieces, and more than thirty of twelve pieces, which gives them a navy almost as respectable as that of the English, and for the last two and a half months the insurgents have lost only one vessel brought into Bristol, which is indeed worthy of remark.
”I count upon your goodness to hope that my recommendations for Aix are not forgotten. [In allusion to his suit with the count de La Blache, still pending.] It is not just that I be judged in the South when I am nine hundred miles away in the North.
”Receive my respects, my homage, and the a.s.surance of my perfect devotion.
”Caron de Beaumarchais.”
(Doniol I, 407.)
On the 26th of the same month, M. de Vergennes wrote to his secret agent, ”almost as though he spoke to an amba.s.sador.” (Doniol.)
”I have the satisfaction of announcing to you that His Majesty very much approves the n.o.ble and frank manner with which you repelled the attack made upon you by Lord Rochford in relation to the American vessel destined for Nantes and conducted to Bristol.
You have said nothing which His Majesty would not have prescribed you to say if he had foreseen that you would be obliged to answer in regard to a matter so far removed from the business with which you are charged. Receive my compliments, Monsieur. After having a.s.sured you of the approbation of the king, mine cannot seem very interesting to you; nevertheless, I cannot refuse myself the satisfaction of applauding the wisdom and firmness of your conduct and renewing the a.s.surances of my entire esteem. I have not neglected your commission for Aix. M. le Garde des Sceaux a.s.sured me that it would remain in suspense till your return.
”I am very perfectly
”de Vergennes.
”Versailles, April 26th, 1776.”
Post Scriptum.
”The king approves, that you do not refuse the overtures the Lord Rochford may make to you. You are prudent and discreet. I should be without uneasiness even if you had a more important commission than that which M. de Sartine has given you. It was well, however, that you had it, since it served to disperse the suspicions aroused by your frequent voyages to London. It must be admitted that the English whom we believe to be men are really far less than women, if they are so easily frightened.... Nothing equals the sincere attachment with which I have the honor to be, Monsieur, your very humble, etc.
”de Vergennes.”
The same day Beaumarchais addressed the count with a letter from London which runs as follows:
”M. le Comte:
”I profit by this occasion to entertain you with freedom upon the only really important matter at present, America and all that pertains to it. I reasoned a long time, day before yesterday, with the man you thought best to prevent coming to France.
(Arthur Lee.) He incessantly asks if we are going to do absolutely nothing for them. And without wasting time in repeating to me how very important their success is to France because he does us the honor of believing that we agree with him on that point, he tells me simply, 'We need arms, powder, and above all engineers; only you can help us, and it is to your interest to do so.'
”The Americans are as well placed as possible; army, fleet provisions, courage, everything is excellent, but without powder and engineers how can they conquer or even defend themselves? Are we going to let them perish rather than loan them one or two millions? Are we afraid of losing the money?
”Weakness and fear is all that one sees here....
”It is clear that the ministry is silent because it has nothing to reply. Fear and anger on one side, weakness and embarra.s.sment on the other, this is the real condition. You would be still more convinced of this truth if you will recall the nature of their treaties with Germany and if you examine the rate of the new loan.... And when this is well proved, is it really true, M. le Comte, that you will do nothing for the Americans?
”Will you not have the goodness to show once more to the King how much he can gain, without striking a blow, in this one campaign?
And will you not attempt to convince His Majesty that this miserable pittance which they demand, and over which we have been disputing for more than a year, will bring to us all the fruits of a great victory without undergoing the dangers of a combat?
That this help can give to us while we sleep, all that the disgraceful treaty of 1763 made us lose? What greater view can occupy the council of the king and what force your pleading will take on if you show the reverse of the picture and count what the defeat of the Americans will cost us. Three hundred millions-our men-our vessels, our islands, etc.... because their forces once united against us, their audacity augmented by their great success, it is only certain that they will force these same Frenchmen to support a fatal war which two millions now would avert.