The Minister finished the conference by informing the committee of the fortitude of the King on receiving the news of the action of the 12th of April. He immediately gave orders for constructing twelve ships of the line, the greater part of the first rate. The city of Paris and several other cities and corporations had offered some others, and it was expected, that the King would, in the course of the next campaign, have twenty new ships to oppose the enemy. His Majesty was resolved not to make the least alterations in his plans for the future negotiation; and he exhorted his allies to the same resolution and the same exertions.
I have the honor of sending to you a decree of his Majesty's Council of State, made in consequence of the measures taken by Congress for preventing the fraudulent importation of English merchandise into this country. I desire that you would be pleased to communicate it to Congress, in order that it may be published under the seal of authority, and that American merchants and sailors may be informed, that it is in their own power to procure in the ports of France, the papers necessary for making it certain, that the English merchandise, which they take on board, is obtained from prizes. This decree agrees very well with the laws passed by several States, and particularly with that passed by the Assembly of Pennsylvania during its last session, to prevent commerce and all communication with the enemy. I have also the honor of sending to you, Sir, the copy of a letter from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, which I request you to be pleased to transmit to Congress.[10]
I have received the letter, which your Excellency did me the honor to write to me on the 22d of this month, with the news which accompanied it. I beg you to accept my sincere thanks.
I have the honor to transmit you the extract of an answer, made by express order of the King, on the 21st of June, to Mr Grenville. I pray you to be pleased to keep it a secret; all that I can add is, that the negotiations were still in agitation the beginning of July, but there had been in the conduct of the British Minister many circumstances, which led to doubt his sincerity; I believe, that even if there had been a sincere disposition to treat, the death of the Marquis of Rockingham had occasioned a change.