ed
States, and to grant them in the utmost extent every advantage they
could desire. The malevolence with which that power has carried on the
war in America, did not forebode this extreme facility in them, and it
has been an agreeable surprise to the belligerent powers, and you will
easily judge, Sir, that our satisfaction has been complete, and in
seeing the great obstacle to peace put, as it were, on one side.

We think we may hope, that the epochs of a general peace is not far
distant. However, the English, though disposed to come to a conclusion
with the Courts of Versailles and Madrid, seem much more difficult in
the negotiation carrying on with the States-General. But the King, who
through the whole of this war, has refused to conclude a peace without
obtaining for his allies a just and reasonable satisfaction, persists
in these sentiments, and he doubts not that the United States will on
their part fulfil their engagements by continuing the war till a
definitive treaty is concluded, and thereby entirely disconcert the
projects of the English, who flatter themselves, that by means of the
eventual treaty, which they have concluded, they will be able to
establish on the Continent a suspension of hostilities equal to a
truce, written and signed.

It is possible, that the firmness and resolution of his Majesty will
determine England to make those restitutions, to which she shows so
much repugnance; but it is also possible, that the war will continue
another year, and to put the United States in a situation to continue
the war with vigor, his Majesty has lent them six millions of livres;
six hundred thousand livres are arrived in the Washington, but I have
learnt with much pain that Mr Morris has, through want of means, been
forced to anticipate the pecuniary succors he hoped to receive, so
that the six millions is not so considerable a help as was to have
been desired.

It remains to examine in what manner we can disturb and shut up the
enemy during the next campaign. I shall not take the liberty to sound
your Excellency on these points, but I beg you to permit me to say,
that it will be serving the common cause essentially to stop those
excessive exportations of subsistence to New York, and in case of an
evacuation of that place, to prevent them as much as possible from
procuring subsistence from hence to carry on the campaign in the West
Indies.

The Duc de Lauzun will confer with you on these points on his ret