My last letter concluded with the mention of the conquest of the
Havannah. The news of this important conquest arrived in England on the
29th of September, 1762, while the treaty of peace was negociating. Until
this period, the D. of B—— had little or no trouble in the negociation,
for the principle articles or great outlines of the terms of peace had
been previously settled between Lord Bute and Mons. De Verois (now Count
Viry) in England, and the Duc de Choiseul and the Sardinian minister at
Paris.
At this time the Right Hon. G—— G—— was Secretary of State for the
Northern department, and by his office (being a commoner) was to carry
the peace through the House of Commons, when it should be laid before
the House. When the news of the conquest of the Havannah came, and it
was directly determined by the Favourite to give up this important
island, because it should not embarrass the negociation, nor impede the
conclusion of the peace, Mr. G——— differed, and, in particular, insisted
upon an indemnification for it, from either France or Spain. He wanted
St. Lucia and Porto Rico, or the entire property of Jucatan and Florida.
The Favourite refused to make application for any of these; upon which
Mr. G——— resigned October 12, 1762[2]. Mr. Fox (now Lord Holland) was
then called upon to carry the peace through the House of Commons. Lord
Halifax succeeded to Mr. G———’s office. But Lord Egremont, being of
Mr. G———’s opinion, prevailed to have an instruction sent to the D. of
B——— to demand Florida only, which was granted without hesitation; for
the messenger who was dispatched to the Duke at Paris with this demand,
returned in eight days, with an account of its having been complied with.
The fact is, the French minister (Choiseul) obliged the Spanish minister
to agree to this demand, without sending to his court. A proof of the
discretionary power which was vested in the French minister by the court
of Spain, to agree to whatever compensation should be insisted upon for
the Havannah.
The following anecdote concerning the English Ultimatum may throw some
light on the preceding fact:—Towards the latter end of the negociation,
Mr. Wood, then Secretary to Lord Egremont, called one day at the Duc
de Nivernois’s (the French Ambassador in London) about three o’clock,
and desired to speak with him. The Swiss told Mr. Wood, his Excellency
was dressing, and could not be disturbed: but Mr. Wood insisting upon
admittance, was carried up stairs, and passing through a bed-chamber
leading to the dressing room, he laid some papers upon the bed, and
covered them with his hat. This circumstance being observed by the
French Secretary, he directly whispered the Ambassador to keep Mr. Wood
to dinner, and he would copy the papers if they contained any thing
essential. This was accordingly done: and these very papers, which
contained nothing less than the Ultimatum on the part of England, were
actually copied by the French Secretary and his clerks, and dispatched
that very night to the Duc de Choiseul at Paris. Thus the French Minister
at Paris was in possession of these important papers at least two days
before the D. of B———.
In a subsequent conference which the D. of B——— had with the French
Minister, he urged a compliance to his demands in a high and peremptory
tone; the wily French Minister smiled, and told his G. _He knew the
sentiments of the court of London upon the whole business._
It was the current report in England, when the D. of B——— returned from
France, that he had frequently said to his friends, that he could have
obtained better terms of peace if he had been permitted. If he was
controuled, why does he not now shew those instances of controul, and
who it was that obliged him to sacrifice the conquests of the war? As
he is known to keep a diary of all public transactions wherein he is
concerned, there is no doubt of his being able to give full information;
and as days and dates are sometimes of importance in affairs of this
kind, his diary will assist him greatly on this occasion. Besides, his
letters are somewhere in existence; the Chevalier D’Eon never saw them,
and consequently a motion in the H—— of C—— might produce them. We
should then see who were the betrayers of our country in that infamous
peace: And who it was that so frequently pressed his G. to conclude the
negociation, and sign the treaty. The originals of all these important
letters are still in being; and if they should not, there is no doubt
the D. has a copy of them in his diary. I repeat it emphatically, the
correspondence relative to the negociation ought to be laid before the
public. The Commons of England have a right to call for it; and it is a
duty which they owe to their country and to posterity.
Whether the immediate cession of Florida, or what other cause that has
not yet transpired, encouraged the demand of Porto Rico, or whether
the D. of B. knowing Mr. G——’s sentiments, made that demand himself,
finding Florida so easily given up; certain it is, that a demand of
that important island was made; and here the French Minister resorted
to his chicane. A messenger was sent with this demand to the Court of
Madrid. Fourteen days were allowed for the messenger to return. During
this interval, the D. received express and positive orders _to sign the
treaty immediately_. Two days after the treaty was signed, and within the
fourteen days, the messenger returned from Madrid, with the surrender of
the island. It has been suspected, perhaps from the complexion of the
fact, that the island was purchased. If it was, Count V. no doubt, knows
both the sum that was given, and to whom it was consigned. If any sum
actually was given, it was by Spain; for the view of France was, to make
Spain pay the piper.
My next will contain some further particulars of this extraordinary
negociation.