Catalogue description SP 78/251-257

Details of Subseries within SP 78
Reference: Subseries within SP 78
Title: SP 78/251-257
Note: SP 78/251 and 252 are almost entirely concerned with the abortive negotiations in 1761 to bring the Seven Years War to an end. SP 78/253 to SP 78/256 f.109 are almost entirely concerned with the negotiations in 1762, leading up to the signing of the Definitive Treaty of Paris in February 1763. The remainder of 256 and SP 78/257 relate to arguments over issues still in dispute and the end of the mission of the Duke of Bedford. Additional material is to be found in SP 103/17, SP 78/309, part III, 322 and 333. This includes: in SP 103/17, the Convention signed by France, Sardinia and Spain about Piacenza [see ff.200 to 222], Full Powers and credentials for the Duke of Bedford, text of the Preliminary Articles and Ratification of them, Declarations referring to the ending of hostilities in Germany, the text of the Definitive Treaty [f.261] and documents relating to the accession of Portugal; in SP 78/309, part III, the British declaration of War [f.618], plans for the invasion of Ireland [f.635], orders for a reconnaissance of the south coast of England [f.637], with map, a description of the battle of St. Cast [f.640] and reports on effecting economies in the French navy [ff.673 to 704 passim]; in SP 78/322, the family compact of the House of Bourbon [f.47], correspondence, some possibly intercepted, about the military situation round Kassel, correspondence between Britain and France in 1762 before negotiations were re-opened through Bedford and references to plans to invade southern England and Ireland [ff.182, 184, 217, 221, 279, 300]; and in SP 78/333, a printed copy of the Preliminary Articles and a copy of the family compact of the House of Bourbon. The European power based on the court of Vienna is, in these folios, referred to mainly as Austria and these references are indexed under Austria, unless the Empire is clearly intended. Since the correspondence refers almost entirely to peace negotiations, it has not been thought necessary to cross-refer to this heading, when indexing references to people or places involved in the negotiations. The many incidents involving ships are indexed under the names of the ships, listed under ships. In November 1762, the Comte de Choiseul was created Duc de Praslin and is so referred to from then on in the descriptive list. He is indexed under Choiseul, Duc de Praslin. Where folios are described as copies or drafts, this is noted on the descriptive list. But, of course, all the letters originating in London are normally one or the other, since these State Papers constitute the Whitehall file.

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