Catalogue description SP 78/277-285

Details of Subseries within SP 78
Reference: Subseries within SP 78
Title: SP 78/277-285
Note: These volumes consist mainly of correspondence between the Secretary of State for the Southern Department in London and the British embassy in Paris. Their dates are as follows:- SP 78/277 January 1769 to March 1769 SP 78/278 April 1769 to August 1769 SP 78/279 September 1769 to December 1769 SP 78/280 January 1770 to June 1770 SP 78/281 July 1770 to December 1770 SP 78/282 January 1771 to June 1771 SP 78/283 July 1771 to December 1771 SP 78/284 January 1772 to April 1772 SP 78/285 May 1772 to August 1772 Secretaries of State, South Department: Thynne, Thomas, Viscount Weymouth October 1768 to December 1770 Nassau de Zuylestein, William Henry, earl of Rochford January 1771 to November 1775 The subjects of the correspondence are issues continuing from previous volumes and some new ones. The former include the liquidation of the Canada paper, settled at last in SP 78/287 ff.119, 121, 123, 138; Corsica, France taking control; Dunkirk, continued British distrust of French repairs to the harbour; fishing disputes round Newfoundland. New developments include Britain's watch on the French squadron at Toulon and her insistance on the lowering of pennants at sea [see ships, incidents at sea]; the creation of a French marine corps [284/173]; Britain's intelligence gathering and sources; Britain's relations with Spain and France's fear of getting involved, if Britain and Spain go to war over the Falkland islands. There are frequent references to the intrigues at the French Court, the opposition of the duc de Choiseul to the growing influence of Madame du Barry, leading to his exile and replacement by the duc d'Aiguillon. Of special interest may be the accounts of the fireworks disaster, on the occasion of the wedding of the Dauphin [280/241; 281/30]. There are reports of France's worsening financial position and of the Parlements, in dispute with the King, being suppressed [see a detailed description of a lit de justice, 282/178]. Reports about the situation in India include British claims against the Compagnie des Indes for the maintenance of French prisoners of war, the liquidation of the Compagnie and creation of a new one and 3 long surveys, through French eyes, of the position in the East Indies, with recommendations for defeating the British [283/68; 284/216; 285/31]. Britain watches for any reinforcements going to the Isle de Bourbon and the Isle de France, staging posts for India. Reports are received about steps towards the partition of Poland and French support for the Confederates, about the Russian-Turkish war and the entry of a Russian fleet into the Mediterranean. The pillaging and burning of the ship Concorde, wrecked off the coast of Wales [277/ff. 184, 186], is similar to the fate of the Marianne [see 279/124]. The Index contains a list of ambassadors and other representatives, of ships and of treaties. References to the Court of Vienna are indexed under Austria.

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