Dear Sir. I have the Honor to transmit herewith the copy of mine No. You will see by the Gazettes the State of Affairs as given to the Public but much Allowance must be made, as I have already had occasion to mention. One that they mean to leave as little as possible to Chance and therefore wait the Arrival of all their Forces and the other that the original Plans of the Campaign are to be steadily pursued. It seems also that the Hanoverian Troops have come on so slowly as to have given every advantage to the french Armies in Holland if the Successes of the Prince de Cobourg in Flanders had not rendered the proposed Invasion abortive.
On the northern Frontier they have to beseige not only Conde but Valenciennes Bouchain and Cambray in order to open a Road in the direct Line of Advance besides which it would seem that they want Douay and Arras on the Right with Bavay and Maubeuge on the left to cover their Flanks.
I am persuaded therefore that the main Efforts will be made still in that last Direction, unless Intelligences are established in the Towns on the other Route. The Militia or Volontaires are however well determind. I know that the Government are very apprehensive as to Normandy, and I still beleive in a descent there, and consequent Revolt. You will have seen that the Insurgents on the Southwest of the Loire have had hitherto very great Success altho the Gazettes have teemed with Accounts of the victories obtaind over them.
That they have hitherto receivd no Succor from abroad confirms me in the Opinion that the main Blow is to be struck on the Side of Normandy, unless indeed the Enemies of France are absolutely blind. I learn that the Army of Biron has suffered very severely in the Defeats, all published as Victories gaind over the Piedmontese. However as yet the french Territory notwithstanding the numerous Foes remains untouchd, though on all Sides greatly menaced.
Lebrun the Minister of foreign Affairs, with that of his Answer of the seventeenth and my Reply of to Day. These Pieces require no Comment. Gouv Morris. Tr Lb in same, DD. Enclosures: 1 Morris to TJ, 19 Apr. Under the terms of Article 23 of the treaty of commerce, France and the United States agreed to the principle that free ships make free goods, which in practice meant among other things that, with the exception of contraband which was specifically defined in Article 24 to exclude provisions , neutral American ships carrying provisions or enemy goods were not liable to seizure by the French Miller, Treaties description begins Hunter Miller, ed.
