L30/14/54/1

Sent to Mr Hankey (copy letter) from Barton.

15 Sep 1782

From: 1782 To: 1782

Has seen Mr Fox and finds the measure of indemnifying the French suffered at St Eustalia was never submitted to the cabinet whilst he was Secretary of State; believe it was in Lord North's administration for Lord Grantham. Germaine would never give us any answer until he had Cabinet directions and at last sent word they were willing to treat with Court of France if proper persons appointed. Mr Fox took it upon himself as belonging to his Department and knowing Lord Rockingham agreed with him "that it would be dishonourable to England to permit such a stain to remain on her national character, as that, of having turned her arms against Individuals, and plundered unoffending French merchants, when the French commander at Grenada had protected the private property of the British Merchants, 'though that Island had surrendered at discretion as did the Island of St Eustasius" Mr Fox intended when Mr Walpole sent authenticated accounts of damage to recommend to Cabinet immediate indemnification not only from honour and humanity but Policy as it would be foolish to let enemy's vengeance fall on property worth many millions, to save £100,000. As the business is new to Lord Shelburne and Lord Grantham important that immediate remonstrances be made to them as to their predecessors; hope you and Mr Nesbit will wait on them; necessary to render Lord Grantham "as zealous as Mr Fox was for the measure since it is his lot to propose it to the other Cabinet Ministers".

item

Hankey,
Fox,
North,
Germaine,
Grantham,
Rockingham,
Walpole,
Shelburne,
Nesbit

Grenada, West Indies, American War of Independence