L30/14/306/33

From 2nd Earl Shelburne to 2nd Baron Grantham:

Not dated c. 1782

From: 1782 To: 1782

Forgot to tell Grantham that, lest they should be misled in trusting to Officers only that regarding Newfoundland, Shelburne sent someone to Poole yesterday, who will return tomorrow. Suggests that that article is kept as open as possible till then, and take as much credit as possible for ceding any part of it, on account of the public conviction of its importance. Past 9 o'clock. Has just seen M. Rayneval. Made as much merit as possible about agreeing to any alteration about the Fishery, without coming to anything precise. Stated the impossibility of making any alteration in the article of last Peace so far as regards Bengal. As to Masulipatam he is content that they should stand as under the Truce of 1754. Shelburne forgot to repeat to him what he said about Trincomali, but he had said it so positively before, and professed only to speak in general, leaving all the particulars to Grantham (except as to the point of his being able to answer for Count Vergennes), that it will be sufficient if Shelburne repeats it. Writes so that Grantham may have the letter before he meets Rayneval. P.S. Grantham will find decided about Gibraltar, and consider whether Rayneval may be safely sounded about Porterico, when they talk of the Gulf of Mexico.

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Rayneval,
de Vergennes

Newfoundland & Labrador, fisheries