INTRODUCTION                      cxxxix
of May 29 France would "force Spain's hand."1 Some of Choiseul's expressions about Grimaldi possibly were purposely indiscreet. "I only ask not to be obliged to listen to his insufferable chatter." The two Piedmontese diplomats, naturally disliking all Genoese, especially "Spaniolized ones," fanned Choiseul's irritation at the ambassador of Spain. "There is," Choiseul wrote Solar "no stupidity of which I do not think that babbler capable; but I beg you to dissimulate till the outcome: we need him and will lead him by his weakness to the very end and then we will laugh at him." Not without reason was Grimaldi obstinate and suspicious.
As has been said the exchange over D'Estaing was revealed to Grimaldi as the ostensible beginning of the negotiation. To complete his deception Choiseul had even to send to England for a copy of his letter on D'Estaing; characteristically he had neglected to keep a copy!2 Viry's dispatches of May 4 were communicated to Grimaldi. What concerned the Mississippi boundary at least must have been withheld, for Grimaldi in general approved.8 However both he and his court took strong exception to the employment of the Sardinians as mediators especially as Spain had pending a territorial question with the court of Turin; but Solar, and especially Viry were of such supreme use to Choiseul that despite promises to the contrary he continued to employ them.4 Charles III required an English declaration to Spain paralleling that to France, which was forthcoming in satisfactory form on May 19.*    The King of Spain's general re-
1 Solar to Viry, May 30, 1762. Shelburne MSS., 9:310-318. Three accompanying notes of the due to Solar were shown Bute and then burned. Viry to Solar, June 28, 1762. Shelburne MSS., 10:175-176. There are three surviving notes of the due to Solar: May 25, 27, 28, 1762. Shelburne MSS., 9:258-261, 282-284, 284 et seq.; two of them contain indiscreet remarks on Grimaldi. The two quotations are from the notes of May 25 and 27.
•Solar to Viry, May 12, 1762.   Shelburne MSS., 9:203-207.
' Choiseul to Ossun, May 16, 1762.   A E Corr. Pol. Esp., 536:205.
4 Ossun to Choiseul, April 26, 1762; Choiseul to Ossun, May 12, 1762. A E Corr. Pol. Esp., 536:93, 167.
•Solar to Viry, May 12, 1762. Shelburne MSS., 9:203-207. The declaration is in Shelburne MSS., 9:217-218.