74 
Vatican Archives 
Feb. 12, Feb. 19, May 6, 1748. Ciphers from the nuncio on the capture of 
Cape Breton, the commerce of America, and the peace. 
Aug. 26, Sept. 9, 16, Oct. 7, 21, 1748. Ciphers from the nuncio on the 
commerce of Spanish America, the inability of Spain to defend it, 
and the peace. 
Oct. 28, 1748. Cipher from the nuncio, on the capture of Cape Breton, 
and the peace. 
492 . Ciphers from the nuncio. 
Nov. 18, 1754. On the meeting of the commissioners of England and 
France, with regard to American boundary line, expressing good 
wishes for their success. 
493 . Ciphers from the nuncio. 
Apr. 28, May 12, 19, 26, June 9, 23, 1755. News and conjectures with 
regard to the equipment of the French and English fleets. 
Apr. 7, 21, 1755. Discussions by the nuncio as to the questions of peace 
and war. 
Jan. 6, Feb. 3, 17, 24, 1755. News of the preparations made in America 
for the war between France and England. 
509 . Oct. 20, 1760. News of the fall of Canada on Sept. 8. 
510 . May 24, 1762. French fleet sent to Santo Domingo. 
Aug. 9, 1762. Attack on Havana. 
Oct. 25, 1762. Capture of St. John’s, N. F., and flight of Cav. di Ternay. 
Nov. 21, 1762. The question of peace. 
Jan. 17, 1762 (3?). News of the capture of Havana. 
555 . Letters from the nuncio, 1782. These are not, during the Revolutionary 
period, definitely separated in character from the ciphers. Nearly 
every letter contains news of the war, and the source is nearly always 
given. In general it was drawn from the gazettes of France, Spain, 
England, and Holland, letters from England and conversations. The 
importance of Dr. Franklin as a source of American news is illustra¬ 
ted by the extract quoted in connection with no. 567 . There are 
many enclosures of public papers, maps, etc. 
May 20. Rumor of war between the Americans and Portugal. 
Oct. 7. “ II ministro d’lnghilterra e assicurato, che li tredici Stati Ameri- 
cani uniti sono piu che mai costanti per sostenere la di Loro Liberta, 
e indipendenza, e per non accettare qualunque proposizione di Pace 
senza il concorso del Re Xm°.” 
Dec. 2. News of the signing of peace. 
Dec. 9. Preliminary articles made public. 
556 . Letters of the nuncio, 1783. Give general news as above. 
Jan. 13. On the advantages gained by the English in the West Indies. 
July 14. Formal calls of Jay, Adams, and Franklin. 
Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13. Questions relative to the signing of the treaties. 
562 . July 10, 1775. Cipher from the nuncio, giving news that the war in 
America favored the colonies. 
Dec. 11, 1775. Cipher from the nuncio: “ Le ulteriore nuove che si 
ricevettero da Londra, aopo la Carcerazione de Negoziante Ameri¬ 
cano Sayre, furono da me lie’ consecutive ordinari comunicate a Vra 
Emza. Sempreche me ne pervengano delle altre non tralascero di 
darlene ragguaglio, come feci della notabile mutazione in quel mini- 
stero ”. 
