Archives of the Secretary of State 
75 
563 . May 13, 1776. Cipher from the nuncio. The English abandon Boston 
and retire to Halifax. 
564 . Ciphers from the nuncio. 
Sept. 30, Oct. 14, 21, Nov. 12, 18, Dec. 2, 16, 1776. News of the war in 
America. 
Nov. 25, 1776. On the neutrality of France. 
Dec. 16, 1776. Arrival of Dr. Franklin. 
565 . Ciphers from the nuncio, 1777. 
Jan. 27. Enclosure of the Declaration of Independence. 
Mar. 3. Lord Stormont and the insurgents. The capture of General 
Lee. 
Apr. 7, 14, May 19. The departure of Lafayette. 
566 . Ciphers from the nuncio, 1777. 
Nov. 10. Defeat of Washington on Sept. 11. 
Nov. 24. Capture of Gen. Burgoyne. 
567 . Ciphers from the nuncio, 1778. 
Jan. 12. “ II Dott r . Franklin, sempre circospetto nel parlare, e certamente 
ben ragguagliato, non confirma le notizie, che vengono da Nantes, o 
dalle Corte dell’Inghilterra, anzi nulla dice, e col suo silenzio fa 
comprendere l’incertezza di quanto si va debitando capricciosamente. ,, 
Feb. 16. Relations between France and England. 
Mar. 16. Rumors of treaty between the colonies and France. 
Mar. 23. Reception of Franklin, Deane, and Lee. 
Mar. 30, Apr. 6. English policy toward the colonies. 
Apr. 13. Relations of France and England. 
Apr. 20. News of D’Estaing. Arrival of Adams, and report of a con¬ 
versation with him. 
Apr. 27. From this date the volume is full of news, relating largely to 
naval events. 
568 . Ciphers from the nuncio, 1778. Full of American news, particularly of 
military events. 
Oct. 12. Letter regarding Franklin. 
569 . Ciphers from the nuncio, 1778. Like preceding, contains much news of 
the war. 
Feb. 22. Gives speech of M. de Bertignieres in favor of a revision of 
laws against Protestants, in part grounded on the idea that when 
North America is pacified, it will attract them more than ever, if 
they be still persecuted at home. 
570 . Ciphers from the nuncio. 1780, 1781. Like preceding, contains much 
news of the war. 
A brief notice of the remaining volumes of possible value follows: 08 
1 . Letters of legate in France. 1527-1529. 
1 A- 3 . Letters from nuncio, bishops, and others. 1534-1554. 
4 - 10 , 12 - 18 . Letters of nuncio. 1570-1586. 
11 . Letters to nuncio, etc. 1576-1580. 
19 - 29 , 31 - 35 . Letters of king, queen, princes, nuncio, cardinals, and 
others, 1585-1592, with a few (no. 21) to 1698. 
68 Mgr. Benigni, under secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Extraordinary Eccle¬ 
siastical Affairs, who is very well acquainted with this collection, states that the news¬ 
letters for the whole reign of Louis XIV. contain much American material, and that 
in particular there is a great deal on the Scotch expedition to Darien. 
