14. Beaumarchais nearly exposed the involvement of the French government
Because he was well-known throughout Europe, as well as Britain, as a close associate of King Louis XVI, Beaumarchais masked his activity with Hortalez et Cie through an alias. All documents involving the company and his activities identified him as Monsieur Durand, and it was with that name that he signed them. Upon attending rehearsals of his play, he took an active role in the production, identifying himself as the writer. The true identity of Durand was revealed, and the connection of Durand with the king known, Lord Stormont demanded that the ships laden with military supplies be prohibited from sailing. He wanted their true mission identified, as well as the nature of the French government’s involvement.
Vergennes had little in the way of options if he wanted to avoid an international incident which was a casus belli for war. He ordered the ships not to sail. By the time his order reached Le Havre, L’Amphtrite was already at sea. It sailed as far as L’Orient, where it entered port under Coudray’s orders, he had taken over command of the ship from the hapless captain. There it remained for a month, with the other ships waiting out events in Le Havre. Stormont was temporarily pacified, and after winter storms eased, the three ships departed, eluded British patrols, and arrived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in April, 1777.