The French Empire

[TLS]

The French Empire

Not to be confused, of course, with that French Empire



Summary: France, which was ejected from the continent after the French and Indian War, did not leverage its position in North America to try to stage an immediate return to North America. Rather, it leveraged its gains in the the war to secure its position in the Caribbean, where its sugar colonies (mainly Saint-Domingue, the richest area on Earth) are one of the few profitable elements left in the sclerotic kingdom. France's interest in the nascent American states is one of vague friendliness, but the descent of the colonies into internecine strife does not cause the court of Louis XVI undue stress. The divided states are more likely to be reliant on France for trade or other favors, and even if they take a hostile attitude towards France they will not be effectively able to rival French naval or economic power in the Caribbean, let alone on the greater high seas.

Colonies of France





Saint-Domingue

Politics
Official Title: The Colony of Saint-Domingue
Conventional: Saint-Domingue
Political System: Colony
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Possessions: Haiti

Economy:
Population: 500,000 (5% free white, 10% free colored, 85% slaves; 20% Francophone, 80% Creole)
Port: Cap-Francais, Port-au-Prince
Income: 4

Military
Regular Army:
-10 Infantry Companies
-2 Cavalry Companies
Militia:
-24 Militia Infantry Companies
-6 Militia Cavalry Companies

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Martinique

Politics
Official Title: The Colony of Martinique
Conventional: Martinique
Political System: Colony
Capital: Fort-Royal
Possessions: Martinique

Economy:
Population: 90,000 (5% free white, 5% free colored, 90% slaves; 10% Francophone, 90% Creole)
Income: 1

Military
Regular Army:
-1 Infantry Company
Militia:
-3 Militia Infantry Companies
-1 Militia Cavalry Company

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Guadeloupe

Politics
Official Title: The Colony of Guadeloupe
Conventional: Guadeloupe
Political System: Colony
Capital: Basse-Terre
Possessions: Guadeloupe

Economy:
Population: 90,000 (5% free white, 5% free colored, 90% slaves; 10% Francophone, 90% Creole)
Income: 1

Military
Regular Army:
-1 Infantry Company
Militia:
-3 Militia Infantry Companies
-1 Militia Cavalry Company

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French Military Forces in the Caribbean


Regular Army

Saint-Domingue Garrison
-2 Forts (Port-au-Prince, Cap-Francais)
-1 Infantry Regiment (Port-au-Prince)
-1 Infantry Company (Cap-Francais)
-1 Cavalry Company (Cap-Francais)

Guadeloupe Garrison
-1 Fort (Basse-Terre)
-1 Infantry Company (Basse-Terre)

Martinique Garrison
-1 Fort (Fort-Royal)
-1 Infantry Company (Fort-Royal)

Navy:

Caribbean Station (Port-au-Prince)
-3 FF1s (Surveillante, Gentille, Amazone)
-4 PatRons (2 Port-au-Prince, 1 Cap-Francais, 1 Guadeloupe, 1 Martinique)

[Hussam B.]

Richard Howly, former Governor of Georgia and devout Roman Catholic, is dispatched to serve as an ambassador on the behalf of the State of Georgia to King Louis XVI's court. He brings hope that a continued beneficial relationship with the French will bring security and prosperity to his homeland.

As he awaits the acceptance of his credentials, the ambassador presents the deeds for four 5000 acre tracts of vacant land in Franklin county, Georgia to French Vice Admiral d'Estaing and his heirs, on behalf of Governor John Houstoun and approved by the General Assembly.

[Lefty]

Thomas Jefferson arrives in Versailles, invited by the Court. He begins by offering his gratitude on behalf of Virginia and indeed the colonies as a hole for France’s support for the American cause. He hopes that France and Virginia will have a long and cooperative friendship, and he proposes a general trade agreement and hopes for productive discussions of policy with his French counterparts.

He also hopes to engage in valuable and “fruitful” discussion of the French court’s opinion on the current trends in French wine.

[TLS]

Thomas Jefferson arrives in Versailles, invited by the Court. He begins by offering his gratitude on behalf of Virginia and indeed the colonies as a hole for France’s support for the American cause. He hopes that France and  Virginia will have a long and cooperative friendship, and he proposes a general trade agreement and hopes for productive discussions of policy with his French counterparts.

He also hopes to engage in valuable and “fruitful” discussion of the French court’s opinion on the current trends in French wine.

Monsieur Jefferson is received amiably by his French hosts, but is informed that a great plague afflicts trade between France and the Americans. Rascal smugglers are interfering with France's sovereign colonies, as it is thoroughly improper for Americans to trade directly with France's colonies rather than with the French metropole. Any potential agreement between Virginia and France would require sizeable commitments to combat smuggling and regulate trade, as seen by the precedent set by the Georgians--though not necessarily with the same sorts of military commitments.

[Lefty]

M. Jefferson understands the concerns of the French, and he will recommend that the Virginia navy be increased to address the smuggling issue. He suggests that France formally recognize Virginia and establish an embassy in Richmond, so cooperation can be more formalized. Perhaps Gen.Lafayette would be a suitable candidate?

However, he notes that trade is of great importance to the economy of Virginia, and indeed the American States in general, and the distance between Norfolk and France is quite substantial. He wonders if a compromise might be arranged by which Virginian merchants are given a single port in the Americas in perhaps San Domangue, where American goods can be legally assessed and taxed and monitored as the French Crown desires, but the extensive distance would be mitigated. This would allow the Virginia government to more easily address the issue of smuggling and would mitigate the concerns of Norfolk's merchants.

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