Ambassador Van Beuningen to Secretary Ruysch.

[From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Secrete Kas of the States-General; Division Frankryk, No. 170. ]

SECRET.

Sir.

I intended to send off the inclosed by an express last night, but M. de Lionne requested that the despatches to be written by me and those to be sent by the King to M. d'Estrades on the same subject, further to assure their High Mightinesses of his good intentions, might be transmitted together by the same courier, whom his Majesty would send off this morning, and I supposed I ought not to make any difficulty as to the aforesaid request on account of the difference of a few hours, especially as they could be made up for by the favor and increased assistance the King's couriers meet with at the posts. In the conversations I have had with M. Lionne repecting the answer the King gave me about the present state of the English war, I again earnestly recommended him that, in case matters might so order themselves as to do away with the reasons which I had stated, fully necessitate their High Mightinesses sending their fleet to sea, it still might be kept for a time in port; and I supposed that such could not fail to be highly advantageous to their High Mightinesses, both because their resolutions for concluding a peace would be better carried out without, than with, bloodshed and the damage of a second rencounter; and because, in default of peace, they should see his Majesty's power conjoined to theirs, and especially because the plague in England can throw the English, their fleet and almost all their affairs into such embarrassment, that, as far as their High Mightinesses' affairs are concerned, they will be seen only to improve by the deterioration of those of the enemy. But as 'tis reported here that some symptoms of contagion are visible in Holland, it is earnestly recommended, if such be the case, that all possible vigilance by human means be used to arrest its progress.

In regard to the management and continuance of the war, it may perhaps appear wise, provided the English do not make their appearance in the Mediterranean in any force, that this King and their High Mightinesses should station in that sea only so many ships-of-war as would resist the prosecution of the designs of the English. And therefore M. Lionne suggested whether their High Mightinesses could not resolve, if his Majesty so inclined, to order a portion of their Mediterranean fleet to repair, along with his Majesty's under the Duke de Beaufort,1 to the ocean, where they can be reinforced by the ships in the western ports and together, with some of their High Mightinesses' ships, form a good fleet of 36 or more, wherewith their High Mightinesses' main division could, according to circumstances, be combined, or they could act in concert separately.

1

FRANÇOIS DE VENDÔME, Duke de Beaufort, was the son of Cæsar, Duke de Vendôme, natural son of Henry IV., King of France. He was born in Paris in the month of January, 1616. He accompanied the King's armies to Savoy in 1630, and was present at the battle of Avein in 1635; at the siege of Corbie in 1636; of Hesdin in 1639, and of Arvas in 1640. Having subsequently fallen under the Royal displeasure, he was incarcerated in 1643 and made his escape in 1648; he finally made his peace with the King and obtained the appointment of Admiral of France, which his father had held. He proceeded to Africa in 1664, and in 1665 defeated the Turkish fleet near Tunis. In 1669 he went to Candia as Generalissimo of the troops of the Church to defend that place against the Turks, and was killed on the 25th of June of that year in a sortie from the town. His body was never recovered. The Duke de Beaufort died unmarried. Moreri, verbo, FRANÇOIS."— ED.

I beg that I may be pardoned if I take the liberty to remind their High Mightinesses that care ought to be taken in such resolution as their High Mightinesses should adopt for the entering on a peace, to prevent the recurrence of any new trouble, on drafting a Commercial Treaty with England, in favor of which a declaration has already been made on the part of their High Mightinesses, but that it may be deferred until the conclusion of the peace.

I have told M. de Lionne that, in the change to which affairs of war are subject, no account must be made of declarations as to the terms of peace, which are not acceptable, and that their High Mightinesses might have such news, even were they, which I did not know, resolved upon the conditions and his Majesty's plan, as to prevent their being carried into effect. To this he answered, that the King hath declared himself, as already stated, with a good intention, and would not constrain but advise their High Mightinesses.

I remain,

Paris, 17th August, 1665.

Sir,

Your humble servant,

VAN BEUNINgen.

Proposition made on the part of His Most Christian Majesty to His Britannic Majesty.

[ Aitzema; Saaken van Staet en Oorlogh, 4to, XI., 797. ]

The extreme and sincere desire which the King of France feels to contribute all in his power to the arrangement of the differences which exist between his Britannic Majesty and the States-General of the United Provinces, leads him to propose, without the participation of said States or any of their Ministers,

That New Netherland shall remaiu, for the future, with the King of Great Britain on ceding the Island of Pouleron to the said States;

That said States shall, in Guinea, remain in the possession of Castle Elmina and Fort Nassau; That Fort Cormantin shall be given up to his Britannic Majesty;

That Fort Cape Corse shall be razed and demolished;

That the said States shall cede, likewise, to his Britannic Majesty, Forts Boavista and St. Andrew, on the River Gambia.

Secret Resolution of the States-General.

[From the Register of Secret Resolutions of the States-General; Royal Archives at the Hague, folio 142. ]

France.

Execution of the

England.

Boavista, St. An

Received two letters from M. Van Beuningen, Minister Extraordinary from this State in France, written at Paris the sixteenth and seventeenth instant, respectively, and addressed to Secretary Ruysch, stating, among other things, that the King of France had told him that his Majesty was resolved to execute the guaranty to their High Guaranty against Mightinesses against the English in case the latter should refuse to make peace New Netherland, on the conditions proposed to them by his Majesty, namely: That a general drew and Pouleron. reciprocal restitution should be made of all lands and places taken, out of Europe, by the one party or the other; exchanging, however, New Netherland and Fort St. Andrew, on the Island of Boavista, for that of Pouleron; that, moreover, his Majesty's intention was to execute the guaranty by a rupture and not to interpose any delay herein, and not to keep his resolution a secret in England, in order to oblige the King of England to come promptly to a conclusion. Stating, furthermore, that it was currently reported there that some symptoms of contagion are perceptible in this country, wherefore 'twas earnestly recommended, if such were the case, that all possible vigilance by human means be used to arrest its progress; that it was again earnestly recommended, in case the reasons should cease which would necessitate their High Mightinesses to send their fleet to sea, it may still, for some time, be kept in port; Which, being considered, it is resolved and concluded that M. Van Beuningen shall be informed, in reply, that their High Mightinesses could not, at once on the receipt of his letters, send him a final answer on the matters therein mentioned, but that they will have it sent him by an express or the next post; that, furthermore, the contagious sickness in this country is, through God's mercy, so trifling as to encourage the hope that, through the good arrangements to be made, it will not be of any consequence. And, finally, that as the national fleet hath put to sea some days ago, no resolution can now be adopted on the detaining it in port. It is, moreover, concluded that letters shall be sent to the respective Chambers of the East and West India Companies of this country, that, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' advice of the 30th July last, they send in, with the greatest promptitude and without any further delay, their opinions on the proposed exchange of New Netherland and Fort St. Andrew, on the Island of Boavista, for the aforesaid Island of Pouleron. The despatch resulting herefrom shall be sent off without reconsideration.

Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam.

Holland Documents,

XV., 75.

Freedom of the city

to be granted to the

city's Colonie in

[From the Resolutien van de Vroedschappen, E., 18, in the Stad Huys, Amsterdam. ]

26th August, 1665.

On information that 2 persons, late Burghers of New Amsterdam, in New Netherland, had made application to the Burgomasters, requesting that, agreeably late Burghers of this to their respective certificates of citizenship, they may be acknowledged and New Netherland. admitted Burghers also of this city, it is, upon consideration, deemed inexpedient in regard to ill consequences, to come to any resolution herein, but to allow the Burgomasters abovenamed to present the freedom of this city to all such, as for the end aforesaid, shall make application to their Worships, and will be able to prove by their papers that they have been Freemen of this city's Colonie at the South river in New Netherland, and whom, out of commisseration for their unfortunate condition, their Worships shall resolve to favor therewith, on condition that such citizenship shall not go into operation before the day it was granted them here by their Worships.

France.

Beuningen to urge

declaration.

Netherland for Pouleron.

Resolution of the States of Holland.

[From the Resolutien van Holland, 1664, p. 613, in State Library, Albany, N. Y. J

28th August, 1665.

Pursuant to summons dated the 21st of this current month, their Great the King to a flual Mightinesses met in Extraordinary Session, at which were taken into consideration Exchange of New the contents of two distinct letters from M. van Beuningen, Minister Extraordinary from this State to the King and Court of France, respectively written at Paris the 16th and 17th of this current month, and received by express, and particularly on the conditional declaration verbally made to M. Van Beuningen by his Royal Majesty, that he will execute the guaranty in favor of this State against the English, in case the latter refuse to make peace on the conditions submitted to them on the part of his Majesty, which, according to the further explanation of M. de Lionne, consist of a general reciprocal restitution of all lands and places out of Europe, captured either by the one side or the other, exchanging, however, New Netherland and Fort St. Andrew on the Island of Boavista, for the Island of Pouleron; it is resolved and concluded, before coming to a final resolution thereupon, or making any positive declaration on the part of this State to wait for the information and advice of the Incorporated East and West India Companies at present here in the Hague on the subject aforesaid, which have been called for by their High Mightinesses, whose opinions and advice being received, then to take such resolution thereupon as shall be found most advantageous for the public service; meanwhile that, on the part of their Great Mightinesses, the matter shall be so directed in the States General, that M. Van Beuningen may be written to, to continue his good duties and offices, and constantly to persevere near the King of France, with all possible zeal and requisite civility, in order to obtain from his Majesty an absolute and pure declaration against England, pursuant to the Treaty of Alliance made and concluded between that King and this State.

Answer of the King of England to the Proposition of the King of France.

[ Aitzema; Saacken van Staet en Oorlogh, 4to., XI., 747 ]

The King of Great Britain, highly appreciating the friendship of his Most Christian Majesty, will be always ready to receive any propositions he will offer for the composition and adjustment of the differences which have arisen between him and the States of the United Provinces, feeling assured that his Most Christian Majesty will recommend him nothing that is not consistent with justice and his honor, having reason to doubt whether his Most Christian Majesty will have been sufficiently instructed respecting the particulars of the said differences.

In regard to New Netherland, the King of Great Britain says, that the affectation and usurpation of the Dutch had so named it, who, during the rebellion of England, taking advantage of the conjuncture, have caused forts to be erected there without any right of dominion over the country, inasmuch as the English have possessed it for a long series of years, by whose permission and connivance only have the Dutch settled there as private persons, and profiting by the disorders, have emancipated themselves to renounce the government of England and to commit there and in the circumjacent countries, insupportable injustices and violences, whereof complaint having been made to the King of Great Britain by his subjects, his Majesty took the resolution to deliver them therefrom, leaving the Dutch always in the full enjoyment of their Plantation with liberty of trade, and depriving them only of the dominion of the country, which did not belong to them; therefore, his Majesty is greatly surprised at the proposition which has been made him, that he should cede his right to Pouleron in compensation for a country already his.

The King of Great Britain will never consent to alienate the Island of Pouleron, which the Dutch have usurped on him without any show of right, and to which they have formerly made so little pretence, that in the time of Cromwell's usurpation, they promised to restore it to him. by their Treaty, and to pay him a considerable sum of money for the inhuman acts committed at Amboyna. And, on his Majesty's return to the Kingdom, the Dutch having besought him to accept the same Treaty, obliged themselves to the prompt restitution of that Island, which not have done, and thus failing in public faith, have become the aggressors, without mentioning other provocations for which his Majesty claims indemnity.

Touching Africa, &c.

Salisbury, 19th August, 1665 (O. S.)

Folio 104. Holland.

Resolution of the States-General.

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1664-1670, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.]

Saturday, 29th August, 1665.

The Deputies of the Province of Holland and West Friesland, have communicated to the Assembly the provincial advice of their Principals on two M. Van Beuningen, distinct despatches of M. Van Beuningen, Minister Extraordinary from this State