the noise there would be from too frequent interviews between persons who are watched.

January 20th. The two Pensionaries of Amsterdam went this morning on the part of their city to the house of the Ambassador, to give thanks, and to say that they hoped his Majesty would not deprive the other confederates of favors which he is willing to preserve to them. Thence they went to the Grand Pensionary, to give him information of this proceeding. In place of sour looks and altercations, which they expected as well at the States of the Province to-day, as elsewhere, they were agreeably surprised to find themselves treated everywhere with much respect. Those of Rotterdam, among others, sought their intercession for their city. The merchants of Rotterdam came to implore the protection of the gentlemen of Amsterdam, who properly sent them away to their own magistrates. The Ambassador, on his part, notified this morning the Grand Pensionary by word of mouth, and afterwards, at his request, by a note in form of a letter, that the King has fixed the 26th of January to publish the new order, if he should not receive such an answer as he demands.

January 21st. Nothing is done yet. The advice of the Admiralty proposed to-day to the States of Holland is in contradiction with itself. They annul, in truth, their famous resolution of the 18th of November as to the restriction of convoy, (from which they wished then to exclude ship-timber,) but would suspend the adoption of the resolution as to the extension of these convoys until the time when they would assign their crews. This is only pushing time by the shoulders; it is the Lernean hydra, whose heads started up in place of those that were destroyed. For they agree on all the rest. There were yesterday only altercations and reproaches, to which those of Amsterdam answered with as much moderation and decency as firmness. All has been deferred till to-morrow, and if they will decide the affair by the majority, Amsterdam will protest

anew.

January 22d. Nothing yet is done in the Assembly of Holland. The Grand Pensionary had proposed a draft of a resolution which Amsterdam would not agree to, because there were terms which appeared deceptive, and which were susceptible of a different explanation at the Court of London from what it might receive at that of France. The principle is this: they would delay the final

resolution for the extension of convoy to the 26th, the day when the Admiralty must assign the crews and armaments. Now, this extension will only signify in relation to one of the powers, the force of the convoys; in relation to the other, the suspension of convoy for ship-timber. Those of Haerlem have, therefore, proposed some amendments. If all acquiesce, they may to-morrow adopt a unanimous resolution that may, perhaps, satisfy France.

to-day to Paris to

January 23d. Yet undecided. All the cities, meanwhile, are of one mind with Amsterdam on the plan proposed by Haerlem. But a great personage, with the majority of the nobility, still dispute about the terms. Pending this, a courier has been despatched obtain, if possible, a further delay of a week in favor of the city of Amsterdam, which strongly interceded in behalf of the others. It remains to be known if this courier can arrive in time on the 26th. Amsterdam has declared to-day that she will remain firm and immovable, and will neither suffer herself to be forced or deceived-a very strong expression.

January 29th. Contrary to all appearances, they have not resolved anything to-day. The answer proposed by the Admiralty was so obscure and ambiguous, that Amsterdam has given notice that she will protest again that it was only necessary to communicate to France the resolution of the 26th instant, by which the Republic repealed that of the 18th of November, which displeased France, and embraced the most perfect neutrality. They were not willing to follow this advice, and they have again prolonged the Assembly till Tuesday or Wednesday next. They wish to deceive us, said our friend, but they will not succeed.

February 4th. The Assembly of Holland resolved to-day, by a majority, on the answer to be given to France, referred from yesterday, against which Amsterdam, with Haerlem has renewed formally her protestation of the 19th of December; after which the Assembly separated. It will meet again the 25th of February.

February 16th. The States-General have not yet made answer to the Ambassador. The Deputies of the Provinces have declared that they were not authorised thereto by their constituents.

I am returned from Amsterdam, where I have been to see if the four new Burgomasters who have entered upon office are in the same disposition as those of the past year; and I have found that all goes on well; as also if the merchants intend to profit forthwith by the

privileges conceded to them. A letter will not admit of the details, which I have communicated hereon to the Ambassador of France. The paper here annexed, which I have drawn up and circulated, will give you a summary view of all that has passed of interest.

Our friend has sent me the materials for a plan of a treaty between the two Republics. I am occupied with it. As soon as it is drafted, I will make copies for America and Paris.

The long silence that America keeps, and the rumors which are industriously spread, and which nobody has authentically contradicted, of divisions that prevail there, of the submission even of two or three of the most southern States, and even of Virginia, make me see and experience more reserve and timidity, on the part even of those of Amsterdam, than in the past year. I pray God to guard America from traitors as well as from open enemies.

February 24th.-There is a letter from the Prince Stadtholder to the States of the Province of Friesland, which will have serious consequences, because it is very partial to England and against France. I had the good fortune, Friday the 19th, to be able to procure an authentic copy of it for the Ambassador. I learned the same day that it was printed at Amsterdam. It sells, circulates rapidly, and makes much noise.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

DUMAS.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Gentlemen,

The Hague, March 1st, 1779.

I have nothing to add to the extracts here annexed, except to press anew the necessity there is that the most honorable Congress send me a commission in all its forms of Chargé d'Affaires and agent of the United States of America in the United Provinces of the Low Countries, with power to manage and watch over their political interests, and those of the navigation and commerce of the American Union, as well near their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries, now and at all times when opportunity shall be presented, as near each Province, city, and individual of this Republic.

The opposition formed, sustained, and consolidated against the enormous influence which your enemies had over this Republic, is the work of three persons, of whom I have the honor in my sphere to be one.

With orders and powers more precise on the part of Congress, I should have been able to contract long since, with merchants of this country, for useful expeditions, and to defeat divers adventurers and intriguers, who, falsely boasting of full powers and of credentials which they have not, have abused and much deceived the people and compromised the dignity and credit of the United States. The little I have been able to do in this respect has been done with a pure zeal and a disinterestedness and discretion which I dare propose as an example to others who may be called to a similar service. I can boldly defy all the world to accuse me of having, in any case, preferred my own interest to that of the American people.

My request, at the commencement of this letter, has for its object the service of the United States of America, as much at least as the proper care of my fortune, of my family, my honor and credit, my character and safety. The earliest of your agents and correspondents, gentlemen, in Europe, out of Great Britain, has risked all these things from the time he received and accepted this honor, with a confidence equal to that with which it was offered.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

DUMAS.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Gentlemen,

The Hague, April 29th, 1779.

In all this month nothing has passed remarkable here, unless it be the memorial presented by the English Ambassador. But in this interval I have taken part in a secret operation which has confided the credit and secrets of America to a house at Amsterdam truly patriotic, and not suspected of collusion with the enemy. Dr. Franklin is fully apprized of it all.

Here is an extract from a letter to him:

"The States of the Province of Holland have assembled here

this morning. It is only an ordinary session; and our friend said to me pleasantly, 'We have only come to hold the fair.' He foresees also that the resolution of the States-General, as to convoy, will not be such as to engage France to revoke or mitigate her last edict of navigation. One of the first houses of Amsterdam, and whose predilection for England is known, has sold £60,000 of English funds. This has revived the idea of a declaration from Spain, and has depressed the English funds at Amsterdam from three to four per cent. There is a shower of pamphlets here, both in French and Dutch, against the last memoir of Sir Joseph Yorke."

For a long time, gentlemen, we have heard nothing here of American affairs but through the wicked channel of your enemies, who do not cease to paint the Americans as a people disunited and discordant. These eternal repetitions, and their pretended success in Georgia, do not fail to disquiet your friends and to embarrass all my endeavors.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

DUMAS.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Gentlemen,

The Hague, May 15th, 1779.

I have already had the honor of informing you many times that some of my frequent letters to Passy are of a nature not to be communicated to you, even in abridgement, through the risk that my packets run of being intercepted; such are, particularly, divers letters written to Dr. Franklin, from the 25th of January to the 29th of April. There is a cabal of Genevan and Swiss bankers, France as at Amsterdam, friendly to your enemies, which does as much injury as it can under the mask of friendship. It was my duty to unmask some of them to Dr. Franklin, and to make known to him a safe Anti-English patriotic house, having the confidence of the magistracy of Amsterdam. The Ministry in France know it.

as well in

Upon the last petitions of the merchants of Dort, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Friesland, the States-General, after having previously deliberated and advised, and then reconsidered the affair, adopted on