TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Sir, The Hague, March 22d, 1781. The States of this Province separated last week, to meet again the next week. The Provinces have given their agreement to the mediation offered by Russia. This affair, I fear, will prove a lingering business, as well as that of the decision of the Court of Justice of Holland, which, I am told, is drawn up in a manner that will not at all satisfy the Regency of Amsterdam, and consequently will not be suffered to be delivered; and so things will remain in statu quo, God knows how long. All this is owing to the devices of the friends of Great Britain in this country, and not in the least to any disaffection from Russia, &c. How can people be helped, that will not be helped? In the mean time, the enemies carry on with success their perfidious scheme. Congress by this time must have heard of their taking St. Eustatia, filled with riches, a great part of which they say is American property. And now they pretend by this stroke to have cut off the great resource of America for continuing the war, and to force her into submission. I have from good authority that the English have refused the mediation of Russia. This surprises me not at all, because I am sure their arrogancy and stubbornness will never let them acknowledge either the independence of the United States, or the rights of neutrality, till their heads are broken; a blessed work, fit for Heaven only and America to achieve, while European politicians take time to consider. April 2d. They expect here very interesting news from Petersburgh towards the end of this month, as there are two couriers gone thither; the one from hence on the 23d of March, the other from England much about the same time. The merchants of Amsterdam, who have a great share in the effects seized on at St. Eustatia, having resolved to send deputies to the English Ministry, in order to have them restored to them, and having invited the merchants of Rotterdam to join with them in this deputation, the latter have answered, that, with men capable of acting so ruffianlike, they would rather let them keep all that they had robbed, than debase themselves by courting the robbers. This noble answer would be still more so, if Rotterdam had lost as much at St. Eustatia as Amsterdam; there being, as for that, a very great difference. I have the honor to be, &c., DUMAS. Sir, GENERAL J. H. BEDAULX TO C. W. F. DUMAS. Nimeguen, April 28th, 1781. As a friend to humanity, it is hoped you will be so good as to relieve, by your correspondence with Congress, a good family from their uneasiness' on account of the fate of a son, of whom, notwithstanding all our inquiries, during these two last years, by the way of France, Spain, and Holland, we have not been able to get any positive intelligence. This son, Frederick Charles Bedaulx, cannot be unknown to Congress, to their War Office, and to the commanders of their army; having been engaged in their service since the year 1776, when he embarked for St. Eustatia; but the vessel being taken, he escaped from Falmouth, and went over with the Marquis de la Fayette, and, in consequence of a capitulation made before his first going, served and distinguished himself there as lieutenant-colonel, in which quality he commanded the infantry of the Pulaski Legion. For more than two years we have had no letter from him, and of many letters which were delivered for him to Mr. Deane, when he was Minister from the United States at Paris, we do not know if one has been received by M. Bedaulx. According to some loose reports, being sick, he had been removed to Philadelphia, where he died. But this has been contradicted since by other people, who say he is still living, and sent away or confined by the intrigues of some enemy. Sure of the principles of probity and honor with which he has been brought up, we cannot think he has been wanting in his duty; and on the other hand, after so many repeated applications made to Congress and to the body in which he has served, we cannot but be surprised and troubled to find them absolutely silent. You will oblige me, his uncle, sir, his worthy father, and a whole family, by helping us out of this cruel uncertainty. I have the honor to be, &c., J. H. BEDAULX, Major General in the Dutch Service. TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. The Hague, May 1st, 1781. Sir, Since my last letter there has been no opportunity to write to America. This time has been employed in getting useful intelligence and preparing all things with Mr. Adams for the step he will take on Friday next of presenting his memorial to their High Mightinesses. This evening I carried a card from him to the Grand Pensionary, who will receive a preparatory visit from him to-morrow morning. It is still uncertain whether he will be admitted at present, or if they will advise for a medium. The expected courier is not yet arrived from Petersburgh. A good French translation of the memorial was absolutely necessary to be presented with the original. I am happy to have made it to the satisfaction of Mr. Adams, and this translation will be read to their High Mightinesses whenever the memorial shall be laid before them.* May 2d. I have attended Mr. Adams to the Grand Pensionary. When he told him that his intention was to present himself on Friday next to the President of their High Mightinesses, in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, and that he had likewise credentials from the same to his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, the Pensionary answered that he apprehended a difficulty would arise against his admission in such a character from their High Mightinesses having not yet acknowledged the independence of America. Mr. Adams having replied that this objection, since the war had broken out between Great Britain and this Republic, seemed to have lost all its weight; the Pensionary agreed that it was true at least both nations had now the same enemy; however, he would make his report to his masters and to the Prince of the notice given him. May 4th. This morning his Excellency went to the Grand Pensionary with a copy of his memorial, which he declined to receive, saying it was not the usage when memorials were presented to the President of their High Mightinesses to deliver copies of them to the Grand Pensionary of Holland; and that it would be more * See this memorial in Mr. Adams's Correspondence, Vol. III., p. 346. proper to deliver one to the Graphiary of the States-General. This we judged proper to delay till after the audience at the President's, who received his Excellency with great politeness, but declined charging himself with the memorial, alleging his acceptance of it would imply an acknowledgment he could not take upon himself, but must reserve it to their High Mightinesses, to whom he would immediately report the case. His Excellency told him that to avoid misconstructions he should find himself obliged to lay his memorial before the whole world, by publishing it immediately. At this the President smiled, and they parted. It was now become improper to carry a copy to the Graphiary, and therefore we dispensed with it. The President went into the Assembly of the States-General and made the report, which having been recorded, the Deputies of all the Provinces (except those of Zealand, who remained silent) asked a copy of the report to transmit it to their respective Provinces, when it will be matter of deliberation in their Provincial Assemblies. From the President we went to the Baron de Larrey, Privy Counsellor, &c., to the Prince of Orange, to whom his Excellency delivered another memorial, in a sealed letter for the said Prince, which the Baron promised to deliver immediately to the Prince. He did so; and the Prince having summoned M. Fagel, the Graphiary, and the Grand Pensionary, consulted with them what was to be done with the letter; two hours after, when we were ready to dine, the Baron came at the inn, with the letter unopened, and a polite excuse from the Prince that he could not receive it till after their High Mightinesses should have resolved if and when he was to be admitted in the character which he had set forth with them. May 11th. Mr. Adams, setting out last Saturday for Amsterdam, left me his order to publish the memorial with the original French translation made by your servant, acknowledged and signed by his Excellency, and to procure also a Dutch translation; which I have performed to-day, by distributing through the cities a sufficient number of each. May 16th. All the public journals of this country have inserted the memorial, which is now generally known pleases and puzzles at once everybody. M. Van Berckel, the First Pensionary of Amsterdam, presented on the 4th instant a very spirited address to the States of Holland, petitioning them either to be impeached, that he might defend himself, or formally declared not guilty. May 19th. This day the cities of Dort and Haerlem, by an annotation in the registers of Holland, have formally declared their accession to the proposition of Amsterdam, and with thanks acknowledged the true patriotism of this last city. The other cities have taken the proposition ad referendum; and the final resolution on it will be taken by the next Assembly. June 6th. I presented yesterday a letter from Mr. Adams to the President of their High Mightinesses, and another to the Privy Counsellor of the Prince of Orange, with a copy to each, of the accession of Maryland to, and the final ratification of, your Confederation. I had sealed up the papers, and put on the covers the proper superscriptions. They received them, and desired me to come to-day for an answer. Accordingly I have waited on them this morning. They both had opened, and consequently read the contents, but said they could not keep them, and that I must take them back. The President seemed to me much embarrassed, and a little caviling on my having delivered to him the letter from Mr. Adams, without adding the quality of Minister Plenipotentiary, assumed in the subscription; by which omission he pretended I had deceived him; otherwise he would not have received the letter. I denied any intention to conceal from him a quality which he knew as well as I and the whole nation Mr. Adams had openly assumed. He put them in my hat, and I told him I would, out of respect for the head of this Republic, keep in deposito the papers, which in time might be thought of greater importance to them than now. The other gentleman received me with the greatest cordiality; and apologizing very frankly for restoring me the papers, (likewise opened,) desired me repeatedly to understand, and to give to understand, that this was a mere formality; and that while the admission of Mr. Adams was under deliberation of the several Provinces, the Prince could not be beforehand with their High Mightinesses nor their High Mightinesses with their constituents, in such a matter of the first importance. June 16th. I have been happy with the presence of Mr. Adams, and with his approbation of my conduct. The States of Holland have separated. Their next meeting, after the 27th instant, may be |