Zealand, Utrecht, Overyssel, and at present (as the petitioners learn)
in the Province of Groningen after the examples of Holland and
Friesland, confirm them in that hope, and seem to render entirely
superfluous, a request that, in every other case, the petitioners would
have found themselves obliged to make with the commercial Citizens of
the other Cities, to the end that, by the resistance of one Province,
not immediately interested in commerce and navigation, they might not be
deprived of the advantages and of the protection, that the sovereign
Assembly of their proper Provinces had been disposed to procure them,
without it; but that, to the end to provide for it, their noble and
grand Mightinesses, and the States of the other Provinces in this
respect, unanimous with them, should make use of the power which belongs
to each free State of our federative Republic; at least in regard to
treaties of commerce, of which there exists an example in 1649, not only
in a treaty of redemption of the toll of the Sound, but also in a
defensive treaty concluded with the Crown of Denmark, by the three
Provinces of Guelderland, Holland, and Friesland.
But as every apprehension of a similar dissension, among the members of
the confederation, appears at present absolutely unseasonable, the
petitioners will confine themselves rather to another request, to wit,
that after the formation of connections of commerce with North America,
the effectual enjoyment of it may be assured to the commercial Citizens
of this country, by a sufficient protection of their navigation; without
which the conclusion even of such a treaty of commerce would be
absolutely illusory. That, for a long time, especially the last year,
the petitioners have tasted the bitter fruits of the defenceless state
in which the Dutch flag has been incessantly found; as they have already
said, conformably to the truth, in their first request, "that by the
total stagnation of the navigation, and of expeditions, they have felt,
in the most painful manner, the effects of the hostile and unexpected
attack of Great Britain, and that they feel them still every day." That,
in the mean time, this stagnation of commerce, absolutely abandoned to
the rapacity of an enemy greedy of pillage, and destitute of all
protection whatever, hath appeared to the petitioners, as well as to all
the other commercial inhabitants; yes! even to all true Citizens, so
much the more hard and afflicting, as they not only have constantly
contributed, with a good heart, to all the public imports, but that, at
the time even that the commerce was absolutely abandoned to itself, and
deprived of all safeguard, it supported a double charge to obtain that
protection which it hath never enjoyed; seeing that the hope of such a
protection (the Republic not being entirely without maritime force) hath
appeared indeed more than once, but always vanished in the most
unexpected manner, by accidents and impediments, which, if they have
given rise, perhaps wrongfully, to discontent and to distrust among the
good Citizens, will not nevertheless be read and meditated by posterity
without surprize.
That, without intention to legitimate, in any manner, the suspicions
arising from this failure of protection, the petitioners believe
themselves, nevertheless, with all proper respect, warranted in
addressing their complaints on this head, to the bosoms of your noble
and great Lordships, and (seeing that the commerce with North America
cannot subsist without navigation, no more than navigation without a
safeguard) in reckoning upon the active direction, the useful
employment, and prompt augmentation of our naval forces, in proportion
to the means which shall be the most proper effectually to secure to the
commerce of this Republic the fruits of its connections with United
North America.
For which reasons, the petitioners, returning their solemn thanks to
your noble and great Lordships, for the favourable resolution taken upon
their request the 18th of March last, address themselves anew to you on
this occasion, with the respectful prayer, "That it may graciously
please your noble and great Lordships to be willing to effectuate by
your powerful influence, whether in the illustrious assembly of their
noble and grand Mightinesses, whether among the other Confederates, or
elsewhere, there, and in such manner, as your noble and great Lordships
shall judge most proper, that the resolution of their noble and grand
Mightinesses of the date of the 28th of March last, for the admission of
Mr. Adams, in quality of Minister of the United States of America, be
promptly executed; and that the petitioners, with the other commercial
Citizens, obtain the effectual enjoyment of a treaty of commerce with
the said Republic, as well by the activity of the marine of the State,
and the protection of commerce and navigation, as by all other measures,
that your noble and great Lordships with the other members of the
Sovereign Government of the Republic, shall judge to tend to the public
good, and to serve to the prosperity of our dear country, as well as to
the maintenance of its precious liberties."
_So doing, &c._
ROTTERDAM.
_PETITION of the Merchants, Insurers, and Freighters of Rotterdam to the
Regency of that City_.
Give to understand, in the most respectful manner, that it is
sufficiently notorious that the inhabitants of this Republic have, as
well as any other nation, an interest, that they give us an opportunity
to open a free communication and correspondence with the inhabitants of
America, by making a treaty of commerce, as Mr. Adams has represented in
his memorial; to which they add, that the advantages which must result
from it, are absolutely the only means of reviving the fallen commerce
of this country; for re-establishing the navigation, and for repairing
the great damages which the perfidious proceedings of the English have,
for so many years, caused to the commercial part of this country.
That with all due respect, they represent to the venerable Regency the
danger we run, in prolonging farther the deliberations concerning the
article of an alliance of commerce with North America; being moreover
certain that the interposition of this State cannot add any thing more
to the solidity of its independence, and that the English Ministry has
even made to the Deputies of the American Congress propositions to what
point they would establish a correspondence there, to our prejudice, and
thereby deprive the inhabitants of this country of the certain
advantages which might result from this reciprocal commerce; and that
thus we ought not to delay one day, nor even one hour, to try all the
efforts, that we may pursue the negociation offered by Mr. Adams, and
that we may decide finally upon it. Whereupon the petitioners represent,
with all respect possible, but at the same time with the firmest
confidence, to the venerable Regency of this City, that they would
authorize and qualify the Lords theirs Deputies at the Assembly of their
noble and grand Mightinesses, to the end, that they insist in a manner
the most energetic, at the Assembly of their noble and grand
Mightinesses, that the resolution demanded may be taken without the
least delay, to the end that, on the part of this Province, it be
effected, at the Assembly of the States General, that the American
Minister, Mr. Adams be as soon as possible admitted to the audience
which he has demanded, and that they take with him the determinations
necessary to render free and open to the reciprocal inhabitants, the
correspondence demanded.
_So doing, &c._
_The PETITIONS of the Merchants, and Manufacturers of HAERLEM, LEIDEN,
and AMSTERDAM, which have been presented, on the twentieth of March, to
their HIGH MIGHTINESSES, were accompanied with another to the STATES of
HOLLAND and WEST FRIESLAND, conceived in these Terms._
The subscribers, inhabitants of this country, merchants, manufacturers,
and others, living by commerce, give with all respect to understand,
that they have the honour to annex hereto a copy of a petition presented
by them to their High Mightinesses, the States-General of the United Low
Countries. The importance of the thing which it contains, the
considerable commerce which these countries might establish in North
America, the profits which we might draw from it, and the importance of
industry and manufactures, by the relation which they have with commerce
in general, as well as the navigation to that extensive country; all
these objects have made them take the liberty to represent, in the most
respectful manner, this great affair for them, and for the connections
which the petitioners may have, in quality of manufacturers, with the
merchants, most humbly praying your noble and grand Mightinesses, for
the acquisition of these important branches of commerce, and for the
advantage of all the manufactures, and other works of labour and of
traffic, to be so good as to take this petition, and the reasons which
it contains, into your high consideration, and to favour it with your
powerful support and protection, and by a favourable resolution, which
may be taken at the Assembly of their High Mightinesses, to direct, on
the part of this Province, things in such a manner, that for obtaining
this commerce so desired and so necessary for this Republic, that there
be concerted such efficacious measures, as the high wisdom and patriotic
sentiments of your noble and grand Mightinesses may find convenient, for
the well-being of so great a number of inhabitants, and for the
prejudice of their enemies.
_So doing, &c._
DORDRECHT.
At Dordrecht there has not been presented any petition. But on the
twentieth of March, the merchants, convinced by redoubled proofs of the
zeal, and of the efforts of their Regency, for the true interests of
commerce, judged it unnecessary to present a petition after the example
of the merchants of other cities. They contented themselves with
testifying verbally their desire that there might be contracted
connections of commerce with the United States of America: That this
step had been crowned with such happy success, that the same day 20th of
March, 1782, it was resolved, by the ancient Council, to authorize their
deputies, at the Assembly of Holland, to concur in every manner
possible, that, without delay, Mr. Adams be acknowledged in his quality
of Minister Plenipotentiary; that his letters of credence be accepted;
and conferences opened upon this object.
ZWOLL
IN OVERYSSEL.
The subscribers, all merchants, manufacturers, and factors of the city
of Zwoll, give respectfully to understand, that every one of them, in
his private concerns, finds by experience, as well as the inhabitants of
the Republic in general, the grievous effects of the decay into which
commerce, and the manufactures of this country are fallen, little by
little, and above all, since the hostile attack of the kingdom of
England against this State; that it being their duty to their country,
as well as to themselves, to make use of all the circumstances which
might contribute to their re-establishment, the requisition made not
long since by Mr. Adams to the Republic, to wit, to conclude a treaty of
commerce with the United States of North America, could not escape their
attention; an affair, the utility, advantage, and necessity of which,
for these Provinces, are so evident, and have been so often proved in an
incontestible manner, that the petitioners will not fatigue your noble
Lordships, by placing them before you, nor the general interests of this
city, nor the particular relations of the petitioners, considering that
they are convinced, in the first place, that England making against the
Republic the most ruinous war, and having broken every treaty with her,
all kind of complaisance for that kingdom is unseasonable.
In the second place, that America, which ought to be regarded as become
free at the point of the sword, and as willing, by the prohibition of
all the productions and manufactures of England, to break absolutely
with that kingdom; it is precisely the time, and perhaps the only time,
in which we may have a favourable opportunity to enter into connection
with this new and powerful Republic; a time which we cannot neglect
without running the greatest risque of being irrevocably prevented by
the other powers, and even by England. Thus we take the liberty
respectfully to supplicate your noble Lordships, that, having shewn, for
a long time, that you set a value upon the formation of alliances with
powerful states, you may have the goodness, at the approaching assembly
of the nobility, and of the cities forming the States of this Province,
to redouble your efforts, to the end that, in the name of this country,
it may be decided at the Generality, that Mr. Adams be acknowledged, and
the proposed negotiations opened as soon as possible.
So doing, &c.
PETITION OF AMSTERDAM.
To their High Mightinesses, the States General of the United Provinces,
the undersigned, merchants, manufacturers, and others, inhabitants
living by commerce in this country, give respectfully to understand:
That, although the petitioners have always relied, with entire
confidence, upon the administration and the resolutions of your High
Mightinesses, and it is against their inclinations to interrupt your
important deliberations, they think, however, that they ought, at this
time to take the liberty; and believe as well intentioned inhabitants,
that it is their indispensible duty in the present moment, which is most
critical for the Republic, to lay humbly before your High Mightinesses
their interests.
What good citizen in the Republic, having at heart the interest of his
dear country, can dissemble, or represent to himself without dismay, the
sad situation to which we are reduced by the attack, equally sudden,
unjust, and perfidious of the English? Who would have dared two years
ago to foretell, and, notwithstanding the dark clouds which even then
began to form themselves, could even have imagined that our commerce and
our navigation, with the immense affairs which depend upon them, the
support and the prosperity of this Republic, could have fallen and
remained in such a terrible decay? that in 1780, more than two thousands
of Dutch vessels having passed the Sound, not one was found upon the
list in 1781? That the ocean, heretofore covered with our vessels,
should see at present scarcely any? and that we may be reduced to see
our navigation, formerly so much respected and preferred by all the
nations, pass entirely into the hands of other powers? It would be
superfluous to endeavour to explain at length the damages, the enormous
losses, which our inhabitants have sustained by the sudden invasion and
the pillage of the colonies, and of their ships; disasters, which not
only fall directly upon the merchant, but which have also a general
influence, and make themselves felt in the most melancholy manner, even
by the lowest artisans and labourers, by the languor which they occasion
in commerce. But, how great soever they may be, it might, perhaps, be
possible, by the aid of the paternal cares of your High Mightinesses,
and by opposing a vigorous resistance to the enemy, already enervated,
to repair in time all these losses, (without mentioning
indemnifications) if this stagnation of commerce was only momentary, and
if the industrious merchant did not see beforehand the sources of his
future felicity dried up. It is this gloomy foresight which, in this
moment, afflicts, in the highest degree, the petitioners; for, it would
be the height of folly and inconsideration to desire still to flatter
ourselves, and to remain quiet, in the expectation that, after the
conclusion of the peace, the business, at present turned out of its
direction, should return entirely into this country; for experience
shews the contrary in a manner the most convincing; and it is most
probable, that the same nations, who are actually in possession of it,
will preserve, at that time, the greatest part of it. Your alarmed
petitioners throw their eyes round every where, to discover new sources,
capable of procuring them more success, in future. They even flatter
themselves that they have found them upon the new theatre of commerce
which the United States of America offer them; a commerce, of which, in
this moment, but in this moment only, they believe themselves to be in a
condition to be able to assure to themselves a good share; and the great
importance of which, joined to the fear of seeing escape from their
hands this only and last resource, has induced them to take the
resolution to lay open respectfully their observations concerning this
important object to your High Mightinesses, with the earnest prayer that
you would consider them with a serious attention, and not interpret in
ill part this measure of the petitioners, especially as their future
well-being, perhaps even that of the whole Republic, depends on the
decision of this affair.
No man can call in question that England has derived her greatest forces
from her commerce with America; those immense treasures, which that
commerce has poured into the coffers of the state; the uncommon
prosperity of several of her commercial houses, the extreme reputation
of her manufactures, the consumption of which, in quantities beyond all
bounds, contributes efficaciously to their perfection, are convincing
proofs of it. However it may be, and notwithstanding the supposition,
too lightly adopted, that we cannot imitate the British manufactures,
the manufacture of painted linens of Rouen; those of wool of Amiens, of
Germany, of Overyssel; and the Pins of Zwoll prove visibly that all
things need not be drawn from England; and that, moreover, we are as
well in a condition, or shall soon be, to equal them in several
respects.
Permit us, high and mighty Lords, to the end to avoid all further
digression, to request in this regard the attention of your High
Mightinesses to the situation of commerce in France at the beginning of
the war. Continual losses had almost ruined it altogether. Like ours,
several of her merchants failed of capitals; and others wanted courage
to continue their commerce; her manufactures languished; the people
groaned; in one word, every thing there marked out the horrors of war.
But, at present, her maritime towns, overpeopled, have occasion to be
enlarged; her manufactures, having arrived at a degree of exportation
unknown before, begin to perfect themselves more and more, in such a
degree, that the melancholy consequences of the war are scarcely felt in
that kingdom. But, since it is incontestible that this favourable
alteration results almost entirely from its commerce with America, that
even this has taken place in time of war; which, moreover, is ever
prejudicial, we leave it to the enlightened judgment of your High
Mightinesses to decide, what it is that we may expect from a commerce of
this nature, even at present, but especially in time of peace. In the
mean time, we have had the happiness to make a trial, of short duration
it is true, but very strong in proportion to its continuance, in our
colony of St. Eustatia, of the importance of the commerce, though not
direct, with North America. The registers of the West India Company may
furnish proofs of it very convincing to your High Mightinesses; in fact,
their productions are infinitely suitable to our market; whilst, on our
side, we have to send them several articles of convenience and of
necessity from our own country; or from the neighbouring states of
Germany. Moreover, several of our languishing manufactures, scattered
in the seven United Provinces, may perhaps be restored to their former
vigour, by means of bounties, or the diminution of imposts. The
importance of manufactures for a country is sufficiently proved, by the
considerable gratifications promised and paid by British policy for
their encouragement, and by the advantages which that kingdom has
procured to itself by this means, even beyond what had been expected.
The petitioners know perfectly well the obstacles, almost
insurmountable, which always oppose themselves to the habitual use of
new manufactures, although certainly better in quality; and they dare
advance, without hesitation, that several of our manufactures are
superior to those of the English. A moment more favourable can never
offer itself than the present, when, by a resolution of Congress, the
importation of all the effects of the produce of Great Britain, and of
her colonies, is forbidden; which reduces the merchant and the purchaser
to the necessity of recurring to other merchandises, the use of which
will serve to dissipate the prejudice conceived against them. It is not
only the manufactures, high and mighty Lords, which promise a permanent
advantage to our Republic. The navigation will derive also great
advantages; for it is very far from being true (as several would
maintain) that the Americans, being once in the tranquil possession of
their independence, would themselves exercise with vigour these two
branches; and that in the sequel, we shall be wholly frustrated of them.
Whoever has the least knowledge of the country of America, and of its
vast extent, knows that the number of inhabitants is not there in
proportion. That even the two banks of the Mississippi, the most
beautiful tract of this country, otherwise so fertile, remain still
uncultivated; and as there are wanted so many hands, it is not at all
probable to presume, that they will or can occupy themselves to
establish new manufactures, both because of the new charges, which they
would put upon the augmentation and exportation of their productions.
It is then for these same reasons (the want of population) that they
will scarcely find the hands necessary to take advantage of the
fisheries, which are the property of their country; which will certainly
oblige them to abandon to us the navigation of freight. There is not
therefore any one of our provinces, much less any one of our cities,
which cannot enjoy the advantage of this commerce: No, high and mighty
Lords, the petitioners are persuaded that the utility and the benefit of
it will spread itself over all the provinces and countries of the
Generality. Guelderland and Overyssel cannot too much extend their
manufactures of wool, of swanskin, and other things; even the shoemakers
of the mayoralty, and of Langstret, will find a considerable opening;
almost all the manufactures of Utrecht and of Leyden will flourish anew.
Harlem will see revive its manufactures of stuffs, of laces of ribbons,
of twist, at present in the lowest state of decay. Delft will see vastly
augmented the sale of its earthen ware, and Gouda that of its
tobacco-pipes.
However great may be the advantages foreseen by the petitioners, from a
legal commerce duly protected with America, their fear is not less, lest
we should suffer to escape the happy moment of assuring to them, and to
all the Republic, these advantages. The present moment must determine
the whole. The English nation is weary of the war; and as that people
runs easily into extremes, the petitioners are afraid, with strong
probable appearances, that a compleat acknowledgment of American
independence will soon take place; above all, if the English see an
opportunity of being able still to draw from America some conditions
favourable for them, or at least something to our disadvantage. Ah! what
is it which should instigate the Americans in making peace, and renewing
friendship with Great Britain, to have any regard for the interests of
our republic? If England could only obtain for a condition, that we
should be obliged to pay duties more burthensome for our vessels, this
would be not only a continual and permanent prejudice; but would be
sufficient to transmit to posterity, a lamentable proof of our excessive
deference for unbridled enemies.
The petitioners dare flatter themselves that a measure so frank of this
Republic, may powerfully serve for the acceleration of a general peace.
A general ardour to extinguish the flames of war reigns in England; an
upright and vigorous conduct, on the part of this Republic, will
contribute to accelerate the accomplishment of the wishes for peace.