cause of the decay of the manufactures of Holland, particularly those
of Leyden, is not to be found in any internal vice, either in the
capacity or the economy of the inhabitants, but in circumstances,
which have happened abroad, and to which it is, consequently, beyond
the power of the petitioners, or of any citizen whatever, to provide a
remedy; that we might cite, for example, the commerce of our
manufactures with Dantzick, and, through that commercial city, with
all Poland; a commerce which was carried on with success and advantage
heretofore in our city, but is absolutely interrupted at this day, and
vanished by the revolution, which has happened in that kingdom, and by
the burthensome duties, to which the navigation of the Vistula has
been subjected, but that, without entering into a detail of similar
particular shackles, of which we might reckon a great number, the
principal cause of the languishing state of our manufactures, consists
in the jealous emulation of the neighboring nations, or rather of all
the people of Europe, considering that in this age, the several
Princes and governments, enlightened in the real sources of the public
prosperity and the true interests of their subjects, attach themselves
with emulation, to revive in their kingdoms and states, the national
industry, commerce, and navigation; to encourage them and promote
them, even by exclusive privileges, or by heavy impositions upon
foreign merchandises, which lend equally to the prejudice of the
commerce and manufactures of our country, as your Noble and Grand
Lordships will easily recollect the examples in the Austrian States
and elsewhere; that in the midst of these powers and nations, emulous,
or jealous, it is impossible for the citizens of our Republic, however
superior their manufactures may be in quality and fineness, to resist
a rivalry so universal, especially considering the dearness of labor,
caused by that of the means of subsistence, which, in its turn, is a
necessary consequence of the taxes and imposts, which the inhabitants
of this State pay in a greater number and a higher rate, than in any
other country, by reason of her natural situation, and of its means to
support itself; so that, by the continual operation of this principal,
but irreparable cause of decline, it is to be feared, that the
impoverishment and the diminution of the good citizens increasing with
want of employment, the Dutch nation, heretofore the purveyor of all
Europe, will be obliged to content itself with the sale of its own
productions in the interior of the country; (and how much does not
even this resource suffer by the importation of foreign manufactures?)
and that Leyden, lately so rich and flourishing, will furnish in its
declining streets, desolated quarters, and its multitude disgraced
with want and misery, an affecting proof of the sudden fall of
countries formerly overflowing with prosperity.
"That, if we duly consider these motives, no citizen, whose heart is
upright, (as the petitioners assure themselves) much less your Noble
and Great Mightinesses, whose good dispositions they acknowledge with
gratitude, will take it amiss, that we have fixed our eyes, in the
present conjuncture of affairs, to inquire, whether these times might
not furnish them some means of reviving the languishing manufactures
of Leyden; and that, after a consideration well matured, they flatter
themselves with a hope, (a hope, which unprejudiced men will not
regard as a vain chimera) that in fact, by the present circumstances,
there opens in their favor an issue for arriving at the
re-establishment desired.
"That from the time, when the rupture between Great Britain and the
Colonies upon the Continent of North America, appeared to be
irreparable, every attentive spectator of this event perceived, or at
least was convinced, that this rupture, by which there was born a
Republic, as powerful as industrious, in the new world, would have the
most important consequences for commerce and navigation, and that the
other commercial nations of Europe would soon share in a very
considerable commerce, whereof the kingdom of England had reserved to
itself, until that time, the exclusive possession by its act of
navigation, and by the other acts of Parliament prescribed to the
colonies; that, in the time of it, this reflection did not escape your
petitioners, and that they foresaw from that time the advantage, which
might arise in the sequel from a revolution so important for the
United Provinces in general, and for their native city in particular;
but they should have been afraid to place this favorable occasion
before the eyes of your Noble and Grand Lordships at an epoch, when
the relations, which connected our Republic with Great Britain, her
neighbors seemed to forbid all measures of this nature, or at least
ought to make them be considered as out of season.
"That, in the meantime, this reason of silence has entirely ceased, by
the hostilities, which the said kingdom has commenced against our
Republic, under pretences, and in a manner, the injustice of which has
been demonstrated by the supreme government of the State, with an
irrefragable evidence in the eyes of impartial Europe; whilst the
petitioners themselves, by the illegal capture of so large a number of
Dutch ships, and afterwards by the absolute stagnation of navigation,
and of voyages to foreign countries, have experienced in the most
grievous manner, the consequences of this hostile and unforeseen
attack, and feel them still every day, as is abundantly known to your
Noble and Grand Lordships; that, since that epoch, a still more
considerable number of workmen must have remained without employment,
and that several fathers of families have quitted the city; abandoning
to the further expense of the treasury of the poor, their wives and
their children, plunged in misery.
"That during this rupture which has subsisted now for fifteen months,
there has occurred another circumstance, which has encouraged the
petitioners still more, and which to them appears to be of such a
nature, that they would be guilty of an excessive indifference, and an
unpardonable negligence towards the city, towards the lower class of
inhabitants, towards their own families, and towards themselves, if
they should delay any longer to lay open their interests to your Noble
and Grand Lordships, in a manner the most respectful, but the most
energetic, to wit, that the United States of America have very
rigorously forbid, by a resolution of Congress, agreed to in all the
Thirteen States, the importation of all English manufactures, and, in
general all the merchandises fabricated in the dominions, which yet
remain to Great Britain; that the effect of this prohibition must
necessarily be a spirit of emulation between all the commercial
nations, to take place of the British merchants and manufacturers in
this important branch of exportation, which is entirely cut off from
them at this day; that, nevertheless, among all the nations, there is
none which can entertain a hope better founded, and more sure in this
respect, than the citizens of this free Republic, whether on account
of the identity of religion, the fashion of living, the manners,
whether because of the extent of its commerce, and the convenience of
its navigation, but above all, by the reason of the activity and the
good faith, which still at this day distinguishes (without boasting
too much) the Dutch nation, above all other people; qualities, in
consideration of which the citizens of United America are inclined,
even, at present, to prefer, in equal circumstances, the citizens of
our free States to every other nation.
"That, nevertheless, all relations and connexions of commerce between
the two people cannot but be uncertain and fluctuating, as long as
their offers and reciprocal engagements are not fixed and regulated by
a Treaty of Commerce, that, at this day, if ever, (according to the
respectful opinion of the petitioners) there exists a necessity the
most absolute for the conclusion of a similar Treaty of Commerce,
there, where we may say with truth, that there arises for the
Republic, for our Leyden, especially, a moment, which, once escaped,
perhaps never will return; since the National Assembly of Great
Britain, convinced by a terrible and fatal experience, of the absolute
impossibility of re-attaching United America to the British Crown, has
laid before the Throne its desire to conclude a necessary peace with
a people, free at this day at the price of their blood, so that, if
this peace should be once concluded, the Dutch nation would see itself
perhaps excluded from all advantages of commerce with this new
Republic; or, at least would be treated by her with an indifference,
which the small value, which we should have put upon its friendship in
former times, would seem to merit.
"That, supposing for a moment a peace between England and United
America were not so near as we have reason to presume not without
probability, there would be found, in that case, nations enough, who
will be jealous of acquiring, after the example of France, the
earliest right to commerce with a country, which, already peopled by
several millions of inhabitants, augments every day in population, in
a manner incredible; but, as a new people, unprovided as yet with
several necessary articles, will procure a rich, even an immense
outlet for the fabrics and manufactures of Europe. That, however
manifest the interest, which the petitioners and all the citizens of
Leyden would have in the conclusion of such a treaty of commerce, they
would, however, have made a scruple to lay before the paternal eyes of
your Noble and Grand Lordships the utility, or rather the necessity of
such a measure in respect to them, if they could believe, that their
particular advantage would be in anywise contrary to the more
universal interests of all the Republic; but, as far as the
petitioners may judge, as citizens, of the situation and the political
existence of their country, they are ignorant of any reasons of this
kind; but, on the contrary, they dare appeal to the unanimous voice of
their fellow-citizens, well intentioned in the other cities and
provinces, even of the Regents of the most distinguished, since it is
universally known, that the Province of Friesland has already preceded
the other confederates, by a resolution for opening negotiations with
America; and that in other provinces, which have an interest less
direct in commerce and manufactures, celebrated Regents appear to wait
merely for the example of the commercial Provinces for taking a
similar resolution.
"That the petitioners will not detain the attention of your Noble and
Grand Mightinesses, by a more ample detail of the reasons and motives,
since on one hand, they assure themselves that these reasons and
motives will not escape the enlightened and attentive judgment of your
Noble and Grand Lordships; and on the other, they know by experience
that your Noble and Grand Lordships are disposed not to suffer any
occasion to pass for promoting the well-being of their city, for
advancing the prosperity of the citizens, to render their names dear
to their contemporaries, and make them blessed by posterity.
"In which firm expectation the petitioners address themselves to this
Grand Council, with the respectful, but serious request, that it may
please your Noble and Grand Lordships to direct by their powerful
influence, things in such sort, that in the Assembly highly respected
of their Noble and Grand Mightinesses, the Lords the States of Holland
and West Friesland, there be opened deliberations, or if already
opened, carried as speedily as possible to an effectual conclusion,
such as they shall find the most proper for obtaining the lawful end,
and fulfilling the desires of the petitioners, or as they shall judge
conformable to the general interest."
AMSTERDAM.
"To their High Mightinesses, the States-General of the United
Provinces,
"The undersigned, merchants, manufacturers, and other
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 indispensable 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 it, the support and the prosperity of this Republic, could
have fallen and remained in such a terrible decay? That in 1780 more
than two thousand of Dutch vessels having passed the Sound, not one
was found upon the list in 1781? That the ocean, heretofore covered
with our vessels, shall 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 endeavor to explain at length, the
damages, the enormous losses, which our inhabitants experienced by the
sudden invasion and 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 upon the lowest artisans and laborers, 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 the 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 shows 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.
The petitioners, terrified, throw their eyes round everywhere 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 thrown 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, the pins of Zwoll, prove
visibly, that all things need not be drawn from England; that,
moreover, we are as well in condition, or shall be soon, 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, everything 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 favorable
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 we may expect from a commerce of
this nature, even at present, but especially in time of peace.
"In the meantime, 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
beneficial to our markets; whilst, on our side, we have to send them
several articles of convenience and of necessity, whether from our
country, or from the neighboring States of Germany. Moreover, several
of our languishing manufactures, scattered in the Seven United
Provinces, may perhaps be restored to their former vigor, by the 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 the
encouragement of manufactures, which that kingdom has procured to
itself, beyond even 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. And for this end, a moment more
favorable 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 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 exercise themselves with vigor in 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 the two banks of the Mississippi, even 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 in consequence of the new charges,
which are thereto attached, and because of the shackles, which they
would put upon the augmentation and exportation of their productions.
"It is then for this same reason, (the want of population,) that they
will scarcely find the hands necessary to take advantage of the
fisheries, which are the property of their own 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 mouleton, and other things; even
the shoemakers of La Maire and of Lang Straat, will find a
considerable opening; almost all the manufactures of Utrecht, and
those of Leyden, will flourish anew; Haerlem will see revive its
manufactures of stuffs, of laces, of ribbands, of twist (_de
cordons_), at present in the lowest state of decay; Delft will see
vastly augmented the sale of its (_porcelaine_) 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
themselves, and to all the Republic, these advantages. The present
moment would determine the whole. The English nation is weary of the
war; and, as that people run easily into extremes, the petitioners are
afraid, with strong probable appearances, that a complete
acknowledgment of Independence will soon take place; above all, if the
English see an opportunity of being able still to draw from America
some conditions favorable 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, this 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 in
this Republic, may powerfully serve, for the acceleration of a general
peace. A general ardor 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.
"We flatter ourselves, High and Mighty Lords, that we have in this
regard alleged sufficient reasons for immediate decision, and that we
have so visibly proved the danger of delay, that we dare to hope, from
the paternal equity of your High Mightinesses, a reasonable attention
to the respectful proposition which we have made. It proceeds from no
other motive than a sincere affection for the precious interests of
our dear country, since we consider it as certain, that as soon as the
step taken by us shall be known by the English, and that they shall
have the least hope of preventing us, they will not fail, as soon as
possible, to acknowledge American Independence. Supported by all these
reasons, the petitioners address themselves to your High Mightinesses,
humbly requesting that it may please your High Mightinesses, after the
occurrences and affairs abovementioned, to take for the greatest
advantage of this country, as soon as possible, such resolution as
your High Mightinesses shall judge most convenient."
PETITION TO THE BURGOMASTERS AND REGENTS OF
AMSTERDAM.
"The subscribers, all merchants and manufacturers of this city, with
all due respect, give to understand, that the difference arisen
between the kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America,
has not only given occasion for a long and violent war, but that the
arms of America have covered themselves with a success so happy, that
the Congress, assisted by the Courts of France and Spain, have so well
established their liberty and independence, and reduced Great Britain
to extremities so critical, that the House of Commons in England,
notwithstanding all the opposition of the British Ministry, have
lately formed the important resolution to turn the King from an
offensive war against America, with no other design than to
accelerate, if it is possible, a reconciliation with America.