favor of the liberty and independence of America, according to all
appearances, the resolution taken by Congress towards the end of the
last year, to wit, to forbid in all America the importation of British
manufactures and productions, has greatly contributed; a resolution,
of which they perceive in England, too visibly, the consequences
ruinous to their manufactures, trades, commerce, and navigation, to be
able to remain indifferent in this regard; for all other commercial
nations, who take to heart ever so little of their own prosperity,
will apply themselves ardently to collect from it all the fruit
possible. To this effect, it would be unpardonable for the business
and commerce of this Republic in general, and for those of this city
in particular, to suffer to escape this occasion, so favorable for
the encouragement of our manufactures, so declined and languishing in
the interior cities, as well as that of the commerce and of navigation
in the maritime cities; or to suffer that other commercial nations,
even with a total exclusion of the mercantile interests of this
Republic, should profit of it, and this upon an occasion, when by
reason of the war equally unjust and ruinous, in which the kingdom of
Great Britain has involved this Republic, we cannot and ought not to
have the least regard or condescension for that jealous State, being
able to oblige this arrogant neighbor in the just fear of the
consequences, which a more intimate connexion between this Republic
and North America would undoubtedly have, to lay down the sooner her
arms, and restore tranquillity to all Europe.
"That the petitioners, notwithstanding the inclination they have for
it, ought not, nevertheless, to explain themselves further upon this
object, nor make a demonstration in detail of the important
advantages, which this Republic may procure itself by a connexion and
a relation more intimate with North America, both because no well
informed man can easily call the thing in question, but also because
the States of Friesland themselves have very lately explained
themselves in a manner so remarkable in this respect; and which is
still more remarkable, because in very different circumstances, with a
foresight, which posterity will celebrate by so much the more, as it
is attacked in our time by ill designing citizens, the gentlemen, your
predecessors, thought four years ago upon the means of hindering this
Republic from being excluded from the business of the new world, and
falling into the disagreeable situation in which the kingdom of
Portugal is at present; considering, that, according to the
information of your petitioners, the Congress has excluded that
kingdom from all commerce and business with North America, solely
because it had perceived that it suffered itself to be too strongly
directed by the influence of the British Court. But this example makes
us fear with reason, that if the propositions made in the name of
America by Mr Adams to this Republic, should remain as they still are,
without an answer, or if, contrary to all expectation, they should be
rejected, in that case, the Republic ought not to expect a better
treatment.
"That, for these reasons and many others, the petitioners had
flattered themselves, that we should long ago have opened
negotiations, and a closer correspondence with the United States of
America; but that this important work appeared to meet with
difficulties with some, as incompatible with the accession of this
Republic to the armed neutrality, and in course with the accepted
mediation; whilst others cannot be persuaded to make this, so
necessary step, in the opinion that we cannot draw any advantage, or,
at least, of much importance, from a more strict connexion with
America; reasons, according to the petitioners, the frivolty of which
is apparent to every one, who is not filled with prejudice, without
having occasion to employ many words to point it out; for as to the
first point, supposing for a moment that it might be made a question,
whether the Republic, after her accession to the armed neutrality
before the war with England, could take a step of this nature without
renouncing at the same time, the advantages of the armed neutrality,
which it had embraced, it is, at least, very certain that every
difficulty concerning the competency of the Republic to take a similar
step, vanishes and disappears of itself at present, when it finds
itself involved in a war with Great Britain, since from that moment
she could not only demand the assistance and succor of all the
confederates in the armed neutrality, but that thereby she finds
herself authorised, for her own defence, to employ all sorts of means,
violent and others, which she could not before adopt and put in use,
while she was in the position of a neutral power, which would profit
of the advantages of the armed neutrality.
"This reasoning, then, proves evidently that in the present situation
of affairs, the Republic might acknowledge the independence of North
America, and notwithstanding this, claim of full right the assistance
of her neutral allies, at least, if we would not maintain one of the
following absurdities; that, notwithstanding the violent aggression of
England, in resentment of our accession to the armed neutrality, we
dare not defend ourselves, until our confederates should think proper
to come to our assistance; or, otherwise, that being attacked by the
English, it should be permitted us, conformably to the rights of the
armed neutrality, to resist them in arms, either on the Doggerbank or
elsewhere, but not by contracting alliances; which certainly do no
injury or harm to the convention of the armed neutrality,
notwithstanding even the small hope we have of being succored by the
allies of the armed confederation.
"The argument of the mediation is still more contrary to common sense
in this, that it supposes the Republic, by accepting the mediation, to
have also renounced the employment of all the means, by way of arms,
of alliances, or otherwise, which it must judge useful or necessary to
annoy her enemy; a supposition, which certainly is destitute of all
foundation, and which would reduce itself simply to a real suspension
of hostilities on the part of the Republic only; to which the Republic
can never have consented, neither directly, nor indirectly. Besides
this last argument, the petitioners must still observe, in the first
place, that by means of a good harmony and friendship with the United
States of America, there will spring up, not only different sources of
business for this Republic, founded solely on commerce and navigation,
but, in particular, the manufactures and trade will assume a new
activity in the interior cities, for they may consume the amount of
millions of our manufactures, in that new country of so vast extent.
In the second place, abstracted from all interests of commerce, the
friendship or the enmity of a nation, which, after having made
prisoners of two English armies, has known how to render herself
respectable and formidable, if it were only in relation to the western
possessions of this State, is not, and cannot be, in any manner
indifferent for our Republic.
"In the last place, it is necessary, that the petitioners remark
further in this respect, that several inhabitants of this Republic, in
the present situation of affairs, suffer very considerable losses and
damages, which might be wholly prevented, or in part, at least,
hereafter, in case we should make with the United States of America,
in relation to vessels and effects recaptured, a convention similar to
that, which has been made with the Crown of France the last year; for,
Venerable Regents, if a convention of this nature had been contracted
in the beginning of this war, the inhabitants of the Republic would
have already derived important advantages from it, considering, that
several ships and cargoes, taken by the English from the inhabitants
of this State, have fallen into the hands of the Americans, among
others, two vessels from the West Indies, richly loaded, and making
sail for the ports of the Republic, and both estimated at more than a
million of florins of Holland; which, captured by the English at the
commencement of the year past, were carried into North America, where,
after the capitulation of General Cornwallis, they passed from the
hands of the English into others. That, although the petitioners are
fully convinced, that the interests of the commerce of this common
country, and of this city, have constantly, but especially in these
last years, attracted, and still attract every day, a great part of
the cares of the Venerable Regency; nevertheless, having regard to the
importance of the affair, the petitioners have thought, that they
could, and that they ought to take the liberty to address themselves
with this petition to you, Venerable Regents, and to inform you,
according to truth, that the moments are precious; that we cannot lose
any time, how little soever it may be, without running the greatest
risk of losing all; since, by hesitating longer, the Republic,
according to all appearances, would not derive any advantage, not
even more than it has derived from its accession to the armed
neutrality, because in the fear of British menaces, we did not
determine to accede to it, until the opportunity of improving the
advantage of it was passed.
"For these causes, the petitioners address themselves to you,
Venerable Regents, respectfully soliciting, that your efficacious
influence may condescend, at the Assembly of their Noble and Grand
Mightinesses, the States of this Province, to direct affairs in such a
manner, that upon this important object there may be taken, as soon as
possible, and, if possible, even during the continuance of this
Assembly, a final and decisive resolution, such as you, Venerable
Regents, and their Noble and Grand Mightinesses, according to their
high wisdom shall judge the most convenient; and if, contrary to all
expectation, this important operation may meet with any obstacle on
the part of one or more of the confederates, that, in that case, you,
Venerable Regents, in concert with the Province of Friesland, and
those of the other Provinces, who make no difficulty to open a
negotiation with America, will condescend to consider the means, which
shall be found proper and convenient, to effectuate, that the commerce
of this Province, as well as that of Friesland, and the other members
adopting the same opinion, may not be prejudiced by any dilatory
deliberations, nor too late resolved for the conclusion of a measure,
as important as necessary."
ROTTERDAM.
"The petition of the merchants, ensurers, and freighters of Rotterdam
to the Regency of that city, gives 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
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 further the deliberations concerning
the article of an alliance of commerce with North America; being,
moreover, certain, that the interposition of this State cannot add
anything more to the solidity of its independence; and that the
English Ministry have 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 efforts, that we may
pursue the negotiation offered by Mr Adams, and that we may decide
finally upon it.
"Whereupon, the petitioners represent, with all the respect possible,
but at the same time with the strongest confidence, to the venerable
Regency of this city, that they would authorise and qualify the
gentlemen, their Deputies at the Assembly of their Noble and Great
Mightinesses, to the end, that in the name of this city they insist,
in a manner the most energetic, at the Assembly of their Noble and
Great 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."
The petitions of the merchants and manufacturers of Haerlem, Leyden
and Amsterdam, which have been presented, on the 20th of March, to
their High Mightinesses, were accompanied by another for 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, the petitioners, have the honor 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, in the relation which they have with commerce in
general, as well as the commerce of 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 connexions,
which the petitioners may have in quality of manufacturers with the
merchants; most humbly praying your Noble and Grand Mightinesses, for
the acquisition of those important branches of commerce, and for the
advantage of all the manufactures and other works of labor and
traffic, to be so good as to take this petition, and the reasons which
it contains, into your high consideration, and to favor it with your
powerful support and protection, and by a favorable 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, 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."
DORT.
At Dort, there has not been presented any petition; but in a letter
written from that city, on the 20th of March, it is observed, "that
the merchants, convinced by redoubled proofs of the zeal and of the
efforts of their Regency for the true interests of commerce, had
judged it necessary to present a petition, after the example of the
merchants of other cities; that they had contented themselves with
testifying verbally their desire, that there might be contracted
connexions of commerce with the United States of America; that this
step had been crowned with such happy success, that the same day, the
20th of March, it was resolved by the ancient council, to authorise
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."
Resolution of their Noble and Grand Mightinesses, the Lords the States
of Holland and West Friesland, March 29th, 1782.
"It has been judged fit and resolved, that the affair be directed, on
the part of their Noble and Grand Mightinesses at the Generality, to
such an end, and that they there insist in the strongest manner, that
Mr Adams be admitted and acknowledged, as soon as possible, by their
High Mightinesses, as the Ambassador of the United States of America;
and the Counsellor Pensionary is charged to give knowledge, under
hand, to the said Mr Adams, of this resolution of their Noble and
Grand Mightinesses."
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 the commerce and the manufactures of this country are
fallen by little and 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, whose utility,
advantage, and necessity, for these Provinces are so evident, and 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 unreasonable.
"In the second place, that America, which ought to be considered as
become free at the point of the sword, being 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 favorable opportunity to
enter into connexion with this new and powerful Republic; a time which
we cannot neglect, without running the greatest risk 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 shown, 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."
AMSTERDAM.
_Request of the Merchants, &c. to their Regency._
"Noble, Great, and Venerable Lords,
"It is for us a particular satisfaction to be able to offer to your
Noble and Great Lordships, as heads of the Regency of this city, this
well-intentioned request, that a multitude of our most respectable
fellow-citizens have signed. It was already ready and signed by many,
when we learnt, as well by the public papers, as otherwise, the
propositions of a particular peace, with an offer of an immediate
suspension of hostilities on the part of Great Britain, made to this
State by the mediation of the Russian Ambassador. This is the only
reason why no immediate mention was made of it in the address itself;
it is by no means the idea, that these offers would have made any
impression upon the merchants, since we can, on the contrary, in
truth, assure your Noble and Great Lordships, that the unanimous
sentiment, nearly, of the exchange of Amsterdam, at least, as much as
that interests it, is entirely conformable to that, which the
merchants of Rotterdam have made known in so energetic a manner. That
we have, consequently, the greatest aversion to like offers, as artful
as dangerous, which being adopted, would very probably throw this
Republic into other situations very embarrassing, the immediate
consequences of which would be to ruin it utterly; whereas, on the
other hand, these offers show, that we have only to deal with an enemy
exhausted, that we could force to a general and durable peace in the
end, by following only the example of France, Spain, and North
America, and by using the means, which are in our own hands.
"It is improper for us, however, to enlarge further upon this project,
important as it may be, being well assured, that your Noble and Grand
Lordships see those grievous consequences more clearly than we can
trace them.
"The merchants continue to recommend the commerce and the navigation
to the constant care and protection of your Noble and Great Lordships,
and to insist only, that in case, that these offers of the Court of
England should be at any time the cause, that the affair of the
admission of Mr Adams, in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary of the
United States of North America, met with any difficulty or delay, on
the part of the other confederates, that your Noble and Great
Lordships, according to the second article of our requisition inserted
in this request, would have the goodness to think upon measures, which
would warrant this Province from the ruinous consequences of such a
proceeding."
To this request was joined the address presented to the Burgomasters,
and to the Council, which is of the following tenor.
"Noble, Great, Venerable, and Noble and Venerable Lords,
"The undersigned, merchants, citizens, and inhabitants of the city of
Amsterdam, have learnt, with an inexpressible joy, the news of the
resolution taken the 28th of March last, by their Noble and Grand
Mightinesses, the Lords, the States of Holland and West Friesland.
Their Noble and Grand Mightinesses have, thereby, not only satisfied
the general wishes of the greatest and best part of the inhabitants of
this Province, but they have laid the foundations of ulterior
alliances and correspondences of friendship and of good understanding
with the United States of North America, which promise new life to the
languishing state of our commerce, of our navigation, and of our
manufactures.
"The unanimity, with which the resolution was decided in the Assembly
of Holland, gives us a well founded hope, that the States of the other
Provinces will not delay to take a similar resolution; whilst that the
same unanimity fills with the most lively satisfaction the
well-intentioned inhabitants of this city, and, without doubt, those
of the whole country, in convincing them fully, that the union among
the sage and venerable fathers of the country increases more and more;
whilst that the promptness and activity, with which it has been
concluded, make us hope, with reason, that we shall reap in time, from
a step so important and so necessary for this Republic, the desired
fruits. Who then can call in question or disavow, that the moment
seems to approach nearer and nearer, when this Republic shall enter
into new relations with a people, which finds itself in circumstances,
which differ but little from those in which our ancestors found
themselves two centuries ago, with a people, which conciliates, more
and more, general affection and esteem?