kill time, sometimes at what they call the Court, sometimes with each
other.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DUMAS.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
The Hague, April 18th, 1783.
Sir,
Our friends are returned here to meet, provided with good
instructions, not only in regard to the military jurisdiction but also
to other subjects, which it will be agreeable here to see on the
carpet of their Noble and Grand Mightinesses the States of Holland.
Those of Dort are in substance as follows;
I. To grant the annual requisition of the Council of State for the
department of war, except the forty or fortyfive thousand florins,
which the High Council of War expend for the Province annually, and
which the city wishes to be struck off. The six other Provinces
together pay about thirty thousand florins besides, for the support of
the Council.
II. To exert themselves in inquiring into and reforming abuses which
have been introduced into the army, and particularly, 1st. to prevent
in future titular promotions, by which a prodigious number of officers
are created with higher titles than their rank and pay entitle them
to, which does not fail to cost the country 600,000 florins annually
to no purpose; 2dly. To abolish the venality of the companies and
other posts, which has existed for some time.
In Friesland they are equally firm. A Westphalian, having defrauded
the revenue, was condemned to ten years' hard labor in prison. The
Regency of Munster having solicited his pardon the Counsellor Deputies
of Friesland, principally devoted to the Court, reported therein to
the States of Friesland that the case was pardonable, but that the
right of pardon being devolved on the Prince by the abdication of the
right by the States, it was necessary to refer the affair to him. To
disavow this pretended abdication, and because the case is one of
those called royal cases, the States in opposition to this report
granted the pardon without consulting the Prince.
In a fortnight, a man imprisoned for disturbances on the 8th of March,
the birthday of the Prince, will be whipped, at Rotterdam. Two other
of these fellows are in prison at Delft, for having committed similar
disorders at Overschie, a village near Rotterdam, in the jurisdiction
of Delft. As they broke into houses they are in danger of being hung.
A body of three hundred volunteers, of young men of the best families
of Rotterdam, has been formed to maintain public order in case of any
similar disturbances. They exercise daily, and have petitioned to be
authorised by their Regency. They will succeed, through the influence
of the Burgomaster Van Berckel, who prevails in the legislative body
of the city, notwithstanding the opposition of the Burgomaster Van der
Heim, who is devoted to the Court, and who has the majority in the
executive.
The French Ambassador will set out next Monday, on a visit of several
months to France. Meanwhile M. de Berenger, Secretary of Legation,
will attend to the business of the embassy.
I have been requested to sound Mr Dana, to know, "whether, in case
their High Mightinesses should think proper to send full powers to
their Minister at Petersburg, to conclude a treaty with the Minister
of the United States, on the principles of the armed neutrality, Mr
Dana could enter on such a negotiation." I have written him in
consequence.
_April 23d._ On the 20th, the French Ambassador gave a farewell
dinner, at which I had the honor to be present.
I wrote to Mr Adams a letter on the 11th, of which I yesterday
received an answer dated the 16th, and this morning waited upon M.
Fagel, the Secretary, to say to him, that I had the satisfaction to be
able to free their High Mightinesses from all anxiety on the point of
titles, by assuring them, that the United States had adopted no other,
than that of the _United States of America in Congress assembled_, and
that the qualification of _Friends and Allies_, which their High
Mightinesses will add, did not require to be enriched by any epithets.
You see, Sir, added I, that in America they practise the maxim of
Boerhaave, _sigillum veri simplex_. He approved this remark, and
politely thanked me for the information. On leaving him I went to
communicate the same thing to the Pensionaries of Dort and Amsterdam,
who said to me, smiling, there is still one little thing, that puzzled
the Secretary; it is not customary in Holland to say _you_ in
addressing any one, and he has been able to find no expression but _El
Edelere_ (_Your Noblenesses_) in addressing the Congress. I answered
in the same tone, that the Americans recognise no other nobility than
that of soul, and that as the simple address would not, in my opinion,
be disagreeable to them, if the Secretary used it without any
appendages.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DUMAS.
* * * * *
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO C. W. F. DUMAS.
Without date.
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters to March
4th inclusive. I am sorry to find by them, that the ferment occasioned
by the causes you explain, continues to work. How far it may be
necessary to purge off the impurities, which your government has
contracted by long inaction, I will not pretend to say. It is certain,
however, that the want of harmony in its different branches has had
the most melancholy effects upon your operations the last war; and
deprived you of important advantages in the conclusion of it. Though I
sincerely wish that the struggles of your patriots may be attended
with the same happy consequences with ours, yet I take the liberty to
remind you, that your public character puts you in a delicate
situation with respect to them, that as a foreign nation, whatever we
may wish, we have no right to express those wishes, or in any way to
interfere in the internal disputes of our allies, that our conduct
should show, that we were the enemy of no party, except so far as
their measures were inimical to us. You will not, Sir, consider this
as a reproof, for I have not the smallest reason to believe, that you
have not made these reflections yourself, and acted conformably
thereto. On the contrary, I rather conclude, that you have, from the
long habit in which you have been of conducting public affairs which
require prudence and delicacy. I only mention it, therefore, as a
caution which will not probably, but may possibly be necessary to one
who is animated by the spirit of freedom, and may as a patriot be
hurried beyond the limits we should prescribe to our Ministers.
You will be pleased to discontinue in future all the Dutch papers, and
send us only the Leyden Gazette, the _Courrier du Bas Rhin_, and the
_Courrier de l'Europe_, together with such publications on political
subjects, written in French, as may be worth our attention. I commit
the enclosed letters to Mr Dana to your care.
Nothing has yet been done in your affairs, though they lay before
Congress; a variety of important matters have pressed of late for
their consideration, and you are too well acquainted with popular
assemblies to be surprised at the slowness of their proceedings.
We have returned the prisoners on both sides, and Congress have made a
considerable reduction in the army, by permitting those who are
enlisted for the war to return home on furlough. We cannot yet learn
with certainty from General Carleton, when he means to evacuate New
York. I sincerely rejoice at M. Van Berckel's appointment, and wish
you had informed me when we might expect him here, where the patriotic
character of his family cannot but ensure him an agreeable reception.
I am, Sir, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
The Hague, May 8th, 1783.
Sir,
The great blow of the suppression of the High Council of War, and the
restriction of the military jurisdiction, was finally and decisively
struck in the States of Holland last week, as your Excellency will see
by the resolutions and publications in the gazettes sent with this;
there is no doubt that the other Provinces will conform to that of
Holland. Thus have the republicans gained a signal victory over the
other party, and which would never have happened but for the war,
which has so humbled the English and the Anglomanes.
I have seen the last despatches of the Plenipotentiaries of this
Republic at Paris, to the Grand Pensionary of the 25th and 28th of
April, and of M. Tor, Secretary of M. Brantzen at London, of the 18th
of April, received here the 3d of May, from M. Brantzen. It appears
from these letters, that they could not agree, either at Paris or
London, upon the articles of peace between this Republic and Great
Britain. The Secretary, Mr Fox, with whom M. Tor had two conferences,
made evasive answers, and this _man of the people_ does not seem to
have the same esteem for the republicans as formerly. He put two
singular questions to M. Tor; 1st. why they were so dissatisfied with
the Prince of Orange in the United Provinces? 2dly. what impression
the measures of the King of Prussia in favor of the Prince had made?
M. Tor in turn evaded these questions, which lead us to conclude, that
this _man of the people_ is no better than the others. Meanwhile the
Deputies of Dort and Schoonhoven, have proposed the reform of several
great abuses in the army; 1st. The creation of supernumerary officers,
by raising them above their actual rank, and excusing them from
service. 2dly. The venality of posts. 3dly. The introduction of
foreign officers in the national regiments. These propositions have
been committed. In due time I shall give an account of the report of
the committee, and of its result.
I am, &c.
DUMAS.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
The Hague, May 25th, 1783.
Sir,
The States of Holland will assemble next Wednesday, and meanwhile I
have nothing interesting to add to what the annexed papers contain,
except that the last letters from Paris of the 16th and 19th, inform
me that nothing has yet been done to forward the conclusion of the
general definitive treaty.
I learn from good authority, that Mr Harris, British Minister at the
Court of St Petersburg, is intended for that post here, after
everything is settled. I shall communicate this intelligence to our
friends at Dort and Amsterdam this evening. They will be pleased with
it, for they feared the return of Sir Joseph Yorke and his old arts,
which under present circumstances would be injurious here, without
being of any real benefit to England.
I take the liberty to recommend to the attention and kindness of the
United States and their citizens, Captain Riemersma, commander of the
Overyssel, ship of the line, who will sail from the Texel after the
19th June, carrying M. Van Berckel to Philadelphia. He is a brave
officer, an excellent patriot, a constant friend of liberty and of
America, and he received the squadron of Commodore Paul Jones in the
Texel in 1779, in a very friendly manner, for which he was punished by
the Anglomanes, whose intrigues effected his removal from the command
of the Road, and who have ever since prevented him from being employed
and advanced; in this they have injured only their country; for he is
wealthy, and it is not interest, but honor and taste for the
profession, which induce him to serve.
I am, &c.
DUMAS.
* * * * *
NOTE TO THE STATES-GENERAL.
The Hague, June 5th, 1783.
The undersigned, _Charge d'Affaires_ of the United States of America,
has the honor to inform their High Mightinesses, that in the absence
of the Minister Plenipotentiary, for reasons known to their High
Mightinesses, he has intrusted to him the honor of laying before them
the treaty and convention concluded between the two Republics on the
7th of October last, and since ratified by the United States in
Congress assembled; and also of receiving in exchange the
ratifications of their High Mightinesses.
The undersigned congratulates himself on being permitted to discharge
a duty so congenial to his zeal for the United States, to his respect
for their High Mightinesses, and to his attachment to a nation, in the
bosom of which he has had the pleasure of living for many years.
DUMAS.
By order of Mr Adams I sent this note to the Secretary, M. Fagel, and
a copy to the Grand Pensionary, Van Bleiswick. M. Fagel has requested
several days to allow time for the clerks to prepare the ratification
of their High Mightinesses, "which," he said to me, "I should
communicate with great pleasure to Mr Adams if he were here, and I
shall communicate it to you, Sir, with the same pleasure."
DUMAS.
* * * * *
M. FAGEL TO C. W. F. DUMAS.
The Hague, June 19th, 1783.
Sir,
Our ratification cannot be ready until next Monday. If you will call
on me at Court on Monday morning, at one o'clock, I shall be able to
exchange the ratifications with you.
I am, &c.
H. FAGEL.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
The Hague, June 20th, 1783.
Sir,
Yesterday I received a note from the Secretary of their High
Mightinesses, of which I annex a copy. I shall therefore receive the
act there mentioned next Monday, and shall keep it until I can
transmit it to Mr Adams, according to his orders.
The city of Gorcum has followed, by a large majority, the example of
Dort, Schoonhoven, Rotterdam, Schiedam, and Alcmaer, by a resolution
abolishing the influence of the Prince, on the nominations to vacant
places; there is nothing left him but the right, which the
constitution secures to him, of choosing among several persons
nominated. This week their Noble and Grand Mightinesses will
deliberate on the abolition of the venality of military offices.
This contradicts the notion, which it was attempted to inculcate, that
the ardor for reform would relax, at the end of the war.
I am, &c.
DUMAS.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
The Hague, June 23d, 1783.
Sir,
At one o'clock this afternoon, an exchange of the ratification of the
treaty and convention concluded the 7th of October last, between the
United States and the United Provinces of the Low Countries, took
place in the business hall between the Secretary of their High
Mightinesses and your servant. I keep these two acts, according to the
orders of Mr Adams, to place them in his hands on his return. They are
authenticated according to the usage of this country, with the seal of
the Republic, enclosed in two large silver boxes attached to each, on
which are engraven the arms of the Union.
M. Van Berckel sets out today from Amsterdam for the Texel, and I am
in haste to send this by him.
I have only to assure you of, &c.
DUMAS.
* * * * *
END OF THE NINTH VOLUME.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE. |
| |
| Omitted words, shown as blank spaces in the original, have been |
| transcribed as four hyphens ('----'). |
| |
| Spelling variations between letters have been preserved. |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+