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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Collection of State-Papers, Relative to the First Acknowledgment of the Sovereignty of the United States of America + +Author: John Adams + +Release Date: January 6, 2010 [EBook #30872] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COLLECTION OF STATE-PAPERS *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Susan Carr and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><small>A</small><br /> + +COLLECTION<br /> + +<small>OF</small><br /> + +STATE-PAPERS.</h1> + +<h3>[Price Two Shillings.]</h3> + +<hr /> + +<h1><small>A</small><br /> + +COLLECTION<br /> + +<small>OF</small><br /> + +STATE-PAPERS.</h1> + +<h4>Relative to the First Acknowledgment of the</h4> + +<h3>Sovereignty of the United States of America,</h3> + +<h4>And the Reception of their</h4> + +<h3>Minister Plenipotentiary, by their High Mightinesses the<br /> +States General of the United Netherlands.</h3> + +<h3>To which is prefixed, the Political Character of</h3> + +<h2>JOHN ADAMS,</h2> + +<h3>Ambassador Plenipotentiary from the States of North America,<br /> +to their High Mightinesses the States General of the<br /> +United Provinces of the Netherlands.</h3> + +<hr class="thought" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">By an American</span>.</h2> +<hr class="thought" /> + +<h3>LIKEWISE,</h3> + +<h2><span class="smcap">An Essay on Canon and Feudal Law</span>,</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">By JOHN ADAMS, Esq</span>;</h2> + +<hr class="thought" /> + +<h3>LONDON:</h3> + +<h3>Printed for <span class="smcap">John Fielding</span>, No. 23, Pater-noster-row;<br /> +<span class="smcap">John Debrett</span>, opposite Burlington-House, Piccadilly; and<br /> +<span class="smcap">John Sewell</span>, No. 32, Cornhill. 1782.</h3> + +<h3>[Entered at Stationers-Hall.]</h3> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">As</span> the States General of the United Provinces have +acknowledged the independency of the United States +of North America, and made a treaty of commerce with +them, it may not be improper to prefix a short account of +John Adams, Esq; who, pursuing the interests of his +country, hath brought about these important events.</p> + +<p>Mr. Adams is descended from one of the first families +which founded the colony of the Massachusets Bay in 1630. +He applied himself early to the study of the laws of his +country; and no sooner entered upon the practice thereof, +but he drew the attention, admiration, and esteem of +his countrymen, on account of his eminent abilities and +probity of character. Not satisfied with barely maintaining +the rights of individuals, he soon signalized himself +in the defence of his country, and mankind at large, by +writing his admirable Dissertation on the Canon and +Feudal Laws; a work so well worth the attention of every +man who is an enemy to ecclesiastical and civil tyranny, +that it is here subjoined. It showed the author at an early +period capable of seconding efficaciously the formation of +republics on the principles of justice and virtue. Such a +man became most naturally an object of Governor Barnard's +seduction. The perversion of his abilities might be of use in +a bad cause; the corruption of his principles might tarnish +the best. But the arts of the Governor, which had succeeded +with so many, were ineffectual with Mr. Adams, who +openly declared he would not accept a favour, however +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>flatteringly offered, which might in any manner connect +him with the enemy of the rights of his country, or tend +to embarrass him, as it had happened with too many +others, in the discharge of his duty to the public. Seduction +thus failing of its ends, calumny, menaces, and +the height of power were made use of against him. They +lost the effect proposed, but had that, which the show of +baseness and violence ever produce on a mind truly virtuous. +They increased his honest firmness, because they +manifested, that the times required more than ordinary +exertions of manliness. In consequence of this conduct, +Mr. Adams obtained the highest honours which a virtuous +man can receive from the good and the bad. He was +honoured with the disapprobation of the Governor, who +refused his admission into the council of the province; +and he met with the applause of his countrymen in general, +who sent him to assist at the Congress in 1774, +in which he was most active, being one of the principal +promoters of the famous resolution of the 4th of July, +when the colonies declared themselves <span class="smcap">free and independent +states</span>.</p> + +<p>This step being taken, Mr. Adams saw the inefficacy of +meeting the English Commissioners, and voted against +the proposition; Congress, however, having determined +to pursue this measure, sent him, together with Dr. +Franklin and Mr. Rutledge, to General Howe's head +quarters. These Deputies, leading with them, in a manly +way, the hostages which the general had given for their +security, marched to the place of conference, in the midst +of twenty thousand men ranged under arms. Whether +this military shew was meant to do honour to the Americans, +or to give them an high idea of the English force, +is not worth enquiry. If its object was to terrify the Deputies +of Congress, it failed; making no more impression +on them, than the sudden discovery of elephants did upon +certain embassadors of old. The utmost politeness having +passed on both sides, the conference ended, as had been +foreseen, without any effect.</p> + +<p>Mr. Adams having been fifteen months one of the +Commissioners of the War department, and a principal +suggestor of the terms to be offered to France, for forming +treaties of alliance and commerce, he was sent to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +court of Versailles, as one of the Ministers Plenipotentiary +of the United States. After continuing some time +invested with this important trust, he returned to America; +where he no sooner appeared, than he was called +upon by the State of Massachusets Bay, to assist in forming +a system of government, that might establish the rights +of all on clear, just, and permanent grounds. He was +never employed in a business more agreeable to himself; +for, the happiness of his Fellow-Citizens is his great object. +He sought not honour in this arduous undertaking, +but it fell ultimately upon <i>Him</i>. He has gained it all +over Europe. If he endeavoured to obtain by it the +esteem and love of his countrymen, he has succeeded; +for they know they are chiefly indebted to him for the +constitution of the State of Massachusets Bay, as it stands +at this day.</p> + +<p>This important business being completed to the satisfaction +of all, he came back to Europe, with full powers +from Congress to assist at any conferences which might be +opened for the establishment of peace; and had sent him, +soon after, other powers to negociate a loan of money +for the use of the United States; and to represent them, +as their Minister Plenipotentiary, to their High Mightinesses +the States General of the United Provinces. Such +important trusts shew, in what estimation he is held by +his country; and his manner of executing them, that confidence +is well placed.</p> + +<p>On his arrival in Holland, nothing could have been +more unpromising to the happy execution of his mission, +than were the affairs of that country. The influence +of the Court of St. James's over a certain set of men, +the interest that many had in the funds and commerce of +England, and the dread of her power, which generally +prevailed throughout the Provinces, obliged him to act +with the utmost circumspection. Unknown, and at first +unnoticed, (at least but by a few) he had nothing to do +but to examine into the state of things, and characters of +the leading men. This necessary knowledge was scarcely +acquired, when the conduct of the British Ministry afforded +him an opportunity of shewing himself more +openly. The contempt, insult and violence, with which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +the whole Belgic nation was treated, gave him great +advantages over the English Embassador at the Hague. +He served himself of his rivals rashness and folly with +great coolness and ability; and, by consequence, became +so particularly obnoxious to the prevailing party, that +he did not dare to go to a village scarcely a day's journey +from his residence, but with the utmost secrecy: the fate +of Dorislaus was before his eyes. Having been therefore +under the necessity of making himself a Burgher of Amsterdam, +for protection against the malice of the times, +he soon gained the good opinion of the Magistrates by his +prudent conduct as a private Citizen. The bad policy of +England, enabled him to step forward as a public character. +As such he presented to the States General his +famous Memorial, dated the 19th of April, 1781, wherein +the declaration of the independency of America on the +4th of July, 1776, was justified; the unalterable resolution +of the United States to abide thereby asserted; the +interest that all the powers of Europe, and particularly +the States General, have in maintaining it, proved; the +political and natural grounds of a commercial connection +between the two Republics pointed out; and information +given that the Memorialist was invested with full powers +from Congress to treat with their High Mightinesses for +the good of both countries.</p> + +<p>The presenting this Memorial was a delicate step; +Mr. Adams was sensible, that he alone was answerable +for its consequences, it being taken not merely from his +own single suggestion, but contrary to the opinion and +advice of some of great weight and authority. However, +maturely considering the measure, he saw it in all +its lights, and boldly ventured on the undertaking. The +full and immediate effect of it was not expected at once. +The first object was, that the nation should consider the +matter thoroughly; it being evident, that the more it +was ruminated on, the more obvious would be the advantages +and necessity of a connection between the two +countries. When, therefore, the Memorial was taken by +the States General <i>ad referendum</i>, the first point was gained; +the people thought of, and reasoned on the matter set +before them; many excellent writings appeared, and they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +made the greatest impression; a weekly paper in particular, +entitled Le Politique Hollandois, drew the attention of +all, on account of its information, the soundness of its +argument, and its political judgment and patriotism. +At length the time came when the work was to be compleated: +the generality of the people of Holland, seeing the +necessity of opening a new course to their trade, which +the violent aggression of England, and the commercial +spirit of other nations tended to diminish, demanded an +immediate connection with the United States of America, +as a means of indemnifying themselves for the loss which +a declared enemy had brought on them, and the rivalship +of neighbouring nations might produce.</p> + +<p>Mr. Adams seized the occasion which the public disposition +afforded him, and presented his Ulteriour Address +of the 9th of January, 1782; referring therein to his +Memorial of the 19th of April, 1781, and demanding a +categorical answer thereto. The Towns, Cities, Quarters, +and States of the several Provinces took the whole +matter into immediate deliberation, and instructed their +several Deputies, in the States General, to concur in the +admission of Mr. Adams in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary +of the United States of North America. This was +done by a resolution, passed by their High Mightinesses +the 19th of April, 1782; and on the 22d of the same +month, Mr. Adams was admitted accordingly, with all the +usual ceremonies.</p> + +<p>This event seems to have been as great a blow as any +that has been given to the pride and interests of England +during the war. It shewed the Dutch were no longer +over-awed by the power of their enemy, for they dared +to brave him to his teeth. It set an example to other +nations, to partake of the commerce of those countries, +which England had lost by her inconsiderate conduct. It +confounded at once the English partisans in Holland, and +proved that Sir Joseph Yorke was not the great minister +he had hitherto been supposed to be. It gave occasion to +an ambassador of one of the greatest monarchs of Europe +to say to Mr. Adams: <i>Vous avez frappé, Monsieur, le plus +grand coup de tout l' Europe. C'est le plus grand coup, qui +à etè frappé dans le cause Americain. C'est vous qui à effrayé<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +et terrasse les Anglomannes. C'est vous qui à rempli cette +nation d'enthousiasme.</i> And then turning to another gentleman, +he said, <i>Ce n'est pas pour faire compliment a Monsieur +Adams, que je dis cela: c'est parcequ'en verité, je crois +que c'est sa due.</i></p> + +<p>This diplomatic compliment has been followed by others. +I transcribe with pleasure a convivial one contained in the +following lines, which an ingenious and patriotic Dutchman +addressed to his excellency Mr. Adams, on drinking +to him out of a large beautiful glass, which is called a +<i>baccale</i>, and had inscribed round its brim, <i>Aurea Libertas</i>:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Aurea Libertas!</span> <i>gaude! pars altera mundi</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Vindice te renuit subdere colla jugo.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Hæc tibi legatum quem consors Belga recepit</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Pectore sincero pocula plena fero.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Utraque gens nectet, mox suspicienda tyrannis,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Quæ libertati vincula sacra precor!</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>They who have an opportunity of knowing his Excellency +Mr. Adams trace in his features the most unequivocal +marks of probity and candour. He unites to that +gravity, suitable to the character with which he is invested, +an affability, which prejudices you in his favour. +Although of a silent turn, as William the Prince of Orange +was, and most great men are, who engage in important +affairs, he has nevertheless a natural eloquence for the +discussion of matters which are the objects of his mission, +and for the recommending and enforcing the truths, measures, +and systems, which are dictated by sound policy. +He has neither the corrupted nor corrupting principles +of Lord Chesterfield, nor the qualities of Sir Joseph +Yorke, but the plain and virtuous demeanor of Sir +William Temple. Like him too he is simple in negociation, +where he finds candour in those who treat with +him. Otherwise he has the severity of a true republican, +his high idea of virtue giving him a rigidness, which makes +it difficult for him to accommodate himself to those intrigues +which European politics have introduced into +negociation. "<i>Il sait que l'art de negocier n'est pas l'art<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> d'intriguer et de tromper; quil ne consiste pas à corrompre; +à se jouer des sermens et à semer les alarmes et les divisions; +qu'un negociateur habile peut parvenir à son but sans ces +expediens, qui sont la triste ressource des intriguans, sans avoir +recours à des manœuvres detournès et extraordinaires. Il +trouve dans la nature même des affaires quil négocie des incidens +propres à faire réussir tous ses</i> <ins title="Transcriber's note: Added quotes after projets."> +<i>projéts.</i>"</ins></p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<h2>MEMORIAL</h2> + +<h3>TO THEIR<br /> + +HIGH MIGHTINESSES<br /> + +THE<br /> + +STATES GENERAL<br /> + +OF THE<br /> + +United Provinces of the Low Countries.</h3> + + +<p class="hanging-indent"><i>High and Mighty Lords</i>;</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> Subscriber has the honour to propose to your +High Mightinesses, that the United States of America, +in Congress assembled, have lately thought fit to +send him a commission (with full powers and instructions) +to confer with your High Mightinesses concerning a treaty +of amity and commerce, an authentic copy of which he +has the honour to annex to this memorial.</p> + +<p>At the times when the treaties between this Republic +and the Crown of Great Britain were made, the people, +who now compose the United States of America, were +a part of the English nation; as such, allies of the Republic, +and parties to those treaties; entitled to all their +benefits, and submitting chearfully to all their obligations.</p> + +<p>It is true, that when the British Administration, renouncing +the ancient character of Englishmen for generosity, +justice, and humanity, conceived the design of +subverting the political systems of the Colonies; depriving +them of the rights and liberties of Englishmen, and reducing +them to the worst of all forms of government; +starving the people by blockading the ports, and cutting +off their fisheries and commerce; sending fleets and ar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>mies to destroy every principle and sentiment of liberty, +and to consume their habitations and their lives; making +contracts for foreign troops, and alliances with savage +nations to assist them in their enterprise; casting formally, +by act of parliament, three millions of people at +once out of the protection of the Crown: Then, and not +till then, did the United States of America, in Congress +assembled, pass that memorable act, by which they assumed +an equal station among the nations.</p> + +<p>This immortal declaration, of the 4th of July, 1776, +when America was invaded by an hundred vessels of war, +and, according to estimates laid before parliament, by +55,000 of veteran troops, was not the effect of any sudden +passion or enthusiasm; but a measure which had been +long in deliberation among the people, maturely discussed +in some hundreds of popular assemblies, and by public +writings in all the states. It was a measure which Congress +did not adopt, until they had received the positive instructions +of their constituents in all the States: It was +then unanimously adopted by Congress, subscribed by all +its members, transmitted to the assemblies of the several +States, and by them respectively accepted, ratified, and +recorded among their archives; so that no decree, edict, +statute, placart, or fundamental law of any nation was +ever made with more solemnity, or with more unanimity +or cordiality adopted, as the act and consent of the whole +people, than this: And it has been held sacred to this +day by every state, with such unshaken firmness, that +not even the smallest has ever been induced to depart +from it; although the English have wasted many millions, +and vast fleets and armies, in the vain attempt to invalidate +it. On the contrary, each of the Thirteen States +has instituted a form of government for itself, under the +<span class="smcap">Authority of the People</span>; has erected its legislature +in the several branches; its executive authority with +all its offices; its judiciary departments and judges; its +army, militia, revenue, and some of them their navy: +And all those departments of government have been regularly +and constitutionally organized under the associated +superintendency of Congress, now these five years, and +have acquired a consistency, solidity, and activity equal +to the oldest and most established governments. It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +true, that in some speeches and writings of the English it +is still contended that the people of America are still in +principle and affection with them: But these assertions +are made against such evident truth and demonstration, +that it is surprising they should find at this day one believer +in the world. One may appeal to the writings and +recorded speeches of the English for the last seventeen +years, to shew that similar misrepresentations have been +incessantly repeated through that whole period; and that +the conclusion of every year has in fact confuted the confident +assertions and predictions of the beginning of it. +The subscriber begs leave to say from his own knowledge +of the people of America, (and he has a better right +to obtain credit, because he has better opportunities to +know, than any Briton whatsoever) that <i>they are unalterably +determined to maintain their Independence</i>. He confesses, +that, notwithstanding his confidence through his +whole life in the virtuous sentiments and uniformity of +character among his countrymen, their unanimity has +surprised him. That all the power, arts, intrigues, and +bribes which have been employed in the several States, +should have seduced from the standard of virtue so contemptible +a few, is more fortunate than could have been +expected. This independence stands upon so broad and +firm a bottom of the people's interests, honour, consciences, +and affections, that it will not be affected by any +successes the English may obtain either in America, or +against the European powers at war, nor by any alliances +they can possibly form; if indeed, in so unjust and desperate +a cause they can obtain any. Nevertheless, although +compelled by necessity, and warranted by the fundamental +laws of the colonies, and of the British constitution, +by principles avowed in the English laws, and confirmed +by many examples in the English history; by principles +interwoven into the history and public right of Europe, +in the great examples of the Helvetic and Belgic +confederacies, and many others; and frequently acknowledged +and ratified by the diplomatic body; principles +founded in eternal justice, and the laws of God and nature, +to cut asunder for ever all the ties which had connected +them with Great Britain: Yet the people of America +did not consider themselves as separating from their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +allies, especially the Republic of the United Provinces, or +departing from their connections with any of the people +under their government; but, on the contrary, they preserved +the same affection, esteem and respect, for the +Dutch nation, in every part of the world, which they and +their ancestors had ever entertained.</p> + +<p>When sound policy dictated to Congress the precaution +of sending persons to negotiate natural alliances in Europe, +it was not from a failure in respect that they did not +send a minister to your High Mightinesses, with the first +whom they sent abroad: but, instructed in the nature of +the connections between Great Britain and the Republic, +and in the system of peace and neutrality, which she had +so long pursued, they thought proper to respect both so +far, as not to seek to embroil her with her allies, to excite +divisions in the nation, or lay embarrassments before it. +But, since the British administration, uniform and persevering +in injustice, despising their allies, as much as +their colonists and fellow-subjects; disregarding the faith +of treaties, as much as that of royal charters; violating +the law of nations, as they had before done the fundamental +laws of the Colonies and the inherent rights of +British subjects, have arbitrarily set aside all the treaties +between the Crown and the Republic, declared war and +commenced hostilities, the settled intentions of which +they had manifested long before; all those motives, which +before restrained the Congress, cease: and an opportunity +presents itself of proposing such connections, as the United +States of America have a right to form, consistent with +the treaties already formed with France and Spain, which +they are under every obligation of duty, interest and inclination, +to observe sacred and inviolate; and consistent +with such other treaties, as it is their intention to propose +to other sovereigns.</p> + +<p>If there was ever among nations a natural alliance, +one may be formed between the two Republics. The +first planters of the four northern States found in this +country an asylum from persecution, and resided here +from the year 1608 to the year 1620, twelve years preceding +their migration. They ever entertained and have +transmitted to posterity, a grateful remembrance of that +protection and hospitality, and especially of that religious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +liberty they found here, having sought it in vain in +England.</p> + +<p>The first inhabitants of two other States, New-York +and New-Jersey, were immediate emigrants from this +nation, and have transmitted their religion, language, +customs, manners and character: And America in general, +until her connections with the House of Bourbon, +has ever considered this nation as her first friend in +Europe, whose history, and the great characters it exhibits, +in the various arts of peace, as well as <ins +title="Transcriber's note: Archaic spelling of achievements.">atchievements</ins> +of war by sea and land, have been particularly +studied, admired and imitated in every State.</p> + +<p>A similitude of religion, although it is not deemed so +essential in this as in former ages to the alliance of nations, +is still, as it ever will be thought, a desirable circumstance. +Now it may be said with truth, that there are no +two nations, whose worship, doctrine and discipline, are +more alike than those of the two Republics. In this particular +therefore, as far as it is of weight, an alliance +would be perfectly natural.</p> + +<p>A similarity in the forms of government, is usually +considered as another circumstance, which renders alliances +natural: And although the constitutions of the +two Republics are not perfectly alike, there is yet analogy +enough between them, to make a connection easy in this +respect.</p> + +<p>In general usages, and in the liberality of sentiments in +those momentous points, the freedom of enquiry, the +right of private judgment and the liberty of conscience, of +so much importance to be supported in the world, and +imparted to all mankind, and which at this hour are in +more danger from Great Britain and that intolerant spirit +which is secretly fomenting there, than from any other +quarter, the two nations resemble each other more than +any others.</p> + +<p>The originals of the two Republics are so much alike, +that the history of one seems but a transcript from that of +the other: so that every Dutchman instructed in the +subject, must pronounce the American revolution just and +necessary, or pass a censure upon the greatest actions of +his immortal ancestors: actions which have been approved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +and applauded by mankind, and justified by the decision +of Heaven.</p> + +<p>But the circumstance, which perhaps in this age has +stronger influence than any other in the formation of +friendships between nations, is the great and growing +interest of commerce; of the whole system of which +through the globe, your High Mightinesses are too perfect +masters for me to say any thing that is not familiarly +known. It may not, however, be amiss to hint, that +the central situation of this country, her extensive navigation, +her possessions in the East and West Indies, the +intelligence of her merchants, the number of her capitalists, +and the riches of her funds, render a connection +with her very desirable to America: and, on the other +hand, the abundance and variety of the productions of +America, the materials of manufactures, navigation and +commerce; the vast demand and consumption in America +of the manufactures of Europe, of merchandises from +the Baltic, and from the East Indies, and the situation of +the Dutch possessions in the West Indies, cannot admit of +a doubt, that a connection with the United States would +be useful to this Republic. The English are so sensible +of this, that notwithstanding all their professions of friendship, +they have ever considered this nation as their rival in +the American trade; a sentiment which dictated and +maintained their severe act of navigation, as injurious to +the commerce and naval power of this country, as it was +both to the trade and the rights of the Colonists. There +is now an opportunity offered to both, to shake off this +shackle for ever. If any consideration whatever could +have induced them to have avoided a war with your High +Mightinesses, it would have been the apprehension of an +alliance between the two Republics: and it is easy to +foresee, that nothing will contribute more to oblige them +to a peace, than such a connection once completely +formed. It is needless to point out, particularly, what +advantages might be derived to the possessions of the Republic +in the West Indies from a trade opened, protected +and encouraged, between them and the Continent of +America; or what profits might be made by the Dutch +East India Company, by carrying their effects directly to +the American market; or how much even the trade of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +the Baltic might be secured and extended by a free intercourse +with America; which has ever had so large a demand, +and will have more for hemp, cordage, sail-cloth, +and other articles of that commerce: how much the +national navigation would be benefited by building and +purchasing ships there: how much the number of seamen +might be increased, or how much more advantageous it +would prove to both countries, to have their ports mutually +opened to their men of war and privateers, and to their +prizes.</p> + +<p>If, therefore, an analogy of religion, government, +origin, manners, and the most extensive and lasting commercial +interests, can form a ground and an invitation to +political connections, the subscriber flatters himself that, +in all these particulars, the union is so obviously natural, +that there has seldom been a more distinct designation of +Providence to any two distant nations to unite themselves +together.</p> + +<p>It is further submitted to the wisdom and humanity of +your High Mightinesses, whether it is not visibly for the +good of mankind, that the powers of Europe, who are +convinced of the justice of the American cause, (and +where is one to be found that is not?) should make haste +to acknowledge the independence of the United States, +and form equitable treaties with them, as the surest means +of convincing Great Britain of the impracticability of her +pursuits? Whether the late marine treaty concerning the +rights of neutral vessels, noble and useful as it is, can be +established against Great Britain, who will never adopt it, +nor submit to it, but from necessity, without the independence +of America? Whether the return of America, +with her nurseries of seamen and magazines of materials +for navigation and commerce, to the domination and +monopoly of Great Britain, if that were practicable, +would not put the possessions of other nations beyond seas +wholly in the power of that enormous empire, which has +been long governed wholly by the feeling of its own +power, at least without a proportional attention to justice, +humanity, or decency. When it is obvious and certain +that the Americans are not inclined to submit again to the +British government, on the one hand, and that the powers +of Europe ought not and could not with safety consent to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +it, if they were so inclined, on the other; why should a +source of contention be left open, for future contingencies +to involve the nations of Europe in still more bloodshed, +when, by one decisive step of the maritime powers, in +making treaties with a nation long in possession of sovereignty +by right and in fact, it might be closed?</p> + +<p>The example of your High Mightinesses would, it is, +hoped, be followed by all the maritime powers, especially +those which are parties to the late marine treaty: nor can +the apprehension that the independence of America would +be injurious to the trade of the Baltic, be any objection. +This jealousy is so groundless that the reverse would happen. +The freight and insurance in voyages across the +Atlantic are so high, and the price of labour in America +so dear, that tar, pitch, turpentine, and ship-timber never +can be transported to Europe at so cheap a rate, as it has +been and will be afforded by countries round the Baltic. +This commerce was supported by the English before the +revolution with difficulty, and not without large parliamentary +bounties. Of hemp, cordage, and sail-cloth +there will not probably be a sufficiency raised in America +for her own consumption in many centuries, for the plainest +of all reasons, because these articles may be imported +from Amsterdam, or even from Petersburg and Archangel, +cheaper than they can be raised at home. America will +therefore be for ages a market for these articles of the +Baltic trade.</p> + +<p>Nor is there more solidity in another supposition, propagated +by the English to prevent other nations from +pursuing their true interests, that the colonies of other +nations will follow the example of the United States. +Those powers, who have as large possessions as any beyond +seas, have already declared against England, apprehending +no such consequences. Indeed there is no probability +of any other power of Europe following the example +of England, in attempting to change the whole +system of the government of colonies, and reducing them +by oppression to the necessity of governing themselves: +and, without such manifest injustice and cruelty on the +part of the metropolis, there is no danger of colonies +attempting innovations. Established governments are +founded deep in the hearts, the passions, the imaginations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +and understandings of the people; and without some violent +change from without, to alter the temper and character +of the whole people, it is not in human nature to +exchange safety for danger, and certain happiness for very +precarious benefits.</p> + +<p>It is submitted to the consideration of your High Mightinesses, +whether the system of the United States, which +was minutely considered and discussed, and unanimously +agreed on in Congress in the year 1776, in planning the +treaty they proposed to France, to form equitable commercial +treaties with all the maritime powers of Europe, +without being governed or monopolized by any: a system +which was afterwards approved by the king, and made +the foundation of the treaties with his majesty: a system +to which the United States have hitherto constantly adhered, +and from which they never will depart, unless +compelled by some powers declaring against them, which +is not expected, is not the only means of preventing this +growing country from being an object of everlasting jealousies, +rivalries, and wars among the nations. If this +idea be just, it follows, that <i>it is the interest of every state +in Europe to acknowledge American independency immediately</i>. +If such benevolent policy should be adopted, the new +world will be a proportional blessing to every part of +the old.</p> + +<p>The subscriber has the farther honour of informing your +High Mightinesses, that the United States of America, +in Congress assembled, impressed with an high sense of the +wisdom and magnanimity of your High Mightinesses, and +of your inviolable attachment to the rights and liberties +of mankind, and being desirous of cultivating the friendship +of a nation, eminent for its wisdom, justice, and +moderation, have appointed the subscriber to be their +minister plenipotentiary to reside near you, that he may +give you more particular assurances of the great respect +they entertain for your High Mightinesses; beseeching your +High Mightinesses to give entire credit to every thing, +which their said minister shall deliver on their part, especially +when he shall assure you of the sincerity of their +friendship and regard. The original letter of credence, +under the seal of Congress, the subscriber is ready to deliver +to your High Mightinesses, or to such persons as you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +shall direct to receive it. He has also a similar letter +of credence to his most Serene Highness the Prince +Stadtholder.</p> + +<p>All which is respectfully submitted to the consideration +of your High Mightinesses, together with the propriety of +appointing some person, or persons, to treat on the subject +of his mission, by</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Leyden</span><br /> +19 April 1781.</p> + +<div class="right">J. ADAMS.<br /></div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>GUELDERLAND.</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> the assembly of the States of Guelderland, holden in +October 1781, to consider of the requisition of the king +of France, of a negotiation of five millions of florins, +under the warranty of the Republic, some were for an +alliance with France. The Baron Nagel, Seneschal of +Zutphen, avoided putting of the question, and said among +other things, "That he had rather acknowledge the independence +of the Americans, than contract an alliance +with France."</p> + +<p>The Baron van der Capellen de Marsch was for an +alliance with France and America too. He observed, +"That nothing being more natural than to act in concert +with the enemies of our enemy, it was an object of serious +deliberation, to see, if the interest of the Republic +did not require to accept, without farther tergiversations, +the invitations and offers of the Americans: that no condescension +for England could hinder us, at present, from +uniting ourselves against a common enemy, with a nation +so brave and so virtuous: a nation, which, after our +example, owes its liberty to its valour, and even at this +moment is employed in defending itself from the tyranny +of the enemy of the two nations: that, consequently, nothing +could restrain us from acknowledging the independence +of this new Republic: that our conduct differed +very much from that holden by our ancestors, who allied +themselves with the Portuguese, as soon as they shook off +the yoke of the Spaniards: that there was no doubt, that +the said alliances with the enemies of our enemy would +soon restrain his fury, and operate a general peace advantageous +for us."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<h2>The QUARTER<br /> + +of<br /> + +OOSTERGO.</h2> + +<p class="hanging-indent"><i>The Quarter of Oostergo, in the Province of Friesland, in +December, 1781, was the first public Body which proposed +a Connection with the United States of America in these +Words.</i></p> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Every</span> impartial Patriot has a long time perceived +that, in the direction of affairs relative to this war +with England, there have been manifested an inconceivable +lukewarmness and sloth; but they discover themselves +still more, at this moment, by the little inclination which, +in general, the Regencies of the Belgic Provinces testify +to commence a treaty of commerce and friendship with the +new Republic of the Thirteen United States of North +America; and to contract engagements, at least during +the continuance of this common war with the Crowns of +France and Spain. Nevertheless, the necessity of these +measures appears clearly, since, according to our judgments, +nothing was more natural, nor more conformable +to sound policy, founded upon the laws of the nature the +most precise, than that this Republic, immediately after +the formal declaration of war by the English (not being +yet able to do any thing by military exploits, not being in a +state of defence sufficiently respectable to dare, at sea, to +oppose one fleet or squadron, to our perfidious enemy) +should have commenced by acknowledging, by a public +declaration, the Independence of North America. This +would have been from that time the greatest step to the +humiliation of England, and our own re-establishment; +and by this measure, the Republic would have proved her +firm resolution to act with vigour. Every one of our inhabitants, +all Europe, who have their eyes fixed upon us, +the whole World expected, with just reason, this measure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +from the Republic. It is true, that before the formal declaration +of war by England, one might perhaps have alleged +some plausible reason, to justify, in some degree, the +backwardness in this great and interesting affair. But, as +at present Great Britain is no longer our secret, but declared +enemy, which dissolves all the connections between +the two nations; and as it is the duty, not only of all the +Regencies, but also of all the Citizens of this Republic, to +reduce, by all imaginable annoyances, this enemy so unjust +to reason, and to force him, if possible, to conclude an +honourable peace; why should we hesitate any longer, to +strike, by this measure so reasonable, the most sensible blow +to the common enemy? Will not this delay occasion a +suspicion that we prefer the interest of our enemy to that +of our country? North America, so sensibly offended by +the refusal of her offer; France and Spain, in the midst of +a war supported with activity, must they not regard us as +the secret friends, and favourers of their and our common +enemy? Have they not reason to conclude from it, that +our inaction ought to be less attributed to our weakness, +than to our affection for England? Will not this opinion +destroy all confidence in our nation heretofore so renowned +in this respect? And our allies, at this time natural, must +they not imagine, that it is better to have in us declared +enemies than pretended friends? And shall we not be involved +in a ruinous war, which we might have rendered +advantageous, if it had been well directed? While on the +other hand it is evident, that by a new connection with +the States of North America, by engagements at least +during this war with France and Spain, we shall obtain, +not only the confidence of these formidable powers, instead +of their distrust, but by this means we shall moreover +place our colonies in safety against any insult; we shall +have a well grounded hope, of recovering, with the aid of +the allied powers, our lost possessions, if the English should +make themselves masters of them; and our commerce at +present neglected, and so shamefully pillaged, would reassume +a new vigour; considering that in such case, as it +is manifestly proved by solid reasons, this Republic would +derive from this commerce the most signal advantages. +But, since our interest excites us forcibly to act in concert +with the enemies of our enemy; since the United States of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +America invited us to it long ago; since France appears +inclined to concert her military operations with ours (although +this power has infinitely less interest to ally itself +with us, whose weakness manifests itself in so palpable a +manner, than we have to form an alliance, the most respectable +in the universe) it is indubitably the duty of +every Regency, to promote it with all their forces, and +with all the celerity imaginable. To this end, we have +thought it our duty, to lay it before your noble Mightinesses, +in the firm persuasion that the zeal of your noble +Mightinesses will be as earnest as ours, to concur to the +accomplishment of this point, which is for us of the +greatest importance; that, consequently, your noble +Mightinesses will not delay to co-operate with us, that, +upon this important subject, there may be made to their +High Mightinesses, a proposition so vigorous, that it may +have the desired success: and that this affair, of an importance +beyond all expression for our common country, +may be resolved and decided by unanimous suffrages, and +in preference to every particular interest.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>ULTERIOUR ADDRESS.</h2> + +<p class="hanging-indent"><i>On the 9th January, 1782, Mr. <span class="smcap">Adams</span> waited on the +President <span class="smcap">van den Sandheuvel,</span> and addressed +him as follows.</i></p> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">On</span> the fourth of May, I had the honour of a conference +with the President of their High Mightinesses, +in which I informed him, that I had received from +the United States of America a commission, with full +powers and instructions to propose and conclude a treaty +of amity and commerce, between the said United States +of America and the United Provinces of the Netherlands.</p> + +<p>At the same conference, I had the honour to demand +an audience of their High Mightinesses, in order to present +to them my letters of credence and full powers.</p> + +<p>The President assured me, that he would make report +of all that I had said to him to their High Mightinesses, +in order that it might be transmitted to the several members +of the sovereignty of this country, for their deliberations +and decisions.—I have not yet been honoured with +an answer. I now do myself the honour to wait on you, +Sir, to demand, as I do, a categorical answer, that I +may be able to transmit it to the United States of America.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<h2>GUELDERLAND.</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> an extraordinary assembly of the county of Zutphen, +held at Nimeguen the 23d of February, 1782, the +following measures were taken.</p> + +<p>After the report of the Committee of this Province to +the Generality, laid this day upon the table, relative to +what passed in the precedent assembly, and after the examination +of an extract of the register of the resolutions +of their High Mightinesses the States General of the Low +Countries, of the ninth of last month, in relation to the +Ulteriour Address of Mr. Adams to the President of their +High Mightinesses, concerning the presentation of his +letters of credence to their High Mightinesses, in behalf +of the United States of America, demanding a categorical +answer, whereof the Lords the Deputies of the respective +Provinces have taken copies; the Baron Robert +Jasper van der Capellen de Marsch, first by word of +mouth, and afterwards in writing, proposed, and insisted, +at the assembly of this Quarter, that, at present, and without +delay, we should make a point of deliberation, and +that we should make upon the table the necessary overture, +conceived more at length, in the advice of this +nobleman, inserted in these terms:</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Noble and Mighty Lords!</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>The subscriber judges, upon good grounds, and with +out fear of being contradicted, that he is able to affirm, +that it is more than time that we should give a serious +attention to the offer and the invitation, in every sense +honourable and advantageous for this Republic, of friendship, +and reciprocal connections with the Thirteen American +Provinces, now become free <i>at the point of the +sword</i>, in such sort, that the categorical answer demanded +by their Minister Mr. Adams, may become a subject of +the deliberations of your Grand Mightinesses, and that +you may decide as soon as possible, concerning their +respective interests. He judges, that he ought not to +have any farther scruple in this regard; and that the un<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>certain consequences of the mediation offered by Russia +cannot, when certain advantages for this Republic are in +question, hinder that, out of regard for an enemy, with +whom we (however salutary the views of her Imperial +Majesty are represented) cannot make any Peace, at the +expence of a negligence so irreparable: that a longer +delay, to unite ourselves to a nation already so powerful, +will have for its consequence, that our inhabitants will +lose the means of extending, in a manner the most advantageous, +their commerce and their prosperity: That +by the vigorous prohibition to import English manufactures +into America, our manufactures, by means of precautions +taken in time, will rise out of their state of languor: +and that, by delaying longer to satisfy the wishes of the +nation, her leaders will draw upon them the reproach of +having neglected and rejected the favourable offers of +Providence: that, on the contrary, by adopting these +measures, the essential interests of this unfortunate people +will be taken to heart.</p> + +<p>The subscriber declaring, moreover, that he will abandon +this unpardonable negligence of an opportunity favourable +for the Republic, to the account of those whom +it may concern; protesting against all the fatal consequences +that a longer refusal of these necessary measures +will certainly occasion: whereupon he demanded, that +for his discharge, this note should be inserted in the registers +of the Quarter.</p> + +<p><i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">R. J. van der Capellen</span>.<br /></div> + +<p>This advice having been read, Mr. Jacob Adolf de +Heekeren d'Enghuisen, Counsellor and first Master of +Accounts in Guelderland, President at this time of the +Assembly of the Quarter, represented to the said Robert +Jasper van der Capellen de Marsch, that "Although he +must agree to the justice of all that he had laid down, besides +several other reasons, equally strong, which occurred +to his mind, the deliberation upon the point in question +appeared to him premature, considering that the Lords +the States of Holland and West Friesland, and of Zea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>land, as the principal commercial Provinces, who are +directly interested, had not nevertheless as yet explained +themselves in this regard; consequently that it would not +be so convenient for the States of this Duchy and County, +who are not interested in it, but in a consequential and +indirect manner, to form the first their resolutions in this +respect: for this reason he proposed to consideration, whether +it would not be more proper to postpone the deliberations +upon this matter to a future <ins +title="Transcriber's note: Added quotes after opportunity.">opportunity."</ins></p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the before-mentioned Robert Jasper van +der Capellan de Marsch insisting, that the voices should +be collected upon the proposition and advice in question, +and thereupon having deliberated, their noble Mightinesses +have thought fit to resolve, that although the motives +alledged by this Nobleman in his advice, appear to +merit a serious consideration, nevertheless, for the reasons +before alleged, they judge, that they ought to suspend +the decision of it, until the commercial Provinces have +formed their resolutions concerning it: and that, upon +the requisition of Robert Jasper van der Capellan de +Marsch, there be delivered to him an extract of the present, +upon one as well the other.</p> + +<p> +<i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Herm. Schomaker</span>.</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>PETITION OF LEYDEN.</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">To</span> the noble, great, and venerable Lords of the +Grand Council of the city of Leyden.</p> + +<p>The undersigned, all manufacturers, merchants, and +other traders of this city, most respectfully give to understand, +that it is a truth, as melancholy, as it is universally +known, that the declension of manufactures, which all the +well-disposed citizens have remarked with the most lively +grief, from the beginning of this century, has increased +more and more for several years; and that this principal +branch of the subsistence of the good citizens, +has fallen into such a state of languor, that our city, once +so flourishing, so populous, so celebrated, on account of +its commerce and of its trades, appears to be threatened +with total ruin; that the diminution of its merchants +houses, on the one hand, and on the other, a total loss, +or the sensible decrease of several branches of commerce, +furnish an evident proof of it; which the petitioners could +demonstrate by several examples, if there were need of +them to convince. Your noble and grand Lordships, to +whom the increase of the multitude of the poor, the deplorable +situation of several families, heretofore in easy circumstances, +the depopulation of the city, which one cannot +observe without emotion in the ruins of several streets, +once neat and well inhabited, are fully known, will recollect +no doubt upon this occasion, with grief, that this +state of languor must appear so much the more desperate, +if your noble and grand lordships will take into consideration, +that in this decay of trades and manufactures, we +find a new reason of their farther fall, considering, that +from the time there is not continual employment, and an +uninterrupted sale, the workmen desert in such manner, +that when considerable commissions arrive, we cannot +find capable hands, and we see ourselves entirely out of a +condition to execute these orders.</p> + +<p>That the petitioners, with all the true friends of their +country, extremely affected with this alarming situation +of so rich a source of the public prosperity, have indeed +sought the means of a remedy, in amending some defects,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +from which it seemed to arise, at least in part; but that +the measures taken in this view, as is well know to your +noble and grand Lordships, have not had the desired effect; +at least, that they have not produced a re-establishment +so effectual, that we have been able to observe a sensible +influence in the increase of the sales of the manufactures +of Leyden, as appears most evidently, by a comparison +of the pieces fabricated here, which have been heretofore +carried to the divers markets of this city, with those which +are carried there at this day; a comparison which a true +citizen cannot of consider without regret.</p> + +<p>That experience has also taught the petitioners, that the +principal 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 œconomy +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 whatsoever, +to provide a remedy. That we might cite, for example, +the commerce of our manufactures with Dantzic; +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 neighbouring +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 merchandizes; +privileges and impositions, which tend equally +to the prejudice of the commerce and the manufactures of +our country, as your noble and grand Lordships will easily +recollect the examples in the Austrian states and elsewhere.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>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 labour, 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 the +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 exhibit +desolated quarters in its declining streets; and its multitude, +disgraced with want and misery; an affecting proof +of the sudden fall of countries formerly overflowing with +prosperity.</p> + +<p>That, if we duly consider these motives, no citizen, +whose heart is upright, (as the petitioners assure themselves) +much less your noble and grand Lordships, whose +good dispositions they acknowledge with gratitude, will +take it amiss, that we have fixed our eyes on the present +conjuncture of affairs, to enquire 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 the +hope (a hope which unprejudiced men will not regard as +a vain chimera) that in fact, by the present circumstances, +there opens in their favour an issue for arriving at the re-establishment +desired.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +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 Great Britain 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 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 that +they should have been afraid to have placed this favourable +occasion before the eyes of your noble and grand Lordships, +at an epoch when the relations which connected +our Republic with Great Britain, her neighbour, seemed +to forbid all measures of this nature, or at least ought to +make them be considered as out of season.</p> + +<p>That, in the mean time, 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 several fathers of families have quitted the +city, abandoning, to the farther expense of the treasury +of the poor, their wives and their children plunged +in misery.</p> + +<p>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 in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>habitants, 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 forbidden, +by a resolution of Congress, agreed to in all the Thirteen +States, the importation of all English manufactures, and +in general, all the merchandizes 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, and the manners, whether +because of the extent of its commerce, and the convenience +of its navigation, but above all, by reason of the +activity and good faith, which still 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.</p> + +<p>That, nevertheless, all relations and connections 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 as this day at the price +of their blood: So that if this peace should be once con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>cluded, +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.</p> + +<p>That, supposing, for a moment, that 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 fabricks +and manufactures of Europe.</p> + +<p>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 any wise, 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 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.</p> + +<p>That the petitioners will not detain the attention of +your noble and grand Mightinesses by a more ample detail +of their reasons and motives, since, on one hand, they +assure themselves, that these reasons and motives will not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +escape the enlightened and attentive judgment of your +grand and noble Lordships; and on the other, they know +by experience, that your grand and noble 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.</p> + +<p>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 great Lordships, +to direct, by their powerful influence, thing 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.</p> + +<p class="center">So doing, &c.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>LEYDEN.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">An Address</span> <i>of Thanks, with a farther Petition</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">To</span> the noble, great, and venerable lords, the great +council of the city of Leyden,</p> + +<p>The undersigned manufacturers, merchants, and other +traders, interested in the manufactures and fabrics of +this city, give respectfully to understand,</p> + +<p>That a number of the undersigned, having taken, the +18th of March, the liberty to present to your noble and +great Lordships, a respectful request to obtain the conclusion +of connections of commerce with United America, +"the petitioners judge that they ought to hold it for a +duty, as agreeable as indispensible, to testify their sincere +gratitude, not only for the gracious manner in which +your noble and great Lordships have been pleased to accept +that request, but also for the patriotic resolution that +your noble and great Lordships have taken upon its object; +a resolution, in virtue of which the city of Leyden (as +the petitioners have the best reasons to suppose) hath been +one of the first cities of this province, from whose unanimous +co-operation has originated the resolution of their +noble and grand Mightinesses, of the date of the 28th of +March last, to direct things on the part of their noble and +grand Mightinesses, in the assembly of the States General, +and to make there the strongest instances, to the end +that Mr. Adams may be admitted and acknowledged as +Minister of the United States of America."</p> + +<p>That the petitioners regard, with all honest-hearted +citizens, the present epoch as one of the most glorious in +the annals of our dear country, seeing that there has been +manifested, in a most signal manner, on the one hand, a confidence +the most cordial of the good citizens towards their +regents, and on the other hand a paternal attention and deference +of the regents to the respectful but well-founded +prayers of their faithful citizens; and, in general, the +most exemplary unanimity throughout the whole nation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +to the confusion of those who, having endeavoured to +sow the seeds of discord, would have rejoiced if they +could say, with truth, that a dissention so fatal had rooted +itself to the ruin of the country and of the people.</p> + +<p>That the petitioners, feeling themselves penetrated with +the most pleasing emotions, by an harmony so universal, +cannot pass over in silence the reflection that your noble +and great Lordships, taking a resolution the most favourable +upon the said request, have discovered thereby, that +they would not abandon the footsteps of their ancestors, +who found, in the united sentiments of magistrates and +citizens, the resources necessary to resist a powerful oppressor, +who even would not have undertaken that difficult, +but glorious task, if they had not been supported by +the voice of the most respectable part of the nation.</p> + +<p>That encouraged by this reflection, the petitioners +assure themselves, that your noble and great Lordships +will honour, with the same approbation, the step which +they take to day, to recommend to your noble and great +Lordships, in a manner the most respectful, but at the same +time the most pressing, the prompt and efficacious execution +of the aforesaid resolution of their noble and grand +Mightinesses of the 28th of March last, with every thing +which depends thereon; a proceeding which does not +spring from a desire, on the part of the petitioners, to +raise themselves above the sphere of their duties and vocations, +or to interfere, indiscreetly, in the affairs of government, +but only from a conviction that it cannot but be +agreeable to well intentioned regents (such as your noble +and great Lordships have shewn yourselves by deeds to +your good citizens) to see themselves applauded in their +salutary efforts and patriotic designs, and supported against +the perverse views, and secret machinations of the ill-disposed, +who, however small their number, are always +found in a nation.</p> + +<p>That although the petitioners may be convinced that +their noble and grand Mightinesses, having taken a resolution +so agreeable to all true patriots, will not neglect to +employ means to carry it to an efficacious conclusion +among the other confederates, and to procure to the good +citizens the real enjoyment of the commerce with United +America, they cannot, nevertheless, dissemble that, lately,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +some new reasons have arisen, which make them conceive +some fears respecting the prompt consummation of this +desirable affair.</p> + +<p>That the probability of an offer of peace, on the part +of Great-Britain, to United America, whereof the petitioners +made mention in their former request, having at +present become a full certainty by the revolution arrived +since in the British ministry, they have not learned without +uneasiness the attempt made, at the same time, by the +new ministers of the court of London, to involve this +state in a negociation for a separate peace, the immediate +consequence of which would be (as the petitioners fear) +a cessation of all connections with the American Republic, +whilst that in the mean time our Republic, deprived +on the one hand of the advantages which it reasonably +promises itself from these connections, might, on the other +hand, be detained by negociations, spun out to a great +length, and not effect till late, perhaps after the other +belligerent powers, a separate peace with England.</p> + +<p>That, in effect, the difficulties which oppose themselves +to a like partial pacification are too multiplied for one +to promise himself to see them suddenly removed, such as +the restitution of the possessions taken from the state, and +retaken from the English by France, a restitution which +is become thereby impracticable, the indemnification of +the immense losses that the unexpected and perfidious attack +of England hath caused to the Dutch nation in general, +to the petitioners in particular; the assurance of a free +navigation for the future, upon the principles of the armed +neutrality, and conformably to the law of nations; the +dissolution of the bonds which, without being productive +of any utility to the two nations, have been a source of +contestations, always springing up, and which, in every +war between Great-Britain and any other power, have +threatened to involve our Republic in it, or have in effect +done it; the annihilation, if possible, of the act of navigation, +an act which carries too evident marks of the +supremacy affected by England over all other maritime +people, not to attract attention at the approaching negociation +of peace; finally, the necessity of breaking the +yoke that Great-Britain would impose on our flag, to +make her's respected in the Northern Ocean, as the seat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +of her maritime empire; and other objects of this nature, +which, as the petulant proceedings of the court of London +have given rise to them, will certainly furnish matter +for claims and negociations.</p> + +<p>That as, by these considerations, a speedy consummation +of a separate peace with England is out of all probability, +especially when one compares with them the dubious +and limited manner in which it is offered; on the +other hand, a general peace appears not to be so far distant, +as that to obtain a more prompt reconciliation with England, +the Republic hath occasion to abandon its interests +relative to North America, seeing that the British government +hath resolved, upon the request of the national +assembly, even to discontinue offensive hostilities against +the new Republic; and that, even under the present administration +of the new ministers, it appears ready to acknowledge +positively its independence; an acknowledgment +which, in removing the principal stumbling block +of a negociation of a general peace, will pave the way to +a prompt explication of all the difficulties between the +belligerent powers.</p> + +<p>That the petitioners should exceed much the bounds +of their plan, if they entered into a more ample detail of +the reasons which might be alleged upon this subject, and +which certainly will not escape the political penetration +of your noble and great Lordships; among others, the +engagements recently entered into with the Court of +France, and which will not be violated by our Republic, +which acknowledges the sanctity of its engagements, and +respects them: but which will serve much rather to convince +the Empress of Russia of the impossibility of entering, +in the present juncture of affairs, into such a negociation +as the court of London proposes, when even it +will not be permitted to presume but that Sovereign will +feel herself the change of circumstances which have happened +with regard to America since the offer of her mediation, +by the revolution in the British ministry, and +that she ought even to regard a separate peace between +our State and England, as the most proper mean to retard +the general tranquillity, that she hath endeavoured to procure +to all the commercial nations now in war.</p> + +<p>That from these motives the petitioners respectfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +hope that the aforesaid offer of England will occasion no +obstacle which may prevent that the resolution of their +noble and grand Mightinesses to acknowledge the independence +of North America, and to conclude with that +power a treaty of commerce, may not have a prompt +execution, nor that even one only of the other confederates +will suffer itself to be diverted thereby from the design of +opening unanimously with this Province, and the others +which have declared themselves conformably with Holland, +negociations with the United States, and of terminating +them as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>That the favourable resolutions already taken for this +effect in 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>For which reasons, the petitioners, returning their solemn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p class="center"><i>So doing, &c.</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>ROTTERDAM.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Petition</span> <i>of the Merchants, Insurers, and Freighters +of Rotterdam to the Regency of that City</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Give</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>So doing, &c.</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p><i>The <span class="smcap">Petitions</span> of the Merchants, and Manufacturers of +<span class="smcap">Haerlem</span>, <span class="smcap">Leiden</span>, and <span class="smcap">Amsterdam</span>, +which have been presented, on the twentieth of March, to their <span class="smcap">High Mightinesses</span>, +were accompanied with another to the <span class="smcap">States</span> of <span class="smcap">Holland</span> +and <span class="smcap">West Friesland</span>, conceived in these Terms.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> 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 <ins +title="Transcriber's note: Original reads 'necessay'">necessary</ins> 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.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>So doing, &c.</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>DORDRECHT.</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">At</span> 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.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>ZWOLL<br /> +<span class="smcap">In OVERYSSEL</span>.</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p class="center">So doing, &c.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap">PETITION of AMSTERDAM</span>.</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">To</span> 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:</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 reputa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>tion +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.</p> + +<p>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 manufac<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>tures, +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +contribute to accelerate the accomplishment of the wishes +for peace.</p> + +<p>We flatter ourselves, high and mighty Lords, that we +have in this regard alleged sufficient reasons for an 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 above-mentioned, to take, for the greatest advantage +of this country, as soon as possible, such resolution +as your High Mightinesses shall judge most convenient.</p> + +<p class="center">This doing, &c.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>PETITION<br /> + +To the Burgomasters and Regents of<br /> + +AMSTERDAM:</h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> 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.</p> + +<p>That to this happy revolution in the dispositions of the +English in favour of the liberty and independence of +America, according to all appearances, the resolution +taken by the 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, +trade, commerce, and navigation, to be able to remain +indifferent in this regard. For all other commercial nations, +who take to heart, ever so little, 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 favourable for the encouragement +of our manufactures so declined, and languishing in the +interior cities, as well as that of the commerce and navigation +in the maritime cities; or to suffer that other com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>mercial 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 even to oblige this arrogant neighbour, +in the just fear of the consequences which a more +intimate connection between this Republic and North +America would undoubtedly have, to lay down the sooner +her arms, and restore tranquility to all Europe.</p> + +<p>That the petitioners, notwithstanding the inclination +they have for it, ought not nevertheless to explain themselves +farther upon this object, nor make a demonstration +in detail of the important advantages which this Republic +may procure itself by a connection and a relation more +intimate with North America; both, because that no well-informed +man can easily call the thing in question, or contradict +it; 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 Lords your predecessors thought, four years ago, upon +the means of hindering this Republic from being excluded +from the business of the new world, and from falling +into the disagreeable situation in which the kingdom of +Portugal is at present, considering that according to the +informations 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. 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 that, if, contrary to +all expectation, they should be rejected, in that case the +Republic ought not to expect a better treatment.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +the United States of America. But 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 that 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 connection with America: Reasons, according to +the petitioners, the frivolity 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 succour of all the confederates in the armed neutrality, +but that thereby the finds herself authorized, for her +own defence, to employ all sorts of means, violent and +others, which she could not before adopt nor put in use, +while she was really 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 America; and, notwithstanding +this, claim of full right the assistance of her +neutral allies, at least, if we would not maintain one of +the two 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 shall 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, +whether on the Doggers-bank or elsewhere, but not by +contracting alliances, which certainly do no injury or +harm to the convention of the armed neutrality, notwith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>standing 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, that the Republic, by accepting +the mediation, has also renounced the employment of all +the means, by the way of arms, of alliances, or otherwise, +which it might judge useful or necessary to annoy +her enemy: a supposition, which certainly is destitute of +all foundation, and which would reduce it 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.</p> + +<p>Besides this last argument, the petitioners ought to 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 +farther in this respect, that several inhabitants of this Republic, +in the present situation of affairs, suffer very considerable +losses and damages, which at least hereafter might +be wholly prevented, or in part, in case we should make +with the United States of America, with 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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 might, and that they ought +to take the liberty to address themselves with this petition +to you, venerable Regents, 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 risque 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 that 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.</p> + +<p>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 +should 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p class="center">So doing, &c.</p> + +<hr /> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>AMSTERDAM</h2> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Address</span> <i>of the Merchants, &c. to their Regency</i>.</p> + + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Noble, great, and venerable Lords!</span></p></blockquote> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> 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 address that a +multitude of our most respectable fellow-citizens have +signed. It was already prepared and signed by many, +when we learned, 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, as much as that is interested in it, +is entirely conformable to that which the merchants of +Rotterdam have made known in so energetic a manner: +that consequently we have 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 totally: whereas, on the other +hand, these offers shew that we have only to deal with +an enemy exhausted; whom 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 hands.</p> + +<p>It is improper for us, however, to enlarge farther upon +this project, important as it may be, being well assured, +that your noble and great Lordships see those grievous +consequences more clearly than we can trace them.</p> + +<p>The merchants continue to recommend their commerce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +and navigation to the constant care and protection of your +noble and great Lordships, and to insist only, that in case +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 America, should meet with any difficulty or +delay on the part of the other confederates, that your +noble and great lordships, conformably to the second article +of our requisition, inserted in this request, would have +the goodness to think upon measures which would secure +this province from the ruinous consequences of such a +proceeding.</p> + + +<p><br /><i>To the foregoing was joined the Address presented +to the Burgomasters and the Council, which is of the +following tenor.</i></p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Noble, great, venerable, and noble and +venerable Lords!</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>The undersigned merchants, citizens, and inhabitants +of the city of Amsterdam, have learned 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 ulteriour alliances and correspondencies of +friendship and of good understanding with the United +States of America, which promise new life to the languishing +state of our commerce, navigation, and manufactures. +The unanimity with which that resolution was +decided in the assembly of Holland, gives us grounds to +hope that the States of the other provinces will not delay +to take a similar resolution; whilst 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +among the sage and venerable fathers of the country increases +more and more; whilst that the promptness and +activity with which it hath 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, +who find themselves 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 the general affection and esteem.</p> + +<p>The conformity of religion and government, which is +found between us and America, joined to the indubitable +marks that she hath already long since given of the preference +that she feels for our friendship, makes the undersigned +not only suppose, but inspires them with a confidence +that our connections with her will be equally solid, +advantageous, and salutary to the interests of the two +nations. The well-being and prosperity which will very +probably result from them; the part which you noble, +great, venerable, and noble and venerable lords, have had +in the conclusion of a resolution so remarkable; the conviction +that the venerable council of this city had of it, +upon the proposition of the noble, great, and venerable +Lords, almost consented to, before the request relative to +this project presented not long since to you, noble, great, +and venerable Lords, had come to the knowledge of the +council; finally the remembrance of that which was done +upon this matter in the year 1778, with the best intentions +and the most laudable views, finding itself at present +crowned with an approbation as public as it is general, +indispensibly oblige the undersigned to approach you with +this address; not only to congratulate you upon so remarkable +an event, but to thank you at the same time +with as much zeal as solemnity, for all those well intentioned +cares, and those well concerted measures, for that +inflexible attachment, and that faithful adherence to the +true interests of the country in general, and of this city +in particular, which manifest themselves in so striking a +manner, in all the proceedings and resolutions of your +noble, great, and venerable Lordships, and of the venera<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>ble +council of this city, and which certainly will attract +the esteem and veneration of the latest posterity, when +comparing the annals and events of the present with those +of former times, it shall discover that Amsterdam might +still boast itself of possessing patriots who dared sacrifice +generously all views of private interests, of grandeur and +consideration to the sacred obligations that their country +requires of them.</p> + +<p>We flatter ourselves, noble, great, venerable, noble +and venerable Lords, that the present public demonstration +of our esteem and attachment will be so much the more +agreeable, as it is more rare in our republic, and perhaps +even it is without example; and as it is more proper to +efface all the odious impressions that the calumny and +malignity of the English ministry, not long ago so servilely +adored by many, but whose downfal is at present +consummated, had endeavoured to spread, particularly a +little before and at the beginning of this war, insinuations, +which have since found partisans in the United Provinces, +among those who have not been ashamed to paint the +Exchange of Amsterdam (that is to say the most respectable +and the most useful part of the citizens of this city, +and at the same time the principal support of the well-being +of the United Provinces) as if it consisted in a great +part of a contemptible herd of vile interested souls, having +no other object than to give loose to their avidity, and +to their desire of amassing treasures, in defrauding the +public revenues, and in transporting articles, against the +faith of treaties; calumniators, who have had at the same +time, and have still the audacity to affront the most upright +regency of the most considerable city of the Republic, +and to expose it to public contempt, as if it participated +by connivance, and otherwise, in so shameful a +commerce; insinuations and accusations which have been +spread with as much falshood as wickedness, and which +ought to excite so much the more the indignation of every +sensible heart, when it is considered that not only the +merchants of this city, but also those of the whole Republic +have so inviolably respected the faith of treaties +that, to the astonishment of every impartial man, one cannot +produce any proofs, at least no sufficient proofs; that +there hath ever been transported from this country con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>traband +merchandizes; whilst that the conjuncture in +which imputations of this kind have been spread rendered +the proceeding still more odious, seeing it has been +done at an epoch when the commerce and navigation of +Amsterdam, and of the whole Republic, would have experienced +the first and almost the only attack of an unjust +and perfidious ally, for want of necessary protection, upon +which you, noble, great, venerable, and noble and venerable +Lords, have so often and so seriously insisted, even +before the commencement of the troubles between Great +Britain and the United States of America; at an epoch, +when the merchant, formed for enterprises, was obliged +to see the fruit of his labour, and of his cares, the recompence +of his indefatigable industry, and the patrimony +destined to his posterity, ravished from his hands by foreign +violence and an unbounded rapacity; at an epoch +finally, when the wise and prudent politicians, who had +exhausted themselves and spared no pains for the public +good, saw their patriotic views dissipated, and their projects +vanish.</p> + +<p>Receive then, noble, great, venerable, and noble and +venerable Lords, this solemn testimony of our lively +gratitude, as graciously as it is given sincerely on our +part. Receive it as a proof of our attachment to your +persons; an attachment which is not founded upon fear, +nor an exteriour representation of authority and grandeur, +but which is founded on more noble and immoveable +principles, those of esteem and respect, arising from a +sentiment of true greatness and of generosity. Be assured +that when contemptible discord, with its odious attendants, +artifice and imposture, could effectuate nothing, absolutely +nothing, at the moment when the present war +broke out, to prejudice in the least the fidelity of the +Citizens of the Amstel, or to shake them in the observance +of their duties; the inconveniencies and the evils that a +war naturally and necessarily draws after it will not produce +the effect neither. Yes, we will submit more willingly +to them, according as we shall perceive that the +means that <span class="smcap">God</span> and Nature have put into our hands +are more and more employed to reduce and humble an +haughty enemy. Continue then, noble, great, venerable, +noble and venerable Lords, to proceed with safety in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +road that you follow, the only one, which in our opinion +can, under the divine benediction, tend to save the country +from its present situation. Let nothing divert or intimidate +you from it. You have already surmounted the +greatest difficulties, and the most pointed cares. A more +pleasing perspective already opens. Great Britain, not +long since so proud of her forces, that she feared not to +declare war against an ancient and faithful Ally, already +repents of that unjust and rash proceeding; and, succumbing +under the weight of a war, which becomes more and +more burthensome, she sighs after peace; whilst that +the harmony among the members of the supreme Government +of this country increases with our arms, according +as your political system, whose necessity and salutary influence +were heretofore less acknowledged, gains every +day more numerous imitators. The resolution lately +taken by the States of Friesland, and so unanimously +adopted by our Province, furnishes, among many others, +one incontestible proof of it; whilst the naval combat +fought the last year on Doggersbank, hath shewn to +astonished Europe, that so long a peace hath not made +the Republic forget the management of arms, but that, +on the contrary, it nourishes in its bosom warriors who +tread in the footsteps of the <i>Tromps</i> and <i>Ruiters</i>, from whose +prudence and intrepidity, after a beginning so glorious, +we may promise ourselves the most heroic actions; that +their invincible courage, little affected with an evident +superiority, will procure, one day, to our country an honourable +and permanent peace, which, in eternizing their +military glory, will cause the wise policy of your noble, +great, venerable, and noble and venerable Lordships, to +be blessed by the latest posterity.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>UTRECHT.</h2> + +<p class="center"><i>24th April, 1782.</i></p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">To their noble Mightinesses, the Lords the +States of the Country of Utrecht</span>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> undersigned manufacturers, merchants, and other +traders of this City give, with due respect, to understand, +that the petitioners, placing their confidence in +the interest that your noble Mightinesses have always appeared +to take in the advancement of manufactures and +commerce, have not been at all scrupulous to recommend +to the vigilant attention of your noble Mightinessess, the +favourable occasion that offers itself in this moment, to +revive the manufactures, commerce, and trades fallen +into decay in this City and Province, in case that your +noble Mightinesses acknowledged, in the name of this +City, Mr. Adams as Minister Plenipotentiary of the +United States of America, to the end that there might +be formed with them a treaty of commerce for this Republic. +As the petitioners founded themselves thus upon +the intimate sentiment of the execution of that which +your noble Mightinesses judge proper to the advancement +of the well-being of the petitioners and of their interests, +the petitioners have further the satisfaction of seeing the +most agreeable proofs of it, when your noble Mightinesses, +in your last Assembly, resolved unanimously to consent, +not only to the admission of Mr. Adams in quality of +Minister of the Congress of North America, but to authorise +the Lords the Deputies of this Province at the +Generality, to conform themselves in the name of this +Province, to the resolutions of the Lords the States of +Holland and West Friesland, and of Friesland; and, doing +this, to consent to the acknowledgment and admission +of Mr. Adams, as Minister of the United States of America. +As that resolution furnishes the proofs the best +intentioned, the most patriotic, for the advancement of +that which may serve to the well-being and to the encouragement +of manufactures, of commerce, and of de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>cayed +trades, as well in general, as of this City and Province +in particular, and which had been so ardently desired; +the petitioners think themselves indispensibly +obliged to testify, in the most respectful manner, their +gratitude for it to your noble Mightinesses. The petitioners +find themselves absolutely unable to express, in +words, the general satisfaction that this event hath caused; +not only to them; but also to the great and small of this +Province; joined to the confirmation of the perfect conviction +in which they repose themselves, also, for the future, +upon the paternal care of your noble Mightinesses, +that the consummation of the desired treaty of commerce +with the Americans may be soon effected. The petitioners +attest by the present, before your noble Mightinesses, their +solemn and well-meant gratitude, which they address at +the same time to your noble Mightinesses, as the most +sincere mark of veneration and respect for the persons, +and the direction of public affairs, of your noble Mightinesses; +praying that Almighty God may deign to bless +the efforts and the councils of your noble Mightinesses, +as well as those of the Confederates; that moreover this +Province, and our dear country, by the propositions of +an Armistice, and that which depends thereon, should +not be involved in any negotiations for a particular peace +with our perfidious enemy, but that we obtain no other +peace than a general peace, which (as your noble Mightinesses +express yourselves in your resolution) may be compatible +with their honour and dignity; and serve not only +for this generation, but also for the latest posterity, as a +monument of glory, of eternal gratitude to, and esteem +for the persons and public administration of the present +time.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>FRIESLAND.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>from the Register-Book of the Lords the +States of Friesland</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> requisition of Mr. Adams, for presenting his letters +of credence from the United States of America +to their High Mightinesses, having been brought into the +assembly, and put into deliberation, as also the ulteriour +address to the same purpose, with a demand of a categorical +answer, made by him, as is more amply mentioned +in the minutes of their High Mightinesses of the 4th of +May, 1781, and the 9th of January, 1782; whereupon +it having been taken into consideration that the said Mr. +Adams would probably have some propositions to make to +their High Mightinesses, and to present to them the principle +articles and foundations upon which the Congress, +on their part, would enter into a treaty of commerce and +friendship, or other affairs to propose, in regard to which +dispatch would be requisite.</p> + +<p>It has been thought fit and resolved to authorize the +Lords the Deputies of this Province at the Generality, and +to instruct them to direct things, at the table of their +High Mightinesses, in such a manner that the said Mr. +Adams be admitted forthwith as Minister of the Congress +of North America; with further order to the said Deputies +that if there should be made moreover any similar +propositions by the same, to inform immediately their +noble Mightinesses of them. And an extract of the present +resolution shall be sent them for their information, +that they may conduct themselves conformably.</p> + +<p>Thus resolved at the Province House the 26th February, +1782.</p> + +<p>Compared with the aforesaid book to my knowledge.</p> + +<p><i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">A. J. V. Sminia</span>.</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>HOLLAND<br /> + +AND<br /> + +WESTFRIESLAND.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>of the Resolutions of the Lords the States of +Holland and Westfriesland, taken in the Assembly of their +Noble and Grand Mightinesses, Thursday 28th March, +1782</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Deliberated</span> by resumption upon the address +and the ulteriour address of Mr. Adams, made the +4th of May, 1781, and the 9th of January, 1782, to the +President of the States General, communicated to the +Assembly the 9th May, 1781, and the 22d of last month, +to present his letters of credence, in the name of the United +States of America, to their High Mightinesses; by which +ulteriour address, the said Mr. Adams hath demanded a +categorical answer, that he may acquaint his constituents +thereof: deliberated also upon the petitions of a great +number of merchants, manufacturers and other inhabitants +of this Province, interested in commerce to support +their request presented to the States General, the twentieth +current, to the end, that efficacious measures might be +taken to establish a commerce between this country and +North America, copy of which petitions have been given +to the members, the twenty-first; it hath been thought fit +and resolved that the affair shall be directed on the part of +their noble and grand Mightinesses, at the assembly of the +States General, and that there shall be made the strongest +instances that Mr. Adams be admitted and acknowledged, +as soon as possible, by their High Mightinesses, in quality +of Ambassador of the United States of America. And +the Counsellor Pensionary hath been charged to inform +under hand the said Mr. Adams of this resolution of their +noble and grand Mightinesses.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>ZEALAND.</h2> + + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>of the Resolutions of their High Mightinesses +the States General of the United Provinces. Monday +8th April, 1782</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> Deputies of the Province of Zealand have brought +to the Assembly, and have caused to be read there, +the resolution of the States of the said Province, their +principals, to cause to be admitted, as soon as possible, +Mr. Adams in quality of Ambassador of the Congress of +North America, according to the following resolution.</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>from the Register of the Resolutions of the +Lords the States of Zealand, 4th of April, 1782</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p>It hath been thought fit and ordered, that the Lords, +the ordinary Deputies of this Province at the Generality, +shall be authorised, as it is done by the present, to assist, in +the direction of affairs at the Assembly of their High +Mightinesses, in such a manner, that Mr. Adams may be +acknowledged, as soon as possible, as Ambassador of the +Congress of North America; that his letters of credence +be accepted; and that he be admitted in that quality, according +to the ordinary form; enjoining further upon the +said Lords the ordinary Deputies, to take such propositions, +as should be made to this Republic by the said Mr. +Adams, for the information and deliberation of their +High Mightinesses, to the end to transmit them here as +soon as possible. And an extract of this resolution of their +noble Mightinesses shall be sent to the Lords, their ordinary +Deputies, to serve them as an instruction.</p> + +<p><i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">J. M. Chalmers</span>.<br /></div> + +<p>Upon which having deliberated, it hath been thought +fit and resolved to pray, by the present, the Lords the Deputies +of the Province of Guelderland, Utrecht, and +Groningen and Ommelanden, who have not yet explained +themselves upon the subject, to be pleased to do it as soon +as possible.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>OVERYSSEL.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>from the Register of the Resolutions of the +Equestrian Order, and of the Cities composing the States of +Overyssel. Zwoll, 5th April, 1782.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Mr.</span> the Grand Bailiff of Saalland, and the other Commissioners +of their noble Mightinesses for the affairs +of finance, having examined, conformably to their commissorial +resolution of the third of this month, the addresses +of Mr. Adams, communicated to the Assembly the 4th of +May, 1781, and the 22d of February, 1782, to present +his letters of credence to their High Mightinesses, in the +name of the United States of America; as well as the +resolution of the Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland, +dated the 28th of March, 1782, carried the +29th of the same month to the Assembly of their High +Mightinesses, for the admission and acknowledgment of +Mr. Adams, have reported to the Assembly, that they +should be of opinion, that the Lords the Deputies of this +Province in the States General ought to be authorised and +charged to declare in the Assembly of their High Mightinesses, +that the Equestrian order and the Cities judge that +it is proper to acknowledge, as soon as possible, Mr. +Adams in quality of Minister of the United States of +North America to their High Mightinesses. Upon which, +having deliberated, the Equestrian order and the Cities +have conformed themselves to the said report.</p> + +<p>Compared with the aforesaid Register.</p> + +<p><i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Derk Dunbar</span>.</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>GRONINGEN.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>from the Register of the Resolutions of their +noble Mightinesses, the States of Groningen and Ommelanden. +Tuesday 9th April, 1782.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> Lords the States of Groningen and Ommelanden, +having heard the report of the Lords the Commissioners +for the petitions of the Council of State and the +Finances of the Province, and having carefully examined +the demand of Mr. Adams, to present his letters of credence +from the United States of America to their High +Mightinesses, have, after deliberation upon the subject, +declared themselves of opinion, that in the critical circumstances +in which the Republic finds itself at present, +it is proper to take, without loss of time, such efficacious +measures, as may not only repair the losses and damages +that the kingdom of Great Britain hath caused in a +manner so unjust, and against every shadow of right, to +the commerce of the Republic, as well before as after the +war, but particularly such as may establish the free navigation +and the commerce of the Republic, for the future, +upon on the most solid foundations, as may confirm and re-assure +it, by the strongest bonds of reciprocal interest; +and that, in consequence, the Lords the Deputies at the +Assembly of their High Mightinesses ought to be authorised, +on the part of the Province, as they are by the present, +to admit Mr. Adams to present his letters of credence +from the United States of America, and to receive +the propositions which he shall make, to make report of +them to the Lords the States of this Province.</p> + +<p><i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">E. Lewe</span>, Secretary.<br /></div> + +<p><br />The States General, having deliberated the same day +upon the resolution, have resolved, that the Deputies of +this Province of Guelderland, which has not yet declared +itself upon the same subject, should be requested, to be +pleased to do it as soon as possible.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>UTRECHT.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>of the Resolutions of their noble Mightinesses, the +States of the Province of Utrecht, 10 April 1782</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Heard</span> the report of Mr. De Westerveld and other +deputies of their noble Mightinesses for the department +of war, who, in virtue of the commissorial resolutions +of the 9th of May 1781, 16th January and 20th March +of the present year 1782, have examined the resolutions +of their High Mightinesses of the 4th of May 1781, containing +an overture, that Mr. the President of the Assembly +of their High Mightinesses had made, "that a person +styling himself J. Adams had been with him, and had +given him to understand, that he had received letters of +credence for their High Mightinesses from the United +States of America, with a request, that he would be +pleased to communicate them to their High Mightinesses; +as well as the resolution of their High Mightinesses of the +9th of January, containing an ulteriour overture of Mr. +the President, that the said Mr. Adams had been with +him, and had insisted upon a categorical answer, whether +his said letters of credence would be accepted or not; +finally the resolution of their High Mightinesses of the 5th +of March last, with the insertion of the resolution of +Friesland, containing a proposition to admit Mr. Adams +in quality of Minister of the Congress of North America."</p> + +<p>Upon which having deliberated, and remarked that +the Lords the States of Holland and West Friesland, by +their resolution carried the 29th of March to the States +General, have also consented to the admission of the said +Mr. Adams in quality of minister of the Congress of +North America, it hath been thought fit and resolved, +that the Lords the Deputies of this Province in the States +General should be authorised, as their noble Mightinesses +authorise them by the present, to conform themselves, in +the name of this Province, to the resolution of the Lords +the States of Holland and Westfriesland, and of Friesland, +and to consent by consequence, that Mr. Adams be ac<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>knowledged and admitted as Minister of the United States +of America; their noble Mightinesses being, in the mean +time, of opinion, that it would be necessary to acquaint +her Majesty the Empress of Russia, and the other Neutral +Powers, with the resolution to be taken by their High +Mightinesses upon this subject, in communicating to them, +as much as shall be necessary, the reasons which have +induced their High Mightinesses to it, and giving them +the strongest assurances that the intention of their High +Mightinesses is by no means to prolong thereby the war, +which they would have willingly prevented and terminated +long since; but on the contrary, that their High Mightinesses +with nothing with more ardor, than a prompt +re-establishment of peace; and that they shall be always +ready, on their part, to co-operate in it, in all possible +ways, and with a suitable readiness, so far as that shall be +any way compatible with their honour and their dignity, +and for this end an extract of this shall be carried by +Missive to the Lords the Deputies at the Generality.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>GUELDERLAND.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>from the Recès of the ordinary Diet, holden in the +City of Nimeguen, in the Month of April 1782. Wednesday, +17 April 1782.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> requisition of Mr. Adams, to present his letters +of credence to their High Mightinesses in the name +of the United States of America, having been brought to +the assembly and read, as well as an ulteriour address +made upon this subject, with a demand of a categorical +answer by the said Mr. Adams, more amply mentioned +in the registers of their High Mightinesses of the date of +the 4th of May 1781, and of the 9th of January 1782; +moreover the resolutions of the Lords the States of the +five other provinces, carried successively to the assembly +of their High Mightinesses, and all tending to admit Mr. +Adams in quality of Ambassador of the United States of +America to this Republic; upon which their noble Mightinesses, +after deliberation, have resolved to authorise the +deputies of this Province at the States General, as they +authorise them by the present, to conform themselves in +the name of this Province to the resolution of the Lords +the States of Holland and Westfriesland, and to consent, +by consequence, that Mr. Adams may be acknowledged +and admitted in quality of Ambassador of the United States +of America to this Republic. In consequence, an extract +of the present shall be sent to the said Deputies, to make as +soon as possible the requisite overture of it to the assembly +of their High Mightinesses.</p> + +<p>In fidem extracti.<br /> +<i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">J. In de Betouw</span>.</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>THE<br /> +STATES GENERAL.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>from the Register of the Resolutions of their High +Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces. +Friday 19 April, 1782.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Deliberated</span> by resumption, upon the address +and the ulteriour address, made by Mr. Adams the +4th of May 1781, and the 9th of January of the current +year to Mr. the President of the Assembly of their High +Mightinesses, to present to their High Mightinesses his +letters of credence in the name of the United States of +North America; and by which ulteriour address the said +Mr. Adams hath demanded a categorical answer, to the +end to be able to acquaint his Constituents thereof; it hath +been thought fit and resolved that Mr. Adams shall be +admitted and acknowledged in quality of Ambassador of +the United States of North America to their High +Mightinesses, as he is admitted and acknowledged by the +present.</p> + +<p><i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">W. Boreel</span>, <i>President</i>.<br /></div> + +<p><i>Lower down</i></p> + +<p class="center">Compared with the aforesaid Register. +<br /> +<i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">H. Fagel</span>.</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> <i>from the Register of the Resolutions of their +High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces, +Monday, 22d April, 1782</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Mr. Boreel,</span> who presided in the Assembly the +last week, hath reported to their High Mightinesses, +and notified to them, that Mr. John Adams, Ambassador of +the United States of America, had been with him last +Saturday, and presented to him a letter from the Assembly +of Congress, written at Philadelphia, the first of January, +1781, containing a credence, for the said Mr. Adams, +to the end to reside in quality of its Minister Plenipotentiary +near their High Mightinesses: Upon which having +deliberated, it hath been thought fit and resolved, to declare +by the present: "That the said Mr. Adams is +agreeable to their High Mightinesses; that he shall +be acknowledged in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary; +and that there shall be granted to him an audience, +or assigned Commissioners, when he shall demand it." +Information of the above shall be given to the said Mr. +Adams, by the Agent van der Burch de Spieringshoek.</p> + +<p><i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">W. van Citters</span>, <i>President</i>.<br /></div> + +<p><i>Lower down</i></p> + +<p class="center">Compared with the aforesaid Register. +<br /> +<i>Signed</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">H. Fagel</span>.</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>MEDAL.</h2> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">To the noble and mighty Lords, the States +of Friesland</span>,</p></blockquote> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> Society of Citizens, established at Leeuwarden, +under the motto, "By Liberty and Zeal," most +humbly represents, that it desires to have an opportunity +of testifying publicly, by facts, to your noble Mightinesses, +the most lively, but, at the same time, the most +respectful sentiments of gratitude, which not only animate +them, but also, as they assure themselves, all the well +intentioned Citizens, especially, with relation to the +resolutions equally important, and full of wisdom; which +your noble Mightinesses have taken upon all the points, +in regard to which the critical circumstances, in which +our dear country finds itself plunged, have furnished to +your noble Mightinesses, objects equally numerous and +disagreeable, particularly, at the ordinary Diet of the year +1782, and at the <ins +title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'extrardinary'"> +extraordinary</ins> Diet holden in the month +of April last; resolutions which bear not only the characters +of wisdom, but also those of the best intentioned +solicitude, and the purest love of our country; and which +prove, in the most convincing manner, that your noble +Mightinesses have no greater ambition than its universal +prosperity; assiduously proposing to yourselves, as the +most important object of your attention, of your enterprises, +and of your attachment, the rule, <i>Salus Populi +suprema Lex esto</i>; resolutions, in fine, which ought perfectly +to re-assure the good Citizens of this Province, +and encourage them to persevere in that full and tranquil +confidence which has hindered them from representing +to your noble Mightinesses the true interests of the +country, and to exhort them, at the same time, by their +supplications, to act with courage, and to fulfil their duties; +considering that the said resolutions have fully as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>sured them, that their possessions, with that which is +above all things dear to them, their Liberty (that right +which is more precious to them than their lives; to +which the smallest injury cannot be done, without doing +wrong and dishonour to humanity; a right, nevertheless, +which, if we consider the world in general, has been, +alas! almost every where equally violated) are deposited +in safety, under the vigilant eye of your noble Mightinesses.</p> + +<p>The Society has thought that it might accomplish +its wishes, in the most convenient and decent manner, +in causing to be stricken, at its expence, a Medal of +silver, which may remain to posterity a durable monument +of the perfect harmony which at the present dangerous +epoch has reigned between the government and +the people. It has conceived, for this purpose, a sketch +or project, as yet incomplete, according to which one +of the sides of the Medal should bear the Arms of Friesland, +held by an hand, which descends from the clouds, +with an inscription in the following terms: <i>To the States +of Friesland, in grateful Memory of the Diets of February +and of April, 1782, dedicated by the Society</i> <span class="smcap">Liberty +and Zeal</span>. An inscription, which would thus contain +a general applause of all the resolutions taken in +these two Diets; whilst upon the reverse, one should +distinguish, more particularly, the two events which +interest the most our common country, in regard of +which your noble Mightinesses have given the example +to the States of the other Provinces, and which merit, +for this reason, as placed in the foremost situation, to +shew itself the most clearly to the fight: to wit, "The +admission of Mr. Adams in quality of Minister of the +United States of America to this Republic; and the refusal +of a separate peace with Great Britain." Events +which should be represented symbolically by a Frisian, +dressed according to the ancient characteristic custom +of the Frisians, holding out his right-hand to an inhabitant +of North America, in token of friendship and +brotherly love; whilst with the left-hand he rejects the +peace which England offers him. The whole with such +convenient additions, and symbolical ornaments, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +the Society, perhaps, would do well to leave to the invention +of the medalist, &c.</p> + +<p>[<i>The remainder of this request relates to other subjects.</i>]</p> + +<p class="center">Done at Leeuwarden the 8th May, 1782.<br /> +The Society "<span class="smcap">By Liberty and Zeal</span>."</p> + +<p><i>Signed at its request</i></p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">W. Wopkens</span>,<br /> +<i>in the absence of the Secretary</i>.</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<h1><small>AN</small><br /> + +ESSAY<br /> + +<small>ON</small><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Canon and Feudal Law</span>.</h1> + +<h2>By JOHN ADAMS,</h2> + +<h3>AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY</h3> + +<h4>FROM THE</h4> + +<h3><span class="smcap">United and Independent States of<br /> +North America</span>,</h3> + +<h4>TO THEIR</h4> + +<h3><span class="smcap">High Mightiness the States General of +the United Provinces of Holland</span>.</h3> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<h1><small>AN</small><br /> + +ESSAY<br /> + +<small>ON</small><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Canon and Feudal Law</span>.</h1> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Ignorance</span> and inconsideration, are the two +great causes of the ruin of mankind."—This is an +observation of Dr. <i>Tillotson</i>, with relation to the interest +of his fellow-men, in a future and immortal state: But +it is of equal truth and importance, if applied to the happiness +of men in society, on this side the grave.—In the +earliest ages of the world, <i>absolute Monarchy</i> seems to +have been the universal form of government.—Kings, +and a few of their great counsellors and captains, exercised +a cruel tyranny over the people who held a rank in +the scale of intelligence, in those days, but little higher +than the camels and elephants, that carried them and their +engines to war.</p> + +<p>By what causes it was brought to pass, that the people +in the middle ages, became more <i>intelligent</i> in general, +would not perhaps be possible in these days to discover: +But the fact is certain, and wherever a general knowledge +and sensibility have prevailed among the people, arbitrary +government and every kind of oppression have lessened +and disappeared in proportion.—Man has certainly an +exalted soul! and the same principle in human nature; +that aspiring noble principle, founded in benevolence and +cherished by knowledge; I mean the love of power, +which has been so often the cause of <i>slavery</i>, has, whenever +freedom has existed, been the cause of freedom. If +it is this principle, that has always prompted the princes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +and nobles of the earth, by every species of fraud and +violence, to shake off all the limitations of their power; +it is the same that has always stimulated the common +people to aspire at independency, and to endeavour at +confining the power of the great, within the limits of +equity and reason.</p> + +<p>The poor people, it is true, have been much less successful +than the great—They have seldom found either +leisure or opportunity to form an union and exert their +strength—ignorant as they were of arts and letters, they +have seldom been able to frame and support a regular opposition. +This, however, has been known, by the great, +to be the temper of mankind, and they have accordingly +laboured, in all ages, to wrest from the populace, as they +are contemptuously called, the knowledge of their rights +and wrongs, and the power to assert the former or redress +the latter. I say <span class="smcap">Rights</span>, for such they have, undoubtedly, +antecedent to all earthly government—<i>Rights</i>, that +cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws—<i>Rights</i>, +derived from the great Legislator of the universe.</p> + +<p>Since the promulgation of christianity, the two greatest +systems of tyranny, that have sprung from this original, +are the <i>cannon</i> and the <i>feudal</i> law—The desire of dominion, +that great principle by which we have attempted +to account for so much good, and so much evil, is, when +properly restrained, a very useful and noble movement in +the human mind: but when such restraints are taken off, +it becomes an encroaching, grasping, restless and ungovernable +power. Numberless have been the systems of +iniquity, contrived by the great, for the gratification of +this passion in themselves: but in none of them were they +ever more successful, than in the invention and establishment +of the <i>canon</i> and the <i>feudal</i> law.</p> + +<p>By the former of these, the most refined, sublime, extensive, +and astonishing constitution of policy, that ever +was conceived by the mind of man, was framed by the +Romish clergy for the aggrandisement of their own order. +All the epithets I have here given to the Romish policy +are just; and will be allowed to be so, when it is considered, +that they even persuaded mankind to believe, +faithfully and undoubtingly, that <span class="smcap">God Almighty</span> had intrusted +them with the keys of heaven, whose gates they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +might open and close at pleasure—with a power of dispensation +over all the rules and obligations of morality—with +authority to license all sorts of sins and crimes—with +a power of deposing princes, and absolving subjects +from allegiance—with a power of procuring or withholding +the rain of heaven, and the beams of the sun—with +the management of earthquakes, pestilence and famine.——Nay, +with the mysterious, awful, incomprehensible +power of creating out of bread and wine, the flesh +and blood of <span class="smcap">God</span> himself.—All these opinions they were +enabled to spread and rivet among the people, by reducing +their minds to a state of sordid ignorance and staring +timidity; and by infusing into them a <i>religious</i> horror of +letters and knowledge. Thus was human nature chained +fast for ages, in a cruel, shameful, and deplorable servitude, +to him and his subordinate tyrants; who, it was +foretold, would exalt himself above all that was called +<span class="smcap">God</span>, and that was worshipped.——</p> + +<p>In the latter we find another system similar in many +respects to the former; which, although it was originally +formed perhaps for the necessary defence of a barbarous +people, against the inroads and invasions of her neighbouring +nations; yet, for the same purposes of tyranny, +cruelty and lust, which had dictated the <i>canon</i> law, it was +soon adopted by almost all the Princes of Europe, and +wrought into the constitutions of their government.—It +was originally a code of laws, for a vast army in a perpetual +encampment.—The general was invested with the +sovereign propriety of all the lands within the territory.—Of +him, his servants and vassals, the first rank of his +great officers held the lands; and in the same manner, +the other subordinate officers held of them; and all ranks +and degrees, held their lands, by a variety of duties and +services, all tending to bind the chains the faster, on +every order of mankind. In this manner, the common +people were holden together, in herds and clans, in a state +of servile dependance on their Lords; bound, even by +the tenure of their lands to follow them, whenever they +commanded, to their wars; and in a state of total ignorance +of every thing divine and human, excepting the use +of arms, and the culture of their lands.</p> + +<p>But, another event still more calamitous to human liberty,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +was a wicked confederacy, between the two systems +of tyranny above described.—It seems to have been +even stipulated between them, that the temporal grandees +should contribute every thing in their power to maintain +the ascendency of the priesthood; and that the spiritual +grandees, in, their turn, should employ that ascendency +over the consciences of the people, in impressing on their +minds, a blind, implicit obedience to civil magistracy.—</p> + +<p>Thus, as long as this confederacy lasted, and the people +were held in ignorance; Liberty, and with her, +knowledge, and virtue too, seem to have deserted the +earth; and one age of darkness succeeded another, till +<span class="smcap">God</span>, in his benign Providence, raised up the champions, +who began and conducted the Reformation.—From the +time of the Reformation, to the first settlement of America, +knowledge gradually spread in Europe, but especially +in England; and in proportion as that increased and +spread among the people, ecclesiastical and civil tyranny, +which I use as synonymous expressions, for the <i>canon</i> and +<i>feudal</i> laws, seem to have lost their strength and weight. +The people grew more and more sensible of the wrong +that was done them, by these systems; more and more +impatient under it; and determined at all hazards to rid +themselves of it; till, at last, under the execrable race of +the Stuarts, the struggle between the people and the +confederacy aforesaid of temporal and spiritual tyranny, +became formidable, violent and bloody.——</p> + +<p>It was this great struggle that peopled America.—It +was not religion alone, as is commonly supposed; but it +was a love of <i>universal</i> liberty, and an hatred, a dread, +an horror of the infernal confederacy before described, +that projected, conducted, and accomplished the settlement +of America.——</p> + +<p>It was a resolution formed by a sensible people, I mean +the <i>Puritans</i> almost in despair. They had become intelligent +in general, and many of them learned.—For this +fact I have the testimony of Archbishop <i>King</i> himself, +who observed of that people, that they were more intelligent, +and better read than even the members of the +church whom he censures warmly for that reason.—This +people had been so vexed, and tortured by the powers of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +those days, for no other crime than their knowledge, and +their freedom of enquiry and examination; and they had +so much reason to despair of deliverance from those miseries +on that side the ocean, that they at last resolved to +fly to the <i>wilderness</i> for refuge, from the temporal and +spiritual principalities and powers, and plagues, and +scourges of their native country.</p> + +<p>After their arrival here, they began their settlement, +and formed their plan both of ecclesiastical and civil government, +in direst opposition to the <i>canon</i> and the <i>feudal</i> +systems.——The leading men among them, both of the +clergy and the laity were men of sense and learning: To +many of them, the historians, orators, poets and philosophers +of Greece and Rome were quite familiar: and +some of them have left libraries that are still in being, +consisting chiefly of volumes, in which the wisdom of +the most enlightened ages and nations is deposited, written +however in languages, which their great grandsons, +<i>though educated in European Universities</i>, can scarcely +read.</p> + +<p>Thus accomplished were many of the first planters of +these colonies.—It may be thought polite and fashionable, +by many modern fine gentlemen, perhaps, to deride the +characters of these persons as enthusiastical, superstitious +and republican: But such ridicule is founded in nothing +but foppery and affectation, and is grosly injurious and +false.——Religious to some degree of enthusiasm, it may +be admitted they were; but this can be no peculiar derogation +from their character, because it was at that time +almost the universal character, not only of England but +of Christendom. Had this however been otherwise, their +enthusiasm, considering the principles in which it was +founded, and the ends to which it was directed, far from +being a reproach to them, was greatly to their honour: +for I believe it will be found universally true, that no +great enterprize, for the honour or happiness of mankind, +was ever <ins +title="Transcriber's note: Archaic spelling of achieved.">atchieved</ins> without a large mixture of that noble +infirmity. Whatever imperfections may be justly ascribed +to them, which however are as few as any mortals have +discovered, their judgment in framing their policy was +founded in wise, humane and benevolent principles. It +was founded in revelation and in reason too: It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +consistent with the principles of the best, and greatest, +and wisest legeslators of antiquity.——Tyranny in every +form, shape and appearance, was their disdain and abhorrence; +no fear of punishment, nor even of death itself, +in exquisite tortures, had been sufficient to conquer that +steady, manly, pertinacious spirit, with which they had +opposed the tyrants of those days, in church and state. +They were very far from being enemies to monarchy; +and they knew as well as any men, the just regard and +honour that is due to the character of a dispenser of the +mysteries of the gospel of grace: But they saw clearly, +that popular powers must be placed as a guard, a controul, +a balance, to the powers of the monarch and the +priest in every government; or else it would soon become +the man of sin, the whore of Babylon, the mystery +of iniquity, a great and detestable system of fraud, violence +and usurpation. Their greatest concern seems to +have been to establish a government of the church more +consistent with the Scriptures, and a government of the +state more agreeable to the dignity of human nature, than +any they had seen in Europe: and to transmit such a government +down to their posterity, with the means of +securing and preserving it for ever. To render the popular +power in their new government as great and wise +as their principles of theory, i. e. as human nature and +the christian religion require it should be, they endeavoured +to remove from it as many of the feudal inequalities +and dependencies as could be spared, consistently +with the preservation of a mild limited monarchy. +And in this they discovered the depth of their wisdom, +and the warmth of their friendship to human nature.—But +the first place is due to religion.——They saw clearly, +that of all the nonsense and delusion which had ever passed +through the mind of man, none had ever been more extravagant +than the notions of absolutions, indelible characters, +uninterrupted successions, and the rest of those +fantastical ideas, derived from the canon law, which +had thrown such a glare of mystery, sanctity, reverence +and right, reverend eminence, and holiness around the +idea of a priest, as no mortal could deserve and as always +must, from the constitution of human nature, be +dangerous in society. For this reason, they demolished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +the whole system of Diocesan episcopacy, and deriding, +as all reasonable and impartial men must do, the ridiculous +fancies of sanctified effluvia from episcopal fingers, +they established sacerdotal ordination on the foundation of +the Bible and common sense.——This conduct at once +imposed an obligation on the whole body of the clergy, +to industry, virtue, piety and learning; and rendered that +whole body infinitely more independent on the civil +powers, in all respects, than they could be where they +were formed into a scale of subordination, from a Pope +down to Priests and friars and confessors, necessarily and +essentially, a sordid, stupid, and wretched herd; or than +they could be in any other country, where an archbishop +held the place of an universal bishop, and the vicars and +curates that of the ignorant, dependent, miserable rabble +aforesaid; and infinitely more sensible and learned than +they could be in either.——This subject has been seen in +the same light by many illustrious patriots, who have lived +in America, since the days of our forefathers, and who +have adored their memory for the same reason.——And +methinks there has not appeared in New England, a +stronger veneration for their memory, a more penetrating +insight into the grounds and principles and spirit of their +policy, nor a more earnest desire of perpetuating the blessings +of it to posterity, than that fine institution of the +late Chief Justice Dudley, of a lecture against popery, +and on the validity of presbyterian ordination. This was +certainly intended by that wise and excellent man, as an +eternal memento of the wisdom and goodness of the very +principles that settled America. But I must again return +to the feudal law.——The adventurers so often mentioned, +had an utter contempt of all that dark ribaldry +of hereditary indefeasible right,—the Lord's anointed,—and +the divine miraculous original of government, with +which the priesthood had inveloped the feudal monarch +in clouds and mysteries, and from whence they had deduced +the most mischievous of all doctrines, that of passive +obedience and non-resistance. They knew that government +was a plain, simple, intelligible thing, founded +in nature and reason, and quite comprehensible by common +sense.——They detested all the base services, and +servile dependencies of the feudal system.——They knew +that no such unworthy dependencies took place in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +ancient seats of liberty, the republic of Greece and +Rome: and they thought all such slavish subordinations +were equally inconsistent with the constitution of human +nature, and that religious liberty with which Jesus had +made them free. This was certainly the opinion they +had formed, and they were far from being singular or extravagant +in thinking so.——Many celebrated modern +writers in Europe have espoused the same sentiments.—Lord +Kaims, a Scottish writer of great reputation, whose +authority in this case ought to have the more weight, +as his countrymen have not the most worthy ideas of liberty, +speaking of the feudal law, says, "A constitution +so contradictory to all the principles which govern mankind, +can never be brought about, one should imagine, +but by foreign conquest or native usurpations." Brit. +Ant. p. 2.—Rousseau speaking of the same system, calls +it, "That most iniquitous and absurd form of government, +by which human nature was so shamefully degraded." +Social compact, Page 164.——It would be easy +to multiply authorities; but it must be needless, because +as the original of this form of government was among +savages, as the spirit of it is military and despotic, every +writer, who would allow the people to have any right to +life or property or freedom, more than the beasts of the +field, and who was not hired or inlisted under arbitrary +lawless power, has been always willing to admit the feudal +system to be inconsistent with liberty and the rights +of mankind.</p> + +<p>To have holden their lands allodially, or for every man +to have been the sovereign lord and proprietor of the +ground he occupied, would have constituted a government, +too nearly like a commonwealth.—They were +contented, therefore, to hold their lands of their King, as +their sovereign lord, and to him they were willing to render +homage: but to no mesne and subordinate lords, nor +were they willing to submit to any of the baser services.—In +all this they were so strenuous, that they have even +transmitted to their posterity, a very general contempt and +detestation of holdings by quit rents: As they have also +an hereditary ardour for liberty, and thirst for knowledge.—</p> + +<p>They were convinced by their knowledge of human +nature derived from history and their own experience, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +nothing could preserve their posterity from the encroachments +of the two systems of tyranny, in opposition to +which, as has been observed already, they erected their +government in church and state, but knowledge diffused +generally through the whole body of the people.—Their +civil and religious principles, therefore, conspired to +prompt them to use every measure, and take every precaution +in their power to propagate and perpetuate knowledge. +For this purpose they laid very early the foundations +of colleges, and invested them with ample privileges +and emoluments; and it is remarkable, that they have left +among their posterity, so universal an affection and veneration +for those seminaries, and for liberal education, that +the meanest of the people contribute chearfully to the support +and maintenance of them every year, and that nothing +is more generally popular than productions for the +honour, reputation, and advantage of those seats of learning. +But the wisdom and benevolence of our fathers +rested not here. They made an early provision by law, +that every town, consisting of so many families, should be +always furnished with a grammar school.—They made it +a crime for such a town to be destitute of a grammar +school-master for a few months, and subjected it to an +heavy penalty.—So that the education of all ranks of +people was made the care and expence of the public in a +manner, that I believe has been unknown to any other +people ancient or modern.</p> + +<p>The consequences of these establishments we see and +feel every day.—A native of America who cannot read +and write, is as rare an appearance as a Jacobite, or a Roman +Catholic, i. e. as rare as a comet or an earthquake.—It +has been observed, that we are all of us lawyers, divines, +politicians, and philosophers.—And I have good +authorities to say, that all candid foreigners who have +passed through this country, and conversed freely with all +sorts of people here, will allow, that they have never seen +so much knowledge and civility among the common people +in any part or the world.—It is true there has been +among us a party for some years, consisting chiefly, not of +the descendants of the first settlers of this country, but of +high churchmen and high statesmen, imported since, who +affect to censure this provision for the education of our +youth as a needless expence, and an imposition upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +rich in favour of the poor;—and as an institution productive +of idleness and vain speculation among the people, +whose time and attention, it is said, ought to be devoted to +labour, and not to public affairs, or to examination into +the conduct of their superiors. And certain officers of +the crown, and certain other missionaries of ignorance, +foppery, servility, and slavery, have been most inclined to +countenance and encrease the same party.—Be it remembered, +however, that liberty must at all hazards be supported. +<i>We have a right to it, derived from our</i> <span class="smcap">Maker</span>! +But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought +it for us at the expence of their ease, their estates, their +pleasure, and their blood.—And Liberty cannot be preserved +without a general knowledge among the people, +who have a right, from the frame of their nature, to +knowledge, as their great <span class="smcap">Creator</span>, who does nothing in +vain, has given them understandings and a desire to know; +but besides this they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, +indefeasible, divine right, to that most dreaded and +envied kind of knowledge, I mean of the characters and +conduct of their rulers. <i>Rulers are no more than attornies, +agents, and trustees for the people</i>: and if the +cause, the interest, and trust are insidiously betrayed, or +wantonly trifled away, the people have a right to revoke +the authority that they themselves have deputed, and to +constitute abler and better agents, attornies, and trustees. +And the preservation of the means of knowledge, among +the lowest rank, is of more importance to the public, than +all the property of all the rich men in the country. It is +even of more consequence to the rich themselves, and to +their posterity.—The only question is, whether it is a public +emolument? and if it is, the rich ought undoubtedly +to contribute in the same proportion as to all other public +burdens, i. e. in proportion to their wealth, which is secured +by public expences.—But none of the means of information +are more sacred, or have been cherished with +more tenderness and care by the settlers of America, than +the press. Care has been taken that the art of printing +should be encouraged, and that it should be easy and +cheap, and safe for any person to communicate his +thoughts to the Public.—And you, Messieurs Printers, +whatever the tyrants of the earth may say of your Paper, +have done important service to your country, by your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +readiness and freedom in publishing the speculations of the +curious. The stale, impudent insinuations of slander and +sedition, with which the gormandizers of power have endeavoured +to discredit your Paper, are so much the more +to your honour; for the jaws of power are always opened +to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible +to destroy, the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.—And +if the public interest, liberty and happiness +have been in danger, from the ambition or avarice of any +great man, or number of great men, whatever may be +their politeness, address, learning, ingenuity, and in other +respects integrity and humanity, you have done yourselves +honour, and your country service, by publishing and +pointing out that avarice and ambition.—These views are +so much the more dangerous and pernicious, for the virtues +with which they may be accompanied in the same +character, and with so much the more watchful jealousy to +be guarded against.</p> + +<p> +"Curse on such virtues, they've undone their country."<br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Be not intimidated, therefore, by any terrors, from +publishing, with the utmost freedom whatever can be warranted +by the laws of your country; nor suffer yourselves +to be wheedled out of your liberty by any pretences of politeness, +delicacy, or decency.</i> These, as they are often +used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery, +and cowardice. Much less, I presume, will you be +discouraged by any pretences, that malignants on this side +the water<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> will represent your Paper as facetious and seditious, +or that the Great on the other side the water will +take offence at them. This dread of representation has +had for a long time in this province effects very similar to +what the physicians call an <i>hydrophobia</i>, or dread of water.—It +has made us delirious—and we have rushed headlong +into the water, till we are almost drowned, out of simple +or phrensical fear of it. Believe me, the character of this +country has suffered more in Britain, by the pusillanimity +with which we have borne many insults and indignities +from the creatures of power at home, and the creatures of +those creatures here, than it ever did, or ever will by the +freedom and spirit that has been or will be discovered in +writing or action. Believe me, my countrymen, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +have imbibed an opinion on the other side the water, that +we are an ignorant, a timid, and a stupid people; nay, their +tools on this side have often the impudence to dispute your +bravery.—But I hope in God the time is near at hand, +when they will be fully convinced of your understanding, +integrity, and courage. But can any thing be more ridiculous, +were it not too provoking to be laughed at, than +to pretend that offence should be taken at home for writings +here?—Pray let them look at home. Is not the human +understanding exhausted there? Are not reason, +imaginations, wit, passion, senses and all, tortured to find +out satire and invective against the characters of the vile +and futile fellows who sometimes get into place and +power?—The most exceptionable paper that ever I saw +here is perfect prudence and modesty, in comparison of +multitudes of their applauded writings. Yet the high +regard they have for the freedom of the Press, indulges +all.—I must and will repeat it, Newspapers deserve the patronage +of every friend to his country. And whether the +defamers of them are arrayed in robes of scarlet or sable, +whether they lurk and skulk in an insurance office, whether +they assume the venerable character of a priest, the sly one +of a scrivener, or the dirty, infamous, abandoned one of +an informer, they are all the creatures and tools of the +lust of domination.——</p> + +<p>The true source of our sufferings, has been our timidity.</p> + +<p>We have been afraid to think.—We have felt a reluctance +to examining into the grounds of our privileges, +and the extent in which we have an indisputable right to +demand them, against all the power and authority on +earth.—And many who have not scrupled to examine for +themselves, have yet, for certain prudent reasons, been cautious, +and diffident of declaring the result of their enquiries.</p> + +<p>The cause of this timidity is perhaps hereditary, and to +be traced back in history, as far as the cruel treatment the +first settlers of this country received, before their embarkation +for America, from the government at home.—Every +body knows how dangerous it was, to speak or +write in favour of any thing, in those days, but the triumphant +system of religion and politicks. And our +fathers were, particularly, the objects of the persecutions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +and proscriptions of the times.—It is not unlikely therefore, +that, although they were inflexibly steady in refusing +their positive assent to any thing against their principles, +they might have contracted habits of reserve, and a cautious +diffidence of asserting their opinions publicly.—These +habits they probably brought with them to America, +and have transmitted down to us.—Or, we may possibly +account for this appearance, by the great affection +and veneration, Americans have always entertained for +the country from whence they sprang—or by the quiet +temper for which they have been remarkable, no country +having been less disposed to discontent than this—or by a +sense they have that it is their duty to acquiesce under the +administration of government, even when in many smaller +matters grievous to them, and until the essentials of the +great compact are destroyed or invaded. These peculiar +causes might operate upon them; but without these, we +all know, that human nature itself, from indolence, modesty, +humanity or fear, has always too much reluctance +to a manly assertion of its rights. Hence perhaps it has +happened, that nine-tenths of the species, are groaning +and gasping in misery and servitude.</p> + +<p>But whatever the cause has been, the fact is certain, +we have been excessively cautious of giving offence by +complaining of grievances.——And it is as certain, that +American governors, and their friends, and all the crown +officers, have availed themselves of this disposition in the +people.—They have prevailed on us to consent to many +things, which were grossly injurious to us, and to surrender +many others with voluntary tameness, to which we +had the clearest right. Have we not been treated formerly, +with abominable insolence, by officers of the +navy?——I mean no insinuation against any gentleman +now on this station, having heard no complaint of any one +of them to his dishonour.—Have not some generals, from +England, treated us like servants, nay, more like slaves +than like Britons?—Have we not been under the most +ignominious contribution, the most abject submission, the +most supercilious insults of some custom-house officers? +Have we not been trifled with, browbeaten, and trampled +on, by former governors, in a manner which no King of +England since James the Second has dared to indulge towards +his subjects? Have we not raised up one family,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +placed in them an unlimited confidence, and been soothed, +and flattered, and intimidated by their influence, into a +great part of this infamous tameness and submission?——"These +are serious and alarming questions, and deserve a +dispassionate consideration."—</p> + +<p>This disposition has been the great wheel and the main +spring in the American machine of court politics.—We +have been told, that "the word <i>Rights</i> is an offensive +expression." That "the King, his Ministry, and Parliament, +will not endure to hear Americans talk of their +<i>Rights</i>." That "Britain is the mother and we the children, +that a filial duty and submission is due from us to +her," and that "we ought to doubt our own judgment, +and presume that she is right, even when she seems to us +to shake the foundations of government." That "Britain +is immensely rich, and great, and powerful, has fleets +and armies at her command, which have been the dread +and terror of the universe, and that the will force her own +judgment into execution, right or wrong." But let me +intreat you, Sir, to pause—Do you consider yourself as a +missionary of loyalty or of rebellion? Are you not representing +your K—, his Ministry and Parliament, as tyrants, +imperious, unrelenting tyrants, by such reasoning as this?—Is +not this representing your most gracious Sovereign, +as endeavouring to destroy the foundations of his own +throne?—Are you not representing every Member of +Parliament as renouncing the transactions at <i>Runyn Mead</i>; +[the meadow, near Windsor, where <i>Magna Charta</i> was +signed,] and as repealing in effect the bill of rights, when +the Lords and Commons asserted and vindicated the rights +of the people and their own rights, and insisted on the +King's assent to that assertion and vindication? Do you +not represent them, as forgetting that the Prince of +Orange was created King William by the People, on purpose +that their rights might be eternal and inviolable?—Is +there not something extremely fallacious, in the common +place images of mother country and children colonies? +Are we the children of Great Britain, any more +than the cities of London, Exeter and Bath? Are we not +brethren and fellow-subjects, with those in Britain, only +under a somewhat different method of legislation, and a +totally different method of taxation? But admitting we +are children, have not children a right to complain when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +their parents are attempting to break their limbs, to administer +poison, or to sell them to enemies for slaves? Let +me intreat you to consider, will the mother be pleased, +when you represent her as deaf to the cries of her children? +When you compare her to the infamous miscreant, +who lately stood on the gallows for starving her +child? When you resemble her to Lady Macbeth in +Shakespear, (I cannot think of it without horror)</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who "had given suck, and knew<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"How tender 'twas to love the babe that milk'd her."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But yet, who could<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Even while 'twas smiling in her face,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Have pluck'd her nipple from the boneless gums,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"And dash'd the brains out."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Let us banish for ever from our minds, my countrymen, +all such unworthy ideas of the K—g, his Ministry, and +Parliament. Let us not suppose, that all are become +luxurious, effeminate and unreasonable, on the other side +the water, as many designing persons would insinuate. +Let us presume, what is in fact true, that the spirit of +liberty is as ardent as ever among the body of the nation, +though a few individuals may be corrupted.—Let us take +it for granted, that the same great spirit, which once gave +Cæsar so warm a reception; which denounced hostilities +against John, 'till Magna Charta was signed; which +severed the head of Charles the First from his body, and +drove James the Second from his kingdom; the same +great spirit (<span class="smcap">MAY HEAVEN PRESERVE IT TILL THE +EARTH SHALL BE NO MORE!</span>) which first seated the +great grandfather of his present most gracious Majesty +on the throne of Britain, is still alive and active, and +warm in England; and that the same spirit in America, +instead of provoking the inhabitants of that country, will +endear us to them for ever, and secure their good-will.</p> + +<p>This spirit, however, without knowledge, would be +little better than a brutal rage.——Let us tenderly and +kindly cherish therefore the means of knowledge. Let us +dare to read, think, speak and write.——Let every order +and degree among the people rouse their attention and +animate their resolution.—Let them all become attentive +to the grounds and principles of government, ecclesiasti<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>cal +and civil.—Let us study the law of nature; search +into the spirit of the British constitution; read the histories +of ancient ages; contemplate the great examples of +Greece and Rome; set before us the conduct of our own +British ancestors, who have defended, for <i>us</i>, the inherent +rights of mankind against foreign and domestic tyrants +and usurpers, against arbitrary kings and cruel priests, in +short against the gates of earth and hell.—Let us read +and recollect, and impress upon our souls the views and +ends of our own more immediate forefathers, in exchanging +their native country for a dreary, inhospitable wilderness. +Let us examine into the nature of that power, +and the cruelty of that oppression which drove them from +their homes. Recollect their amazing fortitude, their +bitter sufferings! The hunger, the nakedness, the cold, +which they patiently endured! The severe labours of +clearing their grounds, building their houses, raising their +provisions, amidst dangers from wild beasts and savage +men, before they had time or money, or materials for +commerce! Recollect the civil and religious principles, +and hopes, and expectations, which constantly supported +and carried them through all hardships, with patience and +resignation! Let us recollect it was liberty! The hope +of liberty for themselves and us and ours, which conquered +all discouragements, dangers and trials!——In such +researches as these, let us all in our several departments +chearfully engage! But especially the proper patrons and +supporters of law, learning and religion.</p> + +<p>Let the pulpit resound with the doctrines and sentiments +of religious liberty.——Let us hear the danger of +thraldom to our consciences, from ignorance, extream +poverty and dependance, in short from civil and political +slavery.—Let us see delineated before us, the true map +of man. Let us hear the dignity of his nature, and the +noble rank he holds among the works of <span class="smcap">God</span>! that consenting +to slavery is a sacrilegious breach of trust, as offensive +in the sight of <span class="smcap">God</span>, as it is derogatory from our +own honour, or interest or happiness; and that <span class="smcap">God Almighty</span> +has promulgated from heaven, liberty, peace, and +good-will to man!——</p> + +<p>Let the Bar proclaim, "the laws, the rights, the generous +plan of power," delivered down from remote antiquity; +inform the world of the mighty struggles, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +numberless sacrifices, made by our ancestors, in the defence +of freedom.—Let it be known, that British liberties +are not the grants of princes or parliaments, but original +rights, conditions of original contracts, co-equal +with prerogative, and co-eval with government.—That +many of our rights are inherent and essential, agreed on +as maxims and established as preliminaries, even before a +parliament existed.—Let them search for the foundation +of British laws and government in the frame of human +nature, in the constitution of the intellectual and moral +world.—There let us see, that truth, liberty, justice, and +benevolence, are its everlasting basis; and if these could +be removed, the superstructure is overthrown of course.—</p> + +<p>Let the colleges join their harmony, in the same delightful +concert.—Let every declamation turn upon the +beauty of liberty and virtue, and the deformity, turpitude +and malignity of slavery and vice.—Let the public disputations +become researches into the grounds and nature +and ends of government, and the means of preserving +the good and demolishing the evil.—Let the dialogues +and all the exercises become the instruments of impressing +on the tender mind, and of spreading and distributing, +far and wide, the ideas of right and the sensations +of freedom.</p> + +<p>In a word, let every sluice of knowledge be opened +and set a flowing. The encroachments upon liberty, in +the reigns of the first James and the first Charles, by +turning the general attention of learned men to government, +are said to have produced the greatest number of +consummate statesmen, which has ever been seen in any +age, or nation. The Brooke's, Hamden's, Falkland's, +Vane's, Milton's, Nedham's, Harrington's, Neville's, +Sydney's, Locke's, are all said to have owed their eminence +in political knowledge, to the tyrannies of those +reigns. The prospect, now before us, in America, ought, +in the same manner, to engage the attention of every +man of learning to matters of power and of right, that +we may be neither led nor driven blindfolded to irretrievable +destruction.——<i>Nothing less than this seems to have +been meditated for us, by somebody or other in Great +Britain.</i> There seems to be a direct and formal design +on foot, to enslave all America.—This however must be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +done by degrees.——The first step that is intended seems +to be an entire subversion of the whole system of our Fathers, +by the introduction of the canon and feudal law, +into America.——The canon and feudal systems though +greatly mutilated in England, are not yet destroyed. +Like the temples and palaces, in which the great contrivers +of them were once worshiped and inhabited, they exist +in ruins; and much of the domineering spirit of them still +remains.—The designs and labours of a certain society, +to introduce the former of them into America, have been +well exposed to the public by a writer of great abilities; +and the further attempts to the same purpose that may be +made by that society, or by the ministry or parliament, I +leave to the conjectures of the thoughtful.—But it seems +very manifest from the Stamp Act itself, that a design is +formed to strip us in a great measure of the means of +knowledge, by loading the Press, the Colleges, and even +an Almanack and a News-Paper, with restraints and +duties; and to introduce the inequalities and dependencies +of the feudal system, by taking from the poorer sort of +people all their little subsistence, and conferring it on a +set of stamp officers, distributors and their deputies.—But +I must proceed no farther at present.—The sequel, +whenever I shall find health and leisure to pursue it, will +be a "disquisition of the policy of the stamp act."——In +the mean time, however, let me add, These are not +the vapours of a melancholy mind, nor the effusions of +envy, disappointed ambition, nor of a spirit of opposition +to government: but the emanations of an heart that +burns for its country's welfare. No one of any feeling, +born and educated in this once happy country, can consider +the numerous distresses, the gross indignities, the +barbarous ignorance, the haughty usurpations, that we +have reason to fear are meditating for ourselves, our children, +our neighbours, in short for all our countrymen, +and all their posterity, without the utmost agonies of +heart, and many tears.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p> + <a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_A_1"> + <span class="label">[A]</span></a> + Boston in America. + </p> +</div> + +<h2>FINIS.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="notes"> + +<p class="center">Transcriber's Notes</p> + +<ol> + +<li>18th Century English typography has been modernized for ease of reading, for example: "himſelf" has +been changed to "himself." Spelling conventions of the times have been maintained.</li> +<li>Several misprints and punctuation errors corrected. Hover over +underlined <ins title="Like this">word</ins> in the text to see the corrections made.</li> + +</ol> + +<p class="center">Corrections</p> + +<ul> + +<li><a href="#Page_7">Page 7</a>, Added close quotes to end of quotation.</li> +<li><a href="#Page_13">Page 13</a>, "achievements" spelled "atchievements" Left as is.</li> +<li><a href="#Page_26">Page 26</a>, Added close quotes to end of quotation.</li> +<li><a href="#Page_43">Page 43</a>, "necessay" changed to "necessary".</li> +<li><a href="#Page_77">Page 77</a>, "extrardinary" changed to "extraordinary".</li> +<li><a href="#Page_87">Page 87</a>, "achieved" spelled "atchieved" Left as is.</li> + +</ul> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Collection of State-Papers, Relative +to the First Acknowledgment of the Sovereignty of the United States of America, by John Adams + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COLLECTION OF STATE-PAPERS *** + +***** This file should be named 30872-h.htm or 30872-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/8/7/30872/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Susan Carr and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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