TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The Hague, March 1st, 1779.
Gentlemen,
I have nothing to add to the extracts here annexed, except to press anew the necessity there is that the most honorable Congress send me a commission in all its forms of _Charge d"Affaires_, and agent of the United States of America in the United Provinces of the Low Countries, with power to manage and watch over their political interests, and those of the navigation and commerce of the American Union, as well near their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries, now and at all times when opportunity shall be presented, as near each Province, city, and individual of this Republic.
The opposition formed, sustained, and consolidated against the enormous influence which your enemies had over this republic, is the work of three persons, of whom I have the honor in my sphere to be one.
With orders and powers more precise on the part of Congress, I should have been able to contract long since, with merchants of this country, for useful expeditions, and to defeat divers adventurers and intriguers, who, falsely boasting of full powers and of credentials which they have not, have abused and much deceived the people and compromised the dignity and credit of the United States. The little I have been able to do in this respect, has been done with a pure zeal, and a disinterestedness and discretion, which I dare propose as an example to others, who may be called to a similar service. I can boldly defy all the world to accuse me of having in any case preferred my own interest to that of the American people.
My request, at the commencement of this letter, has for its object the service of the United States of America, as much at least as the proper care of my fortune, of my family, my honor and credit, my character and safety. The earliest of your agents and correspondents, Gentlemen, in Europe, out of Great Britain, has risked all these things from the time he received and accepted this honor, with a confidence equal to that with which it was offered.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DUMAS.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The Hague, April 29th, 1779.
Gentlemen,
In all this month nothing has pa.s.sed remarkable here, unless it be the Memorial presented by the English Amba.s.sador. But in this interval I have taken part in a secret operation, which has confided the credit and secrets of America to a House at Amsterdam, truly patriotic, and not suspected of collusion with the enemy. Dr Franklin is fully apprized of it all.
Here is an extract from a letter to him.
"The States of the Province of Holland have a.s.sembled here this morning. It is only an ordinary session; and our friend said to me pleasantly, "_We have only come to hold the fair._" He foresees also that the resolution of the States-General, as to convoy, will not be such as to engage France to revoke or mitigate her last edict of navigation. One of the first Houses of Amsterdam, and whose predilection for England is known, has sold 60,000 of English funds.
This has revived the idea of a declaration from Spain, and has depressed the English funds at Amsterdam from three to four per cent.
There is a shower of pamphlets here, both in French and Dutch, against the last Memoir of Sir Joseph Yorke."
For a long time, Gentlemen, we have heard nothing here of American affairs, but through the wicked channel of your enemies, who do not cease to paint the Americans as a people disunited and discordant.
These eternal repet.i.tions, and their pretended success in Georgia, do not fail to disquiet your friends and to embarra.s.s all my endeavors.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DUMAS.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The Hague, May 15th, 1779.
Gentlemen,
I have already had the honor of informing you many times, that some of my frequent letters to Pa.s.sy are of a nature not to be communicated to you, even in abridgement, through the risk that my packets run of being intercepted; such are, particularly, divers letters written to Dr Franklin, from the 25th of January to the 29th of April. There is a cabal of Genevan and Swiss bankers, as well in France as at Amsterdam, friendly to your enemies, which does as much injury as it can under the mask of friendship. It was my duty to unmask some of them to Dr Franklin, and to make known to him a safe Anti-English patriotic House, having the confidence of the magistracy of Amsterdam. The Ministry in France know it.
Upon the last pet.i.tions of the merchants of Dort, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Friesland, the States-General, after having previously deliberated and advised, and then reconsidered the affair, adopted on Monday, the 26th of April, the resolution to equip for the service of the current year, 1779, thirtytwo vessels of war, as follows;
4 vessels of 60 guns, 350 men = 240 guns, 1400 men.
1 " 60 " 340 " = 60 " 340 "
1 " 60 " 290 " = 60 " 290 "
8 " 50 " 300 " = 400 " 2400 "
2 frigates 40 " 250 " = 80 " 500 "
8 " 36 " 230 " = 288 " 1840 "
7 " 20 " 150 " = 140 " 1050 "
1 snow 12 " 100 " = 12 " 100 "
-- ---- ---- 32 vessels and frigates, 1280 guns, 7920 men.
Of these thirtytwo vessels and frigates, the College of Admiralty of Meuse will furnish
1 vessel of 60 guns 350 men = 60 guns 350 men.
1 " 50 " 300 " = 50 " 300 "
3 frigates 36 " 230 " = 108 " 690 "
1 " 20 " 150 " = 20 " 150 "
1 snow 12 " 100 " = 12 " 100 "
-- ---- ---- 7 vessels and frigates, 250 guns 1590 men.
The College of Amsterdam,
2 vessels of 60 guns 350 men = 120 guns 700 men.
4 " 50 " 300 " = 200 " 1200 "
2 frigates 40 " 250 " = 80 " 500 "
2 " 36 " 230 " = 72 " 460 "
2 " 20 " 150 " = 40 " 300 "
-- ---- ---- 12 vessels and frigates, 512 guns 3160 men.
The College of Zealand,
1 vessel of 60 guns 350 men.
1 " 60 " 290 "
1 " 50 " 300 "
1 frigate 36 " 230 "
1 " 20 " 150 "
-- --- ---- 5 ves. &c. 226 guns 1320 men.
The College of West Friesland and the Quarter of the North,
1 frigate of 36 guns 230 men = 36 guns 230 men.
2 " 20 " 150 " = 40 " 300 "
-- ---- ---- 3 frigates 76 guns 530 men.
The College of Friesland,
1 vessel of 60 guns 340 men = 60 guns 340 men.
2 " 50 " 300 " = 100 " 600 "