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: _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 et terrasse les Anglomannes. C'est vous qui à rempli cette nation d'enthousiasme._ And then turning to another gentleman, he said, _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._ 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 _baccale_, and had inscribed round its brim, _Aurea Libertas_: AUREA LIBERTAS! _gaude! pars altera mundi Vindice te renuit subdere colla jugo. Hæc tibi legatum quem consors Belga recepit Pectore sincero pocula plena fero. Utraque gens nectet, mox suspicienda tyrannis, Quæ libertati vincula sacra precor!_