The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
"Treaties, alliances, conventions, &c. are negotiated, signed, and
ratified in the name of the States-General, after having been
communicated to the Provinces and ratified by them. The name of the
Prince Stadtholder does not appear, but he can, when there is a
question concerning his particular affairs, enter into negotiation
with foreign Courts, and conclude with them treaties, as it was done
with Spain in 1646 and 1647.
"Some of the foreign Ministers who reside at the Hague, are also
accredited with the Prince Stadtholder. The prerogatives of the Prince
Stadtholder of the Republic are at present sufficiently fixed; but
they are not precisely the same in all the Provinces. The appointments
and revenues of the Stadtholder and Captain-General, to consider them
even in proportion, cannot be put in parallel with those of a King of
England. Nevertheless, it is reckoned that the revenues of the
Stadtholdership of the Seven United Provinces, of the country of
Drenthe and the Territory of the Generality, comprehending the
twentyfive thousand florins which the Prince enjoys annually as First
Member of the Council of State, and the dividends of the company of
the East Indies, amount to three hundred thousand florins a year. The
Stadtholder pays neither imposts nor taxes, excepting those which they
call in Holland _Odinarés Verponding_, which is raised in this
Province upon the lands and upon the houses, &c. The body guards and
the aid-de-camp of his Most Serene Highness are entertained at the
expense of the union. Holland alone pays the company of a hundred
Swiss, and makes good the hire of the houses, which the Prince
Stadtholder and some of the principal officers of his house occupy at
the Hague, who enjoy also a freedom from excises. On some occasions,
the Counsellors Deputies of Holland and West Friesland, dispose, upon
the proposition of the Stadtholder, or of the Counsellor Pensionary in
his behalf, of certain sums necessary for the service of the State;
and upon an act of this Council, they pass them in account at the
Receiver-General of the Province.
"As Captain-General of the union, his Highness has a hundred thousand
florins of appointments a year, besides twentyfour thousand from
Friesland, and twelve thousand from Groningen, in quality of
Captain-General of these two Provinces. In time of war, the State
grants extraordinary sums to the Captain-General, for the expense of
each campaign.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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