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
The English mail, which had been interrupted by contrary winds for
three posts, arrived on Saturday. The English gazettes of the 19th
announced, that Sir Joseph Yorke was recalled, and a Dutch war was
inevitable. Private letters informed, that the Count de Welderen was
about leaving the British Court, and that an embargo was laid on all
Dutch ships in Great Britain; that the stocks had fallen two per cent,
and that a war was inevitable. The stock-jobbers, Englishmen, and
others at the coffee-houses, had melancholy countenances, and uncommon
anxiety. News was also propagated from the Hague, that Sir Joseph
Yorke was gone. Others said he had received his orders to go. As there
was no Exchange, the public judgment is not made up, whether there
will be war or not. Some gentlemen of knowledge and experience think
all this a farce, concerted at the Hague, between Sir Joseph and his
friends there, and the Ministry in England, in order to spread an
alarm, intimidate the States into an answer, which may be accepted
with a color of honor, &c. or to do something worse, that is, rouse a
spirit among the mobility against the Burgomasters of Amsterdam. I
cannot, however, but be of opinion, that there is more in this, and
that the Ministry will carry their rage to great extremities. They
have gone too far to look back, without emboldening their enemies,
confounding their friends, and exposing themselves to the contempt and
ridicule of both. A few hours, however, will throw more light upon
this important subject. The plot must unravel immediately.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Amsterdam, December 26th, 1780.
Sir,
The public papers of this morning inform me, that Sir Joseph Yorke
left the Hague on the morning of the 24th, without taking leave of
anybody, and bent his way to London by the way of Antwerp and Ostend.
Sometime in the month of April last, a certain British Ambassador, who
had an inclination to take a few of the pleasures of Paris in his way
to Germany, said in that city, where I received the information in the
time of it, "to be sure the Americans will carry their point, and
establish their independence, for there will infallibly be a war
between England and Holland before Christmas."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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