The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 06
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 06
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
My motives for printing the Memorial were, that I had no other way to
communicate my proposition to the Sovereign of the country. The
gentlemen at the Hague, who are called their High Mightinesses, are
not the Sovereign, they are only Deputies of the States-General, who
compose the Sovereignty. These joint Deputies form only a diplomatic
body, not a legislative nor an executive one. The States-General are
the Regencies of cities and bodies of nobles. The Regencies of cities
are the Burgomasters and Schepins, or Judges and Counsellors,
composing in the whole a number of four or five thousand men,
scattered all over the Republic. I had no way to come at them but by
the press, because the President refused to receive my memorial. If he
had received it, it would have been transmitted of course to all the
Regencies; but in that case it would have been printed; for there is
no memorial of a public Minister in this Republic, but what is
printed.
When the President said, "Sir, we have no authority to receive your
memorial until your title and character are acknowledged by our
constituents and sovereigns; we are not the sovereign;" I answered,
"In that case, Sir, it will be my duty to make the memorial public in
print, because I have no other possible way of addressing myself to
the sovereign, your constituents."
The President made no objection, and there has been no objection to
this day. Those who dreaded the consequence to the cause of Anglomany,
have never ventured to hint a word against it. The Anglomanes would
have had a triumph if it had not been printed, and I should before
this day have met with many disagreeable scenes, if not public
affronts. This openness has protected me. To conciliate the affections
of the people, to place our cause in an advantageous light, to remove
the prejudices that Great Britain and her votaries excite, to discover
the views of the different parties, to watch the motives that lead to
peace between England and Holland, have been my constant aim since I
have resided here. The secret aid of government in obtaining a loan, I
have endeavored to procure, but it can never be obtained until there
is a treaty. I have hitherto kept a friendly connexion with the
French Ambassador, and that without interruption. The new commission
for peace, and the revocation of that for a treaty of commerce with
Great Britain I have received.
My language and conduct are those of a private gentleman; but those
members of Congress who think this proper, know that I have held
public places in Europe, too public and conspicuous for me to be able
to remain incognito in this country, nor is it for the interest of the
public that I should attempt it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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