The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 07
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 07
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
"The English Ministry, by charging the States with having
acted under French influence, intend to alarm their national
pride, and, by making Holland the particular object of their
resentment, to sow the seeds of dissensions among them, and
render that most important Province obnoxious to the others.
The tone of the whole declaration is that of a nation going
rather to give correction to disobedient vassals, than to war
upon a free and independent people. It could have been
assumed only upon a persuasion, that the same supposed
timidity, to which they ascribed the long forbearance of the
Dutch under multiplied insults and injuries, would, on this
ostentatious display of terror, reduce them to the
humiliating measure of imploring forgiveness for having acted
like freemen, and purchasing peace at the expense of their
honor and liberty. Every other nation must expect better
things of you, and can never believe, that the present
generation will want firmness to assert the rights and
vindicate the honor of a Republic, which owes its very
existence to the glorious spirit and magnanimity of its
ancestors.
"It gives me great satisfaction to hear that Mr Adams has
conversed with you on the subject of a loan, and I am
persuaded that business will be much advanced by it. The
impropriety of two loans at a time is evident. My chief
motive in proposing one at the time I did was, that no time
might be lost by the absence of Mr Laurens, in prosecuting a
measure, which appeared to me highly useful to my country. I
have no views or objects separate from her, and, provided she
is effectually served, I am well content that the honor of
doing it should devolve on others. As the management of our
affairs in your country is committed to Mr Adams, I request
the favor of you to give him all the aid in your power. When
that gentleman went to Holland, I was ignorant of the
business which called him thither; and the first knowledge I
had of it was from America, long after Mr Laurens's capture.
It cannot now be necessary, that my name should appear in the
affair of the proposed loan, but should it be in my power to
be useful, Mr Adams may rely upon my zealous endeavors to
promote that, and every other measure for the public good.
Indeed, as matters now stand, delicacy forbids me to
interfere further than as a mere auxiliary to Mr Adams, to
whom, and to whose affairs I beg you to extend the influence
of that generous regard for America, which has placed you so
high in the esteem of
"Gentlemen, &c.
JOHN JAY."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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