The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 09
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 09
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
_16th, evening._ This morning the Ambassador, after having presented
his Memorial to the President of their High Mightinesses, made the
rounds to give information of it to the Grand Pensionary of Holland,
to the Secretary of their High Mightinesses, to the Prince
Stadtholder, to the Pensionaries of the cities of Amsterdam, Dort,
Brille, and Rotterdam. He was nearly two hours with the Deputies of
this last city. He testified to all of them the regret of the King in
having to withdraw from them his favors, and to permit one patriotic
city alone to enjoy them. All manifested more discontent at this
distinction, than at the privation, and there is danger of I know not
what fatal consequences. They pretend that it is a thing without
example and against their constitution to treat with one city only.
The Ambassador replied to them, that this was a wrong view, that there
was neither treaty nor convention between France and Amsterdam, but
that he merely let this place continue to enjoy what she enjoyed
before, and that the Republic ought to be on the contrary well
satisfied that by means of this city she would not lose all. The next
week he will see the Pensionaries of the other cities. For the rest I
am of opinion that all this will be arranged yet satisfactorily, and
that the Republic, seeing that the thing is serious, will take the
part of giving satisfaction to France.
_January 17th._ I gave the Ambassador today an account of the
discourse that I held yesterday with our friend. I must return
tomorrow with the Ambassador. I only tell you, Gentlemen, the
essentials, and spare you the detail of messages, which they charge me
with, whose result only is interesting. My interposition saves the
noise there would be from too frequent interviews between persons who
are watched.
_January 20th._ The two Pensionaries of Amsterdam went this morning on
the part of their city to the house of the Ambassador, to give thanks,
and to say that they hoped his Majesty would not deprive the other
confederates of favors, which he is willing to preserve to them.
Thence they went to the Grand Pensionary, to give him information of
this proceeding. In place of sour looks and altercations, which they
expected as well at the States of the Province today as elsewhere,
they were agreeably surprised to find themselves treated everywhere
with much respect. Those of Rotterdam, among others, sought their
intercession for their city. The merchants of Rotterdam came to
implore the protection of the gentlemen of Amsterdam, who properly
sent them away to their own magistrates. The Ambassador, on his part,
notified this morning the Grand Pensionary by word of mouth, and
afterwards, at his request, by a note in form of a letter, that the
King has fixed the 26th of January to publish the new order, if he
should not receive such an answer as he demands.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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