Amsterdam, 25 December 1781.
RC in John Thaxter’s hand (
PCC, No. 84, III, f. 442–444).
printed:
Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev., 5:71–72. This letter consists of an English translation of Prussia’s declaration
of 8 Dec., intended to remove any questions about the identity of Prussian ships trading
in accordance with its previous ordinances of 30 April and 3 November. For the ordinance
of 30 April, which stated that Prussia would maintain a strict neutrality according
to the principles set down in the declaration of the armed neutrality, see
JA to the president of Congress,
21 May, calendared (vol. 11:327). For the 3 Nov. ordinance establishing rules for identifying
Prussian ships, see
Scott, ed., Armed Neutralities of 1780 and 1800, p. 414–417.