No. 11.[dateline] The Hague May 16th. 1782
[salute] Sir
On the twelfth of this month, I removed into the Hôtel des Etats Unies de l'Amerique,
situated upon the Canal called the Fleweele Burgwal at the Hague, where I hope the
Air will relieve my Health in some degree from that weak state to which the tainted
atmosphere of Amsterdam has reduced it.
The American Cause has gained a signal Triumph in this Country. It has not persuaded
an ancient Rival and an avowed natural hereditary Enemy to take a Part against Great
Britain; but it has torn from her Bosom an intimate affectionate Friend and a faithful
Ally of an hundred Years Continuance. It has not persuaded an absolute Monarchy to
follow the Dictates of its own Glory and Interest and the unanimous Wish of the People,
by favouring it; but availing itself only of the still small Voice of Reason, urging
general Motives and national Interests, without Money, without Intrigue, without imposing
Pomp, or more imposing Fame, it has prevailed against the utmost Efforts of Intrigue
and Corruption, against the almost universal Inclination of Persons in Government,
against a formidable Band of Capitalists, and the most powerful mercantile Houses
in the Republick, interested in English Funds and too deeply leagued in English Affairs.
Altho' these Obstacles are overcome so far, as to have obtained an Acknowledgment
of our Independence, yet it is easy to see, that they are not annihilated and therefore
We cannot expect to recieve such cordial and zealous assistance, as We might recieve
if the Government and People had but one Heart.
I wish it were in my Power to give Congress upon this Occasion Assurances of a Loan
of Money, but I cannot. I have taken every Measure in my Power to accomplish it, but
I have met with so many Difficulties that I almost despair of obtaining any thing.
I have found the Avidity of Friends as great an Obstacle as the ill Will of Ennemies.
I can represent my Situation in this Affair of a Loan, by
{ 49 } no other Figure than that of a Man in the midst of the Ocean negotiating for his Life
among a School of Sharks. I am sorry to use Expressions which must appear severe to
You: but the Truth demands them.
The Title of American Banker, for the sake of the Distinction of it, the Profit of
it, and the Introduction to American Trade, is solicited with an Eagerness past Description.
In order to obtain it, a House will give out great Words and boast of what it can
do: but not one will contract to furnish any considerable Sum of Money; and I certainly
know, let them decieve themselves as they will, and decieve as many others as they
may by their confident Affirmations, that none of them can obtain any considerable
Sum. The Factions, that are raised here about it between the French Interest, the
Republican Interest, the Stadthouderian Interests and the Anglomane Interests, have
been conducted with an indecent Ardor, thwarting, contradicting, caluminating each
other, until it is easy to fore see the Effect will be to prevent Us from obtaining
even the small Sums, that otherwise might have been found. But the true and the decisive
Secret is, there is very little Money to be had: The Profits of their Trade have been
annihilated by the English for several Years. There is therefore no Money but the
Interest of their Capitalists, and all this is promised for Months and Years beforehand
to Bookkeepers, Brokers and Undertakers, who have in Hand Loans open for France, Spain,
England, Russia, Sweeden Denmark, for the States General, the States of Holland, the
States of Friesland, the East and West India Companies &c. &c. &c.
But the Circumstance which will be fatal to my Hopes at this time is this, there is
just now unexpectedly opened a Loan of Nine Millions for the India Company under the
Warranty of the States, in which they have raised the Interest one per Cent above
the ordinary Rate. I had obtained an Agreement of the Undertakers for two Millions
but before it was completed this Loan appeared, which frightened the Undertakers so
as to induce them to fly off. I must therefore entreat Congress to make no Dependence
upon me for Money.
There is one Subject more, upon which I beg leave to submit a few hints to Congress.
It is that of Mr. Dumas, whose Character is so well known to Congress that I need
say nothing of it. He is a Man of Letters and of good Character: but he is not rich,
and his Allowance is too small at present for him to live with Decency. He has been
so long known here to have been in American Affairs altho' in no public Character
that I know of, but that of an Agent or Corre•
{ 50 } spondent appointed by Dr. Franklin or perhaps by a Committee of Congress, that, now
our Character is acknowledged, it will have an ill effect, if Mr. Dumas remains in
the Situation he has been in. To prevent it in some measure I have taken him and his
Family into this House:
1 but I think it is the Interest and Duty of America to send him a Commission as Secretary
to this Legation and Charge des Affaires, with a Salary of five hundred a Year sterling,
while a Minister is here, and at the Rate of a thousand a Year, while there is none.
2
There is another Gentleman whose indefatigable application to the affairs of the United
States, and whose faithfull Friendship to me, in sickness and in Health, demand of
me, by the Strongest Claims of Justice and of Gratitude, that I should mention him
to Congress, and recommend him to their favour.
3 This Gentleman is Mr Thaxter whose Merit in my opinion is greater, than I dare express.
4
Edmund Jenings Esqr. of Brussells has honoured me with his Correspondence and been
often serviceable to the United States, as well as friendly to me. His Manner and
Disposition are very amiable, and his Talents equal to any Service, and I cannot but
wish that it might be agreable to the Views of Congress to give him some Mark of their
Esteem.
How shall I mention another Gentleman, whose Name perhaps Congress never heard, but
who, in my opinion has done more decided and essential Service to the American Cause
and Reputation within these last eighteen Months, than any other Man in Europe.
It is Mr. A. M. Cerisier, beyond all Contradiction one of the greatest Historians
and political Writers in Europe, Author of the Tableau de l' Histoire des Provinces
Unies des Pays Bas, author of the Politique Hollandais and many other Writings in
high Esteem. By Birth a Frenchman, educated in the University of Paris, but possessed
of the most genuine Principles and Sentiments of Liberty, and exceedingly devoted
by Principle and Affection to the American Cause. Having read some of his Writings,
and heard much of his Fame I sought and obtained an Acquaintance with him, and have
furnished him with Intelligence and Information on American Affairs, and have introduced
him to the Acquaintance of all the Americans who have come to this Country, from whom
he has picked up a great deal of true Information about our Affairs and perhaps some
Mistakes. His Pen has erected a Monument to the American Cause more glorious and more
durable than Brass or Marble. His Writings have been read like Oracles and his Senti•
{ 51 } ments weekly echoed and re-echoed in Gazettes and Pamphlats both in French and Dutch
for fifteen Months. The greatest fault I know in him is his too zealous friendship
for me, which has led him to flatter me with Expressions, which will do him no honor,
however sincerely and disinterestedly they might flow from his Heart.
5
Congress must be very sensible, that I have had no Money to lay out in secret Services,
to pay Pensions, to put into the hands of Continental Agents, or in any other Way
to make Friends. I have had no Money but my Salary, and that has been never paid me
without Grudging.
6 If I have Friends in Europe, they have not most certainly been made by Power, nor
Money, nor any Species of Corruption, nor have they been made by making Promisses
or holding out alluring Hopes. I have made no Promisses nor am under any Obligation,
but that of private Friendship and simple Civility, to any Man, having mentioned such
as have been my Friends, because they have been Friends to the United States and I
have no other in Europe at least, and recommended them to the Attention of Congress,
as having rendered, important Services to our Country, and able to render still greater,
I have done my Duty, whatever Effect it may have. If some small part of those many
Millions, which have been wasted by the most worthless of Men, could have been applied
to the Support and Encouragement of Men of such great Value, it would have been much
better.
7 It is high time: it is more than time, that a proper Discernment of Spirits and Distinction
of Character were made: That Virtue should be more clearly distinguished from Vice,
Wisdom from Folly, Ability from Imbecility, and real Merit from proud imposing Impudence,
which, while it pretends to do every thing, does nothing but Mischief.
The Treaty of Commerce is under Consideration, and will not that I foresee meet with
any Obstacle.
I have the Honor to be,
8 with great Esteem and Respect, Sir your most obedient and most humble servant