[dateline] Amsterdam Decr. 19th. 1781
[salute] Madam
By the last Mails came the King's Speech, the Address of the two Houses in answer,
and the debates in Parliament. His most gracious Majesty is sorry, that the Americans
and French have catched one of his flying Generals with an Army, because the
Rectitude of his Cause entitled him to better luck. He tells his Parliament the Rebellion is
still fomented, and that his Subjects continue in that state of delusion, that the
Bravery of his fleets and Armies was to have removed seven Years agone. He seems to
be anxious about America, and wishes to bring them back to that happy state which
their former Obedience placed them in. Never mind it, my Lords and Gentlemen, to be
sure it has been rather a bad season for Us, and I am sorry for it, but next Year,
if You will keep the Purse full, I will rely with a firm Confidence upon the Assistance
of divine Providence, the Justice of my Cause, and the Bravery of my fleets and Armies,
and do great things. What solemn Mockery coupled with a most ridiculous Farce? This,
Madam, is the Language of a Monarch, who has had seven Years Experience of the most
pointed Indignation of Heaven against his despotic Projects; seven Years experience
of the Iniquity of his Cause, and an equal peri
[o]d of the most convincing proofs, that neither the Bravery or Skill of his fleets and
armies are adequate to the Task of subduing a People determined to assert the Rights
and Dignity of human Nature, and to be free. Yet with this Torrent of Evidence, he
means to go on, as if abandoned by that Providence on which he affects to rely. He
is now flattering his People with the Epithets of “brave and free.” America will hear
much of large Armies — perhaps 20 or 25,000 men—large fleets &c. &c. being to be sent
out next Spring by England. But these Men are all to be raised by the way, which will
take six or seven Years at least. They cannot fit out a larger fleet than last Year:
and this Fleet must be divided in proportion to their Objects and Number of Places
to guard and relieve, which have increased much. In the debates of Parliament their
fleet is stated to be only seventy nine Ships of the Line—this is not contradicted.
France alone has seventy-one, Spain near sixty, and Holland between twenty and thirty.
The fleet of England is not in general well manned—many of their ships very old—their
standing Army is very small. Supposing the whole regular Army of the three Kingdoms
were sent out, it would not replace the losses they sustained last Year in America,
the West Indies &c. Altho' We need be
{ 269 } under no apprehension at all of any force they can send out next Spring, (which cannot
but be small) yet We ought not to relax in the least in our Exertions by Sea and Land,
and more especially by Sea; for these Gentry have been so buffetted in this War, so
baffled and disappointed in their Expectations, that they will never make Peace 'till
they can no longer make War. Commerce is the Heart of the Kingdom, and Blood drawn
from this Source will create sensations that will bring them at least to Reflection.
Nothing like Privateering for this purpose.
I have become acquainted with an amiable Circle of Ladies in this City. I pay my Respects
to them now and then, for the pleasure of their good Company, an improvement in the
French Language, and to divert a little Gloom and Melancholy, which this horrible
Climate casts over me at times. Three or four of them are handsome, and the rest very
agreable, but make no pretensions to Beauty. I find much formality and Ceremony in
families that are most intimate, which gives an appearance of an introduction to their
most familiar Visits. However they are very sociable and one finds a display of good
humour in their Company. The Ladies always salute each other upon entering and parting
when they make Visits: And where I dared, I have endeavoured to introduce the practice
of Gentlemen's (as far as respected me) making Use of the same feeling Expression
of Respect towards the Ladies.
[salute] Much Duty and Love where due. I have the honor to be, with the most perfect Esteem
& Respect, Madam, your most humble Servant,
[signed] North Common