To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 4 December 1779
From Dumas
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Alliance, Texel-road Dec. 4th. 1779.
This, Sir, will serve you as an instance of some of our transactions here.5 I keep with me the Original, set by myself in Dutch, which will serve me, when the Ship will be gone, to concert with our friend, a complaint against the present Commander of this road, for having exceded both the intention & terms of the last resolution.— May but heaven send us soon a fair wind for going out! then all will end well. Ever dear & honoured Sir again yr. very humble & obedient servant
Dumas
Notation: Dumas Decr. 4. 1779
5. Dumas enclosed two copies in his own hand of an English translation of a statement by Harmen Flens, the Dutch pilot aboard the Alliance. Flens certified that on Nov. 28 Vice Admiral Reynst had ordered the Alliance “to go to sea at a time when the wind & weather rendered the departure of any ship from this road to sea not only dangerous but absolutely impossible.” Dumas also enclosed his own statement that he had delivered the Dutch original of this document to Pensionary of Amsterdam van Berckel. Reynst had been confounded by the transfer of the remainder of the squadron to French colors: Schulte Nordholt, Dutch Republic, p. 86.