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Dumas to the American Commissioners, 19[-24] January 1779: résumé

Dumas to the American Commissioners2

ALS: American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief

<The Hague, January 19[-24], 1779, in French: The only thing that happened at the Assembly of Holland was the reading of the ambassador’s latest memorandum.3 I met five times today with the French ambassador and as often with our friend. January 20: The pensionaries of Amsterdam have expressed to the ambassador their hope that the other Dutch towns will not be deprived of the favors Amsterdam enjoys. The representatives of the other towns treat the Amsterdam representatives with much respect and seek their intercession. The new French regulations will be promulgated on January 26 unless the king receives the response he requests.4 January 21: The admiralty extends the granting of convoys (although excluding ships’ timbers), but not until crews have been assigned; this is just playing for time. The assembly has delayed everything until tomorrow. The Grand Facteur asked me to report on what I learned. January 22: The Grand Pensionary proposes delaying the resolution on convoys until the 26th; Amsterdam objects and Haarlem proposes amendments.5 January 23: The terms are still being debated; a messenger has been sent to Paris to obtain a delay of a week.6 January 24: I send this via Rotterdam to confuse curious gossipers. [P.S.]: Amsterdam declares it will stand firm.>

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2. Published in Taylor, Adams Papers, VII, 362–7.

3. See Dumas’ letter of Jan. 16–18.

4. The French regulations to go into effect on Jan. 26 are printed in the Annual Register for 1779, pp. 423–5.

5. Haarlem’s support for the French position eventually gained it the same privileges as Amsterdam and indicated France was winning support for its demand for unlimited convoys: Francis Piggot and G. W. T. Omond, Documentary History of the Armed Neutralities of 1780 and 1800 (London, 1919), pp. 109–10.

6. Extensions were granted by France, first to Feb. 8 and then to March 1: Taylor, Adams Papers, VII, 366–7n.

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    Franklin Papers
    Title
    Dumas to the American Commissioners, 19[-24] January 1779: résumé
    Author
    Dumas, Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric
    Recipients
    American Commissioners
    Franklin, Benjamin
    Lee, Arthur
    Adams, John
    Date
    19–24 January 1779

    Reference

    Cite as
    “Dumas to the American Commissioners, 19[-24] January 1779: résumé,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-28-02-0328. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 28, November 1, 1778, through February 28, 1779, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1990, pp. 396–397.]