1. For the British declaration of war on the Netherlands in December 1780, see Elias Dayton to GW, 18 March 1781, n.1.

2. Diriks had written Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, from Philadelphia on 17 May: “Having an opportunity to depart with my Family to Eúrope in a few days, I most Humbly request the Honorable the Congress to Settle and regulate my affairs this day, as represented by my last petition, for which I shall ever retain the greatest gratitude, and Will Capacitate me to the glory of serving america, in my Country” (DNA:PCC, item 78). Congress concluded on the same date that the new arrangement of the Continental army left no place for Diriks, who formerly had served as captain in the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment and 4th Continental Artillery Regiment and as a deputy quartermaster general with the rank of lieutenant colonel, “and that the Board of Treasury take order for the payment of the balance that shall be found due to him, together with a sum equal to one year’s pay; and that from henceforward he be no longer entitled to pay and subsistance” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 20:514–15; see also General Orders, 1 Nov. 1780; Diriks to GW, 9 Feb. 1781, and n.5 to that document; and JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 20:486–87).

3. An item headed “NEWPORT, June 2” appeared in The Newport Mercury for the same date (Saturday): “Last Tuesday arrived here from Philadelphia the Hermione and Ariel frigates.”

4. Dutch merchant Gosuinus Erkelens favored American independence, as did his brother-in-law Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol. Erkelens moved in prominent circles (see Capellen tot den Pol to Benjamin Franklin, 6 Sept.–after 14 Dec. 1778, and John Jay to Franklin, 3 Jan. 1779, in Franklin Papers description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin. 42 vols. to date. New Haven, 1959–. description ends , 27:366–70 and 28:334–35). He later sought compensation for his activities to support the United States during the Revolutionary War. Erkelens evidently died between the presentation of a petition in early 1791 and a report on his appeal in early 1794 (see Alexander Hamilton’s reports, 2 March 1791 and 27 Feb.–3 March 1794, in Hamilton Papers description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds. The Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York, 1961–87. description ends , 8:157–58 and 16:68–69).

5. Diriks returned to the United States and unsuccessfully requested a recommendation from GW (see Diriks to GW, 24 Jan. 1785, and GW to Diriks, 15 March, in Papers, Confederation Series description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1992–97. description ends , 2:285–86, 435–36).