To George Washington from the Batavian Republic, 3 May 1796
From the Batavian Republic
[The Hague, 3 May 1796]
To the President of the United States of America.
Since we have deemed it prudent for our service to recall the Citizen Peter Francis Van Berckel heretofore Resident with the United States of America, it has been our first care to choose a proper person to transact & execute our Business with you, and for which we could not appoint a more fit person than the Citizen R. G. Van Polanen, in whose qualifications for representing the same character with the U.S. of America we place the fullest confidence.1 We hope that you will be satisfied with him, especially as he will renew the assurances of the high esteem we feel for you and for the United States of America—and of our wish and desire to cultivate a close friendship and correspondence with you for the reciprocal benefit of our respective Governments.
We pray you will give the Citizen Van Polanen a favorable Audience, and give full credence to all his transactions done for us and in our name, as though done by ourselves. In which we shall think ourselves much obliged, and we shall endeavour to shew by every oppy how much we are inclined to render you and the United States every desirable service. With which we conclude, recommending you to the protection of Almighty God.
Done at the Hague the 3rd May 1796 the second year of Batavian Liberty &c.
(signed) D. C. De Leeuw ⟨Sc.⟩
Ter ordonnantie van Dezelve
F. v. Leyden2
Translation, DNA: RG 59, Communications from heads of foreign states, ceremonial letters; ALS, in Dutch, DNA: RG 59, Communications from heads of foreign states, ceremonial letters.
1. Roger Gerard Van Polanen (1757–1833) served as minister until recalled in 1802. For his official reception, see Timothy Pickering to GW, 29 Aug. 1796; see also Pickering’s second letter to GW, 21 July, n.3.
2. Daniel Cornelis de Leeuw (1747–1834), of Utrecht, was president of the National Assembly from 2 to 17 May 1796. The Dutch phrase could be translated as “by ordinance of him.” The translator, not surprisingly, did not know what to make of the second signature and just tried to draw what it looked like.
Frédéric Auguste van Leyden (1768–1821) was secretary of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly.