vigilance it is from this persua. sion I appear in the assembly of your High Mightinesses, to represent to you, that, seeing your ear nest and repeated efforts to induce the provinces of Holland and West Friseland, of Zealand, and of Frise land, to agree to the proposed augmentation of the land forces, and equipment of a fleet, have been ineffectual, your High Mightinesses will be pleased to consider of a way to put an end to this affair; and the sooner the better; in order, on one hand, to satisfy the strong and well-grounded instances of the pro: vinces of Guelders, Utrecht, Overyssel, and Groningen; and on the other, to comply with the ardent just desire of the commercial inhabi tants of this country; who, though I had informed them of the nego tiation between Great Britain and your High Mightinesses, to accom: modate the differences that have arisen, and of my own assiduity to forward an equitable accommoda. tion, and of the consequences of the steps I thought it my duty to take, have, nevertheless, sent me a deputation, for the fourth time, to insist on a very considerable augmentation of the naval forces of the statė,

the whole to the sound and penétrating judgment of your High Mightinesses, who may also see by that speech, that it is more than time to finish the deliberations on the motion for augmenting our forces both by sea and land, on which I have always insisted with the greatest earnestness; as without it, I am convinced in my conscience, the state is, and will always re. main exposed to all sorts of misfor. tunes and dangers, both now and hereafter."

In consequence of this speech, the States-General sent the same day the following letter to the states of Holland and West Frise, land:

"Noble and mighty lords,

"The Princess-gouvernante hav, ing come to our assembly this morning, in consequence of a deputa. tion of the merchants who had waited on her a few days before, to insist on a considerable aug mentation of our naval forces, her Royal Highness again represented to us the urgent necessity of coming to a determination, both with regard to the augmentation proposed by land, and with regard to an equipment by sea; points upon which her Royal Highness has always most earnestly insisted; and without which the state is, and will remain exposed to all sorts of misfortunes and dangers, both at present and for the future:

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We thought proper to send a copy of the said proposition to your Noble Mightinesses, and also to the states of the provinces of Zealand and Friseland; and at the samen time to represent to you, that it is now time, if ever, to consider seriously.. of those two points as soon as possibles and

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carry them into effect by a salutary and unanimous resolution. It would be both superfluous and tiresome again to point out to your Noble Mightinesses, the dangerous situa tion of the republic from the war which had been kindled and rages all over Europe, and which hath spread to the very frontiers of this state: nor is there the smallest prospect of seeing it extinguished next year, as we are informed from all sides, that the principal powers cons cerned are taking all the necessary measures for making it rage next campaign, with greater fury, if possible, than ever.

"Every one, who considers how uncertain the consequences of a war between powerful neighbours may be to a state surrounded on all sides by foreign troops, must allow, that it were greatly to be wished the republic were in a proper posture of defence whilst the war is on its frontiers. All who know that the happiness of our country de. pends upon the safety of trade, must be equally convinced, that an armament by sea is absolutely necessary in this critical eonjuncture, when our navigation is disturbed in a manner unheard of; and that the neglect of our naval forces at this time, would be wholly unjustifiable. We have always con. sidered the zealous efforts of your Noble Mightinesses, from time to time, to induce your confederates to consent to this armament, as highly reasonable; and as far as in as lay, we always endeavoured to second them.

"Nor can we disapprove of the step taken by the merchants in carrying their complaints on this head where they ought to be car fied, when it is done in a proper

and decent manner but as it is the duty of wise and faithful rulers to extend their care not only to a part of the subjects, but also to all in general; and as the principal aim of a sovereign ought to be, on one side, to watch over the happiness of his subjects, and on the other, to protect them against all violence from without, we think that in such a situation as that of the republic at present, an aug mentation of the troops of the state, for the defence of the frontiers, is unavoidable, as well as an equipment by sea for the security of trade; and that they ought to go hand in hand. The states of the provinces of Guelders, Utrecht, Overyssel, and Groningen, join with her Royal Highness and us in the same opinion, and accordingly have always insisted, by divers letters and propositions, on those two points so essential to the public interest.

"We doubt not but the said states will explain themselves to your Noble Mightinesses on this head, and at the same time signify their readi. ness to interest themselves in the welfare of the trading inhabitants; in case your Noble Mightinesses will also effectually provide for the safety of their inhabitants.

"When we reflect, that not only the interest of the republic in general requires that it be put in a proper state of defence both by sea and land, but that we can see no way of determining this mat. ter, unless, by a reciprocal indul gence, one of the confederates comply with the sentiments of the other, we leave your Noble Mightinesses to judge, whether by a longer delay in coming to a conclusion both with regard to the augmentation of the land forces

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and the equipment of a fleet, room will not be given for a schism and dangerous division among the confederates, the consequences of which would be very deplorable, while the republic in the mean time will remain in a defenceless state, both by sea and land, and depend upon the arbitrary power of its neighbours..

We therefore most earnestly entreat your Noble Mightinesses, as you value the safety of the country, and all that is dear to you, as you regard the protection of the good inhabitants, and as you value the concord and good harmony which at all times, but especially in the present danger, is of the last ne cessity, that you will seriously reflect upon the exhortations of her Royal Highness, and on the in, stances of the majority of the confederates, and take a wise and salutary resolution with regard to the proposed auginentation of the land forces; so that this augmenta tion, together with an equipment by sea, may, the sooner the better, be unanimously brought to a conclusion.

"Thus concluding, Noble and Mighty Lords, we pray God Al. mighty to keep your Mightinesses in his holy protection, &c. &c." Hague, Nov. 7.

A deputation of the most emi nent merchants of Amsterdam arrived here; and after visiting the pensionary and the president of the week, waited on her Royal Highness the Princess-regent, to whom they delivered the following memorial:

"The merchants of this pro. vince, who have the honour to obtain an audience of your Royal Highness for the third time, find themselves obliged to renew their

complaint of the great damage which their vessels and cargoes continue to suffer by the English.. The deputies therefore take the liberties to put your Royal Highness in mind, that the first time that their confidence in your Highness's equity led them to have recourse to you, their principals, who have the justest ground of complaint, foresaw at that time the total ruin of our navigation and com. merce that, on that account, your Royal Highness a graciously... promised powerfully to support their just complaints in the assem biy of the States-General, and even. to make remonstrances in your own name to the British court, pro vided the losses were properly attested that the merchants of: the province immediately drew up: 2 a list of the vessels that had been carried either into the ports. of Great Britain, or those of her colonies, with an estimate of the value of the cargoes, and a de tail of the enormous robberies.. committed by English privateers: on board those vessels; the whole accompanied with original and credible attestations that, not content with having respectfully delivered those incontestible proofs to their High Mightinesses, and to: your Royal Highness in private, the body of merchants took the liberty to present in writing, and verbally, how much it imported the welfare of the provinces, to take proper.. measures for putting an end to such unjust depredations, and fort obtaining reparation for so great: losses: that in the second audi ence which your Royal Highnessi was pleased to give them, upon : fresh complaints, your Royal High ness declared, that the subsequent

damage

damage exceeded what you could have believed that your Royal Highness, in your astonishment, added, in terms full of cordial af. fection, that if things should continue as they were, your dear country, in whose welfare you took so much concern, having adopted it alone for your country, would be ruined: that you would employ your utmost endeavours to obtain reparation of past losses, and would immediately take such means for that end, as should be consistent with the honour of the republic, and the advantage of commerce, which should always have your protection; and that you would justify the sin cerity of your promises by facts.

"That the deputies on their return home, made a report of the success of their commission to their principals, who were equally pleased, and certain of seeing the face of affairs soon changed; but their joy and expectation is turned into bit. terness, which is the more sensibly felt, as they now again find them. selves under a necessity of importuning your Royal Highness for the third time, by exhibiting a list of seventy of their ships taken by the English since that time, amounting to near thirteen millions of florins; that these vessels have been condemned, some in the three kingdoms, others in the British colo. nies, and elsewhere, under the most frivolous pretences, in contempt of all law, contrary to justice and reason, as well as the treaties in force between the two nations: that being informed an accommodation was negotiating with the British ministry, the body of mer chants Aattered themselves they should obtain by this treaty, an in demnification of their great losses;

but that not one merchant had as・ yet reaped the smallest fruit from this negotiation.

"That with grief they behold their hopes of protection diminish daily rather than increase : that it is to be feared the evil will grow worse and worse, and rise to the utmost height: that several ships of war, which have returned to the ports of the republic from their voyages, have been disarmed and laid up without being replaced by others: that it is evident to a demonstration, that the aforesaid ilicit practices must give a mortal blow to commerce in general, and to our country in particular that thousands of per. sons who were possessed of great wealth, or in easy circumstances, are thereby fallen to decay and if a speedy remedy be not applied, not only eminent merchants, but swarms of retail traders, will infallibly be ruined: that by this decay of trade many hundred me. chanics are deprived of work, particularly those employed in the silk way, in sugar-houses, dying, &c. who consequently languish inidleness.

"That at present (and what will it be in the middle of winter ?) a great number of creditable tradesmen are forced to subsist on the charity of their respective companies, and of the hospitals: that the number of these necessitous people increases daily, whilst the revenues of the charitable founda tions decrease, because they are obliged to give alms to such num bers, and because they are deprived of the contributions they used to receive in better times: that it is natural for every one, who foresees a threatening loss, to attend

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father to his own preservation, than to the assistance of those whose unhappy lot has rendered them objects of compassion: that frugality, thus prevailing over libera lity, people continue to feel the misfortunes of others, but are little disposed to give them any relief: that, considering on one hand all these disasters, and on the other the Welfare of commerce and of their country, the body of merchants have thought it their duty again to represent to your Royal High ness, that if redress doth not soon succeed to their complaints, it is to be feared, that in case the ships expected home should be taken like the others, want of means will force the merchants to give up

trade

"For these reasons, being per suaded of your Royal Highness's clemency, they presume to claim the performance of the promises you were pleased to make them at their second audience; promises so agreeable, so full of tenderness and regard, and so much confided in by them, that they still expect to feel the effects of them. Accordingly, they most humbly supplicate your Royal Highness to be graciously pleased to concur in the necessary measures for saving the commercial subjects of the republic from a calamity that is arrived at its utmost period; and to consider, that, if the restitution of the ships and cargoes be delayed, the one will go to decay, and the other be spoilt. They moreover conjure your Royal Highness to interpose your good offices > in such a manner, that the English nation may make good the immense losses they have suffered, and abstain from doing their farther damage,

to the hazard of totally ruining the republic.

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"The merchants éannot forbear laying before your Royal Highness the firm resolution taken by his highness the late Prince of Orange, your illustrious husband, of most laudable me mory, to employ, had Heaven been pleased to prolong his days; every method to restore the trade which these provinces carry on by Hamburg, to its former flou rishing state. They most humbly recommend to your Royal High ness this branch of trade which hath cost them such heavy impositions during so many years, and of which they will be able to continue the payment, when by the interposition of your Royal Highness, they shall be so happy as to enjoy her protection in this respect, which is not more necessary than ardently desired. If that should fail, the merchants must declare upon their honour, that the commerce of these pro vinces in general will be at an end; and that, notwithstanding their zeal for the welfare of the commonwealth, they will bé unable to pay taxes much less ne cessary.

"

"To these humble supplications, the merchants add the most sincere prayers for the prosperity of yourRoyal Highness's family, whom moreover they request to preserve their common rights and liberties, purchased at so dear a rate, and to maintain them against those who seek to make the republic suffer.

They write from Holland, that the Princess-gouvernante, when she went to the assembly of the States, general, and delivered the famous

me