Part 33 (1/2)
_Extract of the Resolutions of the Lords, the States of Holland and West Friesland, taken in the a.s.sembly of their n.o.ble and Grand Mightinesses._
Thursday, March 28th, 1782.
”Deliberated by resumption upon the address and the ulterior address of Mr. Adams, made the 4th of May, 1781, and the 9th of January, 1782, to the President of the States-General, communicated to the a.s.sembly, the 9th of May, 1781, and the 22d of last month, to present his letters of credence, in the name of the United States of America, to their High Mightinesses, by which ulterior address the said Mr. Adams has demanded a categorical answer, that he may acquaint his const.i.tuents thereof; deliberated also upon the pet.i.tions of a great number of merchants, manufacturers and others, inhabitants of this Province interested in commerce, to support their request presented to the States-General the 20th current, to the end that efficacious measures might be taken to establish a commerce between this country and North America, copies of which pet.i.tions have been given to the members the 21st; and it has been thought fit, and resolved, that the affairs shall be directed, on the part of their n.o.ble and Grand Mightinesses, at the a.s.sembly of the States-General, and there shall be there made the strongest instances that Mr. Adams be admitted and acknowledged, as soon as possible, by their High Mightinesses in quality of Envoy of the United States of America. And the Counsellor-Pensionary has been charged to inform, under his hand, the said Mr. Adams of this Resolution of their n.o.ble and Grand Mightinesses.”
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ZEALAND.
_Extract of the Resolutions of their High Mightinesses, the States-General of the United Provinces._
Monday, April 8th, 1782.
”The Deputies of the Province of Zealand have brought to the a.s.sembly and caused to be read there the Resolution of the States of the said Province, their princ.i.p.als, to cause to be admitted as soon as possible, Mr. Adams, in quality of Envoy of the Congress of North America in the following terms:
_Extract from the Register of the Resolutions of the Lords, the (p. 060) States of Zealand._
April 4th, 1782.
”It has been thought fit and ordered, that the gentlemen, the Ordinary Deputies of this Province at the generality, shall be convoked and authorized, as it is done by the present, to a.s.sist in the direction of affairs at the a.s.sembly of their High Mightinesses, in such a manner that Mr. Adams may be acknowledged as soon as possible as Envoy of the Congress of North America; that the letters of credence be accepted, and that he be admitted in that quality according to the ordinary form, enjoining further upon the said Lords, the Ordinary Deputies, to take such propositions as should be made to this Republic, by the said Mr.
Adams, for the information and the deliberation of their High Mightinesses, to the end to transmit them here as soon as possible. And an extract of this resolution of their n.o.ble Mightinesses shall be sent to the gentlemen, their Ordinary Deputies, to serve them as an instruction.
J. M. CHALMERS.”
”Upon which, having deliberated, it has been thought fit and resolved to pray, by the present, the gentlemen, the Deputies of the Provinces of Guelderland, Utrecht, and Groningen, and Ommelanden, who have not as yet explained themselves upon this subject, to be pleased to do it, as soon as possible.”
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OVERYSSEL.
_Extract from the Register of the Resolutions of the Equestrian Order, and of the cities composing the States Overyssel._
Zwoll, 5th of April, 1782.
”The grand Bailiff de Sallande, and the other commissions of their n.o.ble Mightinesses for the affairs of finance, having examined, conformably to their commissarial resolution of the 3d of this month, the addresses of Mr. Adams, communicated to the a.s.sembly the 4th of May, 1781, and the 22d of February, 1782, to present his letters of credence to their High Mightinesses, in the name of the United States of North America; as well as the resolution of the Lords, the States of Holland and West Friesland, dated the 28th of March, 1782, carried the 29th of the same month to the a.s.sembly of their High Mightinesses, for the admission and acknowledgment of Mr. Adams, have reported to the a.s.sembly, that they should be of opinion that the gentlemen, the Deputies of this Province in the States-General, ought to be authorized and charged to declare in the a.s.sembly of their High Mightinesses, that the Equestrian Order and the cities' Judge, that it is proper to acknowledge, as soon as possible, Mr. Adams, in quality of Minister of the United States of North America, to their High Mightinesses. Upon which, having deliberated, the Equestrian Order and the cities have conformed themselves to the said report.
”Compared with the aforesaid Register.
Derk DUMBAR.”
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GRONINGEN. (p. 061)
_Extract from the Register of the Resolutions of their n.o.ble Mightinesses, the States of Groningen and Ommelanden._
Tuesday, 9th of April, 1782.
”The Lords, the States of Groningen and Ommelanden, having heard the report of the gentlemen, the Commissioners for the Pet.i.tions of the Council of State and the Finances of the Province, and having carefully examined the demand of Mr. Adams, to present his letters of credence from the United States of North America, to their High Mightinesses, have, after deliberation upon the subject, declared themselves of opinion that in the critical circ.u.mstances in which the Republic finds itself at present, it is proper to take, without loss of time, such efficacious measures as may not only repair the losses and damages that the kingdom of Great Britain has caused, in a manner so unjust, and against every shadow of right, to the commerce of the Republic, as well before as after the war, but particularly such as may establish the free navigation and the commerce of the Republic, for the future, upon the most solid foundations, as may confirm and re-a.s.sure it by the strongest bonds of reciprocal interest, and that, in consequence, the gentlemen, the Deputies at the a.s.sembly of their High Mightinesses, ought to be authorized on the part of the Province, as they are by the present, to admit Mr. Adams to present his letters of credence from the United States of North America, and to receive the propositions which he shall make, to make report of them to the Lords, the States of this Province.
E. LEWE, _Secretary_.”
”The States-General, having deliberated the same day upon this resolution, have _Resolved_, 'That the Deputies of the Province of Guelderland, which has not yet declared itself upon the same subject, should be requested to be pleased to do it as soon as possible.'”
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