GEORGE R

liETTKE DCLXXXVI.

Copie d'une lettre de Holdernesse à Yorke. Exposé des droits de l'Angleterre par rapport au traité de 1674.

Whitehall Novemb. 28 1758.

SirI

You will hâve learnt by some of my late dispatches His Majesty's intentions of directing his servants to deliberate, in the most serious and attentive mannei*, upon the questions now in litigation between

1758. Novembre.] — 574 —

His Majesty and the States General, and to take into their considération the varions objects of complaint that are made by the Dutch merchants, and to report an opinion to His Majesty, what can be done to bring thèse disputes to an amicable décision consistently with the laws now in being and with what His Majesty owes to his own subjects during the war His Majesty is engaged in with the most Christian King. Accordingly those of His Majesty's servants, to whora this important affair has been referred, hâve met more than once. But before I acquaint you with the resuit of their délibérations, it is necessary for me to acquaint you with the grounds upon which they hâve procecded, and to recapitulate what has passed between His Majesty and the States Generaal, since hostilitys commenced with France, and to explain the progress of the several complaints of the Dutch from their beginning to the présent time.

When the minds of men are actuated by passion and interest, when their préjudices are encreased and their passions irritated by faction, and when the most delusive arts are used to inflame their temper and misguide their judgment, there is but little room to hope that reason and argument will take place. And this is but too true a description of the présent situation of the Dutch; the artifice of our ennemy, the aversion the Amsterdammers hâve at ail times shewn to the Stadholders government, the use they mean to draw, in favour of their political principles, from disputes or even from a rupture with England; the partiality which the anti-Stadholderian party has always had in favour of France, are the true sources of the asperity which manifeste it self in the complaints that are made, and are the motives which hâve dictât ed those strong expressions, contained in the

— 575 — [1758. Novembre.

resolutions of the States, which hâve been communicated to you in forra and which are the foundation of M'". Hop's memorials, in which they insist in the raost peremptory manner upon the full exécution of the treaty of 1674, but remain totally silent as to their engagements with His Majesty, tho* formally reclaimed by the mémorial you presented in August 1756 and which remains unanswered and untaken notice of to this day, while one of the great complaints of the Dutch is the silence observed by England upon their représentations. But before any answer in writing is returned to the States General, His Majesty is still willing to try whether négociation can yet adjust thèse matters, being averse to suffering things to come to extremity, if it can be avoided; and an answer, were it now given, must be such as would be displeasing to the Dutch, unless the King was to départ from what makes the strength of the question on our side.

Upon the first breaking out of hostilitys between His Majesty and the French, several Dutch ships, loaded with naval stores, were detained, but in order to leave no room for complaint, a reasonable price was given for them; and much the greatest part, if not ail the merchants concerned in that transaction, were contented.

This point made the object of the first complaints and was fully explained in my letter to M'^ Hop of the 12^^ Oct. 1756 in answer to his mémorial of Aug^ 26^^, and the argument of that letter seems to hâve had weight, as very few complaints hâve occurred since. But in order to state the gênerai question between His Majesty and the States General, I must refer you to my correspondance in the year 1756, and you will remember that the turn of my dispatches

1768. Novembre.] — 576

of that year was to shew to you, that ail the treaties, subsisting between His Majesty and the States, were equally binding to the contracting [parties] , and that His Majesty had as much right to reclaim the exécution of the treaty of 1678 and the subséquent défensive engagements entered into by the two nations, as the Dutch hâve to that of 1674, and that, as the exécution of mutual engagements must be reciprocal, His Majesty would hâve a right to annul the treaty of 1674, if the conditions of the other treaties subsisting with His Majesty are not fulfilled by the States. It was with this view you was directed to présent a mémorial to the States General, which was accordingly given in on the 2^ of Aug. 1756. And at the same time, His Majesty gave orders that ail the Dutch ships, that were detained, should be forthwith released and that the Dutch should enjoy, in it 's full extent, the treaty of 1674 during the time allowed by that of 1678 for the good offices the Dutch might employ previous to their joint déclaration of war against His Majesty's enemys. And the convention of 1716 explains what the casus foederis is to be in too clear a light to admitt of any doubt and in ail my letters to you, as well as in my conversations with M*^ Hop, it was set down as a rule that, at the expiration of the two months, His Majesty would hâve an undoubted right to annul the treaty of 1674.

The déclaration of war against His Majesty's ennemies would hâve of it self putt an end to the question, or if the treaty of 1678 remained unexecuted, that of 1674 was of course annulled; and tho' His Majesty out of friendship to the States General has not yet rigourously exerted his right, yet the right it self is neither impeached nor impaired by this friendly delay, but re mains entire to His Majesty to

577 — tl''58. Novembre.

be executed, whenever the necessity of His Majesty's affairs shall require it. But this part of the question has been totally laid aside in ail the représentations from Holland. They are as clamorous for the full exécution of the treaty whatsoever existed with His Majesty, or as if they, on their part, had faithfully complyed with their engagements towards the King, and not only that, but they attempt to torture the words of the treaty of 1674 into meanings that it never can be supposed to hâve had, by including under the sanction of it the illicit trade they carry on with the Freuch Colonies in America.

Then the case has stood, since the two months allowed by treaty was elapsed, after the réquisition made by His Majesty for the exécution of the treaty of 1678. The States General ought to hâve been sensible of His Majesty's modération in offering to listen to such terms as their High Mightinesses might offer as a succedaneum to the treaty of 1674, the benefits of which they had forfeited. But hitherto in a course of above two years nothing has been suggested on the part of the States, except by that loose paper contained in your letter of August 27*-^ uuder the title of idées sur ce qui pourroit tendre à procurer un arrangement, which asks every thing and grants nothing and is drawn upon the supposition that the States General must remain in possession of their rights in the fullest extent, notwithstanding the breach of ail their other engagements towards this nation, and as to what relates to the trade to the American Colonies, to which undoubtedly they are not entitled by the treaty of 1674, it is stated as a concession on the part of the Dutch, that hints would be privately given to their merchants, not to continue this illicit practice,

4e Série. lU. 87

it68. Novembre.] — 578 —

provided restitution was made of such ships as had already been detained upon that account; so that, according to the doctrine of that paper, His Majesty must give up the question by delivering up the ships already taken for carrying on that unwarrantable practice, and dépend for the future — uponwhat?Not upon an act of State; not even upon an avowed transaction; but upon an insinuation privately given, and which it would hâve been in the breast of every trader to hâve complied with or not, as suited his inclination or his interest.

It was necessary to say thus much to you, to clear my way of one great point, viz. His Majesty*s right to annul the treaty of 1674, the Dutch not having complyed with that of 1678, tho' it is has been f ormally required by the King ; and it is His Majesty's express command, that you should upon no account whatsoever take any step, which can in the least derogate from this right; but, at the same time, you may acquaint the Princess Royal and the Dutch Ministers, that His Majesty will not vigourously adhère to his right, if the very moderate terms thrown out in this letter are complied with and faithfully executed and looked upon as a proof of the King's modération and constant friendship for the Republick, and that in conséquence thereof the Dutch will consent, no longer to carry on openly and clandestinely a trade to, or from the French American [Colonies], nor transship goods from French bottoms in order to continue their voyage; as likewise consent to comprehend such sorts of naval stores, as peculiarly serve for building or repalring ships of war, within the enumeration of contraband. In such case His Majesty might be induced to leave the Dutch the benefit of the marine-treaty, the carrying on commerce with the

— 579 — [1768. Novembre.

French American settlements not being to be understood to be comprehended within the sensé and meaning of it.

There are, indeed, some parts of the Dutch complaints, which His Majesty truely laments and will endeavour by ail légal methods to correct, I mean where privateers act irregularly and contrary to their instructions, or, what is worse, unjustly or piratically, by robbing or plundering what they cannot make prize of. And the Dutch merchants could do no greater pleasure to the King than by enabling His Majesty to trace such offenders and bring them to justice by giving regular viva voce évidence against them, without which, as you know, it is the happyness of this country that no man can be punished. But it is very extraordinary, considering the numberless complaints that are made upon this head, no merchant or master of a Dutch vessel should hâve yet thought it worth while to prosecute in person such heinous offenders, as some of our privateers are represented to be; the more so, as the greatest part of thèse violent proceedings are supposed to hâve happened within the Ghannel , where such numbers of His Majesty*s ships are constantly cruizing and who would not hâve failed, upon proper application, to hâve used their endeavours to bring such offenders to justice. As an instance of which you may hâve heard, that upon a complaint, made some time ago to admirai Smith, he seized and committed to prison some persons, who were accused of acting in this illégal manner; but for want of évidence upon both they were soon afterwards discharged upon bail, and the charge not being maintained the prosecution was necessarily dropt.

In like manner the complaints, that are raised against the dilatory and expensive proceedings of the

1768. Novembre.] — 580

inferior courts of Admiralty, are only to be rectified by the court of appeals who can, and would,controul the inferior courts, if any irregularity or injustice in their proceedings could be made appear; and if it is too troublesome or too expensive for private persons to prosecute criminally, or to follow an appeal to the lords commissioners , surely it might hâve been worth while for the States General themselves to hâve incurred so small a charge, before they had taxed the justice of the whole nation as they hâve done in their resolutions, which the violence of partyrage bas dictated, and which will still exert itself to frustrate every healing measure; and we are at présent so widely distant from each other in our pretensions, that it seems highly necessary that the first step taken should be to accustom the people in Holland to look upon this point in it 's true light , to see the wrongs they are doing to His Majesty, that they hâve forfeited their pretensions to the treaty of 1674, and that every moderate step on the side of His Majesty beyond what the law of nations allows, is a degree of departure from His own right.

But there still reraains one point which will, I fear, of ail others be the most difficult to adjust to mutual satisfaction, I mean the necessity of a stricter examination of the good faith of the Dutch navigator than is consistent with the littéral sensé of the treaty of 1674 or with the présent pretensions of the Dutch; and it is much to be lamented, that the various deceits, which some of the Dutch traders hâve put in practice, should make a rigourous examination absolutely necessary, tho' perhaps to the détriment of the fair trader; and yet necessary as it is that the Dutch ships should be subject to Visitation, and even to be brought into port for examination,

where there are strong suspicions of fraud, yet the moment you come to touch upon this topick, it will be treated by our adversaries in Holland as a proof of our intention to annoy every branch of the Dutch commerce, though, at the same time, no régulation whatsoever that can be made is to be depended on, unless a vérification of the voyage and cargoe of a ship is, somehow or other, obtained. But as this is the most délicate part of your commission, His Majesty thinks it most adviseable that you should not speak it out at once, as it will, of it self, come upon the carpet, when ever it shall be discussed in what manner the King may be assured, that the forms agreed upon with the States can be faithfully executed ....

HOLDERNESSR.

LETTRE BCI.XXXT1I.

Copie d'une lettre de Holdernesse à Yorke. On désire sérieusement un arrangement avec la République, mais on n'abandonnera pas les points nommés dans la lettre précédente.

Whitehall Nov. 28 1758.

Sir!

His Majesty and ail his servants hâve the success of the négociation you are charged with, for adjusting the unhappy disputes with the States General, so much at heart, that the King will be very impatient to hear from you, in conséquence of the letters of this date. The question is now reduced into a smaller compass than it has hitherto been, and the points insisted on are clearly to be understood and will, it

1768. Novembre.] 582 —

is to be hoped, be quietly decided, as, according to the ténor of your late letters, there is a disposition in Holland to bring matters to an amicable conclusion, and I can truely assure you that the same intentions are very sincère on this side. It was necessary to assert His Majesty's right to annul the treaty of 1674, but His Majesty only means to assert it without intending to carry it into exécution, if it can be avoided. You, that réside in Holland, hear but one side of the question and are only witness to the animosity thèse disputes occasion there; at the same time it is but too true that the resentment against the Dutch for their partial proceedings and fraudulent practices is very great upon the change of London, and begins to spread it self universally; so that, in every light whatsoever, it is highly to be wished that this troublesome affair were happily and speedily ended; and it is with this view His Majesty hasgone as far as possible towards an accommodation. But I should flatter you, if I gave you any hopes that any of the points in question can be receded from.

HOLDERNESSE

LETTRE DCIiXXXTIII.

La, Gouvernante à Yorke. Les ordres du gouvernement anglais la mettent au désespoir; prière de demander des ordres plus favorables.

Hague Dec. 5*^ 1758.

As nothing ever gave me more pleasure than the letter the King had the goodness to write to me, so I must own nothing ever hurt me more than the papers you received from the office, as I find them

583 [ilbS. Décembre.

alone proper to create disputes instead of soothing animosities. You know as well as me, my good Yorke, what unreasonable people we hâve to do with and that next week ail our enemys will be in aray, expecting to take fire, if there is not some hope of redress offered '); I own I see nothing hitherto that can serve to that purpose and therefore must beg of you to represent in the strongest manner possible to the King and the most intimate of his council, that not only my authority, but the good old protestant [cause] and the union of the puissances maritimes will be quite forgot and that I shall think my self very misérable to be an eye-witness to so much bad without being able to prevent it. Be so good as to try to hâve some more favourable orders, and let us not corne forth without at least carrying some tires and making the most honest of our traders help us against the others. My heart is so full, I could not help writing you my mind and I hope you will forgive me, being always your sincère friend

ANNE

liETTRE D€IiXXXIX.

Louis de Brunsvic à W. Bentinck. Rapport de ce qui s'est passé entre lui et la Gouvernante au sujet des lettres du gouvernement anglais à Yorke.

Ce 5 Décembre 1758, le soir à 8 heures.

Monsieur !

J'approuve très fort l'idée que vous avés. Monsieur, d'écrire au Duc de Newcastle, et je renvoyé

') La semaine prochaine les Etats de Hollande s'assembleraient de nouveau.

1768. Décembre.] — 584 —

ci-joint, avec bien des remercimens, la lettre^) que vous avés minutée et que vous avés bien voulu me communiquer. J' applaudi d'autant plus à cette mesure, que j'ai trouvé que cela cadre avec la démarche que Madame la Princesse vient de faire. En vous la mandant, j'aurai l'honneur de vous dire tout ce qui est venu à ma connoissance depuis que nous ne nous sommes vu.

Larrey est venu chés moi à 2 heures. Il venoit de chés Madame la Princesse. Il m'a dit, qu'avant que de se rendre à la Cour, il avoit eu la visite du Président ^) qui venoit de chés Madame la Princesse, laquelle avoit dit au Président en gros ce que M^ Yorke avoit reçu de Londres; que le Président avoit fait de grandes plaintes et exclamations contre la conduite de l'Angleterre, en disant que de cette façon il n'y avoit rien à faire et avoit même refusé de lire les pièces que Larrey avoit traduites; qu'à la fin il s'étoit pourtant laissé persuader de les prendre avec lui; que le Président avoit dit à Larrey que S. A. R. étoit fort impatiente à voir Larrey, et qu'elle étoit fort fâchée de n'avoir pas entendu parler de lui depuis hier au soir qu'elle lui avoit envoyé ces papiers. Larrey étant venu chés la Princesse, elle lui avoit d'abord fait ses plaintes de ne l'avoir pas vu; que je n'avois pas été chés elle; qu'on l'abandonnoit; qu'on négligeoit toutes les affaires; que toute une journée étoit perdue; que c'étoit absurde et ridicule à Larrey d'avoir perdu son tems à traduire cette

') Cf. le numéro suivant.

') Adr. van der Mieden, nommé président de la cour de justice le 4 Avril 1758 par la Gouvernante; les Etats de Hollande avaient proposé: 1". P. Graafland; 2". Ad. van der Mieden; 8®. P. Meerman. Cf. Reaol. Holland le 31 Mars et le 4 Avril 1768.

585 [nbS. Décembre.

pièce; que tout ce qui étoit venu d'Angleterre étoit mauvais et abominable; que cette dépêche devoit être considérée comme non avenue et qu'elle méritoit d'être jettée au feu; qu'il falloit tâcher de procurer à Yorke d'autres ordres; que pour cet effet elle étoit prette d'écrire en Angleterre, soit au Roi soit au Duc de Newcastle; que Larrey devoit aller chés moi pour m'en parler et lui faire savoir par un billet mon opinion. Enfin Larrey me disoit plusieurs autres traits, qui prouvoient la mauvaise humeur de Madame la Princesse et qu'elle rejettoit absollument l'idée de Yorke de concerter avec lui de faire quelques démarches auprès des Etats-Généraux , sur le pied que Yorke vous l'a proposé lui-même hier. Je convins avec Larrey qu'il devoit faire mes excuses de ce que je n'avois pas été chés elle ce matin, parce que j'avois cru ne devoir pas l'incomoder, n'ayant rien à lui dire aussi longtems que tous ceux qui dévoient voir ces papiers ne les eussent lus, pour pouvoir ensuite, avec d'autant plus de fruits, lui en parler; que j'étois cependant toujours à ses ordres; que j'étois en attendant d'opinion qu'on devoit toujours tâcher de tirer parti de ce que M"". Yorke avoit reçu et de voir si Yorke, selon sa propre idée, ne pouvoit pas dire quelque chose à l'Etat pour tranquiliser un peu les esprits, en attendant qu'il se procureroit de nouveaux ordres d'Angleterre; que Yorke étoit résolu d'écrire là-dessus le plus fortement à sa Cour pour lui représenter la nécessité de soutenir S. A. R., mais que je ne croyois pas qu'il convenoit que Madame la Princesse écrivit elle-même, afin de ne pas s'exposer à dire des choses qui pourroient tirer à conséquence; que du moins je croyois qu'il convenoit que S. A. R. y réfléchit encore jusqu'à Vendredi prochain.

Larrey me quitta à 3 heures. A 4 heures et demi

1758. Décembre.] — 586 —

van Rhiele vint chés moi de la part de Madame la Princesse pour me dire qu'elle avoit reçu le billet de Larrey, mais qu'elle persistoit dans son idée de vouloir écrire au Roi ou au Duc de Newcastle encore ce soir; que les choses, tel qu'elles étoient dans la lettre de Holdernesse à Yorke, n'étoient pas acceptables et qu'elle ne souffriroit pas qu'on en fit usage; qu'elle se flattoit que lorsque je verrois sa lettre, qu'elle auroit mon approbation; qu'elle écriroit avant qu'elle iroit à la comédie et me l'enverroit ensuite, et qu'elle me foisoit seulement prier de lui faire savoir à qui je croyois qu'elle devoit écrire, au Roi ou au Duc; surquoi je disois que je croyois qu'il valoit mieux, dans le cas que S. A. R. avoit pris son parti, d'écrire au Roi en droiture. A 5 heures la Princesse me fit appeller; j'y trouvois Larrey et je la trouvai fort échauffée. Elle me parla avec beaucoup d'émotion sur la façon qu'elle étoit traittée par l'Angleterre, comme on Texposoit, et elle me dit qu'après avoir bien réfléchi sur la chose, elle avoit résolue de ne pas écrire ni au Roi ni au Duc de Newcastle, mais qu'elle vouloit écrire un billet à Yorke, qu'elle me montra*), dans lequel elle se plaignoit combien peu les ordres, que lui Yorke avoit reçu, cadroient avec ce que le Roi lui avoit écrit; que de la manière qu'on vouloit traiter cette affaire que cela n'iroit jamais ici, ainsi qu'elle prioit Yorke de vouloir tâcher de représenter ceci très fortement en Angleterre, de même que sa situation et celle de la cause protestante et des puissances maritimes en particulier. Elle me disoit ensuite que Larrey devoit porter ce billet à Yorke en exigeant de lui qu'il l'envoyât en original à Londres pai' la poste de ce soir. Ayant lu le billet et voulant faire encore une tentative pour tâcher de persuader Madame •) Cf. p. 682.

587 — [nbS. Décembre.

la Princesse à permettre d'examiner si on ne pouvoit pas tirer quelque parti ici des dépêches de Yorke, elle ne voulut rien écouter d'avantage. Enfin cependant il fut arretté qu'on examineroit cependant à tête reposée les points que l'Angleterre propose, qu'on feroit là-dessus de courtes remarques pour les donner Vendredi à Yorke, afin qu'il pût voir ce que l'on croyoit qui pourroit être accordé ici et ce qu'on n'accorderoit jamais, et S. A. R. ordonna à Larrey d'en parler dès demain à Van der Mieden, mais elle insista en même tems que Larrey portât son billet à Yorke et que celui l'envoyât en original en Angleterre. La Princesse étant rentrée dans son cabinet, je restai encore un moment avec Larrey, qui me disoit que Van der Mieden lui avoit déjà renvoyé [les papiers] à 4 heures et demi , que ces papiers lui avoient été renvoyés sous une simple enveloppe, sans un mot d'écriture de la part de Van der Mieden qui l'accompagnât ....