an interest in the wreck of the
_Lutine_ frigate. If there was still treasure to be sought for, it
belonged to them, and the government of the Netherlands had no claim
upon it, either in law or equity.

The fact that royal decrees had been granting to Dutchmen that which
did not belong to them at all, aroused indignation at Lloyd's, whose
managing committee was moved to address the English government in the
matter. After a good deal of diplomatic palaver with The Hague, that
government made over its half share of the treasure reserved under the
treaty with "the Upper Strand finder" to the "British claimants." In
May 6, 1823, Mr. F. Conyngham, Secretary of the English Foreign Office,
communicated this pleasing news to Mr. William Bell, chairman of the
committee of Lloyd's in the following letter:

"_Sir_:

"With reference to the several applications which have been made to His
Majesty's Government to interfere with that of the Netherlands on
behalf of the underwriters, and others, claiming to be allowed to
recover certain property still supposed to remain on board of the
_Lutine_ Frigate, lost off the coast of Holland in 1799, I am directed
by Mr. Secretary Canning to acquaint you, for the information of the
parties concerned, that after much negotiation His Netherlands' Majesty
has expressed his willingness to cede to the British claimants the
whole of that moiety of the said property which by His Netherlands'
Majesty's decree of the 14th. September, 1821, was reserved for the use
of his said Majesty. The other moiety was, by the same decree, granted
in the nature of salvage to a private company of his own subjects, who
undertook to recover the cargo at their own expense. It has been
stipulated that the British claimants shall be at liberty to concert
with the said company as to the best mode of effecting that recovery.
Considering the difficulties which the negotiation has experienced from
disputed points of law, and making due allowance for the engagements
formed with the Dutch company, who have been recognized as salvors by
the Dutch law, and would have a right to have all services rewarded in
the Courts of Holland for the property which may be saved by their
exertions, Mr. Canning apprehends that it may be advisable for the
claimants in this country to agree to the offer now made. The season
for operation is now before them, and no hope could be reasonably
entertained that a renewal of the negotiation wou