is country
increases with our arms, according as your political system, whose
necessity and salutary influence were heretofore less acknowledged,
gains every day more numerous imitators. The resolution lately taken by
the States of Friesland, and so unanimously adopted by our Province,
furnishes, among many others, one incontestible proof of it; whilst the
naval combat fought the last year on Doggersbank, hath shewn to
astonished Europe, that so long a peace hath not made the Republic
forget the management of arms, but that, on the contrary, it nourishes
in its bosom warriors who tread in the footsteps of the _Tromps_ and
_Ruiters_, from whose prudence and intrepidity, after a beginning so
glorious, we may promise ourselves the most heroic actions; that their
invincible courage, little affected with an evident superiority, will
procure, one day, to our country an honourable and permanent peace,
which, in eternizing their military glory, will cause the wise policy of
your noble, great, venerable, and noble and venerable Lordships, to be
blessed by the latest posterity.

UTRECHT.

_24th April, 1782._

TO THEIR NOBLE MIGHTINESSES, THE LORDS THE STATES OF THE COUNTRY OF
UTRECHT.

The undersigned manufacturers, merchants, and other traders of this City
give, with due respect, to understand, that the petitioners, placing
their confidence in the interest that your noble Mightinesses have
always appeared to take in the advancement of manufactures and commerce,
have not been at all scrupulous to recommend to the vigilant attention
of your noble Mightinessess, the favourable occasion that offers itself
in this moment, to revive the manufactures, commerce, and trades fallen
into decay in this City and Province, in case that your noble
Mightinesses acknowledged, in the name of this City, Mr. Adams as
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, to the end
that there might be formed with them a treaty of commerce for this
Republic. As the petitioners founded themselves thus upon the intimate
sentiment of the execution of that which your noble Mightinesses judge
proper to the advancement of the well-being of the petitioners and of
their interests, the petitioners have further the satisfaction of seeing
the most agreeable proofs of it, when your noble Mightinesses, in your
last Assembly, resolved unanimously to consent, not only to the
admission of Mr. Adams in quality of Minister of the Congress of North
Am