n men and things. I shall be much
obliged to you, to separate and seal up all the letters you have ever
received from me, unless it be this, under a cover for me, which, in
case of death, which heaven forbid, you will direct to me, delivered
to my orders.

My best compliments to your family, and Messrs de Neufville, and
believe me ever, your friend and servant,

WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

The Hague, July 25th, 1780.

Sir,

The 21st of March last I had the honor to write your Excellency a long
letter on my own concerns, of which I annex here an extract. I add
here, that when I received the first commission of the committee on
the part of Congress, dated in December, 1775, in which they honored
me with their orders and credentials, I did not solicit to be
employed; I did not even think of it. But chosen and named, by this
respectable body, in a manner as unexpected as it was definite and
authentic, to serve essentially the United States, my ardent thoughts
and life were consecrated with zeal to the cause of the United States.
Persuaded that it was the cause of humanity, of liberty, and of
virtue, I have sacrificed everything to this noble service, during
nearly five years, with all possible zeal and fidelity. The Congress
also testified to me soon after, that they were well satisfied with my
services. I have corresponded assiduously since that time with the
Committee of Foreign Affairs, with the Plenipotentiaries of the United
States at Paris, and with a number of other servants of America. I
have raised up, cemented and nourished in Holland a considerable party
in their favor, whereby I have drawn upon myself the hatred of a party
more powerful, which wishes to see me perish, and which has already
done me all the wrong and all the mischief of which it was capable. I
have participated in the adverse fortune of America, in the just
confidence that the United States and their Congress will have my
interest at heart, as I have constantly and successfully had theirs,
and as their magnanimity, their dignity, and their honor require in
the eyes of the European public.

I have yet fully this confidence; and it is this which caused me to
solicit, more than a year since, in several of my letters to the
Committee of Foreign Affairs, a formal