o look with indifference on any diminution of the
rights of the Stadtholder; and that he would guaranty that this Prince
should not abuse his prerogatives; and he hoped by this step that
harmony would be re-established." Amsterdam has answered, "That they
were surprised to find the King so misinformed, that for themselves,
they did not know that they had ever diminished the rights of the
Stadtholder, and that the Stadtholder himself had never complained of
it to the States; that this would no doubt have been done, if the fact
had been true; that, as for the rest, they would write to their city
what the Envoy had said to them, that it might if it should judge
proper write directly to the King, to inform him better, and put his
Majesty also in a way to know those who had thus imposed on him."

This answer evidently confounded the Envoy. The other cities have
answered the same in substance.

_December 13th._ The committee charged with arrangements for sending a
Minister of the Republic to the United States, made its report
yesterday to the Assembly of the States of Holland, the members of
which took it _ad referendum_. This Minister is to have twenty
thousand florins per annum, and ten thousand for his outfit.

This morning the committee of five has returned again to the Prince.

The resolution of Zealand, that the prisoner Witte should be
delivered to the Provincial Court, is received, and the Prince will
yield.

The deliberation on the circular letter of Friesland, interrupted by
the disturbance, which in history may be denominated the _Cockade
Conspiracy_, to distinguish it from that of the _Gunpowder Plot_, will
be resumed next week.

I am, Sir, &c.

DUMAS.

FOOTNOTES:

[47] The expression in italics was added by the Envoy, in his address
to the gentlemen of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, because those of Dort
asked him, if the King pretended to meddle in the domestic concerns of
the Republic? Haerlem was not able to receive him.

* * * * *

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

The Hague, December 17th, 1782.

Sir,

This morning the Minister of Prussia, M. Thulemeyer, has again visited
the Deputies of the eighteen cities of Holland, to inform them of a
Memorial, which he has presented to their High Mightinesses against a
certain libel, in which, among other ca