als to the king with a formal
harangue: they said his majesty would see, by the contents of the letter
they had the honour to present, how ardently their high mightinesses
desired to cultivate the sincere friendship which had so long subsisted
between the two nations, so necessary for their common welfare and
preservation; they expressed an earnest wish that they might be happy
enough to remove those difficulties which had for some time struck at
this friendship, and caused so much prejudice to the principal subjects
of the republic; who, by the commerce they carried on, constituted
its greatest strength and chief support. They declared their whole
confidence was placed in his majesty's equity, for which the republic
had the highest regard; and in the good-will he had always expressed
towards a state which on all occasions had interested itself in
promoting his glory--a state which was the guardian of the precious
trust bequeathed by a prince so dear to his affection. "Full of this
confidence (said they), we presume to flatter ourselves that your
majesty will be graciously pleased to listen to our just demands, and
we shall endeavour, during the course of our ministry, to merit your
approbation, in strengthening the bonds by which the two nations ought
to be for ever united." In answer to this oration, the king assured them
that he had always regarded their high mightinesses as his best friends.
He said, if difficulties had arisen concerning trade, they ought to be
considered as the consequences of a burdensome war which he was
obliged to wage with France. He desired they would assure their high
mightinesses, that he should endeavour, on his part, to remove the
obstacles in question; and expressed his satisfaction that they the
deputies were come over with the same disposition.--What representations
these deputies made, further than complaints of some irregularities in
the conduct of the British sea-officers, we cannot pretend to specify;
but as the subject in dispute related entirely to the practice of the
courts of judicature, it did not fall properly under the cognizance of
the government, which hath no right to interfere with the administration
of justice. In all probability, the subjects of Holland were by no means
pleased with the success of this negotiation, for they murmured against
the English nation without ceasing. They threatened and complained
by turns; and eagerly seized every opportunity of displaying their