ay, 1781, containing an overture, that the President
of the Assembly of their High Mightinesses had made, 'that a
person, styling himself J. Adams, had been with him, and had
given him to understand that he had received letters of credence
for their High Mightinesses from the United States of North
America, with a request that he would be pleased to communicate
them to their High Mightinesses,' as well as the resolution of
their High Mightinesses, of the 9th of January, containing an
ulterior overture of the President, 'that the said Mr. Adams (p. 062)
had been with him, and had insisted upon a categorical
answer, whether his said letters of credence would be accepted or
not;' finally, the resolution of their High Mightinesses, of the
5th of March last, with the insertion of the resolution of
Friesland, containing a proposition 'to admit Mr. Adams in
quality of Minister of the Congress of North America.'"

"Upon which, having deliberated and remarked that the Lords, the
States of Holland and West Friesland, by their resolution,
carried the 29th of March to the States-General, have also
consented to the admission of the said Mr. Adams in quality of
Minister of the Congress of North America, it has been thought
fit, and resolved, that the gentlemen, the Deputies of this
Province in the States-General, should be authorized, as their
Noble Highnesses authorize them by the present, to conform
themselves, in the name of this Province, to the resolution of
the Lords, the States of Holland and West Friesland, and of
Friesland, and to consent, by consequence, that Mr. Adams be
acknowledged and admitted as Minister of the United States of
North America, their Noble Mightinesses being at the same time of
opinion that it would be necessary to acquaint Her Majesty, the
Empress of Russia, and the other neutral powers, with the
resolution to be taken by their High Mightinesses upon this
subject, in communicating to them (as much as shall be necessary)
the reasons which have induced their High Mightinesses to it, and
in giving them the strongest assurances, that the intention of
their High Mightinesses is by no means to prolong thereby the
war, which they would have willingly prevented and terminated
long since; but that, on the contrary, their High Mightine