thout interruption
during the Revolution, and occasionally to a much later period. He
acted at first as a secret agent, and after John Adams went to Holland
as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, M. Dumas
performed the office of Secretary and translator to the Minister. On
the departure of Mr Adams for Paris, to engage in the negotiations for
peace, M. Dumas remained in the character of _Charge d'Affaires_ from
the United States. In this capacity he exchanged with the Dutch
government the ratification of the treaty, which had been previously
negotiated by Mr Adams.

It will be seen by M. Dumas's correspondence, that his services were
unremitted, assiduous, and important, and performed with a singular
devotedness to the interests of the United States, and with a warm and
undeviating attachment to the rights and liberties for which they were
contending. Congress seem not to have well understood the extent or
merits of his labors. He was obliged often to complain of the meagre
compensation he received, and of the extreme difficulty with which he
and his small family contrived to subsist on it. Both Mr Adams and Dr
Franklin recommended him to Congress as worthy of better returns, but
with little effect. This indifference to his worth and his services
while living renders it the more just, that his memory should be
honored with the respect and gratitude of posterity.

M. Dumas was still living in 1791, when Mr John Quincy Adams went to
Holland as Minister from this country, but he died soon afterwards at
an advanced age.

THE

CORRESPONDENCE

OF

CHARLES W. F. DUMAS.

* * * * *

B. FRANKLIN TO M. DUMAS.

Philadelphia, December 19th, 1775.

Dear Sir,

I received your several favors of May 18th, June 30th, and July 8th,
by Messrs Vaillant & Pochard, whom if I could serve upon your
recommendation, it would give me great pleasure. Their total want of
English is at present an obstruction to their getting any employment
among us; but I hope they will soon obtain some knowledge of it. This
is a good country for artificers or farmers, but gentlemen of mere
science in _Les Belles Lettres_ cannot so easily subsist here, there
being little demand for their assistance among an industrious people,
who, as yet, have not much leisure for studies of that kind.

I am much obliged by the kind present you have made us