and watch over their political interests, and
those of the navigation and commerce of the American Union, as well
near their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United
Provinces of the Low Countries, now and at all times when opportunity
shall be presented, as near each Province, city, and individual of
this Republic.

The opposition formed, sustained, and consolidated against the
enormous influence which your enemies had over this republic, is the
work of three persons, of whom I have the honor in my sphere to be
one.

With orders and powers more precise on the part of Congress, I should
have been able to contract long since, with merchants of this country,
for useful expeditions, and to defeat divers adventurers and
intriguers, who, falsely boasting of full powers and of credentials
which they have not, have abused and much deceived the people and
compromised the dignity and credit of the United States. The little I
have been able to do in this respect, has been done with a pure zeal,
and a disinterestedness and discretion, which I dare propose as an
example to others, who may be called to a similar service. I can
boldly defy all the world to accuse me of having in any case preferred
my own interest to that of the American people.

My request, at the commencement of this letter, has for its object the
service of the United States of America, as much at least as the
proper care of my fortune, of my family, my honor and credit, my
character and safety. The earliest of your agents and correspondents,
Gentlemen, in Europe, out of Great Britain, has risked all these
things from the time he received and accepted this honor, with a
confidence equal to that with which it was offered.

I have the honor to be, &c.

DUMAS.

* * * * *

TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

The Hague, April 29th, 1779.

Gentlemen,

In all this month nothing has passed remarkable here, unless it be the
Memorial presented by the English Ambassador. But in this interval I
have taken part in a secret operation, which has confided the credit
and secrets of America to a House at Amsterdam, truly patriotic, and
not suspected of collusion with the enemy. Dr Franklin is fully
apprized of it all.

Here is an extract from a letter to him.

"The States of the Province of Holland ha