even hundred and twenty florins each
month, and for fourteen months, to three millions nine hundred and
ninetyone thousand six hundred and eighty florins, of which the moiety
(or one million nine hundred and ninetyfive thousand eight hundred and
forty florins) is taken from the appropriation _de la petition de
guerre_ of the 3d of November of the past year, and the other moiety
from the appropriation _des droits augmentes d'entree et de gabelle_.

The payments will be made to the respective Colleges of Admiralty on
the usual footing, to wit, the quarter of the whole charge of each
vessel, when the vessel shall be equipped, the half when the vessel
shall have served twelve months after the enlistment of the crew, and
fourteen months if it is a vessel continued in the service after
having been equipped for former service. The resolution enjoins on the
Admiralty to hasten the equipments, to the end that every month there
may be a convoy for the ports of France and England; for Lisbon and
the Mediterranean as often as wanted; and for the West Indies twice a
year.

I got a knowledge of this resolution the 1st of May, in the evening.
The next day I apprized the French Ambassador, who would not believe
it at first. I gave him a copy, and sent a translation to Passy. The
secrecy with which they adopted it, and kept it unknown many days,
shows that they wished to prevent its publicity, and as it is yet a
little deceptive as to ship timber, which is neither named nor
excepted, it will not be, probably, communicated to the French
Ambassador. It is important, as serving to support the Province of
Holland against the other Provinces, all devoted to the Court.

On the 11th of May, the body of merchants of Amsterdam presented an
address to the Admiralty to hasten the convoy in consequence of the
above resolve of the 26th of April, on the faith of which they had
already made their speculations and taken their measures, especially
as to ship timber.

On the 14th I learned that the Admiralty not having answered
satisfactorily the above address of the merchants of Amsterdam, the
latter had prepared an address to their High Mightinesses, to
remonstrate more strongly than ever. On the other side, the excitement
and murmurs increasing at Rotterdam, whence the merchants threaten to
withdraw and establish themselves at Amsterdam, the Deputies of
Rotterdam have made a proposition to the Provincial Assembly, that
they shall finally adopt, i