I made the
pilot sign afterwards. Then he let us alone during ten days.

_December 8th._ The wind appearing favorable, his officer found us
ready to depart; but the wind changing, it was necessary to cast
anchor again, after it had been already weighed.

By the extract of the resolution of the 26th November you will see,
Gentlemen, that the Stadtholder had taken on himself to apply to the
Alliance only, what had been resolved in regard to the whole squadron,
and especially to the prizes; that the States-General have approved
it, and that thus they have thought they might dispense with
consulting the Province of Holland on this new case. They are not
content with this arbitrary procedure, and will make new protests,
copies of which they have promised to furnish me. The others on their
side appear to think that they have gone too far, as may be seen by
the letter of the Vice-Admiral, which certainly is not written without
order. As to the arrangement made on the 16th and 17th, I suspend my
opinion till I see where the whole will end. But I highly applauded Mr
Jones for having answered the Dutch Admiral as he did.

I have the honor to be, &c.

DUMAS.

* * * * *

TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

December 10th, 1779.

Gentlemen,

The following intelligence will show in what manner the States-General
have proceeded respecting Sir Joseph Yorke's demand for the seizure of
Paul Jones's prizes.

_Leyden, November 25th._ "The publicity of the claims, which Sir J.
Yorke, Ambassador of Great Britain, has made by order of his Court on
the occasion of the entry of Paul Jones with his prizes into the Road
of the Texel, having excited the attention of Europe to this affair,
on which subject the spirit of party on both sides has spread sundry
unfounded reports, we think ourselves under obligation to communicate
to our readers the definitive resolution, which the States-General
took in relation to it last Friday; a resolution which reconciles the
most scrupulous obligations of neutrality with the friendship which
subsists between Great Britain, and this Republic. Here is the
translation of it.

'_Wednesday, Nov. 19th, 1779._ Having deliberated by resolution on the
Memorial presented by Sir Joseph Yorke, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of his Maje