ntiary. Some American friends here have told me, that Mr
Laurens, formerly President of Congress, was designed to come over for
this purpose. I should be very glad to have him already arrived.
Whenever he comes, he may dispose of my faithful services.

I have the honor to be, &c.

DUMAS.

FOOTNOTES:

[38] See this Declaration and the Memorial in _John Adams's
Correspondence_, Vol. IV. pp. 488, 490.

* * * * *

B. FRANKLIN TO C. W. F. DUMAS.

Passy, April 23d, 1780.

Dear Sir,

I am much pleased with the account you give me of the disposition with
which the proposals from the Empress of Russia have been received, and
desire to be informed from time to time, of the progress of that
interesting business.

I shall be glad to hear of your reconciliation with ---- because a
continuance of your difference will be extremely inconvenient. Permit
me to tell you frankly, what I formerly hinted to you, that I
apprehend you suffer yourself too easily to be led into personal
prejudices, by interested people, who would engross all our confidence
to themselves. From this source have arisen, I imagine, the charges
and suspicions you have insinuated to me, against several who have
always declared a friendship for us in Holland. It is right that you
should have an opportunity of giving the _carte du pays_ to Mr
Laurens, when he arrives in Holland. But if in order to serve your
particular friends, you fill his head with these prejudices, you will
hurt him and them, and perhaps yourself. There does not appear to me
the least probability in your supposition, that the ---- is an enemy
to America.

Here has been with me a gentleman from Holland, who was charged, as he
said, with a verbal commission from divers cities, to inquire whether
it was true, that Amsterdam had, as they heard, made a treaty of
commerce with the United States, and to express in that case their
willingness to enter into a similar treaty. Do you know anything of
this? What is become, or likely to become of the plan of treaty,
formerly under consideration?

By a letter from Middlebourg, to which the enclosed is an answer, a
cargo seized and sent to America, as English property, is reclaimed
partly on the supposition, that free ships make free goods. They ought
to do so between England and Hollan