ROBERT MORRIS.

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

The Hague, February 5th, 1781.

Sir,

A courier, despatched by the Russian Ambassador here on the 29th of
December last, with the news of Sir Joseph Yorke having left the Hague
by order of his Court without taking leave, has come back again with
letters from the Dutch Plenipotentiaries at Petersburg to the Great
Pensionary, the contents of which are still very satisfactory; so that
there is no doubt nor uneasiness concerning a favorable answer, which
they expect here, but not before the end of this month, to the
demands made, by a courier despatched from hence on the 12th of
January last.

By letters from Ostend we are told, that the Russian Minister at
London had left that Court without taking leave. If this proves true,
or whenever else the expected rupture between Russia and Great Britain
will be fully ascertained, then it will be time to set on foot a
negotiation with the four new allied powers, for the acknowledgment of
the independency of America, and making treaties with her of amity and
commerce. The first, and perhaps only application for this purpose,
must then be made to Russia; and I am now carefully watching the
moment when such an application will be proper, and attended with the
prospect of success, in order to inform Mr Adams and take with and
under him, such measures as may be necessary. Till then we must keep
them close, and make no application to this Republic, which, since her
accession, cannot and will not make any private step without the
quadruple alliance, of which Russia is the leading power; and, as I
have good reasons to think, well disposed towards the United States.

I have been repeatedly assured, that the exportation of the two
thousand lasts of grain to England from Ostend, has been refused at
Brussels to Sir Joseph Yorke, and that he is going, if not already
gone, from Antwerp to Ostend, to embark for England. This gives no
great opinion of the pretended negotiation set on foot between the
Emperor and Great Britain.

I have the honor to be, &c.

DUMAS.

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TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

The Hague, February 22d, 1781.

Sir,

The expected courie