r from the Dutch Plenipotentiaries at Petersburg
has not yet arrived. They think his departure thence has been delayed
till the coming back of another whom they had sent to London. The
decision of the Court of Holland concerning the conduct of the Regency
of Amsterdam is not yet given, and will not come out for some weeks.
The pretended reason of this new delay is that M. Van Citters, one of
the Counsellors of that Court, must go to Zealand, because of the
sickness of his mother. The true reason may be, to get rid here of
certain gentlemen as long as possible, and to gratify their ---- by
deferring their justification. A little more resolution, when it was
perhaps more proper to dare than to waver, would have spared them such
a trick. But now their honor and dignity not suffering them to appear
here till they are justified, those that cannot but justify them, will
delay the doing it as long us they can.

_March 2d, 1781._ In consequence of orders brought by a courier
despatched to the Russian Ambassador here, he has presented a
Memorial[41] to their High Mightinesses, importing that the Empress
was willing to interpose her mediation between this Republic and
England, to bring on an accommodation. The Court of Justice of this
Province will meet on Monday next, to draw up their decision
concerning the conduct of Amsterdam.

I am, with the greatest respect, &c.

DUMAS.

FOOTNOTES:

[41] See this Memorial in _John Adams's Correspondence_, Vol. V. p.
468.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

The Hague, March 5th, 1781.

Sir,

Since the Memorial presented on the 1st instant to their High
Mightinesses by the Russian Ambassador, offering the mediation of the
Empress between them and Great Britain, a letter of February 9th has
been received here, written by the Dutch Plenipotentiary at
Petersburg, of which being decyphered, the Grand Pensionary of
Holland, instead of delivering copies as usual, has only permitted the
inspection and perusal to the several members of the States. It gives
the following account of the assurances made to them by the chief
Minister of the Empress, Count Panin, viz. 1st. That the Empress is
still in the same favorable dispositions towards the Republic, and
that he himself will support, with all his power, the just claim of