ssed, and a little cavilling on
my having delivered to him the letter from Mr Adams, without adding
the quality of Minister Plenipotentiary, assumed in the subscription;
by which omission he pretended I had deceived him; otherwise he would
not have received the letter. I denied any intention to conceal from
him a quality, which he knew as well as I and the whole nation, Mr
Adams had openly assumed. He put them in my hat, and I told him I
would, out of respect for the head of this Republic, keep _in
deposito_ the papers, which in time might be thought of greater
importance to them than now. The other gentleman received me with the
greatest cordiality; and apologising very frankly for restoring me the
papers (likewise opened,) desired me repeatedly to understand, and to
give to understand, that this was a mere formality; and that while the
admission of Mr Adams was under deliberation of the several Provinces,
the Prince could not be beforehand with their High Mightinesses, nor
their High Mightinesses with their constituents, in such a matter of
the first importance.

_June 16th._ I have been happy with the presence of Mr Adams, and with
his approbation of my conduct. The States of Holland have separated.
Their next meeting, after the 27th instant, may be very stormy, not
only on account of the proposition of Amsterdam, but also on that of a
verbal remonstrance made by the same city to a great personage,
desiring him to exclude from all political business the Duke of
Brunswick, formerly his tutor, when a minor; a message which has
exceedingly hurt them both.

_June 22d._ The great city persists in her late demand to the Prince
of Orange, concerning the desired exclusion of the aforesaid great
man, having, since the verbal proposition, sent the same by writing to
the great personage, and to the Grand Pensionary. Thus the
fermentation rises, and draws to a very interesting crisis, which
probably will decide itself within a fortnight, either into some
catastrophe, or into a _ridiculus mus_. I learn just now, that the
Duke of Brunswick presented yesterday to their High Mightinesses a
long letter to justify himself. Many, even unconcerned people, think
it an improper step, because he is, in fact, not vested with any
public department, and therefore not answerable, nor to be brought to
account. His position seems to me near akin to that of Lord Bute.[43]

_July 4th._ There has been made mention, in the Provincial Assembly,
b