f presenting his credentials from the
United States to their High Mightinesses. This is an acknowledgment of
your independence, and opens the road to negotiation. I have received
triplicates of your favor, and shall have the honor of answering more
fully on the first opportunity.

I hope the two pamphlets accompanying this, ---- and ----, which are
very celebrated, rare, and valuable here, will reach you in safety.

I am, &c.

DUMAS.

_P. S._ The names of Messrs Gyzelaer, Zeeberg, Van Berckel, and
Vischer, Pensionaries of the cities of Dort, Haerlem and Amsterdam,
are worthy of being remembered with the highest esteem by every true
American.

* * * * *

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Amsterdam, April 4th, 1782.

Sir,

The 29th ult. I had the honor to address you a packet under cover to
Dr Franklin at Paris, with a short letter, in which I had the
satisfaction to commence the honor of my official correspondence with
you, in congratulating the United States on the acquisition of two
illustrious sisters, whose example will be followed by five others, as
you will see by the papers annexed.

I congratulate you, Sir, and myself also on your elevation to the high
post that you fill, and I recommend my interests and my character to
your attention before Congress. I shall communicate to Dr Franklin the
account of my expenses for the pamphlets and other charges, which I
have already begun, and which I shall continue to forward to you
according to your orders, and I shall draw on him for the amount. I
purchased, in February last, for Mr Adams and by his order, at a cheap
rate, a hotel at the Hague, where we shall live happily together, if
God please, the first of next month. This purchase, besides the
economy of it, has produced politically very good effects. Only
France, Spain and now the United States, possess hotels as their own
at the Hague. All the other foreign Ministers occupy, at a dear rate,
hired hotels.

There is no longer cause to blame the slowness of this nation on our
affairs. Its inclination for us, like a spring pressed by a strong
hand, is escaping and declares for us nobly, by an accumulation of
addresses of corporations, which appear from all parts. I think that
before the end of this month, Mr Adams will be admitted to present his
letters o