e Grasse
in the West Indies, which delays our progress a little, we should be
already more advanced.

_June 18th._ The abovementioned resolution, although printed on the
5th, was not finally decreed by the States of Holland till the 12th
instant, with some changes, after which they separated, not to come
together again for about three weeks. In this interval, the cities
will have examined the report of the Admiralty, on the treaty of amity
and commerce between the United States and this Republic; and I am
assured that this treaty will be brought to a conclusion at the first
sitting. There will be a question also at that time on the nomination
of a Minister of this Republic to reside near Congress; the Prince
having declared his willingness to propose it to the same assembly.

I accompanied Mr Adams yesterday morning to an audience with the
Prince at the Chateau du Bois; and he supped there the same day with
the Prince, the Princess, and many foreign Ministers. The stay of
Grenville at Paris, and his pretended instructions to negotiate peace,
have all the air of being only a trick of the Court of London; and I
think it will require one more campaign to bring them to talk
seriously of a general peace, or rather to ripen the revolution or
civil war, which has appeared to me for a long time springing up in
their bosom, and which will bring about finally the catastrophe of
this great tragedy. May the catastrophe be only fatal to the authors
of the evil, and turn to the happiness of the human race in general,
and especially to that of the United States.

_June 20th._ The Ambassador has informed us, that the combined fleet
departed from Cadiz the 4th instant, and in great confidence that Mr
Grenville, who is at Paris, has received from his Court full powers
more ample, to treat with all the belligerents. This is well, if his
powers are explicit and sincere. But to trust to them it seems
necessary that the British Court should declare, that it recognises
the United States for a belligerent power, otherwise it will be a
Proteus; it will escape from us when we think to hold it, and will
pretend to do us a great favor by condescending to a truce, which
would be more pernicious to America than the war. It would draw on the
United States a host of evils. It would leave, in the opinion of all
the world, not excepting your allies and yourselves, an idea of the
uncertainty of your independence, which would never be effectual, and
d