Beginning with the most urgent matter, here is a letter from his excellency the minister plenipotentiary of this republic to the United States.1 He has further instructed me to ask you the following questions:

1. What furnishings and supplies would it be advisable for him to take from here, rather than buying them or having them made in Philadelphia?

2. If he should make a public entrance or if he can dispense with this without appearing too different from the other foreign ministers or compromising the dignity of the power that is sending him, in the opinion of the power that receives him?

3. In case a public entrance is indeed necessary, which would turn best 315to his account, to have a ceremonial carriage made (for this one day when he might use it) here or in Philadelphia?

Mr. Wheelock has left for Amsterdam, quite pleased with me. Mr. Van Berckel the pensionary, to whom I introduced him, is of the opinion that he should only present the matter openly once the general conclusion of the peace treaty has restored people's minds to a state of cheerfulness and calm. I accompanied both brothers2 back to Leyden, where we had dinner at Mr. Luzac's house. Mr. Van der Kemp entered wholeheartedly into the plan. He was supposed to write about it today to Professor Oosterbaan in Amsterdam3 and to two other Anabaptist houses in Haarlem and Friesland. He himself will be in Amsterdam on 15 March for a grand entertainment in honor of Mr. Van der Capellen tot den Pol and Mr. Van Berckel, at which the matter can be broached.4 Finally, Mr. Gyselaar too will take an interest in the plan when it is time to propose it in his town. As for The Hague, it seemed best to us not to use the letters for the prince and for MacLaine,5 at least not now, until success obtained elsewhere prevents the proposal from being ridiculed and thwarted.

By now, gentlemen, you should have received from the ministers of the republic at Paris, at the same time as the ministers of France and Spain, an overture to open negotiations for a treaty of reciprocal guarantee of the freedom of the seas.6 These gentlemen are counting heavily on the oftrepeated promises you authorized me to give them, certain you will not allow yourself to be influenced or driven by Shelburne and Co., who get on, they say, like thieves at a fair. You will easily understand this allusion. If this convention could take place before the definitive treaty is signed, it would be a triumph here for our republicans. Someone offered me the objection that England might take umbrage if this treaty is concluded before the other; “And,” said I, “since when has France ever been afraid of giving umbrage to England?”

I am with great respect, and in presenting my family's compliments with my own, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant