In the Dutch magazine De Maandelykse Nederlandsche Mercurius, published by Bernardus Mourik at Amsterdam 1781 is a letter printed dated 1 March 1780, written by Henry Laurens at Amsterdam. The letter was part of articles dealing with a possible treaty of friendship and commerce to be signed between the Dutch Republic and the Americans. In an earlier letter dated 13 December 1799, written by J.G. Dircks to Witherspoon, the former referred to worthy friends of the American cause as Jan de Neufville en Zoon, merchants at Amsterdam and Baron Van der Capellen.
The letter written by Laurens to his Excellence (John Witherspoon?) is quite interesting as dealing with the naval affairs of the United States. In his earlier letter dated 31 December 1799, not printed in above mentioned magazine, Laurens wrote that due to the facts that a certain Mr. Izard didn't leave for his voyage and the ice prevented ships departing to sea, he wasn't able to inform his Excellence earlier about the latest developments. With his letter he enclosed a copy of the correspondence between Mr. Chamont and an anonymous second gentlemen. The subject of the enclosure was the new building of two ships (in France), but which made clear that the intention was never to sell him (Laurens) those ships. Mr. Franklin never answered Laurens, so he thought that the arrival of Adams at Paris was a good opportunity to give the subject new attention. He wrote letters to Adams, Izard and A. Lee. H was hoping that they would persuade the secretaries of state Sartine and Vergennes, to deliver the 10 warships, offering to pay the first costs or accept the ships after a valuation by 4 independent men. Laurens was allowed by high Dutch 'officials' to fit out the ships as if they were Dutch property and destined for St. Eustatius (Lesser Antilles), or as American property! However, he got bad news from the above mentioned gentlemen. Disappointed he wrote to his Excellency that he hadn't any hope to bring two of the most beautiful warships of the world with a keel length of 186' and armed with 28-36 pdr. Above all the gentlemen expected that even if the delivery were allowed, Laurens just would meet more problems. In French harbours were several suitable French ships available, but Laurens decided to stop further actions considered the French opposition to his actions. He spent a the money while buying nails, bolts, canvas, anchors, medicines, in fact all the stores needed to fitted out 3 frigates, except canons, power and so on. He expected to be able to buy half of the important stores and twice the needed smaller stores. When there was any money left, he intended to buy shoes, hats, stockings, sheets and linen-trade for your soldiers. As soon as possible he would send the stores with ships to Sint Eustatius. It was perhaps necessary to assure the stores destined for large ships like anchors, in case the British seized them. Two merchants at Amsterdam, Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst, offered him a credit of 3 million (perhaps he could extort a higher credit, he wrote!). Together with the loan from Mr. Streikeiser and the money from his Excellency it would become possible to become a 'good' navy as promised to the 'State'. He hoped that the 3 frigates would be built at Philadelphia, Boston or Portsmouth (New Hampshire). The French opposition convinced him that the French didn't want America to have a navy. Otherwise they would have sold the not used 10 ships. Ships they didn't needed while her navy was strong enough. Captain Yoyner had done all he could, without any success. As soon as possible he would return via Sint Eustatius to America, just like other officers intended to do. Laurens intended to follow him and asked his Excellency for more orders. He proposed to send 2 or 3 Continental frigates to Sint Eustatius to load the stores.
The letter written by Laurens to his Excellence (John Witherspoon?) is quite interesting as dealing with the naval affairs of the United States. In his earlier letter dated 31 December 1799, not printed in above mentioned magazine, Laurens wrote that due to the facts that a certain Mr. Izard didn't leave for his voyage and the ice prevented ships departing to sea, he wasn't able to inform his Excellence earlier about the latest developments. With his letter he enclosed a copy of the correspondence between Mr. Chamont and an anonymous second gentlemen. The subject of the enclosure was the new building of two ships (in France), but which made clear that the intention was never to sell him (Laurens) those ships. Mr. Franklin never answered Laurens, so he thought that the arrival of Adams at Paris was a good opportunity to give the subject new attention. He wrote letters to Adams, Izard and A. Lee. H was hoping that they would persuade the secretaries of state Sartine and Vergennes, to deliver the 10 warships, offering to pay the first costs or accept the ships after a valuation by 4 independent men. Laurens was allowed by high Dutch 'officials' to fit out the ships as if they were Dutch property and destined for St. Eustatius (Lesser Antilles), or as American property! However, he got bad news from the above mentioned gentlemen. Disappointed he wrote to his Excellency that he hadn't any hope to bring two of the most beautiful warships of the world with a keel length of 186' and armed with 28-36 pdr. Above all the gentlemen expected that even if the delivery were allowed, Laurens just would meet more problems. In French harbours were several suitable French ships available, but Laurens decided to stop further actions considered the French opposition to his actions. He spent a the money while buying nails, bolts, canvas, anchors, medicines, in fact all the stores needed to fitted out 3 frigates, except canons, power and so on. He expected to be able to buy half of the important stores and twice the needed smaller stores. When there was any money left, he intended to buy shoes, hats, stockings, sheets and linen-trade for your soldiers. As soon as possible he would send the stores with ships to Sint Eustatius. It was perhaps necessary to assure the stores destined for large ships like anchors, in case the British seized them. Two merchants at Amsterdam, Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst, offered him a credit of 3 million (perhaps he could extort a higher credit, he wrote!). Together with the loan from Mr. Streikeiser and the money from his Excellency it would become possible to become a 'good' navy as promised to the 'State'. He hoped that the 3 frigates would be built at Philadelphia, Boston or Portsmouth (New Hampshire). The French opposition convinced him that the French didn't want America to have a navy. Otherwise they would have sold the not used 10 ships. Ships they didn't needed while her navy was strong enough. Captain Yoyner had done all he could, without any success. As soon as possible he would return via Sint Eustatius to America, just like other officers intended to do. Laurens intended to follow him and asked his Excellency for more orders. He proposed to send 2 or 3 Continental frigates to Sint Eustatius to load the stores.
