[Extract]
We are threatned from E. [England] with a very powerful Force to come next Year against us. We are making all the provision in our power here to oppose that force, and we hope we shall be able to defend ourselves. But as the Events of War are always uncertain, possibly after another Campaign we may find it necessary to ask aid of some foreign Power. It gives us great Pleasure to learn from you, that toute l'Europe nous souhaite le plus heurent succès pour le maintien de nos libertés. But we wish to know whether any one of them, from principles of humanity, is disposd magnanimously to step in for the relief of an oppress'd People; or whether, if, as it seems likely to happen, we Should be oblig'd to break off all connection with Britain, & declare ourselves an independent People, there is any State or Power in Europe, who would be willing to enter into an Alliance with us for the Benefit of our Commerce, which amounted before the war to near seven Millions Sterling per annum, and must continually increase, as our People increase most rapidly.
Confiding, my dear Friend, in your good will to us & our Cause, and in your Sagacity and Abilities for Business, the Committee of Congress, appointed for the Purpose of establishing & conducting a correspondence with our Friends in Europe, of which Committee I have the honour to be a Member., have directed me to request of you, that as you are situated at the Hague, where Embassadors from all the Courts reside, you would make use of the Oportunity that situation affords you, of discovering, if possible, the disposition of the several Courts with respect to such Assistance or Alliance, if we Should apply for the one or propose the other. As it may possibly be necessary, in particular instances, that you Should, for this purpose, confer directly with some great Ministers, & show them this Letter as your Credentials, we only recommend it to your discretion, that you proceed therein with Such Caution, as to Keep the same from the knowledge of the E. [English] Ambassador, and prevent any public Appearance at present of your being employ'd in any such Business, as thereby we imagine many Inconveniencies may be avoided, and your means of rendering us service increased.
That you may be better able to answer some Questions, which will probably be put to you concerning our present Situation, we inform you:
That the whole Continent is very firmly united; the Party for the Measures of the British Ministry being very Small and much dispersed.
That we have had on foot the last Campaign, an Army of near 25000 Men, wherewith we have been able not only to block up the Kings Army in Boston, but to spare considerable Detachments for the Invasion of Canada, where we have met with great success, as the printed papers sent herewith will inform you, and have now reason to expect, that whole Province may be soon in our possession.
That we purpose greatly to increase our Force for the ensuing Year, and thereby we hope, with the Assistance of a well-disciplined Militia, to be able to defend our Coast notwithstanding its great extent.
That we have already a Small Squadron of armed Vessels to protect our Coasting Trade, who have had some success in taking several of the Enemy's Cruisers, and some of their Transport-Vessels and Store-Ships. This little naval force we are about to augment, and expect it may be more considerable in the next Summer.
We have hitherto apply'd to no foreign Power.
We are using the utmost Industry in endeavoring to make Saltpetre, & with daily increasing success. Our Artificers are also every where busy in fabricating Small Arms, casting Cannon, &c. Yet both Arms and ammunition are much wanted. Any Merchants who would venture to send Ships laden with those Articles might make great profit, such is the Demand in every Colony, and such generous Prices are and will be given, of which, and of the manner of conducting such a Voyage, the Bearer ————— [Mr. Story] can more fully inform you. And whoever brings in those articles, is allowed to carry off the value in Provisions to our West-Indies, where they will probably fetch a very high Price, the general Exportation from North America being stopt. This you will see more particularly in a printed Resolution of the Congress.
We are in great Want of good Engineers, and wish you could engage and send us two able ones in time for the next Campaign; one acquainted with Field Service, Sieges, &c. the other with fortifying of Sea-Ports. They will, if well recommended, be made very welcome and have honourable Appointments, besides the Expenses of their Voyage hither, in which ————— [Mr. Story] can also advise them.
As what we now request of you, besides taking your time, may put you to some Expences, we send you for the present enclos'd a Bill for One Hundred Pounds Sterling to defray such Expences, and desire you to be assured, that your services will be considered and honourably rewarded by the Congress.
We desire also that you would take the trouble of receiving from ————— [Arthur Lee] Such Letters as may be sent by him to your care, and of forwarding them to us with your Dispatches. When you have Occasion to write to him, to inform him of any thing which it may be of importance that our Friends there Should be acquainted with, please to send your Letter to him under cover ————— [William Lee] and do not send it by ————— [post] but ————— [by some trusty shipper, or other prudent person who will deliver it with his own hand] &c. &c. And when you send to us; if you have not a direct safe Oportunity, we recommend sending by way of ————— [St. Eustatia, to the care of Messrs Robert and Cornelius Stevens, merchants there, who will forward your dispatches to me.] &c.
[Endorsed]
Philad. Dec. 12, 1775.
We the underwritten appointed by the American Congress a Committee of Foreign Correspondence &c. 3 having perused the above Letter, written at our Request, do approve and confirm the same.
John Dickinson John Jay.
