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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --[March 1, 1786.]
Office For Foreign Affairs,
28th. February, 1786.
The note is Dated 9th Feby. The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred a Note of the 15th. Instant from the Minister of the United Netherlands Reports:
That this Note states in Substance, that the House of de la Lande & Fynje of Amsterdam has failed.
That the Majority of their Creditors addressed the States of Holland and West Friezeland for a Letter of Licence for the said House, which was granted provisionally on the 4th. July last--but what those Provisions are does not appear from this Note.
That there is reason to apprehend that some of these non-concurring Creditors, endeavour to elude the Orders of their Sovereign, by seizing the Effects, Monies and Claims of the House in America.
That to prevent this, the said House and the Assignees appointed by a Majority of their Creditors petitioned the States General of the Low Countries, to order their Minister here to take proper Measures to stop such Proceedings of this small number of Creditors who act separate from and to the Prejudice of the rest.
That their High Mightinesses answered favorably to this Petition, by their Resolution of 20th. October last.
In pursuance of which, the Minister requests, that Congress will be pleased to take Measures to prevent the Seizure of Merchandises, Effects and Credits of the said House on the Part of any other Dutch Subject than such as may act under Powers from that House or their Assignees, and to annul all such Seizures as may have already been made.
On this State of Facts your Secretary thinks it should be Resolved--
All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress--
John Jay.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, II, folio 43 According to indorsement it was read March I and passed May 17, 1786, where the resolve suggested is spread verbatim on the Journal. A translation of Van Berckel's note of February 9 is on folios 47--51.]
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[A Motion of Mr. Pinckney]
"That the Secry. inform the C. des Affrs. of F[rance] that C[ongress] have rcd. his late meml. &c."1
[Note 1: 1 This entry, by Charles Thomson, is in Committee Book No. 190. It is noted as referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report and that report was made March 9. The business was that of a postal convention between the United States and France. See ante, February 21.
March 1: The following committee was appointed: Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney and Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, on a "Letter I March from Secy. for foreign Affairs respecting a horse sent him as a present by the King of Spain and parag. of Report of Secy. for. on present to Dr. F. by X M." This committee was discharged March 3, q.v. Jay's letter is in No. 80, II, folio 169, and his answer to Don Diego Gardoqui is, in copy form, on folio 173.
Also, a letter of February 25, from John Temple, British Consul General, forwarding memorials of Richard Lawrence and William Hunt, asking help in release from prison, which were forwarded by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, were referred back to said Secretary "to report the propiety of Application and expediency of a reply". He reported thereon March 8. Temple's letter is in No. 92, folio 499, the original petitions follow it. Jay's forwarding letter is in No. 80, II, folio 161.
Also, a memorial of David Phipps, for pay due him as a lieutenant in the Continental Navy, dated from New Haven, February 22, was this day read and referred to the Board of Treasury to report. Report was rendered March 7, Phipps' memorial is in No. 41, VIII, folio 216. This action was taken in accordance with the report of the Secretary of Congress thereon, this date, entered in Reports of the Secretary of Congress, No. 180.
Also. an "Extr of Doctr Franklin's letter of 19 Sept. 1785 respectg. want of punctuality in paying the Interest" [on the French debt] was referred to the Board of Treasury. Franklin's letter of September 19 is copied in No. 100, II, folio 260. This is the same letter that mentions the present from the King of France.
Committee Book No. 190.
On this day also the Secretary of Congress reported on the petition of Pierre du Calvet by reciting the history of the case and reminding Congress that "on the 29 Sept. last...Congress resolved That the board of treasury take Order for the payment of the above sum of 5,352.43 dollars."
Reports of Secretary of Congress No. 180.]
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