So totally regardless have the States been of their Treaties with Us, that they readily promised Our Enemies to observe a Neutrality, in direct Contradiction to those Engagements; and whilst they have withheld from Us the Succours they were bound to furnish, every secret Assistance has been given the Enemy; and Inland Duties have been taken off, for the sole Purpose of facilitating the Carriage of Naval Stores to France.
In direct and open Violation of Treaty, they suffered an American Pirate to remain several Weeks in one of their Ports; and even permitted a Part of his Crew to mount Guard in a Fort in the Texel.
In the East-Indies, the Subjects of the States General, in Concert with France, have endeavoured to raise up Enemies against Us.
In the West-Indies, particularly at St. Eustatius, every Protection and Assistance has been given to Our Rebellious Subjects. Their Privateers are openly received in the Dutch Harbours; allowed to refit there; supplied with Arms and Ammunition; their Crews recruited; their Prizes brought in and sold; and all this in direct Violation of as clear and solemn Stipulations as can be made.
This Conduct, so inconsistent with all good Faith, so repugnant to the Sense of the wisest Part of the Dutch Nation, is chiefly to be ascribed to the Prevalence of the leading Magistrates of Amsterdam, whose secret Correspondence with Our Rebellious Subjects was suspected, long before it was made known by the fortunate Discovery of a Treaty, the first Article of which is:
"There shall be a firm, inviolable and universal Peace, and sincere Friendship, between their High Mightinesses the Estates of the Seven United Provinces of Holland, and the United States of North America, and the Subjects and People of the said Parties; and between the Countries, Islands, Cities, and Towns, situated under the Jurisdiction of the said United States of Holland, and the said United States of America, and the People and Inhabitants thereof, of every Degree, without Exception of Persons or Places."
This Treaty was signed in September, 1778, by the express Order of the Pensionary of Amsterdam, and other principal Magistrates of that City. They now not only avow the whole Transaction, but glory in it, and expressly say, even to the States General, that what they did "was what their indispensable Duty required."