I say this, however, with due deference
to the opinion of Congress, who are better judges of the necessity and
practicability of the measure.
I mentioned to you, in a former letter, the application I had made to
the Dutch ambassadors and Prussian envoy, for the protection of Mr.
Dumas. The latter soon after received an assurance, that he was put
under the protection of the States of Holland; and the Dutch ambassador
called on me a few days ago, to inform me, by instruction from
his constituents, 'that the States General had received a written
application from Mr. Adams, praying their protection of Dumas: that they
had instructed their greffier, Fagel, to assure Mr. Adams, by letter,
that he was under the protection of the States of Holland; but to inform
him, at the same time, that Mr. Dumas's conduct, out of the line of
his office, had been so extraordinary, that they would expect _de
l'honnetete de Mr. Adams_, that he would charge some other person with
the affairs of the United States, during his absence.'
Your letter, of September the 8th, has been duly received. I shall pay
due attention to the instructions relative to the medals, and give any
aid I can, in the case of Boss's vessel.
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