But he has made it a condition, that he
shall be free at all times to return to the orders of Congress, whenever
they shall please to call for him; and also, that he shall not, in any
case be expected to bear arms against France. I believe Congress had it
in contemplation to give him the grade of admiral, from the date of
his taking the Serapis. Such a measure now, would greatly gratify him,
second the efforts of fortune in his favor, and better the opportunities
of improving him for our service, whenever the moment shall come in
which we may want him.
The danger of our incurring something like a bankruptcy in Holland,
which might have been long, and even fatally felt in a moment of crisis,
induced me to take advantage of Mr. Adams's journey to take leave at
the Hague, to meet him there, get him to go on to Amsterdam, and try to
avert the impending danger. The moment of paying a great sum of annual
interest was approaching. There was no money on hand; the board of
treasury had notified that they could not remit any; and the progress
of the loan, which had been opened there, had absolutely stopped.
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