Major Jackson has been sometime here, in pursuance of Instructions from Colo. Laurens, in order to dispatch the purchase of the Goods, and the shipping of the Goods and Cash for the United States, which are to go by the South Carolina. But when all things appeared to be ready, I recieved a Letter from his Excellency Dr. Franklin informing me, that he feared his funds would not admit of his accepting Bills for more than fifteen thousand pounds sterling:1 the accounts of the Indian and the Goods amounted to more than fifty thousand pounds, which shewed that there had not been an 399Understanding sufficiently precise and explicit between the Dr. and the Colonel. There was however no Remedy but a Journey to Passy, which Major Jackson undertook, dispatched the whole business and returned to Amsterdam in seven days:2 so that I hope there will now be no more delays. Major Jackson has conducted through the whole of his Residence here, as far as I have been able to observe, with great Activity and Accuracy in Business, and an exemplary Zeal for the public Service.

Amsterdam, 29 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter's hand PCC, No. 84, III, f. 246–251. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. , 4:525–527.

This letter consists of an English translation of the letter presented to the States General on 21 June by Louis Ernst, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. The letter, which appeared in Dutch newspapers (Gazette de Leyde, 29 June), was a categorical denial of the charges made against him in the memorial that Carel Visscher, Pensionary of Amsterdam, read to William V at an audience held on 8 June. The Duke noted that the States General had appointed him field marshal and William V's tutor prior to William's assumption of the duties of stadholder. He had served the Dutch Republic for thirty years and until the appearance of Amsterdam's memorial there had never been any intimation that the States General disapproved of his actions, much less that he was despised at all levels of society. The Duke declared that a full and rigorous examination by the States General of the charges against him would reveal that they were unfounded and that it would then be incumbent upon that body to take the most decisive action against his accusers.

This is to request that you will accept no more Bills with an Expectation of my Paying them, till you have farther Advice from me: For I find that Mr. Laurens, who went away without informing me what he had done, has made so full a Disposition of the Six Millions granted at my Request before his Arrival, that unless the Specie he 400sent to Holland is stopt there, I shall not be in a Condition to pay them.1 I have the Honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant