A. D. 1778. 625 



fleets engaged, was prodinflive of all the beneficial confequences which 

 the moft complete vidlory could have conferred, with refped to the 

 commercial profperity of this kingdom. 



The duty of four and a half per cent on all dead produce fhipped 

 from Barbados and the other fugar colonies, except Jamaica and the 

 Ceded iflands, having ever fince the firfl commencement of it in the 

 year 1663 been paid in kind, a collector of the cuftoms in one of the 

 iflands, in his great regard for the intereft of the crown, refufed to re- 

 ceive the fugars, &c. as formerly, alleging that the worfl: produce was 

 given in payment of the duty. The planters thereupon refufed to fhip 

 any produce ; and fo the matter refled till the arrival of Admiral Har- 

 rington, who carried over orders to receive the produce according to the 

 old eftablifhed cuflom. 



From the very commencement of the troubles in America the Dutch, 

 as T have already had occafion more than once to obferve, had taken 

 every opportunity, compatible with their charaderiftic national cau- 

 tioufnefs, to enter into commercial engagements with the Americans. 

 Soon after the French concluded their treaties with them as indepen- 

 dent dates, the politics of that nation fo far prevailed in Holland, that 

 Mr. Van Berkel, confelor and penfionary of the city of Amflerdam, 

 which is well known to influence the whole Dutch confederacy, com- 

 miflioned Mr. Neufville, a merchant of that city, to draw up, in con- 

 cert with Mr. Lee, the commiflioner from the American congrefs, a 

 flcetch of a treaty of amity and commerce, in order to eftablifli, as Mr. 

 Neufville exprefles it, the union of the T'zventy Jiates, (i. e. the Dutch 

 feven and the American thirteen) and, as they wiflied rtill to keep it 

 fecret, thofe gentlemen met at Aix-la-chapelle, where they figned the 

 treaty (September 4"'), the fubftance of whicli is as follows. 



After premifmg that their conncdion fliould be eftabliflied on the 

 bafis of perfect equality and reciprocal utility, and that each party 

 fliould be at liberty 10 admit other nations to a participation of the ad- 

 vantages now agreed upon to be mutually enjoyed by the contracting 

 powers, it proceeds to ftipulate, that 



Article 2) The Dutch fliould pay only the fame duties in the Ame- 

 rican ports, that the Americans themfelvcs pay, and fliould alio enjoy 

 equal privileges with them, as well in palluig between the diflfcrent 

 ftates, as when bound to other parts of the world. 



3) The Americans fliould enjoy all the lame advantages in the ports 

 of Holland. 



4) The fubjccls of cither power were to have perfe(5t freedom to tra- 

 vel in the territories of the other, coiiformuig however, to the laws of 

 the country. 



5) The fubjeds of both fliould have liberty to import in their vcfllls 

 ;ill kinds of goods not particuhulv prohibited; to open warchoufes for 



Vol. in. ' 4 ^ 



