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V 
s. There is a hit of American history tied up in the Dutch Island of 
St. lust&tius that will interest you. I know, even if the island Is too far 
out of the way to visit on your way to Venezuelan waters. On this island still 
remain a few of the old cannon that fired the first salute ever given the United 
States flag by the foregin power after we had achieved our independence. One 
or more of these cannons would he an exhibit of considerable historic interest. 
As the story goes : \ 
"It was on the 16th of November, 1776, that the brig 
Andrea Doria fourteen guns, third of our infant navy 
of five vessels, under the command of Joslah Robinson, 
sailed into the open roadstead of St. Uustatius and \ 
dropped anchor almost under the guns of Fort Grange. \ 
She could have borne no more fitting name than that \ 
of the famous townsman of Columbus, who, after driving 
the French out of his own country in 1528, founded the 
republic of Genoa ano with the tame spirit of democracy, 
refused the highest office of the grateful government 
which he had established. The Andrea Doria may have 
attracted but little attention as she appeared in the 
offing, for in those days the two miles of roadstead 
from Gallows Bay to Interloper's Point were often filled 
with ships. But with the quick eyes of seafarers the 
guests of Howard's Tavern had probably, even as she was 
picking out her berth, left their rum for the moment to 
have their first glimpse of a strange flag which they 
all knew must be that of the new republic. 
"Abraham Ravened commandant of the fort, lowered the red, 
white, and blue flag of Holland in recognition of the 
American s dip . In return, the Andrea Doria fired a saluto. 
** — i miMM u n v m m im mu mmm M 
This put the commandant in & quandary. Anchored not far 
from the Andrea Doria , was a British chip. The enmity 
of the British for Holland and especially against Statia 
was no secret. In order to shift the responsibility. 
Raven® went to consult Johannes de Graeff, the governor, 
who was at that time living in the hills at Concordia, 
his country &&&,%. De Graeff had already seen the Andrea 
Doria . for Ravene met him in the streets of the Upper 
Town. A clever lawyer and a keen business man, the 
governor had already made up his mind when Ravene spoke. 
'Two guns less than the national salute,' was the order. 
And so we were for the first time recognized as a nation 
by this salute of eleven guns. For this act, de Graeff 
was subsequently recalled to Holland, but he was rein- 
stated as Governor of Statia and held that position when 
the island was taken by Rodney in 1781. The Dutch made 
no apology to England . Two years after this salute of '76, 
John Paul Jones was not served so well at Quiberon, for 
the French gave him only nine guns, the number at that 
time accorded to republics. This, of Statia, may well 
stand as our first naval salute." 
