De patriottentijd. Deel 3: 1786-1787

Bijlagen bij hoofdstuk II.

1. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot1). - 24 April 1786. -

Indiening der fransche memorie.

The Memorial must be considered as the signal for beginning that attack upon the Stadtholderate, so long in contemplation, and against which the Stadtholder, though forewarned by friends and foes, has not been provident enough to take the smallest precaution.

My accounts from Amsterdam are so favorable that I am determined to go thither myself, to-morrow. I shall be much more a hearer than a speaker and endeavour by mixing with good-humour and urbanity with people of every description, to convince them that there is no danger in conversing with an English minister whenever they may think it their interest to do so.

2. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot2). - 5 Mei 1786. -

I am sorry to say I was disappointed in the principal object of my visit, and that I did not find, on nearer Inspection, that our Friends in that City had acquired such a degree of energy and union as my Reports from thenceGa naar voetnoot3) had taught me to believe they had. I found their circumspection and caution increased. It was not without the greatest difficulty I could induce any of them to listen to me collectively or for any space of time.

My Plan was that Amsterdam should immediately bring forward in the States of Holland the two great Questions, the first relative to the Legality of the proceedings at RotterdamGa naar voetnoot4), the other on the subject of the command of the Hague Garrison. If they lost these two points, as

it would be by a single vote, that the Town of Amsterdam should then immediately withdraw its Deputies from the States of Holland, refuse to pay its quote-part, and declare that they would no longer consider themselves as a member of the Province if their opinion was to give way to the insignificant voice of the Towns of Purmerend or Monikendam.

Although they all agreed that it was a wise and eligible plan, yet they all equally refused to undertake its execution. They rested their Refusal on two points - on their apprehension of a popular tumult at Amsterdam if such a measure was to be adopted, and on the probability, from the determined and resolute Character of Van Berkel and Gijslaer, that they would set them at defiance, and having the supreme power in their hands, employ it arbitrarily against them and impeach them as guilty of High-Treason.

3. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot1). - 26 Mei 1786.

The majority at Amsterdam are divided among themselves. They meet to quarrel and cavil with each other, and though they have been in possession of the council of that Town for six weeks, they have not taken a single step of the smallest use to their own party or detriment to the other.

4. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot2). - 6 Juni 1786. -

Diaries II, 156, vindt men den aanhef van deze dépêche, loopende tot: ‘no hopes of effecting anything good remain.’ Dan gaat Harris voort:

What I am about to propose is not an Idea of my own, but one of the Pensionary of Zealand, with whom I have had, lately, several more secret interviews, and it is the substance of what passed between us that I am now going to report to Your Lordship. The Provinces....

Voor het vervolg zie Diaries II blzz. 156-157 tot: ‘put an end to their political existence.’

Mons. Van de Spiegel was more sanguine on the success of this undertaking than from my own observations I should venture to be, but my opinion ought not to be put in competition with his. He has undoubtedly much more knowledge of the temper and disposition and situation of the Nation at large than I can possibly pretend to.

Van de Spiegel haalt hierop het door hem gesteld ontwerp der engelsche memorie voor den dag; Harris neemt dit ontwerp in zijn dépêche over. Links doe ik Van de Spiegel's ontwerp drukken; rechts de verandering die de engelsche regeering er op advies van Harris in aangebracht heeft.

If England does not approve the measure, the Pensionary will not speak to the Prince at all, and if the Prince does not choose to execute his part of the engagement, nothing is required from England. Should England approve, still such approbation (for various reasons dependent on personal considerations) is not to be communicated to the Prince, till it is made certain that he will act. When I hear with certainty, that he is determined to act, I am then, and not before, to take such steps as may tend to strengthen his Resolution and insure his confidence. This must be by writing him a Letter, and sending him the Memorial at the same time that I present it. The Prince gets to Zealand the 17^th instant, by which time I may have an answer to this letter. By the 20^th Mons. Van de Spiegel may know the determination of my Court, and by the 23^th I may be informed of that of the Prince. My Memorial should be presented as soon after as possible, as the States of Holland meet the 22^d, and it is of the last importance to set this business afloat and embarrass their Deliberations before they have time to collect their Spirits.

In regard to the Princess, the Pensionary intends to acquaint H.R.H. with just as much of the plan (after it is settled), as will prevent her from suspecting she was not trusted, and at the same time, not with enough of it to put it in her power to defeat its effects, supposing she had views different from those of the Prince, which however he as well as myself are both persuaded she has not. The co-operation between Mons. Van de Spiegel and myself is to be carefully concealed from the Prince (at least for a time), as he is of so suspicious a turn, and so jealous of being governed, that it is probable the umbrage he would take at this circumstance would make him blind to all the advantages he might derive from the measure.

I have only to add, that my hopes on this occasion are buoyed up by those of Mons. Van de Spiegel and that if he had not given me encouragement, I should have been convinced in my own mind (though not of a desponding Character) that nothing short of a general political Convulsion on the Continent could ever bring this Country back to its natural situation. My deference to his opinion is not slightly founded. He is the only man the Patriots dread, the only one the other side universally acknowledge as superior to them all. I know beyond a doubt, he has rejected the most brilliant offers if he would change his principles, and besides, as he himself said, he has delivered himself up to me so totally at discretion, that his safety as well as his Honor is, in a manner, in my possession.

5. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot1). - 16 Juni 1786. -

The friendly Members of the Council of Amsterdam are summoned to meet on Monday the 19^th. They are to prepare the Resolutions for the Restriction of the press and for suppressing the free-corps. This last proposal will make a strong sensation, and amongst other good effects which it may produce, it is not impossible that it may induce the free-Corps to offer themselves in a body to the Prince. - I have in contemplation an idea which I have, as yet, trusted to no one - that in case we should gain ground here, and our Party take any degree of consistency, it should pe proposed to the Stadtholder to come and reside at Delft. This town has, all along, been well disposed, and its PensionaryGa naar voetnoot2) is a man who can be relied on. The Prince's residing there will not only tend to preserve his popularity in this part of the Province, but from his proximity to this place will keep the faction in a State of perpetual fear and anxiety.

It is highly essential that I should be supplied with about two thousand Pounds, for secret serviceGa naar voetnoot3).

6. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot4). - 20 Juni 1786. -

The Debates in the Council of Amsterdam yesterday were very warm and turbulent. The division was 21 to 15. - Mons. Cotleuri went to Amsterdam purposely to be at hand on this occasion.

7. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot5). - 23 Juni 1786. -

A Committee of the members of the States of this Province is appointed to sit, on Thursday next the 29^th instant, to take into consideration the Licentiousness of the Press, and there is little doubt that it will be kept within proper bounds. The suppression of the free-corps will also pass, but

the consequences may be serious. The French are doing everything in their power to encourage them to revolt, and the famous Capellen de Marsch, a fanatical, mad Republican is striving to get himself declared their Commander-in-chief.

8. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot1). - 27 Juni 1786. -

Mons. de Cotleuri and the other French Emissaries, feeling the immense consequence of not losing Amsterdam, have in their last excursions there been attempting, by direct bribery, to recover their ground. I understand that they have failed in their attempt and are returned, disheartened and discouraged. I mean, in consequence of this information, to go thither on ThursdayGa naar voetnoot2). I do not think it unadviseable, before my Memorial appears, to make it felt among the aristocratical part of the Dutch Nation, that England does not entertain a thought of encroaching on their legal Rights in favour of the Stadtholder, but on the contrary, if she is ever called upon to take a part in the concerns of this Country, her first wish will be to see its Government established on the most Constitutional principles.

9. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot3). - 7 Juli 1786. -

Mons. Van de Spiegel has minuted the outlines of the answer to be made to my Memorial, and it will be sent to Mons. Van CittersGa naar voetnoot4). Care will be taken that the outlines drawn up by Mons. Van de Spiegel shall be the first to be laid before the Committee.

Amsterdam has behaved on this occasion just as I apprehended - approving tacitly what we are doing, yet to feeble and wavering to take an avowed part. My great aim now is to put that city in conjunction with the Stadtholder, at the head of the six Provinces. It is the only way for one to preserve its influence, and for the other to recover it, and if this union was once formed, the Government of the whole Republic must fall into their hands.

10. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot5). - 11 Juli 1786.

Gijslaer is gone on an incendiary commission to Gelderland, with a design to attempt kindling a flame in two small towns called Elburg and Hattem where there have lately appeared some patriotic symptoms. I trust he will not find the matter so easy as he may expect. Two very good and able Friends followed him an hour after his departure.

11. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot6). - 25 Augustus 1786. -

I intend going with Lady Harris to Loo on Sunday nextGa naar voetnoot7). She is

obliged on account of her health to pass the winter at Nice, and it did not appear to me proper that she should leave the Country without having paid her court to the Stadtholderian family.

The Prince of Orange has very graciously offered us an appartment in the Palace, and I fear I shall not be back sooner than this day s'ennight.

12. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot1). - 1 September 1786. -

Deze dépêche is gedeeltelijk gedrukt Diaries II, 176 vv. De Prins deelt hem mede welk besluit hij de Staten van Gelderland zal doen nemen (zie de aangehaalde bladzijde tot: ‘.... by force’).

After giving me this confidential information, he desired me to encourage the Members of the Diet by repeating to them the assurances expressed in my last Memorial. I very readily complied with his demand, but took care not to engage myself too far, and the sum of my assurances amounted to little more than this: ‘that if they ever expected any support from without, they must begin by forming a party from within.’

The States of Utrecht, animated by the example of Gelderland, have determined to assemble at Amersfort and I am not without hopes that they also will come to a Resolution somewhat similiar to those of Gelderland. I passed both through Amersfort and Utrecht yesterday. The States were sitting in the first of these Towns, and in the latter they were preparing to be attacked, but in so unskilful and feeble a manner that I am convinced a single Regiment of horse would take possession of the Town without any blood being shed.

On my return to the Hague last night, I found nothing of what was passing in the Provinces had yet transpired, and that the faction plumed themselves on the success of their measures. A Messenger from NimeguenGa naar voetnoot2) which came from the famous Capel de Marsch early this morning has spread the alarm among them.

Dan volgt het verslag der gesprekken met den Prins, te vinden Diaries II, 177-179. Met de Prinses had de gezant een afzonderlijk onderhoud:

She told me such offers had been made her, to forsake the Prince, as would equally have satisfied her own ambition and even the affection for her ChildrenGa naar voetnoot3), but that she had rejected them all, and that nothing ever should prevail on her to separate her Interest from his. I found to my great satisfaction from her conversation, that they concert together upon every measure to be taken.

I assured her that she might rely on our support whenever it could be applied usefully, and granted without exposing England to a greater Evil

than that from which she was to deliver Holland. That before any support could come from England, a regular, systematic and permanent party must be formed here, and that it was necessary before we moved a step farther here, to be precisely and fully informed of what would be the conduct of the Court of Berlin. If the interference that Court meant to adopt was a conciliatory one through the means of France, we wished too well to the House of Orange and to the Constitution of the Republic to have anything to do with it.

Both the Prince and Princess promised me the fullest confidence and earliest information, and they have actually sent with me to the Hague one of their Chambellans, Mons. de NagelGa naar voetnoot1), a person of great merit and discretion, with orders to consult with me on every occasion, and to transmit to them amything I may wish them to know.

13. - Harris aan Lord CarmarthenGa naar voetnoot2). - 8 September 1786. -

The communication between this place and Loo is so very unsafe, that I dare not write to the Prince, and He is so well aware of this circumstance, that his messenger yesterday brought nothing of any Importance, and we are left totally in the dark with regard to what has passed since WednesdayGa naar voetnoot3). A person however of confidence goes thither to-day, and it is the unanimous opinion of his Friends here that He should not lose a moment in attacking the town of Utrecht. I have some reason to believe that this expedition is actually resolved on under the command of General Van der Hoop, as I hear there are 600 Swiss Guards now at Amersfort, ana a Regiment of foot, at Thiel, under march. These two corps joined to that which has just reduced Hattum will be fully equal to the purpose. The patriots who have friends in that neighbourhood think this measure so likely that they have advised them to quit their country-houses, and many of the principal inhabitants of the town have moved their plate and valuable effects.