XXXIII. C. Van Den Oudermeulen to Swellengrebel 's-Gravenhage,
1.8.1786
I am longing for news from Utrecht. Everything seems to have gone haywire: the confusion is increasing and has spread to the colonies. The Governor at the Cape has made two mistakes - he has appointed a Frenchman, F.R. Duminy, as shipping-master and in view of a shortage of wheat he concluded a contract with an American who promised to supply by 15th October, a million pounds of wheat for 3 piasters and a hundred thousand pounds of flour at 5 piasters for one hundred lbs., to be paid for in wine and bills of exchange.
Now this is an example of direct trade between Africa and America, without the agency of Europe. What do you think of that sample? Read what I have written about that and tell me whether time will not put me in the right.
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