I find in a Leyden paper some account of Mr Grenville's negotiation, and the alterations proposed by the committee of the States General to the treaty submitted to their consideration by Mr Adams. These may be objects of curiosity, and as such I enclose them. They will be printed on Saturday if the papers are returned in time.
A Dutch paper of the 13th of July, mentions that the Baron Vioménil, the Marquis de Lavall, and other officers, left Paris the beginning of July, in order to sail in the ---- frigate; that the Marquis de Lafayette was not to accompany them, as it was proposed; that he was waiting the issue of the negotiation in Paris.
The Count D'Artois has obtained leave of the King of Spain to serve as a volunteer at the siege of Gibraltar. This may perhaps be concluded as an indication of their hope of success in the attempt to reduce it.
I have the honor to enclose two reports upon Mr Adams's letters. I would propose in addition to the first to direct the substance of Mr Adams's letter of the 23d of April, containing his note, and the appointment of a committee, to be printed as articles of intelligence, not under the express direction of Congress, since the business is not concluded.
With respect to the second report, I am led to make it by Mr Adams's recommendation, and by my sense of the zeal and diligence, which M. Dumas has so long testified in the cause of America, when it was very far from being a popular one in Holland. Though I must confess I feel some reluctance in seeing any but an American in the line, which ought to serve as a school for future Ministers. But this case has peculiar circumstances by which it must be determined. The commission of _Chargé d'Affaires_ I should conceive too important and too confidential to be placed in any hands, but those of a citizen of the United States. There are other reasons, which will suggest themselves to Congress, against this measure, which it is unnecessary to mention. The salary I have left blank, as that subject is under the consideration of a committee. The second resolution is to take away the necessity of making it greater than our circumstances will allow.
The merits of the other gentlemen mentioned by Mr Adams, together with his recommendation, might justly perhaps induce Congress to show them some marks of their attention, if the situation of their finances would permit, but as neither of those gentlemen are in the service of Congress, it is to be presumed that they will not choose to take any public notice of that part of his letter, till they are in circumstances to satisfy the just claims of those who have demands upon them.