FINANCING THE REVOLUTION
21
(AMERICAN REVOLUTION.)
Notes on a loan agreement between the
Continental Congress and Dutch merchants John de Neufville & Son.
3 manu-
script pages, 12
1
/
2
x 8 inches, on one folding sheet of Dutch paper bearing the watermark
of Adriaan Rogge; moderate wear, taped along the fold to a later sheet.
Np, circa 1779?
[1,500/2,500]
American diplomat William Lee went to the Hague in 1779 to negotiate a treaty with the
Dutch, led by commissioner John de Neufville. While bringing their draft back to America,
Henry Laurens was captured by the British, who used the negotiations as a pretext to declare
war on the Dutch.
This document, written in somewhat broken English with numerous emendations as well as
some additional notes in Dutch, appears to have been made by or for the de Neufvilles while
negotiating an agreement with the Continental Congress. It reads, in part: “Mr. John de
Neufville & his son Mr. Leonard de Neufville . . . have no appointment only if they can
procure it for the City of Amsterdam. They’ll treat in generall all the affairs for Congress under
our approbation on which we always guarantee the approbation of Congress and that for
Congress itself politicly and mercantile and they’ll keep always in view to promote in generall
the interests of the thirteen United States, except when any public minister would be received or
send as ambassador or Europe to the states of Holland or the Seven United Provinces of
Netherland, who then alone will have the descition on politicks. . . . If in the mean they could
bring it so farr that the City of Amsterdam would charge herself with the loan proposed, in
furnishing 150pm every month until 200pm or at once . . . and not come in to any measure with
England during the disputes of the thirteen United Provinces with that kingdom which would
be prejudiciable to the true interests of the thirteen United States of North America.”
The second page is headed “Generall and private instructions and agreements for Mr. John de
Neufville & Son as commissioners generall and private for navy and trade and treasury generall
and private of the Thirteen United States of North America through the Seven United
Provinces of Netherland.” The Neufvilles agree to “do their utmost to have the loan they are
now charged with accomplished in the best manner possible and to provide the money as cheap
and speedily as it may be found . . . if they could procure from one hundred to one hundred and
fifty thousand gilders every month.” The third page lists various proposed commissions: “on
buying and selling generally is 2 pct.” and “on insurance when required
1
/
2
pct.” This is
followed by a list of ports in Europe and the Caribbean, and further notes in Dutch.
This document, with further research, may prove to be an important piece in the financial
history of the young United States.
