The New Hampshire Gazette

AMSTERDAM (in Holland) July 7. The Petitions of the Body of Merchants of Amsterdam, Dort, Rotterdam, &c. which were presented to the States General, and transmitted by Mr. York's Secretary to London, made but a very light Impression on the English Ministry. They signified that the greatest Part of the Complaints contained in those Petitions were groundless; for the ill Treatment there set forth, was occasioned by, the Partiality which the Owners of Dutch Vessels shewed to France and the illicit Trade they carried on in Favour of that Crown, particularly to the French Colonies, which could not have subsisted but for this Trade, it having manifestly appeared, by the Depositions of the Captains themselves, and their Ships Companies, that their Cargoes, consisting of Cordage, Gun powder, and other WarLike Stores, were consigned to Martinico, and the other French Islands, which was a manifest Breach of the Treaty of Commerce concluded in 1674 between his Britannic Majesty and their High Mightinesses; and that in Consequence thereof the Republic exposed her Navigation and Commerce to continual Molestation.

This is the Substance of the Answer given at a Conference to the Dutch Envoy by Lord Holdernesse. His Lordship produced in Proof of what he had alledged, a Letter from a French Merchant at St. Domingo, intercepted by Admiral Coates, in which the Merchant expressly says, that St. Domingo could not have subsisted without the Assistance of the Dutch, who brought them all Necessaries for their Subsistence and Defence; and carried back the Produce of the Island to Europe.