(AMERICAN REVOLUTION) Notes on a loan agreement between the

Sale 2344 - Lot 21

Price Realized: $ 1,875

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 1,500 - $ 2,500

FINANCING THE REVOLUTION (AMERICAN REVOLUTION.) Notes on a loan agreement between the Continental Congress and Dutch merchants John de Neufville & Son. 3 manuscript 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?

Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

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.