ABSTRACT
Sir Joseph Yorke, the English ambassador at the Hague, delivered a memorial to the States-General, in which he declared, " That the King his master had hitherto borne, with unexampled patience, the irregular conduct of the subjects of their High Mightinesses, in their interested commerce at St. Eustatia, as also in America. If," said the ambassador, " the measures which your High Mightinesses have thought proper to take had been as efficacious as your assurances have been amicable, the undersigned would not now have been under the necessity of bringing to the cognisance of your High Mightinesses facts of the most serious nature." He then stated, that M. Van Graaf, governor of St. Eustatia, had permitted the seizure of an English vessel by an American privateer, within cannon-shot of the island; and that he had returned, from the fortress of his government, the salute of a rebel flag. Therefore, in his Majesty's name, and by his express order, he demanded from their High Mightinesses a formal disavowal of the salute by Fort Orange, at St. Eustatia, to the rebel ship, and the immediate recal of the governor, M. Van Graaf; declaring, that until such satisfaction was given, they were not to expect that his
Majesty would suffer himself to be amused by mere assurances, or that he would delay one instant taking such measures as he should think due to the interest and dignity of his crown.
