I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 1st instant, with which you sent me a memorial for Their High Mightinesses about the circumstances in which Mr. Dumas finds himself. Since it was written in English and not in French, as custom demands, the report could not be subject to formal deliberation. Nevertheless as I have brought it to Their High Mightinesses’ attention, I have been authorized to write you in reply that in response to a message forwarded to me by Mr. Dumas dated the 28th of the previous month, which I presented to Their High Mightinesses, the Lord Deputies of the province of Holland and West Friesland have already been requested to supervise his safety: and that Their High Mightinesses will not intentionally allow Mr. Dumas to find himself in difficulty, no more than they would any of their own citizens, but they cannot conceal from you, sir, that Mr. Dumas is little deserving of their protection, having behaved in a manner which, in several respects, is altogether inappropriate. For this reason, I ask, sir, on behalf of Their High Mightinesses, that you refrain from employing him any further (a decision to be expected as well from your own sense of discernment), and that you appoint another person to be chargé d’affaires here during your absence.1

I fulfill these orders, having the honor to be, with the most perfect consideration and respect, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant