AAN HET VOLK VAN NEDERLAND; OF, BEWYZEN EN CONSIDERATIEN OVER DE VOORDEELEN DER NEGOTIE MET DE NOORD AMERICAANEN. IN DE VEREENIGDE NEDERLANDEN, (1782).

      8vo. Unbound, uncut, loose in paper wrappers. With typographical vignette on title. 16 pp. Rare Dutch pamphlet written during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780-1784) and the American War of Independence ( from 1776 onwards) urging a peace with England in order to secure free trade with the United States. The pamphlet is divided into three parts: (1) a letter by a 'gentleman from Leyden' to 'one of his friends in Amsterdam' (pp. 3-8); (2) the 'Concept request' directed to States of Holland and Westfriesland to realize the author's objective (pp. 9-12); (3) a letter to a 'gentleman in the province of Overijssel' on the same subject (pp. 13-16). In the first part, the anonymous author argues that the Dutch have nothing to gain by war, only to lose, because it severely hurts the overseas trade. Therefore, the Dutch should accept a peace offer recently made by England. He explains the advantages of the North American trade, being a cure for a revival of the Dutch languishing trade and commerce. According to the author, the Dutch should move fast and take over this trade, before the British would make peace with the United States and re-establish their own trade with North America. Since British naval dominance kept Dutch ships out of American ports, peace with Great Britain would be a prerequisite. Good copy. Muller, Books on America 1639; Knuttel 19963.