From J. (I.?) Washington
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<The Hague, December 30, 1777, in French: Only your kindness
can help me out of my dilemma. We carry the name of
the great General, and our family is English with a coat of
arms. I have been assured that the General was English, and
have written him a letter enclosing the coat of arms; you would
oblige me by forwarding it. My grandfather came here and
married here, thereby relating us to distinguished families: I
have two uncles who are connected with the government; another
was a general, and his son is a burgomaster and member
of the States General. Without all those ties to the Netherlands
I should long ago have gone to America, and if I can count
myself a member of the General’s family I shall fly to join
him.>
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