08 January, 2006
No 287: 2nd December 1830:
“Mr Ellerman has not been able to set out for Flessingue this morning. (Translation continued) Commerce awaits impatiently Mr Ellerman’s return from Flessingue.“
No 290: Dec 6:
“Mr Ellerman has not yet returned.”
No 295: 11 Dec:
“Mr Ellerman has arrived at The Hague. Thanks to his exertions the vessels under foreign flags, so arbitrarily detained at Flessingue, will at last be permitted to leave their anchorage and discharge their cargoes at Ostend or Newport. Will his Batavian majesty hold himself responsible for these events?
We hope that the French Government and the National Congress will not neglect to lay before the London Congress the letter full of Dutch Civilities which Vice Admiral … has sent to Mr Ellerman who has so effectively pleaded our cause in the affair of the excluded foreign vessels.”
No 296: 15th Dec:
“Mr Ellerman has been very well received by King William who declared to him that nothing could be altered in that which bind us to the measures suspended by his advice (French extract omitted)”
Turning to my father’s private correspondence at this period I find a letter addressed by him to Lord Ponsonby, British Minister at Brussels 11th Dec 1830.
“I consider it necessary to acquaint your Lordship that I proceeded to Flushing not only for the protection of the Hanoverian flag but also at the solicitation of the mercantile body and the wish expressed by the Governor of this City and that I was provided with a conveyance down to Flushing by General Chassé, that at The Hague I was in constant consultation with his Excellency Sir Charles Bagot who fully approved of my procuring, also with the ministers of America and Sweeden (sic) so vessels under these flags continue to be detained at Flushing and who in consequence of my communications have presented to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Hague on the subject of such detentions in opposition to the King’s decree of the 25th.
I had also the honour to be admitted by the King at a private audience on the subject of the blockade, the result of which fully tended to convince me that for the present no further concessions than those stated in Mr Verstolk van Fide’s letter are intended. I returned from The Hague this day.”
It will be seen in this instance that my father devoted himself entirely to the public good and went down to Flushing in an embarkation placed at his disposal by the Dutch authorities. At The Hague he had the honour of being received by the King – In the Journal de Commerce d’Anvers I relate what follows. (French abstract omitted)
It will be interesting to gain an insight into my father’s private feelings during the march of these serious events and to learn how he felt as a citizen, as a husband and as a father. I turn to his private correspondence for this purpose. ¶ 7:07 pm
“Mr Ellerman has not been able to set out for Flessingue this morning. (Translation continued) Commerce awaits impatiently Mr Ellerman’s return from Flessingue.“
No 290: Dec 6:
“Mr Ellerman has not yet returned.”
No 295: 11 Dec:
“Mr Ellerman has arrived at The Hague. Thanks to his exertions the vessels under foreign flags, so arbitrarily detained at Flessingue, will at last be permitted to leave their anchorage and discharge their cargoes at Ostend or Newport. Will his Batavian majesty hold himself responsible for these events?
We hope that the French Government and the National Congress will not neglect to lay before the London Congress the letter full of Dutch Civilities which Vice Admiral … has sent to Mr Ellerman who has so effectively pleaded our cause in the affair of the excluded foreign vessels.”
No 296: 15th Dec:
“Mr Ellerman has been very well received by King William who declared to him that nothing could be altered in that which bind us to the measures suspended by his advice (French extract omitted)”
Turning to my father’s private correspondence at this period I find a letter addressed by him to Lord Ponsonby, British Minister at Brussels 11th Dec 1830.
“I consider it necessary to acquaint your Lordship that I proceeded to Flushing not only for the protection of the Hanoverian flag but also at the solicitation of the mercantile body and the wish expressed by the Governor of this City and that I was provided with a conveyance down to Flushing by General Chassé, that at The Hague I was in constant consultation with his Excellency Sir Charles Bagot who fully approved of my procuring, also with the ministers of America and Sweeden (sic) so vessels under these flags continue to be detained at Flushing and who in consequence of my communications have presented to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Hague on the subject of such detentions in opposition to the King’s decree of the 25th.
I had also the honour to be admitted by the King at a private audience on the subject of the blockade, the result of which fully tended to convince me that for the present no further concessions than those stated in Mr Verstolk van Fide’s letter are intended. I returned from The Hague this day.”
It will be seen in this instance that my father devoted himself entirely to the public good and went down to Flushing in an embarkation placed at his disposal by the Dutch authorities. At The Hague he had the honour of being received by the King – In the Journal de Commerce d’Anvers I relate what follows. (French abstract omitted)
It will be interesting to gain an insight into my father’s private feelings during the march of these serious events and to learn how he felt as a citizen, as a husband and as a father. I turn to his private correspondence for this purpose. ¶ 7:07 pm
