Life and Times of John De Witt [pp. 236-250]

LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN DE WITT.
evil, it has pleased God in his anger to inflict upon this State
those calamities in which it is now enveloped, and that in a
manner so difficult to comprehend, that posterity will scarcely
believe it, so rapid are the conquests of the enemy, and so weak
the resistance on the part of our army. What is most mortifying in this melancholy conjuncture is, that these disasters
have excited in the minds of the people not only a general
panic, but also sinister impressions against their magistrates,
and especially against those who have in any way had the
management of public affairs. Atrocious calumnies have been
circulated against me. Base libels, accusing me of converting
the secret service money to my own purposes, have been
brought against me. I have always thought that the most
effectual way of destroying these calumnies was to treat them
with contempt. However unjust and unfounded these suspicions have been, as I am but, an humble servant of the
State, having no other object but to promote its welfare and
prosperity, 1 have deemed it my duty no longer to retain an
office which would require me to compromise my own selfrespect, and, perhaps, would be prejudicial to the interests of
the country.
"For these reasons I have only to request that your lordships will do me the favor to dispense with my services as
Grand Pensionary. I must conclude by expressing my profound obligations to this august assembly for the many testimonials of theil confidence and friendship which I have so
often received at their hands, and I trust I will always continue to be your faithful friend, as I have always been your
very faithful and humble servant."
The States-General having taken the subject into serious
consideration, concluded to accept his resignation, and testified their acknowledgment of the great services which he had
rendered to the State in a resolution which honorably discharged him from his hilgh and painful responsibilities. On
the day following he notified his friend De Ruyter of his dismission in the following letter:
"SiR: The taking of the cities on the Rhine in so short a
time, the ravages of the enemy to the very borders of the Ysel,
and the total loss of the lprovine,es of Guilders, of Utrecht, and
Overyssel, almost without resistance and by an unheard-of
treachery, have more than ever confirmed me in the truth of
that saying which was formerly applied to the Roman republic:" Prospera omnes sibi vindieant, adversa uni imputantur:" "All take the credit to themselves when things are prosperous, but when they are adverse they lay the blame upon
one." It is what I have experienced myself. The people of
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