conia. WE E are much affected by the prefent dangerous crifis that involves the German empire, and with the warmest degree of fympathy we are fully convinced, that peace only is the most certain means of faving it from the effects of an unhappy iffue of a juft war of defence. Nothing, therefore, can be more important, or more agreeable, to us than an energetic contribution of every exertion in our power, for the obtaining of fo defirable an object as fpeedily as poffible; and, previous to this, a fufpenfion of arms. We all willingly feize every occafion that may contribute towards a happy iffue of affairs, hoping that the reprefentation fubmitted to us, and fent to the emperor, by the laudable affembly of the circle, will not fail of its object.In the mean while, our whole army thall remain upon the Rhine and the Mayne, to cover and defend the contiguous parts of the empire, and the right fhore of that river. After the above proceedings, the twenty thonjand Pruffians, who were on their march to the frontiers of Poland, received orders from Berlin, to return to their former ftuation on the banks of the Rhine; on account of that event, and in or. der to prepare the neceffary provtfions for them in the places through which they were to march, the fol louing requifition of count Hardenberg, the Pruffian minifler of flate, was circulated. WHEREAS the motives which induced his Pruffian majesty to order a corps of 20,000 men from his army, deftined for the defence of the German empire, to march to Southern Pruffia, have at present been removed by the happy oc currences which happened in those countries: his majefty, being be fides convinced, that, in order to procure the accomplishment of the anxious withes of feveral of the ftates of the empire to obtain a fpeedy peace, his majefty thinks it indifpenfably neceflary to oppofe to the enemy the moft vigorous preparations of war, and to prevent their farther progrefs. His majef ty, therefore, has come to a refolution to order this corps of 20,000 of his troops to return to their former pofition on the Rhine, for the purpofe of fecuring the German frontiers against the dangers with which they are threatened. The underfigned minifter of state to his Pruffian majefty, not having due time to make formal requifitions, in order to procure the free paflage for those troops through the different places on their route, and which might in a great measure oppofe their falutary march, has to requeft, that by this, his underfigned requifition, thefe troops not only fhould be permitted to pafs freely through the different towns on the road towards their destination, but alfo to find quarters every where, and to be fupplied with provifions, and other articles of neceffity, ac cording to the regulations establish ed for their former march to join the grand army on the Rhine. Given at Francfort on the Mayne, November 21, 1794. (Signed) HARDENBERG, Minifter of ftate to his Pruffian majefty, and his directing minifter of both the dukedoms in Franconia. A royal document was published at Naples, in Auguft, 1794, relative to the prefent circumflances of the war, fignifying that fince all Italy, as well as the king's dominions, is threatened with an invafion, his majesty having the prefervation of the Catholic religion, the lives and properties of his fubjects, the tranquillity of the flate, and the glory of the army, most at heart, has refolved and ordained as follows : 4. All other corps enlifted in 1792, muft hold themfelves in. readiness to march towards the VOL. XXXVI. coafts, or to any part of the kingdom where they may be required. Letter from the committee of public fafety, of the national convention, to the republic of Venice. Paris, 1ft Sanfculottide, 2d year of the republic. Wrench republic to you, E appointed, as envoy from the citizen Lallemand.-The evidence which we have received of the good conduct of this republican, in the functions that have been entrufted to him, have perfuaded us that he will difcharge, to our fatisfaction and yours, the duties which our inftructions and the evident intereft of the two nations have impofed upon him. He is ordered to make known to the republic and the government of Venice, that the political princiof juftice and equality between the ples of the French people are those two nations; which can alone guarantee the fafety, liberty, and refpective independence, of the two people. the credit to the declarations of We invite the fenate to attach the French republic, and to believe citizen Lallemand, in the name of that he is particularly recommended ;fts, and ought ever to exift, beto maintain the friendship that exbetween the two republics. (Signed) THURIOT. COCHON. CARNOT. PRIEUR. ESCHASSEREAUX. THREILHARD. Anfwer Anfier of the fenate of Venice to the above addrefs, fent to citizen Lallemand, Nov. 24, 1794. THE HE fenate receives, with real fatisfaction, and as a teftimony of the continuation of the friendly correfpondence which has hitherto fubfifted between the French nation and that of Venice, the note which you tranfmitted on the 13th inftant, to make known the character of envoy to us, with which you are invefted. The fenate has been extremely pleafed with the contents of the credentials and the infiructions which you have to cultivate a good correfpondence between the two nations, as well as the aflurances of at the fame time adding, the great pleasure we experienced in feizing this opportunity of renewing to you our fincere with to preferve our ancient friendship and good underftanding. Highly fenfible to the flattering allurances contained in your note, we feel much fatisfaction in rendering juftice to the conduct of monfieur Jacob, during his refidence as chargé d'affaires, and for the care he has taken to further the caufe of amity and good harmony between the two nations. We have therefore fent to Mr. Jacob the cuftomary prefent, as a particular mark of our gratitude, confideration, and affection. States. High and mighty lords, W1 the continuation of the perfonal dif- Address of the fladtholder to the United pofitions, which you have evinced for feveral years at Naples and Mefiina, in favour of our republic; difpofitions of which, we hope, you will continue to give us farther proofs, during the duration of the miniftry which is entrufted to you. The fenate, invariable and conftant in the maxims of an exact neutrality, avail themfelves with eagerness of this opportunity for afluring you, that they will continue to obferve it with the fame care. You will confequently be perfuaded, that you will enjoy, conformably to the minifterial character with which you are invefied, the fuitable privileges as well as the protection which the laws accord to foreigners and natives who refide in our ftates, maintain a peaceable conduct, and conform to our ufages. Fally relying on the juft reputation you enjoy, we flatter ourselves, you will tranfmit to your government this expreflion of our fentiments, and THEN, in the beginning of laft year, this ftate was unexpectedly attacked by the French, and the enemy had, in a fhort fpace of time, nearly approached to the laft frontier of the province of Holland, I thought it incumbent on me, in confequence of the respective pofts trufted to my care, to lay my views before your high mighti neffes, as alfo the grounds of my confidence in the falvation of our country. This I propofed in the aflembly of your high mightineffes, on the 28th February, 1793, and I had, in that moment of danger, the inexpreffible happiness of feeing the fpirit of the nation roufed, of feeing how the inhabitants joined heart and hand, and how effectually our allies co-operated: it has fince plealed the Supreme Being to grant us a fuccefsful iffue, by driving the enemy from our territory, and by the conquering arms of the fiates, with our friends and allies, removing the feat of war into the enemy's own country. We now fee, however, high and mighty lords, a wonderful revolution in the ftate of affairs, attended with the lofs of the greater part of our advantages, the enemy having penetrated and advanced near our frontiers; and inftead of our carrying on the war offenfively, they have forced us to act in our own defence. It is under fuch circumftances, that it behoves all those who more or lefs bear a fhare in conducting public affairs to ftep forward, with their undifguifed fentiments, and cordially take the lead of the good inhabitants, and by fuch means cement a mutual confidence, without which the country cannot be faved. With this view, I once more ap pear before you in this aflembly, to declare to your high mightineffes, from the bottom of my heart, that I am ready and firmly determined, fupported by the wife and vigorous meafures of your high mightineffes, and the lords of the refpective provinces, to facrifice my life in defence of our country; and allo to affure you, that I do by no means defpair of faving the flate, if we, with additional courage and fortitude, under the goodness of Providence, employ the ready and effectual means in our power; and finally to declare to your high mightinelles, that I hold the leaft neglect of fuch neceflary exertions, and every indication of defpondency and fear, as inevitably tending towards the irretrievable lofs of our country, I will, no more than last year, conceal the real danger: the true knowledge of this danger being requifite to call in aid every poilible means of refiftance. Still were we to confult the hiftory of our repub lic, we fhould find circumftances of peril, compared to which, the prefent appears to vanith. Our brave ancestors fought and obtained their liberty and independence in the midst of fuch difficulties, as human forefight could not reasonably hope to furmount; notwithstanding which, did they conftantly fpurn at all the infidious o vertures offered them; they thought themselves more fecure in manfully facing the dangers of war, than fuffering themfelves to be deceived by a treacherous peace. While king Philip and his adherents continued to be confidered as enemies, our forefathers had to defend themfelves only against open hoftilities; but had the enemy in appearance become friends and brothers, the weapons of deceit, feduction, and corruption, would have proved far more alarming than a ftate of open warfare. Are we to fuppofe the prefent fituation worfe than that in 1672, when not only fingle towns, but three provinces of the union were in poffeffion of the enemy? Or that of 1747, when all Dutch Flanders and the ftrong frontier of Bergen-op-Zoom were loft? Or laftly, than that of 1793, the recent events of which are too well known? If neither cur anceftors nor ourfelves, during those periods, fhewed fymptoms of defpondency, how difgraceful would it be in us, under our prefent circumftances, did we enter on the defence of the state without energy and determined courage! Were we to compare the means of defence actually in the power of the republic, with those in former wars, we are moft afluredly no lefs in a ftate prepared to repel the attacks of the enemy, than we were in the above-mentioned periods. The greater part of our frontiers is covered, and continues to be improved; we have an army on foot, who have fignalized themselves by their bravery during the two laft campaigns, and who will act, if poffible, more bravely when fighting for their all. The chearfulness, joined to the courage of our feamen, hath fhewn itfelf in the year 1793. Neither is the republic without allies, who, as far as their own fituation may admit, will firengthen her: but it is of infinitely more weight than to depend on human efforts, to confider that the God · of heaven and earth, having fo often brought about our deliverance, when the profpect feemed moff dreary, we have at this time good grounds to hope, under him, for the achievement of honourable and glorious deeds. If there are in the republic fuch unnatural and degenerate Dutchmen, who wish for the approach of the enemy, because they may imagine it will procure them the means of gratifying their private vindictive fpirit; who, with fuch views, endeavour to intimidate their fellow-citizens againft their taking up arms in the common caufe, let us confider them as internal foes, and watch their criminal intentions with no lefs vigilance than we do those of our ene my. The pacific fyftem which this republic, as a commercial state, hath ever adopted, I hold to be most to her advantage; but God forbid we fhould with for peace at the expence of our fecurity and independence: if we must lose these ineftimable bleffings, through the fuperior force of an enemy, it will be an event fincerely to be lamented; but fhould we make a volur. tary furrender of the fame, then fhould we become an object of con tempt to all nations. In That this ftate hath given France no caufe for war is notorious to all the world. That people might among themfelves perfecute the Chriftian worthip, overthrow the ancient throne of their kings, arbitrarily difpofe of the freedom, the lives and property of their fellowcountrymen. Our ftate faw all this with inexpreffible grief, it is true, but never had the moft diftant with of declaring war against the opinions of this deluded people. fpite of our moderation, have we been fuddenly and moft unjustly attacked; this attack having been preceeded by a decree of the national convention, whereby it appears, that the reafon of this deftructive war, is to put all countries and nations on a footing of equality with the miseries of France; namely, to deftroy the religious worship of our forefathers, the fundamental laws of the ftate, and to work a total fubversion of our true freedom. Thefe, high and mighty lords, are the objects for which we fhould enter into a treaty of capitulation, in cafe the war is to terminate agreeable to the enemy's views; however, thefe very objects must never be made the fubject of treaties, but for their better fecurity and prefervation. With regard to myfelf, I know no medium between a vigorous refistance and |