ceffary officers under him that I may be pleased to appoint; and it is my will to order, that he shall be independent of all and every jurifdiction, and only fubordinate to the tribunal of the royal board of commerce, through which will be forwarded the neceffary orders to meet occurring circumstances, and bring up to my royal prefence all reprefentations tending to maintain, and preferve inviolate, the good faith of this eftablishment, in due conformity to the particular regulations which I have ordered to be formed for the government of the aforefaid administration, and officers employed in conducting it; and also to serve as a guidance to all captains of fhips and their confignees, for their conduct on the entry and shipping of all goods claiming the benefit of this inftitution. Dated at the palace of Queliez, May 13, 1796. Tenor of the Letters of Convocation addressed by the King of Pruffia, as Duke of Magdebourg, and of the Duke of Brunswick, as Co-Director of the Circle of Lower Saxony, to the different States defined to enjoy the Advantages of the Neutrality. We, by the Grace of God, Frederic William, King of Pruffia, &c. Charles William, Duke of Brunfwick, St. THE HE apprehenfion of a speedy opening of a new campaign with France, and the new dangers to which Germany will be exposed by the chance of a war that has already been fo fatal to her, have determined us, the King, in consequence of our folicitude and patriotic attachment, and in confequence of the pacific relations which we maintain with France, to diftribute as much as poffible to our co-eftates of the north, the inestimable bleffings of repofe and fecurity from the troubles and misfortunes of war; that is to fay, as far as thefe ftates will on their part accord with our intentions, which are of general utility. To this end negotiations have already been entered into with the French government, relative to a new line of neutrality; and in order to be able with the more efficacy to affure that neutrality, and to afford protection and safety to the ftates comprised within it, we, the King, are ready to march a confiderable army; and we, the Duke, have alfo taken a refolution to reinforce that army with our troops, the Electoral Court of Brunfwick Lunenburg having alfo manifefted the fame intentions. These combined troops being therefore to protect the neutrality of the north of Germany, it is as just as it is abfolutely indifpenfable, that they fhould be provided and provifioned by the ftates which fhall-enjoy this advantage, and that each, individually, should haften in proportion to its means, to procure procure them the neceffary provisions. But this object requies on account of the urgency of circumftances, the most speedy dif pofitions. The moft proper means for attaining this end is by the convocation of a common and extraordinary aflembly of all the Upper States of the Circles of Lower Saxony, with the States of the Lower Rhine and of Weftphalia, as well as of the other States that shall be comprifed in the line of neutrality, in order that we may be able to deliberate upon this fubject, and to regulate the distribution of the maintenance of the troops upon an equitable footing, proportioned to the faculties of each flate; for on the speedy furnishing of the objects necessary for this maintenance will alone depend the maintenance of the common fafety of the north of Germany. Thofe, therefore, whose territory is comprised in the faid line of neutrality, and which, confequently, will enjoy the benefit of this protection, being principally implicated in this cafe, we have, in our quality of Prince and Director of the Circle of Lower Saxony, addreffed to them conjointly the prefent Letter of Convocation, in order to unite them to affemble, by their deputies, furnished with the neceffary inftructions on the 20th of the month of June, in the town of Hildeftein. We have no doubt that they acknowledge, in its full extent, the urgency of the cafe, and of the actual conjunctions, as well as of the importance it is to procure to the north of Germany security and repose; and that in confequence they will adhere and contribute every thing that can attain the common end, fufficiently in time to avoid being furprised by danger. We, the King, fhall depute to the common affembly of the States, our intimate Counsellor de Dohm, directorial minifter to the Circle of the Lower Rhine and Weftphalia, and plenipotentiary to the Electoral court of Cologne, furnished with neceffary powers; and we entreat, very amicably, this affembly to give from this time faith and confidence to all that he may propose on our part, upon the subject of the affairs in question. April 22. Proclamation of the Prince of Bouillon. Ferfey, May 14, 1796. THE multiplied proofs of rare devotion to the public caufe: of proved difinterestedness; of valour, that calculates neither refift ance nor danger; have taught your enemies that honour is the fole duty of a French gentleman, and the defire of being useful his firft paffion. You have been feen, Gentlemen, every where in the most difficult pofts, braving all dangers, and even death itself, in order to devote yourselves to every facrifice. C 2 The The regret of all honeft men accompanied you, when, in the plains of Champagne, difaftrous circumftances forced you far from your homes, which you had fo nearly approached; then, Gentlemen, the army of the centre, under the direction of the allies, had only an existence in fome measure dependent. Now, however, long miferies deeply felt, the deep indignation of having been deceived, the horror of having been, without wifhing it, the inftruments of the moft atrocious crimes, have at length roufed the people from their lethargy; whole provinces of France have rifen, and, in order to thew themfelves, wait only for chiefs; these people, accustomed to find them in their benevolent lords, who were to them as fathers, call out for thefe lords in just reparation. It is under their conduct that they wish to fly to battle; and if they burn with a defire of re-establishing the throne and the altar, they will attest to pofterity, that, before they enter upon this enterprize, they will have rendered themselves worthy of affifting, in it, by putting at their head those who have never deferved being at any other place. This with, Gentlemen, has been manifefted to the minifters of the King, my master, and I am directed to communicate it to you. Armies are organizing: but armies without chiefs would be ufelefs. When, at the name alone of their King, and at the will of their King, thefe armies fhall be directed by gentlemen trained to arms, and illuftrious by their actions, who fight for themselves, and on their own ground, what may not be expected? Brethren in arms, true Frenchmen, of whom Englishmen. have too long been rivals, we see the safety of France and the re, pofe of Europe dependent on this union. Is there a more powerful motive for them? In the name of their country, with the approbation of my King, and by the authority of their own, I invite thofe among you, Gentlemen, whofe pofition, talents, and age, enable you, to join the royal and catholic armies of the interior. I am fure that I fpeak to your generous hearts. We have no longer to engage in those isolated combats, in those clandeftine ftruggles, at the first appearance of which the delicacy of a foldier, accustomed to attack his enemy in front, revolts. There are properly organized corps, an immenfe army, which waits only the arrival of its chiefs, and for which the King, my mafter, furnishes all the fuccours that the most powerful interest and true fraternity can beftow. It is indeed, Gentlemen, to the judges of honour, and to those who are in the habit of regulating their conduct according to its principles, that we addrefs this invitation. It is they alone who can judge in what way it affects them. We do not pretend to trace but any duty, any obligation; but to indicate to French cheva liers the means of rendering themselves useful. And we believe, in doing fo, we are acting according to their wishes. Attached to France by fo many and fuch ftrong ties, and to Frenchmen who have fo nobly devoted themselves to the caufe of their religion and their King, I hereby promife, that all those who may think themselves bound to attend to this invitation, will find me ever anxious to fulfil their defires, and to remove every difficulty. The aged and the infirm, women and children, I fhall. confider as a precious trust confided to my honour and my care. I fhall tafte no repofe as long as any one of you fhall experience any want which I may be able to relieve. In thus acting, I am fure that I fulfil the intentions of the King my master, and, I can affure you, also a duty dear to my own heart. (Signed) LE PRINCE DE BOUILLON. Proclamation iffued by Scepeaux, in the Western Department. COMPANIONS in arms-as long as we thought it poffible to attain our desired end, the free exercise of the religion of our fathers, and the cftablishment of the legitimate heir of the French monarchy, we have not ceafed to combat at your head, and to excite that courage and perfeverance which you have difplayed to the eyes of all Europe; but at prefent, convinced that fresh efforts will only draw new misfortunes on our already devastated country, informed that the most violent meafures of terror would be exercifed against our relations, who would be imprisoned, and their property entirely ravaged, we have not thought we could continue a war which was become the fcourge of the country we had hoped to defend, and did not think ourselves permitted any longer to rifk the lives of those brave men who had confided to us the charge of conducting them to the field of honour. However painful the facrifice may be to our opinion, we invite you to give up, into the hands propofed for that purpose, the arms that we cannot any longer engage you to preferve, without becoming the executioners of your relations and friends. This claufe fulfilled, your perfons and property will be under the safeguard of the laws: you will remain quiet at home: nor will you in any refpect be troubled for the paft. This affurance concerning your fate has alone induced us to confent to a conduct contrary to the wishes of our heart, but dictated by the neceffity of the circumstance. Decreed 15th May, 1796. LE VICOMTE DE SCEPEAUX, General in Chief. COUNT DE CHATILLON, Lieut. Gen. of the army of St. Scepeaux. Proclamation of the King of Naples. THE long war which still defolates Europe, which afflicts fo many nations, and costs fo much blood, and so many tears, is not a mere political contest, but a religious war. Our enemies are the foes of Christianity; not content with deftroying it in the breafts of their own nation, they would also banith it from every quarter of the globe, and replace it by atheism or enthusiastic ido latry. Religion openly reprobates their projects. They aim at the overthrow of all princely government, and to attain this, they disturb the peace of nations, ftimulate them to revolt against their lawful fovereigns, plunge them into the moft dreadful anarchy, and fink them in an abyfs of confufion and mifery. Belgium, Holland, and fo many German and Italian provinces have become the wretched victims of their seduction, and thirst for plunder. Thofe unfortunate countries groan and lament, but in vain, under the vain defpotifm of their oppreffors, while the calls of justice and humanity are unattended to. It was neceffary that religion, the most powerful obftacle of their horrid projects, should be removed and destroyed, in order that this fence being once broke down, all laws, both divine and human, might be violated without fhame or referve. Religion, whilft it informs us of our duties, ought also to infpire us with courage. The religious citizen well knows that he was born for himself and for others; that at the moment of his birth he contracts the obligation to love his native land, to protect it in times of distress, and even to hazard his life in the defence of the country where he repofes in fafety, and finds a livelihood for himself and his family, efpecially when that country is invaded by an enemy, who fpares neither law nor property, neither life nor religion; who, wherever he makes his appearance, infults, profanes, and deftroys the churches, breaks down the altars, perfecutes the priests, and tramples under foot the moft facred emblems of the church of Chrift. It is impoffible that a citizen, devoted to the caufe of religion, fhould remain unconcerned at the dangers which threaten his country; prompted by the impulfe of his confcience, and a proper fenfe of his own welfare, he will haften to its defence, join the military force, and co-operate in a vigorous refiftance; he will place his confidence in the God of Hofts, who often strikes an unexpected blow, and difperfes his enemies like chaff before the wind. I myself will fet you the example of zeal and courage; I will put myself at the head of my dearly beloved fubjects, affembled for the defence of their country, fully relying on the protection of the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, who guides the counféls of princes, and enlightens their minds, if with fincerity they implore his holy name. Yet at the fame time I fhall neglect no proper |