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procure them the neceffary provifions. But this object requires on account of the urgency of circumftances, the most speedy difpofitions. 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 comprised in the line of neutrality, in order that we may be able to deliberate upon this fubject, and to regulate the diftribution 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 neceffary for this maintenance will alone depend the maintenance of the common fafety of the north of Germany.

Thofe, therefore, whose territory is comprifed 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 Hildestein. 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 repofe; 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 propofe 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 difinterestednefs; of valour, that calculates neither refiftance 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.

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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 some measure dependent.

Now, however, long miferies deeply felt, the deep indignation of having been deceived, the horror of having been, without withing it, the inftruments of the most atrocious crimes, have at length roused the people from their lethargy; whole provinces of France have rifen, and, in order to fhew themselves, wait only for chiefs; thefe people, accustomed to find them in their benevolent lords, who were to them as fathers, call out for these 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 themfelves 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 mafter, 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, these 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 fee the fafety of France and the repofe 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 firft 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 maiter, furnishes all the fuccours that the most powerful interest and true fraternity can bestow.

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 out any duty, any obligation; but to indicate to French cheva

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liers the means of rendering them felves ufeful. And we believe, in doing fo, we are acting according to their wishes.

Attached to France by fo many and fuch strong ties, and to Frenchmen who have fo nobly devoted themselves to the caufe of their religion and their King, I hereby promife, that all thofe 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, Í fhall confider as a precious truft confided to my honour and my care.

I shall taste 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 defired end, the free exercise of the religion of our fathers, and the establishment of the legitimate heir of the French monarchy, we have not ceased 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 measures 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 risk 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 fafeguard 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 consent to a conduct contrary to the wifhes of our heart, but dictated by the neceffity of the circumstance.

Decreed 15th May, 1796.
(Signed)

LE VICOMTE DE SCEPEAUX,

General in Chief.

COUNT DE CHATILLON,

Lieut. Gen. of the army of St. Scepeaux.
LE CHEVALIER DE TURPIN,
Infpector General.

Proclamation of the King of Naples.

THE long war which ftill defolates Europe, which affli&ts so many nations, and costs so 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 destroying it in the breasts of their own nation, they would alfo banish it from every quarter of the globe, and replace it by atheism or enthusiastic idolatry. 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 most 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 feduction, and thirst for plunder. Those unfortunate countries groan and lament, but in vain, under the vain defpotism 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 reserve.

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 fand, 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 trainples under foot the most facred emblems of the church of Chrift. It is impoffible that a citizen, devoted to the cause of religion, fhould remain unconcerned at the dangers which threaten his country; prompted by the impulfe of his conscience, and a proper sense 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 subjects, 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 counfels of princes, and enlightens their minds, if with fincerity they implore his holy name. Yet at the same time I shall neglect no

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proper means for procuring peace and tranquility to the people whom Divine Providence has entrusted to my care. But in order to obtain this end, we ought not to neglect the neceffary precautions, that we may be prepared for every event. Negociations for peace fhall occafionally be fet on foot, but they must be carried on with arms in hands, that we may not be obliged to fubmit to destructive and difgraceful conditions, which this enemy, fo apt to avail himself of the weakness of his adverfaries, might choose to dictate. For this purpofe lend me your affiftance, ye prelates of the realm, ye who are the depofitaries and first defenders of our holy religion, and fupport my exertions with a zeal worthy of your apoftolic miffion. Summon the inhabitants of your diocefes to join me and my troops, to beat off the enemy, if he fhould dare to approach our frontiers. Explain to them the justice and importance of our caufe, and convince them that it is their bounden duty to concur in its defence. Let the voice of the church be heard through her minifters, and invite her children to fupport the caufe of God, and to offer up prayers to him, that, in his mercy, he may grant us either a juft peace, or a glorious triumph.

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FERDINAND.

Proclamation iffued at Petersburgh, relating to Dutch Ships.

WE, Count Alexander Nikolazenwitfch, do hereby give di

rections for the immediate releafe and departure of all the Dutch veffels, together with their respective crews, on which au embargo was laid last year; but we also prohibit, by this proclamation, the entry of any veffel from that country into our ports, and fuch as do arrive fhall be treated the fame as French fhips. In other refpects they shall not be molested.

The original was figned by her Majesty.

CATHERINE.

Zarfkofelo, May 20, 1796.

Extract of a Dispatch from Field Marshal Wurmfer to the Helvetic Body at Bafle.

GENTLEMEN,

Fribourg, May 25. YOUR anfwer of the 25th of April laft is not fufficient to diffipate my uneafinefs refpecting the prefervation of the line of neutrality. My fufpicions were the better founded, as fince that epoch, I have been informed that the French have formed a camp in the neighbourhood of Brudruth, which you have not oppofed

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