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26th Vendemiaire) in the fixth year of the French Republic, one and indivisible. (Signed) BUONAPARTE, the Marquis DI GALLO, LOUIS Compte CоBENZEL, the Compt DE MERVELDT, General Major; and the Baron DE DE

GELMANN.

The Executive Directory decrees and figns the prefent treaty of peace made with his Majefty the Emperor, King of Hungary and Bohemia, negotiated in the name of the French Republic by the Citizen Buonaparte, Commander in Chief of the army of Italy, provided with powers by the Executive Directory, and charged with their inftructions for this purpose.

danger had plainly enough mani fefted itself, when one of the most powerful states of the empire abandoned the common caufe, to conclude with the enemy a peace which, as it is conjectured, contains fecret Conventions that cannot but be far from favourable to the integrity of the Germanic empire.

These apprehenfions and alarms feveral Proteftant princes and states gained an additional weight when of the empire, following the aforefaid example, and, in the midft of a war deliberated by one common accord, did not hesitate to ceafe cooperating in the defence of the Germanic empire, their country, by acknowledging and admitting the line of demarcation and neutrality. The danger becoming greater every day, his Majefty feveral times apprised the states of the empire of it, and above all the ecclefiaftical states: Refeript addreffed to his Excellency their farther exiftence was threatenhe ftrove to perfuade them, that M. de Fahenberg, Directorial Mini-ed; that there were forging fecretter of Auftria at Ratisbon, on the Part of his Majefty the Emperor and King, according to appearances, it was inly plans of fecularization; and that, dated Feb. 7, 1797. tended not to affign any fort of indemnity to the ecclefiaftical states,

IS Majefty the Emperor and

gious efforts of an enemy who, according to his irreligious and artful fyftem, permits himself all poffible means to enfure fuccefs, and confidering the hazards attending the fate of arms, has always endeavoured to make the ftates understand how impoffible it would be for him, without the moft efficacious affiftance of the whole empire, to refift alone the danger which threatens the conftitution of the Germanic body with its ruin, and the individual members of the empire with the entire lofs of their poffeffions.

The exiftence of this impending

force

divided and incapable of defending itself, to accept this facrifice as the principal bafis of the conditions of peace, with the concurrence of the French forces, united with the Proteftant power dependent on Pruflia.

Notwithstanding the accuracy of these representations on the part of his Majefty, they did not however wish to own and be convinced of them till now; and by a mistaken economy they would not recur to the only means of falvation propofed by his Majefty, which were to oppofe the enemy with all the poffible forces of the ftate, At prefent,

fince the projects which the enemies themselves have manifefted, have tranfpired by the negotiations of peace entered upon at Paris and rendered public, no perfon will doubt the apprehenfions of his Majefty having been perfectly wellfounded, that the fecularization of the different ecclefiaftical states of the empire ftill continues to make part of the enemy's deftructive plan; and that, in confequence, the admonitions of his Majefty, and his proclamation, particularly to the ecclefiaftical ftates, to unite themfelves as clofely as poffible with him, were well worthy of their taking the trouble to reflect upon them in time. The ecclefiaftical ftates cannot have failed to obferve, after an attentive examination of the negotiations for peace opened at Paris, that his Majefty would not acquiefce in the plans prejudicial to the empire; that he has each time conftantly rejected them, and that he has manifefted that he would not accept of indemnities at the expence of the faithful and patriotic ftates of the empire; that, on the contrary, he was refolved rather to hazard all, and to make his last efforts, than be forced to it.

His Majefty expects that, in the face of the imminent and preffing danger which menaces the ecclefiaftical ftates, the electorates, the principalities, and the other ftates of the empire, they will have nothing more at heart than to deliberate among themselves upon the means of forming a clofe union with the auguft house of Austria, and of giving fuccour to his Majefty in every poffible manner, by ufing all the forces, all the means, which are in their power, and to ftrengthen his Majeffy in the gene

rous refolution of defending with vigour, both during the war and at the conclufion of peace, the rights and the caufe of the ecclefiaftical states and the country.

In this confident expectation, the Directorial Archducal embaffy of Auftria fhall pofitively demand, that the contingents of all the ftates of the empire which expect any farther affiftance from the imperial and royal court, be furnished as fpeedily as poffible, complete, according to the quintuple proportion, and provided with all the military stores, as likewife the discharge of the arrears ftill due in Roman months, &c. in order that, at the opening of the enfuing campaign, where it will be required to act with all poffible vigour, we may afcertain in due feafon the effective amount of the troops that will be employed, as well as the other auxiliary means for the vigorous profecution of the war.

Imperial Refeript to the Diet of Ratisbon, refpecting the furnishing of the Quintuple Contingents.

HIS Majefty, the Emperor and King, has not ceafed to endeavour to convince the ftates of the empire during the prefent war, that the vigorous fupport of the united empire is required to avert the danger which threatens the Germanic conftitution with total fubverfion. This danger became the more manifeft, fince several princes of the empire entered into feparate negotiations with the French republic, and by fo doing exempted themfelves from all further active co-operation for the defence of Germany. The apprehenfions which his Imperial Majef

ty has fo frequently expreffed, that, to all appearances, there would be propofed plans for fecularizing feveral ecclefiaftical ftates of the empire as fundamental terms of peace, have been confirmed by the negotiations lately entered into at Paris; and the ecclefiaftical states of the empire cannot but have remarked his Majefty's total averfion to confent to a plan fo deftructive to the empire, and to an indemnity at the expence of his patriotic coeftates; and that his Imperial Majefty would rather venture every extreme than fuffer fuch conditions to be forced upon him.

His Majefty, therefore, expects, on the other hand, that as the danger becomes hourly more imminent, the states of the empire will most fpeedily unite, and by exerting their utmost efforts, procure all poffible aid and fupport, in order to fecond his Imperial Majefty in the generous refolution of defending, in the most efficient manner, the cause of the ecclefiaftic states of the empire, both in war and at the conclufion of peace. To attain, however, this falutary end, the furnishing of the quintuple contingent is an object of immediate neceffity.

BARON VON THUGOT.
Vienna, Feb. 6, 1797.

Declaration of the Prince Bishop of Wurtzburgh, in Aufwer to the Imperial Refcript.

HIS Serene Highnefs the Prince Bishop of Wurtzburgh entered into the present war on the principle of exerting all his powers to fatisfy in the moft fcrupulous manner the conclufa of the empire refpecting the furnishing of the contingents and of the Roman months. His

Serene Highnefs has long been convinced, that, had the French government fucceeded, agreeable to the tenor and the views of the treaty of Bafil, to force the Imperial court on the banks of the Danube to make peace, the confequence would have been the overthrow of the Germanic conftitution, which must have been fubfcribed to in that cafe; the ecclefiaftical elective ftates would alfo have fallen, and by their fall that of other states would have been prepared.

His Serene Highness has never fanctioned any unconftitutional measure with his confent; he has fupported at all times the common cause with all his power, and will alfo ftrive in future to prove his unchangeable attachment to the Houfe of Auftria: No arrears for Roman months are therefore due from his Highness. And in order to complete his quintuple contingent, a confiderable levy of recruits has already been ordered, and will take the field, provided with all neceffaries, at the beginning of this campaign. His Highnefs has fupplied the Imperial ar my with fruits, to the amount of 648,205 florins: with wood, worth 31,131 florins; waggons, at the rate of 20,753; which, including fome other articles of expenditure, will occafion a lofs of 300,000 floalone. rins for the diocefe of Wurtzburgh

In other refpects, his Highness the Prince Bifhop is convinced, that there actually exifts in Germa ny a powerful confederation of the proteftant princes, who have re folved beforehand, to do nothing more to ferve the common caufe; but his Highness has no doubt that, on the other hand, all the Catholic,

efpecially

efpecially the ecclefiaftical elective princes, unanimoufly agree in the main point of doing every thing for the common caufe, and are already united with the Imperial court; his Highness, at least, "owns fuch a connexion for his own part, and is prepared to fuffer all the viciffitudes which this covenant may hereafter produce, and which cannot but turn out to be confolatory and remunerating to the fortitude and the pure policy of the Imperial court. His Highness, with the rest of his ecclefiaftical co-ftates, is ready to enter into a more explicit and confidential engagement with his Imperial Majefty upon that fubject, which he expects with gratitude. Wurtzburgh, Feb. 15, 1797.

Note delivered by M. de Weckafovich, Chargé d'Affaires of Ruffia to the Electoral Circle, and that of the Upper Rhine.

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ALTHOUGH, in the actual circumftances, the Emperor, my auguft mafter, thinks it not neceffary to put the resolution of the late Emprefs, his auguft mother, into execution, his Imperial Majefty will nevertheless not remain lefs faithful and inviolably attached to the alliances and obligations entered into in refpect to the prefent war; and his Majefty is firmly refolved to fupport them in all their integrity.

The confiderations, the intereft, and folicitude which the Emperor will not ceafe to take for the wellbeing of the German empire, can but determine his Majesty to exhort the ftates and members compofing that body, to act in common concert with his Majefty the Roman Emperor, and to fulfil, towards their

fupreme head, thofe duties which the conftitution has prescribed, and on which the falvation and tranquillity of the empire depends. Jan. 11, 1797.

Letter of Convocation addreffed to the Plenipotentiary Envoys of the Affociates" States of Northern Germany, by Von Dohm, the Pruffian Minifter.

THE underfigned is charged, by the exprefs command of the King of Pruffia, his moft gracious Sove reign, to make the following overtures to all their Excellencies the Plenipotentiaries of the Affociated States of Northern Germany, delegated to affemble in convention at Hilderfheim. The general concerns of Germany, with regard to the continuance of the war, ftill remain in a moft undecided condition, and the confolitary hope of a general peace, fo devoutly to be wifhed, remains as yet uncertain and remote to the laft degree, fince the negotiations entered upon for that purpofe may, alas! produce a farther and more obftinate war, rather than bring about its final conclufion. In this perplexing fituation, it certainly is a happinefs which Northern Germany cannot fufficiently praife, to see itself entirely freed, not only from the miseries of this ravaging war, but also from all the inconveniences connected with it, fuch as the requifitions of the belligerent powers, the paffage and marches of troops, and many other fimilar burdens. It needs but a flight comparative glance at the moft piteous ftate of the countries of Southern Germany, formerly flourishing, and now ruined for a long time to come, in order to feel, in its whole extent, the happiness

of the northern parts, which have, for the two laft campaigns, enjoyed the most perfect tranquillity.

The King is fully convinced, that it can be unknown to none of his co-ftates, who participate in this bleffing, that it is the mere refult of the indefatigable exertions of his Majefty, by which he has laid a iafe foundation for the neutrality of Northern Germany, and most effectively protected it by a corps. of his own troops, and of thofe of the two allied courts. His Majefty has further confolidated this neutrality, by the formal acceffion of his Serene Highnefs the Elector of Saxony, in virtue of a fupplementary article added to the convention of the 5th of Auguft, 1796, by which a line of demarcation, extending from the utmost coasts of the North Sea to the Lower Rhine, and from thence to Silefia, encompaffed the whole north of Germany. The two affociations in this vaft extent of territory muft remain separate, with refpect to the maintenance of the troops drawn out to cover their neutrality, which is done in Upper Saxony by a corps belonging to the Elector himself; but with regard to their common defign, they join hands, and by this enlargement, effected by his Majefty, the neutrality of Northern Germany receives a new and manifeft importance.

The King is likewife firmly refolved to fecure farther, and until the conclufion of the war, the full enjoyment of the neutrality to all the affociated states, to protect them and their territories against every power, and to defend them in particular, at all times, and in the most effectual and powerful manner, against the incurfions of the troops of the belligerent powers, against

each and every demand of military requifitions, of whatever fort, and the levying of thofe requifitions which might be attempted by execution, and against all fimilar burdens of war; likewife to screen them by his moft forcible interpofition, during the period of this neutrality, from all the fubfequent demands of fupplies for the war of the empire.

The underfigned is exprefly inftructed to give once more thefe definite and explicit affurances. It affords infinite pleasure to his Majefty to have thus fecured the invaluable benefits of the neutrality to all his co-ftates, connected with his dominions by their topographical locality; in the fame manner as it has been done to his own territo ries, and to have thus given them fo ftrong a proof of his friendly fentiments. Befides the gratifying consciousness of having hitherto accomplished this happy end, his Majefty requires no other proof of gratitude on the part of his coftates, than that they should continue, as heretofore, to co-operate in the maintenance of the troops. The King flatters himself the more to find the moft perfect readiness on their part, fince the burden which will arife from this measure to the countries thus protected, does not bear the most distant comparison with the manifold evils, and the probable and entire ruin averted from them, efpecially fince the two courts allied with his Majefty, and furnishing troops in a like manner, make the major part of the sacrifices required for that end. This latter circumftance muft ftrike all the affociated states with the moft perfect conviction that the continuance of those measures will not be prolonged a single moment beyond

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