the period of their indispensable neceffity. But the underfigned has his Majefty's direct commands to declare, in the most positive manner, that his Majefty deems the continuance of those measures abfolutely neceffary for the prefent, as he will only find himself enabled by the corps of troops which is drawn out, covering the line of demarcation, maintaining farther, in the most efficacious manner, the neutrality of the countries fituate within their precincts, to fulfil the promises previously given. Yet in this he will not commit himself refpecting those very poffible events which accompany the viciffitudes of the fortune of war. But whereas the King is under the neceffity of fetting boundaries to the great facrifices he has already made; and whereas the concurrence farther demanded of the protected countries for the maintenance of the troops who defend them, is fo extremely juft and equitable, the underfigned has alfo exprefs orders herewith to declare, that in the unexpected cafe of the majority of the ftates not difplaying the neceffary zeal and alacrity, his Majefty will forthwith withdraw his troops, renounce entirely all the obligations which he has voluntarily taken upon him from motives of patriotifm; fupprefs totally the convention made for that purpose with the French Republic, and confine himfelf folely to the defence of his own dominions, abandoning all the reft to their own means and refources, and making known his intention to the belligerent powers. Should fuch a refolution once be taken, and the corps be withdrawn, no circumftance, of what complexion foever, Thall induce his Majesty to recur a

gain to the adoption of fimilar meafures; and the undersigned is o bliged to announce before-hand, that his Majefty will at no rate intereft himfelf again in the fate of those of his co-states who fhall not now accept of the friendly proffer of protection, made with fo much friendfhip, and fo many personal facrifices.

The coldnefs which has for fome time paft been manifefted from various quarters, respecting the maintenance of the troops, has induced his Majefty to authorife the underfigned to make this frank and explicit declaration, and to give the well-meant warning not to fuffer themselves to be deceived by the hope of a speedy peace, but rather to rely upon the fufficiently publicfpirited and patriotic fentiments of the King, and his Majesty's knowledge of the general fituation of public affairs, and to entertain the firm confidence that his Majefty would certainly, and with great pleafure to his co-ftates, fave the burdens required by the maintenance of the troops, if there was the leaft poffibility of fecuring totheir territories the benefits of the neutrality, and all the advantages which have hitherto accrued from it, without fuch a measure.

That, however, the faving of the burdens occafioned by the maintenance of the troops, according to the general fituation of affairs, being impoffible, and his Majefty deeming it abfolutely neceffary to preferve the corps of obfervation till the conclufion of a peace, if the tranquillity and neutrality of Northern Germany are to be maintained, his Majefty doubts not but all his affociated co-states will fhew their readiness for that purpose, in

display proper zeal in a measure fo clofely connected with felf-prefervation, and render practicable the farther execution of the beneficent defigns of his Majefty.

With this confidence, the underfigned, by fupreme command, has the honour to make known to you, &c. &c.

[Here follow two articles, fpecifying the fupplies to be granted, for three months longer, in flour, oats, hay, and straw, for the Pruffian, Hanoverian, and Brunfwick troops, at two different periods, viz. the 15th inftant, and the Ift of April. In order to fecure the fub. fiftence of the troops in future, the states of Northern Germany are to meet in convention at Hidelfheim on the 20th inftant, or to fend Plenipotentiaries to regulate the quotas of fupplies, in neceffaries or in money, for as long as the war may laft.]

As thofe deliberations (in convention at Hidelfheim) will preclude all subjects not effentially and directly relating to the maintenance of the troops, the underfigned will lofe no time to terminate them with the utmost speed, and not to detain the Plenipotentiaries a moment longer than fhall be neceflary from following their other affairs. The flattering confidence with which the underfigned has hitherto been honoured in the late negotiations, makes him equally confident that his zeal and activity will be entirely depended upon in that bufinefs. He has only moft urgently to request that, for the fake of difpatch, the states may furnish their Plenipotentiaries with full inftruc

new ones, but that the necessary refolutions may be taken, not only for the farther fubftantial regulation of the maintenance, but for the obligatory affent to the fame to the end of the war.

The undersigned has it likewife in command to requeft, that their Excellencies the Plenipotentiaries may arrange matters in fuch a manner as not to quit the convention till the state of affairs fhall permit its fufpenfion or conclufion, fince the gradual departure of many Plenipotentiaries has formerly occafioned a precipitate fufpenfion of the first convention, which has been highly prejudicial to the difpatching of bufinefs. His Majefty will alfo confider the fulfilment of this wish, and the infallible meeting of the convention, according as it is expected to meet, as a gratifying proof that his ferene co-ftates with to do juftice to his efforts and facrifices.

And the underfigned alfo looks forward for the defired answer refpecting the fourth fending of fupplies, before the expiration of the prefent month; and hopes to have the honour and pleafure to fee again. their Excellencies the Plenipotentiaries at the second opening of the convention, on February 20. (Signed)

The

DоÁм. Halberstadt, Jan. 4, 1797.

Cleves, 14 Nivofe (Jan. 3). Adminiftrators of the Cantons of

Cleves and Xanten to the Inhabitants of the faid Cantons.

Citizens,

HE director-general of the

been thus plainly notified, in order

the

tre Meufe and the Rhine, having the entire adminiftration of thofe countries, could not fee without the greatest surprise the order of the Royal Chamber of War and Domains of Wefel, and of the regency of Emmerick, dated the 29th of December (G. S.), which forbids the cutting down of wood fold, under the penalty of reftitution and reprifal.

We should be effentially wanting in the discharge of our duties and obedience, if we fuffered other authorities to interfere in the administrative affairs of our cantons, without having previously received a formal order from our fuperiors. You have seen feveral times ordinances emanating from thofe authorities; you have feen alfo that the French government has not, on that account, discontinued the direction of Pruflian as well as of other countries. Do not doubt that they will still continue it; you will, perhaps, be convinced of it when you fhall pay attention to the manner in which the ordinances have been communicated. We appeal to the members of those chambers, if a foreign authority were to intimate orders to them, would not they fay, with reafon, "We have a fovereign; it is only to him that we owe obedience;" and would not they continue their functions without paying any attention to the order? We are therefore, determined, citizens, to maintain with firmnefs all the operations undertaken, or to be undertaken, in the name of the government which we reprefent, and to punish exemplarily all thofe who fhall fhew any disobedience in any manner whatever. But you have already given us fufficient marks of your obedience to make us believe that

we fhall not be forced to have recourfe to fuch extremities.

(Signed) WASSEINEL. SEIDA

Declaration published by the Pruffian Government at Wefel.

THE Royal Chamber of War. and Domains has learned, with furprife, from feveral quarters on the other fide of the Rhine, that the French agents infift not only upon the payment of the first inftalment of the contribution of 3,000,000, but that a fixed number of men are also to be put in requifition, to cut down the wood deftined to be fold. And whereas an édict, published by the King's fupreme command, in that part of the country, declares fuch a proceeding unlawful, and contrary to the treaty of peace concluded at Bafle; the Magiftrates of Xanten can by no means be farther authorifed to make payments of a fimilar defcription, and to do actions directly in oppofition to his Majesty's Royal intention. There is no doubt but the French agents, upon a maturer inveftigation of the matter, will be of the fame opinion; and the magiftrates of Xanten need to be the lefs afraid of compulfion by military execution, which would render the French agent refponfible, fince we are informed that the orders of the Directory at Paris, purporting that the Royal Pruffian provinces fhall be exempted from all farther requifitions and contributions, are already arrived at Aix la Chapelle.

(Signed)

SEIMBURGER,
VON BERNOTH,
WULFING.

Done at Wefel, in the Royal Chamber of War and Domains, January 6th, 1797.

als; as likewife all the inftructions

the Rhine.

Art. I. ON the 1ft Germinal, of the fifth year of the Republic (March 21, 1797) all the French administrations, under what denomination foever they may have been organized, fhall entirely cease their functions. In order to replace them, and examine their operations, there fhall be created an intermediate commiffion of five members, one of whom fhall be perpetual prefident. The commiffion fhall refide at Bonn.

II. The ancient conftitutions, ufages, cuftoms, laws, and contributions, fhall be re-established at the above mentioned period, for the Pruffian provinces on the left bank of the Rhine. Their magiftracies, chambers of juftice, and finances, fhall refume, with full right, their functions. The clergy of all orders fhall remain in the entire poffeffion of their property; and no wood fhall, under any pretence, be felled, without a special and explanatory order from the commander in chief of the French army, called of the Sambre and Meufe; be it however obferved that, until farther orders, the authority of the Republic is the only one that ought to be acknowledged in the conquered countries.

III. The intermediate commiffion fhall appoint a commiffioner with the Pruffian adminiftrations, whose functions fhall be to watch over the execution of the orders given, either by the commander in chief or by the commiffion, to receive and tranfmit to the commiffion the requests, either of the administrations or private individu

give information to the government refpecting the conduct adopted by fome of its former agents in the conquered countries.

IV. Immediately after the inftallation of the magiftracies, which fhall be certified by an authentic act (proces verbal) the chamber of finances of the Pruffian provinces fhall order the agents of the former adminiftrations to give a detailed account of their operations, which it fhall examine and forward to the intermediate commiffion, with fuch remarks as it shall think proper to add thereto.

V. The new magiftrates fhall correfpond with the intermediate commiffion on fuch matters as relate to their administration; they fhall addrefs to the commiffion all the just requests which they may deem proper to form, and give every month a minute account of their conduct.

VI. The produce of the taxes of the faid Pruffian ftates, of which the mode of collection fhall without delay be fixed, as well as the arrears due on the forced loan, fhall be thrown, without any deduction, into the cheft of the paymafter-general of the army, who will give proper receipts.

VII. By virtue of the execution of the preceding article, no requifition in money or provifions fhall be made in the Pruffian provinces. Should, however, the events of the war, or other circumftances, render neceffary a fupply of provifions or cattle; or fhould the want of fpecie oblige the perfons paying contributions to acquit themselves in articles of daily confumption, the provifions fhall be received at the prices

hereafter

hereafter mentioned, and in defalcation of the taxes, namely, a quintal of wheat, nine livres; a quintal of rye, barley, or fpelt, fix livres; a fack of oats, of fix Parifian bufhels, fix livres; a quintal of hay, two livres five fous; a quintal of straw, one livre; a pound of meat, four fous fix deniers.

VIII. The members of the magifterial corporations, and the bailiffs, who, for any caufe whatever, may have transferred their refidence to, or preferved the fame on the right bank of the Rhine, are authorised and invited to refume their charges. In cafe of the demife of any member of the chambers, tribunals, or bailiwicks, the intermediate commiffion is authorifed to appoint to the vacant places, perfons recommended as proper objects by the magiftrates, who are to be immediately reinftalled.

Thefe prefents, corroborated with the feal of command, and delivered to the deputies of the Pruffian provinces, have been refolved at Cologne, the 22d Ventofe, 5th year of the Republic (March 12, 1797.)

The General commanding in chief the army of the Sambre and Meufe, charged by the Executive Directory with the general adminiftration of the conquered countries. (Signed) LAZARUS HOCHE. Promulgated at Wefel, March 18, 1797.

Edict published at Berlin. Frederic William, by the Grace of God,

King of Prufia, &c. &c. HAVING understood that the Aulic Council of Vienna have adopted, without ever confulting Ns, different measures, on the re

queft of one party, and wholly to the advantage of the complainants, by which they have attacked us and our rights, and diffuaded our fubjects from performing thofe ob-, ligations which they have contracted on cath with us, and have even formally fummoned those of the Equeftrian Order not to regard us as their Sovereign, the measures which they have adopted, by printing and circulating them, to mislead our fubjects, are,

Ift. A mandate of the Aulic Council, dated March 17th, 1797, on the fubject of the claims of the fovereignty of Brandenbourg against the bishopric of Etchftadt. 2d. A conclufum of the Aulic Council, of the 23d March, concerning the pretenfions of the fovereignty of Brandenbourg against the Equeftrian Order in Franconia. 3d. Idem, of the 8th of April, and against the imperial town of Welffeinbourg. 4th. Idem, March 5th, &c. against the Elector of Cologne, as Grand Mafter of the Teutonic Order. 5th. Idem, May 9th, &c. against the imperial town of Nuremberg.

Confidering what the laws of the empire prescribe, we can by no means regard, nor will regard, thefe measures as legally valid and obligatory, but, on the contrary, we muft confider them as real encroachments on our rights of fovereignty, and peculiarly prejudicial: we, in confequence, therefore, folemnly and ferioufly, by the prefent patent, advise and forewarn all thofe of the Equeftrian Order who have hitherto belonged to the canton of the Equeftrian Order of the empire, as alfo all other perfons whose fovereigns belong to the Equestrian Order, or are neighbouring princes, not to fwerve in the leaft degree