ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

twithstanding the ill-founded pes held out by the combined wers, he prosecured the most gorous and most expensive war. here was no sovereign but the ing endeavoured to prevail on, by the most advantageous oposals, to join his Majesty ; dwithstanding this request was dressed to the Empress at differit times, since the last months of 191, and during the year 1792, M. de Galvez, Spanish minister Russia, and M. de Zinowief, resided in the same quality at adrid, but especially in October 72, and December 1793, when Lide Amat, then Spanish charg afaires at Petersburgh, and soon M. de Oris, minister of his abolic Majesty, had long confernces on this subject, the former itb count Osterman, and the late r with count Besborodko. Not tstanding all this, there did not xit the least circumstance which romised an active co-operation on be part of the Empress, nor does appear that the occupation of Poland could have prevented her from co-operating in favour of the It was under these ircumstances that the King, my master, no doubt from fear and apprehension of sinister consequences for his kingdom, resolved to make peace, convinced, that if he were left without assistance in the war, that support, which might be promised him for the attainment of peace, would prove still less efficacious. This is the true situation of Spain, and his Catho lic Majesty obliges himself to fulfl whatever he has promised for the benefit of the common cause, in which, at the same time he must, for the future, decline participa

t

common cause.

2

tion in any measure, which has no certain and consistent object. (Signed) THE PRINCE OF Peace. Note sent by Baron de Budberg, Chargé d'Affaires from Russia, at Stockholm, to the Foreign Ministers, relative to the non-admission of M. de Schwerin, who went to Petersburg for the Purpose of notifying the Marriage about to take place between his Swedish Majesty and the Princess of Alecklenburgh Schwerin.

THE Empress having given orders to M. the Count d'Ostermann, to acquaint the Swedish ambassador, that the mission of M. de Schwerin not being agreeable to her Majesty, he could not be admitted; the chargé d'affairs (M. de Budberg) has received orders to declare that the motive of this refusal was founded as much on the unfriendly proceeding of the Regent, as on the principles of his political conduct with regard to Russia. Both the one and the other being diametrically opposite to those ties of affection, of friendship, and of good neighbourhood, which originally have been the basis of this sort of missions, and which have never been adopted between courts that were not united by similar ties, or being so, have not taken care to cultivate and fulfil the duties of them. That this was the situation, as to Russia, in which Sweden had been placed, since the Duke de Sundermania, who holds the reins of government, not content with having formerly insulted her Majesty the Empress, fn endeavouring to surprise her by insidious and delusive overtures and propositions, entered into a public treaty with the French assembly, with those men who

solemnly

solemnly insulted the memory of the late King, by erecting a monument to the memory of his execrable assassin. That her Majesty the Empress was neither ignorant of the motives nor the object of those treaties. That it was notorious that the Regent had recently received from the French a sum of money to be employed in armaments, and that he was now in full negotiation with them for a treaty of alliance, the principal stipulations of which are directed against Russia; so that her Majesty the Empress had every reason to expect an approaching rupture on the part of Sweden, unless the King's coming of age (which, happily for the repose of that kingdom and of the north, was an event not far distant,) should put a stop to it, and thereby avoid this lamentable extremity. Tenor of the Letters of Convocation addressed by the King of Prussia, as Duke of Magdebourg, and of the Duke of Brunswick, as CoDirector of the Circle of Lower Saxony, to the different States destined to enjoy the Advantages of the Neutrality.

We, by the Grace of God, Frederic William, King of Prussia, &c. Charles William, Duke of Brunswick, &c.

The apprehension 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 so fatal to her, have determined us, the King, in consequence of our solicitude and patriotic attachment, and in consequence of the pacific relations which we maintain with France, to distribute as much as possible to our Co-estates of the north, the inestim able blessing of repose and security

from the troubles and misfortunes of war; that is to sav, as far as these states will, on their part, accord with our intentions, which are of general utility. To this end negociations have already been entered into with the French government, relative to a new ine of neutrality, and in order to be able with the more efficacy to assure that neutrality, and to afford protection and safety to the states com prised within it, we, the King, are ready to march a considerable army; and we, the Duk, have also taken a resolution to reinforce that army with our troops, the Electoral Court of Brunswick Lu nenburg having also manifested the same intentions. These combined troops being therefore to protect the neutrality of the north of Germany, it is as just as it is absolutely indispensable, that they should be provided and provisioned by the states which shail enjoy this advan tage, and that each, individually should hasten in proportion to its means, to procure them the neces sary provisions. But this object requires, on account of the urgency of circumstances, the most speedy dispositions. The most proper means for attaining this end is by the convocation of a common and extraordinary assembly of all the Upper States of the Circles of Lower Saxony, with the States of the Lower Rhine and of Westphalia, 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 subject, and to regulate the distribu tion of the maintenance of the troops upon an equitable footing, proportioned to the faculties of each state; for, on the speedy furnishing of the objects necessary for this

maintenance will alone depend the maintenance of the common safety of the north of Germany.

Those, therefore, whose territory is comprised in the said line of neutrality, and which, consequently, will enjoy the benefit of this protection, being principally implicated in this case, we have, in our quality of Prince and Director of the Circle of Lower Saxony, addressed to them conjointly the present letter of Convocation, in order to unite them to assemble, by their deputies, furnished with the necessary instructions on the 20th of the month of June, in the town of Hildeshein. We have no doubt that they acknowledge, in its full extent, the urgency of the case, 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 consequence they will adhere and contribute every thing that can attain the common end, sufficiently in time to avoid being surprised by danger.

We, the King, shall depute to the common assembly of the States, our intimate Counsellor Von Dohm, directorial minister to the Circle of the Lower Rhine and Westphalia, and plenipotentiary to the Electoral Court of Cologne, furnished with necessary powers; and we entreat, very amicably, this assembly 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.

ROYAL PRUSSIAN EDICT. Frederick William, by the Grace. of God, &c.

WE bave signified to the ambassador of the French republic, Caillard, by a note from our ca

binet ministry, that we will permit such national Frenchmen, who reside in our dominions as our temporary subjects, (Subditi temporarü) and who have real right to the protection of the French nation, and wish to preserve those rights, to get their names inscribed in ย register which will be opened for that purpose by the said ambassador, but in such a manner, that all those subjects shall, the same as before, remain our temporary subjects, (Subditi temporarii) that they likewise shall submit to our laws, ordinances, and jurisdiction, and not make the least pretentions to any immunities granted by the law of nations only to ambassadors, and the persons actually belonging to embassies.

We have further given orders to inform the said Caillard, that the national Frenchmen, qualified as above, are at liberty to wear the French national cockade in our dominions, but the wearing of the said cockade is hereby rigidly for bidden to all other persons. It therefore results from these premises:

1. That the wearing of the cockade shall be confined to Frenchmen men of the afore-mentioned description, together with the ambassador, and the persons belong ing to the embassy.

2. That national Frenchmen shall all be entitled to have their names registered, the regis tering to relate only to their con nection with France, and to leave them subject, as before, to our laws, ordinances, and jurisdiction, as our temporary subjects.

3. That all persons belonging to the French colonies established in our dominions; farther, all Frenchmen in our service, by oath of allegiance

allegiance and duty, even if they do not belong to the above-mentioned colonies; as likewise all those in general who are described by this article as our perpetual sub. jects, (Subditi perpetui) shall not have a right to have their names inscribed in that register, wear the French national cockade. Berlin, 16 July. Declaration of the King of Prussia, put against the Gates of the City of Nuremburg, July 5.

our

or to

HIS majesty the king of Prussia, most gracious Lord, makes known by this public notice to all magisterial persons, burghers and subjects, and most graciously declares, that in taking possession, by virtue of the judgments of the Aulic council of the empire, given in the years 1583 and 1587, respecting his territorial sovereignty, as far as the gates of the Imperial city of Nuremburg-all private property shall remain inviolate: no person be opposed in the exercise of his well-acquired rights and privileges, but that he rather shall be protected therein by his Majesty; and every possession shall quietly remain in the enjoyment of all territorial and feudai imposts and du.

ties.

His Majesty will only exercise. the rights of sovereignty to him belonging, and grant farther to the inhabitants of the suburbs of Nuremburg, his sovereign assurance, that they and those who belong to them, shall be exempt from all military duty and levy.

In other respects, every one is hereby cautioned to demean himself quietly and calmly, and to shew the more respect to the military, as they will observe the best discipline on their part, and avoid every excess.

By his majesty's most gracious and special command.

HARDENBERG. Anspach, July 3d, 1796. Nuremberg, August 16. Submission of the Imperial City of Nuremberg, to the King of Prussia.

OUR magistrates have, under the present circumstances, applied to the Prussian minister of state, Baron Von Hardenberg, testifying to his excellency the general wish of the citizens to live in future under the beneficent laws of his Prussian majesty. His excellency did not hesitate to intercede for us with the French commander in chief, general Jourdan, to obtain a fixed contribution in lieu of all requisitions, which has been granted accordingly until the pleasure of the French Directory shall be known. In other respects, Baron Von Hardenberg made answer to our deputies, that it was beneath the dignity of his sovereign to take advantage of our present situation, that his majesty would defer making known to us his real sentiments till we shall be fully at liberty to announce our wishes according to the forms of our present constitution. Declaration delivered to the Magis

trates of Nuremberg on the 29th of September, 1796, by the Prussian Minister, Baron Von Hardenberg, relative to the Proposal of its being united with the King's Dominions.

THE undersigned has the honour, in the name of the king,his most gracious master, to declare to the most worshipful the magistrates and burghers of the city of Nuremberg, that the proof of confidence and attachment which it gave to his ma jesty, by the voluntary offer of submitting to his sceptre, made in so solemn and decided a manner, has been received by his majesty

with true pleasure and grateful approbation, and will be esteemed in its full value; but that his majesty according to the situation of matters cannot as yet resolve himself to acceptofthat voluntarysubmission, and to ratify the annexed agreement of subjection and exemption, but that hismajesty will nevertheless find sufficent motives in that unequivocal mark of the confidential attachment of the city, to make it experience, by preference, his favour and benevolence, and is already prepared to do every thing in his power to promote the welfare and fafety of the city; while his majesty, after a farther developement of circumstances and events, will also never have any objection to answer as much as possible to the farther wishes of the city.

The said minister delivered a similar declaration to the cities of Weissenberg and Winsheim.

Rescript, published by Order of the King of Prussia, respecting the Prussian Territories on the left Bank of the Rhine.

Frederick William. WE having been informed that an opinion has been propagated through a part of our state of Westphalia, situated on the left bank of the Rhine, to wit, the provinces of Cleves, Meurs, and Gueldres, in the actual possession of the French troops, that suffici ent remonstrances and protestations had not been made on our part against the various innovations and oppressions which the French commissaries and agents exercise over our faithful subjects; we have therefore thought it good to make this public declaration, by means of our regency, jointly with our

chamber of war and of territory; and we do publicly declare, that we have never ceased, nor shall we ever cease, to interest ourselves in behalf of our said subjects, by the intervention of our envoy to the French republic; and that it is far from our intention to depart from the basis of the treaty of Basle respecting the civil or financial administration of those countries.

In concluding the treaty, by which the war between our state and the French republic was put an end to, it was never our intention to grant them more than a mere military possession of our provinces on the left side of the Ruine, till peace should be concluded with the emperor and this intention, which has been taken as a basis in the negotiation is sufficiently manifest by the tenor of the 5th article, which expressly declares, that the troops of the republic shall occupy these countries belonging to us."

The difference between provinces conquered from an enemy, and those which belong to a power in alliance, and which have been merely conceded for a temporary military occupation, is sufficiently evident, and it is obvious that they ought not to be treated in the same

manner.

It is therefore impossible for us to believe that the French government, considering the amicable ties subsisting between us and it, will still oppose such evident reasoning. It cannot fail to conceive, that neither sequestration nor confiscation of the goods of the clergy, nor the projected sale of woods, nor the enormous contribution of three millions imposed

on

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »