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that all commercial transactions had also been suspended; her majesty has therefore resolved, under the present circumstances, to suspend in a like manner, on her part, all commerce with the states general of the Netherlands, to prohibit her subjects all transactions, of mercantile connections, with the subjects of the republic, and to forbid them all navigation to the harbours of the said states.

Her majesty has been farther pleased to ordain, that all transaction in the interior of her dominions with the subjects of the United Provinces be suspended ; and that their capitals shall, under no pretence, be carried out of the kingdom.

The departure of all Dutch ships, which are in,the harbours under the dominion of her majesty, is also entirely stopped, because there they must remain under embargo till further orders.

That this resolution may reach the knowledge of every one, and be put in force, it has been publicly posted up.

The secretary of the tribunal of commerce.

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republic; that she hoped there sub. sisted no other cause of disagreement between both states, and that the Dutch government would observe reciprocity with regard to the commercial connections; and that the temporary embargo had been occasioned by the measures manifested in Holland against Portugal, and her majesty thought it very strange that Portugal should not have been considered like other friends of France who were at peace with the Batavian republic."

Copy of the Letter sent by the King of Nuples to the Marquis del Vasto, who, after the receipt of it, set out for Rome as Ambassador Extraordinary, and concluded there the offensive and defensive Treaty between Naples and the Pope.

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HIS holiness acquaints me by letter of his determination to reject the unjust and execrable conditions of the French, on which account he demands of me, though rather late, speedy succour. withstanding this is against my ori. ginal plan, I hesitate not a moment to grant it to him, as it concerns our holy religion, to which I have constantly been devoted. As his holiness demands of me, at the same time, to send some person with whom he may consult on our common affairs, I have appointed you, the marquis del Vasto, for this purpose. purpose. Depart immediately, and have at heart the honour of God and the holy church, the good of the state, and the tranquillity of my subjects, who daily give fresh proofs of their attachment and fidelity to

me.

Done in the camp of St. Germano.

FERDINANDO REX. Proclamation.

Proclamation of the King of Naples.

THE long war which still desolates Europe, which afflicts 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 chris. tianity; not content with destroying it in the breasts of their own na tion, they would also 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, stimu late them to revolt against their lawful sovereigns, plunge them into the most dreadful anarchy, and sink them in an abyss of confusion and misery. Belgium, Holland, and so many German and Italian provinces have become the wretched victims of their seduction, and thirst for plunder. Those unfortunate countries groan and lament, but in vain, under the vain despotism of their oppressors, while the calls of justice and humanity are unattended to. It was necessary that religion, the most powerful obstacle of their horrid projects, should be removed and destroyed, in order that this fence being once broken down, all laws, both divine and human, might be violated without shame or reserve.

Religion, whilst it informs us of our duties, ought also to inspire 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 reposes in safety, and finds a livelihood for himself and his family, especially when that country is invaded by an enemy, who spares neither law nor property, neither life nor religion; who, wherever he makes his appearance, insults, profanes, and destroys the churches, breaks down the altars, persecutes the priests, and tram. ples under foot the most sacred emblems of the church of Christ It is impossible that a citizen, devoted to the cause of religion, should remain unconcerned at the dan. gers which threaten his country; prompted by the impulse of his conscience and a proper sense of his own welfare, he will hasten to its defence, join the military force, and co-operate in a vigorous resistance; he will place his confidence in the God of Hosts, who often strikes an unexpected blow, and disperses his enemies like chaff before the wind.

I myself will set you the example of zeal and courage; I will put myself at the head of my dearly beloved subjects, assembled for the defence of their country, fully relying on the protection of the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, who guides the counsels of princes, and enlightens their minds, if with sincerity they implore his holy name. Yet at the same time I shall neglect no proper means for procuring peace and tranquillity to the people whom Divine Providence has entrusted to my care. But in order to obtain this end, we ought not to neglect the necessary precautions, that we may be prepared for every event. Negociations for peace shall occasionally be set on foot, but they must be P 3

carried

carried on with arms in our hands, that we may not be obliged to submit to destructive and disgraceful conditions, which this enemy, so apt to avail himself of the weakness of his adversaries, might choose to dictate. For this purpose lend me your assistance, ye prelates of the realm, ye who are the depositaries and first defenders of our holy religion, and support my exertions with a zeal worthy of your apostolic mission. Summon the inhabitants of your dioceses to join me and my troops, to repell the enemy, if he should dare to approach our frontiers. Explain to them the justice and importance of our cause, and convince them that it is their bounden duty to concur in its defence. Let the voice of the church be heard through her ministers, and invite her children to support the caue of God, and to offer up prayers to him, that, in his mercy, he may grant us either a just peace, or a glorious triumph. (Signed) FERDINAND. Naples, May 18, 1796.

Edict of his Majesty the King of Naples and the two Siciles, addressed to his Subjects.

We, FERDINAND IV. by the Grace of God, &c. &c. SINCE the time when peace was interrupted in Europe, we redoubled our care to preserve the public tranquillity, and to put the state in a safe condition of defence. We were, therefore, disposed to augment our land and sea forces, and to raise a considerable host of brave warriors on the frontiers of this kingdom. We afterwards put ourselves at the head of our courageous troops, firmly resolved to use all

the means in our power, and even to sacrifice our royal person. These effective preparations, added to lawful and becoming steps to obtain peace, give us hopes that our dominions will forthwith enjoy tran quillity. At the same time we ought not to conceal, that in order to gain the proposed end of our designs, it is absolutely necessary to double the said preparations for the defence of the state, and the acceleration of a lasting and honour. able peace, and to station a still greater force than the present on the frontiers of our kingdom. We address ourselves to all the classes of our beloved subjects, and hereby do require them to contribute with all their power to the speedy augmentation of the army stationed in cantonments. We expect, 2mongst others, that the brave young men who have enrolled themselves for the defence of religion the throne, and the country, will now repair without delay to the frontiers, in order to put themselves under our immediate and personal command, with their brave comrades; and we hope that, in consequence of this, other volunteers will, in greater number, repair to the cantonments, that we may bring together a formidable army, and be enabled to secure the safety and tranquillity of the state, either by a permament peace, or by brilli ant victorious.

Done at Naples, Sept. 12, 1796. Proclamation issued at Petersburgh,

relating to Dutch,Ships.

WE, count Alexander Nikolazenwitsch, do hereby give directions for the immediate release and de parture of all the Dutch vessels, together

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THE empress was already in formed, through the public prints, of the treaty of peace concluded between Spain and the French, and the unpleasant sensations which this unexpected and disagreeable transaction had produced in her Imperial majesty's mind, were greatly increased when this intelligence was confirmed by the minister of his Catholic majesty. The empress, however, has during the new connection which so happily subsists between her and his Catholic majesty, met with too many op

portunues of learning the true senments of that prince, not to be thoroughly convince that the concurrence of the most imperious circumstances can alone have determined him to act in direct opposition to his principles. No doubt it has been for him a task infinitely hard, to enter into neg cations with those, who with their own hands murdered the chief of his lustrious family, and to conclude a

peace with those disturbers of the tranquillity and safety of all Eu rope. No one knows better than her Imperial majesty to value and appreciate all the difficulties and obstacles, which his Catholic majesty must have had to surmount, before he could prevail upon himself so adopt a measure, which to all appearance has been brought about through the most urgent necessity, and the most threatening darger.

Her Imperial majesty being at a loss to account for the motives which can have determined his Catholic majesty thus to insulate his interest from that of the coalition, cannot but persevere in the opinion, that notwithstanding this sudden change, his Catholic majesty will continue sincerely to interest himself in the success of the ope rations of the evangelic powers; and so far from throwing any ob stacle in the way of the new measures which those powers may find it necessary to pursue, rather support them by every means, which the system of neutrality he may, perhaps, think proper to adopt, does not preclude.

His Catholic majesty cannot yet have forgotten the high importance of the cause for which the coa esced powers are contending-to restore order and tranquillity, to lead the nations back to a sense of their duty, and to shield all Europe from the most dangerous infection.— These are the important motives which have induced the coalesced powers to unite their counsels, and exert their joint efforts to render them triumphant.

It is for this purpose, that the three courts have just now, by means of a solemn treaty of alliance, strengthened

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strengthened the ties by which they were united. Their reciprocal interest is therefore so intimately connected and interwoven, and their determination so firm, that it would be impossible to obstruct the operations of one of them, without forcing the others most warmly to em race his cause. Of this descript on is especially the situation of her Imperial majesty with respect to the king of Great Britain; so . that in case of need, her Imperial majesty would be obliged to assist and support him to the utmost extent of her power, but fortunately such connections subsist between his Catholic majesty and the king of Great Britain, in consequence of several treaties renewed in the year 1793, as can never cease to be dear to his Catholic majesty, and neither the conveniency nor usefulness of which can have been lessened by a change of affairs produced by the most imperious circumstances.

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This important consideration, in addition to that which proceeds from the favourable disposition of his Catholic, majesty towards the common cause, cannot but render her Imperial majesty perfectly easy with respect to the conduft which his Catholic majesty is likely to pursue. Her Imperial majesty is of opinion, that it will be both candid and sincere, and it w uld, be painful for her to supp se, that in any case whatever his Catholic majesty could favour measures tendng to obstruct and oppose the avowed purposes of the three allied

courts.

You, sir, will adopt the most proper means officially to communicate to the ministry of his Catholic majesty the tenor of this dispatch, ad to make it the subject

of a conference you are to request of the Prince of Peace.

(Signed) COUNT OSTERMAN.

The Answer of his Excellency the Prince of Peace to M. de Lulzow, dated Santa Cruz, March 17, 1796, I HAVE received your letter of the 224 of February, with a copy of the dispatch, which you, Sir, have received from your court by the last courier from London, and must return you in answer, that the King, my master, bas with much pleasure learned the friendly terms, in which, on the part of her Imperial Majesty, he has been acquainted with the close alliance concluded with the courts of Vienna and London, which.certainly cannot have been the result of the circumstances which existed in Poland, at the time when the forces of her Imperial Majesty might have been employed at a point, where all those monarchs who united for the preservation of their existence, and the mutual support of their rights, rallied. At that period, the King, my master, gave the strongest proofs of his grief at the misfortune of a beloved cousin, and foresaw that his dominions were drawing near that universal corruption, which results from madness without bounds. He waged war against tyrants, but was unable to learn who they were, for he did not know, following the capricious dictates of their levity, who were the good Frenchmen that defended the cause of their king. He was only able to discern, that but a few, victims of their sense of honour, were his true adherents, who followed him to the grave. The desire of the King, my master, was, however, so earnest, that

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