the rights and poffeffions of the German princes in Alface and Lorraine, and the treaties which unite France to the German empire; with having given courfe to the fubverfive principles of all focial fubordination, and thereby affected the repofe and felicity of other nations, and with having fought to fpread in other countries, by the propagation of thefe principles, the feeds of the licentioufness and anarchy which have overthrown France; with having tolerated, received, and fold even the moft outrageous writings and fpeeches against the facred perfons and legal authority of fovereigns; thofe who have feized the reins of the French adminiftration have at length filled the meafure of their guilt by declaring an unjust war against his Majefty the King of Hungary and Bohemia, and having immediately followed this declaration with effective hoftilities, committed against the Belgic provinces of this monarch.

The German empire, of which the Auftrian Pays Bas is part, as the circle of Burgundy, is neceffarily found included in this aggrefiion. But other facts ftill do but too much juftify the fear of hoftile invafions, which the menacing preparations of the French on the frontiers have for a long time given birth to in Germany. The territories of the Bishop of Batle, an inconteftibie part of the empire, have been occupied by a detachment of the French army, and are still remain ing in its power, and at its difcre

tion.

Incurfions of the troops of the fame nation, or of rebel corps affembled under their aufpices, have laid waste the country of Liege. It is to be foreseen with certainty,

that as foon as the conveniences of war appear to advise them, the other provinces of Germany will experience the fame effects; and it fuffices to know their local pofition to feel for the imminent danger to which they are conftantly expofed,

It would be fuperfluous to enter into a detail of the facts which are now alleged. They are notorious, and the whole empire has been, and is ftill, daily witnesses thereof.

It will alfo equally be difpenfed with, to difcufs here the evident injuftice of the aggreffion of the French. If it were poffible that any doubts could remain on this fubject in the mind of any perfon whatever, they would be entirely removed by weighing with impartiality the unanfwerable arguments contained on this point in the diplomatic pieces published by the cabinet of Vienna.

His Pruffian Majefty has with pleasure entertained hopes, that at length, after fo many agitations and inconfequential proceedings, the perfons who direct the French adminiftration would return back to the principles of moderation and wifdom, and thereby avoid the extremities to which things are unfortunately come. It was with this falutary view that, at the commencement of the military preparations of France on the frontiers, founded on the afylum granted by fome ftates to the French emigrants, he charged the Count de Goltz, his minifter at Paris, to declare to the miniftry of his Moft Chriftian Majefty (as the Chargé des Affaires of his Majefty the then reigning Emperor had alfo orders to do)" that he looked upon an invafion of French troops on the territories of the German empire as a declara

tion of war, and would oppose it

with all his forces."

The fame minifter, after receiving orders, found the Chargé des Affaires of his Majefty the Emperor, in a number of reprefentations, making known, in the moft exprefs manner, that the King was invariably purfuing the fame line with his Apoftolic Majefty respecting the affairs of France. The event has fhewn how little the hope of the King, as to the effect he promised from these energetic declarations, was well-founded; but at least the party whofe furious determinations have brought on hoftilities, can never have any pretext on account of their ignorance of his Majefty's intentions. And it is particularly the general principles publicly manifefted by the two National Affemblies, principles which attack all governments, and endeavour to shake them in their bases, that France has to blame for the effufion of human blood, and the evils which the prefent circumstances have already brought, and may in future bring, upon her.

United with his Apoftolic Majesty by ties of a clofe and defenfive alliance, his Pruffian Majefty cannot act contrary to his engagements, and remain a quiet fpectator of the war declared against this fovereign. He has not then hesitated to recal his minifter from Paris, and to act with vigour in defence of his ally. -As a principal member of the Germanic corps, he is further obligated by his relations in this quality, to march to the fuccour of his co-eftates against the attacks they have already experienced, and with which they are daily threatened.It is thus, under the double connection of ally of his Apoftolic Majesty

and a powerful state of the empire, that his Majefty takes up arms; and it is the defence of the states of this monarch and of Germany, which forms the first aim of these armaments. But the King would but imperfectly fulfil the principles he hereby profeffes, if he did not extend the efforts of his arms to another fort of defence which his patriotic fentiments equally impofe on him as a duty.

Every body knows how the National Affembly of France, contrary to the most facred laws of the Droit des Gens, and against the exprefs tenor of treaties, have deprived the German princes of their incontestible rights and poffeffions in Alface and Lorraine, and the reclamations which a number of these princes themselves have publifhed. The deliberations and arrets of the Diet of Ratifbon on this important matter, will also serve to furnish,all those who wish to be informed, with the moft convincing proofs of the injuftice of the proceedings of the French government in this refpect, which has not hitherto propofed to grant a full indemnity to the aggrieved parties; but, adopting a peremptory language and threatening measures, only offered indemnities entirely infuficient and inadmiffible. It is worthy of the King and his auguft ally to have juftice rendered to thefe oppreffed princes, and thereby to maintain the faith of treaties, the fole bafis of union and reciprocal confidence between people, and the effential foundation of their tranquillity and welfare.

It is, in fhort, a laft defign of the armament of the King, more extensive still than the former, and not lefs worthy of the fage and well-in

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tended

tended views of the allied courts, to prevent the incurable evils which will still refult to France, to Europe, and to all mankind, from this fatal fpirit of general infubordination, of fubverting all the powers, of licenfe (liberté trop grande) and of anarchy, of which it might have been expected that an unhappy experience fhould have already ftopped the progrefs..

There is not any power interefted to maintain the balance of Europe, to whom it can be indifferent to fee the kingdom of France, which has hitherto formed fo confiderable a weight in this great balance, given up any longer to the interior agitations and horrors of diforder and anarchy, which it may be faid have destroyed all political existence; there cannot be any Frenchman truly loving his country, who does not ardently defire to fee thefe terminated; in fhort, no man, fincerely a friend to humanity, who cannot but afpire to fee limits put to the progrefs of mistaken liberty: a dazzling phantom, which leads the people far from the road of their true welfare, in altering the happy ties of attachment and confidence which ought to unite them to their princes, their fathers, and their defenders; and efpecially to the unbridled furies of the wicked, who only feek to deftroy the refpect due to governments, for the purpose of facrificing, on the ruins of thrones, to the idols of their most infatiable and reftlefs ambition, or to a vile cupidity.

To put an end to anarchy in France, to eftablish for this purpofe a legal power on the eflential bafis of a monarchical form, and by this giving fecurity to other governments against the incendiary attempts and efforts of a frantic troop,

fuch is the grand object which the King, conjointly with his ally, ftill propofes; being affured in this noble enterprise not only of the wishes of all the powers of Europe, who acknowledge its juftice and neceffity, but, in general, of the fuffrages and the wifhes of every perfon who fincerely defires the welfare of man, kind,

His Majefty is far from throwing the blame of these faults, which have forced him to take up arms, on the whole French nation. He is perfuaded that a part, and without doubt the moft numerous of this esteemed nation, abhor the exceffes of a faction but too powerful; and, feeing the dangers to which thefe intrigues lead, itrongly defire the return of juftice, of order, and of peace. Unfortunately, experience has fhewn, that the powerful influence of this party is ftill but too real, although the event has already demonftrated the nullity of thofe culpable projects, founded on infurrections which it only fecks to foment. The difference of fentiments of perfons well-intentioned, however certain they are, are thereby only for the moment little felt in their effects. But his Majefty hopes, that in opening at laft their eyes to the dreadful fituation of their country, they will difplay all the energy which fuch a juft cause ought to infpire, and that they will look on the allied troops affembled on the frontiers as their protectors and true friends, of whom Provi dence will favour the arms; and they will know how to reduce to their juft value the factions who have put France in a state of fermentation, and who alone will be refponfible for the blood which their criminal enterprises may cause to be shed.

Declaration

Lunenburg, commanding the combined Armies of their Majefies the Emperor and the King of France, to the Inhabitants of France.

THEIR Majefties the Emperor and the King of Pruffia, having entrufted me with the command of the combined armies affembled on the frontiers of France, I think it my duty to inform the inhabitants of that kingdom of the motives which have influenced the conduct of the two fovereigns, and of the principles by which they are guided. -After arbitrarily fuppreffing the rights and invading the poffeffions of the German Princes in Alface and Lorraine; after having disturbed and overthrown in the interior part of the kingdom all order and lawful government; after having been guilty of the moft daring attacks, and having had recourfe to the most violent meafures, which are fill daily renewed against the facred perfon of the King and againft his auguft family, thofe who have feized on the reins of government have, at length, filled the measure of their guilt, by declaring an unjust war against his Majesty the Emperor, and by invading his provinces of the Low Countries. Some of the poffeffions belonging to the German empire have been equally expofed to the fame oppreffion; and many others have only avoided the danger, by yielding to the imperious threats of the domineering party and their emillaries.

His Majefty the King of Pruffia, united with his Imperial Majefty in the bands of the ftricteft defenfive alliance, and as a preponderant member himself of the Germanic

the affiftance of his ally and of his co-eftates. It is under this double relation that he undertakes the defence of that monarch and of Germany.

To thefe high interefts is added another important object, and which both the fovereigns have moft cordially in view, which is to put an end to that anarchy which prevails in the interior parts of France, to put a stop to the attacks made on the throne and the altar, to restore the King to his legitimate power, to liberty and to fafety, of which he is now deprived, and to place him in fuch a fituation, that he may exercife that legitimate authority to which he is entitled.

Convinced that the fober part of the nation deteft the exceffes of a faction which has enflaved them, and that the majority of the inhabitants wait with impatience the moment when fuccours fhall arrive, to declare themfelves openly against the odious enterprizes of their oppreffors,-his Majefty the Emperor, and his Majefty the King of Pruffia, earneftly invite them to return without delay into the paths of reafon and of juftice, of order and peace.

It is with this view that 1, the underwritten, General Commandant in Chief of the two armies, do declare,

Ift, That, drawn into the prefent war by irrefiftible circumftances, the two allied courts have no other object in view than the welfare of France, without any pretence to enrich themselves by making conquefts.

2dly, That they do not mean to meddle with the internal government of France, but that they fimply intend to deliver the King, the P 3

Queen,

Queen, and the royal family, from their captivity, and to enfure to his Moft Chriftian Majefty that fafety which is neceflary for his making, without danger and without obftacles, fuch convocations as he fhail judge proper, and for endeavouring to enfure the welfare of his fubjects, according to his promifes, and to the utmost of his power.

3dly, That the combined armies fhall protect the towns, bourgs, and villages, as well as the perfons and property of all thofe who fhall fubmit to the King; and that they will concur in the immediate restoration of order and police throughout all

France.

4thly, That the national guards are called upon to preferve, provifionally, tranquillity in towns and in the country, to provide for the perfonal fafety and property of all Frenchmen, until the arrival of the troops belonging to their Imperial and Royal Majefties, or until orders be given to the contrary, on pain of being perfonally refponfible: that, on the contrary, fuch national guards as fall fight against the troops of the two allied courts, and who fhall be taken with arms in their hands, fhall be treated as enemies, and punifhed as rebels to their King, and as disturbers of the public peace.

5thly, That the general officers, the fubalterns, and foldiers of the French regular troops, are equally called upon to return to their former allegiance, and to fubmit immediately to the King, their legitimate fovereign.

6thly, That the members of departments, diftricts, and municipalitics, fhall be equally refponfible, on pain of lofing their heads and their eftates, for all the crimes, all

the conflagrations, all the murders and the pillage which they fhall fuffer to take place, and which they fhall not have, in a public manner, attempted to prevent within their refpective territories; that they shall alfo be obliged to continue their functions until his Moft Chriftian Majefty, when fet at full liberty, fhall make further arrangements,. or till further orders be given in his name.

7thly, That the inhabitants of towns, bourgs, and villages, who fall dare to defend themselves against the troops of their Imperial and Royal Majefties, and to fire upon them, either in open country, or through half open doors or windows of their houses, fhall be punifhed inftantly, according to the rigorous rules of war, or their houses fhall be demolished or burned. On the contrary, all the inhabitants of the faid towns, bourgs, and villages, who fhall readily fubmit to their King, by opening their gates to the troops belonging to their Majefties, fhall be immediately under their fafeguard and protection; their eftates, their property, and their perfons, fhall be fecured by the laws, and each and all of them fhall be in full fafety.

8thly, The city of Paris and all its inhabitants, without diftinction, fhall be called upon to fubmit inftantly and without delay to the King, to fet that prince at full liberty, and to enfure to his, and to all the royal perfons, that inviolability and refpect which are due by the laws of nature and of nations to fovereigns; their Imperial and Royal Majefties making perfonally refponfible for all events, on pain of lofing their heads, purfuant to military trials, without hopes of par

don,