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the work of divine wisdom, that
things may not be conducted rash-
ly and at the pleasure of chance,
and that nations be not agitated
by contrary waves.-Paul fays, ac-
cordingly, not with regard to a
particular prince, but fpeaking of
the fubject in general, that all
power is of God, and that he who
refifts power, refifts the will of
God; beware, therefore, dear chil-
dren, of going aftray, and under
appearance of piety afford to the
authors of innovation, a pretext to
defame the Catholic religion, for
you would load yourfelves with a
great crime which would not only
be avenged by the fecular powers,
but alfo, which is much more fe-
rious, would draw down upon you
the fevereft vengeance of God, for
those who refift authority gain to
themselves damnation. We ex-
hort you then, dear children, by
our Lord Jefus Chriff, to ftudy to
obey thofe who govern with all the
affection, all the ardour, and all
the efforts, of which you are capa-
ble, for fo you will render to God
the obedience which is dis
is due, and
those who govern, perceiving more
and more that the orthodox reli-
gion is by no means fo conftituted
as to involve the overthrow of civil
laws, will be led to encourage it,
and to defend it by the accomplish
ment of the divine precepts, and
by the culture of ecclefiaftical dif-
cipline: In fine, we deftre to ap-
prize you that you fhould put no
faith in thofe who fhall publifh a
contrary doctrine as emanating
from the Holy See. We heartily
beftow upon you the apoftolic be-
nediction.

Given at Rome, at St. Mary
Major, under the fiber's ring,

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Subftance of the Edict published by his
Holiness, on the Reception which bis
Subjects ought to give to the French.

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HIS holiness enumerates to them a variety of motives which ought to induce them to refpect and treat the French with the utmoft kindnefs, fuch as "the principles of our holy religion, the laws or nations, the interefts of the people, the will of their fovereign," &c.

He affures them that the ceffa. tion of hoftilities is the immediate gift of God; and reminds them of the neceffity of parting with a fmall portion of their worldly riches for the fecurity of the rest, and, what is of more importance, for the prefervation of the Catholic religion. He admonishes them not to liften to any perfidious infinuations tending to disturb the public peace, and declares, that whoever thall infult by words or actions, in the lighteft manner, the French commiflioners, their agents, or domeltics fhall be punished with death, their goods confifcated, and their families, pronounced infa mods, as in cafes of treafon against the fate.

Thofe who fhall by their harangues, writings, or countels, provoke infults against the French, fhall be liable to the fame punishment.

Such as thall be fpectators or participators in proceedings of the above defcription, and thall not denounce the traitors, before the ordinary tribunals, fhall be condemned to ten years Davery in the galleys.

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galleys. Such informants as can eftablish the fact of an infult, fhall receive a reward of 500 ducats on conviction of the offender. The tribunals fhall proceed against perfons under an accufation of this fpecies of treafon in the most fummary manner allowed by the criminal jurifprudence of the country. July 15.

Note, by which M. Galeppi, Plenipo tentiary Minister of Pius VI. announced to the French Commiffioners, Garrau and Salicetti, the Determination of his Holiness not to accept the Conditions of Peace offered, or rather dictated by the French Directory.

THE underfigned plenipoten tiary, minifter of his holiness the pope Pius VI. has the honour to inform Meffrs. Garrau and Salicetti, commiffaries of the executive directory with the French armies of Italy and the Alps, that having laid before his holiness the fixtyfour articles propofed by their excellencies, under the condition that they must all either be rejected or accepted to their full extent, his holiness, after having examined them, and taken the advice of the holy college, declares, that neither religion nor good faith do any ways allow him to accept them.

It is with the utmost concern his holinefs has found, that befides the article already propofed at Paris, tending to oblige him to difapprove, revoke, and annul, all the bulls, refcripts, briefs, and apoftolic mandats iffued under the authority of the holy fee, with refpect to the affairs of France, fince the year 1789, there were several others, which being equally prejudicial to the catholic religion and the rights of the church, are

confequently inadmisible; with out entering into any difcuffion concerning thofe which are de fiructive both to his fovereignty and dominions; pernicious to the happiness and tranquillity of his fubjects, and evidently contrary to the rights of other nations and powers, towards whom the holy fee would not even be able to maintain itself neutral. His holinefs hopes, therefore, that the executive directory, from its own fenfe of rectitude, as well as in confideration of the mediation of his majefty the king of Spain, will do justice to the powerful motives which have determined his ho linefs to give this refufal, which he is obliged to enforce at the hazard of his life.

Given in Florence, the 15th of
September, 1796.
(Signed)

State

GALERPI, Minifter plenipotentiary to his holinefs the pope Pius VI.

Paper published at Dresden,
July 30.

HIS moft ferene highnefs, the Elector of Saxony, has taken no part in the prefent war, as a principal belligerent power. As a coettate of the empire, and in that character only has he fulfilled those obligations which the Germanic conftitution imposed on him as a duty; and his electoral highness, being fully impreffed with the wish of feeing the miseries of this defolating war terminated, has often endeavoured to accelerate a pacification by his vote in the Germanic diet, and by other means. These are facts of public notoriety.

The meafures which are dictated by the prefent ftate of things, and by the precaution of his electoral highness, agree with the princi

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ples

ples which he has uniformly manifefted. He will in no respect deviate from them; and the refolu tion of collecting a corps of his troops on the frontiers of his territories, and thofe of the circle of Upper Saxony, which are now fo contiguous to the theatre of war, will prevent any misunderstanding with refpect to his motives.

In order, however, that no doubt may remain on this fubject, his electoral highness has thought proper hereby exprefsly to declare, that the affembling of thofe troops has no other object than to cover his territories, and thofe of the other states of Upper Saxony, against all foreign violence.

They are, of course, mere meafures of defence, unconnected with a defign of acting offenfively with them against any power beyond the fkirts of his territories, and of those of the said circle, whofe first prince

he is.

Given at Dresden, July 26, 1796. By his moft ferene highness the elector of Saxony's moft gracious and fpecial command.

Declaration of the Elector of Hanover to the Diet of Ratifbm, on the Subject of the Imperial Refcript, of the 17th of October, 1796.

THE minifter of Hanover has declared to M. de Hingel, the Imperial commiffioner,

That his Imperial majefty had directly required his majefty the king of Great Britain and elector of Hanover to furnish a new proof of his marked attachment to the Germanic conftitution, by giving a great example, and acting efficacioufly in concert with the diet of Ratisbon, not only that he may be rated for a fufficient quantiy

of Roman months, but by paying up all that remains due of his quota, It was declared at the fame time that it was neceflary the number of Roman months thould exceed a hundred.

His Britannic majefty has replied to his Imperial majesty that he would not, nor was he able to anticipate the refolutions of his coeftates: and that he was not at prefent in circumftances which per mitted him to answer the demand which was made-that fince the periods when the laft Roman months were granted, the fyftem of the war had completely changedthat different ftates, holding of the empire, had made a separate peace, to avoid the total ruin with which their countries were threatened that others had embraced neutrality for the protection of their subjects; and that the profperity thefe ftates enjoyed proved that they had attained a falutary object-that the affairs of the empire have affumed quite another afpe&t, and that the relations of his Britannic majesty, in his quality of elector and prince of the empire, were well known to be inconfiftent with the Imperial demands; that he cannot of course confent to the granting of new Roman months (for the continuation of this unhappy war) ftill far lefs can he contribute directly, fince the negociations commenced at Paris, from which is expected a happy iffue for the tranquillity of Europe.

Proclamation of the Archduchess of Auftria, Maria Elizabeth, to the Inhabitants of Tyrol.

Dearly and much beloved Subjects, THE defire you have manifefted take up arms for the good of

to

fovereigns, and the defence of your country, has often compelled me to fhed tears of gratitude. I am unable to recompence, as I wish, the brave men who devote themselves in a caufe fo loyal; but as an inhabitant of Tyrol I will, for the benefit of the defenders of the country, difpofe of every thing fuperfluous; gold and filver watches, knives, medals, plate, &c. which I will diftribute myself after the war, as acknowledgments to those brave Tyrolians who fhall diftin. guith themfelves by their courage and brilliant actions. I entreat all the brave defenders of the country to believe, that they fhall ever be the objects of my moft anxious folicitude, and that I will not neglect to make known to the emperor, my dear relation, the fervices they fhall have rendered, for the purpofe of obtaining from him the rewards they may deserve..

(Signed) MARIE ELIZABETH. Done at our Court, at Infpruck,

the 30th of May, -796.

A Proclamation by His Imperial Majefty.

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WE FRANCIS II. &c. &c. IN the prefent moment, when a coincidence of the most unexpected events favours the rapid progrefs of the enemy, and calls for our redoubled care to afford affiftance to our ftates menaced in this manner, we find this our refolution ftrengthened by confidering that Providence has put us at the head of a nation, which has given us on every occafion, the moft effectual proofs of the greatnefs of their zeal to fupport the measures taken for the defence of their country, of their laws, which render them happy, and of a

prince who returns to their fidelity a love for every individual,

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Though fear, and perhaps, ins tentional reports, magnify the danger more than it in reality is, and prefent it as nearer at hand, we must not conceal from our faithful fubjects that the fituation of affairs is preffing, and does not allow us to remain fatisfied with ordinary measures, but impofes on us, and all thofe who with to fee the welfare of the ftate fecure, more than extraordinary exertions.

Much as the long duration of a war, carried on under many changes of fortune, has affected the powers of the nation, yet the refources of fo powerful a fiate are far from being exhaufted. Though government continues to refrain with abhorrence from the violent measures which our enemies employ for the oppreffion, of our fellow-citizens and the deftruction of Europe; countries. fo well populated, fo fertile, and enriched by nature and industry, ftill offer innumerable means of defence, by employing which we would find ourfelves enabled to meet every danger. But we truft in the juftice of our caufe, and in the protection of the Almighty, who regards that juftice, that the moment will not arrive in which the nation will be forced to have recourfe to the most extraordinary means.

In this perfuafion, we shall always confine ourfelves only to the measure of calling to arms, thofe who are otherwife, agreeably to the military fyftem, exempted from military fervice; including alfo all foreigners, who have not acquired the rights of citizenship in the Auftrian dominions by refiding in them for ten years.

At

At the fame time we promife to all those who fhall willingly follow this our call, and who fhall offer to their municipalities to ferve in the army,

1. That as foon as ever we shall have fecured to the nation, agreeably to our with and defire, an ho nourable and permanent peace, they thall be difmiffed at the ter mination of the war.

2. That during the war they

fhall be treated as volunteers.

3. That they fhall be at liberty, agreeably to their abilities and capacity, to chufe and name the regiment in which they with to ferve; and that,

4. As a juft recompence on their return home, every poffible affiftance fhall be given to them in their employments and fettling; and that, on all occafions, they fhall be preferred.

Though we can promise ourfelves the principal operation of this proclamation, from the unequivocal fentiments of our faithful fubjects, yet we think it our duty to impress upon their minds, that in following willingly this honourable call of their country, they Jikewife protect their families and private property; and that, if on the contrary they fhould neglect to join us for the general fecurity, they would be forced. in cafe of unfortunate events, to carry parricidal arms against their native Jand, and, as abufed organs of the enemy, to promote the ruin of public order, the deftruction of their fellow citizens, and of their families, and to affift in the common deftruction.

Behold the ftill finoaking ruins of Italy, and the exceffes and moft inhuman cruelties committed

there! Behold the devaftations which the once flourishing territories of Germany have fuffered, inundated by the armies of the enemy! And you cannot remain dubious about the terrible fate which threatens every country, and every nation, on being invaded by fuch enemies.

Done at Vienna, 11th Auguft, 1795.

Proclamation by his Imperial Majesty.

WE Francis II. by the grace of God, &c. &c. When we affumed the government of this monarchy, we felt it extremely grievous to find ourselves involved in fo hard a war as the prefent: great as our grief was, equally great was our with of procuring a speedy and lafting peace to the country. Every body must be convinced, that all the powers and means poftible to men have hitherto been used for that purpose; and it is highly painful for us, that our paternal folicitude, added to fo many patriotic contributions of our faithful fubjects, and the valour of our troops, fo repeatedly proved, could not, as yet, bring it fo far as to effect a peace, honourable and not injurious to the monarchy-nay, that it rather feems to be our peculiar deftiny, to be obliged, to our continual mortification, to behold the enemy conftantly approach nearer to our German hereditary dominions, and efpecially to the frontiers cf our beloved kingdom of Bohemia. In order, therefore, to protect this kingdom, in the fafeft and most perfect manner, from all hoftile attacks, and it being, in other respects, no longer poffible to conquer folely with the army now exifting, and to keep from off the frontiers of our

kingdom

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