The lords of the Equestrian order and nobles think proper once more, to reprefent in the most affecting manner to your noble and great mightineffes the true picture of the unfortunate ftate of our country. This province, formerly fo happy and flourishing, and fo refpected, the object of admiration, and frequently even the envy of the neighbouring nations, is now rending its own entrails, and by difcord and unbridled paffions is at this moment on the brink of deftruction, and ready with all its inhabitants to be overwhelmed in inevitable ruin.

When the lords of the Equestrian order proposed their advice on the 7th of July to this illuftrious affembly, they judged it fufficient, in the then fituation of affairs, to glance flightly over the reafons which actuated them; they flattered themselves that the penetrating eye of the members of the illuftrious affembly of your noble and great mightineffes, would give them that turn of which they were fo evidently fufceptible.

When on the ioth of July they deliberated on the memorial of M. de Thulemeyer, the Equeftrian order preffed them in the most carneft manner to make the most ferious reflections on the abfolute neceffity of providing as foon as poffible fome conciliatory means proper to prevent thofe effects which the Equestrian order feared, and which it plainly told them of.

The Equestrian order, nevertheless, has not had the fatisfaction of feeing their well-meant advice or conciliatory propofitions crowned with fuccefs, by want of influence over the plurality of members; but, on the contrary, heard and faw the 14th of July an answer

to the memorial of the Pruffian envoy determined upon; from which it appeared to the Equestrian order that no good effect could be expected. The event has at prefent proved the fame, as appears by the last memorial from the court of Berlin; and experience fhews the foundation of that forelight on which the Equef-· trian order grounded its first advice. Now the danger is at the highest point, and augments every inftant; and if they intend to put in execution the means of preventing a fituation abfolutely without refource, not a moment must be loft.

The Equestrian order thinks the term without refource is not too expreffive, but founded in every refpect on truths that must be acknowledged; and they are ready to facrifice their wealth and blood for that liberty which their ancestors have enjoyed, and which they acquired and founded by rivers of blood. But the Equestrian order will never concur in rendering the inhabitants of Holland the victims of inconfiderate actions, which in themselves unjustly violate the laws of nature and of nations, which deftroy liberty, and which provoke the vengeance of thofe whom they have neceffitated by their raflı treatment to check them by force. And what, alas! are the means of de fence which can be put in execution in thefe unfortunate circumstances, to pleafe a people whom they are obliged not only to preferve from evident danger, but even to protect from that which threatens them?

Will they find these means in the concord, that once immoveable bulwark of our power? That has difappeared; and the re-eftablishment of it can only be effected by the affiftance of the Almighty. (F2)

Are

Are the means to be found in the finances, which form the finews of all military expeditions? Who amongst the members of your noble and great mightineffes, or those members compofing the corps of the regencies of the refpective cities, are ignorant of the deplorable fituation of the finances at this moment? If any farther proof of it is required, let them caft an eye on the last loan of five millions made by Holland; they have only to reckon the enormous lofs of 22 per cent. and then reckon that the above loan coft this country 16 millions of florins; they have only to confider the prefent price of bonds, the important diminution of the value of efects, the enormous expences which are incurred in a country become powerful by œco nomy, and executed by a commiffion with a power more than dictatorial, and which has a free unlimited power over the wealth of this country, which it uses in the most Tirconftitutional manner imaginable, and abfolutely without example, for its own ends, and of which the fovereign has generally not the leaft knowledge but when they think proper to require their approbation, which they have always an opportunity of infuring by the reigning fpirit. If we muft fpeak with truth, and without difguife, the Equeftrian order must own it is informed, that the. e expences attending this commiffion, or the ordinaries which have been granted it at its request, amount already, during the first week of its nomination, to near 60,000 florins.

If this is the cafe, the Equeftrian order has no occafion to make any reflections on this head; things fpeak for themselves, and afford fufficient room to compare the ancient induftry of the Dutch in the

management of their financès with the diforderly profusion which now fo ftrongly reigns.

The Equestrian order fill flatters itself that they may be mistaken, and that the counfellors of the committee, knowing beit the ftate of the finances, will be able to declare these reports without foundation.

Are the means of defence to be found in the advancement of commerce, and the refources it affords?

At the establishment of this re public, and during the uncertain æra of its existence, the enemy was more than once in the country, and they experienced the unfortunate effects of it; yet commerce preferved at least one part of its ordinary courfe. The Dutch flag, more or lefs protected, prefented itfelf, and brought riches, which enabled the inhabitants to pay the heavy taxes which the prefervation of their country required. The powerful city of Amfterdam fupported the republic: its amazing wealth rendered it the mistress of the commerce of the universe, even during those unhappy times, and diffufed through an infinite number of fmall veins, which proceeded from this rich fource, and which it knew how to nourish, a profperity which rendered its intrinfic power firm, and made it withstand the greatest affaults. But, alas! at prefent, if this rich fource is not entirely drained, it is at least in à moft deplorable fituation. Here we want words to exprefs ourselves. The Equestrian order is affrighted at the appearance of the fituation of trade, and cannot conceal it. And what more is there which they have not to fear? May not an inftant fhet up the paffage of those rivers through which the commerce of this country is fill carried on

with fome advantage? Can they be ignorant of the damage this muft do to the principal cities of HolJand? The inhabitants of Dort, do they not fuffer greatly in being ftopped in their commerce of wood? The inhabitants of Schiedam, are they not hindered in their coal trade, which they fend up the Rhoer? Can the city of Amfterdam carry on any trade with the hips from the Upper Rhine? and how great then will be the number of those whofe only fubnience is commerce, and which they will be deprived of? Let us draw a curtain over this dreadful defcription; the heart hardens at the thoughts of the fatal events which this fubject exhibits on all fides.

In fine, will they feek and find the means of defence in the affiftance of our confederates, or in that of foreign powers?

The answer to this question, and the expofition of the different objects which must be confidered in every point of view, is of fo delicate and embarraffing a nature, that the Equestrian corps is fearful of expreffing itself on this head. To effect it requires a knowledge found ed on the political fyftem of this part of the globe, to obtain which we must pry into the fecrets of cabinets, and difcover them as much as poffible. This requires combinations, and fuch forefight is ne ceflary for this which prudence forbids to trust to paper. The Equef trian corps appeals to the wifdom of the members, who cannot rate the prefent ftate of the union high enough, and who can, in like man ner, pry into the designs of the monarchs who furround us, and who do not look with an indifferent eye on this repúblic; for which there is no need of an explication on the part of the Equeftrian order,

who proteft that they have not the leaft thought that their co-members of this affembly want the fmallest hint on this important matter.

After thefe mature and moderate reflections on what has been faid, the Equestrian corps think them fel es obliged to introduce again their advice, propofed the 10th of July, and to infift in a proper manner that your noble and great mightineffes put in execution im mediately fome conciliatory means, without derogating from your fove reign dignity, and not to make this unfortunate accident augment the number of unhappy circumstances in which this republic is indifput ably involved.

The Equestrian corps therefore renews its inftances, and previously recals its advice; it frankly offers to give on every occafion proofs that it has nothing more at heart, and wishes for nothing more ardently, than to act in concert with all the members for the real welfare of the province in its defence; in a ward, for the re-establishment of its repofe, happiness, and profper. ity; and will at all times facrifice for that purpofe its wealth and blood.

Such, noble, great, and mighty lords. are the true fenfe and fole intentions of the Equeftrian order, which they declare in the most fo lemn manner, in the firm perfuafion that this protestation, and the open exposition of all their fentiments contained in this advice proceed from their duty to the Al mighty, to their confcience, to their oath, to all the inhabitants of Hol land, and in fine to this illustrious affembly itself, whofe deliberations and advice ought to be governed by truth, fincerity, and perfua fion.

We must fill add here, noble, (F 3). great

great, and mighty lords, that this is the fecond time that the Equeftrian order has been obliged, within a little fpace, to propofe fuch a detail of advice to this illuftrious affembly; the objects of it were of the utmost importance, and made the Equestrian order declare its fentiments on political affairs once for all.

This they have done without fear, though they know the judgment a contrary fyftem forms of it; nor are they ignorant of the menaces which public report announces to them. If they are executed; if we must suffer the lot of our brothers of Dort, we are affured that we may fay with them,

"Juftum & tenacem propofiti virum,
Non civium ardor prava jubentium,
Non vultus inftantis tyranni,
Mente quatit folida.
Si fractus illabatur orbis,
Impavidum ferient ruina."

And then dying in a noble caufe, we will not with our last breath call down the vengeance of the Almighty, but we will ufe that tender prayer, "Forgive them, Lord, they know not what they do."

an intention as that of my going to the Hague would have had fuch ferious effects, and fo entirely oppofite to the falutary views which determined me to undertake that journey.

I expected great obftacles before I fucceeded in my endeavours to reftore peace and tranquillity; but the only difficulty for which I was unprepared, because it was the least probable, was unfortunately that which deprived me of every means of attaining my end, by topping my journey by violent means.

But if the unheard of proceeding ufed towards me in Holland, a proceeding, the impreffion of which has only been modified by my inward knowledge of not having me rited it if this proceeding, I fay, has been difapproved by all the courts, and every man of honour and good breeding, what must be thought of those who compofe the prefent plurality of the tates of Holland, to fee them mifconftrue and facrifice the interests of their country to little perfonal views, and oblige the king to take a fatisfaction they have obftinately refufed to his friendly exhortations.

The king, by declaring he confidered the offence as against himfelf, penetrated my heart with gradared to anfwer him, and the intitude; but after the manner they juftice which this pretended majority did not ceafe committing, that declaration would have raifed my greatest fears for that country which for 20 years I have confidered as my own, and whofe interests are infeparable from thofe of my houfe, if I had not been made ealy by the declaration of the states general, that of the principal members of the affembly of the states of Holland, and of the greatest part of the nation, as well as by the magnanimous

nanimous fentiments which characterize his majesty.

The king could not give a ftronger proof of those fentiments than by charging your highnefs with the execution of his orders; and the fentiments, fir, you have de fired to fhew towards me, and which your highness has manifefted in your declaration to the ftates of Holland, do not permit me to doubt of the wifdom and equity of your intentions; but your highnefs muit pardon me if I dare to implore your clemency towards that part of the inhabitants who are blinded and led aftray by paffion, and to affure you I fhall confider your behaviour towards them, and the protection you fhew to the wife part of the nation, as fo many favours done to myfelf. In the mean time I do folemnly declare here that, perfectly agreeable to the moderate principle fhewn by the prince in his laft declaration, I will never profit from any circumstances whatever to procure my family a greater authority than the conflitution and true liberty of the provinces grant it; and that for myself I fhall always be ready to employ my good offices for the welfare of this country, and those of my houfe, with out fear of trouble or difputes. I have no ambition for any influence, and I will only accept that which I owe to the confidence and friendfhip I have merited. It is with these fentiments and the warmneft gratitude I fhall all my life remain with the highest confideration, fir, your ferene highness's most devoted fervant and coufin,''''

WILHELMINA,"

fired me to request the king my brother to permit 3000 or 4000 of his troops to remain fome time in this province, I haften to inform your highnefs of this refolution of their noble and great mightineffes, a copy of which is annexed, be feeching your highnefs to fupport this demand with your good offices: the fignal marks of kindness and protection of his Majefty make me hope he will not refuse them.

I leave it to your highness's con. fideration, if, after the arrange ment taken to disarm the unconftitutional citizens of Amfterdam, you may not regard the conditions of the fatisfaction required by the king as entirely fulfilled, and withdraw the troops, except the num ber the states of Holland have de manded, which will be both a re lief to this country, and to the troops themfelves, on account of the bad feafon. Your highness will at the fame time permit me to intercede for the inhabitants of thefe provinces who are prifoners of war at Wezel: I request your highnefs to release them, and flatter myself you will not difapprove the fhare I take in their unfortunate fituation. When you were on the point of entering Holland at the head of the Pruffian troops, you deigned to receive the inftances I addreffed to you in favour of this nation, whofe welfare and interes in general are the object of my conftant wishes: accept then at prefent the expreffions of my gratitude, and thofe of this nation, who have daily difcovered the emi nent qualities which characterize your highness. The remembrance of our obligations to you will al

1787.

SIR,

(F 4)

your