HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



39 



part of that ground. Another 

 effect produced by this victory was, 

 the determination toproceed against 

 Treves. The army of the Moselle 

 was now no longer necessary to sup- 

 port that of the Rhine, but at 

 full liberty to pursue its opera- 

 tions along the former river. It- 

 began its march accordingly on 

 the 5th of August: after forcing 

 some posts on its way. It arrived 

 on the 8th in sight of the city of 

 Treves. A body of government- 

 troops stationed there, evacuated it 

 immediately ; and tlie French made 

 their entrance in the afternoon of 

 that very day, to the seeming satis- 

 faction of the inhabitants. The 

 magistrates met them at the gates 

 intheirformalities, and assured them 

 of a sincere welcome. The French, 

 on their parts, issued the strictest 

 orders against all irregularities ; and 

 organized the government of this 

 city and its dependencies on the 

 ^•epublican plan. The French bad 

 now nothing more to accomplish 

 for the most prosperous termina- 

 tion to the campaign . than to re- 

 cover those towns that had been 

 taken by the allies wiihin the pre- 

 cincts of France. In order to acce- 

 lerate their surrender, they threat- 

 ened the garrison to put them to 

 the sword if they made a defence ; 

 which they must be conscious was 

 totally needless in their present 

 circumstances, from the absolute 

 impossibility of tl)eir being rcliesed. 

 These threats had been decreed by 

 the sanguinary administration of 

 Robespierre; as had also the order 

 to give no quarLer to the British 

 troops, nor to the Hanoverians*. 

 But the French ofHcers and soldiers 

 had too much honour and huma- 



nity to become the instrument* 

 of such cruelty. As there was no 

 likelihood of receiving any kind 

 of assistance from the allied armies, 

 the various garrisons tliat had beeij 

 left in these towns, did not think 

 it prudeirt to exasperate tl'.e French' . 

 by a resistance, which could only 

 produce effusion of blood, without 

 serving the cause for which it might 

 be ahed. 



Landrecy was the first of tljese 

 towns summoned to surrender. 

 The garrison consisted of 2,tXX) 

 men, well provided with the means 

 of defence, had it been practicable. 

 They did not however yield to the ' 

 first summons, and waited until the 

 French Genejal had opened ground, 

 which he did in the night, so near 

 to the town, that not apprehending 

 him to have approached so close, 

 the fire from the garrison was di- 

 rected to a much more distant p</mt, 

 and of course was lost. A capitu- 

 lation was proposed by the Gover- 

 nor, but refused by the besiegers ; 

 to whom tl;e place was at last sui;- 

 rendered at discretion, about th<; 

 end of July. Ihe next of iho.se 

 French towns that returned lu tlie 

 obedierice uf France, was Qnesnoy. 

 It was, like the former, in e.xcellcut 

 condition, and duly prepared, for .a 

 siege: but the same motives that 

 oiit-rated the reddition of the ons, 

 effected the surrender af theofhei. 

 The garrison an.ounlrd to 3,Ot.k3 

 men, who dcUveied up the plaoe 

 to General Scherer, the same oiKci't 

 wlu) had reduced the prcci-dnig. ; 

 and who refused all terms but those 

 of absolute discretion; to which the 

 garrison submitted on the 15th, of 

 August. ;.-, 



Ixjss harsh terms were grairjtsd 



The b.ntbarity of this order was nobly contfHsted by the sentimrnts p( humanity 



»nd moderation which dictated, on this occasion, 

 "Xork. See State I'ajicrs in this voluinc, page ifls. 



pi.)?!,iniii';un oy the DuKc oi 



lo 



