STATE PAPERS. 



177 



is actually occupied by the enemy, 

 and that, through this accident, the 

 British army hasnn longer anycom- 

 municatioowithOstend; from which 

 circumstance, it has become of the 

 utmost importance, that th: British 

 army should receive the considera- 

 ble reinforcements of troops and 

 stores expected from the ports of 

 England by t le river Scheldc, the 

 greatest part of which is already at 

 sea : and in consequence of whi;h 

 theundersigiedtindshimselfobliged 

 to requestvery seriouslyof yourhi;.:h 

 mightinesses topermit, and give the 

 necessary orders for the free passage 

 of the vessels conveying troops and 

 other necessaries for the said Brit ish 

 army, and for their passage, without 

 any impediment. 



The object of this demand being 

 evidently of much importance to 

 the common cause, the undersigned 

 has no doubt of your immediate 

 concurrence ; and he farther flat- 

 ters himself, that yourhigh mighti- 

 nesses, seeing the extreme necessi- 

 ty of this request, will dispatch the 

 necessary orders with all possible 



diligence. 



(Signed) St. Helen. 



Done at the Hague, July 29, 



In consequence of tins meviorial 

 the naui^ation tftheSckeldl was de- 

 clared free to all Lnglish vesselx. 



The free 7)1 en of La Petite Riviere 

 in St Dtimingo, audits dipe/iilen- 

 cies, encarii pedal Murc'iand, (be- 

 tween Gjiiaioes and Artibo7iiteJ 

 uniertheorderscf general Lavaux 

 commander of the republ cans, to 

 A'lr. liiii'au, comntunder of' the 

 Vol. XXXVI. 



forces of his Britannic majesty , at 

 at. Marc, Aug. IS, 1794. 



Mr. Commander, 



ABJURING the errors into 

 which the agents of the re- 

 public have plunged us; jealous of 

 prohling by the advantages offered 

 us, in your just and beneficent pro- 

 clamation, dated the7th instant, we 

 submit ourselves to the arms of his 

 Britannic majesty. We swear fide- 

 lity to you, and beseech you to pre- 

 scribe what measures you think pro- 

 per to procure us peace, and tend 

 to the preservationof the rest of the 

 unhappv colony of St. Domingo. 

 The franknessof loyalty, whichcha- 

 ractcrizes your nation — your gene- 

 rous proceedingstowards those who 

 have putthemselvesunderyour pro- 

 tection, are very powerful motives 

 to excite our confidence. Be as- 

 sured that our entire submission to 

 your orders, our zeal to co-operate 

 in obtaining the return of order, 

 shall make amends for our past con- 

 duct, and never will Great Britain 

 have more faithful subjects. When 

 we receive your answer, we will 

 send you the articles of our capitu- 

 laiion. We are going to cnmmu- 

 nicateour dispositions to the nei'jh- 

 boiiring parishes, th U are still un- 

 der the republican dom'nion, and 

 we '^ave e\ery reason to think that 

 they will yie.d to rer.son, and that, 

 animated by the sentiments whi^h 

 actrate us, t. ey will accept the pro- 

 tection } ou offer them. We are 

 convinced that you will cause the 

 happiness of ire colony, aud there- 

 b}' acquire powerful claims to the 

 public gratit dj. 



We have t'e honour, &:c. 



(signed) B Caseneuve, 



Chuist. Mornet, 

 C H E s N AU, Secretary. 



N ' "7\» 



