HISTORY [OF 
predatory war they had been com- 
pelled to wage, for the means of 
subsistence, and to habits of plun- 
der, they were a dreadful nui- 
sance to the inhabitants of the 
countries they infested, who were 
peaceably inclined, and desirous of 
pursuing their respective avocations 
in tranquillity. Great pains, there- 
fore, were taken to prevail on the 
numbers that still continued re- 
fraétory, to return to their former 
occupations, and the most solemn 
engagements were entered into for 
their security, and for an oblivicn 
ofall the irregularities of which they 
had been guilty. It was resolved 
at last, as the surest and mostexpe- 
ditious method of terminating these 
fatal feuds, to induce the chiefs 
themselves, by promising liberaLand 
advantageous terms, to lay down 
their arms, and yield obedience to 
the government. Charette, who 
headed the remainder of the Ven. 
deans, and Comartin, the principal 
leader of the Chouans, with several 
other chiefs of the insurgents, con- 
sented to a negotiation with the 
agents of government, in the com- 
mencement of February, 1795, 
and formally agreed, in the name of 
their respective parties, todeliver up 
their arms tothe commissaries of the 
republic, and to demean themselves 
as true and obedient subjects to the 
constituted powers. ‘This prelimi- 
nary being settled, a solemn meet- 
ing was appointed between all the 
members of the convention, com- 
Missioned to act in the neighbouring 
departments, and all the heads of 
the insurgents. They met accord- 
ingly, at the close of February, and 
as both parties were equally de. 
sirous of a reconciliation, there was 
mot much difficulty in settling the 
terms. 
» Vou. XXXVII. 
EUROPE. [6s 
These were highly favourable to 
the insurgents. On condition of 
their engaging to live in future ina 
peaceable subjection to the laws 
and ordinances decreed by the re. 
publican government, and to de- 
liver up their arms and implements 
of war, they received not only the 
completest amnesty, but ample com- 
pensation for the damages done to 
their lands, and the devastations 
committed in their country by the 
military executions ordered against 
them by the late administration. 
Particular indulgences were granted 
to their chiefs, and no request was 
denied them that could reasonably 
be made. 
In ord€r to give the more solem. 
nity to this treaty, it was thought 
proper to conclude and sign it for- 
mally in the city of Nantes. To 
this purpose the conventional depu- 
ties and the chiefs of the insurgents 
made a public entry, and were re~ 
ceived with great honours, and 
every token of satisfaCtion, at the 
business they were about to accom. 
plish. In the declaration, which 
was signed by Charette, and the 
other chiefs on this occasion, they 
apologized for their insurreCtion, by 
ascribing it tothe tyranny exercised 
under the late rulers, and bound 
themselves by the strongest terms to 
be faithful to the French republic, 
and punétually to fulfil the con- 
ditions of the present treaty. In 
pursuance of this promise, they pub- 
lished an address to the people of 
La Vendée, pathetically advising 
them to submit to the convention, 
and laying before them the impru. 
dence and danger of resisting the 
established government of their 
country. These transactions took 
place on the third of March, 
A795* 
[FE] In 
