‘ 
66] 
In this general submission to the 
republic, one of the principal heads 
of the insurgents refused to consent: 
this was Stoffet, a man of a sin- 
gularly bold and daring dispo- 
sition, and who seemed inclined to 
persist in his opposition at all events. 
His bravery and conduét, on many 
difficult emergencies, had rendered 
him very popular in his party, and 
he retained many adherents; but 
after continuing some time in his 
refusal, finding that many of his 
people forsook him, he judged it 
prudent, in conjunction with several 
other chiefs, to comply with the 
terms Offered him by government. 
He assigned asa motive for his delay, 
that he was desirous to ascertain the 
inclinations of the people of his 
party, with whom he was bound 
in honour to remain, till they had 
manifested their determination to 
accept of the conditions laid before 
them by the commissioners. As they 
were willing to embrace these, he 
thoughtithisdutytounite with them 
in submitting to the republic, and 
in promising a faithful observance of 
all the articlesin thetreaty. Thissub- 
‘mission was dated the zoth of April. 
In this manner, the most danger- 
ous insurrection, that had yet. hap- 
pened in favour of the royal cause 
in France, was seemingly extin- 
guished. But many doubted the 
sincerity of those chiefs of .the in- 
surgents, who a¢ted in the name of 
the Chouans. These had always 
‘been an unsettled assemblage of 
people, rude in their manners, and 
ill-conne¢ted in their movements, 
which were irregular and desultory. 
The authority ot their leaders was 
precarious : every bold and enter- 
prising individual ‘was sure of tol. 
lowers. Hence they were con. 
tinually separating into divisions 5 
& 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
which though aéting on the same 
principles, had their particular chief. 
tains, who atted independently of 
each other, and were obeyed and 
respected according to the degreé 
of suecess that attended them. It 
was dificult, for this reason, to 
conelude. any general agreement 
with such people. The principal 
officers, in the republican troops, 
that were stationed in those parts, 
and who, by long intercourse, were 
well acquainted with the dispo- 
sition of the insurgents, placed little 
reliance on their submission, and 
were of opinion, that the observ- 
ance’ of the treaty just concluded 
with them, would be of short dura- 
tion. ‘Lhe motives for judging so 
unfavourably of their intentions 
were, that the number of dissidents 
from pacific measures, was not only 
considerable, but consisted of the 
most ative and artful among the 
insurgents, As these men had not 
been able to prevent the conclusion 
of this treaty, they seemed resolved 
to procure its infraction, as soon as 
circumstances afforded any plausible 
pretence, or they could influence 
their party to be disgusted with it. 
To this end they disseminated re. 
ports of formidable preparations 
abroad to assist them, if they should 
again incline to resume their arms 
for the cause they had forsaken, 
with more precipitation than could 
be justified, and for which they 
would always be suspected to retain 
an irradicable predilection. Sus- 
picions of this nature would never 
be removed from the minds of the 
republicans, with whom they could 
not expect to live ona footing -of 
reciprocal confidence, and who cer- 
tainly would treat them with lenity 
no longer than necessity compelled 
them to dissemble their real senti- 
mentse, 
