218 
Friday the 16th of January, after 
having some ‘days before informed 
the States General of their inten- 
tion, and found themselves obliged 
to submit to those conditions which 
the conqueror thought fit to grant: 
it will suffice to state, that the 
states of that province having re- 
quested that their constitution and 
form of government might be pre- 
served, would only provisionally 
agree to it, which afforded no secu- 
tity for the future. 
The prince of Orange being in- 
formed, that the states of the pro- 
vinces of Holland were about to 
adopt the same resolution on the 
same day, found himself under the 
necessity of sending away the 
princesses his wife and daughter-in- 
law, with the prince bis grandson, 
on board a fishing-boat, on Sunday 
morning the 18th of January, and 
was himself obliged to follow them 
on the same day (with the two 
princes his sons), which however 
he did not do till he had acquainted 
the States General, as also the states 
of the Seven Provinces, and of 
the country of Dronthe, with his 
intended départure; writing to 
them, ‘* That he easily foresaw, 
from the present situation of the 
republic, what lot he must expect 
if the enemy should penetrate fur- 
ther into the country ; and, not 
wishing to be any obstacle to peace, 
he had resolved to absent himself 
and his farnily for a time from the 
territories of the states, and hoped 
that their high mightinesses would 
approve of this step.” 
It should here be remarked, that 
the prince did not depart till after 
his letter had been read, as well in 
the assembly of the States General 
as in that of the state of Holland; 
that his departure fram the Hague 
and his embarkation were fully 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
known to both assemblies, who 
did not take any step to oppose the 
measure; and that his departure 
did not take place till the states of 
Holland had resolved to capitulate, 
and had required it in their name, 
from the prince of Orange, as 
captain-general of that province, 
an ofhcer and a trumpet to an- 
nounce the commission from the 
states of Holland, who were to re- 
pair to the gencral of the enemy to 
ascertain what articles should form 
a capitulation for that province. 
The prince kpew their deputies 
were commissioned not to make 
any difficulties, but to yield to every 
article. » The same day after the 
prince had notified his intention of 
quitting the Dutch territories, four 
members of the college of coun- 
sellors, deputed by Holland, de- 
manded an audience of the prince, 
and begged he would hasten his 
departure ; that they could give no 
reply to any thing; and that even 
if it was insisted upon in the 
French general’s answer that the 
prince and his family should not be 
permitted to quit the country, they 
would be under the necctsity of 
taking measures to prevent their 
departure, especiaily in case the 
French general, or the commis- 
sioners of the national conven- 
tion, should require that the col- 
lege of the deputed counsellors 
should be mide responsible, if the 
prince absented himself before the 
arrival of the French troops. After 
such a declaration the prince of 
Orange thought it no longer safe 
to remain at the Hague, and em- 
barked at Scheveling on board a 
fishing-Loat. Having consulted the 
marine officers asd pilot who were 
on board the vessel what course he 
should steer, they were unanimously 
of opinion that the best plan would 
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