222 
solved, with the strictest imparti- 
_ality, to observe the edict of neu. 
trality, published by his august ta- 
ther, under date the first of August, 
1778, asa fundamental law of the 
duchy. 
The beneficial consequences of 
this resolution rendered it highly 
agreeable to his beloved subjects, 
who, profiting by the trade and 
commerce of other nations, with. 
out hurting any of them, found 
themselves relieved from those 
alarms and troubles which are oc- 
casioned by the fearof war. Whilst 
his royal highness enjoyed the sa- 
tisfaction of seeing that Tuscany, 
superior, as it were, to the occur- 
rences of the times, rested peaceful 
and quiet on that neutrality which 
was. constantly respected by the 
French republic, he found himself 
involved in those unpleasant tran- 
sa¢tions, which are already known 
to all Europe. Although his royal 
highness was unable to resist them, 
yet he consented to nothing but the 
removal.of the French minister re- 
siding at his court, the only act 
which the imperious circumstances 
of that period could extort from 
him, and which can never be quoted 
as an act derogatory to the consti- 
tutional neutrality of Tuscany. 
The sincere explanation of these 
faéts, which admit neither discus- 
sion nor refutation, and the impar. 
tial line of a¢ting observed after- 
ward towards the French republic, 
as well as towards individuals of 
that nation, have restored Tuscany 
to the enjoyment of all the bles- 
sings which had been taken from 
her. His royal highness having 
concluded with the national con- 
vention of France a treaty, calcu- 
lated to re-establish his former 
neutrality for the benefit of his 
. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
subjects, without encroaching upon 
the rights and interests of the bel- 
ligerent powers, with respect to 
whom he had never taken upon 
himself any particular obligation, 
has thought proper to publish the 
terms of that treaty. 
His royal highness therefore 
wills, that in all his dominions, the 
edict of neutrality of the first of 
August, 1778, confirmed by the 
ordinance of the 22d of March, 
1790, and published at Leghorn 
on the 28th of April, 1792, be 
scrupulously observed; for which 
purpose, a sufficient number of: co. 
pies of this edict shall be sent to. 
the consuls of foreign nations re- 
siding at Leghorn, and to the Tus- 
can consuls residing in foreign 
ports. 
Given on the rst of March, 1795. 
FERDINAND, 
V. A. SERRISTORI, 
Ernest pi GILkENs. 
wn 
Imperial Decree of Commission from the 
Emperor to the Diet at Ratishon, 
respecting the Proposition Sar negi- 
tiating a Peace with France. - 
The Preambl: to this Decree contains 
@ hyief Stutement of the Causes and 
Progressaf the War, and the Pr-= 
ceedings of the Diet, till its last re. 
‘solution relative to peace after which 
it proceeds to the follwing purport : 
THAT the restoration of tran- 
quillity to the empire, by a speedy 
peace, is an event to be desired, 
and cannot admit of a doubt in 
the mind of any one, who shall, 
for a moment, compare the heavy 
calamities occasioned by the pre- 
sent war, unexampled tor the vio- 
lence with which it has been con- 
duated, 
