STATE, PAPERS, 
the campaign, and this ought to 
assure you of its sincerity. -Men 
will not brave tyrants, at the mo- 
ment they present themselves to 
impose new chains upon them: 
they will not defy them, as it were, 
to their face; without an ardent 
love for liberty, and without a firm 
resolution to perish in its defence. 
Therefore the national convéntion 
has only to declare itself, and 
40,000 Belgians are ready to unite 
themselves with the triumphant 
armies of the republic, to give the 
last blow to the impious coalition 
which dares to misrepresent it. 
Health and Fraternity. 
PERES, 
The Representatives of the People 
with the Army of the North, and 
Sambre and Meuse, in a Letter 
Jrom Brussels of March 7th; 1795; 
ewrate tu the Committee of Public 
Safety as follows : 
BRUSSELS is tranquil, peace 
and content reign throughout Bel- 
gium. If any cties are heard, they 
are those of immediate union with 
the republic, I do not think it 
necessary to punish as seditious, 
the-authors of sich sentimentss 
The Belgians, at first alatmed 
by the military contributions which 
Were required and the various re. 
quisitions which were made, now 
confess that the law of conquest 
was mildly exercised. In short, 
the salutary fegulations of the 
committee of public safety, which 
had facilitated the payment of 
the contributions, which have re- 
stored the hostages to their families, 
which have broken the fetters of 
commerce, which have ereéted for 
the first time, in this despotic coun. 
243 
try, the noble institution of trial 
by jury; all these benefits united 
tend to conciliate the affection of 
all persons; by convincing them 
that the French republic is as gene~ 
reus as it is powerful; and as bene- 
volent towdrds the people as terri. 
ble towards despots. Such are the 
Belgians, and when they are repre- 
sented to you in an unfavourable 
light, it is only to induce you to 
maintain that barrier which has 
existéd betweett you and them; 
bat soon shall you overthrow it, 
and the people of both countries 
shall join heart and hand to com- 
bat tyranny and defend liberty. 
Health and Fraternity. 
(Signed) PERES. 
_ » 2 ew) L 
Address of the Magistrates of Antwerp 
tothe NationalConvention of France, 
read on the 2d of March, 1795. 
REPRESENTATIVES, 
AT length all our sufferings 
will be ended. The benevolent 
decree of the committee of public 
safety; dated the 22d Pluviose, 
tranquillizes all hearts; Disposers 
of cur destiny, you manifest un- 
equivocal intentions to ascertain it 
for ever; All the inhabitants’ of 
Gur commune present you the just 
tribute of their gratitude. From 
all parts of our provinces the people, 
rejoiced at the sight of your ex. 
ploits, admire the happy change 
you have just effected. 
Yes, citizens, all Europe, plunged 
in the horrors of fanaticism, hy- 
pocrisy pervading all hearts, despo- 
tism seated upon thrones, govern- 
ing with an iron rod in his hand, 
made of all Europe one unhappy 
family, enslaved by the arbitrary 
will of a species of individuals, 
R2 whose 
