Si ATT2LE ORT A Pu RS 
the pericd of their indifpenfable 
neceffity. But the underfigned has 
his Majefty’s dire&t commands to 
declare, in the moft pofitive man- 
ner, that his Majefty deems the 
continuance of thofe meafures ab- 
_ folutely neceflary for the prefent, 
as he will only find himfelf enabled 
by the corps of troops which is 
drawn out, covering the line of 
demarcation, maintaining farther, 
in the moft efficacious manner, the 
neutrality of the countries fituate 
within their precinéts, to fulfil the 
promifes previoufly given. Yet in 
this he will not commit himfelf 
refpeéting thofe very poflible e- 
vents which accompany the viciffi- 
tudes of the fortune of war. But 
whereas the King is under the ne- 
ceflity of fetting boundaries to the — 
great facrifices he has already made; 
and whereas the concurrence far- 
ther demanded of the protected 
countries for the maintenance of 
the troops who defend them, is fo 
extremely juft and equitable, the 
underfigned has alfo exprefs orders 
herewith to declare, that in the un- 
expected cafe of the majority of the 
ftates not difplaying the neceffary 
zeal and alacrity, his Majefty will 
forthwith withdraw his troops, re- 
nounce entirely all the obligations 
which he has voluntarily taken up- 
on him from motives of patriotifm ; 
fupprefs totally the convention 
made for that purpofe with the 
French Republic, and confine him- 
felf folely to the defence of his own 
dominions, abandoning all the reft 
to their own means and refources, 
and making known his intention to 
the belligerent powers, Should 
fuch a refolution once be taken, and 
the corps be withdrawn, no circum- 
ftance, of what complexion foever, 
fhall induce his Majefty to recur a- 
354 
gain to the adoption of fimilar mea- 
fures; and the underfigned is o- 
bliged to announce before-hand, 
that his Majefty will at no rate inte- 
reft himfelf again in the fate of 
thofe of his co-ftates who fhall not 
now accept of the friendly proffer 
of protection, made with fo much 
friendfhip, and fo many perfonal 
facrifices. 
The coldnefs which has for fome 
time paft been manifefted from va- 
rious quarters, refpecting the main- 
tenance of the troops, has induced 
his Majefty to authorife the under- 
figned to make this frank and ex- 
plicit declaration, and to give the 
well-meant warning not to {uffer 
themfelves to be deceived by the 
hope of a fpeedy peace, but rather 
to rely upon the fufficiently public- 
{pirited and patriotic fentiments of 
the King, and his Majefty’s know- 
ledge of the general fituation of 
public affairs, and to entertain the 
firm confidence that his Majefty 
would certainly, and with great 
pleafure to his co-ftates, fave the 
burdens required by the mainte- 
nance of the troops, if there was 
the leaft poffibility of fecuring to 
their territories the benefits of the 
neutrality, and ail the advantages — 
which have hitherto accrued from 
it, without fuch a meafure. 
That, however, the faving of 
the burdens occafioned by the main- 
tenance of the troops, according to 
the general fituation of affairs, be- 
ing impoffible, and his Majefty 
deeming it abfolutely neceflary to 
preferve the corps of obfervation 
till the conclufion of a peace, if the 
tranquillity and neutrality of Nor- 
thern Germany are to be maintain- 
ed, his Majefty doubts not but all 
his. affociated co-ftates will fhew 
their readinefs for that purpofe, % 
the 
