Sf ATE EO # RIBS 
the Meufe and the Rhine, having 
the entire adminiitration of thofe 
countries, could not fee without 
‘the greateft furprife the order of the 
RoyalChamber of Warand Domains 
of Wefel, and of the regency of 
Emmerick, dated the 29th of De- 
cember (O. S.), which forbids the 
cutting down of wood fold, under 
the penalty of reftitution and re- 
prifal. 
We fhould be effentially wanting 
in the difcharge-of our duties and 
obedience, if we fuifered other 
autherities to interfere in the ad- 
miniftrative affairs of our cantons, 
without having previoufly received 
a formal order from our fuperiors. 
You have feen feveral times or- 
dinances emanating from thofe au- 
thorities; you have feen alfo that 
the French government has not, on 
that account, difcontinued the di- 
rection of Pruflian as well as of 
other countries. Do not doubt 
that they will ftill continue it; you 
will, perhaps, be convinced of it 
when you fhall pay attention to the 
manner in which the ordinances 
have been communicated. We ap- 
peal to the members of thofe cham- 
bers, if a foreign authority were 
to intimate orders to them, would 
not they fay, with reafon, “We 
have a fovereign; it is only to him 
that we owe obedience ;’”’ and would 
not they continue their functions 
without paying any attention to 
the order? We are therefore, de- 
termined, citizens, to maintain 
with firmnefs all the operations 
undertaken, or to be undertaken, 
in the name of the government 
which we reprefent, and to punifh 
exemplarily all thofe who fhall fhew 
any difobedience in any manner 
whatever. But you have already 
given us fufficient. marks of your 
gbedience to make us believe that 
Vou. XXXIX. 
353 
we fhall not be forced to have re- 
courfe to fuch extremities. 
(Signed) WassEInEt. Serpa 
Declaration publifhed by the Pruffian 
Government at IV efel. 
THE Royal Chamber of War 
and Domains has learned, with, 
furprife, from feveral quarters on 
the other fide of the Rhine, that 
the French agents infift not only 
upon the payment of the firft in- 
ftalment of the contribution of 
3,000,000, but that a fixed number 
ef men are alfo to be put in requi- 
fition, to cut down the wood def- 
iined to be fold. And whereas an 
edict, publified by the King’s fue 
preme command, in that part of 
the country, declares fuch a pro- 
ceeding unlawful, and.contrary to 
the treaty of peace concluded at 
Bafle; the Magiftrates of Xanten 
can by no means be farther author 
ifed to make payments of a fimilar 
defcription, and to do aétions di- 
rectly in oppofition to his Majefty’s 
Royalintention. There is no doubt 
but the French agents, upon a mae. 
turer inveftigation of the matter, 
will be of the fame opinion; and. 
the magiitrates of Xanten need to 
be the lefs afraid of compulfion by 
military execution, which would 
render the French agent refponfi- 
ble, fince we are informed that the 
orders of the Directory at Paris, 
purporting that the Royal Pruffian, 
provinces fhall be exempted) from 
all farther requifitions and contri- 
butions, are already arrived at Aix 
la Chapelle. 
(Signed) SermBuRGER, 
Von Bernotn, 
WuLFING. 
Done at. Wefel, in the Royal 
Chamber of War and Do+ 
mains, January Gth, 1797. 
Piwvifary 
