union, which was the object prin- 
cipally required, could not be effect- 
ed, while sucha separation of inter- 
ests was suffered to exist. It would 
open a door to perpetual variances, 
Which might eventually endanger 
the very existence of the govern- 
iment they were about to establish, 
by breaking the principal bond of 
unity on which it was to be found- 
ed. After a multiplicity of debates 
upon this subject, the importance of 
a solid union of all the provinces, 
into one common state, appeared 
so indispensible, that it was unani- 
mously agreed to on the first day of 
December, 1796. To remove the 
objection that had principally stood 
in the way of this decision, a com- 
mission of the most respectable mem- 
bers of the convention was appoint- 
ed to examine and state the former 
debts of the respective-provinces, 
and to consider of the most equita- 
ble and satisfactory manner of liqui- 
dating them, by providing for their 
extinction, and preserving, at the 
same time, uninjured, the rights and 
interests of all the parties concerned 
in this liquidation. 
In all these transactions, the mem- 
bers of the Dutch convention were 
remarkably cautious in permitting 
no visible interference in their deli- 
berations on the part of the French 
government, Its secret influence 
was well known; but the preservation 
of every form and external indi- 
cation of freedom, was judged indis. 
pensible,in order to maintain the ap- 
parent dignity of the state, and, what 
was of more consequence n the eye 
of the discerning, to prevent the 
French themselves, at any future pe- 
riod, from pleading a mght of inter- 
fering, from any acknowledged pre- 
cedent. The directory was also 
very careful in abstaining from all 
- 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
(179 
open and ostensible exercise of au- 
thority over this meeting. This 
would have invalidated their proe 
ceedings, and infringed the liberty 
which France boasted of haying rep. 
stored to the Dutch, in too glaring a 
manner, not to haye excited their 
murmurs and resentment... For 
these reasons the directory-affected 
every sentiment of respect for. this 
national convention of the United 
Provinces, and treated it with every 
outward mark of their considering it 
as the representatives of an. indes 
pendent nation. 
But the regard shewn, by France, 
to the republic of Holland, was 
measured solely by the consideration 
of its weight in the political scale, 
which, however depressed by circum- 
stances, might still recover the level 
of its former importance. ‘The di- 
rectory did not extend the same de- 
ference to those whom it deemed 
more subjected to its power. ‘This 
was remarkably evinced in its cons 
duét towards Geneva. This little 
republic had inyariably remained 
attached to the interests of the revo= 
lution in France, ever since its first 
breaking out; and had gone hand in 
hand with it through all its varia- 
tions, Relying on these proojs of 
its fidelity, it now requested the di- 
rectory to confirm its independence, 
by making it a clause in the treaties 
between France and other, powers. 
But this request did not coincide 
with the views of the direétory, 
which had, it seems, in contempla- 
tion the. annexation of Geneva to 
the dominion of France, In pur- 
suance of this project, anintimation 
was given to the Genevans, .that 
their interest would be-better, con- 
sulted, and their freedom secured, 
by becoming a part of the French 
republic. This intimation was highly 
(N 2] disgusting 
