180] 
ing to the Genevans; and the 
means taken to bring them to com- 
pliance were still more offensive. 
Disturbances and bloodshed were 
iidireétly either promoted or coun- 
tenanced, by some dark intrigues, 
with a’ view to make them sensible 
that® the only remedy for those do- 
mestic’ “confusions, was to throw 
themselves. in'o the arms of the 
French. But this attempt was not 
successful ; nor even approved by 
numbers of the French themselves. 
They condemned it as manifesting 
an ambition incompatible with those 
principles of moderation on which 
true republicans ought to value 
themselves, and which the French 
held forth to Europe as the maxims 
by which they had’ resolved to con- 
duct themselves. Were Europe 
once couvinced that the’ ancient 
system of conquest and encroach- 
ment on the territories of its neigh- 
bours, which had rendered I’rance 
so odious under the monarchy, were 
to be continued under the republic, 
the necessity of self-defence would 
gradually unite every country against 
it: in which case, notwithstanding 
the brilliant career of its arms 
hitherto, patience and perseverance 
on the part of the numerous ene- 
mies that so unjustifiable a conduct 
would create, must in the end pre- 
vail, and both the glory and cha- 
racter of integrity, at which the 
French ought equally to aim in 
their political proceedings, would be 
forfeited. 
In addition to these motives, for 
abstaining from a forced incorpora- 
tion of Geneva with France, it was 
urged that the inhabitants of that 
city and its territory, though forming 
but a small state, were so jealous of 
their indepedency, that they would 
never consent to resign it. ‘The 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
_ achievements in its defence. 
1796. 
very circumscription of that state, 
made evéry member of it the more 
sensible of his personal weight in its 
affairs, and of the freedom which he 
enjoyed. To deprive him ofthe satis- 
faétion arising from such a situa 
tion, would be a wanton exertion of 
the superior strength of the repub- 
lic, which would redound much — 
more to its disgrace than benefit. 
Stang with rage at atreatmént which 
they ‘did not devetves the citizens of | 
Geneva would desert it, and carry 
to other countries that industry to 
which alone it owed its flourishing 
situation ‘during so many years. 
The mere possession of the place 
itself would prove a poor recom- 
pense for the expulsion of its inha- 
bitants, ‘which, however ind: rectly 
eff. éted, would not be the less real. 
In the mean while, they would ex- 
hibit, in the various places of their 
voluntary banishment, living procfs 
of the ambition and tyranny of 
France. The nearest of its neigh- 
bours would see their own destiny 
in that of those unhappy fugitives, 
and learn from thence the obligation | 
they were under, of embracing one 
of these two alternatives: either of 
submitting to the like treatment, or 
of preparing manfully to resist it. 
Of those who would be constrained, . 
to adopt this resolution, the first! 
would be the Swiss, a people noted 
for ages on account of their love of | 
liberty, and of their astonishing! 
Such 
a people, if united, France would 
find a formidable enemy : nor was it! 
indeed to be supposed they would 
tamely behold the annexation of 
Geneva to France, by compulsory, 
means, nor even ie the voluntary, 
concession of its inhabitants. They) 
were bound, in the former of these 
Cases, to assist them, and inthe latter 
they) 
