184] 
5. A circular missive shall be 
dispatched throughout all quar- 
ters of the republic, exhorting the 
proper persons to remit and do 
away all personal suppressive bur- 
dens laid on those of the dissenting 
churches, and requesting their im- 
mediate answer, for the satisfac- 
tion of this assembly. 
13th August. 
Proclamation of the National Assem- 
bly of the Batavian People against 
the Importation of British Manu- 
Sactures. 
The National Assembly, represent- 
ing the Batavian People, to the 
Batavians, Health and Fraternity. 
THE British minister issued on 
the 3d of this month a royal pro- 
clamation, by which, ‘ the free 
navigation of Great Britain to the 
United Provinces is granted, as 
well as the exportation of all kinds 
of merchandize, except military 
and naval ammunition, provided 
they be exported under a neutral 
flag.” France, however, is except- 
ed. This is an artifice which the 
Batavian people see and properly 
appreciate— a lure which they dis- 
dain. Have we not sketched to 
the eyes of all Europe, in our ma- 
nifesto of the 2d May of jthe pre- 
sent year, the perfidious traits of 
the condu& of this same minister ? 
Did we not evince’ in the most 
evident manner how this minister 
completed bis want of faith, when 
on the flight of the last Stadtholder 
he seized more than a hundred 
ships richly laden, and several 
ships of war; when, deaf to every 
fepresentation, he dared to appro- 
priate this booty; when, by false 
advices, he enticed into the Eng- 
lish ports several ships which were 
then at ‘sea; when, violating the 
rights of nations, and considering 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
as nothing the most solemn treaties, 
he changed the protection which 
be had promised, into a declaration 
of good and legal capture of the 
Dutch ships ; when he endcavour- 
ed to get possession of our colonies 
in the most traitorous manner ; 
when he effectively established 
himself in several of our most im- 
portant possessions; when he fur- 
nished money to the unnatural 
emigrants who were more influ- 
enced by love for the orange party 
than for their country, and whom 
he continually excited to come 
and tear down the standard of li- 
berty in their own country, aud to 
waste it with fireand sword ? In 
a word, isnot the British minister 
the sworn enemy to the well-being 
of the United Provinces, and is 
not he furious that the republic 
still exists ? Let him delude bim- 
self with the artificial calculation 
of the consequences of the pre- 
sent measure! Let him imagine- 
that his lure of the love of gain 
may either open a source of finance, 
or in case the Batavian republic 
disdain it, may sow discord, inflame 
the spiritof party, and alienate the 
hearts of the people from the legi- 
timate government! But your repre- 
sentatives, oh, Batavian people ! are 
and will remain, notwithstanding, 
faithful to their destination; theywall 
not engage in a measure which would 
render the most essential service to 
the enemy of the nation, check 
the wise and great project of their 
grand ally, and retard that peace 
whichis the object of cur. wishes. 
The English people are on the 
eye of awaking, and of forcing the 
minister to accept: an equitable 
and speedy peace. To avoid care- 
fully every thing that may prolong 
the most terrible war of which hi - 
tory makes mention, is our most 
sacred 
