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consent, into the hands of the 
above-named national assembly. 
Done and decreed in the above- 
mentioned assembly of the lords of 
the states general of the United 
Provinces, at the Hague, this 19th 
day of February, 1796. 
(Signed ) By order, 
Hougert, Vr. 
W. QUARLES. 
Proclamation of the Dutch National 
Convention for manning the Navy, 
published at the Hague, March 16. 
CITIZENS OF THE NETHERLANDS! 
Dear Countrymen, 
THE unjust and destructive war 
in which we have been involved — 
by the British ministry cannot but 
attract our whole attention. It is 
the first object of our solicitude, 
that by our courage and prudence 
in the conduct of it, we may pro- 
cure an honourable peace, firmly 
establish our freedom, and maintain 
the independence of the state, and 
the glory of our ancestors, Our 
navy, under divine providence, is 
the natural and only means to set 
bounds to the immeasureable inso- 
lence of the Briush ministry, and 
to defend our country against their 
treacherous conduct and cruel treat- 
ment. To this object the endea- 
vours of the best patriots have been 
uniformly directed since the time 
when our heavy chains were broken 
by the assistance of our French 
brethren, since the day when the 
Stadtholder left the Batavian shores, 
the day when we began to breathe 
a freer air, and were at liberty to 
exert ourselves for the improvement 
of the sources of our prosperity, 
our trade, our fisheries, our navi. 
gation, our colonies, and our ma. 
nufactures. By their navy, fellow~ 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
citizens, did our ancestors become 
great. The Batavian flag was 
known, feared, and honoured, in 
each of the four quarters of the 
world. Under our late government 
it was insulted, and became the 
ridicule of nations. It is therefore 
our first duty to restore our marine. 
The zeal of the committee of ma- 
rine has done much, where nothing 
scarcely had before been done, 
Its exertions were incessant. ° But 
in the present state of our navy, al] 
hands seein to have lost the habits, 
and all hearts the inclination nes 
cessary for the service. ‘The Bata- 
vian youth are no longer accustom- 
ed to the labour requisite on board 
the armed fleets of their country. 
Is our nation then less brave, less 
indignant against its enemies; or 
do we less Jove our native land than 
in the time of a Ruyter or a Tromp? 
—No, fellow-citizens, no; far from 
us be such a thought! We rely 
with confidence on your patriotism, 
and cannot doubt but you will ace 
with vigour in the present critical 
situation of our country; for why 
should we conceal that such is our 
situation, when to make it known 
must procure the remedy? Our 
ships, which are very numerous, 
and more than sufficient to secure 
us a superiority in our seas, and to 
cut off from the enemy all supplies 
of provisions and stores from the 
north, and thus compel them to 
peace—our ships are in want of 
meu. The recruitings proceed with 
languor, and the measures hither- 
to taken have had little effect. 
Nor should this excite our wonder ; 
they were of a partial nature, and 
not In consequence of the expression 
of the will of the assembly, repre- 
sentative of the whole Batavian re- 
public. This will is now. made 
known ; 
