ST ATE PAPER'S. 
clared for a neutrality, to preserve 
which has since that time been the 
constant objeét of our cares, of our 
Zeal, and of our solicitude ; and 
‘no sacrifice has been avoided for 
‘maintaining it in proportion to 
the dangers to whcib it was in cer- 
tain epochs exposed. Nothing af- 
flicts us more profoundly, than 
when. the fidelity of our conduét 
and the purity of our intentions 
‘seem to be doubted, since these 
form the most solid basis of our 
happiness, independence, be tran-" 
quiliity. 4 
_ We pray your excellency to as- 
“sure your government that we shall 
“never depart from the principles 
that have been transmitted to us 
from our predecessors,and that 
our greatest ambition is to convey 
the deposit unimpaired to those 
who shall succeed us. This is the 
first duty of our situations, and the 
true means of conciliating the con- 
fidence and the gratitude of our 
fellow-citizens, It is, however, 
necessary to observe, that s:nce our 
letter of the 9th of April, we have’ 
not confined ourselves to mere 
wishes for the maintenance of our 
neutrality. Our uneasiness rela- 
tive to this objeét having been com- 
municated to the minister of his 
Imperial majesty, he has written 
‘tous, by order of the emperor, 
that certainly he had not the least 
thought of ating, nor of permit- 
ting the emigrants to aét against 
the cantons, in any manner which 
Might disturb the tranquillity of 
their territory. We have prepared 
our signals and our alarm guns, 
which, on account of the armistice 
and the winter season, had been 
neglected ; and it is generally 
known that by these means a very 
great force can be assembled in a 
[205 
few days. We have exercised our 
troops, and they are ready to march 
on the first signal. They will be 
added to the contingents of the 
other cantons» which assemble in 
ours, and are direéted to redouble 
their vigilance in the posts confided 
to them, The representatives of 
the Helvetic body, deputed to us 
for considering the state of affairs, 
for aéting in the name of the whole 
confederation, and informing their 
constituents of every danger which 
may approach our states, allow no 
means to escape them of consolida- 
ting the repose © of the common 
country. We have written to our 
co-allies, to remind them of the 
treaties which unite us, and we 
have received the unanimous as- 
surance that all are ready to fly to 
our assistance and defend our fron- 
tiers. 
We conclude by praying your 
excellency to transmit those details 
to the direétory ; and, above all, 
to fortify them against the exagge- 
rated reports that an excess of zeal 
may have occasioned. 
Official Note, transmitted by Mr. 
Wickham, Minister Plenipotentia- 
ny from his Britannic Majesty to 
the Senate of Berne, the 26th of 
June 1796. 
Macniricent AND Power- 
FuL Lorps, ; 
__ IN consequence of the resolution 
agreed to and published by your 
state, respecting all the French in- 
discriminately who’ have taken re- 
fuge in yourcountry, several of the 
heads of families of these unfortu- 
nate viétims to their attachment to 
the ancient laws of their country, 
have addressed themselves to me, 
to obtain the means to repair to 
England, where they hope at last 
to 
