218] 
solemnly insulted the memory of 
the late King, by ereéting a mo- 
nument to the memory of his exes 
crable assassin. That her Majesty 
the Empress was neither ignorant 
of the motives nor the object of 
those treaties. That it was noto- 
rious that the Regent had recently 
received from the French a sum of 
money to be employed in arma- 
men's, and that he was now in 
full negotiation with them fir a 
treaty of alliance, the principal sti- 
pulations of which are direéed 
against-Russia ; so that her Majesty 
the Empress had every reason to ex- 
pect an approaching rupture on the 
part of Sweden, unless the King’s 
coming of age (which, happily for 
the repose of that kingdom and of the 
north, was anevent not far distant,) 
should put.a stop to it, and thereby 
avoid this lamentable extremity. 
Tenor of the Letters of Convocation 
addressed by the King of Prussia, 
as Duke of Magdebourg, and of 
the Duke of Brunswick, as Co- 
Director of the Circle of Lower 
Saxony, to the different: States 
destined to enjoy the Advantages of 
the Neutrality. 
We, by the Grace of God, Fre- 
deric William, King of Prussia, 
&c. Charles William, Duke of 
Brunswick, &e. 
The apprehension of a speedy 
opening of a new campaign with 
France, and the new dangers to 
which Germany will be exposed by 
the chance of a war that has al+ 
ready been so fatal to her, have des 
termined us, the King, in conse- 
quence: of our solicitude and pa- 
triotic attachment, and) in conse- 
quence of the pacific relations 
which we maintain with France, to? 
distribute as much as possible to our 
co-estates of the north, the inestim- 
able: blessing of repose and security 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
from the troubles and misfortunes 
of war; that is to say, as far as 
these states will, on their pait, ace 
cord with our intentions, which 
are of general utility. To this end’ 
negociations have already been ens 
tered into with the French governs 
ment, relative to a new ine of 
neutrality, and in order to be able 
with the more efficacy tu assure that 
neutrality; and to afford protecs 
tion and safety to the states coms 
prised within it, we, the King, 
are ready to march a considerable: 
army; and we, the Duk 5 have 
also taken a resolution ‘to reintorce 
that army with our troops, the 
Eleétoral Court of Brunswick Lu« 
nenburg having also manitested the 
same intentions. These combined 
troops being therefore to proteét 
the neutrality of the north of Ger 
many, it Is as just as it is absolurely 
indispensable, that they shculd be 
provided and provisioned by the 
states which shall enjoy this advane 
tage, and that each, individually 
should hasten in proportion to its 
means, to procure them the neces= 
sary provisions: But ths obje& 
requires, on account of the urgency 
of circumstances, the most speedy 
dispositions. The most proper 
means for attaining this end is by 
the convocation of a common and 
extraordinary assembly of all the 
Upper States of the Circles of 
Lower Saxony, with the States: of 
the Lower Rhine and of Westphas 
lia, as well as of the other States 
that shall be comprised in‘ the line 
of neutrality, in order that we may 
be able to deliberate upon this subs _ 
ject, and to regulate the distribue 
tion of the maintenance of the 
troops upon an equitable, footings 
proportioned to: the faculties of eack 
state ; for, on the speedy furnishing 
of the objeéts necessary for this 
é main= 
