174] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1706. 
perish with glory at the post to 
which we have been called. 
(Signed) 
LETOURNEUR, President. 
Address of the Executive Diveétsry to 
the French Armics, April, 1796. 
DEFENDERS of the country, 
the moment approaches when you 
are again to take up your victorious 
arms; the moment — approaches, 
when you are to qguit.a repose to 
which you consented, in the hope 
alone that it would jead to an ho- 
nourable peace; but the seas of 
blood which have flowed have not 
yet satiated the rage of your ene- 
mies, They unqucstionably ima- 
gine, that we are about to aban- 
don the fruits of our viétories, at the 
very moment when success is 
ready to crown them, ‘They ima- 
gine that we are about to demand 
of them as cowards a peace which 
we have offered them as generous 
enemies. Let them conceive these 
unworthy expectations: we will 
not be surprised; they have never 
combated for liberty—but what 
they cannot be ignorant of, is, that 
the brave armies with which they 
wish again to try their strength, 
are the same by which they have 
been so often subdued. No: they 
have not forgotten the prodigies of 
French valour; they still recollect 
with terror, both the réedoubts of 
Gemappe, and the plains of 
Fleurus, and the frozen rivers of 
Holland: they recollect that the 
Alps and Pyrenees have opposed to 
you bur feebie barriers, and that 
the peninsula of Quidecron became 
the comb of all the parricidal slaves, 
who in the hope ot subjecting you 
tu the yoke ofa master, dared to 
_ gt theig fest on the soil of the re- 
public. If they could have for. 
gotten all this, you will bring it to 
their recollections by blows still 
more terrible ; you will teach them 
finally, that nothing can resist the 
efforts of a great vation which des 
termines to be free. 
Brave warriors, you have afford. 
ed the example of a disinterestedness 
which cannot exist unless among 
republicans. Oftentimes, in the 
midst of the greatest scarcity of 
provisions, of an almost absolute 
want of the most indispensable ob- 
jets, you have displayed that he- 
roical patience, which joined to 
your impetuous valour, so emi- 
nently distinguishes you, and will 
signalize you to all nations, and to 
the eyes of posterity. Republican 
soldiers, you will preserve this 
great character; and at the mo- 
ment when your situation has been 
ameliorated, when with an unani- 
mous voice the representatives of 
the nation have taken measures to 
provide efficaciously for your wants, 
you will redouble also your vigour 
and courage, to put an end toa 
war which can be terminated by 
new victories alone. 
In vain has the French govern. 
ment manifested to all the powers 
which wage war against France, a 
sincere wish to restore at length the 
repose of exhausted Europe ; it has 
in vain made to them the most just 
and moderate propositions ; no- 
thing has been capable of remov- 
ing their deplorable blindness, 
Yes, brave warriors, we must still 
have viétories; and it is your 
energy alone that can put.a stop to 
this devastating scourge. | Prepare, 
therefore, for a last effort, and let 
it be decisive; let every thing yield 
to, let every thing bevdissipated by 
your phalanxes ; lee the new flags 
of 
£ §4 
