<6 on general Reding. ~ Nov. 145 
afsembled,— the service of France was strictly for- 
bidden,—the treaty of 1715 was openly torn from 
the public register ;—and general Reding was com- 
manded to return home with his soldiers, on pain of 
‘being declared an enemy to his country. Reding 
obtained. a discharge from his majesty for himseli 
and his men; and they returned home. He march- 
-ed into Schweitz, the chief town of the canton, at the 
head of his soldiers, with colours flying and music 
playing. The procefsion went to the church ;—Re- 
dling planted his colours by the great altar,—kneeled 
down, and thanked God. He then-took leave of his 
men, who wept with him, remitted all their debts,. | 
and made them a present of their fine clothes and 
their arms. - Thus the man was now in their power 
whom the wholecountry believed to be perjured and a 
traitor,—-to have favoured the new regulation at the 
court of Versailles,—to have-lent his afsistamce to in- 
flict a mortal wound on his country. The enraged 
afsembly met. Reding was ordered to relate the 
whole history, that it might be known with certain- 
ty on what footing they were with France; that all 
the crimes of the traitor might be evident; and 
that mercy er justice might be administered. The 
general knew well, that all reasoning would rebound 
from, the angry brows of his unfeeling countrymen, 
“without making the smallest imprefsion in his favour. 
He therefore briefly and dryly said, “ The history is 
known to every one ;-and I am innocent both with 
regard to the new regulation, and my dismifsion 
fromthe service.” * Then ifhe will not confefs himself 
a traitor, let him be hung upon the nearest tree,--lethim 
