FRANCE. 375 



of the navigation of this river, had been confirmed to the Dutch in 

 succeeding treaties, guaranteed both by the courts of Versailles and 

 London. The Dutch regarded this measure as injurious to their 

 trade ; for Antwerp might prove a dangerous rival to Amsterdam. 

 The infraction of this treaty was one of the reasons which induced 

 the parliament of Great Britain to oppose the unwarrantable preten- 

 sions of the French. 



The memorable trial of the king commenced on the 11th of De- 

 cember. The issue is too well known. The firmness of this unfor- 

 tunate monarch during his trial, and at the place ot execution, (on 

 the 21st of January, 179 3,) increased the commiseration of every in- 

 different spectator; and callous indeed must be the person who does 

 not partake of the sympathy which was felt through all Europe upon 

 this transaction. 



It would be a tedious and disagreeable undertaking to trace mi- 

 nutely and gradually the progress of the dispute between France and 

 England. Without affixing any degree of credit to the reports 

 that Great Britain had early but secretly acceded to the concert of 

 princes, and the treaty of Pilnitz, it is natural to believe that the Bri- 

 tish ministry had long viewed with a jealous eye the progress of the 

 French revolution towards a turbulent democracy. We must, how- 

 ever, do the French nation the justice to confess, that the unanimous 

 voice of that people was clamorous from the first for peace and alli- 

 ance with England. A series of events changed this inclination. A 

 bill for forcibly transporting aliens out of the kingdom was intro- 

 duced into parliament. The ports of Great Britain were shut against 

 the exportation of corn to France, while it was permitted to her ene- 

 mies. In the end, the ambassador of the republic, M. Chauvelin, 

 was ordered, under the authority of the alien bill, at a short notice, 

 out of the kingdom: immediately after which dismission, the con- 

 vention declared that the French republic was at war with the king 

 of England, and the stadiholder of the United Provinces. 



In consequence of these measures, general Dumouriez proceeded 

 with a large body of troops to invade Holland ; exhorting the Bata- 

 vians, in a violent manifesto, to reject the tyrannic aristocracy of the 

 stadtholder and his army, and to become a free republic. The Dutch 

 made preparations for defending themselves ; and the English cabi- 

 net seconded their efforts, by an immediate embarkation of troops, to 

 the command of which the duke of York was appointed. 



The subjugation of Holland was the first project of general D"U= 

 mouriez : and when the ease with which he had effected the conquest 

 of the Netherlands, and the courage and ability displayed by him and 

 his army at the famous battle of Jemappe, were considered, there 

 seemed reason to apprehend that he would soon make an impression 

 on these provinces ; and the easy surrender of Breda and Gertruy- 

 denberg encouraged him to boast that he would terminate the contest 

 by a speedy approach to Amsterdam. Certain events, however, en- 

 sued, which effectually prevented the performance of this promise. 



General Miranda, who had besieged the city of Maestricht, and 

 summoned the governor to surrender, was attacked by prince Frede- 

 ric of Brunswick, and defeated with considerable loss. The Austri- 

 ans, after this, divided themselves into three columns ; two of which 

 marched towards Maestricht, and the siege of that place was imme- 

 diately raised. The third pursued the advanced guard of the repub- 

 lic ; and the absence of several commanding officers was supposed to 



