FRANCE. 88! 



republic, to break their alliance with England, and to enter into a 

 treaty of peace and alliance with France. In some of the other pro- 

 vinces, resolutions hostile to the stadtholder and his government were 

 likewise passed ; and such appeared to be the temper of the people, 

 even at Amsterdam, that on the 17th of October, the government of 

 Holland published a proclamation, prohibiting the presenting of any 

 petition or memorial upon public or political subjects, and all popular 

 meetings or assemblies of the people upon any occasion. 



On the 7th of December, the French made a feeble attempt to cross 

 the Waal, but were repulsed with loss ; but on the 15th the frost set 

 in with unusual rigour, and opened a new road to the French armies. 

 In the course of a week, the Maes and the Waal were both frozen 

 over ; and on the 27th a strong column of French crossed the Maes, 

 near the village of Driel. They attacked the allied army for an ex- 

 tent of above twelve leagues; and, according to the report of general 

 Pichegru, " were as usual victorious in every quarter." The army 

 of the allies retreated before them ; and, in its retreat, endured in- 

 credible hardships from the severity of the weather and the want of 

 necessaries. On the 10th of January, 1795, general Pichegru, hav- 

 ing completed his arrangements, made his grand movement. The 

 French crossed the Waal at different points ; with a force, accord- 

 ing to some accounts, of 70,000 men. A general attack was made 

 upon Walmoden's position between Nimeguen and Arnheim. The 

 allies were defeated in every quarter ; and, utterly unprepared either 

 for resistance or for flight, suffered equally from the elements and 

 the enemy. 



It was in vain that the stadtholder issued manifestoes, proclama- 

 tions, and exhortations to the Dutch peasantry, conjuring them to 

 i'ise in a mass for the defence of the country. The French continued 

 to advance, and the allies to fly before them, till Utrecht surrender- 

 ed to them on the 16th of January, Rotterdam on the 18th, and Dort 

 on the succeeding day. The utmost consternation now prevailed 

 among the partisans of the stadtholder. The princess of Orange, 

 \vith the younger and female part of the family, and with all the plate, 

 jewels, and moveables, that could be packed up, escaped on the 

 15th. The stadtholder and the hereditary prince did not leave Hol- 

 land till the 19th. His serene highness embarked at Scheveling, in 

 an open boat, with only three men to navigate her ; and arrived safe 

 at Harwich. In England, the palace of Hampton-court was assigned 

 him for his residence. 



On the 20th of January, general Pichegru entered Amsterdam in 

 aiumph, at the head of 5000 men ; and was received by the inhabi- 

 tants with the loudest acclamations. The whole of the United Pro- 

 vinces either submitted to, or was reduced by the French, in a few 

 weeks. An assembly of the provisional representatives of the people 

 met on the 27th of January ; and the whole government was changed, 

 and modelled nearly after the French plan. 



In the mean time, the king of Prussia, finding he could derive no 

 advantage from the war, began to relax.his efforts. The Prussian 

 and Austrian forces, as well as their leaders, were on bad terms with 

 each other; but it was not suspected that any defection was about to 

 take place on the part of the Prussians, till they began to retreat 

 towards the Rhine, which they soon after passed. A negotiation 

 between Prussia and France followed j which ended in a treaty of 



