586 
In the beginning. of Auguft, the Im- 
perial diet at Ratifbon, concluded upon 
fending advice to the emperor at Vienna, 
«:That the with, repeatedly manifefted, 
of terminating this ruinous war which 
is fill profecuting, by means of an ac- 
ceptable peace with France, be again 
Jaid before his Imperial majefty, and that 
his majefty be moftferioufly and urgently 
requefted to accelerate that defirable ob- 
eft by ali the means in his power.’ 
Befides this advice, it was refelved, to 
fend deputations to the French genebals. 
The-circle of Franconia is faid to have 
fent deputies already, to negociate for an 
armiftice with the French generals. 
HOLLAND. © . 
The convention of the republic of 
Holland, ina late meeting, made fome 
important alterations in matters relating 
to xeligion. They determined that all 
the inhabitants of the republic were free 
to.exercife without moleftation any mode 
of public worfhip whatever to which their 
Opinions might lead them. That there 
fhould be no eftablifhed religion in the 
republic, that the ufe of bells in calling 
perfons to public worship fhould be pro- 
hibited. They allowed jews to become 
citizens of the republic, and empowere 
them to become purchafers of lands in 
the fame mauner as cther citizens. 
POLAND. 
On the gth of July, count Ven Hoym, 
minifter of ftate t6 the king of Pruffia, 
attended at the palace of Warfaw,. to 
receive the oaths of homage and allegi- 
ance from the delegates of the eftates of 
Poland. 
In a fpeech of confiderable length, he 
called’ the occafion of their meeting “ the 
moft momentous to man with regard to 
his focial relations.’”—“ Long has this ex- 
cellentcountry,”’ faid he, ‘ forichly gifted 
by nature, been the theatre of devafta- 
tion; for many years paft has this noble 
and brave nation been a prey to anarchy 
and defolating confufion.” He attributed 
the misfortunes of Poland to a paffion for 
mifiaren liberty. © exhorted the Poles 
to look upon the prefent fituation and 
cofidition of the Pruffian territories, as a 
fpecimen of the happinefs they were 
about fo enjoy. 
In a ftrain of impreffive eloquence, he 
enumerated the yarious bleffings and ad- 
Holland .. +» Poland. «.'« Laft Indies. 
vantages which would attend a quiet 
fubmiffion to the will of his fovereign ™ 
the king cf Prufha; and without men= 
tioning the depofed monarch of Poland, 
he concluded with exhorting them to 
pledge themfelve$§ by a folemn’ oath in. 
the face of the Divinity. 
East INDIES. 
“The left difpatches from the Eaft 
Indies have developed the origin and taufe 
of the mutinous behaviour of the native 
battalions, which had created a confide- 
rable alarm at Calcutta. 
The public fervice requiring ~ that 
troops fhould be fent to Malacca by fea, 
the 15th battalion of fepoys, on a pro- 
pefition from their officers, voluntarily: 
offered themfelves to embark ; the’ pro- 
pofition was repeated'to them at three 
different times, in order that they mighe 
have full leifure to deliberate upon it,- 
and form their determination ; and they 
again repeated their acquiefcence. 
The British government in India, fen- 
fible of the prejudice of the Hindoos 
againft a vovage by fea, and ever atten- 
tive to them, expreffed their approbation 
at the zeal cf the 15th battalion, in yolun- 
tarily undertaking fervice which was left 
to their option to accept or decline. 
Convenient {hips were prepared for their 
accommodation, and every precaution was 
ufed to provide wood and water, under 
the infpeétion of officers and men fe- 
leéted and deputed by the faid battalion, 
to fuperintend the provifions, 
After many days, to the aftonifhment 
of government, the battalion, without 
any reaton whatever, retraéted the ac- 
quiefcence which they had yoluntarily 
and deliberately given: this was con- 
fidered as a defertion of their duty as 
foldiers; but their fubfequent condué 
was fuch as to leave them without any 
title to forgivenefs. They went for many 
days in a ftate of actual outrageous mu- 
tiny; and when required by colonel 
Erfkine to lay down their arms, had the 
audacity to fire on the 29th battalion. 
For this conduét, the council at Cal- 
cutta ordered it to be declared, that.the 
15th battalion of native fepoys has been 
broken with iafamy, and its colours 
burned, and that their cafe fhould be 
publifkhed in the Perfian language and 
difperfed. pe 
DOMESTIC - 
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