share in it, and would be obliged to leave it entirely to those of his co-states, who shall not have made any use of his majesty's offer, how they shall effectually secure themselves, their subjects and property, against all danger; his majesty will zealously continue his good offices for the restoration of the general tranquillity of Germany; and tranquillize himself in the consciousness of his pure intentions for all the fatal consequences of a too great and supposed safety, or of the non-acknowledgment of the purity of the said intentions; and while his majesty in the face of all Germany, gives, by this declaration, a fresh and unequivocal proof of his Germanic patriotism; his majesty may also expect from all Germany, and from the circle of Franconia in particular, the justice to have done all that de: pended on him, to avert from his co-states and their subjects the unhappy consequences of the war, and to have fulfilled, in the most generous and disinterested manner, all the duties incumbent upon him in all his relations as a state of the empire.

(Signed) JULIUS COUNT SODEN.

L. F. CHR. SCHMID.

Nuremberg, October 5, 1795.

Imperial Decree of Ratification concerning the Opening of Negotiations for a Peace between the Empire and France, published 21st of August in the usual Form. Dated, "Vi enna, the 29th July.”

This memorable decree first states the different points set forth in the advice given by the Empire

of the 3d of July, and then continues to observe as follows: HIS Imperial majesty, above all, returns his warmest acknowledgments to the electors, princes, and states, for the grateful sentiments they have expressed towards his majesty for his sincere and zealous endeavours to promote the welfare of the empire. As chief of the Germanic body, he feels peculiar satisfaction to find, that in the second section of the advice of the empire, it has been declared to be the constant wish and firm reso lution of all its members to obtain a general peace for the empire, in an unimpaired and unalterable junction of all the states of the empire with its supreme chief, as soon as possible, in a solid and constitutional manner. It is moreover declared, that the full restitution of its territory, and security of the Germanic constitution, shall form the basis of a treaty of peace, according to the fundamental principles laid down in the advice of the empire of the 22d December last year, and approved of by his majesty, with respect to the attainment of a reasonable, just, and honourable peace. This desire and resolution (for according to the fundamental Jaws of the German constitution, in all matters concerning a peace or war of the empire, its supreme chief can neither be separated from its members, nor the latter from the former) is the true and praiseworthy expression of constitutional, generous, and patriotic sentiments, and the constitution of Germany may still subsist for a long series of years, if the electors, princes, and states, sensible of their duty, and animated by patriotism and public spirit,

remain faithful to the sentiments thus solemnly declared. His ma. jesty having frequently proved, and but very lately declared in the court decree of the 10th of May, his inviolable attachment to the German constitution, and his ardent zeal for the preservation of all its parts, rights, and members, it would be in open contradiction with his own declarations and actions, if he did not readily and fully approve and ratify the aforesaid second section, which so perfectly agrees with his paternal sentiments and duties, as chief of the empire.

His Imperial majesty farther declares, that he is ready to take upon himself the required first introduction of pacificatory negotiations, which, as far as it relates to the place where the congress is to be held, has been entirely left to his Imperial majesty's own judgment and discretion. In order as much as possible to accelerate the conclusion of a peace to the empire, pursuant to the wish of the diet, his Imperial majesty, in his quality of chief of the Germanic body, has for this purpose already taken the necessary steps, of the result of which he will not fail in due time to inform the diet, as well as the place where the negotiations for peace are to be carried on. The question, whether, without any prejudice to the future negotiations of peace, it will be possible to obtain an armistice, can hardly be decided, before the said negoti. ations are actually set on foot; and in pursuance of the Imperial decree concerning the advice of the empire of the 22d of December, a probable prospect opens to obtain a reasonable, just, and ho

nourable peace; whence, and in deed in every possible case, there arises the cruel necessity, that the electors, princes, and states, con. formably to their duty and orn declarations, do not neglect, bat persist in their united and consti. tutional means of defence, until Germany has obtained the bless. ings of a general peace for the empire. Meanwhile, the diet my rest assured, that if his Imperial majesty should be able, on behalf of sufering humanity, to from the present rulers of France, who seem to have adopted more moderate sentiments, a modification or temporary pause of hostile requisitions and devastations, he will not fail to make, for that purpose, the necessary proposals.

As to the rest, his Imperial majesty is of opinion, that hitherto no political relations exist, which urge the necessity of accepting a mediator, although clothed with all the necessary requisites in point of skill, prudence, sincerity, and impartiality; nor does his majesty see the necessity of accepting the mediation of a third person. If the German empire, the first in point of rank, and mighty and powerful in its chiefs and its members, is with true German spirit united for a grand and momentous purpose, there is no doubt but it possesses sufficient authority and power to obtain a reasonable, just, and honourable peace. But as the diet, according to the plurality of votes, finds a peculiar satisfaction in seeing his majesty the king of Prussia co-operate for that purpose, his Imperial majesty, provided, however, that it does not tend to the prejudice either of the immedi. ate negotiations for peace between

the

the supreme chief of the empire, the deputed states, and the deputies of France, or of the constitutional proceedings in all other respects, readily complies with the states of the empire, and under this proviso consents that his Prussian majesty, according to his own repeated voluntary offers, may on his part employ his good offices with France to obtain on the basis agreed and determined upon, a peace for the empire, which restores its integrity and secures its constitution.

Lastly, his majesty repeats once more the declaration set forth in the Imperial court decree of the 10th of May, and which cannot be too often repeated, viz. that the political importance of Germany rests on the close and happy union between the supreme chief of the empire and the electors, princes, and states; and its welfare depends on the inviolability of its fundamental laws. These ought to guide the chief as well as the members. His majesty, who, not only in virtue of his Imperial office, but also by a solemn compact between him and the electors, is charged with the administration of justice, is therefore obliged, by open and lawful means, to protect the constitution against all unconstitutional proceedings; lest the like precedents might in future times be supposed to contain a tacit abrogation of laws which are of the greatest importance for the safety and welfare of the German empire.

Imperial Court Decree, concerning the separate Treaty of Peace, concluded between the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel and the French Republic;

published at Ratisbon, September

25, 1795.

THE diet of the empire declared but very lately in the second part of the advice of the 3d July, occasioned by the Imperial court decree of the 19th of May, before all Germany and Europe, in the most solemn and positive manner.

That it still remained the constant wish and firm determination of the empire, in undissolved and unalterable junction of all the members of the empire, with its chief, by constitutional means, to obtain a general peace for the em pire, and through it the restoration of the integrity of its dominions.

The political relations of the Germanic empire, and the pressing urgencies of the present posture of affairs, seemed to require that his majesty should answer this truly patriotic declaration with the same clearness and undisguised frank. ness which becomes the father of the empire. His majesty, therefore, declared in the court decree of the 29th July, "That the aforesaid constant wish and resolve did not only afford him peculiar satisfaction in his quality as supreme chief of the empire, but that also (as according to the fundamental laws of the German institution in all matters concerning both the conclusion of a peace and the determination on a war of the empire, neither the supreme chief could be separated from the members, nor the latter from the former.)" The said declaration was the genuine and glorious expression of constitutional and patriotic sentiments; and that the Germanic constitution might still

flourish

flourish for a long series of years, if the electors, princes, and states, sensible of their moral and legal obligations, and animated by a becoming public spirit, would remain faithful to their solemn professions. That, therefore, his Imperial majesty, having so often and so lately testified his zealous attachment to the Germanic constitution, and the preservation of all its parts, members, and rights, would act in open contradiction with his own actions and declarations, if he did not readily sanction the whole tenor of the aforesaid second part, which so perfectly agreed both with his paternal af fection for the empire, and his duty as chief of it.

Pursuant to these sentiments, thus solemnly declared by the diet, and sanctioned by his Imperial majesty, the former conti. nued to deliberate on the Imperial court decree of the 19th of May, especially concerning the concurrence of the states of the empire in the future negotiations for peace with France, and proposed for that purpose an extraordinary de. putation, consisting of ten members of the Germanic body. His Imperial majesty, in order to promote the said negotiations, was pleased most graciously to sanction this advice of the empire with his concurrence, trusting that the deputel states would remain faith. ful to the grand fundamental law of the unity of the empire and its legal inseparability from its chief, and by co-operating with patriotic German perseverance in the important business of a peace of the empire, would constitutionally endeavour to support and promote the common interest and welfare

of the German empire. Since the '7th instant, the diet has again been constantly employed in deii. berating on the remaining objects pointed out by the said court de. cree, and especially on the import ant instructions which ought fully and clearly to prescribe not only the terms of peace, but also the manner of treating.

Whilst the Germanic empire, united under its supreme chief, endeavoured, and still endeavour, by constitutional means, to obtain a general peace of the empire, pri vate negotiations for a separate peace were carried on by his serene highness the landgrave of HesseCassel, with a French deputy, the result of which, appears by the adjoined printed copy of a treaty of peace and amity, concluded on the 28th of August, the ratification of which is to be exchanged within a month's time, or sooner.

This

His Imperial majesty will yet suppress his just feelings, roused by an event, which, on account of the above-mentioned solemn declaration of the diet of the empite, of the 34 of July, he hal so little reason to expect. event, if some reports are to be credited, may be followed by transactions of a similar nature, whereby the defence of Germany, and the attainment of the restoration of the integrity of the empire, and safety of its constitution, by means of a just, reasonable, solid, and honourable peace, would be rendered more difficult, if single states have it in their power, at their own pleasure, thus to withdraw from the confederacy of the German empire, by separate treaties of peace and secret articles, to separate their in terest from the general interest of

the