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292 incessantly to preserve the tranquillity of the city, and their patriotic endeavours were attended with the happiest success. Some slight disturbances were attempted by an inconsiderable number of misled or ill-disposed persons, who thinking the reign of liberty and equality was to bring an exemption from taxes, refused to pay the taxes and duties required by the government. This tendency to riot was, without difficulty, suppressed, and a proclamation appeared commanding all persons to pay in every case the same contributions and imposts as formerly. At the same time the officers of the excise and customs, and all public functionaries employed in the collection of revenue, were commanded to remain at their post; and it was ordered that no magistrate or officer under the old system of police should quit Amsterdam, without having previously obtained a passport from the committee of inspection.

Some weeks before the arrival of the French, a deputation of merchants in the patriotic interest waited on the directors of the bank of Amsterdam, to ascertain the