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HE representatives of the French nation with the armies of the North, the Sambre, and the Maese, to the people of Batavia.

The tyrants who have combined against the freedom of nations, declared war against us, and threatened to conquer and subjugate us.

The treacherous stadtholder, having reduced your government under his power, entered into the base confederacy formed by tyrants, to force a great people to submit to the yoke of slavery. Your blood, your treasures, were lavished for this; but the success of our arms has made manifest the justice of our cause, and our all-conquering armies have entered into your country.