Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/162

 148 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1758.

Bohemia had agreed to put French garrifons into Ollend and Nieuport. Their majefties, in order to give your republic a frefh proof of their friendfhip and confidence, were pleafcd at that time to command their refpeftive roinifters to com- municate to your high mighti- nefles, by the prefident of your affembly, their juft reafons for taking this refolution. According- ly! waited on him the iSth of July, with Baron Reifchach, and we de- clared to him : That, the emprefs queen, being under an abfolute neceffity of employing all her forces to defend her hereditary domi- nions in Germany, was obliged to withdraw her troops from Oflend and Nieuport. That, it was of the more importance to provide for the fafety of thofe two places, as there was great reafon to believe that the court of London, which fought only to fpread the war, and perpe- tuate ir, had formed a delign to feize them ; and as the port of Ollend was even blocked up by feveral Englifh mea of war and frigates. That, in thefe circum- llances the emprefs queen applied to the king, as her ally neareft at hand, to furnifh troops which might be fubftituted in Ollend and Nieu- port, in the room of the emprefs queen's, there to remain only whilll it fhould be judged fjecefTary and convenient for their reciprocal in- terells. That the emprefs queen had referved to herielf, in thofe two towns, the free and entire ex- ercife of all the rights of property and fovereignty; fach as the ad- minillration of juftice, thecolledl- 5ng of the revenue and taxes, and the difpofition even of the artillery and {lores of all forts. (Your high mightincfles know that according- ly the count de la Mothe d'Hu-

gues, who commands the king's troops at Ollend and Nieuport, took an oath to the emprefs queen, before the Count de Cobentzel, her miniller plenipotentiary.) That the friendfhip of the king, and the emprefs, for your high mighti- ne/Tes, was a full fecurity for their majefties conllant attention to maintain the beft underftanding with your republic, and to prevent the regulation in quellion from do- ing it any prejudice, or giving it the leall uneafinefs.

It is by exprefs command of the king, my mafter, that I declare to your high mightineffes. That the introdudlion of French garri- fons into Ollend and Nieuport had no other motive than what I have juft mentioned in this memorial: That his majefty's troops (hall re- main there only to the end of this prefent war ; and that they Ihall even march out fooner if the em- prefs queen defire it, and they fhall march out that very moment that fhe ihall intruft the guard of thofe two places to her own troops. The neceffity of attending to their pre- fcrvation is the more in difpen fable, as your high mightineffes cannot, doubtlefs, be ignorant, that if the Low Countries have any thing to apprehend for their fafety and quiet, it is againft England slone that the powers inlerelled therein ought to take precautions. It is necdlefs to enter into particulars on this head. It is fufficient to apprize your high mightineffes, that one of the projedls of that crown is to carry the war into the neighbour- hood of your republic ; and it is but too probable that the neutrality and territory of yoar high mighti- neffes would perhaps be no more regarded on this occafion, than the law of nations, treaties, and paroles

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