by those abominable exertions, by which all civil, political, and religious ties would have been diffolved, and the inhabitants of Poland expofed to all the tremendous confequences of anarchy, and plunged into miferies, the end of which could not be foreseen.

If in every country the adoption and spreading of fuch deftructive principles be always attended with the loss of the tranquillity and happiness of its inhabitants, its destructive confequences are the more to be dreaded in a country like Poland; fince this nation have always diftinguished themfelves by disturbances and party fpirit, and are powerful enough of themselves to become dangerous to their neighbours by thefe difturbances.

It would certainly militate against the first rules of found policy, as well as the duties incumbent on us for the prefervation of tranquillity in our dominions, if, in fuch a state of things in a neighbouring great kingdom, we remained inactive fpectators, and fhould wait for the period when the factions feel themfelves ftrong enough to appear in public; by which our own neighbouring provinces would be expofed to feveral dangers, by the confequences of the anarchy on our frontiers.

We have, therefore, in conjunction with her majefty the emprefs of Ruffia, and with the affent of his majesty the roman emperor, acknowledged, that the fafety of our states did require to fet to the republic of Poland fuch boundaries as are more compatible with her interior strength and fituation, and may facilitate to her the means of procuring, without prejudice to her liberty, a well-ordered, folid, and active form of government; of maintaining herself in the undisturbed enjoyment of the fame; and preventing, by these means, the disturbances which have so often shaken her own tranquillity, and endangered the fafety of her neighbours.

In order to attain this end, and to preferve the republic of Poland from the dreadful confequences which must be

the

the refult of her internal divifions, and to rescue her from her utter ruin, but chiefly to withdraw her inhabitants from the horrors of the destructive doctrines which they are bent to follow; there is, according to our thorough perfuafion, to which alfo her majesty the emprefs of all the Ruffias accedes, no other means, except to incorporate her frontier provinces into our ftates, and for this purpose immediately to take poffeffion of the fame, and to prevent, in time, all misfortunes which might arise from the continuance of the reciprocal disturbances.

Wherefore we have refolved, with the affent of her russian majefty, to take poffeffion of the above-mentioned districts of Poland, and alfo of the cities of Dantzic and Thorn, in order to incorporate them into our dominions.

We herewith publicly announce our firm and unfhaken refolution, and expect that the polish nation will foon affemble in the diet, and adopt the neceffary measures to the end of fettling things in an amicable manner, and of obtain ing the falutary end of fecuring to the republic of Poland an undisturbed peace, and preferving her inhabitants from the terrible confequences of anarchy. At the fame time, we exhort the ftates and inhabitants of the districts, and towns which we have taken possession of, as already mentioned, both in a gracious and serious manner, not to oppose our commanders and troops ordered for that purpose, but rather tractably to fubmit to our government, and acknowledge us, from this day forward, as their lawful king and fovereign, to behave like loyal and obedient fubjects, and to rénounce all connection with the crown of Poland.

་་་ ་

We doubt not that all whom this may concern will attend to it with obedience; but in cafe, and contrary to all expectation, fome one or other state and inhabitants of the faid districts and towns fhould refufe to obey the contents of this, and not take the oath of allegiance, nor fubmit to our government, or even attempt to oppose our commanders and troops, fuch perfon or perfons have unavoidably to

expect, that the punishment ufual in fuch cafes fhall be in

ficted

any

diftinction.

them without upon In witnefs whereof we have subscribed this patent with our own hand, and caused out royal feal to be fet to it, to be published in due place, and to be publicly printed.

Done at Berlin the 25th of March 1793.

FREDERIC WILLIAM. (L. S.)

DECLARATION of the KING and REPUBLIC of POLAND, affembled in Diet at GRODNO, protefling against the forcible Partition of POLAND, Sept. 24.

SURROUNDED clofely by foreign troops on the 2d of this month, threatened with further invafion of the terri tory of the republic by the pruffian armies, to its uttermoft ruin, and oppreffed by innumerable violences, the ftates in diet affembled were forced to give leave to their deputation for figning the impofed treaty, with addition of a few clauses, and fuch only as the dictating power itself feemed in pity to approve of. But with grief and surprise we find, by the fad experience of this day, that the court of Berlin is not fatisfied therewith. We fee fresh acts of vio lence forcing a new project upon us: and, in order to fupport it, the same preponderant power, not contented with investing the place of our deliberations by an armed foreign force, with addreffing to us notes full of menaces, feizes from among us, and carries off, our members; and, by an unexampled proceeding, keeps us, the king, bent under the weight of age and under fuch manifold calamities, and us, the ftates of the republic, confined and inprifoned in the fenate.

Thus fituated, we do declare, in the moft folemn manner, that, unable to prevent, even with the risk of our lives, the effect of the oppreffive force, we leave to our pofterity, hap. pier perhaps than ourselves, those means of faving our dear country, whereof we are bereft at prefent; and thus the pro

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jea

ject fent to us by the russian ambassador, though contrary to our laws, wifhes, and opinions, forced by the above means to accept, we do accept.

Done at Grodno the 24th of September. Signed and engroffed in the public records, according to law.

No. VIII.

The principal ARTICLs of the TREATY concluded at YASSY the 9th of January 1792, and figned by Prince REPNIN and the GRAND VIZIR.

I. THAT a fincere amity fhall henceforth fubfift between the two empires.

II. That the ftipulations in the treaties that preceded the laft rupture shall refume their entire force.

III. That the Dnieftr fhall henceforth ferve as the boundary of the two empires; and that all the territory fituate on the left bank of that river fhall be restored to the porte.

IV. That the antient rights and privileges of the prin cipal towns of Moldavia and of Valakhia fhall be confirmed; that the inhabitants of those towns shall remain, during two whole years, exempt from all tribute; and that those who would fell their property, and retire elsewhere, fhall be at liberty to do fo without difficulty.

V. That the porte fhall henceforth guarentee the kingdoms of Grufinia or Georgia and the adjacent countries. VI. That it fhall ftrive to do the fame in regard to Caucafus.

VII. That it fhall undertake to put a stop to the piracies of the barbarian corfairs, and to indemnify the fubjects of

Ruffia for the loffes they may fuftain by the failure of exe cution of the three preceding articles.

VIII. That the ruffian, greek, moldavian, polifh, &c prifoners shall be set at liberty.

No. IX.

Some PARTICULARS of the UKASE or EDICT published in regard to the FRENCH eftablished in Russia.

AFTER a preamble against the french revolution, the emprefs adds: 1. All the effects of the treaty of commerce concluded the 30th of December 1786, between us and the late king Louis XVI. are fufpended, tiil fuch time as order fhall be re-eftablished, and there fhall be a legitimate autho rity in France. 2. We prohibit, till that fame time, the entrance of french fhips, whether under their own or under foreign colours, into all our ports fituate in the feveral feas; and we likewife forbid all our merchants and masters of ships to cause their veffels to enter the ports of France. 3. We command the ci-devant confuls, agents, &c. to withdraw from our two refidences; and that a term of three weeks fhall be prescribed to them for fettling their affairs, and being without the frontiers of Ruffia........ 4. We in like manner command all our confuls, &c. and in general all Ruffians of both fexes, to quit, without delay, the kingdom of France. 5. We command that none tolerate, and that they remove from our empire all the French, of either fex, without exception... 6. We except the French who, being fummoned before the government of the place where they are fettled, fhall teftify a fincere defire to

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