been careful to enfure it by the wife conftitution and fundamental laws of our union, which, in my opinion, conftitute fo effential a part of the act you prefent to me this day, that I could not (without violating the confidence reposed in me by my fovereign) agree to a system which might have degenerated into tyranny; a condition equally unfavourable to the happiness of him who exercises it, and of thofe who endure it.

If his Majefty, therefore, accepts the crown which you have agreed to offer him, it is because he is determined to protect, and never to enflave those from whom he receives it; and, above all, because it is given, and not feized upon by violence.

For external fecurity you wanted nothing but the conftant and active alliance of a maritime power: This act enfures it to you; and whilst you enjoy at home peace and tranquillity, which the enemy will no longer be able to interrupt, you will share with us the treasures of trade, and the fovereignty of the

feas.

From this day therefore you are quiet and free. To preferve these bleffings, you have only to preferve your ancient virtues-courage, and the facred love of your country. Thefe are the native virtues of your foil; they will be enriched by thofe which accompany our union, and which you will derive from our induftry, from our long experience, (that true fource of political wifdom) and from our love of liberty, at once enthufiaftic and enlightened. I fpeak of that liberty which has for its object to maintain your civil rights, and the happiness of the people; not to ferve ambition and vice: That liberty which is infeparable from religion, order, refpect for the laws, and a facred, regard for property, the firft principles of every human fociety; that liberty which abhors every kind of defpotifm, and efpecially that most terrible of all defpotifm, which arifes from the unreftrained violence of the human paffions. Such are the virtues which belong both to you and to us; on their happy mixture and influence on each other depends the profperity of Corsica. Immediate liberty, and a progreffive and encreafing prof. perity Such is the text, to which I hope and venture to predict that our behaviour to each other, and our common deftinies, will always prove a faithful and a fatisfactory illuftration.

(End of the London Gazette.)

HAGU E.

July 25.

The principal inhabitants of Liege and Aixla-Chapelle have fled. The States-general, alarmed at the retrograde movements of the Prince of Cobourg, on the 23d inftant, fent their firft greffier, Mr. de Fagel, to that prince, in order to intreat him to cover Maeftricht, as the republic found it altogether impoffible to provide a fufficient garrifon for that place Our army is fo much reduced that its remains, which are now retreating towards Bois-le-Duc and Moordyke, amount to no more than 13,000 men; and 15,000 are at least required to defend Maeftricht.

This morning it remained doubtful whether Breda would be evacuated, as the low water renders the inundation of the furrounding country extremely difficult; but by an exprefs, which is just arrived, we learn, that its evacuation has been determined upon. Breda is not confidered here as the true bulwark of Holland; and it seems certain, that our troops will confine their efforts to the defence of Bois-le-Duc, Moordyke, and the strong places in Gueldres, whilft the British are covering the fide of Bergen op Zoom.

Too much praise can hardly be bestowed on the firm and wife conduct of the Stadtholder, whofe intrepidity and exertions encrease amidst the dangers which threaten our commonwealth. The refult of lord Spencer's negociations at Vienna is expected here with the utmost impatience, and we hope that his Imperial Majefty will be prevailed on not to withdraw his troops from our frontier. The partizans of the Carmagnols endeavour to perfuade the public, that the accounts of the exceffes which their friends are committing in Belgium are groundless. But the merchants of Amfterdam believe them to be true, and are afraid of the republicans. Even those whofe fentiments lean towards the French fyftem dread their approach.

GREAT

TH

LONDO N.

July 25.

HE following is a very particular and accurate account of the dreadful fire at Ratcliffe on Wednesday afternoon, which has confumed more houfes than any one conflagration has done fince the memorable fire of London. This account is taken from a furvey made on the spot :

It began at Mr. Cloves', barge builder, at Cock-hill, near Ratcliffe, and was occafioned by the boiling over of a pitch kettle that stood under his ware-house, which was confumed in a very short time. It then communicated to a barge, it being low water, lying adjoining the premises, laden with faltpetre and other ftores. This occafioned the conflagration to fpread widely in a very short time. Several other veffels and fmall crafts lying near to the barge soon after took fire, without any poffibility of getting them off. The blowing up of the faltpetre from the barge occafioned large flakes of fire to fall on the warehouses belonging to the East India Company, from whence the faltpetre was removing to the Tower, twenty tons of which had been fortunately taken the preceding day.

The flames foon caught the warehouses, and here the scene became fo dreadful, that the firemen difcontinued their exertions, prudently withdrawing from the threatening calamity; as did alfo, by their advice, the nearer neighbours. Soon after the combuftible matter contained in the building blew up, with an explofion that could only be likened to the burst of a volcano, and which had the effect (upon the furrounding houfes, as far as Lime-houfe, Tower-hill and Mile-end) of the shock of an earthquake: thofe immediately adjoining were unroofed. The wind blowing ftrong from the fouth, and the High-ftreet of Ratcliffe being narrow, both fides caught fire, which prevented the engines from being of any effential service; and, in the courfe of the evening, it extended itfelf to the premises of Mr. Jofeph Hanks, VOL. IV. August 1794.

timber merchant, in London-ftreet, where it again raged moft furiously, and communicated to Butcher-row, the whole of the weft, and part of the east fide of which was confumed.

The fire then took its courfe up Brookftreet, Stepney Causeway; caught the premises of Mr. Shakespeare, rope-maker, and burnt through to the fields on one fide, and the whole of the dwellings on the other, till at length, it may be fairly faid, the fire ceafed for want of materials to confume, having reached an open space of ground, where the connection of perishable substances was broken. What is very remarkable, the dwelling-house of Mr. Bear, an extenfive building, stood entirely uninjured in the very midft of this mighty ruin, and which we are informed, was never quitted by the family that inhabits it. Affifted by their friends, they fo drenched it with water, that not even a pane of glass was cracked. It was a good houfe, and well worth the labour bestowed upon it; but it appears to the spectator to stand by a miracle.

The rapidity of the flames was almoft ynexampled; one poor woman removed her goods no less than four times, from one supposed place of fafety to another, and could not in the end fave them from the ravages-her family are miffing, and it is much to be feared that they have been buried in the ruins.

A furvey was yesterday afternoon taken by the warden and other officers of the hamlet, whofe report was, that out of 1200 houses, of which the hamlet confifted, not more than 570 were preferved from the general conflagration; and what is more to be regretted, the greater number were the principal contributors towards the support of the poor.

It having been reported, that the fire was maliciously occafioned, upon the most minute inquiry it is clearly afcertained it was entirely accidental, from the caufe abovementioned. It raged with fo much violence, that it was with the greateft difficulty Mr. Cloves and his fervants escaped, one of whom was terribly burnt, and is now in the London hospital; and Mr.

Cloved

Cloves himself had unfortunately his arm broke, and is otherwife much hurt.

From the great diftrefs the above fire occafioned to a great number of poor families, government has humanely ordered 120 tents to be immediately pitched for their accommodation in Stepney fields, till they can be more comfortably provided for.

That fome idea may be formed of the very great lofs fuftained by this unfortunate event, the ware-houfes of Mr. Whiting contained fugars to the amount of upwards of 40,000l. which were entirely destroyed.

The diftrefs of the miferable inhabitants ex ceeded all defcription. In the furrounding fields were depofited the few goods, confifting chiefly, of bedding, they were able to fave. Stepney church was opened to their reception, and ahove 1000 people were obliged to remain all night in the fields, watching the remnant of their property. Children crying for their loft parents, and parents lamenting the fate of their children, added to the horrors of a fcene, not equalled during the prefent century.

The lofs fuftained in confequence of the above dreadful catastrophe cannot at present be even gueffed at: It must exceed a million fterling!

Mr Rogers, the East India Company's warehoufe keeper, has loft every thing by the fire at Ratcliffe, but the clothes he wore. None of their labourers were hurt; and near 10,000 hags of faltpetre will be faved.

So

The faltpetre deftroyed ran towards the Thames, and had the appearance of cream coloured lava; and when it had reached the water, flew up with prodigious force in the form of an immenfe column. Several particles of the petre were carried by the explotion as far as Low Layton, a diftance of near fix miles. powerful was the fmoke and heat, that it was. not poffible to endure it within a mile to leeward.. During the time of the faltpetre burning, the finoke prefented a striking and awful fpectacle, forming a vast arch, as white as fnow, and extending near five miles.

The bags of faltpetre faved are folely the property of the Eaft India Company; thofe belonging to the buyers, it feems, were all unfortunately confumed. They took fire again on Thurfday night, and feveral explosions occurred in confequence of fome heated beams of wood having got between them.

July 30.

All the accounts that have been received from the Continent concur in ftating that the French are collecting an immenfe force in the Netherlands for the purpose of invading Holland The defence of that Republic will most probably be undertaken by the Dutch and British troops only. The Pruffians will afford no affistance, and the Auftrians, falling back with an alacrity equal to that with which the French advance, will, it is generally believed, fpeedily cross the Rhine.

In the evening of the 21ft inft. the prince bishop of Liege, with his fuite and effects, arrived at Aix-la-Chapelle. The heavy baggage of the Auftrian army is already at Nevis, not far

from Duffeldorf.

Liege has been abandoned, and the people it it faid, immediately after the departure of the prince bishop, fent a deputation to the French, inviting them to take poffeffion of that city.

The fucceffes of the French on the Rhine are fo complete, that Frankfort, Manheim and Mentz are in danger, and feveral of the inha bitants have retired with their effects. Others who were preparing to follow their example have been prevented by a proclamation iffued by the French general, who promises that no one fhall be molefted in his property.

From Berlin accounts have been received, that the combined plunderers of Poland have penetrated to the environs of Warfaw, and that it was their intention to attack the Polish patriots in their entrenchments on the 5th inft.

Accounts from Copenhagen fay, that the Danish and Swedish fleets formed their junction under vice-admiral Kriege on the 6th inft. and that they will foon amount to 34 fail.

Lord George Seymour, colonel Barry, and feveral other officers of lord Moira's staff, arrived yesterday in the packet from Holland.

Lord Moira, on joining the duke of York's army, found himfelf one of the youngest majorgenerals in the line; and that instead of commanding his army, he would scarce be entitled to command a brigade. This greatly furprized him, and on that acconnt he refigned his command. This event is greatly regretted by the army, by whom he was almost adored, who placed in him a juft and unlimited confidence.

The difpatches from lord Malmsbury, received yesterday, bring details of the defeat of the Pruffians on the Rhine. The French were ftill pursuing their advantages when the mef fenger left his lordship. The Pruffians had fallen back on Mentz and Frankfort, which places it was much feared would not be able to make an effectual refiftance to the enemy's progrefs.

The prince of Saxe Cobourg is so closely preffed by the French army, that he is obliged to quit his ground as often as they come up with him After abandoning Namur and Liege he has thrown a garrifon into Maeftricht, and is fuppofed to have received orders from the Emperor to haften his retreat with the main body of his army across the Rhine.

The Danish brig the Lougen arrived off Portfimouth from St. Croix, which island fhe left on the 29th of June, is faid to bring intelligence that Gen. Walterftorff, the commander in chief of the Danish islands, has received a letter from fir John Jervis, informing him, that on the 19th the French force blocked up at Point à Petre, in Guadaloupe, had furrendered at difcretion, and that tran quillity

quillity was reftored to the island. Sir Charles Grey and fir John Jervis had determined to fend these troops, together with a number of refractory people of colour, in their own ships to St. Maloes.

FRIDAY, Auguft 1.

The Carteret packet, captain Hammond, from Flushing, arrived at Dover yesterday morning at one o'clock, with intelligence that the French are in great numbers on the inland of Cadfant, and have erected an immenfe battery on that part of the island oppofite Sluys, by which means they command the entrance into the town. Other batteries are alfo erected on the oppofite fide of the island, which command the Scheldt, and with which they have attempted to annoy Flushing, but the shot have hitherto fallen thort of the town. The general opinion is, that Sluys muft furrender in a few days.

EARL MOIRA.

Copy of Lord Moira's Addrefs to his Army when he departed from them on Tuesday, July 22,

1794.

Particular circumstances calling lord Moira immediately to England, he is to be relieved at this poft by lieutenant-general Abercrombie.

Lord Moira cannot furrender his command without entreating the officers, non-commiffioned officers and men of the corps which accompanied him from Oftend, to accept his warmest and most grateful thanks for the kind and cheerful acquiefcence he has experienced from them in the fevere fatigues' to which he was obliged to fubject them.

He has the affurance, that he is ftill to have their fupport in the fervice to which they were originally deftined! and that hope leffens his reluctance at ceafing, for the prefent, to fhare the honourable dangers of service.

He trufts they will believe, that no light confideration would have obliged him to quit them; as he perfuades himself they are fenfible of his having endeavoured to repay the generous attachment they had fhewn to him, by the moft lively intereft for their welfare.

For the prefent he bids them farewell, with the moft fervent prayers for their honour and profperity.

August 4.

Letters which were received yesterday from Holland mention, that M. Fagel, the Greffier, or fecretary to the States General, after paying a vifit to the prince of Cobourg, had paffed on to Erudels, for the purpofe of negociating a very particular piece of bufinefs with the French national commiffioners at that place; that the commiffioners told him the bufinefs was of fuch magnitude as greatly to exceed their powers, therefore all they could do was, to grant him a fafe paffport to Paris; and that M. Fagel has, in confequence, proceeded to that capital, to negociate with the rul ng powers of France.

That there is fome foundation for the statement given in thefe letters, there can be little reafon to doubt; we pretend not, however, even to guess what can be the nature of the itended negociation-time will tell that. We cannot imagine that the Dutch will prefer a feparate peace to the protraction of fuch a glorious and fuccefsful war as they are at prefent engaged in, even when we recollect how fpcedily they manned the flect which fought the Brit fh off the Dogger Fank, though in many months they have not been able to equip their fhips against the French.

Count de Mercy Argenteau arrived in town yesterday from the Continent. This minifter, it is faid, has been fent by the Emperor to our cabinet, with a proposal that he should be fubfidized by Britain, to enable him to levy a ftong army in his dominions of Hungary and Bohemia.

On the Scheldt, the French have taken Philippine. Sar de Grand Hults was also to be attacked. Whether they are in poffeffion of Sluys is not known; but fince they are in poffeffion of the island of Cadfand, the batteries from which command that fortress, it must be regarded as completely loft to the allies.

Accounts were received this morning at the Admiralty, that a squadron of French frigates were cruizing in the north feas, which have captured feveral merchantmen. They are fuppofed to be the frigates which were lately feen off Gravelines, and it is imagined, have been difpatched for the purpose of convoying to France the fleet with ftores from the Baltic.