STATE PAPERS.
carry them into efFeft by a falutary and unanimous refolution. It would be both fuperfluous and tirefome again to point out to your noble mightinefies the dangerous fitua- tion of the republic from the war which hath been kindled and rages all over Europe, and which hath fpread to the very frontiers of this ftate : nor is there the fmalleft prof- pect of feeing it extingnifhed next year, as we are informed from all fides, that the principal powers con- cerned are taking all the neceffary meafures for making it rage next campaign, with greater fury, if poffible, than ever.
Every one who conliders how uncertain the confequences of a war between powerful neighbours may be to a ftate furrounded on all fides by foreign troops, mu ft allow, that it were greatly to be wifhed the republic were in a proper pof- ture of defence whilft the war is on its frontiers. All who know that the happinefs of our country de- pends upon the fafety of trade, muft be equally convinced, that an armament by fea is abfolutely ne- ceffary in this critical conjuncture, when our navigation is difturbed in a manner unheard of; and that the negledl of our naval forces at this time would be wholly un- juftifiable. We have always con- iidered the zealous efforts of your noble mightinefies, from time to time, to induce your confederates to confent to this armament, as highly reafonable; and as far as in us lay, we always endeavoured to fecond them.
Nor can v/e difapprove of the flop taken by the merchants in carrying their complaints on this head where they ought to be car- ried, when it is done in a proper
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and decent manner: but as it is the duty of wife and faithful rulers to extend their care not only to a part of the fubjefts, but alfo to all in general ; and as the principal aim of a fovereign ought to be, on one fide, to watch over the hap- pinefs of his fubjeds, and on the other to proted them againft all violence from without, we think that in fuch a fituation as that of the republic at prefent, an aug- mentation of the troops of the ftate, for the defence of the frontiers, is unavoidable, as well as an equip- ment by fea for the fecurity of trade ; and that they ought to go hand in hand. The ftates of the provinces of Guelders, Utrecht, O very freI,andGroningen, join with, her royal highnefs and us in the fame opinion, and accordingly have always infifted, by divers letters and propofitions, on thofe tivo points fa eflential to the public intereft.
We deubt not but the faid ftates will explain themfelves to your no- ble mightinefTes on this head, and at the fame time fignify their rea- dinefs to intereft themfelves in the welfare of the trading inhabitants, in cafe your noble mightinefTes will alfo effedually provide for the fafe- ty of their inhabitants.
When we refledl, that not only the intereft of the republic in general requires that it be put ia a proper ftate of defence both by fea and land, but that we can fee no way of determining this mat- ter, unlefs, by a reciprocal indul- gence, one of the confederates comply with the fentiments of the other, we leave your noble migh- tinefTes to judge, whether by a longer delay in coming to a con- clufion, both with regard to the augmentation of the land forces
and
