The New Hampshire Gazette

Primary Location

Francfort (An Imperial City Of Germany)

Event Date

July 8

Key Persons

Outcome

desertions from troops of the circle of the upper rhine; mutiny and desertion among the duke of wirtemberg's forces; expected desertions from swedish contingent in prussian pomerania

Event Details

Political as well as religious Considerations contribute to retard the assembling and marching of the contingents of divers Princes and Circles of the Empire. Some think, that since the House of Austria is back'd by so powerful an Army of French, their Assistance may very well be dispensed with, as nothing could be more agreeable to France, than to see the Germans worrying one another, that she might at the End take Advantages of it. And as for the common People in general among the Protestants, they have seen enough to foresee, that if the King of Prussia should be over powered and forced to make a Peace on France's and Austria's Terms they could have no Security hereafter for the Enjoyment of their civil and religious Liberties: And hence it is that so great a Number of Soldiers have deserted from the Troops of the Circle of the Upper Rhine ; and hence the Mutiny and Desertion among the Duke of Wirtemberg's Forces, who have plainly declared they would not contribute to the Oppression of a Protestant Prince. By this Specimen of their Temper 'tis clear, that if the King of Prussia had Money. he could have Men enough in the Empire to Face all the Forces that France and Austria could bring against him. As for the Swedish Contingent, which is supposed to have been purchased with French Gold, we fancy it will be no difficult Matter to make the private Men desert as soon as they come into Prussian Pomerania ; the Swedes being as rigid and zealous Protestants as any in the World.