The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

PROCLAMATION OF THE BATAVIAN GOVERNMENT,

Appointing the 7th of March as a Day for Acts of Benevolence and Public Prayer.

CITIZENS,

As it is certain that among the nations of the earth there are but few whose existence and preservation have been marked with such signal proofs of the favour of Divine Providence as our country; so it cannot be denied but that, on the other hand, this same nation, having more than once fallen from the height of prosperity, and being threatened with approaching ruin, has learned, repeatedly, and in the most striking manner, its dependence on the All powerful Lord of the Universe. Alas! there is no occasion to go so far back as to the early annals of the Republic to prove this—we need only reflect on the events of the two last years. Scarcely had the wish of all the friends of their country, and of the human race, being gratified, by the conclusion of a peace, that put an end to a most bloody and destructive War; Scarcely had the sources of our national prosperity begun to flow in their accustomed channels, so as to enable us to flatter ourselves with the hope that our ruined affairs were likely, under Divine Providence, to be re-established, when ambition and cruelty jealously rekindled the torch of war, in contempt & open violation of the treaty which had just been concluded, and with a prodigal expense of treasure and blood. By this unhappy war, to which not only the pledged faith of our treaties of alliance, but even the duty of self-defence compels us, we con saw all the sources of our misfortunes and increasing poverty again open. Our ships, richly laden with the productions of our colonies, and the treasures of our reviving commerce, were captured while they were pursuing their peaceful destination, even before any declaration of war.—Already some of our foreign possessions have fallen before the superior force o
Supreme: every day our situation is
growing worse by the stagnation which
prevails in the different branches of our
commerce and industry; and the con-
siderable sacrifices which the part we
have to bear in this fatal war requires
from us, impose upon us the unavoida-
ble necessity of laying new burdens up-
on our fellow-citizens, whose burdens
are already great.

The consideration of this unfortunate
and humiliating situation of the Repub-
lic would make us almost despair of ever
seeing its affairs re-established on a solid
foundation, if we did not feel the most
lively persuasion that all those evils,
(though stirred up by the injustice of a
neighbouring power, who has rashly and
hastily entered into the war) have yet
happened under the wise and bountiful
direction of that all-ruling Providence,
whose mercy can again close the wounds
which we have received from his hand,
who can change oppression and adversity
to the seeds of future and more lasting
happiness, and has made the history of
our country so often bear witness of this
consoling truth. It is this encouraging
persuasion which makes it our duty to
call to our recollection the proofs which
we have already experienced of the Di-
vine Goodness. Who does not recol-
lect that at the beginning of last year,
this country was threatened with a most
destructive inundation by the vast col-
lection of heaped up ice in our rivers,
when our fears were suddenly dissipated.
and the country saved by a thaw, which
brought no misery with it? Who can
consider, without gratitude, that the
contagious disease, more destructive and
terrible than the sword of war, which,
in another part of the world, is the scourge
of a nation, otherwise happy in pro-
perity and peace, and which has already
raged with fury in some parts of Europe,
has not, however, reached us yet, altho
our extensive commerce exposes us to
more danger than other nations? Who
can consider, without feeling gratitude,
that notwithstanding all the obstacles
which the spirit of industry (that di-
stingushes our nation) has to encounter,
still it is not quite smothered, but even
now inspires hopes that in happier days
it may revive?

Who can reflect, without gratitude, that
in the midst of our increasing distresses,
there are still found men who have
not only the will but the means of re-
lieving the distressed, and preventing the
utter ruin of all the springs of industry.
These considerations, taken together,
contain some motives for not despairing
of the return of our former happiness:
how much should we be flattered with
this perspective if rendered wiser by our
misfortunes, we shall, for the future,
substitute economy, temperance, and
moderation, to that expensive luxury
which has extended to all classes of so-
ciety; if we shall learn to be more ri-
gid in our morals, and still more sincere
and upright in our dealings; and if,
above all things, we cultivate the re-
spect of religion, that respect which was
the ornament of the first founders of
our Republic, but which is now so mi-
serably fallen, and which alone can in-
sure the lasting happiness of our na-
tion.

Then, doubtless, we might hope that
the God of our fathers would change
our darkness into light, and would not
shut his ears against our ardent prayers
for the safety of the country.

It is for the advancement of this end,
and for all these reasons united, that,
with the approbation of the legislative
Body, it has been ordered, that through-
out all the cities, towns and districts of
the Batavian Republic, a day shall be ap-
pointed for "acts of benevolence and
public prayer,"—which we have fixed
for Wednesday, the 7th of March, to
give an opportunity to all the inhabitants
of the Republic to unite in the temples
of their religious assemblies, and humble
themselves in the most solemn manner
before God, confessing their transgres-
sions and sins, to adore even the chastise-
ments which his hand inflicts upon
us, to recommend to his favour and pro-
tection the urgent wants and interests
of this Country, with a sincere design
of rendering themselves in future wor-
thy of those blessings, which are the re-
ward of a virtuous and religious na-
tion. We exhort, therefore, every ci-
tizen, upon that day, to pray ardently
to God, that he may give us again
peace and prosperity; that he may grant
that all those sacrifices we are obliged
to make to obtain that object, shall
tend to lay the foundations of lasting
tranquility; that he may bring to the
hearts and feelings of the lovers of war,
the tears and groans of the many thou-
sands who suffer by its so that, if possi-
ble, the effusion of human blood may
cease; that he may crown with his
blessing those constituted authorities,
whose labour tends to these objects;
and that he may open again the sources
of our national prosperity, and secure
their possession by the concord, virtue,
and conscientious conduct of the faith-
ful inhabitants of this Country.

To attain this salutary object, the go-
vernment of the state ordains, that the
present proclamation shall be made as
public as possible, and that the admini-
stration shall take diligent care, that the
said day shall be celebrated throughout