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croach upon their freedom, ground. ed on the firmeft bafis, and fo glorioufly acquired.

"What we have hitherto adduced, is fo felf evident, that it cannot admit of the leaft doubt, and therefore we do earnestly entreat your High Mightineffes feriously to interpofe your authority in the prefent troubles of the republic, and to take fuch measures as may tend in the first place to prohibit and reprefs the publication of thofe violent and dangerous libels, either against the Stadtholder, or even on either fide, and punish those who may have wrote, or promoted fuch libels, as tending only to inflame the minds of the nation. On our part we shall take the most effectual fteps in the neighbouring dominions, that by proper exertions, and legal prohibitions, a ftop may be put to the profecutions and indecent perfonalities levelled again the prince and his friends. In or der, if poffible, to stay in time the alarming progrefs of the spirit of innovation, and the dangerous train of civil diffenfions which generally follows the former; to rettore a proper confidence and harmony between the prince and his oppofers; to maintain him in the quiet and undisturbed poffeflion of the rights and prerogatives which he has hitherto enjoyed, not permitting his being deprived of any of them in an arbitrary manner, but rather reftoring him to the enjoyment of

fuch as may have been unjustly ta ken from him; and providing, that henceforth the ftate affairs be treated of, and fettled with him in a fatisfactory manner, as it is ftipu lated by the ancient conftitution of the United Provinces. By these means the latter will foon be refto red to their wonted peace and tranquillity, and your High Mighti neffes will be entitled to the approbation of every well-meaning citi zen, and even of all Europe.

"We cannot, confidering the fituation of our dominions, and of our ancient connections with the republic, forbear feeling the deepeft concern for the fate of the illuftrious house of Orange, and the continuance of the Stadtholdership, which we never can tamely fuffer to undergo any alteration. We truft, therefore, that your High Mighti neffes will take in good part the contents of this letter; and will con. fider them as the advice of a true and fincere friend to the republic; and that your High Mighiineffes will not refufe to give it fome attention, as well as to what may be laid hereafter before them by our minifter at the Hague, the fieur de Thulemeir, whenever he has any thing in command from us.

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It is in full confidence thereof that we remain

The good friend and neighbour
of your High Mightineffes.
(Signed)

FREDERIC."

APPENDIX

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

For 1785.

An Account of Mr. Blanchard's Flight across the English Channel, with Dr. Jefferies; together with Two Letters from the fame Gentlemen after their arrival at Calais.

N Friday, January 7,

the

moderate, and the ky clear, Mr. Blanchard, accompanied by Dr. Jefferies, took his departure for the continent in his balloon, from the caftle at Dover. Three guns were fired from the castle at nine in the morning, and the flag was hoifted upon the firing of the first gun, as a fignal that the aeronauts were preparing to fill the balloon. About ten minutes before its afcenfion, a fourth gun was fired, as a fignal that the aerial veffel and voyagers were about to depart. The balloon was completely filled by one o'clock; the veffel, which afcended with it in the five former voyages, was affixed the courageous and intrepid voyagers took their feats; the oars and fly, ufed in the laft voyages, were placed in the boat; nine bags of ballaft, the French edition of Mr. Blanchard's voyage with Mr. Sheldon; a large inflated bladder,

containing a number of letters from people of the first diftinction in this country, to feveral of the French nobility, a compass, and some philofophical inftruments, a fmall bottle of brandy, two beautiful filk enfigns, English and French, a few

Mr.

the whole of their cargo. Blanchard had adapted an apparatus to fuftain himself and friend, without the boat, which weighed fixty-four pounds, if they fhould have occafion for an addition of levity upon the voyage. The balloon was filled in about two hours and a half, and the process con. ducted by Mr. Blanchard, and Mr. Decker, of Berwick-ftreet, Soho.They afcended at 13 minutes past one, close to the large gun, well known by the name of Queen Anne's pocket piftol. Mr. Blanchard kept the balloon in exact equilibrium for a confiderable time. The greatest filence reigned among the numerous concourfe of fpectators, until Mr. Blanchard had got so far from the cliff as to be over the sea. He ftood erect in the car, and faluted. the fpectators moft gracefully, by bowing, taking off his hat, and [r] 2

waving

waving his enfign. He was then cheered by the loudeft acclamations.

The balloon continued its route in the horizontal direction, then appeared to rife; and at one time the balloon was fo low, as apparently to touch the fea; then rofe again, and was feen much above the cliffs on the French coaft, and difappeared in the horizon far beyond them. The balloon reached the continent between Calais and Boulogne; was feen by glaffes from the English thore till ten minutes paft three, far over the land; and an account was brought by a king's cutter, at five o'clock, that the balloon defcended at 25 minutes paft three, at Eanni. Mr. Blanchard was in the highest spirits at his departIt was exceeding cold. He wore his great coat. Dr. Jefferies was in a light failor's drefs.

nre.

No certain accounts have as yet been received from France of their arrival, but there is not the leaft doubt entertained at Dover of the halloon having croffed the channel, 45 the French coaft could be clearly difcovered as well as the balloon. This is the fixth voyage performed by Mr. Blanchard in this balloon, and one of the most fingular and bold attempts, ever made by man. Mr. Blanchard and Dr. Jefferies have the honour of being the firft aerial mariners.

Mr. Blanchard has taken with him to France letters from the prince of Wales, the duchefs of Devonshire, and many of the nobility, to madame de Polignac, count d'Artois, the duc de Chartres, and most of the principal perfonages of the French court.

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Extract of a letter from Dr. Jefferies, dated Calais, Jan. 8, 1785.

"Heaven has crowned my ut. moft wishes with fuccefs; I cannot describe to you the magnificence of our voyage. When about mid-channel, and at a high elevation, we had fuch a profpect of the country as furpaffes my defcriptive faculties; when two-thirds over, we had expended the whole of our ballast. At about five or fix miles from the French coaft, we were again falling rapidly towards the fea, on which occafion my noble little captain gave orders, and fet the example, by beginning to ftrip our aerial car, first of our filk and finery. This not giving us fufficient release, we caft one wing, then the other; after which I was obliged to unfcrew and caft away our moulinet; yet still approaching the fea very faft, and the boats being much alarmed for us, we, though unwillingly, caft away firft one anchor, then the other; after which, my little hero ftripped, and threw away his coat (great coat). On this I was compelled to follow his example. Then he ftripped, and caft away his trowfers. We put on our cork jackets, and were, God knows how, but as merry as grigs, to think how we fhould fplatter in the water. We had a fixed cord, &c. to mount into our upper ftory, and I believe both of us, as tho infpired, felt ourfelves confident of fuccefs Luckily, at this inf we found the mercury beginning to fall in the barometer, and we foon afcended much higher than ever before, and made a mott beautiful and lofty entrée into France, exactly at three o'clock. We ente ed rifing and to

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tane event.

fuch

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but the attentions of Mr. Mouron
and his family exceeded all defcrip-
tion. This morning the mayor,
governor, commandant, the officers
in a body, the king's attorney ge.
neral, &c. have been to pay us a
congratulatory vifit; and we have
been complimented as they compli-
ment the king alone, by fending us
the wine of the city. A patent is
now making out to make my cap-
tain a citizen of Calais.
receiving honours and attentions
much above our merit."

We are

To the above account we have

authority to add, that the corpora tion of Calais have come to a refolution of erecting a monument to perpetuate

the memory

intrepid aeronauts.

of the two

Extract of a letter from Mr. Blanchard, dated Calais, Jan. 8.

fuch a height, that the arch we defcribed brought us down juft twelve miles into the country, when we defcended most tranquilly into the midst of the foreft De Felmores, almost as naked as the trees, not an inch of cord or rope left, no anchor, or any thing elfe to help us, nor a being within feveral miles. My good little captain begged for all my exertion to ftop at the top of the first tree I could reach. I fucceeded beyond my comprehenfion, and you would have laughed to fee us, each without a coat of any fort, Mr. Blanchard affisting at the valve, and I holding the top of a lofty tree, and the balloon playing to and fro over us, holding almott too fevere a conteft for my arms. It took exactly 28 minutes to let out air enough to relieve the balloon without injury. We foon heard the wood furrounded with footmen, horfemen, &c. and received every poflible affiftance from them. I was foon well mounted, and had a fine gallop of feven miles. We were invited to the chateau or feat of Monf. de Sandrouin, where we received every polite attention, and were led through a noble fuite of apartments, to partake of an elegant refreshment, &c. and at nine o'clock fent away in an elegant chariot and fix horfes, but under a promife that we would call at the chateau of Mr. Brounot, at Arainghan, where we ftaid about an hour, and then fet off again as before to wards Calais, where we arrived be- "Mr. le commandant, who had tween one and two o'clock this fo politely attended our arrival, and morning. I was furprifed to find made the gates of the city to be the difficulties of accefs; five very opened to us, has behaved in a manftrong gates, bridges, &c. the guards ner not lefs flattering. They drew very vigilant, but had all orders to out their can to falute us imme. let us pafs, the commandant having fat up for us. We vifited him, and were very politely received;

"We arrived here fafe an 'well, and are at this moment with Mr. Mouron, to whofe houfe we came last night. At the inftant of my writing to you, the magiftrates are bufy in preparing a patent to make me a citizen of Calais. To this fingular honour, they have added that of fending me the wine of the city, a compliment paid only to royalty, and inviting me to a public dinner. I cannot exprefs my feelings on thofe marks of favour, which honour me far more highly than my feeble efforts have deferved.

diately on our appearing above the French coaft; and I can fcarcely finith this thort billet, fo enger are

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they

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of the fubjects of Great Britain and Ireland conjointly.

Refolved unanimoufly, That it is the opinion of this affembly, that the expreflions of affectionate regard and common intereft between the two kingdoms, contained in faid addrefs, demand grateful applaufe, and the kindeft acknowledgments on the part of the people of Ireland; and that it appears to be the wifh of the people of Ireland, and equally for the advantage of both kingdoms, that fuch fentiments of mutual friendship should the two countries. be univerfally cherished between

Refolved therefore unanimoufly, That a copy of the above resolutions be tranfmitted to the faid fecie y, as a token of the grateful and brotherly regards towards them, entertained by the affembly of Delegates, appointed for the promoting a parliamentary reform in Ireland.

Refolved unanimously, That a fufficient number of copies of the following addrefs be printed, and that the fame be published in Great

Britain and Ireland.

Refolved unanimously, That our prefident have power to convene this affembly prior to the day of adjourn ment, if occafion fhall require.

Refolved unanimoufly, That the thanks of this affembly be given to our worthy prefident, William Shar

MOTION being made and feconded, that a printed paper, entitled, "A bird Addrefs from the Society for Confiitutional Information, to the People of Great Britain and Ireland," be now read; and the queftion being put, and car-man, efq; for his very upright, able, ried unanimoufly in the affirmative, the fame was read accordingly,

Refolved unanimoufly, That the said address, as relating to a parliamentary reform, comes properly within the confideration of this affembly.

Refolved unanimoufly, That the faid address appears to be intended to promote and defend the rights

and fpirited conduct in the chair.

Refolved unanimously, That the thanks of this affembly be given to Simon Ifaac, efq; our worthy member, for his very proper and impar tial conduct as chairman of the committee.

Refolved unanimously, That the thanks of this aflembly be given to our worthy member, John Talbot Afhenburit,

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