dvised
an augmentation should be made in their land-forces, to strengthen
the garrisons of the frontier towns, and cover the territories of the
republic from invasion. She gave them to understand, that the provinces
of Gueldres and Overyssel, intimidated by the proximity of two
formidable armies, had resolved to demand that the augmentation of their
land-forces should be taken into consideration by the other provinces;
and requested her to reinforce their solicitations that this measure
might immediately take place. This request, she said, she the more
readily granted, as she could not but be sensible of the imminent danger
that threatened the republic, especially since the Hanoverian army
had passed the Rhine; and as it behoved the state to put itself in a
condition to hinder either army from retiring into the territories of
the republic, if it should be defeated; for in that case the conqueror,
being authorized to pursue his enemy wherever he can find him, would
bring the war into the heart of their country. This representation had
no other effect than that of suspending the measure which each party
proposed. The princess, in her answer to the fourth deputation of the
merchants, declared that she beheld the present state of their trade
with the most anxious concern; that its want of protection was not
her fault, but that of the towns of Dort, Haerlem, Amsterdam, Torgau,
Rotterdam, and the Brille, to whose conduct it was owing, that the
forces of the state, by sea and land, were not now on a better footing.
The deputies were afterwards referred to her minister, M. de la Larrey,
to whom they represented, that the augmentation of the land-forces, and
the equipment of a fleet, were matters as distinct from each other
as light from darkness; that there was no pressing motive for an
augmentation of the army, whereas, innumerable reasons rendered the
equipment of a fleet a matter of the most urgent necessity. In a few
days after this representation was made, the princess, in an assembly
of the states-general, requested their high mightinesses, that, seeing
their earnest and repeated efforts to induce the provinces of Holland,
Zealand, Friesland, and West Friesland, to acquiesce in the proposed
augmentation of forces by sea and land, had not hitherto met with
success, they would now consider and deliberate upon some expedient for
terminating this affair, and the sooner the better, in order on one hand
to satisfy the strong and