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THE BATAVIAN REPUBLIC
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vigorously interposed in their behalf, and exercised for a period similar severities on the republican troops, had their remonstrances been unattended with success. He informed me, that when a town surrendered to the arms of France, in which emigrants were supposed to be, it was not unusual for the general commanding the besieging forces to allow the governor of the captured town a number of covered waggons, which should be permitted to pass without inspection, in order that the miserable emigrants might escape in them; but it sometimes happened that mercenary commanders chose rather to employ these waggons for their private emolument, than to use them for the humane purposes for which they were granted, and in such cases the severe laws of the republic were sternly executed. With a national pride, which did honour to his heart, he added, at the moment when he most loudly condemned their principles, that the emigrants were the bravest enemies whom the republican troops had to encounter. I insinuated that he might mistake for heroic courage