The Sun.
London, England, 1815-08-05 00:00:00

In West Prussia

This measure has been dictated to me by the Commfinder
in Ciief. You and your fellow-citiz,ns cannot tax it with
injuftice, when I remind you of the orartures which I hare
several times made you respecting the demands of Prince

Yoil know that in 1806, '7, and 8, Prussia under the adrni-
nistration of Mr. Darn, not only lost its prosperity, but was
ruined by the enormous mass of requisitions and -extortions
to which -it was subjected ;—you know what Was done in
1803, 10, and lt, to exhaust the kingdom ; isor can I dis-
semble that in 1812, tliou4 then in alliance with France,
several of our provinces suffered treatment of which the most
erne! enemy would hardly have been guilty. It was in 1813
tha't we shook off tire, Yoke of tyranny; the victorious arms
of the Allies (I,:l;re'rerl France from a dynasty under which
that fine country had groaned fin- so watty years.
The inconceirable efforts which Prussia made to support
the great contest, after six years of oppression, signalized by
all kinds of extortion 'and arbitrary treatment, put it out of
our power to make a suitable provision for the equipment, the
I,ay, and other wants of the armies again called forth to cow.-
bat Bnonaparte and his adherents. France, now delivered,
cannot refuse its gratitude to the conquerors of the common

-enemy, when one reflects on the persevering Courage and
patience in the midst of numberless privations*vhich they
have shewn during the most extraordinary efforts,;. but this
gratitude must, not consist, as in 1511, in empty %totls, bat
in deeds.

You pretend that the contribuqgn of ton millions of francs
exceeds the ability of your city: Ask Corrnt Darn what Berlin,
a city of the quuter of the sire cf yours, was obliged to fur-
nish, and yort writ be cot-winced it greatly exceeds the de-
mands of Prince Blucher frotn the Capita) of Franke. If
ire treated your provinces as you did ours front #SOf; to

131, the contribution to be imposed according to that
standard might exceed. your ability. But ftr room using
te-prisals, we have hitherto demanded only the reimburse=
went of the Expences of the War; for the Budgets
ti)f oar finances have no head for the exorbitant invositions
l'ev,ied,On foreign courbtries, such as Were found in the Bud-

gets of France previously to the year tsbt. Last year the
-conquest of Paris ended the War. In this campaign the same
conquest has been the object of our labours; to; attain it we
have been forced to mate promises to the troops, not such
promises as the French Leader made to his Army before the,
defeats on the Katzbach, near Cohn and Dennewitz, which
hindered him from performing them ; but such as generous
Conquerors make to make to modest soldiers, whoie welfare
they value, and whose courage they know how to appreciate,
It is by the Contribution that these promises must be
and I cannot 'conceive, Sir, how it has' happencslthat in these
three days that we have been negociating on this subject, you
hare not got together a sum on account, sunk-lent to shew
your goad will to the Prince-, Wilt} must trot be deceived in
his hope o fulfilling his prp-mise to his soldiers, who are
used' to depend on his word. You and those who have ate-
glected, or rather.prevented the payment of a Mel in part,
are. the persons to whom Puri§ must impute the ,dis-
agreeable consequences of this peglect. I am sorry. Sir,
that having a particular esteem for yoti, t aux (Lliged to
make this declaration. I must add, that the measures taken
on this occasi,on are no, violation of the Conventionpf Paris,
since they fall only On those who shew disobedience or coot,
Hess in the exrcution of.aar: orders. , •
Accept the assurance, •

RIEBENTROP.
This Letter. •wa* written in tiertnati, which
the Prefect not understanding, begged, the bearer
to tY•inslate it ton him, trii he r.ekdity Trii
Prefect suffered himself to be arrested, bat stopped
his journey 'to. GrUndetax by making kt beginning
to pay.