The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-30
.Gurope
HANOVER, October IA.

The king OF Prullia has iffued the following
proclamation to his army -
All the efforts Of his majeRy, and of his Al
lice, to maintain peace, have proved fruitlcfs
and war is inevitable, unlefs the North of Ger
many, and perhaps all Europe, be abandoned
to the will of an enemy who knows neither ref.
trant nor repofe, and giving up to his plum
dering armies.
His majety has determined upon war, be-
caute the honour and fafetv of the nation WEIR
in danger. He would have cfteen,ed himfrif
happy had he been able to have preirrved peace
without hedding blood ;-the army, the natl.
on. the whole world, are perfuaded of this |;
and it is with the greatsf confidence that his
matefty leads his troops TO battle-to defend
their country, and the national honour be-
cauie Juice is on the fide of Prufls.
That the army have long wiihed for war,
has no, efcaped his majefty's notice and if ow.
ing to considerations arifing from the circum-
ftances of the moment, his majefy has not foon-
or yielded to their wifhes, he has nevertheless
not been inattentive to them, becaufe he is con-
wnced that the voice of honour anil of patrio-
thin, which the army has always pubckly ma
infected, have alone infpired them with thefe
fentiments. The whole nation has already ex-
hioited the lively interet which it takes in war
and 1t is great confolation to his majefty, to
think, that the events which are about to take
place are not only unavoidable, but that they
have alto the general affent of his people.
His majefty is convinced that the fpirit of
honour and of Islory, which the genius of the
great Frederick has difiiminated among the Pruf-
hans, will infpre the army with its natural bra
very, and enable it to fupport the inevitable ia
tigues OF war but in the preicnt war there is
another obied, and considerations fill more
important.
We have to contcRd againit an enemy who
mas beaten numerous armies around us, who
has humbled the mol powerful Hates, deftroy-
ed the mott respectable contributions, and de-
prived more than one nation of ts indepen-
dencc and it's name.
This is the fate for which we were referv-
ed.-Numerous armies already threaten our
frontiers, and are daily augmenting. The PruE-
han monaichy is threatened with extinction, &
even to become the portion of Rranser and
our proud and greedy enemies already reckon
upon the divilion ofthe North of Germany.
We hight, therefore, for our independence,
fcr GU: honour, and for ali that is dear TO us
and it God grants victory to the juftice of our
cauie, to our arms and the courage, which,
without contradiction, animates every Prufiian,
we fhall be the faviours of thoufands who are
opprefied. Undoubtedly there is net any in
divdual in the army, from the field MARTIAL
TO the private folder, who can remain uncon-
ry folder who may fall in this ftruggle, will die
tor the facred caufe of humanity and all who
iurvive will acquire together with immortal
glory their fhare in the gratitude refulting from
the happinefs, and the tears of 10y fEed by
thofe who ihall be favcd from the general dfaf
ter.
Who among us can bear the idea of feeling
his country delivered up to the rapacity of a
foreigner. But let us further coniider, that in
lighting for ourfelves, and rcpel!ing the mott
fhametui degradation which can poflibly me-
mace nation, we ihall be at the fame time the
iaviours and deliverers of Germany. The ewes
OF every nation are fixed upon us, as upon the
iait iapPort OF all liberty, political exiftence,
and order in Europe. That victory, which is
the object of our wilhes, is not of a common
cafe. The end we propote to ourfelves is great
but the means OF an enemy intoxicated with
his victories are great ALTO: oar efforts there
fore, ought to be extraordinary and Deceive.
His majefty will joyfully partake of the eff
forts, the dangers and fatigues which his troops
vii! have to fu!tain.-He is fcnfible of what he
may expect from his brave folders; he knows
their nna!tsrable zeal, their intrepid frmnefs,
their interchangeable vigilance and their unfhaken
fidelity, will never abandon them a moment
and that under no circumstances whatever will
they ever forget the high deltines which are to
complete their glory. The fate of nations and
armies, is in fact, in the hand of Providence {;
but the Almighty God almoft always gives VIC
tory to juft caufe--that caufe we will defend
We poffefs the confidence which it has given
US. Our contemporaries will applaud our zeal !;
and our enterprises will be crowned with the
mott brilliant fuccefs.
Given at the Head. Quarters a, Erfurt, Oc-
tober 8, 1905.