Peep into Hanover; or, a faint description of the atrocities committed by the French in that city

cc But if you can the mournful Pages read*
The sad Relation shews you such a Deed
As all the Annals of th? infernal Reign
Shall strive to equal or exceed in vain.”
pomfret's POEMS*
W T will be remembered, that the Electorate surrendered without Resistance. This we
do not mention^ as encreasing our Compassion for the Inhabitants, which it certainly
_JL does not; but as increasing our Abhorrence of the Invaders, who, without Provoca*
tion or Pretext of Resistance, have perpetrated the Atrocities of which the following is
a faint outline:
Ever since the Conquest the whole Electorate has been a scene of Pillage and But¬
chery, which is said to yield only to the Fate of Switzerland, in Spring, 1798. The
French Soldiers have the most unbounded Indulgence of their ruling passions of Rapa¬
city, Cruelty, and Lust:--—IN THE CITY OF HANOVER, AND EVEN IN THE PUBLIC
STREET, WOMEN OF THE HIGHEST RANK HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BY THE LOWEST
OF THAT BRUTAL SOLDIERY, IN THE PRESENCE OF THEIR HUSBANDS AND FA¬
THERS, AND SUBJECTED AT THE SAME TIME TO SUCH ADDITIONAL AND UNDE-
SCRIBABLE OUTRAGES AS THE BRUTAL FURY OF THE VIOLATORS, ENFLAMED BY
DRUNKENNESS, COULD CONTRIVE. We have seen the Names of some of these
unfortunate Ladies 5 but the Honour of their Families, and the Peace of their own
future Lives, (if they can have peace,) forbid us to publish them. The Baron de K——,
a well-known partisan of French Philosophy and Politics, went to the Commandant of
Hanover, and claimed his Protection, as an Admirer of the French Revolution! but he
found no more favour in the Sight of the u4ga of Sultan Bonaparte’s janisaries, than the
most loyal Noblemen in Hanover. The French Officer told him, “ All that yacobinism is
now out of Fashion — Go about your Business /” Nor have we heard, that the Philosophers of
Gottingen, the enthusiasts of Fquality and Perfectability have been at all better treated.
Such are the tender Mercies of the Wicked! Such are the Gangs of ferocious Banditti,
whom the Murderer of Jaffa let loose on the civilized World ! Such, and ten thou¬
sand times worse, is the Fate prepared for England, if the valour of her people do not avert
it; for England will assuredly be more oppressed in proportion as she is more dreaded, envied,
and hated. To shew any symptom of Neutrality in such a Cause, not to Support if with
all our might, is the foulest Treason against the People of England ; and,
the poorest honest Labourer, who has a Mother or a Sister, a Wife or a Daughter, has, in
truth, as much reason as the highest Duke in the Land to detest the Traitor. English¬
men think of this and profit by Example. r >'■ d
ill BRITANNICUS.
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