On 29 November 1792, John Skey Eustace sent a letter to the commander of Maastricht, Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel, demanding the surrender of French emigrants who had taken refuge in this Dutch city.

General Charles-François Dumouriez invaded the Dutch Republic from the south-west, aiming for Breda, while Miranda advanced along the river Meuse towards the heavily-fortified city of Maastricht.

Jean-Marat accused Eustace and Miranda of the failure of the Siege of Maastricht,[1] and Dumouriez planned to send him to Paris to explain his behavior before the Convention Nationale.

However, Eustace ignored the order and, claiming to be dangerously ill, retired to the Tongerlo Abbey, where he successfully resisted an attempt to question and arrest him.

On 4 September, the Prince of Coburg held a triumphal entrance in the city, followed by a Te Deum in the Church of Saint Servatius.