THE 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


orn a VIEW oF THE | [? 


nl SF OR. Y; 
POLITICS, 


AND 


eh RAYE URE, 
For the YEAR 1795. 


THE SECOND EDITION. 


LONDON: 


Printed by J. Wricut, St. John’s Square, 
for the Proprietors of Dodjfley’s Annual Register, 
W. OTRIDGE AND SON; R. FAULDER; CUTHELL AND MARTIN 3 OGILVY 
AND SON; R. LEA}; J. NUNN 3 J. WALKER 3 LACKINGTON, ALLEN, 
AND CO. E. JEFFERY 3 ANB VERNOR HOOD AND SHARPE, 


ooo 


1807. 


: ee ‘55 


ee 


4 i 
ae Ny 


a 


POR EP!” Cre 


Tue most distinguished feature of the Revolution 
in France, the prolific parent of changes and innova- 
“tions in other countries, already noticed in our 
yolume for 1792, has been verified by the events that 
have taken place from that to the present period. The 
revolutionary spirit of the French Republic, like a 
lighted torch, moved rapidly round, scarcely leaves 
room for the contemplation of its particular phases, 
inthe different stages of its progress, and is seen as 
one circle of fire. 

The constitution of 1795 contained, indeed, certain 
principles, which seemed to promise some degree of © 
both strength and duration; and to be more favour- 
able, than any of the preceding, to the interests of 
humanity, by guarding not less against the wildness of 
democracy than the chains of despotism. Subsequent 
changes, however, and particularly the late metamor- 
phosis of the Republic into a dictatorial er military 
government, (which will of course be noticed in its 
proper place and time) shew how little is to be ex- 
pected from any forms, where simplicity of manners, 
and other requisites to the existence of a genuine 


Republic, are wanting. 
These 


iv PREFACE. 


_ These defects, in the constitution of 1795, appeared 
in the very moment of its birth; and became more 
and more glaring during the short period of its exis- 
tence. The History of France has, for too many years, 
been a severe illustration of the maxim, that Nations, 
in order to be free and happy, must be just and mode- 
rate. To describe and record whatever may impress 
on the mind this solitary lesson, isa task attended with 
a mixture of pain and pleasure ; pain, in contemplating 
the miserable effects of vice and folly ; pleasure, in the 
reflection, that such warnings may prevent misery. to 
the present and future ages. 

In making these selections, out of that vast variety 
of materials which is presented to the Annalist, ata 
period of such extended intercourse among men and 
nations, our Readers will perceive and acknowledge, 
that we are guided, not by any prejudices in favour of 
particular subjects, but, by a regard to the general 
views and conduct of the human understanding, and 
the common sentiments of the human heart. In the 
present volume there is an extraordinary occasion for 
the exercise and gratification of both: in the fall, and © 
final dismemberment and dissolution, of the Common- 
wealth of Poland; a very affecting, as wellas instruc- 
tive, Episode in the History of Europe. 


THE 


THE 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
For the YEAR 1795. 


PH IST :O RYN 


co. Rk Oe Fe 


Ci A, Pod. 


Effects of the new Constitution established in Poland.—Ezternal and in- 
ternal,— Notice to all the European Powers of the New Changes in Po- 
land.— Schemes of the courts of Petersturgh, Berlin, and Vienna, for 
the complete Subjugation and Dismemberment of Poland.— Patriotic s- 
sociations in that Kingdom, in support of the New Constitution.—Dif- 

ficulties and Perplexities uf the Poles—Plan of Defence against an ex- 
petted Attack Ly Russia.—Opposed ly the Nobles:—Interference of Rus- 
sia, and Declaration of the Russian Ambassador to the King and Polish 
Diet.—The Nobles desist from their Opposition to the Pian for National . 
Defence. —A cordial Union between all Individuals and Parties.—The 
King of Poland invested with the Command of the Polish Armies.—The 
Russian Army enters the Frontiers of Poland.— Various Actions between 
the Russian and Polish Troops.—Application of the Poles for the stipus. 

. - lated Succours to the King of Prussia.—These refused.—Signal Victory 

obtained Ly the Poles over the Russians.—Inefficacy of this for the great 

End for which they had taken up Arms.—Prevalence of the Russian 
Power.—Submission of the Polish Nation.—Protest in the Diet against 
this Sulmission.— Popular Dissatisfaction and Indignation at the Pro- 
ceedings of the Diet. 


es ye establishment of the new various neighbours. Sweden and 
constitution in Poland excited Denmark, whose dread of Russia 
very different sensations among its _ inclined them to wish for a diminu- 

Voi, XXXVII, [B} tion 


2) 


tion of that influence which she ex- 
ercised with so much despotism, 
could not fail to behold with satis- 
faétion a people eminent for their 
long attachment to liberty, and 
once of the'first consequence in. the 
north cf Europe, in a way of re- 
covering their iormer importance ; 
and setting bounds to the ambition 
of the court of Petersburgh. The 
Turks, Jately humbled by the 
Russian arms, and whose preserva- 
tion was entirely due to a fortunate 
concurrence Of accidents, were well 
pleased to sce that rapacious power 
checked in her restless progress to 
aggrandizement. ‘The powers at a 
distance from the scene of action, 
could not be altogether dissatisfied 
that the balance of Europe should 
promise, by this great event, to 
regain that poise it had lost for 
some years in those northern parts. 
The only consideration that could 
possibly obstruct this sentiment, 
was the apprehension that Poland, 
in order to resist that coinkinatipns 
of which she had been the victim, 
would have recourse to -the assist- 
ance cf France: and, rather than 
submit to the tyranny which she 
had so long experienced, enter into 
the strictest bonds of union with 
that power ; now become odious: to 
all crowned heads, and aiming at 
a dissemination of its principles, 
wherever it could procure them ac- 
ceptance. 

‘This, indeed, was the sole rea. 
son that couid be alleged for the 
surprising inattivity and indif. 
ference that prevailed in so ma. 
ny courts; which, as in times 
past, would have felt themselves 
deeply, interested in the transac. 
tions, relating to Poland, had uot 
events of a more pressing impert- 
ance confined: their views nearer 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 
home. This was visibly the case in 
every country bordering upon 
France. In Spain, ever since the 
meeting of the States-General at 
Paris, and their converting that de- 
nomination into another more ap- 
posite to their wishes and designs, 
the celebrated name of National 
Assembly,’ the public had assumed 
a liberty of speaking that greatly 
alarmed the court. The example 
set before the subjects of all absolute 
governments was of a nature to fill 
them with the most serious appre~ 
hensions, and to engage them to unite 
together for the suppression of all 
attempts similar to those that had 
succeeded in so sudden and unex. 
pected a manner in France, and 
changed it from the most absolute 
to the most limited of monarchies. 
Hence it happened, that those pow- 
ers excepted, of which the imme. 
diate satety required the depression 
of Russia‘upon any terms, all the 
ethers concurred unanimously in 
hoping that no power would start up 
ot which the interest should lead it 
to espouse the cause of the French ; 
whom, in the cabinets of the Eu- 
ropean potentates, deep schemes 
were laid to crush with all speed. 
Little more than two months at- 
ter the revolution in Poland, was 
held the famous convention of Pil- 
nitz, in which it is said to have 
been striétly stipulated or under- 
stood bythe contracting powers, that 
Russiashould be atfull liberty to pur- 
suc her schemes tn Poland, while they 
were occupied in the pursuit ‘of 
theirown. ‘This satisfa€torily ac- 
counts for the ina¢tivity of the 
crowned heads in Europe, during 
the transaCtionsthat followed, incon. 
sequence of the alterations intro- 
duced into the Polish forms of go- 
vernment, by the new er, 
n 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


In the mean time, that country 
was filled with universal exultation 
at the late these were 
evidently so beneficial to all con. 
ditions of society, that they all un- 
feignedly agreed in testifying their 
cordial acquiescence. The principal 
opposers of the revolution scon 
were convinced that it was too 
popular and desirable a'measure to 
be resisted. Count Braniki, grand 
general of the kingdom, and Mala- 
chowski, great chancellor, both of 
them sincere patriots, had however 
been the leaders in that opposition ; 
Fossibly from an apprehension that 
the measuré proposed was too 
hazardous. Refle¢ting, however, 
On its justice aud propriety, they 
acceded to it, and were followed 
by all their adherents. The he. 
reditary succession to the crown 
was the chief, and indeed the only 
motive assigned for their non- 
compliance. An attachment to 
usages, confirmed by the practice of 
centuries, could not easily be eradi- 
cated ; and the dread of those abuses 
of power, so prevalent in monar- 


chances ; 


chies ruled by successors of the- 


same family, operated on the Poles 
too forcibly to permit the idea of 
inheritance in the crown. It was 
not therefore until they were com- 
pletely convinced that the liberties 
of the nation would not suffer 
by hereditary royalty, that they 
were prevailed on to unite their 
assent to that of the vast majority 
against which they had atted. 

The fa&t was, that they had been 
particularly instruéted by their con- 
Stituents, to resist this dangerous in- 
novation, as it was termed, by that 
portion of the Polish nation which 
disapproved of it; but when they 
saw with what applause the new 


- Ne, 


(3 


system, after being carried so tri. 
umphantly through the diet, was 
received by the people ; when they 
-onsidered the limits within which 
the power of the crown was circum. 
scribed, and that the sovereignty of 
the nation was maintained in the 
diet, they thought it their duty to 
desist from opposing what appeared 
manifestly the will of the nation. 
They frankly, therefore, declared 
their concurrence in the revolu- 
tionary measures adopted, and their 
determination to adhere iieh fide. 
lity to a constitution established 
by such a plurality of votes, as 
amounted to an almost wnanimous 
assent of the legislative body of 
the nation. 

All parties being thus happily 
agreed, a day of public thanksgiving 
was appointed throughout the king. 
dom, rand an annual commemoration 
onthe third of May. And it was 
also decreed, that a magnificent 
church should be constructed at thé 
public expence, with an inscription, 
perporting that it was erected in 
gratitude to Divine Providence, in 
order to eternize the remembrance 
of a revolution effected almost una- 
nimously, and without the loss of a 
drop of blood. This was accom- 
panied by a solemn declaration of 
the statés, by which they bound 
themselves to defend the constitu 
tion to the utmost of their power; 
and enjoined the magistrates and 
military at Warsaw to take an oath 
to the same intent immediately, and 
all civil cfficers and individuals be. 
longing to the army, inevery part 
of the kingdom to do the same. 

In order at the same time to ims 
press the public and all Europe with 
a due sense of the resolution they 
had taken, to mdintain their new 

{B2] system 


4] 
system at all hazards, and against 
all opponents, they formally de- 
clared, that whoever opposed a, by 
forming confederacies or planning 
insurrections for that purpose;or by 
exciting mistrust either openly or 
sectetly, should be reputed enemies 
and traftors to their country, and 
punished with the utmost rigour of 
the law. The more effectually to 
intimidate persons disposed to of- 
fend, a trtbunal was erected, with 
orders to sit constantly at Warsaw, 
and to try all persons accused before 
it, by any citizen of repute and 
property. 

The next step taken by the go- 
vernment, was to dispatch a notfi- 
cation to every European power, of 
the alterations in the constitutional 
system of Poland, and of the mo- 
tives which had prompted them. 
Of all the sovereigns and states, to 
whom intelligence of this great 
event was regularly communicated, 
none replied to this communication 
with a stronger appearance of satis- 
faction than the king of Prussia. 
He expressed himself in terms of the 
highest approbation and applause at 
every thing they had done upon this 
occasion. If they had not been 
taught by experience to place little 
reliance on that prince, his protesta- 
tions of friendship and attachment 
to Poland were so strong and fer- 
vent, that the most cautfous states. 
man might have easily been de- 
ceived. Butthe grounds on which* 
the Polish government relied, with 
some reason, were, that the in- 
terests of Prussia were, if rightly 
understood and pursued, intimately 
connected with those of Poland. 
This chiefly induced them to place 
a degree of confidence in the 
warmth with which the court of 


4 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 


Berlin seemingly entered into their. 
views. Nevertheless, the more 
doubtful and wary politicians pro- 
nounced its conduc to be influenced 
only by the circumstances of the 
moment; duplicity was requisite 
to cover the measures it was at that 
instant forming in eoncert with the 
courts of Petersburgh and Vienna. 

‘The Russian court, accustomed 
for a length of years to a humble 
deference to its mandatés, from the 
Polish government, considered these 
transactious in Poland in hardly any 
other light than open rebellion. It 
was at this hour busily eccupied in 
petting a final termination to the 
Turkish war, and the manner in 
which this was concluded, evidently 
proved that other motives than 
those of moderation accelerated the 
decision of that business. It was 
not tillthe middleof August, 1791, 
that a treaty of peace was con- 
cluded between the Porte and the 
court of Petersburgh: and the re- 
mainder of the year was consumed in 
the necessary operations subsequent 
toa pacification. It was not for this 
reason, till the return of the Russian 
armies from the theatre of war, and 
after they had rested in their winter- 
quarters, that a resolution was 
tormed to employ them in the prose- 
cution of the designs against 
Poland. 

In the mean time, the three par- 
titioning courts, as.they have been 
justly styled since the first dismem- 
berment of Poland, in 1773,.were 
conjointly devising in what manner - 
to accomplish the ultimate objeét 
they had long proposed: the utter 
subjugation of the Poles, and the 
division of their country. These 
three ambitious powers had seen 
enovgh of the reviving spirit. of 

liberty 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


liberty in that nation to fear its fu- 
ture consequences, should the ar- 
sangements that had taken place in 
that country be permitted to en- 
dure any length of time. They 
were persuaded that a short space 
would suffice to produce effects of 
great importance. The Poles, it 
was notorious, had resol ved to sacri- 
fice every consideration to that of 
establishing their independence on 
the most solid foundation. All 
classes unanimously concurred in 
this determination: that indepen- 
dence once firmly secured, they 
might gradually proceed in those 
improvements of their country, 
which, from its natural “goodness 
and feftility in productions of the 
first use and consequence, would, 
in a few years, raise it to a state of 
great power. Notwithstanding its 
dismemberment, it still consisted of 
Spacious provinces, and contained 
upwards of eight millions of inha- 
bitants—a population which, under 
skilful management, mjght be ren. 
dered amply sufficient for the pur- 
poses of national industry and de- 
fence ; especially as all descriptions 
‘of people were firmly prepared to 
undergo all domestic hardships, and 
to deny themselves all superfluities, 
in order to set on feot and maintain 
such an army as might repel the ag- 
gressions of their neighbours, 
Such, indeed, was the fixed reso. 
lutions of all the people of Poland. 
There was no distriét, no town ef 
the least note, of which the inhabi- 
tants did net form themselves into 
associations, for the purpose of for- 
warding every patriotic scheme of 
which they were capable. The 
rich contributed their money, and 
the poor their personal exertions, 
Nothing, in short, was wanting in 
this general combination of the pub- 


+. 


licand private energiesof thenation, 
but to have resorted to them at an 
earlier date.—The powers inimical 
to Poland kept so watchful an eye 
upon all its proceedings, that not the 
least transa¢tion escaped them, 
wherein they could be concerned. 
They were particularly attentivein 
preventing the importation of arms 
and warlike stores into Poland. 
Previously to the revolution, the 
king, aided by the patriotic party, 
had endeavoured to establish manu- 
factories of arms, and foundaries of 
cannon; but these were objects so 
entirely new, that they proceeded 
very slowly. Expeéting shortly t¢ 
need them iu a very extensive de- 
gree, the government directed large 
purchases to be made, wherever 
they could be found, But it was 
daily more difficult to procure them 
upon any terms, Germany, the 
great mart for all works in iron 
and steel, was in possession of their 
enemies. ~The armourers of Bran. 
denburg, and of Saxony, were for- 
mally prohibited from supplying the 
Polish agents. The fabricks of 
other parts were almost exhausted, 
or toozemete. The trade of Dant- 
zic was under the contron] of Prus- 
sia ; and little, or rather nothing, 
could be-transmitted through its 
territories into Poland, without the 
inspeétion and permit of the Prussian 
toll-gatherers, who were uncom- 
monly stri€t in the execution of 
their official duties, and suffered no 
article to pass that appeared of a 
suspicious nature, or which they 
deemed contrary tothe intentions of 
their government. 

In this state of pressure and per. 
plexity, the Poles were compelled 
to have recourse to every medium 
that ingenuity could devise. The 
old fire-arms, long laid aside as 

es a Oa useless, 


useless, were now sought after, and 
furbished a-new with the utmost 
care and dexterity ; and no means 
“were omitted to supply the multi- 
tudes that daily offered their ser- 
vices, witharcadiness and zeal that 
shewed they would want very little 
tutoring to become excellent sol- 
diers. Notime, in truth, was to 
be Jost in training them, Though 
the armies of Prussia and Austria 
were at this time in preparation, 
for the execution of those designs 
that had been formed by the empe- 
ror Leopold, and the king of Prus- 
sia, yet the power alone of Russia 
was sufficient, at this junéture, to 
carry on the designs concerted by 
those three potentates against the 
Polish nation. 

If the difficulties to be surmounted 
in the providing ofarms, were great, 
those that were encountered in the 
raising of money ,were not less,ifnot 
greater. Notwithstanding the since- 
rityof the peopleat large,in their at- 
tachment to the new systcm, itwas 
incumbent on the government to 
add as little as possible to the exist- 
ing taxes, the weight of which was 
severely felt, in a country hot pos- 
sessed of many pecuniary resources, 
The method which appeared the 
most judicious, and least burden- 
some, for the procuring of the large 
supplies that were wanted, was the 
saleof thestarosties, thenamegiven 
to those lands and estates bestowed 
by the.crown upon individuals, for 
their public services or expences. 
These were held for life, with the 
privilege of disposing of them to 
others, who remained possessors 
during the life of theseller. These 
starosties were very numerous and 
considerable: aloan was according- 
ty proposed, with security for the 
sums advanced on the sale of those 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


benefices. The secret emissaries of 
the three partitioning powers, were 
exteedingly active in obstruting 
this measure, and the lenders were 
few, in proportion to the many that 
had been expected, consid ring the 
reasonableness and value of the pur- 
chases. But the terror propagated 
through the kingdom, by the agents 
of Russia, deterred the monied 
people. The securities, however 
good in themselves, appeared insuf. 
ficient, when they were weighed 
against the dangers threatened from 
Russia. Thus, that resource from 
which, at any other season, the 
expectations formed would have 
been abundantly answered, did not, 
at this perilous time, serve the 
purposes for which it had been so 
confidently held out, 

It wasnow daily becoming mani- 
fest, thata desperate struggle would 
very, soon ensue with Russia, and 
that the independence of Poland 
must be maintained at a heavy 
charge of blood and treasure. In 
order to meet this formidableenemy, 
the king had early laid plans of de- 
fence before his council, every 
member of which concurred in its 
approbation, It included all per- 
sons proper tobe trusted with arms. 
The burghers in all the cities and 
towns in the kingdom were in- 
cluded in the list; by which means it 
afforded a prosp°€t of a numerous 
and respectable militia, which would 
jna short time, through the patri- 
otic zea] of every man for the com- 
mon cause, be rendered able, by 
constant and assiduous discipline, to 
face a hostile invasion, with well. 
founded hopes of resisting it. This 
plan was digested in such a manner, 
as to put arms in the hands.of every 
citizen in his turn, and, by a con. 
tinual rotation, tegularly train all 
people 


* 


HISTORY OF EUROPE,. 


people indiscriminately to the use of 
arms ‘and military exercises, and 
thus to convert every able-bodied 
man into a soldier. 

Had this plan been adopted, at 
the time when it was proposed, it is 
highly probable, that the Know- 
ledge of tactics which would have 
been acquired, when added to the 
warlike disposition of the Poles, 
and the patriotic spirit that ani- 
mated all men, must have thrown 
many more obstacles in the way of 
their enemies than those, unfortu- 
nately for Poland, they had to con- 
tend with, The pian itself was uno}y- 
jeGtionable; but the spirit of self- 
ish pride, so long and so rootedly 

‘the character of the Polish nobility, 
frustrated this wise and patriotic 
scheme. To confide in an army of 
citizens was repugnant to the prin- 
ciples in which that order had been 
bred. Terrified at what had happen- 
ed in France, they protested against 
the project of arming the nation, 
lest, when having arms in their 
hands, the people should claim more 
authority than became them, and 
conscious of theirstrength, should 
refuse obedience, and challenge an 
equality of rights and power. 

Fatally for Poland, the prudence 
and patriotism of the king were un- 
able to surmount the prejudices of 
the Polish nobles. They continued, 
notwithstanding his remonstrances 
and expostulations on the temerity 
of their conduct, immoveably fixed 
in the determination to expose their 
country to all hazards, rather than 
part with those privileges, that 
enabled them to tyrannize over 
their countrymen, . 

It was inthe midst of this opposi- 
‘tion to the just and salutary views 
of the king, that the court of Pe- 
tersburgh, having completed its pre- 


ported by an outrageous mob. 


[7 


parations against- Poland, ‘ ordered 
the Russian ambassador at Warsaw 
to declare its intentions to the king 
andthe diet. This declaration as- 
serted a right and an obligation, on 
the part of Russia, to take partin 
whatever related to the government 
and the affairs of Poland. It com- 
plained, in violent terms, of the 
change that had taken place in the 
constitution, which it represented 
as a total subversion of the ancient 
Polishliberty ; andas effeted chief 
ly by faétious. violence, and sup- 
It 
charged the diet with countenan- 
cing opprobrious language, respeet- 
ing the conduct and intentions of 
the empress. It recapitulated a va. 
riety of particulars, tending to cri- 
minate the Poles, as guilty of ops 
pression and barbarity towards the 
subjects of Russia. It asserted the 
new government to be a tyranny, 
established against the sense of the 
nation, the most respeiable part of 
which had applied for prote@tion, 
and a restoration of the former go- 
vernment, to the court of Peters. 
burgh, Induced by these motives, 
the empress had determined to take 
an a¢tive part in their behalf; and, 
at their request, to restore the an. 
cient order of things in Poland ; 
and to treat as enemies all those 


who should oppose her endeavours 


to accomplish that object. > 
Such was the substance of the 
declaration, delivered on the 18th. 
of May, 1792, by M. Bulgakow, 
the Russian ambassador at Warsaw, 
to the Polish government. A noti- 
fication. of this kind had been some 
time expected, and excited, there. 
fore, no surprise. On laying it be. 


‘fore the diet, the king observed, in 


explicit terms, that the design of 
the court of Petersburgh was evi- 
{B4] dently 


8] 


dently to subvert the constitution 
they had established, and to bring 
the king under subjeétion. He 
warmly exhorted the diet, never to 
submit to such ignominious treat- 
ment, but manfully to support the 
system they bad adopted. He advis:d 
them, at the same time, in addition 
tothe efforts of the Polishnation to 
repel this unjustaggression, toapply 
to that ally on whom they had the 
clearest right to depend on this exi- 
gency. This was the king of Prus- 
sia. That prince had, in the face 
of Europe, openly concurred in the 
measures pursued by Poland, parti- 
cularly those which had been em- 
braced with the view of shaking off 
the influence of Russia, andin the 
negotiations with the Porte ; but 
especially in the forming a govern- 
‘ment, with which he could contra¢t 
a firm and durable alliance. That 
government had been framed, and 
thisalliancehad been contratted ac- 
‘cordingly ; and he had thereby en- 
gaged to assist Poland in maintain. 
ing its independence and dominions 
against all hostile attempts, first by 
mediation, and, were that to fail, 
by employing a force sufficient, in 
conjunttion with that of Poland, to 
resist the attempts of its enemies. 
The king’s address was received 
with unanimous satisfaction. He 
-was invested with the supreme com- 
mand of the Polish armies ; and it 
was resolved, that for all the da- 
mages sustained by private indivi- 
duals, in consequence of the en- 
trance of Russian troops into Poland, 
indemn’ fication should be made to 
the sufferers, at the expence of the 
public. The Polish nobles, con- 
_vinced of the danger their country 
was in, desisted from the opposition 
they had .so imprudently made to 
the arming of the nation, They 
b 4 


. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


universallyagreed, that the forcesal. 
ready on foot should be augmented 
by one hundred thousand men, and 
that arms should be distributed 
among the people. The Polish no- 
bility displayed great patriotism on 
this occasion: some sent all their 
plate to the mint, others madelarge 
donations if money ; many raised 
and maintained companies of horse 
and foot, and even whole regi- 
ments; warlike implements and 
stores, in large quantities, were pro- 
vided by numbers ; several trains of 
artillery were furnished in the same 
manner. Prince Radzivil, reputed 
the richest nobleman in the king- 
dom, presented it with ten thou- 
sand stand of arms. No efforts, in 
short, were omitted to put the 
nation in a posture of defence. All 
family feuds and privatealtercations 
were now laid aside, and a cordial 
union succeeded between all indi. 
viduals and parties. 

Had this spirit, and these mea- 
sures, been adopted a year before, 
Poland would probably have found. 
itselfin a situation to meet its inva- 
ders on a footing ‘of some parity. 
Numbers of resolute men abounded 
in every part of the country; and, 
had the scheme of forming them into 
a regular militia taken place, it was 
computed, that more than four hun- 
dred thousand might with facility 
have been embodied. Prepared for 
ation by the constant training of a 
whole twelvemonth, and animated 
hy thelove of their country, and that 
hatred to the Russians, long implant- 
ed in the poles, the contest between 
them would not have been easily de- 
cided, and might have lasted long 


enough to produce some movements 


in favour of the latter, by thosewho 
could not be. deemed: indifferent 
spectators of their fate. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


. It had indeed, shortly after the 
revolution, been suggested; by some 
of the soundest politicians, and 
truest friends of Poland, to follow 
up the decisive step that had been 
taken first, by every domestic exer- 
tion that could possibly bemade, to 
invigorate and strengthen the nation 
internally; and next, by forming 
connexions with those powers that 
_would naturally be glad of an op. 
portunity to secure themselves from 
the domineering influence of Russia. 
Denmark and Sweden were pointe 
out as powers with whomanalliance 
might be fermed, highly beneficial 
to both the contra¢ting parties; the 
latter, especially, was governed by 
a prince'who, though driven by ne- 
cessity intoa pacification with Rus- 
sia, had incessant provocations to 
plead against it, from its continual 
machinations in Sweden to excite 
or foster variance between him and 
the Swedish nobles. Nor was Tur- 
key forgotten in this plan of opposi- 
tion to Russia. Peace, it was true, 
was restored between these powers; 
but the ambitious views of the court 
of Petersburgh were well known; 
and the undeniable necessity of self. 
defence would have amply justi- 


fied the Porte in forming a league. 


with Poland, reciprocally defensive 
oftheirdominions. It was obvious, 
that were this country added to that 
immense empire, so formidable an 
increase of power would enable it 
to give the law toall its neighbours, 
and extend its influence through all 
Europe. 
_ These admonitions were founded 
on the discernment of all sensible 
— in Europe. Support from 
russia could not, with any pru- 
dence, be depended on. Engaged 
with Austria in the invasion of 
France, its attention was too deeply 


{9 


taken up with their joint projeétsin 
that kingdom, to be employed in 
any others; and they were both 
justly considered as willing to ac. 
cede to whatever Russia might pro_ 
pose respecting Poland. It was, 
therefore, with much disapproba. 
tion, that the judicious viewed the 
readiness of the Polish goverament 
tocontinue its negotiations with the 
courts of Berlin. and Dresden; from 
neither of which any positive deter. 
mination could be procured. As 
to the court of Vienna, it retained 
too much of its charaCeristica} 
haughtiness to assume dissimulation; 
and the Poles were at no loss, after 
the uncordial treatment of their am- 
bassador at Vienna, to conjecture 
its real intentions. 

In the mean time, the Russian 
army, destined for the invasion of 
Poland, had entered its territories, 
It consisted of sixty thousand men, 
and near one hundred thousand more 
were in readiness to support it, if 
necessary. This army was aceom. 
panied by a few Polish noblemen, 
personal enemies to the king, and 
to all his measures. The principal 
among these were, the counts Bra. 
niki, Potocki, and Rezewuski, with 
a small number of their respe@tive 
dependents. The presence of these 
noblemen in the Russian army was 
intended asa san@tion to its proceed. 
ings in Poland, The court of Pe. 
tersburgh affected to consider them 
as the representatives of the majority 
of the Polish nation. Itwas on that 
pretence the empress founded the 
right ofinterferingin the settlement 
of its affairs, But the falsity of 
these pretensions was of universal 
notoriety; ‘hese noblemen were 


held in little estimation in their 


country ; and their adherents were 
extremely inconsjderable, both in 


Tegard 


s 


10] 


regard to their numbers and their 
circumstances. They were hardly 
more than the servile attendants of 
a broken faétion, unable to make a 
stand by any other means than that 
of enslaving their country to a fo- 
seign power. 

The difficulty, or rather, indeed, 
theimpratticability of withstanding 
the’ prodigious number of troops 
that were assembling from all paris 
of the Russian frontiers, did not de- 
ter the Poles from making every sort 
of resistance yet in their power. 
Notwithstanding the selfish opposi- 
tion of the Polish nobles, to the en- 
deavours and representation of the 
king, through his patriotic zeal and- 
efforts, the army, from less than 
twenty thousand men, had been 
augmented to near sixty thousand. 
One half consisted of gentlemen, 
excellently mounted and accouter. 
ed, and the other half of infantry, 
well armed andexercised ; but they 
wanted appurtenances for eucamp- 

ent. Nevertheless they took’ the 
field under these and many other 
disadvantages, withan alacrity and 
resolution, which no hardships 
could impair. The command of the 
Polish army was entrusted, by the 
king, tohis nephew, Prince Joseph 
Poniatowski, The prince, when 
the king invited him to take this 
command, addressed himself to his 
majesty as follows ; ‘¢ Whereare my 
magazines? Where all those neces. 
sary supplies, the replacing of 
which, a war, even the most fortu. 
nate, continually requires ? Where, 
through the Ukarine, am I to be 
in possession of ‘a place of security? 
Jn what place can my military hos. 
pital be estabiished with safety? 
Where are my surgeons and my 
medicines?From whence am I to 
be furnished with my artillery of re- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


serve ? With horses, with harness, 
and spare mountings for the guns? 
Who has been appointed my com- 
missary for provisions? Or has there 
been any nomination of my quarter. 
master-general ? And without two 
persons of this description, it is well 
known thatno commander takes the 
chargeofanarmy.” Toall these ques- 
tions he was answered, ‘“‘Ajthough 
none of these requisitions can wt pre- 
sent be supplied, the equipment of 
every thingshall beimnmediately for- 
warded, and no time shall be’ lost in 
sending them to you as soon as they 
are ready. Be yourowncommissary 
and quarter-master.general ; exert 
yourself as indefatigably as we have 
done, who, in the space of two 
years, have augmented the army 
from eighteen to fifty-five thov- 
sand men, and almost half of these 
cavalry. It must be confessed, that 
much the greater part of this caval- 
ry are ignorant of one single ma- 
neeuvre ; that the saddles, bridles, 
and fire-arms, of this corps are all 
without uniformity, and the whole 
so totally without arrangement, that 
to form them in order of battle is 
impossible. ‘This is no time, how- 
ever, for these objections: march 
directly to the frontiers, assemble 
what troops you can, and defend 
yourself to the best of your abilities. 
Courage, military talents, and the 
love of your country, will supply 
every deficiency.’’ It was thus the 
king spoke to his nephew, in devot- 
ing him to the service of the na- 
tion. And thus the prince replied ; 
«Twill go, for Ilove mycountry ; 
but I go tomy death; and, what is 
infinitely more distressing,® to the 
probable sacrifice ofmy reputation.” 
The Polish army was widely scat- 
tered in different parts of the king- 
dom. The different corps that 

marched, 


“HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


marched to the frontiers, though 
for the most part without tents, did 
not arrive at the place of general 
rendezvous, Tulezyn, till the Rus- 
s’ans had passed Ostrog,inVolhinia, 
and Vilna, in Lirhuania. When 

rince Joseph Poniatowski, wholeft 
Warsaw onthe twenty-sixth of May 
1792, arrived at Tulczyn, his mus- 
ter fe!! shortof 20,000 men. The 
troops by which he was joined were 
to be assembled from a distance of 
fifty German, that is, two hundred 
English miles. The length of the 
frontier, the defence of which was 
entrusted to the prince, extended 
from Mohilow, in Podolia, as far as 
Lojow, a distance cf one hundred 
German miles: for the prote¢tion of 
which he had the command of no 
more than about 24,000 men, at a 
time when the Russians were march- 
ing against him in three bodies, 
each of which was equal to the 
whole of his force. 

The first meeting of the Poles 
and the Russians took place on the 
twenty-fourth of May, Alarge party 
of the Cossacs advanced into the 
open field, to reconnoitre the dispo- 


sition of the Polishforces. Desirous , 


ofsignalizing the commencement of 
hostilities by some aétion that might 
impress the Russians with a better 
opinion of Polish prowess than they 
seemed to entertain, the Poles 
marched boldly out of their en. 
campment, and attacked them with 
such unexpected vigour, that they 
were put to flight, and pursued to 
their own camp. Encouraged by 
this auspicious beginning the Poles, 
two days after, attacked a larger 
body of Cossacs, which they also 
defeated; but in theardour of their 
pursuit, they were suddenly arrested 
by a strong body of the enemy, am- 
buscaded in a wood, from which 


fit 


they issued out upon the Poles, and 
surrounded ‘them, In this extre. 
mity, they had no other resource 
than the most desperate exertions of 
valour. Drawing up in the com. 
pactest order, they forced their way 
through the Russians, who were 
near five to one, and revained theig 
quarters, after making a consider. 
able slaughter of the enemy with a 
much smaller loss on their ownside, 
These two actions did great honour 
tothe Poles; it was their firstessay 
in the field, and did not fail to con. 
vince their enemies, that they had 
to deal with men, whom only their 
own superiority in number, and in 
other advantages, would enable 
them to overcome. 

The intelligence brought to War. 
saw of these two brilliant ations 
filled the public with exultation, 
They were of no other importance 
than as they proved the innate bra. 
very of the Poles, and that with the 
aid of some experience and timely 
succours, they might prove a match 
for the Russians. But this alone 
was important in the critical situa. 
tionof their affairs, and encouraged 
all men to come forward with their 
warmest efforts to serve the public. 
The king in particular seized thig 
opportunity of addressing himself to 
the nation, and of reminding it of 
the many glorious aétions perform. 
ed by the Poles in former days, espe. 
cially in Russia itself. He exhort. 
ed it fo unite firmly inevery possible 
endeavour for the common cause, 
and to look on the present period as 
decisive of their future happiness or 
misery. If they could now stand 
their ground, their liberty would be 
secured for ages ; ifonthe contrary, 
through their own remissness, or the 
superior exertions of the foe, Poland 
were compelled to submit to the 

enslavement 


i2| 


enslavement intended for it, num- 
bers of years would prcbably elapse 
before a fortunate concurrence of 
circumstances might enable their 
posterity to recover their freedom. 

On the thirty-first of May the 
diet was prorogued, after it had 
provided to the utmost of its power 
for the numerous demands made 
upon it by the necessities of the pub- 
lic. The parting of the king and of 
the members was sujtable to the se- 
riousness of their situation. Placing 
the utmost confidence in his pru- 
dence and patriotism, they chear- 
fuliy committed to him the defence 
of the kingdom ; and he fervently 
requested them to circulate a spirit 
of resistance to the enemy, and of 
unanimity among the people, and to 
sacrifice all considerations to that of 
saving their country, by serving it 
on this pressing occasion; every 
man to the full extent of his re- 
spective powers and abilities. His 
appeal to the military was remark- 
ably forcible and pathetic. He 
gecalled to their remembrance the 
many misfortunes, injuries, and 
humiliations, heaped upon Poland 
by Russia; and called upon their 
resentment and courage for ven- 
geance. They were selected by 
their country as the avengers of its 
‘wrongs, and the protectors of its 
honour and freedom against ambi- 
tious invaders, who could claim no 
other right totheir ysurpations than 
that of barbarous force and vio-~ 
Jence. The only superiority of the 
Russian troops over the Polish, was 
a longer practice of discipline ; but 
a brave people fighting for all that 
was dear to them, must shortly at 
tainanequality. By the laws they 
were called upon to maintain by 
their valour; they had been eman- 
cipated from an abject state of sla- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


very, to which, if conquered, they 
must again return. He was ready 
in their company to lay down inthe 
field of honour the few years he 
might have to live. And he con. 
cluded, by telling them, that as 
their father, their king, and their 
general, his last words of command 
would-be, to live free and respected, 
or to die with honour. 

From the warm and sincere affec- 
tion borne to the king, by all classes 
of his subjects, this admonition was 
received with the highest marks of 
approbation and respect. They 
considered him, what he was in re. 
ality, as unfeignedly interested in 
the common cause of his country ; 
with the prosperous or evil destiny 
of which his own fortune was inse- 
parably bound. The jealousy of a 
secret correspondence, and a lean- 
ing on the part of the king towards 
Russia, was entirely groundless, 
There was no bribe in the power of 
the empress to bestow, equal to the 
crown and the independence of Po. 
land ; nor can it be supposed that 
gratitude for the possession of a 
crown would incline him to lay it 
down. The king standing in this 
light, and his public and private 
charaéter being equally irreproach- 
able, his words never failed to make 
a profound impression. 

Pressed in the mean while by the 
continual irruptions of the Russian 
troops on every side of Poland, the 
king applied to the court of Berlin 
for the succours stipulated, by which 
it was specifically bound to assist 
Poland against all attempts on its 
independence, on whatever pre- 
tence they might be founded. The 
answer from the king of Prussia was 
a positive denial of any obligation 
on his part to fulfil the terms of that 
treaty ; which had been made with 

. Poland 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


Poland previously to the changes 
that had since happened in its go- 
vernment: as these changes had 
been made without his privity or 
eoncurrence, and had totally altered 
the state of things, he held himself 
discharged from the connexion he 
had then formed, Notwithstanding 
this explicit refusal of the Prussian’ 


monarch to abide by his treaty, and, 


the reasons alleged ‘for this refusal, 
he was strongly suspected of having 
advised those very measures of 
which the empress so bitterly com- 
plained. He never had signified any 
averseness to the new constitution, 
at the time of its passing, or that 
he considered it as an infringement 
of the treaty. His minister at 
Warsaw, had, on thecontrary, been 
dirc&ted to announce in a formal 
manner his approbation of the pro- 
ceedings on the third of May. 
This condu&, inthe court of Ber- 
lin, opened a new scene in Poland. 
The generality of the people had 
firmly relied on the co-operation of 
Prussia, in the defence of the new 
constitution, which had visibly pla- 
ced the Poles on a footing of more 
strength and importance than they 
had experienced for many years, and 
rendered an alliance with them of 
sufficient weight to be courted by 
those who mightneed sucha support. 
The house of Brandenburgh, feeble 
initsorigin,had not tilloflate years, 
become possessed of considerable 
power: thedispersed situation ofits 
dominions had long obstructed its 
aspiring views : but the acquisition 
of Silesia, and afterwards ofall Prus- 
sia, by the partitioning treaty that 
dismembered Poland, had givenita 
consequence, which it wasnow more 
solicitous than ever to increase by 
fresh accessions of territory. Con. 
scious that its power was chiefly 


[13 


founded on usurpation, it studiously 


‘sought to maintain by arms, what 


it had obtained by force. Russia 
had hitherto ated a joint part in 
usurping whatever lay most conve- 
nient for its ambitious purposes ; 
and Austria was not backward in 
acceding to their rapacious schemes, 
by means oftwbhich she found means 
to indemnify herself in some mea- 
sure for the loss of those provinces 
in Germany, wrested front her by 
the celebrated Frederic. Butas their 
triple: alliance was founded upon 
manifest injustice, it was not ex. 
pected to last longer than these 
three powers found it necessary for 
the accomplishment of the objects 
they had unitedly in view. Poland 
once divided between them, itnever 
was doubted that Austria and Rus- 
sia, of which the mutual regard for 
each other had long been conspicu- 
ous; would readily confederate - 
against the house of Brandenburgh; 
which neither of them, from various 
motives, ever considered ina re 
speCtable light. The recovery of 
Silesia weuld always occupy the 
councils of Austria, andthe insati- 
able ambition of Russia would lead 
her to extend her acquisitions in Po. 
land by every means that offered. 
Thus resentment and rapacity would 
jointly contribute to produce an 
union of those mighty powers 
against the former partner of their 
usurpations, who then would be too 
feeble to resist their united efforts, 
Such was the reasonings of those 
who looked forward to the probable 
course ofevents. They were cer- 
tainly justified by long experience. 
Relying on precedents of this na. 
ture, they presumed that the court 
of Berlin would also be governed 
by them, and prefer an union of in. 
terests, with a powerful aliy, to the 
temporary 


14] 


_temporary enjoyment of part of his 
spoils,in conjunétion with associates 
more powerful than himself, and 
who certainly would sooner or later 
strip him of that share they had at 
first-found it convenient to allow 
him. Others, however, thought, 
differently. Consulting that strong 
propensity toimmediate gain, what- 
ever may be the aftercast, which 
governs princes as well as other 
men, they hesitated not to predict, 
that the court of Berlin would 
seize with avidity that portion of 
Poland which Russia would offer to 
it, as the price of its dereliétion of 
the Poles. These, unhappily for 
Foland, conje¢tured rightly. 

When this fatal decision was laid 
before the king and his council at 
Warsaw, though fully satisfied in 
their own minds, as to the conse- 
quences that must in all likelihoods 
ensue, from this renunciation of all 
friendship on the part of Prussia, 
they nobly determined 10% to aban- 
dow’ the defence of their country, 
and to persist, to the very last extre- 
mity, in every trial and exertion 
to save it, that bravery and skill 
could suggest to men who were re- 
solved to bury:themselves under its 
ruins. 

Hostilities were now carried on 
with great animosity between both 
parties; .the Poles fought upon 
every occasion witha fury that often 
disconcerted their enemies, andthe 
fortune of war was continually ba- 
lanced by alternate successes and 
defeats. This created no little 
astonishment in the many veteran 
officers that commanded the Russian 
troops, and who had not expected 
to meet with so obstinate a’ resist- 
ance.—-When the Russians first 
entered Lithuania, which was now 
the theatre of war, they-entertain- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ed no doubt of being before this 
time masters of Warsaw, but obz 
structions rose before them every 
day: the Polish peasantry wasuni- 
versally against them, and refused 
to supply them with provisions and 
forage at any price. These they ‘ 
reserved wholly for their own 
troops; and most of those peasants, 
that could in the least afford it, 
furnished these articles, and many 
others, without exacting payment. 
‘The patriotism of the people, and 
the bravery of the soldiers, retarded 
in a considerable degree the pro- 
gress of the Russians, who were, 
exclusively of their baggage and 
artillery, compelled to load their 
horses and waggeus withall manner 
of necessaries: this greatly incum- 
bered their motions, while the 
Poles, on the other hand, exempt 
from those incumbrances, were able 
to march and att much more ex. 
peditiously. The knowledge of the 
country frequently enabled the Po- 
lish troops to way -lay the Russians; 
who being, in many places, desti- 
tute of guides, fell intoambuscades, 
from which they found it extremely 
dificult to extricate themselves, 
without suffering considerable loss. 
In this species of warfare, much 
time was consumed, and many lives 
lost. It was not till the tenth of 
June, that any a¢tion worthy of 
noticetook place. General Judick, 
a Polish officer, noted for his personal 
bravery, was attacked on that day, 
by a large body of Russians: his 
own was not considerable; butafter 
sustaining several dischargés of mus- 
ketry, they rushed with such im~ 
petuosity upon the Russians, that 
they were thrown into disorder, 
and compelled to abandon the field, 
after a combat of four hours, during 
whith more than five hundred of 
them 


HISTORY OF EUROPE: 


them weit s'ain. The Polish ge- 
neral, emboldened by this success, 
attacked the enemy on the succeed 
ing day. The Russians had been 
reinforced during theright. Avail- 
ing themselves of their superior 
numbers, they extended their line, 
and completely surrounded the 
Poles: these, however, stood their 
ground, with the utmost valour; 
but after a contest of some hours, 
tound it necessary tomake a retreat. 
Those who were present at this 
ation, were Icss astonished at their 
giving way, than at their being 
able to retire from the force that 
almost encompassed them. 

Another confliét tock place on 
the fourteenth. Prince Joseph 
Poniatowski had received intelli. 
gence, that a strong detachment 
from the Russian main army was on 
its march to seize a large magazine 
belonging to the Poles. He dis- 
patched instantly a chosen party of 
hiscavalry, which quickly came up 
withtheenemy. The engagement 
was long and severe, and termi- 
nated wholly to the advantage of 
the Poles. The prince advanced 
immediately with all the troops 
under his command, intending to 
follow up the blow with the cap- 
ture of the whole Russian detach. 
ment; but on reaching the ground, 
and reconnoitering the enemy’s 
position, such numbers were dis- 
covered to have poured in to their 
assistance, that it was judged im- 
practicable to attack them with suc- 
cess. ‘Lheir strength increasing 
hourly, the prince broke up his 
camp, and retired with all expe. 
dition. The Russians followed with 
equal speed, and came up with his 
rear, while it was crossing a bridge, 
which unhappily breaking down 
with the weight of the waggons 
and artillery,a considerable number 


{15 


of those who formed the rear of the 
Polish army were left exposed to the 
Russians, who assailed them with 
both cannon and musketry, They 
made a gallant but ineffeclual de- 
fence, and with difficulty retreated 
from Volionna toward Zielim, after 
losing many of theic bravest offi. 
cers and soldiers. 

During the retreat of the army 
from Vollonna, five hundred Poles, 
like the Greeks at Lhermopylz, in 
order to stop the progress of the 
enemy, devoted their lives and co- 
vered with their dead bodies the 
ground they haddisputed with the'r 
arms. Many were the instances 
that now appeared in the Polish na- 
tion of that generous and undaunt- 
ed spirit of liberty and patriotism 
that raises the human soul aboveail 
low and selfish desires, andeventhe 
love of life. Patriotic contribu- 
tions were made.in every distri 3 
the soldiers displayed a fearlessness 
of death in every action. 

Prince Joseph Poniatowski con. 
tinued"to retreat during two days. 
On the third he met with a con- 
siderable reinforcement. This.de. 
termined him to halt and hazard.a 
general engagement. ‘Lhe Russians 
were seventeen thousand strong, 
and had between twenty and thirty 
field-pieces. Notwithstanding that 
they were much inferior in num- 
ber, the Poles charged this ve- 
teran army with a vigour and 
spirit that supplied every want of 
military skill and experience. In 
order to cope with the Polish ca. 
valry, which consisted almost en- 
tirely of gentlemen, fu!l of thehigh. 
est sentiments of honour and patri. 
Otism, the Russian generals had 
collected a numerous and chosen 
body of horse; it amounted to 
more than eight thousand men; 
but with al] these advantages on 
their 


: 


16] 


their sid, they were not able to 
stand the impetuous valour of the 
Poles. Afteaa bloody combat of 
more thamtwelve hours, every part 
of the Russian army wascompletely 
defeaged, and obliged to retire from 
the field of battle, covered with up- 
wards of four thousand of their 
dead. The loss of the Poles did 
not much excecd 1 tao inen. 

The news of this signal victory, 
gained by an inferior number of 
men inexpert in war, and inspired 
solely by patriotic courage, over a 
superior number of troops, excel. 
lently disciplined, and long inured 
to warand victory, filledall Europe 
with astonishment and admiration, 
But those members’of the diet, who, 
in concert with the king, had so 
strenuouslyinsisted on the tormation 

f those plans that would have given 
to Poland a powerful and weil. 
regulated military, could not con. 
tain their resentment and indigna- 
tion at that numerous but contemp. 
tible majority of Polish nobles, 
who had, from the basest mOtives, 
rejected them. Had they beenae- 
cepted, it was evident that Poland 
might have been saved. If the 
handful of men now opposed to 
the Russians, could perform such 
wonders, what would hundreds of 
thousands have done, all animated 
with the same spirit, and with far 
greater hopes of success! These 
complaints of the patriotic party, in 
the diet, were taken up and urged 
with unrestrained violence by the 
public at Warsaw. Never, it was 


said, had the spirit of aristocracy, . 


displayed its malignity so fatally 
as in the present instance. The 
king and his faithful people would 
have saved the cogntry; but the 
haughty nobles, rather than part 
with the privilege of lording it ovér 
the nation, had delivered it into the 
hands of the enemy, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Unfortunately for Poland, there 
was too much of truthin these coms 
plaints. True it was, the nobles 
had repented of their error; but 
the day of repentance came too 
late, The enemy was in the bow. 
els of their country ; and to the sor. 
rows they must feel, at the de 
struction impending over it, was 
now added the poignant refle@ion, 
thar it might have been saved, had 
they been willing in time tosave it; 

In the mean time, the great 
victory over the Russians, thoughit 
did the highest honour to the Poles, 
was of no service to their cause. 
The Russian armies continued their 
irruptions into all parts of Poland. 
They were masters of the principat 
cities in Lithuania, and advancing 
gradually towards Warsaw, Prince 
Poniatowski, assisted by the cele- 
brated Kosciusko, made many a 
desperate stand! but the vast supe- 
riority of numbers, discipline, and 
military knowledge andexperience, 
proved ultimately irresistible. The 
courage displayed by the Poles, in 
the many obstinate engagements 
daily taking place, was the more 
heroic, that they fought merely-to 
preserve the honour of their couns 
try, and that its liberty might not 
expire unrevenged. 

The virtues of the Poles, over- 
borne by injustice anda combination 
of despots, contrasted with the pol- 
luted triumphs of the French re. 
public, awakened throughout Eu- 
ropea generous sympathy with that 
noble nation, and indignation 
against their oppressors. A subs 
scription for their reliefand support, 
set on foot in the metropolis of the 
British empire, and which was car. 
ried on with unexampled and rapid 
success, afforded to the Poles the 
consolation, that their misfortunes~ 
were not beheld with insensibility. 
by their neighbours ; and that, with 

whatever 


HISTOR 


‘whatever unconcern their strugole 

ainst despotism and ambition was 
viewed by sovereign princes, had 
they been able to continue their re- 
sistance they would have met with all 
that support, from the generosity of 
Britons, which it was in their power 
as individuals to bestow. At the 
same time that the Russian forces 
poured into Poland, Stanislaus re- 
ceived a letter from Gatharine ih 
written with her own hand, in 
which she informed . him cae it 
would be vain to make farther re- 
sistance, as she was determined to 
double and even triple her army, 
in case of necessity, rather than 
abandon the cause she had under- 
taken. She intimated, besides, that 
the sentiments of the emperor and 
the king of Prussia were in unison 
with her own, and that a farther 
opposition; on his part, would in- 
duce those powers to give her the 
most effectual support. 

The king now.saw the inevitable 
necessity of yielding to superior 
force. He had applied to the court 
of Vienna for its interposition, but 
was answered inastyle that shewed 
it atted in conjunétion with those 
of Petersburghand Berlin. Finding 
all his endeavours to resist the pow- 
er of Russia ineffectual, 
its neighbours either abetted or did 
not dare to oppose it, he consulted 
with himself, it is said, in this sad 
extremity, whether he ‘should not, 
in imitation of illustrious precedents, 
disdain to survive the destructionof 
his country ; and expire sword in 
hand in its defence. Certain it is, 
that his words and behaviour indi- 
cated such an intent: but those 
who were most in his intimacy, re- 
presented to him that such a sacri- 
fice of himself, though it might 
contribute to render his name fa. 

Vor. XXXVI. 


OF EUROPE. 


and that all” 


[t7 


mous to posterity, would by no 
means conduce to the good of his 
country. It would not soften the 
disposition of the three partitioning 
potentates, who, though unwilling 
to embrue their hands in his blood, 
would not abate any thing of their 
pretensions in consideration of such 
a deed; which either bigotry or 
hypocrisy would represent as crimi- 
nal: the most prudent part he 
could a& in this difficult junéture, 
would be to terminate a contest to 
which Poland, in its present cir. 
cumstances, was evidently inade. 
quate, by yielding to the demands 
of the empress ; who might be pre. 
vailed upon, by a timely submission, 
to grant more favourable terms 
than she would probably listen to, 
were the resistance to her arms 
protracted until they had made an 
entire conquest of the kingdom : 
an event absolutely unavoidable, 
and that must put an end to all 
treaty and compromise. 

The inutility, or rather, indeed, 
the detriment that would hence re- 
sult to his country, from the des- 
perate resolution of perishing in 
battle, at the head of his army, 
were laid before him so forcibly, 
that he resolved, however it might 
prove mortifying, to yield to the 
irresistibye destiny that awaited his 
country, and to mitigate its rigour, 
if possible, by acceding to the im- 
perious requisitions of the empress, 
whase pride, by submitting to them 
with some degree of acquiescence, 
miyht be soothed into measures of 
less severity than was now threat- 
ened. Incompliance with the ad- 
vice of the coolest heads inhis coun- 


cil, who were of opinion, that no 


time should be lost ina fruitless.and 
ruinous resistance, all the members 
of the dict, that could conveni. 


[Ce] ently, 


18] 


ently repair to Warsaw, were sum- 
moned to attend on the twenty- 
third of July. He informed them 
of every particular relating to the 
melancholy situation of their coun- 
try. The total dereliction of the 
king of Prussia and the emperor, 
and the immediate submission re- 
quired by the empress, left them, 
he observed, no alternative between 
obedience to her diétates, and ex- 
termination by the sword. _ 

The only means remaining to 
preserve Poland from a total dis- 
memberment, were, to give way to 
the inauspiciousness of the times, 
and to appeal to the protection of 
the empress herself. 

The high spirit of the Polish na- 
tion was severely hurt by these 
mortifying representations, which, 
though proceeding from indispensa- 
ble necessity, were construed by 
those who had more resolution than, 
prudence, into disgraceful, and un- 
worthy the character and dignity of 
4 great and free people. But after 
violent altercations between those 
who adhered to the advice of the king 
and those who opposed it, the latter 
avere out-voted by a numerous majo- 
tity, that plainly saw the folly of 
devoting their country to destruc- 
tion through unseasonable and ill- 
understood magnanimity. The man- 
dates of the Russian courtwere com- 
plied with to their full extent. The 
new constitution was annulled, the 
former one restored, and what com. 
pleted this crue] humiliatien, the 
Polish army was required to lay 
down their arms, and surrender to 
the Russians. 

In the meantime, a confederation 
chad been formed, known by the 
name of Targowitz, (the place 
where it was set on foot), on the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


fourteenth of May. To this con 
federation the king and his adhe. 
rents were obliged to accede. It 
was entirely under the controul and 
direction of those noblemen’ who 
had emigrated to Russia, on the 
establishment of the new constitu. 
tion, and at whose instigation, in a 
great measure, the empress had re- 
solved to employ coercive measures 
against Poland. As they were in 
the interests and pay of Russia, they 
ated subserviently to all itsdesigns, 
and, under the pretext of restoring 
the ancient order of things in their 
country, subjected it entirely to the 
will of the court of Petersburgh. 
Liberty did not expire without 
indignation and loud complaint, nor 
the existence of the Polish nation 
without a tear. The proceedings of 
the dict were so disgusting to the 
public, that numbers flocked fromall 
parts to oppose them. Four noble. 
men had the courage to put them. 
selves at the head of this opposition, 
and resolutely protested against 
them; these were count Mala. 
chowski and the princes Radzivil, 
Sapieha, and Soltoki. They had 
every one, the first especially, dis. 
tinguished themselves, on various 
occasions, by the most undaunted pa- 
triotism. ‘Che firmness of their be- 
haviour on this critical occurrence 
so much revived the spirits of their 
countrymen, that upwards of four 
thousand of the Polish gentry, and 
reputable citizens, waited upon 
them with loud and solemn thanks 
for not despairing of their country,. 
and with offers to-stand by them to 
the last extremity. They carried 
them in triumph through the eity, 
which resounded with acclamations. 
Numbers who disapproved of the 
king’s condutt, as too submissive, 
took. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


took this opportunity of condemn. 
ing it, by repeatedly exclaiming, 
the constitution without the king ! 

The protest or manifesto of Mala- 
chowski, dictated by the liveliest 
grief and indignation, concludes in 
the following manner. ‘¢ Fortified 
** by the purity of my intentions, I 
*© submit to the divine justice, the 
*¢ destinies of my country, and the 
“* proceedings of those whose plea- 
* sure it has been to do hurt to the 
“ republic. Oh! nation that I 
‘€ bear in my bosom! Oh my dear 
** compatriots! I partake of your 
«§ misfortunes, but I cannot soften 


“* them! Alas! there only remains : 


“‘ for me to offer you tears. My 
“ fidelity and my attachment are 
“‘ knowntoyou. Nothing can di- 
** minish or destroy them. But I 
_“ cannot give you any more proof 


tc 2] 


[l9 


‘© of them; as they have deprived. 
“¢ me of the means.’’ 

But this popular effervescence of 
the Polish nation, however bold and 
extensive, lasted only some days, . 
during which the arrangements 
made by the enemy to suppress all 
resistance, rendered it wholiy im. 
practicable. A silent and sullenac. 
quiescence in the measures enforced 
upon them, succeeded to those 
lively sentiments of national honour 
and freedom, which had roused the 
Poles to such extraordinary exer. 
tions for their independence. The 
whole country was now under the 
government of Russia, which ruled 
with undisputed sway. Every town 
of consequence was garrisoned with 
Russian troops, and the Poles now 
completely experienced the divers 
insults and mortifications incident 
to.a.conquered nation, 


CHAP. 


20]; 


Cr Hhnds, BP? 


] 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Il. 


Continuation of the Partitioning System of Policy.—Prussian Troops en- 
tering Poland, take possession of Dantzic and Thorn.—A second Parti- 
tion of Poland avowed and declared by the Partitioning Powers to the . 
Polish Diet.—Remonstrances of the Diet.—And Means employed for the 
Prevention of that Partition.—Violences of the Russian Ambassador at 

| Warsaw.—The Polish Diet compelled by an armed force to signa Treaty 
of Peace and Alliance with Russia.—And one of a like Nature and like 

. Conditions with Prussia.—A Spirit of Opposition in the Diet to Russia. 
—Revival of an Order of Knighthood that had been suppressed ly Order 
of the Cxarina.—Fatal Consequences of this Step.—ZInsolence and Ty- 
ranny of the Russians.—General Insurreélion of the Poles.—Headed by 
Kosciusko.— Successes of the Poles.—Junétion of Russian and Prussian 
Forces for the Reduéiion of Warsaw.—Siege of Warsaw.—Brave and 
resolute Defence by. the Poles—The King of Prussia raises the Siege: 
dn immense Russian Army under Suwarrow, advances against War- 
saw.— Decisive Aétion.—Defeat and Capture of Kosciusko,—All Hopes 
of Poland at an end,—Final Dismemlerment.—Tyranny of the Russians. 


— Reflections. 


J 


HE re-establishment of the an- 
cient system of government, 

and the universal submission of Po- 
land to the powers and dictates of 
the court of Petersburgh, was fol- 
lowed by a dead calm of silent dis- 
content. Conscious of their ina- 
bility to throw off the yoke, the 
Poles now waited with patient but 
indignant resignation sorne auspici-. 
ous opportunity of doing themselves 
justice. They were not without 
hopes that the restless ambition of 
the court of Petersburgh would soon 
or late involve it in some alterca. 
tion, from which it would not be 
able to extricate itself with success. 
This might prove an opportunity of 
humbling it so effectually, as to en- 
uble some of those powers, whom, 
in the intoxication of prosperity, it 


had offended, to unite for the resto- 
ration of those countries (through 
the unjust aquisition of which the 
power of Russia was become so 
formidable to its neighbours) to— 
their former owners. 

From the commencement of Au- 
gust, when the submission of Poland 
to Russia was completely effected, 
to the close of the year, no event 
occurred to disturb the arrange- 
ments that were making by the 
court of Petersburgh in the Polish 
governments and provinces. The 
Poles were beginning to enjoy some 
repose, and to flatter themselves 
that, provided they remained 
peaceable, they would be suffered 
to, retain that portion of their 
country which they still possessed, 
unmolested by any future preten- 

sions. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. . 


sions, But, in the beginning of 1793, 
the system of the partitioning powers 
began farther to unfold itself. A 
body of Prussian troops marched in- 
to Poland, where they seized upon 
Thorn and Dantzic, neither of 
which cities were in a state of de- 
fence, but relied for their security 
on the treaties subsisting between 
Prussia and Poland. The court of 
Berlin accompanied these hostile 
measures with a manifesto, purport- 
ing, that the king was induced to 
take them, by the apprehensions of 
the danger to which his own domi- 
nions were exposed, from the pro- 
ceedings of the jaccbinical party in 
Poland, and the seditious and revo- 
lutionary opinions they had infused 
into the inhabitants bordering on 
his own territories, Being on the 
eve of a campaign in France, the 
two imperial courts concurred with 
him in opinion, that he ought, in 
good policy, to secure himself from 
an attack by the factious party in 
Poland. é 
There is nothing more certain, 
than that ambitious governments 
have frequent recourse to little di- 
plomatic stratagems and intrigues ; 
nor was there any court more, if so 
much addicted to these, in the pre- 
sent period, as the court of Berlin. 
{tis an absolute faét, that emissaries, 
certain Italians, were sent from the 
court of Berlin, with the truly dia. 
bolical intent of forming jaeobin 
clubs in Poland, in order that the 
proceedings of those rascals or 
fanatics might furnish pretexts for 
_the introduction of new armies, and 
farther oppressions. A similar de- 
' vice, for a similar purpose, had been 
étised by the same court, in 1787, 
sn Holland, in the arrestation of 
‘the princess of Orange. 
The Prussian manifesto, which 


[2% 


was dated the sixthof January, 17933 
was answered on the third of Febru- 
ary, by the Polish confederation, as« 
sembled at Grodno, in Lithuania, 
They protested against the entrance 
of the Prussians into Poland, as 2 
violation. of treaties, and firmly 
declared, they would not submit to 
any farther dismemberment of their 
country. . They requested. count 
Seivers, the Russian ambassador, to 
inform the empress of the alarm they 
were under, by the report, that 2 
second partition of Poland was in- 
tended ; and trusted in her protec. 
tion from such an attempt. But 
these remonstrances were of no ef- 
feet. The determination was ta- 
ken to proceed to another division 
of Poland; and every preparation 
was in readiness for that purpose. 
A proclamation was issued on the 
fourteenth of February, by the 
emperor, prohibiting his subjects 
in Galicia, that part of Poland 
which fell to the share of Austria, 
in the dismemberment of 1778, 
and all the Poles resident in his do- 
minions, from obstructing the mea- 
sures of Russia, and of Piissia, in 
their country. On the twenty- 
ninth of March, the empress pub. 
lished a manifesto, wherein she 
complained of her fruitless endear 
vours, during thirty years, to main. 
tain peace and good order in Po. 
land, of the losses she had thereby 
sustained, and of the necessity to 
suppress the attempts against reli. | 
gion. and public tranquillity. For 
these, and other reasons of the like 
nature, she declared her intentions 
to seize, and annex to her Russian 
dominions, an immense extent of 
the Polish territories, contiguous to 
them, and which were particularly 
specified in the manifesto. The 
king of Prussia’s declaration, on the 
[C 3] twenty ~ 


42] 


twenty-fifth, was of much the same 
import ; and stated his design to 
seize and incorporate into his own 
dominions, several considerable pro- 
vinces of Poland, lying on his fron. 
tiers, and which were particularised 
in the declaration. The courts of 
Petersburgh and Berlin took care to 
mention, in their, respective publi. 
cations, that they aéted in concert, 
and with the assent of the emperor. 
Astonished at these peremptory 
proceedings, the Polish diet solemn- 
ly disclaimed all participation in the 
measures taken to dismember their 
country. But the ministers of Rus- 
sia and Prussia, mindless of this re- 
presentation, insisted on the appoint- 
ment of a deputation by the diet, to 
treat with ‘hem concerning the in- 
tended partition. The months of 
April and May, and best part of 
June, were consumed ina corres- 
pondence of this nature, between 
these ministers and the Polish go- 
vernment. Irritated, at last, by 
the arbitrary mandates daily signi- 
fied to them, the diet resolved, in 
the sitting of the twenty-fourth of 
June, to apply to the courts of Eu- 
rope, for their mediation with the 
empress and king of Prussia, in be- 
half of Poland. This application, 
appearing however, a frail resource, 
jt was moved and carried by one 
hundred and seven votes against 
twenty-four, that the deputation 
demanded should be commissione 
to treat only withthe Russian mini- 
ster. It was additionally proposed, 
that the imperial president should 
be invited to the conferences, as 
-the court of Vienna was guarantee 
eo the settlement of Polandin 1775. 
These motions occasioned such 
violent debates, and so much 
time appeared requisite to reconcile 
opinions, that the diet thought it 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


necessary to adjourn to the middle 
of July. 

But, before this-time, the Russian 
ambassador committed so many acts 
of violence, that neither the king 
nor the diet thought themselves se. 
cure from any outrages he might be 
inclined to perpetrate. He had ar. 
rested several members of the diet, 
sequestrated the estates of several 
persons of the first rank, and had 
even intercepted provisions coming 
to Warsaw for the king. Repre- 
sentations being made, requesting 
him to desist from such proceedings, 
and to transmit their request to the 
empress,, the deputies who had pre- 
sented it met witha positive refusal ; 
and he sent a menacing note to the 
diet, requiring the immediate sig- 
nature and ratification of the treaty 
of alliance and commerce, demand. 
ed betveen Russia and Poland. 
The diet had the courage to refuse 
their consent to the treaty of al- 
liance, which included new cessions 
of territory toRussia; and adjourn. 
ed to the end of the month. 

On this refusal, the Russian am. 
bassador sent notice, that unless his 
demands were complied with, he 
would lay the estates and possessions, 
and even the very houses and habi- 
tations, of every member of the 
diei, under military execution, those 
of the king himself not excepted, 
were he also torefuse.. During the 
remainder of July, and the whole of 


. August, the Russtanand Prussian mi- 


nisters continued te urge the signa. 
ture of the treaty, in the most me- 
nacing strain; but’on the second 
of September, finding their threats 
ineffetual, the Russian minister 
sent word to the diet, that he had 
ordered a body of grenadiets, with 
cannon, to surround the castle they 
were in, and expected they would not 

depart 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. . [23 


depart till they had agreed to sign 
the treaty. This menace was ex- 
ecuted ; and the commander of the 
detachment posted himself, with his 
officers, in the hall of the diet; but 
on the king declaring he would not 
proceed to business in their presence, 
the officers withdrew, and the com- 
mander only remained; but he 
openly declared, that no member 
should retire before consent was 
given to the treaty, ‘he sitting 
continued till three o’clock next 
morning, when, after the most vio- 
lent debates, the diet solemnly re- 
solved to declare to all Europe, af- 
ter appealing to it so often in vain, 
that, in defiance of the faith of 
treaties, that one especially entered 
into with the king of Prussia at his 
own desire, in the year 1790, and 
by which he bound himself to gua, 
rantee the independence of Poland, 
they were now deprived of their 
free will, and surrounded by an 
armed force; which, being unable 
to resist, they were compelled to 
consent to the signing of the treaty, 
di¢tated and imposed upon them by 
the Russian ambassador. 

After terminating, in this man- 
ner, the negotiation with Russia, 
the two courts resolved to efteé the 
conclusion of thatnow pending with 
Prussia, in the like manner. On 
the twenty-third of September, pre- 
viously to thesitting of the dict, the 
Russian ambassador ordeted four 
members to be arrested, and station- 
ed a body of soldiers round the 
eastle. The diet demanded the li- 
berty of those members, but were 
gefused. The assembly — remained 
inactive during five hours, openly 
declaring, they were deprived, by 
main violence, from proceeding to 
business with freedom of delibera- 
tion, Meanwhile, they were insult- 


ed by a Russian general, who ad. 
dressed them insolertly, withthreats 
and with admonitions, tosign, with. 
out disputing the terms, the treaty 
required by the king of Prussia. It 
was moyed, at length, by count 
Ankwitz, the deputy from Cra. 
cow, to draw up.a formal protest, 
against this unlawful and tyrannical 
violation of public and personal li. 


‘berty by the Russian ambassador, 


and that, when the treaty should 
again be proposed, their total dissent 
should be marked by the profound. 
est silence, 

In consequence of this determi. 
nation, the treaty, when it wag 
again proposed, according to the 
usual forms, meeting with no oppo- 
sition, passed of course; and the 
cession of the Polish provinces seiz- 
ed by Prussia, was signed. The 
protest that followed it was diftat- 
ed by a deep sense of wrongs, that 
could not be remedied; and con. 
veyed, with great energy, the sen. 
timents of a noble-minded people, 
and a virtuous monarch, oppressed 
by a fatal concurrence of inauspici- 
ousircumstances, which nowisdom 
could avert, nor the most spirited 
exertions of patriotism or of courage 
oppose, 

The protest concluded with these 
remarkable words; ‘¢ I, the king 
of Poland, enfeebled by age, and 
sinking under the accumulated 
weight of so many vexations and 
misfortunes, and we, the members 
of the dict, hereby declare, that 
being unable, even by-the sacrifice 
of our lives, to relieve our country 
from the yoke of its oppressors, 
consign it to posterity, trusting, that 
means may be found, at some hap. 
Pier period, to res’ it from oppres. 
sion and slavery; such gneans, un. 
fortunately, are not in our power, 


[C 4] “and 


24] 


and other countries abandon us to 
our fate. While they reprobate 
the violations which one country is 
said to have committed against |i- 
berty, they can view, not only with : 
apathy, but with approbation, the 
outrages that have been perpetrated 
against Poland.’* alae 
~~ It isensuch sad occasions as these, 
when whole nations of men are over- 
whelmed by irresistible injustice, 
oppression, and slavery, that the hu- 
man mind rises to the greatest height, 
above every selfish and low desire, 
is softened by the most comprehen- 
sive as well as generous sympathy, 
‘and fortified by the most animating 
sense of duty and virtue: when the 
captive Israelites, hanging their 
harps on the willows, by thestreams 
of Babel, are melted into tears at 
the recolleétion of Zion; when the 
Moors are compelled, by the unre. 
lenting bigotry and overbearing 
force of the Spaniards, to leave the 
land possessed by them and their fore- 
fathers, during the lapse of so many 
ages; when the Dutch nation, in 
the period of simple manners, and a 
love of their country, pressed by 
the same bigotry and power, medi- 
tated the design of embarking on 
board their vessels, and seeking li- 
berty in distant and dangerous 
climes; and the Vendeans, with 
their whole families, wander from 
region to region, fighting, as they 
go, for subsistence and tor lite,— 
‘Lhe fate of Poland, in the, present 
meeting of the diet, was deplored 
by the pathetic eloquence of the 
nuncioKimbar; ‘‘ My advice,”’ said 
he, ‘‘ is, that we cede not to the 
instances of the Russian ambassador; 
that we raise ourselves superior to 
his menaces. Sufferings are incon- 
siderable to virtue: it is her essence 
to contemn, and, if inevitable, to 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


endure ‘them. Why, therefore, sire, 
(addressing himself to the king) are 
we to be thus alarmed? They me. 
nace with exile all those who dare 
defend their country: those who 
refuse to put the seal to its annihi. 
Jation. Let us go, then, into Si. 
beria: she will have charms for us : 
her deserts will become our para. 


dise; for every thing, even our 


ashes, shall proclaim the inflexibi- 
lity of our virtue, its devotion to 
our country. You, sire, whgse 
reign is marked by a lengthened 
chain of misfortunes, if, in the midst. 
of these disasters, you have been a 
thousand times in circumstances 
which might have secured immor- 
tality to your name, and happi- 
ness to your country, alas all frus- 
trated! now seize with more suc- 
cess those which present themselves 
thisday. Efface the faults of your 
early years, and, if the want of ex- 
perience has given this reproach 
to your youth, that we needed a 
sovereign more active and determined, 
reply to this reproach, by evincing, 
under grey hairs, the courage and 
vigour denied toyour youth. Par. 
don me, sire, that I here become 
your censor; but whocan be other- 
wise, that boasts his attachment to 
you and the nation, and who re, 
members your sacred pledge, that 
they should be for ever indivisible ; 
that, © rather than set your hand 
to the partition of the country, it 
should wither to the bone.’ He 
who recolleéts this will justify my 
sentiments, and their language. He 
will be compelled to confess, that it 
is the pure and simple truth which 
issues from my lips, ed, 
‘© Sire, we loveyou. You may 
reckon upon our entire affection, 
The nation loves you: the country, 
which served you for a cradle in in- 
fancy, 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


fancy, yet sustains you. Can you 
resign our brethren, our fathers, 
and that land which has fostered 
your youth? All that as king you 
possess, as king has been conferred 
by the Poles ; they have loaded you 
with blessings, will you reward 
them with slavery ? 

«¢ Such athrone will havenocom- 
fort; you must disdain to purchase 
it at such a price. The general opi- 
nion is, that you have been indebt- 
ed to Catharine for its security. Let 
the universe see, that it was God 
alone who destined you to be a 

' King, and established your throne. 
Demonstrate that you will reign 
with glory, and faithful to your en- 
gagements; then, too, when a 
greater force submits every thing to 
its will, and menaces all with de- 
struction, for you to wear a crown, 
as the s/ave of despots, can haye no 
eharms. . 

«« You, sire, who are our mo- 
narch and our father (for here you 
will be styled so by all, and, in Si- 
beria, our hearts shall treasure up 
those tirles ineffaceably), conduct us, 
if it must be so, into Siberia. Let us 
go, where we are menaced, into those 
melancholy wastes: there, yet, 
our virtue, and your own, will co- 
ver with confusion those who con- 
spired our ruin. (Here the deputies 
cried unanimously aloud, ‘ Let us 
go into Siberia.”’) We are your 
children, and will follow you with 
the enthusiasm of grateful love ; and 
the measure of your suffering shall 


[25 


be- exceeded by our eirnest venera- 
tion.’’ 

In one of the articles of the al- 
liance with Russia it was stipulated, 
that without the assent of this pow- 
er, no alteration should ever take 
place in theold system of its govern- 
Ment, now re-established. This 
confirmed, at once, the perpetual 
dependence of Poland upon Russia. 
In‘order to render this dependence 
complete, the revenues of the king- 
dom, now diminished by two-thirds, 
through an equal diminution of its 
territories, were so reduced by the 
late confusions, that it was found 
necessary to apply to the guarantee 
of Russia, for the raising of a loan to 
discharge the public debts.*—-Not- 
withstanding the degraded state of 
the Polish nation, it could not be 
brought to dissemble its resentment 
at the principal agent in its depres. 
sion. Anorder of knighthood had 
been instituted, by the diet that es- 
tablished the revolution of 1791, 
for the reward of military virtue and 
patriotism; this order had, in 
compliance with the representations 
of the empress, been abolished: 
but a spirit of opposition to Russia 
suddenly arose, that prompted seve- 

-ral members of the diet to demand 
its re-establishment. It was ac. 
cordingly decreed, to gratify the 
wishes of the public, which seemed 
to think, that a badge of honour, 
at least, was due to those patriots 
who had made such conspicuous, 
though fruitless, exertions in the 


* By the second partition of Poland, in 1795, the share of Prussia was, in extent 
ofcountry, 1061 square leagues, 262 towns, 8272 villages, 1,136,381 inhabitants; 


taxes, 3,594,640 Polish florins. 


The share of Russia, in extent of country, square leagues, 4553; towns, 455; vile 


lages, 10,081; inhabitants, 3,001,688; taxes, 8,691,072. 


Remainder of Poland, 


inextent of country, square leagues, 4016; towns, 697; villages, 10,599; inhabis 


tants, 3,512,710; taxes, 12,559,181. 


cause 


26] 


cause of their country. The diet 
also was glad of this opportunity of 
shewing its gratitude to those on 
whom it had no other recompense 
to bestow. This was the last act 
of the famous, but unfortunate, diet 
of Grodno, which terminated on 
the twenty-fourth of Nov. 1793. 
But the revival of this order was 
attended with fatal consequences : 
jt irritated the empress to sucha 
degree, that she direéted her am- 
bassador to quit Warsaw wi*hout 
taking leave. Alarmed at this 
proof of her resentment, the king 
and council instantly agreed to-sup- 
press this order, and to send adepu- 
tation to Petersburgh, torequest her 
oblivion of the imprudence of the 
late diet in reviving it. This trans- 
aétion seems, nevertheless, to have 
sunk deep into her mind, and to 
have influenced much of her subse. 
quent conduét towards the Poles, 
whom she was led to consider asir- 
reconcileably averse to her person, 
as well as to-the measures enforced 
upon them, and unalterably deter. 
mined to seek every opportunity of 
throwing off their obedience. 
Herein the was not mistaken; but 
it was no less certain that her seve- 
rity afforded them ample reason to 
be dissatisfied. Baron Ingelstrohm, 
who succeeded count Seivers in the 
embassy at Warsaw, was ordered to 
demand a solemn abrogation of all 
the aéts of the diets of 1788 and 
17915 both which had been remark- 
ably inimical to the interests of 
Russia. After complying with tl#s 
jnjunétion, the Polish government 
was ordered to reduce the army to 
sixteen thousand, But this, toge- 
ther with.other despotic measures, 
proved a signal of general insurrec- 
tion, ‘the oppressive treatment of 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


the Polish gentry and peasantry was 
become intolerable. They were 
compelled to find food and quarters 
for the Russian soldiery, and to fur. 
nish them with all necessaries, at the 
price which these were pleased to 
fix, without certainty, however, of 
any payment. They were treated 
with insolence, and liable to the 
harshest usage. Such behaviour in 
the Russians did not fail to render 
them odious, and to create a thirst 
of revenge. When, to these oppres- 
sions, the insulting mandate was 
added to disband the army, the 
patience of the Poles was exhausted, 
and they refused to obey. The first 
who refused compliance was Mada. 
linski, a nobleman highly respect. 
ed, and a brigadier in the Polish 
army. Several regiments followed 
his example, and the defeétion at 
length became general, 

On receiving intelligence of this 
insurrection, the court of Petersburgh 
immediately dispatched fifteen thou. 
sand men into Poland, and the Rus. 
sion ambassador required the Polish 
government to send 4 body of forces 
against the insurgents, and to put 
every suspected person under arrest, 
But his demands were refused ; the 
latter particularly, as contrary to 
Jaw. The insurrection continued 
daily to increase; all the military 
had joined it, and every man able 
to bear arms seemed heartily ready 
to unite in one trial more, for the 
deliverance of his country. 

An individual now arose, who 
fixed at once the eye and expecta. 
tion of the public. This was the 
celebrated Kosciusko, whose cha- 
rater pointed him out as the pro- 
perest man to head the resistance of 
his countrymen to the Russians, 
He had, from early life, been bred 

a soldier, 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


a soldier, and greatly distinguished 
himself in that capacity especially 
in America, where he rendered es- 
sential service to the congress. Re- 
turned to his country, he was a- 
mongst the foremost openly to pro- 
fess and encourage a determination 
to assert the independence of Po- 
land. When the Russians invaded 
it, in consequence of the constitu- 
tion of 1791, a command of impor- 
tance was conferred upon him, and 
he distinguished himself in all the 
principal actions. It has been as- 
serted, that if his advices had been 
_more frequently adopted, the resist- 
ance to Russia would have proved 
much more effectual, if not wholly 
successful. When that unfortunate 
struggle was over, he went to 
France, where he so far interested 
the principal members of the con- 
vention in favour of his country, 
that they supplied them with a 
very considerable sum of money, 
with which he speeded back to Po- 
land, the moment it appeared pro- 
bable that anotherinsurrection might 
be raised against the Russians. He 
employed the money entrusted to 
him to so good purpose, that about 
the middle of February, 1794, he 
had colle¢ted a Jarge number of the 
_most resolute insurgents, with whom 
he attacked the Prussians in their 
new acquisitions, from many of 
which he drove them with great 
_ Slaughter. He next marched to the 
city of Cracow, which the Russians 
deserted omhis approach. Here he 
was declared commander in chief 
of the Polish confederates, by the 
‘nobility and gentry, who had as- 
sembled there for that purpose, and 
who took an oath of fidelity to the 
cause they had embraced. Aftera 
variety of arrangements for the pro- 
secution of hostilities against the 


[27 


usurping powers, and for the well 
ordering of the affairs of the confe~ 
deracy, the constitution of the year 
1791 was solemnly read and sworn 
to in the cathedral of that city. 

The revolutionary government . 
being thus settled, Kosciusko ad- 
vanced towards Warsaw, with a 
considerable force. The most vi- 
gorous measures had been taken in 
that capital, through the power and 
influence of the Russian ambassador, 
to stop the progress of the insurrece _ 
tion there. Fifteen thousand Rus- 
sians were quartered in that city, 
and more were daily expected, 
The king had found himself under 
the necessity of publishing orders 
against the insurgents, and of issuing 
a proclamation to enjoin obedience 
to government. 

The situation of the king, 
who had lost much of his popu. 
larity, was now, not only irksome, 
but by no means secure from dan 
ger. The people did not scruple te 
afirm, that the king was devoted 
to the interest of Russia, and meant 
to make his escape from Warsaw. 
This suspicion being communicated 
in a manner full oferespect and at- 
tachment to his majesty’s person, by 
a deputation from the council af 
Warsaw, he readily agreed, that 
some persons, in the confidence of 
the people, should be his constant 
attendants. According to his ma. 
jesty’s wish, fourteen citizens were 
appointed his adjutants, two of 
them to do duty at the palace, and 
accompany the king wherever he 
should go, From that time, two 
municipal officers, wearing blue 
scarfs, accompanied him wherever 
he went, and ate at his table. 

On the intelligence that Kosei. 
usko was marching to Warsaw, ba. 
ron Ingelstrohm, the Russian am- 

bassador, 


28 | 


bassador, demanded the surrender 
of the arsenal; but was resolutely 
refused. He had, in the mean 
time,dispatched general Woronzow, 
with six thousand men, to oppose 
Kosciusko, On the fourth of April, 
1794, they both met, and a despe- 
rate battle was fought, wherein the 
Russians left upwards of a thousand 
men dead on the field, with all their 
cannon and ammunition, besides a 
number of prisoners, among whom 
was the general himself. 

Irritated at this loss, Ingelstrohm 
again required the arsenal to be sur- 
rendered, the Polish military to be 
disarmed, and about,twenty persons 
of rank, whom hé suspected, to be 
taken into custody, and, if found 
guilty of abetting the insurrections, 
to be put to death. The king and 
council refused compliance, and de- 
puted the chancellor of the king. 
dom to remonstrate against his de- 
mands: but he was treated with 
the utmost dignity by the Russian 
ambassador, who attempted the 
next morning, seventeenth of April, 
to take possession of the arsenal. 
But the citizens had anticipated him; 
they armed themselves, drew out 
the cannon, and, joined by the 
Polish garrison, their forces amount- 
ed to more than twenty thousand 
men, ‘They attacked the Russians, 
and expelled them from the city, 
after an obstinate contest of thirty. 
six hours. 

Notwithstanding that the king 
had openly encouraged the people 
to defend the arsenal, they still look- 
ed upon him with a suspicious eye. 
After the expulsion of the Russians, 
they required him solemnly to pro- 
mise, that he would not quit the 
city. The two municipal officers 
still attended him, and all his mo- 
tions were strictly watched, The 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


king, solicitous to remove all suspi. 
cions of his sincerity in the cause, 
sent the one half of his plate to the 
mint, and expended the other in re- 
lieving the families of those citi- 
zens who had fallen in the conflict 
with the Russians. He daily ap- 
peared in public, and personally su- 
perintended the repairs of the for- 
tifications round Warsaw. 

In order to unite all parties, and 
convince Europe, that the constitu- 
tion of 1791 was the real object of 
the Polish nation, the provisional 
council of regency, that had been 
established by the patriotic party, at 
the commencement of the insurrec- 
tion, laid down its authority, and a 
national council was appointed, un- 
der the direction of the king. This 
measure took place through the ad- 
vice and influence of Kosciusko, 
and powerfully conduced to cement 
the union and cordiality now sub- 
sisting between all classes of people 
inthe kingdom. These transactions 
happened about the end of May, by 
which time the hopes and expecta. 
tions of the Poles seemed to be coun- 
tenanced by a variety of successful 
and promising events, - The Rus- 
sians had been defeated in many 
skirmishes, and the Polish forces 
were daily becoming more nume. 
rous. Exclusively of the peasantry, 
whose vigour and zeal rendered 
them of most essential utility, and 
who were constantly ready to a&t 
when called upon, the regular mi- 
litary of the patriotic party, pre. 
sented a formidable aspec&t. The 
various bodies under Kosciusko, and 
the other Polish generals, amounted 
altogether to near seventy thousand 
men, well armed, and under good 
discipline. : 

But the evil star of Poland still 
combated these exertions, Russia, 

now 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, © 


now fully convinced that the con- 
test was very serious, had collected 
an immense army, which was draw- 
ing near the Polish frontiers. Prus- 
sia, deeply alarmed at the progress 
of the Poles, and dreading, were 
they to succeed, an invasion of his 
own, dominions, had concluded a 
peace with France, which left him 
at liberty to carry on his projects 
in Poland. He entered it with a 
powerful army, laid siege to the city’ 
of Cracow, which was obliged to 
“surrender on the fifteenth of June. 
He advanced towards Warsaw, in 
the proximity of which place he 
was joined by the Russian forces 
in these parts, and immediately re- 
solved to besiege that capital. It 
was ina state of great fermentation : 
a number of persons had been tried 
and convicted of treason against 
their country. The citizens eagerly 
demanded their punishment; and 
notwithstanding the endeavours of 
the more moderate to suspend their 
execution, several individuals of 
distinétion were put todeath. Af- 
ter sacrificing those that were re- 
puted the most guilty, they were 
prevailed upon to,permit a respite 
to the others. - 

The king of Prussia was now en- 
camped, with his own and the Rus. 
sian forces, within sight of the Po- 
lish metropolis. He prom sed him- 
self an easy reduction of the city, as 

it had no fortifications. But the in 
habitants were numerous, and weil 
provided. with all necessaries for a 
resolute defence. As it was fore- 
seen, that the. fate of the capical 
would in a great measure influence 
that of the whole kingdom, Kosci- 
usko, resolved to defend it in person. 
To this intent, he approached it on 
that side where the Russians jay. 
He attacked and,forced all their 


: 


[2G 


posts on the eleventh of July, and 
took an advantageous position in 
front of the city, opposite to the 
Prussian encampment. He received, 
in a short time, so many reinforce- 
ments, that he was enabled to sur- 
round Warsaw with intrenchments, 
by which it was so. well protected, 
that the king of Prussia began to 
doubt of the success of his enter- 
prise. The Prussians exerted them- 
selves with their usual skill and bra- 
very ; but they were almost con- 
stantly worsted in all theirattempts. 
They cannonaded and bombarded the 
city without intermission ; but were 
answered with a fire from the in. 
trenchments around it, that made 
prodigious slaughter among them. 
The king and prince-royal of Prussia 
were more than once in great danger. 
The siege continued in this manner 
till the beginning of August, when 
the king wrote a letter to Stanislaus, 
endeavouring to persuade him to a 
surrender ; but the Polish monarch 
returned him a-firm refusal. 

In the mean time, the Polish pro- 
vinces that had been seized by the 
Prussians, were in a state of insur- 
rection. The Poles poured in upon 
them from all quarters, and the ad. 
vices brought every day to the 
Prussian camp before Warsaw, be- 
came so alarming, that the king be- 
ganscriously to think it necessary to 
hastento the succour of his own do. 
minions. The Polish: eapital had 
suffered very little during the siege, 
and was in a condition to hold out 
much longer than he would. be able 
to continue his operations against it ; 
and the auxiliaries, promised to him 
from ~ussia, advanced so siowly, 
that he aporehe: ded they mighrnot 
arrive before his own strength were 
too much impaired for the purposes 
be had in view, Influenced by 

thee 


30] 


these considerations, he raised the 
siege of Warsaw, on the fifth of Sep- 
tember, after it had lasted two 
months, and he had sustained severe 
losses. He expressed much dissatis- 
faGion at the dilatoriness of the 
Russians, The fact was probably, 
thar they reserved the capture, of 
Warsaw for themsélyes, and were 
not sorry at his failure. Large 
bodies of them were on their march 
in all directions, and notwithstand. 
‘ing the courageous exertions of the 
Poles, they began to apprehend that 
the immensity of the numbers they 
would soon have to contend with, 
must in the issue overwhelm them, 
as it had done before. 
The celebrated Suwarrow had 
been placed at the head of the ar. 
mies destined to act against Poland, 
‘He was now on his march towards 
Warsaw, and to be joined on the 
way by several Russian bodies, of 
great force. Sensible of the ne- 
cessity of preventing such junctions, 
Kosciusko hastened with all possible 
diligence to obstru&t them. But 
before he could collect a sufficient 
strength, a Polish corps of consider~ 
able force fell in with the main 
body ot the Russians near Brzesk, on 
the borders of Lithuania, on the 
nineteenth of September, and was 
defeated with great loss by Suwar- 
tow, who continued his march to 
the capital. On receiving this in. 
telligence, Kosciusko resolved im- 
mediately to proceed against the 
Russian general, before he should be 
reinforced. The Polish army, under 
Koscuisko, consisted of twenty 
thousand men; but on hearing that 
baron Ferson, a Russian genezal, 
was On the point of joining Suwar- 
ow, he marched with six thousand 
men to intercept him ; leaving the 
remainder with prince Poniatowski, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


to force any other divisions of the 
enemy that might endeavour te 
close upon his rear. 

The decisive action that engued, 
was fought upon the tenth of Ofo-. 
ber. The beginning of it was fa- 
vourable to the Poles, who twice 
repulsed the Russians; but incon- 
siderately pursuing them too far,they 
were surrounded by their superior 
numbers, and after a most desperate 
defence of more than five hours, 
were routed with adreadful slaugh- 
ter. One half of them were killed 
or taken, the other, by dint of uns 
common valour, made good their 
retreat. The loss of the victors 
was so great, that instead of moving 
forward, they were obliged to retize 
to a place of safety. This day de. 
cided the fate of Poland, and of 
Kosciusko. His capacity and con. 
rage were eminently displayed in 
this fatal engagement. Three 
horses were killed tnder him: 
when the last fell, he was at the 
same time wounded by a Cossack, 
who was going to repeat his blow, ~ 
when he was prevented by a Russian 
officer, who made Kosciusko a pris 
soner. The loss of this battle was 
attributed to prince Poniatowski. 
Through unskilfulness or treachery, 
he suffered the enemy to cross the 
Vistula, though he had four thou. 
sand men to oppose them; and 
while Kosciusko was engaged, he 
made no movement to his assist. 
ance. 

The defeat and capture of Kosei. 
usko filled Warsaw with consternas 
tion. The heads of the patriotic 
party exerted themselves to keep 
alive the spirit of the people: but 
they succeeded only in part; the 
majority had placed their chief con. 
fidence in Kosciusko, and. did not. 
imagiage that any one xemained to 

replace 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


replace him. The Russians were 
entirely of this opinion; and, pre- 
suming on the discouragement of 
the Poles, sent several insulting mes- 
sages to the king; to which he an- 
swered, however, with a composed 
dignity, suitable to his character 
and station. The different bodies 
of which the Russian army consist- 
ed, being now united under the 
command of Suwarrow, his \hole 
effeGtive force amounted to near 
sixty thousand men. That of the 
Polish garrison in Warsaw did not 
exceed ten thousand. They were 
commanded by the two generals 
Madalinski and Dambrowski, whose 
invincible courage determined them 
to defend the city to the last extre- 
mity. It was assaulted by Suwar- 
row in the same manner as he had 
done Ismailow in the last Turkish 
war. After a most intrepid and reso- 
lute resistance of eight hours, the 
Russians forced their way into the 
suburb of Prague, divided from the 
other part of Warsaw by the 
Vistula: they slaughtered indis- 
criminately every one they met; 
neither women nor children escap- 
ed their barbarity ; and the numbers 
that perished in this horrible mas- 
sacre were computed altogether at 
twenty thousand. 

All hopes were now at an end, 
and the chiefs of the patriots endea- 
voured to open a negotiation with 
Suwarrow ; but he rejected them 
as rebels, and refused to treat 
with any but the king and thelaw- 
fully established magistracy. A de- 
putation from these waited upon 
him accordingly ; but could obtain 
no other terms than security of life 
and property, on surrendering the 
city at discretion; to which the 
Russian general added from his own 
motion, forgiveness tor the past, 


[32 


In consequence of this agreement, 
the executive council, appointed by 
the insurgents, resigned their autho- 
rity to the king, and all who re< 
fused to accede to the capitulation, 
were allowed to depart, with this 
admonition, however, that they 
would ‘not escape, and when taken 
must expect no quarter, This num. 
er was aboutthirty thousand; bat 
they were so closely pursued and 
pressed by the Prussians and 
Russians, onevery side, that, want. 
ing provisions and amunition, they 
were in a short time compelled to 
disperse; a few only making their 
way out of the confines of Poland. 
The Russians took possession of 
Warsaw, after disarming the in. 
habitants, on the ninth day of No- 
vember. An army of thirty thou. 
sand men were quartered in the 
city, and encamped around it, and 
batteries of cannon planted against it 
on every side. Towards the close of 
December, some bands of insurgents, 
who were dispersed in the provinces, 
made all possible haste to surren. 
der, The courts of Petersburgh and 
Berlin divided between themselves, 
and that of Vienna, what had re. 
mained, since the last partition, 
in 1793, of Poland, at their pleas 
sure ; and the cruel courtiers of the 
empress shared amongst them the 
possessions of a great number of the 
proscribed owners. . Stanislaus Aue 
gustus was sent to Grodno, in Li- 
thuania, where he was condemned 
to live obscurely on a pension that. 
was granted him by the empress ; 
while prince Repnin, appointed go. 

vernor of the provinces usurped b 
Russia, ostentatiously displayed the 
pomp of a sovereign. THe nobles 
Zajoncheck and Kolontay, who 
were among the first and warmest 
supporters of the revolt headed by 
Kosciusko, 


32] 
Kosciusko, escaped to the Austrian 
territory, where the rights of hospi. 
tality being in their persons violat- 
ed, they were detained in capti. 
vity. Kosciusko himself, with Ig- 
natius Potocki Kapustas, and some 
others, were transported to Peters- 
burgh, and shut up in dungeons. 
Among these unfortunate men was 
the young poet Niemchevitch, the 
intimate friend and companion of 
Kosciusko,* wounded, and made 
prisoner with him. The blood he 
had lost for his country was not the 
only injury with. which Catharine 
reproached Niemchevitch. Hehad 
composed verses against her in all 
the boldness and energy of satire. 
Nor was this all; there appeared at 
Warsaw, not only pieces, ascribed 
to Niemchevitch, in verse and 
prose, but caricature prints also, in 
which the empress was very much 
insulted. Her majesty had him at 
first confined in the citadel of Pe- 
tersburgh, and, afterwards sent him 
to Schlusselburg, where he was 
treated with great severity. 

The empress, in a manifesto, un- 
der the name of UNIVERSAL, pub- 
lished after the partition of Poland, 
in 1793, guarantees to her new 
subjects the safety of their persons 
and propertics, and farther professes, 
an intention to indemnify them for 
the damagesthey might have sustain- 
ed, through the marching of troops 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


especially in the last war.“ The: 
first act of our authority,’’ she adds,. 
“‘ being a testimony of benevolence, | 
in favour of subjects, that are new- 
ly come under our dominion, and 
of solicitude for the welfare of the 
country they inhabit, we are apt to 
think,that they willgratefully receive 
this mark of favour, and will know 
how to value, as they ought to do, 
the desire we announce here, of gain- 
ing their hearts by our favours, and 
to attach them to their ancient mo- 
ther country, by the hopes of the 
advantages we offer them, instead 
of subduing them by dint of arms. 
We hope that, answering our gene- 
rous views, they will send up te 
heaven their thanksgivings for their 
being returned into the bosom of 
‘their ancient mother country, that 
adopts them tor the second time ; 
that the objeéts of their zeal and of 
their endeavours will be,’ to conso-. 
lidate them in the faithfulness they 
owe us, and in a constant submis- 
sion to our laws; that they will 
unite themselves, with heart and 
soul, to our faithful subjects, the 
Russians ; that, inshort, they will 
form, as they did formerly, a re- 
spectable nation, always tractable, 
always faithful to their monarchs, , 
always valiant and invincible, 
whereby they will render themselves 
‘truly worthy of the solicitude we 
shew to them, as a tender mother, 


*® Kosciusko, like other celebrated heroes, is an admirer of poetry, and a friend to 
pore Having acquired a knowledge of the English language, in the course of his mie 


tary services in America, he was enabled to read the English poets; which he did 
with great taste and judgment. When he was released from his confinement, by the 
present emperor, and in London, on his way to’ America, he sent a present of Faler- 
nian wine (being part of a quantity he had himself received from an English gentle 
man, who is always ready to exercise hospitality to worthy strangers), to Peter Pin- 
dar, as asmall acknowledgment of the pleasure ‘hs derived from his works, and which 
had amused him, particularly during his voyage to this metropolis, from Petersburgh. 
Had the state of his health permitted, he would, he said, have waited in person on the 
poet. The readers of the best English poet of our times will readily recognise how 
natural it was for the admérer of Niemchevitch, to be the admirer also of Peter Pindar. 

who 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


who only wishes for the happiness 
of her children.’’ 

This tender mother actually gave 
orders fora public thanksgiving, for 
the blessings conferred on the Poles, 
in all their churches; and, sporting 
equally with affairs human and di- 
vine, imposed the following oath 
on every individual of the Poles 
and Lithuanians: “‘ I pro- 
mise and swear to God Almighty, 
by his Holy Gospel, to be always 
ready toserve, faithfullyand loyally, 
her imperial majesty, the most se- 
rene empress, grand lady, Catha- 
rine Alexievna, \autocratrix of all 
the Russias, and her well-beloved 
son, grand duke, Paul Petrovitch, 
her lawful successor, to go for that 
purpose, to yield up my life, and 
to shed the last drop of my blood, 
to pay due and perfe@t obedience 
to the commands already issued, or 
hereafter to issue from the authori- 
ties appointed by her; to fulfil and 
maintain them all conscientiously, 
tothe best of my power ; to contri- 
bute, with all my strength, to the 
Maintenance of the peace and quiet 
which her majesty has established 
in my country ; and to have no com- 
munication or intelligence whatever 
with the disturbers of that quiet, 
either mediately or immediately, 
either publicly or privately, either 
by actions or by advice, and what. 
ever be the particular occasion, cir- 
‘cumstance, or cause, that may lead 
to it. . 

‘© In case, on the contrary, any 
thing should come to my knowledge, 
prejudicial to the interests of her 
imperial majesty, or to the general 
welfare, I will not only strive to 
remove it at the time, but I will 
ope it with all the means that 
shall be in my power, to hinder it 
from coming to pass. I will socon- 

Vor. XXXVII. 


[33 


dué& myself, in all my actions, as 
it behoves me, like a faithful citi. 
zen, to behave towards the autho- 
rities which her majesty has’ set 
over me, and as I must answer for 
it to God and his terrible judgment. 
So may God help me, as well in 
my body as in my soul. 

*¢ In confirmation of the profes. 
sion made by this oath; I kiss the 
holy word and cross of my Savi 
our.’? 

The final dissolution of the Polish 
commonwealth, and dismember- 
ment of the extensive kingdom of 
Poland, natarally calls back our at. 
tention to a summary view of the 
vicissitudes of its history and go. 
vernment. 

The first part of the history of 
Poland cannot be considered in any 
other light than as a mass of fable, 
illuminated with some scattered rays 
of truth. Little, therefore, can be 
certainly known respe¢ting the ori 
ginof the Polish government. There 
are, however, several circumstances 
to dire&t our opinion. ‘The descrip. 
tion Tacitus has left us of the tribes, 
from whom the Poles are most pro- 
bably descended, the analogy of o« 
ther northern nations, and the gene- 
ral tenor of the Polish history, tend 
to prove, that the great body of the 
people enjoyed a high degree of 
freedom, as well as a considerable 
influence on the measures of govern. 
ment. . Although the. sovereign 
power was generally continued in 
the same family, there was no esta. 
blished rule of hereditar ysuccession. 
If a free ele@ion did not take place 
ou every vacancy, the consent of 
the nation, expressed in a general 
diet, was always necessary to con. 
firm the nomination of a successor to 
the ducal dignity. While the go. 
vernment remained on this footing, 


[D] the 


34] 


the pecple were in fact free, and yet 
the sovereign power appears to have 
been subject to no constitutional re- 
stridiions. Neither the preroga- 
tivesof the duke, nor the privileges 
of the people, were defined by po- 
sitive law. Custonr seemts to have 
formed the only restriCtion to either. 
The sovereign carried his power as 
far as he thought he could depend 
upon the submission of the nation ; 
and the people sometimes exerted 
their right of expelling a tyrannical 
master afd asserting their freedom 
by force. 

The first circumstance that tend- 
ed to exert a permanent influence 
on the form of the government, and 
the condition of the people, was 
the practice of bestowing fiefs upon 
feudal principles, which was intro- 
duced in the beginning of the ninth 
century. Through the continued 
exercise of command, the nobles 
proceeded, by insensible gradations, 
to regard the peasants under their 
jurisdi€tion as their property. The 
spirit of the people was by degrees 
broken, and they yielded. 


Another event, which contribnt- 


ed to strengthen the power of the 
aristocracy, was the introduétion of 
the Christian religion into Poland, 
in the latter part of the 10th cen- 
tury, when the spiritual tyranny of 
Europe was at its height, and the 
despotic principles of the Roman 
Catholic church were received along 
with the catholic faith. ‘Uhe apostles 
of this church, far from inculcat- 
ing thedivine purity and simplicity 
of their predecessors, which are 
so powerfully recommended by 
Chfist, his disciples, and the first 
Christian converts, assumed in 
their mission a tone of authority 
suitable to the high claims of their 


temporal head. From either the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


piety or the folly of the kings ané 
nobles, the higher clergy in‘Poland, 
as in other countries, soon saw them- 
selves im possession of ample terrt- 
tories, invested with all the privi- 
leges of the nobility, and, m some 
cases, with amore extensive autho. 
rity than could be claimed by any 
other subject. The body of the 


clergy, weli trained to subordina- 


‘tion, seconded with zeal the views 


of their leaders. While their terri- 
torial jurisdiction gave them the 
same interest with the nobility to 
encroach on the rights of the pea- 
sants, the blind veneration attached 
to their chara@er, facilitated their 
usurpations. ‘Thus the domineering 
spirit of the Roman Catholic hier- 
archy, concurring with the arbitrary 
principles of the feudal system, gave _ 
an easy victory to the clergy and the 
nobility over the liberties of the 
people. These were excluded from 
the diet of eleCtion, the nobility and’ 
gentry, reserving to themselves the 
sole right of regulating the succes- 
sion to the sovereignty. ‘The ab- 
ridgement of personal liberty quick- 
ly followed the loss of political con- 
sequence. Oppressions were mul- 
tiplied. A variety of vexatious 
claims were, from time totime, esta. 
blished against them. ‘They were 
gradually deprived of the rights of 
men, as well as those of citizens. 
‘The law was too weak, or too cor- 
rupt, to afford them relief; and they 
sunk into a state of servitude, from 
which they have never since emer- 
ged. et 
Attempts were indeed made to 
restcre them to the protection of 
law and the rank of freemen ; but 
these attempts failed of success. 
Itis but justice to acknowledge, 
that the heads of the church of 
Rome often interfered, and with 
much 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


much success, for the mitigation 
and gradual abolition of domestic 
and predial slavery ; whether, as 
we would charitably believe, from 
a genuine spirit of Christianity, or, 
as some contend, and may perhaps 
have been, in some instances, the 
case, from an ambition of engross- 
ing to themselves all power over 
the bodies, as well as the souls, of 
men. ‘The faét is nevertheless true, 
that, through their collusion and 
, concurrence, the Poles, as well as 
other nations, were gradually de- 
prived of their political privileges. 

Towards the close of the twelfth 
century, Casimir II. endeavoured 
to repress the tyranny of the aristo- 
cracy ; but the influence of his re- 
gulations, as it arose chiefly from his 
personal character, produced only 
a transitory alleviation of griev- 
ances. The pride of the most tur- 
bulent of the nobility was offended, 
at this attempt to set bounds to their 
usurpations ; and this circumstance, 
joined to the uncertain ideas enter. 
tained concerning the right of suc- 
cession to the sovereignty, split the 
nation into factions: from which 
arose a train of civil wars, that.con- 
vulsed the state, with only occa- 
sional intervals of tranquillity, till 
towards the middle of the four- 
teenth century. At this period, 
when as yet there were no written 
laws in Poland, arose Casimir the 
Great, who became the legislator 
of his country. Without attempt. 
ing to remedy the fundamental er- 
rors of the government, he satisfied 
himself with regulating the internal 
police of his kingdom, and correét- 
ing a mass of abuses, which had 
been accumulating for ages. He 
allowed the order of succession to 
the crown to remain in the same 
unsettled state in which he found 


(35 


it.. But he endeavoured to repress 
the licentious and tyrannical spirit 
of the highernobility. He restored 
the peasants to the protection of 
laws, abolished personal slavery, 
and prohibited, under severe penal. 
ties, the cruel exa¢tions. to which 
the nobles had subjected all who had. 
the misfortune to be born on their 
estates. His humane attention to 
this unhappy class of men led the 
nobility to distinguish him with a 
misplaced ridicule, by the title of 
king of the peasants. By raising the 
mass of the people to the rank of free« 
men, he gave them an interest in 
the welfare of the state. Had the 
prudent and benevolent spirit of his 
laws been adhered to, Poland might 
still have continued to be a great 
and flourishing nation. 

But after the death of Casimir, 
the peasants were quickly thrown 
back into that state of misery and 
degradation from which he had at- 
tempted to raise them. The situa- 
tion of this class of men became 
even more deplorable and hopeless, 
from the attempt that had been 
made to relieve them. Their 
masters seem to have taken the hint, 
from. this circumstance, to secure 
their future usurpations with all 
the solemnity of legal exactment. 
Pains and penalties without number 
were denounced against all of them 
who should dare to think themselves 
entitled to the common rights of 
human nature: and they were again 
subjected to the caprices of every 
gentleman who chose to indemnify 
their masters, or pay a trivial fine 
as a compensation for their murder. 


‘In consequence of this system of 


oppression, equally inhuman and 
impolitic, the state was in a great 
measure deprived of their service 
in supporting the honour of the na« 

[D2] tion, 


36] 


tion, and defending the frontier. 


Depressed by long habits of the most | 


abject slavery, they Jost that clastic 
vigour of both body and mind whieh 
is necessary to constitute a soldier, 
They had hardly the shadow of in- 
terest in the public weifare. Being 
already as low as it was possible to 
reduce them, they might, if forced 
to change masters, be placed ina 
better situation, but not in aworse. 
Hence the defence of the state was 
left entirely to the nobility : a class 
of men, whom habits of licentious 
independence had already rendered 
totally unfit for submission to the 
necessary strictness of military sub- 
ordination. While Charles XII. of 
Sweden over-ran Poland in so short 
atime, and a few Russian regiments 
at the election of the late and last 
king, overawed the Folish nation, 
once so powerful, the peasants, as 
in all similar cases, stood neuter, 
and the nobility, pursuing all of 
them separate measures, left the 
whole an easy prev. 

The nobles having become, after 
the death of Casimir the Great, 
the undisputed masters of the lives 
and fortunes of their peasants, next 
turned their attention to retrench 
the power of the crown. The royal 
prerogative was indeed exorbitant, 
and totally incompatible with the 
principles of a free government. It 
accorded, however, with the irre. 
gular spirit of feudal times, when 
the nobility, although they possessed 
not any constitutional check on the 
power of the crown, could yet over. 
come the king, and extort from his 
fears, the enjoyment of an inde- 
pendence which was not secured to 
them by any legal concession, But 
the time was now arrived when this 
precarious freedom could no longer 


satisfy a high spirited nobility — 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 17995. 


Lewis, the nephew and successor of 
Casimir, possessed extensive heredi- 
tary dominions, and might employ 
his Hungarian army to crush the 
liberty of his Polish subjefts. The 
nobles resolved to prevent these 
dangers, and the occasion was highly 
favourable to their design. Lewis, 
when his uncle breathed his last, 
was in Hungary. The nobles pro- 
fiting of this circumstance, resolved 
to stipulate with him for their 
own privileges, before they would 
admit him into the kingdom. A 
deputation of their number waited 
on him at Buda, and demanded and 
obtained a formal renunciation of 
some branches of the prerogative, 
as the conditions on which they 
were willing to become his subjeCts. 
Of these the most important were, 
that the king shovld not impose 
taxes without the consent of the 
states: that, in the event of hisdying 
without heirs male, the eleétioh of 
his successor should be left to the 
states; that he should reimburse to 
the nation the expences, and even 
damages, occasioned by his wars ; 
that he should reinstate the grand 
proprietors in their tyrannic privi- 
leges; and that it should not be 
lawful for a peasant, or in other 
words, a predial slave, to bring an 
action against his lord. This is the 
origin of that compact termed in 
Polish Latin Pa&a Conventg, which, 
with occasional variations, conform. _ 
able to the circumstances of the 
times, every subsequent king was 
obliged to ratify previously to his 
coronation. 

The nobles began now, agreeably 
to the usual progress of successfulam. 
bition, to form other pretensions, and 
to grasp at new privileges. Practis. 
ing on the predominant passions 
of the successors of Lewis, and 

particularly 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


particulstly on the desire which was 
so generally manifested by themall, 
of transmitting the crawn, through 
the concurrence of the nobles, to 
‘their sons, or other near relations, 
they procured a renunciation, on 
the part of the crown, ‘of the right 
of coining money, without the con- 
sent of the states; and anexemption 
to the nobility from arrest, till after 
legal conviction of the crime with 
which they were charged. 

Various pretences were furnish- 
ed to the nobles for increasing their 
power, by the long and unquiet 
reign of Casimir 1V. who governed 
Poland for near half a century, and 
died in 1492. Although he had suc- 
ceeded in uniting the sovereignty of 
several rival states in his own fa- 
mily, Poland felt her internal strength 
debilitated, and her resources ex. 
hausted, by the “splendour of her 
monarch. Accordingly, the nobles 
eagerly seized every occasion which 
the king’s necessities afforded them 
of farther abridging his power, and 
establishing in their own hands a 
more general and immediate influ- 
ence on all the measures of govern. 
ment. 

Previously to this period, all who 
were comprehended in the class of 
nobles, together witha certain num- 
ber of the inhabitants of cities, pos- 
sessed the right of voting in the ge- 
neral diet. Hence those meetings 
generally bore a nearer resemblance 


to the tumultuousness of a mob, than - 


to the solemnity of a great national 
assembly. Too numerous to be com- 
prehended within the limits of any 
regular forms of procedure, and too 
much broken by party distinétions 
to be capable of calm and rational 
discussion, they could only give or 


[37 


refuse a general sanétion to the ob. 
jects that were laid. before them. 

To remedy these radical defects, 
and prevent the confusion insepas 
rable from universal suffrage, the 
nobles agreed to wave this right, 
and te vote by representation. 
The general diet thus constituted, 
preserved its form to the present 
times, with one material excep- 
tion, which, as it marks the con- 
tinued usurpation of the nobles 
on every branch of government, 
and order of society besides their 
own, is worthy, in this review, of 
being mentioned. At the time 
when the general diet was esta- 
blished in its present form, and dur- 
ing the reigns of all the Jaghello 
family, the right of representation 
was possessed by the free towns. 
The first attempt to procure their 
exclusion was made by the nobles, 
in the reign of Sigismond I. At 
that time, however, they were un- 
successful: but as soon as all ideas 
of hereditary. right to the throne 
were not only, in faét, given up, 
but formally renounced and pre. 
scribed by statute, there was no 
longer any power to check their con- 
tinued encroachments, The whole 
authority of the state was, at every 
vacancy, actually lodged in their 
hands ; and one of the first uses 
they made of it was, to strip the 
towns of their right of representa. 
tion in the general diet. : 

The general diet, constituted on 
these principles, proved highly fa. 
yourable to the designs of the aris. 
tocracy, By condensing and con. 
centrating their power, it enabled 
them to a¢t with unanimity and con- 
cert. It formed a constitutional 
body, neither too unwieldy to be 

[D3] actuated 


38] ANNUAL REGISTER, -1795. 


actuated by one spirit, nor too feeble 
to enforce its authority. Accord- 
ingly, the institution of the general 
diet soon gave a new dire¢ticn to 
the views of the aristocracy. Pre- 
viously to this era, the nobles aim- 
ed rather at an exemption from 
grievances, than at the possession of 

ower. The opposition lay rather 
etic the exertion of the prero- 
gative, and the enjoyment of inde- 
pendence, than between the actual 
power of the sovereign, and, the 
claimed power of the nobles. But, 
from this period, the crown and the 
diet were directly opposed to one 
another; each aimed at a dired 
ascendency in the legislature; and 
neither.could gain, except in as far 
as its antagonist lost. 

In addition to the concessions al_ 
ready made to the nobles, the ne- 
cessities of Casimir IV. obliged him 
to resign yet another very important 
right of the crown, namely, the 
right of summoning the feudal ba- 
rons to attend his standard, at the 
head of their retainers, whenever 
he should be engaged in hostili- 
ties with any of his enemies. 
The nobility, harassed by -his fre- 
quent wars, wished to secure them- 
selves against the destructive effec 
of the ambition of their kings. Ca- 
simir wished to replenish his ex- 
hausted treasury ; and money was 
to be procured in no other way 
than by yielding to the claims of the 
diet. Accordingly, the bargain, 
being mutually advantageous, was 
soon concluded, and the feudal! ser. 
vices abolished. 

The establishment of genera] 
diets may be considered as the 
zra of the Polish constitution. It 
was intended as a regular counter- 
poise to the power of the crown; 


but the government was as irregu~ 
larly balanced as before. The king, 
who, by economy, could confine 
the expences of his government 
within the hereditary revenue of the 
crown, was under no necessity of 
summoning the diet; and» conse- : 
quently there was no legal remedy 
for whatever grievances’ might ex. 
ist during his reign, On the other 
hand, the ele&ive nature of the 
crown threw the whole power of 
the state, at every vacancy, into 
the hands of the aristocracy, who 
might, under the pretence of secur- 
ing their privileges, impose what- 
ever limitations they pleased on the 
successor, or even annihilate the so. 
vereign power. There was no he- 
reditary body of men, who, from a 
similarity of interests, were induced 
to support the dignity of the crown, 
The king was obliged to choese his 
servants out of that order whose 
views were directly contrary to his 
own, By a peculiarity in the Po- 
lish constitution, the great officers 
of the crown had an interest dire€lly 
contrary to that of their master, 
Instead of deriving support and 
strength from the power of the 
crown, they derived the importance 
and splendour of their offices from 
its diminution. They were ap. 
pointed for life, and, of course, in- 
dependent of the king. Their 
weight in the government increased, 
in proportion as the royal authority 
was diminished. 

Still, however, the crown would 
have retained sufficient energy for 
the purposes of regular government, 
had it been possible for the Poles to 
fix their constitution on the prin- 
ciples on which it rested at the 
death of Casimir 1V. and to pre- 


vent all farther innovation; but 
the 


HISTORY OF EUROPE... 


athe king was a solitary friendless 
power, and the nobles were turbu- 
Jent and aspiring. A principle of 
change operated without ceasing ; 
and no expedient could be found to 
counteraét its effect, until, by the 
fatal introdu¢tion of the berun 
veto,* in the reign of John Casimir, 
who was eletted to the Polish 
throne, in succession to his brother, 
Ladislaus, in 1648, the power of the 
crown was reduced almost to no- 
thing, and the nobles left wholly 
witheat controul. ‘This new prin- 
ciple crowned the Polish constitu- 
tion, the most singular assemblage 
ef incoherent materials that was 
ever exhibited, with the we plus 
ultra of aristocratical licentiousness. 
When all questions were decided 
in the diet by plurality of voices, 
the nuncios, or deputies, necessarily 
possessed considerable weight in the 
government. The servants of the 
crown were led to consult the public 
good, in order to escape the animad- 
version of the general diet; but 
when the establishment of the Ade- 
rum veto enabled them to buy the 
negative of a nuncio, this check on 
their condu€t was removed. In- 
stead of making themselves agree- 
able to the nation, they had now 
nothing more to do than to make 
themselves rich, and they were sure 
of impunity. The exigencies of 
the public were never so great, but 
that a nuncio might be found to sell 
his negative ; nor the deliberations 
of the diet so regular, but that a 
' pretence might be found for inter- 
posing it. It was seldom that the 
great officers of state could all be 
brought to concur in the same 
views; on the contrary, they were 


‘tions. 


[39 


generally divided by hereditary 
feuds, which nothing could allay : 
nor did they always wait the slow 
issue of intrigue in their competi- 
tions. As there did not exist any 
power sufficient to restrain the 
whole, they not unfrequently raised 
armies, fought pitched battles, be- 
sieged one another’s houses, and de- 
solated one another’s estates, with 
all the fury of incensed savages. 

As the practice of setting up the 
crown to the highest bidder invited 
the interference of foreign nations 
in the affairs of the Poles, so also 
did their internal dissentions and 
contests. Ideas were nourished in 
the breasts of neighbouring poten- 
tates, that Poland was unfit for gc- 
verning itself; but instead of en- 
deavouring to remedy that defect, 
by suggesting or encouraging any 
salutary change in the constitution, 
they subverted such a constitution 
the moment it was framed, and 
shared among themselves a kingdom 
which they had been taught to dis. 
respect and despise as venal, feeble, 
and dependent. 

‘Thus, it is plainly to be perceived, 
that although Poland had not .the 
advantage of any suchbarriers as 
usually define and defend great king- 
doms, the great cause of its ruin lay 
not in this circumstance, but in the 
faults of its constitution. 

The history of Poland, displaying 
the defects and disadvantages of po- 
litical systems, as by a magnifying 
glass, offers to legislators, and all 
who can, either directly or indirect. 
ly, influence the business of legisla- 
tion, the most important considera- 
It illustrates, in the most 
striking manner, the ultimate ruin 


* Or right which every provincial deputy enjoyed of putting a stop, by hie single 


negative, to the proceeding of the general diet. 


[D4] 


that 


40] 


that must arise from the encroach- 
ments of any class of men, under 
whatever denomination, on the 
rights of humanity, on the one hand, 
or the prerogatives of the executive 
government on the other ; and how 
much the interest of every branch 
of government, and every order in 
society, is connected with senti- 
ments of moderation and justice. 
Had the Polish nobles understood 
their owninterest, they would nei- 
ther have weakened the natural 
strength of the country,’by oppress- 
ing and enslaving the peasants, on 
the one hand, nor the energy of 
government, by endless attacks on 
the powers of the crown on the 
other; but it seems unfortunate- 
iy to be incident, and almost inse- 
perable froma spirit of liberty, to 
push its claims beyond a just and 
reasonable degree of freedom. No 
sooner have men ceased to be slaves, 
than they aspire to be masters; li- 
berty is still the pretence; but 
power is the real objet. It has 
happened in our own country, that 
the privileges of the people have ge- 
nerally been only a popular cry, for 
the power of their leaders. The 
same thing has happened in the late 
struggles in France between con- 
tending factions; and perhaps it 
will always happen in all human so- 
cieties. To secure the liberty of 
the subjects, against the tyranny of 
the crown, was the pretence for 
the successive changes which took 
place in Poland ; but the real de- 
sign was, to throw the whole 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


powec of the state into the hands of 
the aristocracy. While, with one 
hand, they seized almost every 


branch of the royal prerogative, 


with the other, they bound harder 
the fetters of the people. While 
they raised themselves above the 
controul of the law, they sunk the 
people below its proteétion. But 
in carrying on this double attack on 
both their king and country, they 
cut the ground under their own 
feet:, and king, nobles, and the 
whole Polish nation were involved 
in one common ruin, 

‘Lhe partitioning powers, in their 
successive attacks on the indepen. 
dence of Poland, have not been 


aGtuated by a spirit of greater’ @ 


liberality, or more profound politi. 
cal wisdom, than those of the Polish 
aristocracy on the rights of the 
crown, and those of the great mass 
of the people, the a¢tual cultivators 
of the soil. The partition of Po. 
land, which was the cement of 
temporary agreement, must one day 
be the source of contest. The world 
is taught -to reflect, that the same 
powers that were hostile to the 
French republic, were also hostile 
to the liberties of Poland; and the 
partitioning system, forming a de- 
plorable ra in the history of Eu- 
rope, supplanting public law, and 
sanctioning, through their example, 
a contempt at once of morality and 
sovereign authorities, prepares dis- 
respect and subversion to the thrones 
of kings, as well as to the rights of 
nations.* 


* There was greater wisdom, as well as justice, in the conduct of a Polish king, 
Badislaus Jaghello, who, when a powerful party in Bohemia, disgusted with their own 
king, made a tender of their crown to the Polish monarch, said, “ You are not your 
“ king’s judges; and by attempting to seize upon rights which do not belong to 
* you, you would introduce a confusion into your government, infinitely more fatal 
* than the evils you pretend toremedy. I am, therefore, less sensibly affected by this 
« mark of your esteem, than offended at your presumption, in proposing that I should 
“ commit an act of injustice so contrary to my character,” 


If 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


If it might be permitted to inter- 
rupt the course of our narrative, yet 
a little longer, to deplore an event 
so common in history, as the triumph 
of the wrong over the right, we 
should express the regrets of huma- 
nity, that the Poles, reasonable, 
moderate, and capable of regulated 
freedom, should have been aban- 
doned, to appearance, by heaven 
and earth, while the French, arro- 
gant furious, and atrocious, were 
triumphant. 

It is to be ascribed to the natural 
good temper -of the Poles, that, 
with all the seeds of fa¢tion and mis- 


rule, so profoundly sown in their, 


political constitution, they yet hung 
together so long as they did, as one 
nation. The new constitution of 
41791 was still a greater proof of 
temper and moderation, and ap- 

ars- to be the happiest medium 
that had hitherto been adopted be- 
tween monarchy and popular go. 


[41 


vernment. For moderation, equity, 
and sound political wisdom, it form- 
ed a contrast with the precipitation, 
violence, andimpra¢ticable complex. 
ity of the French revolution, or ra- 
ther revolutions. In the former, the 
ground-workof the constitution re- 
mained the same; respect was paid 
to the rights and privileges of all 
the orders of the subjeéts ; and the 
reform begun, but not considered 
as finished, was to be carried on, as 
the way to perfeétion should be 
pointed out by times and circum. 
stances. In France, as a preli- 
minary to reformation, all things 
were moved from their centre, and 
thrown into the completest chaos 
and confusion. On the whole, as 
the history of the old Polish consti- 
tution warns men of many things ta 
be avoided, so the new constitution, 
though strangled at its birth, exhi, 
bits others worthy of imitation. 


CH AP, 


42] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Cae A Pry yp ebl 


Aétion and Re-aétion of Measures and Events. —A Majority of the Dutch ine 
clined to Peace and Amity with the French Republic.—Efforts of the 
Dutch Government for the Suppression of this Spirit. —But the French 
Faétion increases.—A French Army invades the United Provinces.— 
Departure of the Duke of York from Holland.—Boldness of the French 
Faction, —Proportionatle Dejeétion of the Stadtholderian Party.—Ac- 
tions between the British and French.—Retreat of the former towards 
the Leck.—Hostile lehaviour of the Dutch to the English.—Exireme 
hardships suffered by the English Army in its retreat from Holland.— 
Rage of the Amsterdammers against the Prince of Orange.—Escape of 
this Prince to England.—The French invited to Amsterdam.—Other 
Places declare also for the French.—These admitted in all the Provinces. 
—Assembly of the Provisional Representatives of the People of Holland. 
~—Conquests of the French.—dlarm of the Princes of the Coalition.— 
Continued and increasing Miseries of the English Army.—Transaétions 
of the French Armies on the Rhine.—The French Republic entertains the 
most extensive Views of Conzuest.—Prussia deserts the Coalition, and 
forms a separate Peace with France.—A separate Peace concluded also 
between France and Spain, 


T was generally expetied, that 
the French, aiter their surpris- 

ing successes in the Netherlands, 
would have rested satisfied with 


ample return for her victories, and 
gratification to her ambition. There 
was a time, indeed, when such a 
demarcation, and even the old 


these, and closed the campaign, at 
the season when military operations 
are usually interrupted in Europe ; 
while others entertained the hope, 
that the republic, as well as the 
Austrians, might now be inclined 
to a pacification, on the ground of 
such a new line of demarcation be- 
tween the French and Austrian 
provinces of the Netherlands, as 
might form a natural boundary and 
barrier to both; and, at the same 
time, leave to France such an acces- 
sion of territory, as might be an 


boundary would, at least for some 
time, have completely satisfied the 
new French government; but all 
human affairs are ina state of unin- 
terrupted fluctuation, and subject, 
not only to the action, but to the 
re-action of numerous and involved 
circumstances, which render it ex- 
tremely difficult to trace the con.’ 
nexion between causes and effects, 
and to predict the future from the past 
almost impossible. The opposition 
and resistance, that was made to the 
French republic at its outset, gave it 

an 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


an elastic force, which not only over- 
camethatresistance, but sprang far be- 
yond the boundary at whichit would 
have been completely defeated. The 
invasion of France, by the Duke of 
Brunswick, produced the resistance 
and the triemphs of Dumourier in 
the Netherlands. France, from 
being invaded, became the inva- 
der; she not only pushed her con- 
guests to the Rhine, but crossed it, 
and took Frankfort, with other 
places beyond it. Custine, at the 
head of revolutionary legions, not 
only took Spires and Mayence, but 
threatened Hesse and Hanover. 
An union of greater force than that 
which had followed the councils of 
the French princes became neces- 
sary, and such an union was formed. 
The incursions of the French into 
the Low Countries and Germany, 
produced in their turn, the combi- 
nations, which retook Frankfort 
and Mayence, rescued Holland, 
and secured the conquest of Lan- 
drecy, Conde, Quesnoy, and Valen. 
ciennes. The irruption of the Ger- 
mans, within the frontiers of France, 
gave rise to those efforts, which*not 
only restored those places to the do- 
minion of France, but which carried 
the French arms again beyond the 
Rhine, and stretched them into the 
United Provinces, and - different 
quarters in the German territories ; 
until, as we shall see in the sequel, 
being weakened by division and ex- 
pansion they were a second time 
obliged to recross the Rhine with 
the severest losses. 

The French government, encou- 
raged by recent success, resolved to 
pursue, without relaxation, the ad- 
vantages held out to them by the 

Aituation of that country, whichwas 
nearest to those they had already re- 


[43 


duced, and which seemed, indeed, 
by every circumstance, to invite 
their immediate attack. 

This country was Holland. Its 
armies had opposed the French in 
the field; but the general mass of 
its inhabitants was friendly to them, 
and openly displayed an unfeigned 
satisfaction at their viCtorious pro- 
gress, during the whole of the cam- 
paigo. Frequent and loud were 
their complaints, that their rulers 
had involved them in a war, totally 
foreign to their concerns, and jini. 
mical to their interests; and they 
manifested a reoted determination 
to seize the first opportunity of com- 
pelling them to enter into terms of 
peace, if not of friendship, with 
France. The nearer the French 
armies drew to the confines-of the 
United Provinces, the bolder and 
more explicit was the avowal of the 
people at large, of a determined 
partiality in their favour. 

The states-general of the seven 
united provinces, had hitherto con- 
tinued firmly attached, inallappear- 
ance, tothe interests of the coalition; 
but the statesofseveralof the particu- 
lar provinces were decidedly averse 
to the continuation of the war, and 
resolutely insisted on its immediate 
termination. That which first came 
to a formal decision, was the opu- 
lent province of Friesland. By a re- 
solution of its assembled states, about 
the middle of O&. 1794, it was de- 
creed to acknowledge the French re. 
public, to abandon the connexion 
with Great Britain, and to enter 
into terms of peace and amity with 
France. This precedent was quickly 
adopted in other provinces ; and the 
ancient attachment of the Dutch to 
the'house of Orange gave way, in 
most places, to the most violent re. 

sentment 


* 


44] 


sentment at its conduét. They ac- 
cused it, in unqualified terms, of 
proposing, by meansofthecoalition, 
to become abso ute sovereigns of the 
United Provinces. 

Fearful of the consequences of 
sucha disposition, the governing 
powers in Holland, the most im. 
portant province of the union, 
thought it incumbent on them to sup- 
press that spirit of opposition, which 
began inalmost every place to assume 
a menacing aspect. It was princi- 
pally at Amsterdam that the people 
shewed their aversion to the family 
of Orange, and its connexions with 
England. They a¢ted, at this time, 
with so little disguise, and spoke of 
their attachment to France, as a 
measure so wise and salutary at the 
present jundture, that it was thought 
indispensable to arrest the progress 
of their opinions, by formally pro- 
hibiting all meetings of the people, 
on any pretext. ‘This was done to 
prevent their presenting any pett- 
tion or memorial relating to public 
affairs; which was, at the same 
time, no less stri€tly prohibited. 
The proclamation to this intent 
¢ame forth on the seventeenth of 
O€tober, precisely at a time when 
intelligence was daily arriving of 
the capture of the Dutch frontier 
towns, one after the other, with 
little intermission. 

The unpopularity of this mea. 
sure accelerated that which it was 
taken to prevent. Individuals met, 
and conversed with more freedom 
than ever, Emboldened by the 
proximity of the French, they un- 
folded their minds without the least 
restraint. They plainly gave the 
segency of Amsterdam to under- 
stand, that their prohibition arose 
from the dread of a scrutiny into 


“army, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


their condu&; which no upright 
magistrates would fear, and only a 
wicked administration’ would strive 
to avert. They continued to as- 
semble, and kept a vigilant eye on 
the proceedings of governnient, 
which they suspected of being deter- 
mined to employ the most rainous 
and destructive means, to accom- 
plish the objets they had in view. 
These means were of a nature 
deeply to intetest the citizens of 
Amsterdam, and the people of Hol- 
land. It had been proposed, in the 
consultations of the principal com. 
manders in the allied army, that, in 
order to prevent the French from 
penetrating into that country, it 
should be laid under water, as in 
the famous year 1672, when Lewis 
XIV. at the head of a victorious 
that had subdued three of 
the seven provinces, was unable to 
proceed farther, and the province 
of Holland preserved; but the pa~ 
triotic party alleged, that the pre- 
sent was very different from that 
former epoch. The Dutch were 
then literally fighting for their free- 
don and property, against two am. 
bitious princes, Lewis, of France, 
and Charles ff. of England, who 
sought to enslave them; but were 
now compelled to take up arms 
against France, merely to gratify the 
goalition against that. power, from 
which, had they remained peace. 
able, they would have had nothing 
to apprehend, It was, therefore, the 
interest of the Dutch, to procure 
a reconciliation with France at any 
rate. No conditions, however 
harsh, could equal such a calamity 
as the inundation of their country, 
and the destruétion of all their ha. 
bitations and landed possessions. 
Years must elapse, before they could 
repair 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


repair such damages ; it was inhu- 
man to require from them so dread. 
ful a sacrifice, which would not 
prevent, but only retard their final 
subjugation by the French, whose 
arms, the allies ought to be con. 
vinced, by repeated experience, 
they were not ina condition to resist. 
Such were the arguments with 
which the party averse to the Stadt- 
holder combated the intentions of 
the coalesced powers; but they 
were so bent on the execution of 
this scheme, that they omitted no 
means to forward its prosecution. 
The stadtholder himself, in company 
with the duke of York, repaired to 
Amsterdam, in order, it was firmly 
asserted, to influence the delibera- 
tions that were held on this import. 
ant subject. Their sudden appear- 
ance greatly alarmed the patriotic 
party. They instantly resolved, in 
defiance~ of the prohibition, to 
“present a petition to the magis- 
tracy, against the designs imput- 
ed to those two princes; which 
they stated explicitly to be, the in- 
undation of Holland, and the ad- 
mission of the English troops into 
Amsterdam, They remonstrated 
against both of these designs, with 
a boldness and energy that plainly 
eyinced, that any attempt to exe- 
cute theny would be attended with 
danger, and that, inall probability, 
the petitioners and their adherents 
had already concerted means to op. 
pose, were endeavours to be used 
to effect it, 
* But while they were secretly 
conscious of their inability to suc- 
ceed in thetr designs, they thought 
it necessary, however, in order to 
preserve the appearance of au- 
thority, to imprison the petition- 
ers; unwilling at the same time to 
bear the odium which. they knew 


a 


[45 


must be the consequence of this 
measure, they attributed it to the 
British minister. They were too 
prudent to proceed any farther, and 
to avoid thedisgrace that might at. 
tend. a fruitless prosecution, the pes 
titioners were shortiy after liberated 
from this confinement. But tha 
measure of imprisonment, instead of 
intimidating the party in opposttion 
to the ruling one, served only to shew 
how feeble this latter.was become, 
and how little it dared to a&t against 
the sense of that powerful majority, 
which was perpetually increasing, 
and manifesting without reserve its 
partiality to the cause of the I'rench, 
and its impatience to see them 
masters of Holland. 

Immediately after the capture of’ 
Nimeguen, it appeared, by the mo- 
tions of the French generals, that 
the invasion of Holland would not 
be delayed any longer than every 
requisite for so great am undertak. 
ing was in the completest readi- 
ness. The remains of the allied 
armies were in no condition to form 
any obstacle. The British troops, 
now stationed at Arnheim and its 
Vicinity, were, from incessant fa- 
tigue, the inclemency of the season, 
and the difficulty of procuring sup 
plies, in the most deplorable state of 


il] health, and almostin want ofall 


necessaries. The French.took. this 
opportunity to attempt the passage 
ofthe Waal, in rafts constructed for 
that purpose; but they were repulsed 
by the British troops in some places, 
and by the German in others. 

It wasnot till the middle of Dec. 


- that, onthesettingin of thehard frost 


which marked the close of 1794, 
and the beginning of 1795, they con. 
ceived the design of waiting till the 
rivers were sufficiently frozen to 
bear armies with their cannon and 

other 


46} 


other heavy incumbrances. Fatally 
for the Dutch, the Maes and the 
Waal were, by the twenty-seventh, 

ecome bridges of ice, over, which 
the French transported an immense 
body of troops, whose operations 
extended from their right to their 
left, near forty miles. The allied 
army was too much reduced, through 
illness and other causes, to oppose 
themeffe€tually. They carried all 
the posts in the isle of Bommel, 
and forced the lines of Breda, mak- 
ing sixteen hundred prisoners, and 
taking one hundred and twenty 
pieces of cannon, with a_ large 
quantity of baggage. The French 
were now masters of the north side 
of the Waal, and menaced the 
towns of Culenberg and Gorcum, 
neither of which was able to stand 
an attack. It was determined in 
order to preserve them, to compel 
the enemy to re-pass the Waal. 
About eight thousand of the British 
troops marched against them on the 
thirtieth of December, under the 
command of general Dundas. The 
French were posted at Thuyl; to 
arrive at which place it was neces- 
sary to take a road flanked by a 
number of batteries, planted on the 
isle of Bommel, and the place it- 
self was surrounded. with a strong 
abbatis. All these obstacles were 
surmounted, and notwithstanding 
their great superiority in numbers, 
the French were forced from all 
their posts, and obliged to re-cross 
the Waal, with a considerable loss 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


of men and several pieces of cannon. 
But this advantage, though very 
honourable to the conduét and bra- 
very of the British officers and sol- 
diers, was of very little service to the 
common cause. ‘The strength of 
France was so enormous, that the 
whole country was overpowered by 
it, and resistance was evidently im. 
praéticable. 

To this forlorn situation of public 
affairs, other discouragements were 
added. If reports may be credited, 
the treatment of thesick and wound- 
ed in the British army, at this time, 
was scandalous in the highest degree. 
They were totally unprovided with 
the requisites indispensable in their 
condition: they had neither medi- 
cines nor able surgeons to attend 
them; and often wanted food, co- 


-vering, and proper places to receive 


them. This excited the more com- 
plaint and indignation, that it was 
well known throughout the army, 
with how much hberality govern- 
ment had provided forall their wants, 
and that a variety of those com- 
forts, needed by the soldiery, had 
been supplied by private subscrip- 
tions throughout the kingdom. It 
was notorious, that, whenever an 
unfortunate man was sent to the 
hospital, he generally perished 
through negleé&, unskilfulness, or 
misery. The medical board, as weil 
as the commissaries, whose duty it 
was to look into those things, became 
objects of great hatred and indig- 
nation.* : 


In 


" The following is reported by an eye witness, whose veracity and accuracy we 


find to be well atiested: 


v 
(Jan. 21, 1795}, ‘Our (the British) hospitals, which were so lately crowded, are 
for the present considerably thinned. Removing the sick in waggons without clothing 
sufficient to keep them warm in this rigerous season, has sent some hundreds to their 
eternalhome; and the shameful neglect that prevails through all that department, 
makes our hospitals mere slaughter houses. Without covering, without attendance, and 


even 


HISTORY OF RUROPE. 


In the mean time, the French 
were extremely active in reducing 
all the places of stregth on the 
borders of the united provinces. 
The little but strong town of 
Grave was one of those few that 
held out any length of time. The 
French employed a whole month in 
the seige. The governor was ge- 
neral Bons, an officer of remarkable 
intrepidity, and who resolved not 


[47 


kept to his resolution, and in con- 
sideration of his bravery, the gar. 
rison and inhabitants were admitted 
to capitulate on the most honourable 
terms: it surrendered on the thir. 
tieth of December. 

The departure of the Duke of 
York for England, which was about 
the beginning of December, ope- 
rated as a signal that the British 
government had abondoned all ex. 


to surrender till the whole of his 


pectation of being able to preserve 
ammunition was expended. He 


the united provinces from a French 


even without clean straw, and sufficient shelter from the weather, théy are thrown to- 
gether in heaps, unpitied, and unprotected, to perish by contagion, while legions of 
vultures, down tothe stewards, nurses, and their numberless dependants, pamper their 
bodies, and fill their coffers with the nation’s treasure, and like beasts of prey, 
fatten on the blood and carcasses of their unhappy fellow creatures; of whom not.one 
in a hundred survives, but perishes under the internal claws of those harpies, still thirst- 
ing for more blood, and rioting in the jaws of death. 

“ For the truth of what I say, I have only to appeal to every man in the army, 
who has only for a few hours observed with an attentive eye, the general rule of con- 
duct in our hospitals of late, and to witness here the scene before me, while I now 
write. A number of men, lying ona scanty allowance of dirty wet straw, which, 
from the heat of their bodies, sends up a visible steam, unable to help themselves; and 
though a sufficient number of men are liberally paid for their attendance, none have 
been near for several hours, even to help them to a drink of water. Five carcasses, 
covered only with the rags they wore when they were alive, are piled one upon ano- 
ther in the yard, on pretence that the ground is too hard to bury them, until a thaw 
comes. 

“This is a very disagreeable subject ; but one thing more I must take notice of, 
which leaves them without excuse. 

“His Royal Highness has at all times paid great attention to the sick of his army, 
and directions have been given, and regulations made, as circumstances required, 
tending to promote their comfort, and restore their health, besides a number of 
standing orders, which, if stritly attended to, would remove the greatest part of the 
prevailing grievances, even at this extraordinary period; one in particular, I cannot 
help taking notice of, it was given out in the order of the 4th of June last, amd is as 
follows: ‘ 

“ His Royal Highness, the commander-in-chief, directs, that, whenever the vici- 
nity of the camp will permit it, a field-officer for the week shall be appointed, for 
the inspection of the flying general hospital. - 

“Tne officer upon this very essential duty is expected to visit frequently the hospi- 
tal, at unstated bours, to superintend the cleanliness and discipline of it in every particular ; 
to examine the diet of the patients, and observe whether they receive that unremit- 
ting care and attention their situation demands, and to report immediately any defi- 
ctency, negleé?, or irregularity, to the commander-in-chief.” 

“ An order had been before issued with respect to the clothing of the sick; and the 
most liberal provision had been made for servants or nurses, as well as in apparel, li- 
quor, and every other requisite. The magnanimity, humanity, and sincere regard 
to the interest and honour of his country, with which the Duke of York discharged 
the duties of his important office, are well known and universally acknowledged. 
Had he been apprised of the delinquencies, and indeed the inhumanity here noted, he 
Would ‘not ‘have suffered their continuance. It was, indeed, after his highness had’ 
left Holland, that thesecruel neglects and peculations were most apparent and flagrant.” 


invasion 


48] 
invasion and conquest. It was ar 
entire discouragement to the adhe- 
rents of the Stadtholder, and filled 
the opposite party with the utmost 
boldness, and a determination to 
improve the despondency of their 
adversaries. They met every where 
in clubs and societies, and watched 
with anxiety for the critical hour, 
when they might proceed to active 
measures, and facilitate the entrance 
ofthe French, and the expulsion of 
their enemies. 

Since the repulse of the French, 
on the thirtieth of December, they 
had been meditating how to re- 
occupy the positions from which 
they had been driven. The inferior 
force that had compelled them to 
retreat, was a circumstance that 
had alarmed theircommanders : but 
the distresses attending the British 
troops, and the daily diminution of 
their strength, by the sickness pre- 
vailing among them, the incom- 
modities arising from scantiness 
of necessaries, and the excessive 
rigour of the season, soon dispelled 
every apprehension that they would, 
in conjunction with their allies, be 
able to make a stand, ahd encou- 
raged the French to renew their 
attempt to cross the Waal. On 
the fourth of January, 1795, some 
regiments were detached from 
Pichegru’s army, and made good 
their passage unmolested. The 
truth was, that on surveying the 
situation of the allied forces, it ap- 
peared impracticable to oppose the 
enemy with any reasonable hope of 
success, and that an expeditious 
retreat was necessary to save the 
remains of the British army. After 
spiking.the heavy cannon, and de- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


stroying all the ammunition that 
could be carried away, it retired 
towards the Leck, on the sixth of 
Janyary. As soon as this was per- 
ceived by the French, they advanced 
in considerable force, and pressed 
the British troops so closely, that an 
engagement ensued, wherein the 
combatants fought with so much 
obstinancy on both sides, that 
they were alternately repulsed, 
and returned to the charge four 
times successively, The, French 
at last gave way. Their superi- 


ority of strength prevented a pur- - 


suit, and the British troops availed 
themselves of this momentary suc- 
cess, to continue their retreat; but 
no respite was given to them, by 
the French: they crossed the 
Waal, on the tenth, in such force, 
that "it was found impossible to 
withstand them. General Walmo. 
den, on whom the command in 
chief of the British troops and the 
German subsidiaries had now de- 
volved, was posted between Arn- 
heim and Nimeguen, at the defile 
of the Greb, in the province of 
Utrecht*®. Hoping to make 
a capture of the whole, Piche- 
gru, at the head of more than 
seventy thousand men, attacked 
them en all sides. After such re. 
sistance as their inferiority permitted 


‘them to make, they were. obliged 


to retire in all directions, with so 
considerable a loss of their camp- 
equipage, that they were compelled 
to take shelter in open sheds during 
the following night, from the ex- 
cessive severity of the weather, 
Another attack was made by Piche- 
gru, four days after, on some 
posts that had been taken to secure 


* Where lines were constructed, in 1745-6, for protecting the provinces of Utrecht 


and Holland. 


the 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


the retreat of the British troops. 
These maintained their ground till 
night, when they retired unpursued. 
But these occasional instances of 
courage and conduct could not pre- 
vail against the immense superiority 
of stréngth that continually over- 
whelmed all! resistance. The British 
army, exclusively of an open and 
successful enemy in the French, had 
a concealed one in every Dutch 
town and village through which 
they passed. No direct hostilities 
were committed; but every species 
of injury and disservice was done, 
that inveterate malice could suggest. 
Looking upon the English as the 
-radical cause of the calamities, in- 
fli@ed on their country by this ruin- 
ous war, the generality of the 
Dutch held them in abhorrence, 
and sought every occasion to add to 
their present distresses. While the 
inhabitants of the united provinces 
-manifested so inimical a disposition 
to his friends, it was in vain the 
Stadtholder issued proclamations,ex- 
horting them to rise in amass, for the 
protection of their country ; they 
answered him with the bitterest re- 
proaches, and publicly reviled him 
as the tool of the British govern- 
-mert, and the betrayer of the 
Dutch nation. 

* To the shattered remnant of the 
British army, surrounded in this 
. Manner, by open and secret ene. 
*mies, the only resource remaining 
was, to effect a total retreat from 

_ what might be justly considered as a 


m. Vor. XXXVII. 


[49 


hostile country. But this was no 
longer an eay task in the woeful 
situation to which it was now re- 
duced, by the base and flagitious 
negleét of those to whom the care 
of furnishing it with due requisites 
had been entrusted. The multitude 
of inferior agents, appointed for this 
purpose, had so grossly deceived 
their employers, that while these 
imagined that ample provision had 
been made of every article they 
had directed, the others had been 
guilty of either so much remissness 
or peculation, that the army now 
laboured under deficiencies of the 
most heinous nature. The suffer- 
ings of the sick and wounded sol- 
diers, in particular, excited the 
highest commiseration. ‘They were 
in the midst of this rigorous winter, 
removed in open waggons, exposed 
to the weather, and destitute of all 
comforts and accommodations.— 
Numbers were frozen to death, or 
perished through want; especially 
during the march on the sixteenth 
of January, a day for ever memora- 
ble on account of the hardships and 
distresses of every kind endured by 
the British army, in its retreat to. 
the city of Deventer. The recitals 
of them that have been published 
convey an idea of every species of 
misery that human nature can un- 
dergo, in one of the most lamentable 
situations to which men are liable, 
through the contingencies of war.* 
Another column of the British 
army had evacuated Utrecht in tl:e 
[E] evening 


* (Jan. 16.] “We marched at the appointed hour, and, after a very tedious 
~ journey, about three o’clock inthe afiernoon, reached the verge of an immense desert 
~ealled the Welaw, when, instead of having gained a resting place for the night, as 
~ we expected, we were informed that we had fifteen miles farther to go. 
©  Upor this information many began to be much dejected, and not without rea- 
' son; for several of us, besides suffering the severity of the weather, and fatigue of the 
» march, had neither eat nor drank any thing, except water, that day. 


: 


“ For the first three or four miles such a dismal prospectappeared, as none of us was 


ever witness to before; a bare sancy desert, with a tuft of withered grass, or solitary 


t 


shrub, 


50] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


evening of the fifteenth, direéting Utrecht, and of Rotterdam, twoof 
its march to Zutphen. On the re- the most’important places in the 
treat of the British forces, the seven provinces. 
French took.immediate possession of 


shrub here and there. The wind was excessively high, and drifted the snow and sand 
togetherso strong, that we could hardly wrestle against it ; to which was added a seve~ 
rity of cold almost insufferable. ‘The frost was so intense, that the water which came 
from our eyes, freezing as it fell, hung in icicles to our eye-lashes; and our breath, 
freezing as soon as emitted, lodged in heaps of ice about our faces, and on the blan- 
_kets or coats that were wrapped round our heads. : 

“ ‘Night fast approaching, a great number, both men and women, began to linger 
behind, their spirits being quite exhausted, and without hopes of reaching their des- 
tination; and if they once lost sight of the column of march, though but a few mi- 
nutes, it being dark, and no track to follow, there was no chance of finding it again. 
in this state, numbers were induced to sit down, or creep under the’shelter of bushes, 
where, weary, spiritless,and without hope, a few moments consigned them to sleep; 
but alas! whoeverslept awakened no more, their blood alimost instantly concealed in 
their veins, the spring of life soon dried up; and if ever they opened their eyes, it 
was only to be sensible of the last agonies of their miserable existence. 

“ Others, sensible of the danger of sitting down, but having lost the column, wan- 
dered up and down the pathless waste, surrounded with darkness and despair; no 
sound tocomfort their ears but the bleak whistling wind; no sight to bless their eyes 
but the wide trackless desert, and ‘shapeless drift;’ far from human help, far from 
pity, down they sink, to rise no more! 

“< About half past ten o’clock at night we reached Brickborge, when, to add to our 
misfortunes, we could hardly find room to shelter ourselves from the weather, every 
house being already filled with Hessianinfantry, who are in no respect friendly to the 
English. In several houses they positively refused us entrance, and in’every one re- 
fused us admittance to the fire; at the same time they posted centries by the cellar 
doors, to prevent the inhabitants from selling us any liquors ; even their commandin 
‘officer pushed, with his own hands, a number of our men neck and heels out of his 
quarters. Thus we were situated, till, partly by force, and partly by stealth, we 
crept in where we could, glad to obtain the ele of a house at any rate. 

[Jan. 17.] “We halted this day, andin the morning, waggons were sent out ‘with 
a number of men, to search for those who were left behind. A great number were found 
near the route of the column; but a greater number, who had straggled farther off, 
were never heard of more. In one place, seven men, one woman and a child, were 
found dead ; in another, a man,a woman, and two children; inanother,a man, a 
woman, and one child; and an unhappy woman being taken in labour, she, with her 
husband and infant, were all found lifeless. One or two men were found alive, but 
their hands and feet were frozen to such adegree, as to be dropping off by the wrists 
and ancles. ce 

[Jan. 19.] “ Perhaps never did a British army experience such distress as ours does 
at thistime. Not a village nor house but what bears witness to our misery, in contain- 
ing some dead, and others dying ; some are daily found who'have crawled into houses 
singly ; other houses contain five, six, or seven, together, some dead, and others dying, 
‘or unable to walk, and as for those that are able, it is no easy matter for them to find | 
their way: forthecountry is one continued desert, without roads, and every track filled 
up with the drifting and fallingsnow. Add to all this, the inhabitants are our most 
inveterate enemies, and, where opportunity offérs, will rather murder a poor lost 
distressed Englishman, than direct him the’ right way; several instantés’of which we 
have already known, It is reported, that in the several columns of the army, about 
700 are missing since we left the'river Leck.” See An Impartial Journal of the Cam- 
pugns, in 1793, 1794, and 1795, by Robert Brown, corporal in the Coldstream 
regiment. Although corporal Brown was not acquainted with the combinations on 
which were founded the plans of the different marches and engagements, and the 
campaigns in general, and still less, with the political interests, and private passions 
by which these were influenced, yet he relates whatcame under his own observation, 
with candour, sensibility, and judgment. 

; Delivered 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


_ Delivered from the English, as 
the Dutch now affected to speak of 
themselves, they gave a loose to the 
‘most intemperate rage against the 
Stadtholder. This, prince found it 
hecessary, for the personal safety of 
himself and his son, the hereditary 
prince of Orange, to escape with 
all diligence from the fury of the 
people. He embarked in an open 
boat at Scheveling, on. the nine- 
teenth of January, 1795, and ar- 
rived the next day at Harwich. 
His escape had not been effected 
without difficulty. A crowd assem- 
bled at the Hague.on the morning 
of their departure, and insisted that 
he should be brought to justice for 
the part he had taken in favour of 
the English. His guards, however, 
protected him from their violence, 
and conveyed him to the water-side, 
where he was again in danger, till 
the guards that accompanied him 
dispersed the populace. 

Pichegru had, in the mean time, 
been applied to, by the heads of the 
pposition to government, who for- 
mally invited him to repair to Am- 
sterdam, withassurances ofa cordial 
teception by the people. He ad- 
dressed a letter to the regency of 
that city, informing them of his in- 
tention to repair thither, and dis. 
patched a body of men to precede 
him. A committee of government 
was elected by the inhabitants, 
principally out of those who had 
been imprisoned for petitioning for 
peace, and against an inundation. 
‘They planted the tree of liberty in 
the chief places of the city, and 
very man assumed the French 
wockade. On the twentieth of 
January, Pichegru made his entry 
4nto Amsterdam, a‘ the head of five 
thousand men, ‘and was received 

withthe greatest acclamations. The 


[51 


first act of the French general was, 
to proclaim the freedom and indes 
pendency of the seven united pro- 
vinces, New magistrates were 
elected, by a general assembly of the 
citizens, together with twenty-one 
provisional representatives of the 
city. , Municipal officers were also 
appointed, on the principal of 
whom they conferred the title of 
mayor. In this manner was effected 
without bloodshed, the surrender of 
the seven united provinces to the 
French republic, Whatever ideas 
the commonalty might entertain of 
this transaction, it was evident to 
the discerning, that the French 
would consider themselves as aus 
thorized to treat it as a conquest ob~ 
tained by their arms, and though a 
peaceable cession had been made, 
it was chiefly through the conscious. 
ness that resistance would haye been 
fruitless. 

The same motive influenced the 
conduct of the other cities in the 
provinces of Holland. . Haarlem 
and Leyden adopted the same mea- 
sures taken at Amsterdam, and de- 
clared themselves for France, in the 
most solemn manner. Ia the pro- 
vince of Zealand, so called from its 
consisting of islands, lay, at this 
time, a considersble squadron of 
ships of war. The admiral, who 
commanded it, was warmly in the 
interest of the French, On. the 
thirtieth of January, after 2 consul. 
tation with the principal individu. 
als of his own party, he hoisted the 
French flag, and took possession of 
Fiushing and Middleburg, the two 


‘chief towns in the province, every 


part of which acceded, on the 
fourth of February, to the terms 
settled by a negotiation with gene~ 
ral Michaud, who commanded the 
French troops in. the neighbour- 

[E2] hood, 


52] 


hood. Exclusively of liberty of 
conscience, and of religious wor- 
ship, which the French introduced 
every where, it was stipulated that 
io place in Zealand should be gar- 
nrsoned by the French, nor their 
assignats be forced into circulation. 
The fortresses on the frontiers of 
Brabant, Bergen-op-Zoom, par- 
ticularly, were in an excellent state 
of defence; but the Hague, the 
residence of the States-General, 
having submitted to the French, 
those states, which were now at 
their mercy, issued proclamations, 
enjoining to all the garrison towns, 
im consequence of the Stadtholder’s 
withdrawing himself, to give ad- 
mittance to the French troops. In 
compliance with these proclama- 
tions, the strong and almost impreg- 
nable town of Bergen-op-Zoom 
opened its gates to the French. It 
had sustained several sieges, a fa- 
mous one particularly in the be- 
ginning of the last century, by the 
Spaniards, under the celebrated Spi- 
nola, one of the greatest generals of 
the age, and was never taken till 
the year 1747, by the French, 
commanded by Marshal Lowen- 
dahl. Williamstadt, Breda, and 
other strong places, were yield. 
ed to the French in the same man- 
ner. 

The provinces of Guelderland, 
Utrecht, Holland, and Zealand, 
were now completely in the pos- 
session of the French. These four 
were unquestionably the most im- 


portant of any, by th ir situation. 


and opulence. The French: were 
fully sensible of the valu: of these 
new acquisitions, and their wants 
prompted them to apply to their 
new allies for. immediate assistance, 
The constitution intended to super- 
sede the present, not being yet 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


formed, the States-General were 
dire&ted to publish a proclamation,, 
in their own name, demanding a 
supply of clothes and provisions for 
the French army. The last of the 
articles demanded was calculated 
at one million four hundred thou- 
sand pounds. In order to soften 
this requisition, it was declared to 
be made, not as from a conqueror, 
but an ally, fighting under the com- 
mon banner of liberty. 

On the twenty-seventh of Fe. 
bruary, when this proclamation was 
issued, an assembly was held of the 
provisional representatives of the 
people of Holland, of which Peter 
Paulus, a man of abilities and mo. 
deration, was unanimously eletted 
president. They began by deposing 
the Stadtholder from all his offices, 
and abolishing the offices them- 
selves. They next proceeded to 
an abrogation of all the other forms 
of the preceding constitution, and 
to an organization of others in their 
stead. They instituted an inquiry 
into the circumstances of the bank 
of Amsterdam ; by which it appear- 
ed to be perfectly solvent, though 
not in specie, yet in bonds and se- 
curities of that nature which proved, 
on examination, wholly unexcep- 
tionable. In consequence of the 
farther deliberations of this assem- 
bly, a solemn declaration of the 
rights of men and citizens was pub- 
lished, at the Hague, on the third of 
February, together with a procla- 
mation, anulling the sentences. pass- 
ed against the patriotic party in 
1787, and recalling home to their 
country ail those who had been 
banished for their opposition to the 
Stadtholder. 

The submission, or indeed the 
conquest of so.rich and powerful a 
state as Holland, was a subjett of 

great 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


great alarm to the princes that 
formed the coalition against France. 
That country was the centre of al] 
pecuniary loans. and negotiations, 
and its ready assistance onalisuchoc. 
casions, rendered its independence 
an object of general interest to all Eu- 
rope ; the northern powers in parti- 
cular, France, it was now foreseen, 
would engross all the money that 
could be raised in this manner, and 
all the power and wealth of Hol- 
Jand would henceforth be at the 
disposal of the French republic. 
These were mortifying refleétions to 
the enemies of that formidable na- 
tion, now become more dangerous 
than ever, by the accession of so 
"many countries to its dominions, 
already so extensive and populous, 
and by the partiality of the majority 
of people in its new acquisitions, to 
the principles of the French repub- 
licans. 

Well might the convention glory 
in the situation of France at this 
time. Never, since the days of 
Charlemaign, had the empire of 
France extended over so many re- 
- gions and people. A list of recent 

@onquests was printed, and affixed 
toa tablet, which was hung up in 
‘the hall] of the convention, and co. 
pies of it were sent to the armies, 
together with an enumeration of the 
victories by which these conquests 
were obtained. ‘They consisted of 
the ten provinces of the Austrian 
Netherlands; the seven united pro, 
vinces ; the bishoprics of Liege, 
Worms, and Spires; the electo. 
rates of Treves, Cologne, and 
Mentz; the dutchy of Deux 
Ponts; the Palatinate; the 
Duchies of Juliers and Cleves, 
These acquisitions were all rich, 
fertile, and populous countries, 
abounding with men as zealous in 


[5a 


their cause as the French them.’ 
selves. In the south of France, 
their conquests were the duchy of 
Savoy, with the principalities of 
Nice and Monaco, in Italy. The’ 
provinces of Biscay and Catalonia, in 
Spain, The population of all these 
countries was estimated at thirteen 


millions; which, added to the 
twenty-four millions contained in 
France, constituted a mass of 


thirty-seven millions, inhabiting the 
centre of Europe, and capable by 
that position alone, if united ander 
one government, to defy the enmity 
of ali their neighbours, and to exer- 
cise an influence amounting almost 
to universal sovereignty, 

The catalogue of their victories 
was no less conspicuous. In the 
space of seventeen months they had 
won twenty-seven battles, and been 
victorious in one hundred and 
twenty actions of less note. They 
had taken one hundred and sixteea 
strong cities and fortified places : 
but what redounded chiefly to the 
reputation of the French, these suc- 
cesses had been obtained over the 
best disciplined armies of Europe, 
elated with their past triumphs over 
warlike enemies, and commanded 
by generals of consummate experi- 
ence, and the most dazzling reputa- 
tion. “Their own armies in the 
commencement of the contest, con- 
sisted of officers and soldiers, few of 
whom. had seen service, and their 
commanders were very far from 
eminent in their profession. With 
these disadvantages, they resolutely 
ventured to face the tremendous 
combination formed against them ; 
and in less than a twelvemonth, 
from aéting on’ the defensive, they’ 
assaulted their enemies in every di.’ 
rection, and struck them every 
wherewith so much terror, that 

[E3] several 


54] 


several of them were meditating a 
retreat from the field of aétion, and 
total secession from the confederacy, 
by uniting with which they had 
sustained so many losses. Such was 
the description given by the French 

of their numerous exploits; and im- 
partiality requires it should be ac- 
knowledged, notwithstanding the 
odium they lie under, that the ac. 
count is not exaggerated. 

_ In the mean time, through the 
attivity of the French commanders 
in the seven provinces, and the co- 
operation of the ,inhabitants, the 
relics of the British troops, and those 
in their pay, were totally unable 
to make the least stand, during their 
difficult retreat from that inhospi- 
table country, where the hatred of 
the natives to the English was never 
concealed whenever they dared to 
manifest it, and where | occasions 
‘were industriously sought to shew it 
in the harshest manner. On reaching 
Deventer, the 27th of January, 
after one of the most fatiguing and 
distressful marches that ever was 
experienced by a retreating army, 
the British troops had expected the 
respite of a few days from their la- 
bours .and. sufferings... Such had 
been their courage and perseve- 
rance, in the midst of these arduous 
trials, that they had conveyed safely 


to the place aJ] the ammunition and ~ 


military stores, artillery and impie- 
ments of war of all descriptions, 
belonging to the army ; but they 
ceuld carry them no farther, The 
diminution of their strength, through 
the numbers that feil ill or died in 
this disastrous retreat, compelled 
them, from want of hands, to de- 
stroy immense quantities of these 
ariicles, to prevent their coming 
into the possession of the enemy, 
who pursued them so eagerly, that 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


they were obliged to quit Deventer 
two days after their arrival, The 
French, to the amount of fifty 
thousand men, were advancing upon 
them with all possible speed, in or. 
der to cut off the communication 
between thé different corps, and 
thereby force them to surrender, 
But notwithstanding their vast su- 
periority, and the celerity of their 
motions, they were not able to in. 
terrupt the British troops, whose 
movements were so firm and steady, 
amidst incessant obstacles, as to 
surmount them every one, contrary 
to general expectation, . 

It was not, however, without 
heavy losses, that they overcame 
difficulties and  discouragements 
perpetually thrown in their way, 
either by the enemy or the elements. 
Most of their marches were. per~ 
formed through ice or snow, mud, 
or water, often up to their middle, 
Qn the tenth of February,. they 
crossed the Vecht, the river which 
divides in two parts the province 
of Overissei ; and, on the twelith, the 
river Ems at Rheine. They con. 
tinued retreating in this manner. till 
the twenty-fourth. On this day a 
body of the French army came up 
with them, and an engagement en- 
sued, in which, withan inconsider- 
able loss, the British troops display 
ed such firmness, that the enemy 
could make no effeétual impression 
upon them. Resuming their march, 
with little interruption, they arrived 
at lengthin the country of Bremen, 
about the close of March. Here 
they were joined by other divisions 
of the army. That which was un. 
der the command of lord Cathcart 
had to encounter even more than a 
common share of these difficulties ; 
the French kept continually on its 
rear, and hardly a day passed with- 

out 


“HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


out skirmishing. The country was 
hostile to them all the way. ‘he 
city of Groningen shut its gates 
against them, and like theother parts 
of the retreating army, they jabour- 
ed under all manner of distress. 
Such was the fate of as brave a 
body of men as ever Great Britain 
sent into the field. Both men and 
Officers behaved, throughout the 
whole of the campaigns of 1793, 
and 1794, with a spirit that 
distinguished them wherever they 
were employed, and that fully 
corresponded with that idea of 
British valour, so justly entertained 
by foreign nations. It was, how- 
ever, in the last stages of this un- 
successful campaign, that their cou- 
rage appeared withmost lustre. The 
undesponding perseverance with 
which they met and surmounted 
every hardship and obstacle, arising 
from the various incidents of war, 
was the more remarkable, that they 
contended against an enemy in the 
full possession of everyadvantage oc- 
curring from victory, and whom they 
could only expect to impress with 
the sense of their valour. Herein 
they certainly succeeded. The 
French officers and soldiers that 
ated against the British troops, in 
the winter campaign of 1794, gene- 
rously acknowledged their bravery 
upon all occasions, but especially 
during that retreat which they be- 
gan from Rhenen, on the fourteenth 
of January, and persisted in with 
inflexible intrepidity, through ail 
the storms of theseverest winter long 
known in those parts, and every ob- 
struétion that could be formed by a 
victorious foe, irresistibly superior in 


[55, 


numbers, and aided by the whole 
strength of the countries through 
which they were compelled to di- 
rect their march. Thus, assailed in 
every direction, they traversed, or 
rather fought their way through the 
provinces of Utrecht, Guelderland, 
Overissel, and Groningen, almost 
destitute of necessaries, aud incum- 
bered witha heavy train of artillery, 
baggage, and waggons leaded with 
sick and wounded, This dreadful 
trial of courage, patience, and mili. 
tary skill, lasted upwards of two 
months, and deservedly excited the 
admiration of all Europe. 

The savage hard-heartedness and 
hostility of the Dutch boors towards 
our suffering soldiers, was strongly 
and happily contrasted by the kind 
and cordial reception which they 
received from the inhabitants of 
Bremen.* ‘¢ It is something like a 
dream,’’ says a witness and partaker 
of those pains and pleasures, ** or 
fairy vision, and we could hardly: 
give credit to our own senses: We 
who had lately been so buffetted 
about by fortune, driven like vaga- 
bonds, through frostand snow, over 
all the wilds of Holland,’ and who, 
in our greatest extremities, when 
we asked for any thing to refresh 
ourselves, with the money in our 
hands, were answered only with a 
shrug of the shoulders, ‘ nothing fcr 
the Englissman!’—Now, to be 
seated in the most elegant apart. 
ments,—servants attending, ready 
to anticipate every wish,—beds of 
the softest down to repose upon, 
without being disturbed in tke 
morning with the thundering of can- 
non, or the usual alarms of ware 


_* Bremen is a dutchy in the Lower Saxony, lying between Ellie and the Weser. 
The capital is Bremen, a large and populous city on the Weser. ‘The dutchy of Bremem 
p formerly subject to the Swedes; but it was sold to the Elector of Hanover, ir 

9, What. 


-* [E4] 


Ig 


56] 


It seemed like some sudden enchant- 
ment; but it proved real; for they 
used us like part of their own fa- 
mily or children which had been 
long absent, and now returned; 
and omitted nothing that could con- 
tribute toeither our easeor pleasure. 
The greatest part of our soldiers 
left Bremenwith muchregret. The 
generous and elegant entertainment 
we met with there, far exceeded 
any thing we ever experienced be- 
fore, or, I may venture say, ever 
will again. A great number ac- 
companied us out of town, and 
shewed every possible respect.’ 
The British troops began to em- 
bark on board the transports on the 
14th of April, at the mouth of a 
creek near Bremen lake. The 
whole fleet, with the convoy, was 
upwards of two hundred sail. On 
the 24th, it cleared the mouth of the 
Weser. The ships were tossed about 
and driven far to the northward of the 
due course by tempestuous weather. 
The Greeks who returned, under Xe- 
nophon, from an unsuccessful andhard 
expedition into Asia, were not more 
transported at the sight of the Ionian 
Sea, than the Brirish soldiers, when 
on the twenty-seventh, being off the 
coast of Northumberland and Dur- 
‘ham, they espied the Cheviot-hills. 
The fleet, the weather becoming 
favourable, steered southward to- 
wards the Nore, when it part- 
éd into different divisions: ene 
bound for Harwich, one for Green. 
wich, and one tor Portsmouth. 
They all arrived safely at the places 
of their respective destinations. 
During these transa¢tions in the 
seven provinces, the French armies 
on the Rhine were preparing to be- 
siege the city of Mentz, the only 
place of importance remaining to 
the empire on the left bank of that 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


river. They. hoped, that by effect- 
ing its reduction before the setting 
in cf winter, their hands would be 
at liberty for the pursuit of those 
vast schemes of conquest they had 
projected in Germany. Relying 
on the discontents frequently ex- 
pressed among the inferior classes, 
they flattered themselves that an the 
appearance of their armies on the 
right side of the Rhine, the sub- 
jects of the petty principalities in 
Germany woud be tempted to 
throw off the joke of their masters, 
and join them; or would at least 
compel their rulers to remain nevier, 
and leave the House of Austria to 
the sole defence of its own people, 
among whom a spirit of dissa'istac- 

tion was well kno vn to prevail. 
Induced by these motives, the 
French government dire¢ted its 
commanders, on the confines of 
Germany, to proceed towards Man- 
heim ; the reduétion of which would 
open an entrance into the interior 
parts of the empire, facilitate the 
taking of Mentz, by diverting the 
attention of the:r enem:es, and pre- 
venting them from affording it re- 
lief. They laid seige, accordingly, 
to that strong forc on the Rhine 
which covered that city; and it 
surrendered to the French on the 
twenty-fourth of December. Impa. 
tient to become masters of Mentz, 
in the same manner, they made three 
assaults on the fort of Zahlback, in 
its neighbourhood; but were re. 
ulsed with considerable loss. This 
check completely retarded their 
operations till the ensuing spring ; 
as it was found impraé¢ticable to form 
a regular siege of so strong a place 
as Mentz, until the severity of the 

winter was over. 

The possession of Holland had, 
in the mean while, filled’the French 
with 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


with the highest expectations of 
deriving a multitude of advantages 
from it. No acquisition could ex- 
ceed its value and importance. 
Placed in the middle ground, as it 
were, of the present contention, it 
extended an influence onevery side, 
which, with skilful management, 
might evidently be productive of 
the most beneficial consequences to 
those whom it favoured. Hence 
had formerly arisen the most essen- 
tial part of its power, and that 
weight in the affairs of Europe, 
which had so long been felt and ac- 
knowledged by every state. It 
was now become the property of 
France, and it was hoped, in that 
country, that the effects resulting in 
‘former days, from the strength and 
opulence of the seven provinces, 
would be transferred to the present 
possessors. . Thus reasoned the 
French politicians ;. but they seemed 
to forget that the great power and 
influence of the Dutch republic, 
during the periods of its prosperity, 
was entirely founded on its inde- 
pendence, and on the unanimity 
and patriotism of the Dutch them. 
selves. But this was no longer the 
case; they had long beena divided 
people. It was a disputed point 
among them, who where the real 
patriots; and they were now a 
conquered nation. The wisest heads 
in France did not consider them as 
likely to prove an ative, but rather 
an useful and subordinate ally, from 
whom much aid might be received, 
for the support of the armies and 
finances of the republic. The 
Dutch themselves did not incline to 
move out of the sphere of their do- 
mestic concerns; and, with their 
best wishes for the prosperity of 
France, viewed it chiefly as a secu- 
rity to their own, They were not 


- 


[37 


unwilling to go considerable lengths 
in providing for the various de. 
mands, which they doubted not 
would be made uponthem; but they 
considered their compliance, in this 
respeét, as the price of that freedom 
which they expected to enjoy, in 
the arrargements they were medi. 
tating at home. 

The French, however, seeing 
themselves uncontrouled masters of 
the seventeen provinces, constitut- 
ing that country called the Nether- 
lands, could not refrain from con. 
ceiving the most extensive views of 
conquest in the neighbouring coun. 
tries, After they had driven the 
last remains ot ‘the allied armies 
from their newly acquired terri- 
tories, they next resolved to pursue 
them into the countries where they 
had taken shelter. They first made 
themselves masters of Bentheim, 
which, indeed, was a dependence 
of the Dutch republic, and then ~ 
carried their arms into Westphalia, 
where they defeated a body of im- 
perial forces. The reason why they 
proceeded no farther was the pros. 
pect of a peace with Prussia, and of 
a neutrality for the north of Ger- 
many. Certain it is, that the force 
they had collected in those parts 
showed they had formed great de. 
signs; but the most prudent of those 
who presided over their councils, 
prevailed upon the others to desist 
from attempts that might render the 
French odious, without conducing 
to their interest. What they had 
already acquired was sufficient to 
establish their superiority over the 
combined strength of all their ene- 
mies. The best policy they could 
now adopt would be, to conciliate 
and secure the attachment of their 
new subjects, by punétually adhe- 
ring to the engagements formed 

with 


58] 


with them, and by proving, through 
the evidence of deeds, that an union 
with France was more eligible than 
2 subjection to their former mas- 
ters. ‘ 

The main obje& of the republi- 
ean councils in France, at this junc- 
ture, seemed to be the renovation 
of their marine, through the means 
afforded by the conquest of Hol- 
land; and the employment of it, 
when renovated, against that power 
which they looked upon as, the soul 
of the coalition against them. They 
“had also two other objects in view; 
the one was, to detach Prussia from 
this coalition, by sowing the seeds 
of jealousy and suspicion between 
the courts of Berlin and Vienna. 
This did not appear to the French 
politicians a matter of much diffi. 
culty. The junction of that power 
with Austria was founded on the 
most extraordinary event that had 
happened in Europe for many cen- 
turies. The French revolution, 
which, by alarming all the crowned 
heads, reconciled at once their jar- 
ring interests, and united them for 
self preservation. But the first pa- 
nic was over; and, notwithstanding 
the antipathy with which the French 
beheld royalty and its adherents, it 
was not imagined that, provided 
they were delivered from the ap- 
prehension of its restoration in their 
éwn country, they would carry their 
hatred of it so far, as to continue 
the war, in order to procure its abo- 
Jition in every other country. A 
strong connexion had subsisted be- 
tween Prussia and France before 
the subversion of ‘this monarchy ; 
the motives for that connexion sub- 
sisted in their full force, and were 
only suspended by an accident, 
which, though unfriendly to the 
system of government settled in the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Prussian dominions, could not alter 
the nature of those relations existing 
necessarily between that court and 
its long-standing rival the court of 
Vienna. _ The politics of this lat. 
ter were incessantly occupied with 
plans for the recovery of that 
valuable portion of its hereditary 
patrmmony, the rich and extensive 
province of Silesia. This was the 
first acquisition that had placed the 
house of Brandenburgh on a footing 
of great consequence. It was re. 
spectable before, but had since be. 
come formidable. ‘This elevation 
of a family, at no time in particular 
esteem at Vienna, created the more 
deep and irradical rancour, that it 
was wholly at the expence of the 
house of Austria, These resent. 
ments would evidently never termi. 
nate, while the causes of them re 
mained; and the house of Branden- 
burgh must either consent to re. 
move them, by restoring the terri. 
tories it had wrested from the impe. 
rial family, in the hour of its dis. 
tress, or keep a continual guard 
against its well-known determina, 
tion to recover them, at any cost, 
on the first favourable opportunity. 
All these considerations were in- 
dustriously laid before the Prussian 
monarch. They were obvious 
truths; but they were enforced 
with so much strength of persuasion, 
that they made the desired. impres- 
sion, and prepared that prince to 
listen favourably to the proposal of 
a separate peace with France, incase 
the powers with whom he had form- 
ed the coalition, should be averse. 
to treat in conjun¢tion with him. 
To this it may be added, that his 
subjects were generally inclined to 
live on terms of amity with the 
French, and had never acceded to 
the junction with Austria, from any, 
othey 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


other motive, than mere compliance 
with the will of their sovereign. 
A friendly intercourse had already 
been established between the go- 
vernment of France and the court 
of Berlin. During the summer of 
£794, a private agent of this court 
repaired to Basle, in Switzerland, 
where he had secret interviews and 
conferences with M. Barthelemy, 
the principal negotiator on the 
part of the French, with foreign 
powers. It was undoubted'y a 
business of intricacy to the Prussian 
ministry, soto conduét itself, as to 
preserve the influence it had ob- 
tained in Germany, and lose none 
of the importance it had acquired 
by being the. first mover of the co- 
alition ; as head of the protestant 
interest in the empire, the king of 
Prussia was already the counterpoise 
to the exorbitant weight of Au- 
stria, which had hitherto been sup- 
ported by the princes and states of 
the Roman communion; but as re- 
ligious motives had now lost much 
of their former prevalence, and po- 
litical considerations preponderated 
against all others, these alone seem- 
ed to govern the various courts. 
Hence the dread of that overbear- 
ing sway which Austria had never 
failed to exercise over those it was 
in any manner able to controul, had 
detached many of the states of Ger- 
many from their preceding attach- 
ment to the Austrian politics. The 
minds of the generality of people, 
in that immense republic of princes 
and-states, seemed more intent on 
a firm consolidation of their liberties 
and respective independence, than 
on the restoration of the Frenchmo- 
narchy, which they looked upon as 
a pretence of the court of Vienna, 
intended to conceal views of ag- 
grandizement, which would have 


[59 


given too much offence to all. Eu- 
rope, had they been avowed. 

The ambitious disposition of the 
house of Brandenburgh was no less 
notorious ; but the Prussian ministry 
was convinced, that it could not, in 
the present situation of affairs, be 
gratified at the expence of France, 
It turned its attention, therefore, 
to the only obje¢t that remained ex- 
posed to the common rapacity of its 
powerful neighbours. This objet 
was Poland, of which, from its in. 
ability to resist them, they had pro. 
jected the partition long before, 
They were now employed in exe. 
cuting it, and it behoved Prussia to 
be present at the division of the 
spoil, and tobe ready, if necessary, 
forcibly to insist on that portion 
which had been assigned to its lot, 

Swayed by these yiews, the court 
of Berlin thought it more prudent 
to treat with France, than to con. 
sume its treasures and armies ina 
fruitless contest with that power. 
By relinquishing a quarrel from 
which no benefit could be derived, 
it was at liberty to gratify the desire 
long cherished, of making vast ad. 
ditions to the territories of Prussia, 
This could not have been done, had 
it continued with the coalition. Its 
associate in the partition, Russia, 
had it been left sole agent in this 
business, might have availed itself 
of the absence of its Prussian confe. 
derate, to have seized a larger 
share than was its due; and as poss 
session is usually the right of the 
strongest, might not have been pre. 
yailed upon, by amicable means, to 
resign what it had seized in this 
manner. 

Such were the arguments by 
which the Prussian. ministry was 
brought to enter into a negotiation 
with France, A remnant of paid 

or 


60] 
for the powers, whom Prussia had 
engaged in the coalition, induced 
it to make a previous trial of the 
opinion that Europe would form of 
so unexpected a measure. Its pri- 
vate emissaries were directed, so 
early as the beginning of Ottober, 
1794, to cireulate a report thar 
France and Prussia had concluded a 
secret peace, which was in a short 
time to be made public. This re- 
port produced ‘an effect that per- 
fectly answered the views of Prussia. 
It was received withalmost univer- 
sal satisfaction, and encouraged the 
court of Berlin to realise it without 
delay. A trusty agent was imme- 
diately. dispatched to open a formal 
negotiation ;\ and he was shartly 
followed by an ambassador, openly 
commissioned to treat with the 
French minister, at Basle, M. Bar- 
thelemy. The Prussianambassador on 
this occasion was baron Goltz, who 
had formerly filled that station at Pa. 
tis, where his abilities and modera- 
tion had procured him much esteem, 
The respe&t he was held in, by the 
French, contributed greatly to for- 
ward the treaty; when, to the sur- 
prise and the regret of the public, 
he fell 111, and was carried off in a 
few days, not without suspicions of 
poison; which were, unhappily, 
not discountenanced on the opening 
of his body. As the enemies to 
France, and the peace projected, 
were suspetted, it was some time 
before any person would undertake 
‘an office seemingly accompanied 
withso much danger as that ef apa- 
cificator. Another was at length 
appointed, M. Hardenberg, a 
‘gentleman less unacceptable to the 
friends of the coalition. The French 
negotiators, conformably to those 
ideas of aéting in the face of the 
world, which appeared most con- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


sistent with the spirit of republi- 
cans, refused, at first to admit of 
secret articles; and it required an_ 
explicit order from the committee 
of public safety to alter their deter- 
mination. This committee had, it’ 
seems, cither foreseen or experienced 
the difficulties that would arise by 
departing from long authorized 
usages; and insisted on the danger- 
ous parade of adhering to austere 
maxims, that carried with them 

more haughtiness than integrity. 
The articles of this treaty were 
entirely favourable to France, such, 
indeed, was the temper, as well as 
the situation, of the French at this 
time, that no others would have 
been admitted. The Prussian terri- 
tories on the left bank of the Rhine 
were ceded to France, and those 
only on the right restored to Prussia. 
The regulations for the internal 
settlement of the countries thus ced- 
ed, were referred, for final discus- 
sion, to the period of a general 
peace between France and Germa- 
ny. It was agreed that a cessation 
of hostilities should take place, and 
continue in the north of Germany, 
which henceforth should be consi- 
dered as neutral ground, and that 
those princes whose dominions lay 
on the right side of the Rhine. 
should be entitled to make proposals 
to France, and to be favourably 
treated, in behalf of whom the king 
of Prussia should interpose his good 
offices. bs 
The conclusion of this treaty, 
which was presented to the conven. 
tion, upon the tenth of April, for its 
approval and ratification, filled the 
members of this assembly, and the 
friends to the republic, with the 
highest exultation, It was the first 
acknowledgment of the republic 
formally made-by any of the great 
powers 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


powers of Europe ; and this power 
was precisely that very one which 
had been foremost in the coalition. 
The French people at large con- 
ceived strong hopes, from this. cir- 
cumstance, that a general pacifica- 
tion would be effected, though the 
intervention of the Prussian minis- 
try, as the secession of so principal a 
member of the coalition wou'd ne- 
cessarily weaken it; and the influ- 
ence of that member over the re- 
maining, might prevail upon them 
to follow its example. __ 

It was not, in the mean time, 
without violent debates, that the 
rigid republicans consented to allow 
of the insertion of secret articles in 
this, orin any treaty. They plead- 
ed the precedent of the Romans, 
whose treaties with their enemies 
had always been open and public to 
the world. As it would be un- 
worthy of so great a republic as that 
of France to condescend to any 
meanness, there could be no neces- 
sity for concealment of its transac- 
tions with foreign powers. Secrecy, 
in this case, would insinuate, that 
it had either committed or permitted 
something too degrading to its dig- 
nity to be divulged. ‘The answer 
to this objection was, that the mo- 
‘tive for assenting to secret articles 
might proceed from a desire not to 


humble and mortify those who re-. 


quested secrecy. Moderation, -in 
prosperity, could never be better 
proved than by abstaining from that 
ansulting display of superiority, 
which exposed to the world the de- 
igtee of humiliation to which an 
enemy. had been obliged to submit. 
Afteralongdiscussion it was decreed, 
‘that secret articles might be allow- 
ed, provided they did not contradict 
those that were made in public. 
Having thus successfully accom- 


[62 


plished that object they had so long 
and so anxiously kept in view, a 
pacification with Prussia, they next 
converted their attention to another 
ofasimilarkind; which was, tocom- 
pel Spain, by dint of successes, to 
accede to pacific measures. The 
close of the late campaign had left 
that kingdom in such a state of de. 
bility, that it had little hopes of 
being able to face the French in 
the tield. So repeated, and so de- 
structive, had been the defeats of 
the Spanish troops, that Spain could 
now hardly be said to have an army. 
The various. bodies of men that 
could be colleéted, were so dispirit- 
ed, that they made little or no re~ 
sistance, and fled almost at the very 
approach of the French. The des- 
pondency of the people, as well as 
of the military, became at last so 
universal, that the court, after mak. 
ing a variety of fruitless efforts to 
reanimate the nation, was at last 
convinced, that unless a speedy 
peace were made, the French ar- 
mies would over-run the whole 
kinggom. Their eastern army of 
the Pyrennees was now advancing 
over those mountains, with an inten- 
tion to make itself master of the rich 
and extensive province of Catalonia, 
in which they. had numerous well- 
wishers. On their descending into 
the champain country, the few 
forces that guarded it, fled before 
them, and retired to Rosas, a 
sea-port of consideration, and 
which they seemed resolved to de- 
fend. It was situated on a spacious 
bay, and regularly fortified, The 
bay was commanded by a strong 
fort, well garrisoned, and provided 
withartillery. Till thiswastaken, 
the approaches tothe city were dif. 
ficult. The French, however, soon 
compelled it to surrender ; but, on 


laying 


62] 


laying siege to the town, the inun- 
dations from rain and melted snows 
obliged them todesist. After lying 
three weeks in a state of inaction, 
they took possession of a rising 
ground near the town; and, erett- 
ing a battery of heavy cannon, bat- 
tered it so effectually, that a general 
assault was resolved upon; but the 
garrison, apprehending such an in- 
tention, evacuated the town in the 
night preceding the day it was to 
have been assaulted. A small party 
that remained surrendered at dis- 
cretion; and the inhabitants were 
promised kind usage, andexperienced 
it accordingly. This event took 
place on the fifth of January, 1795. 
From this time till May the Spa- 
niards remained inactive, not dar- 
ing to move from the strong holds 
they occupied in the mountainous 
parts of the province; and the 
French: were taken up in prepara- 
tions to march into the interior dis- 
triéts of the kingdom, and to endea- 
vourto penetrate even to the metro- 
polis. Some of the Spanish com- 
manders, however, struck | with 
shame at the spiritless behaviour of 
their countrymen, exerted them- 
selves torevive their drooping cou- 
rage, and having assembled a con- 
siderable body, vigorously attacked 
acorps of French on the fifth of 
May, near the town of Sistella; but 
the latter after a warm dispute, were 
completely victorious ; and the de- 
feat of the Spaniards was such, that 
they gave up ail expectations of 
being able to make an effectual 
stand before so viCtoriows an enemy. 
The French were so elated with 
their continual successes, that one 
of their generals, in whose camp 
aome spies had been deteéted, sent 
them to the Spanish quarters, with 
@ letter, informing the enemy of 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


his strength, position, and desigriss 
This was general Moncey, an offi- 
cer of note, who concluded his let. 
ter by telling the Spanish command- 
er, that as soon as he had received 
the reinforcement he expected, he 
would drive him and his army out 
of Biscay and Navarre. So confi. 
dent were the French, and so de. 
pressed the Spaniards, that no doubt 
was entertained by either that he 
would execute his threats; after 
which the way would lie open to 
him as far as Madrid. It was ob- 
vious, that no army, nor fortified 
city remained to obstruét his march. 
The peasantry were a wretched and 
heartless race, worn down by po- 
verty and oppression; and the inha- 
bitants of the towns were an idle 
and indolent generation, debased 
by superstition, and grown inca. 
pable of manly exertions. 

In this extremity, the court of 
Madrid, saw no other expedient to 
extricate itself from unavoidable 
ruin, than to have recourse to an im. 
mediate treaty with the French re-° 
public, and to obtaih peace, on any 
terms that might be demanded. 
All cesourees had been exhausted ; 
the nobility, the gentry, the 
clergy, the monastic orders, had 
all contributed; the orders of 
knighthood, which have large pos- 
sessions in Spain, had lately made 
liberal donations to government, 
besides a tax, laid on their 
estates, of eight per cent. No 
class, in short, had been remiss 
in pecuniary assistance to the 
state: but want of personal 
spirit, or discontent at the mea. 
sures pursued by the ministry, 
seemed to pervade the mass of 
the nation, Under the conscious- 
ness of such a situation, the court 
of Madrid came to a determination 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


to detach itself from a confederacy 
wherein it had:been so unfortunate. 
France was no less willing to di- 
minish the coalition, by the se- 
cession of so powerful a member as 
Spain, which, under more skilful 
management, might have proved a 
most dangerous enemy. A treaty of 
peace was accordingly concluded 
‘between them at Basle, on the 
twerity-second of July, by M. 
Barthelemy, on the part of France, 
and Don Domingo d’Yriarte, on 
the part of Spain. The conditions 
were, that France should restore to 
Spain all her conquests in that king- 
dom, and that Spain should cede to 
France all its part of the island of 
Hispaniola, in the West Indies, to- 
gether with all its artillery and 
military stores. Spain agreed to.re- 
-cognise the French, and the Batavian 
or Dutch republic, and France con- 
sented to the interposition of Spain 
in favour of Naples, Sardinia, Par- 
ma, and Portugal. 

There were two articles in this 
‘treaty highly inimical to Gteat Bri: 
tain; the cession’of the Spanish part 
of Hispaniola to France, and the en- 
gagement on the part of Spain, to 
employ ‘every means in its power 
to detach Portugai from its present 
alliance with Great Britain against 
‘the French republic. The loss to 


[63 


the coalition of two such members 
as Prussiaand Spain, added to that 
still greater loss the seven united 
provinces, excited in the enemies 
to the French republic, the greatest 
alarm for the two remaining mem- 
bers, Austria and Great Britian. 
If the former and the latter, when 
united and in full strength, anim. 
paired by losses or defection, ‘had 
failed in their endeavours to bring 
France to submission, it was not 
probable that after the repeated 
defeats of their armies, and the 
dissolution of the confederacy, those 
two powers only should be able to 
effect what all the five together 
could not compass. ‘Thesé reason- 
ings happened certainly well-found- 
ed; but it ought also to be .con- 
sidered, that none of these coalesced 
powers agreed fundamentally in 
their views, and were guided by 
separate interests in whatever they 
proposed. Had they succeeded in 
their first attack of France, it was 
well understood, that their designs 
upon that kingdom were of a na- 
ture to set them quickly at variance 
with each other. Reduced ‘from 
five to two, the agreement between 
these seemed to promise the more 
permanency, that their respective 
arms, by the distance of their ob- 
jects, could noteasily clash together. 


64] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


“eH A Pp. TV. 


- Pacification between the Convention and the Insurgentsin La Vendée.— 
On Terms very favourable to the latter.—Yet they again risein Arms.— 
Aétion letween the Repullicans and Emigrants, with other Loyalists, 
near Quiler.—Defeat and Disasters of the Loyalists.--Their Capture or 
total Excision.—ad British Squadron reduces and fortifies L'Isle Dieu. 
— New Arrangements in Holland.— Enormous Contrilutions.— The Con- 
vention highly elated with the Successes of their Armies.— Distribution 
of these.—Distresses of the French People.—And those of the Conquered 
Countries. —Reduétion of the Fortress of Luxembourg.— And Ment ine 
vested by the French.—Who cross the Rhine.—Compaign on that River. 
— Successes of the French.—And Losses.—Tide of Success ‘turned in 
favour of the Austrians.— A Junétion between the French Armies, under 
Jourdan and Pichegru, checks the Viétorious Career of the Austrians.— 
Manheim retaken from the French.—Campaign on the Italian Frontiers 
of France.—Situation of the Interior of France.—And general Temper 
of the French Nation.—Extreme Animosity and Licentiousness of abusive 
Language.— Measure of Convention for Restraining this.— And securing 


the Lilerty of Religious Worship. 


AN event of greater importance 
than any treaty of peace with 
a foreign enemy, had, in the mean- 
while, taken place in France. This 
was the pacification of those inter- 
nal troubles that had occasioned so 
much effusion of blood, and laid 
waste some of the finest provinces of 
thekingdom. The proclamation of 
amnesty to all those who would lay 
down their arms, and submit to the 
republic, had wrought every effect 
that could have been desired. The 
insurgents in La Vendée and the 
neighbouring provinces, who had 
till then looked upon themselves ag 
devoted to destruction by the repub- 
licans, and had continued in arms 
for their preservation, were gradu- 
ally prevailed upon to confide in 
. the promises of government. Since 


the fall of Roberspierre, conciliation 
had succeeded to terror, and ex- 
amples had been publicly made of 
the principal perpetrators of the 
cruelties in La Vendée; and of the 
barbarities exercised on the un- 
happy royalists at Nantes and other 
places. This, together with that pro- 
clamation, which was issuéd on the 
first of December, in the preceding 
year, had prepared the minds of the 
insurgents to receive amicably the 
vatious offers of amity and pro- 
tection which were held out to 
them by the moderate party, that, 
happily for France, had now the di- 
rection of affairs. 

The majority of the insurgenta 
had availed themselves of these of- 
fers ; but numbers still adhered to 
their chiefs. Accustomed to the 

predatory 


HISTORY [OF 


predatory war they had been com- 
pelled to wage, for the means of 
subsistence, and to habits of plun- 
der, they were a dreadful nui- 
sance to the inhabitants of the 
countries they infested, who were 
peaceably inclined, and desirous of 
pursuing their respective avocations 
in tranquillity. Great pains, there- 
fore, were taken to prevail on the 
numbers that still continued re- 
fraétory, to return to their former 
occupations, and the most solemn 
engagements were entered into for 
their security, and for an oblivicn 
ofall the irregularities of which they 
had been guilty. It was resolved 
at last, as the surest and mostexpe- 
ditious method of terminating these 
fatal feuds, to induce the chiefs 
themselves, by promising liberaLand 
advantageous terms, to lay down 
their arms, and yield obedience to 
the government. Charette, who 
headed the remainder of the Ven. 
deans, and Comartin, the principal 
leader of the Chouans, with several 
other chiefs of the insurgents, con- 
sented to a negotiation with the 
agents of government, in the com- 
mencement of February, 1795, 
and formally agreed, in the name of 
their respective parties, todeliver up 
their arms tothe commissaries of the 
republic, and to demean themselves 
as true and obedient subjects to the 
constituted powers. ‘This prelimi- 
nary being settled, a solemn meet- 
ing was appointed between all the 
members of the convention, com- 
Missioned to act in the neighbouring 
departments, and all the heads of 
the insurgents. They met accord- 
ingly, at the close of February, and 
as both parties were equally de. 
sirous of a reconciliation, there was 
mot much difficulty in settling the 
terms. 

» Vou. XXXVII. 


EUROPE. [6s 


These were highly favourable to 
the insurgents. On condition of 
their engaging to live in future ina 
peaceable subjection to the laws 
and ordinances decreed by the re. 
publican government, and to de- 
liver up their arms and implements 
of war, they received not only the 
completest amnesty, but ample com- 
pensation for the damages done to 
their lands, and the devastations 
committed in their country by the 
military executions ordered against 
them by the late administration. 
Particular indulgences were granted 
to their chiefs, and no request was 
denied them that could reasonably 
be made. 

In ord€r to give the more solem. 
nity to this treaty, it was thought 
proper to conclude and sign it for- 
mally in the city of Nantes. To 
this purpose the conventional depu- 
ties and the chiefs of the insurgents 
made a public entry, and were re~ 
ceived with great honours, and 
every token of satisfaCtion, at the 
business they were about to accom. 
plish. In the declaration, which 
was signed by Charette, and the 
other chiefs on this occasion, they 
apologized for their insurreCtion, by 
ascribing it tothe tyranny exercised 
under the late rulers, and bound 
themselves by the strongest terms to 
be faithful to the French republic, 
and punétually to fulfil the con- 
ditions of the present treaty. In 
pursuance of this promise, they pub- 
lished an address to the people of 
La Vendée, pathetically advising 
them to submit to the convention, 
and laying before them the impru. 
dence and danger of resisting the 
established government of their 
country. These transactions took 
place on the third of March, 
A795* 


[FE] In 


‘ 


66] 


In this general submission to the 
republic, one of the principal heads 
of the insurgents refused to consent: 
this was Stoffet, a man of a sin- 
gularly bold and daring dispo- 
sition, and who seemed inclined to 
persist in his opposition at all events. 
His bravery and conduét, on many 
difficult emergencies, had rendered 
him very popular in his party, and 
he retained many adherents; but 
after continuing some time in his 
refusal, finding that many of his 
people forsook him, he judged it 
prudent, in conjunction with several 
other chiefs, to comply with the 
terms Offered him by government. 
He assigned asa motive for his delay, 
that he was desirous to ascertain the 
inclinations of the people of his 
party, with whom he was bound 
in honour to remain, till they had 
manifested their determination to 
accept of the conditions laid before 
them by the commissioners. As they 
were willing to embrace these, he 
thoughtithisdutytounite with them 
in submitting to the republic, and 
in promising a faithful observance of 
all the articlesin thetreaty. Thissub- 
‘mission was dated the zoth of April. 

In this manner, the most danger- 
ous insurrection, that had yet. hap- 
pened in favour of the royal cause 
in France, was seemingly extin- 
guished. But many doubted the 
sincerity of those chiefs of .the in- 
surgents, who a¢ted in the name of 


the Chouans. These had always 


‘been an unsettled assemblage of 


people, rude in their manners, and 
ill-conne¢ted in their movements, 
which were irregular and desultory. 
The authority ot their leaders was 
precarious : every bold and enter- 
prising individual ‘was sure of tol. 
lowers. Hence they were con. 
tinually separating into divisions 5 


& 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


which though aéting on the same 
principles, had their particular chief. 
tains, who atted independently of 
each other, and were obeyed and 
respected according to the degreé 
of suecess that attended them. It 
was dificult, for this reason, to 
conelude. any general agreement 
with such people. The principal 
officers, in the republican troops, 
that were stationed in those parts, 
and who, by long intercourse, were 
well acquainted with the dispo- 
sition of the insurgents, placed little 
reliance on their submission, and 
were of opinion, that the observ- 
ance’ of the treaty just concluded 
with them, would be of short dura- 
tion. ‘Lhe motives for judging so 
unfavourably of their intentions 
were, that the number of dissidents 
from pacific measures, was not only 
considerable, but consisted of the 
most ative and artful among the 
insurgents, As these men had not 
been able to prevent the conclusion 
of this treaty, they seemed resolved 
to procure its infraction, as soon as 
circumstances afforded any plausible 
pretence, or they could influence 
their party to be disgusted with it. 
To this end they disseminated re. 
ports of formidable preparations 
abroad to assist them, if they should 
again incline to resume their arms 
for the cause they had forsaken, 
with more precipitation than could 
be justified, and for which they 
would always be suspected to retain 
an irradicable predilection. Sus- 
picions of this nature would never 
be removed from the minds of the 
republicans, with whom they could 
not expect to live ona footing -of 
reciprocal confidence, and who cer- 
tainly would treat them with lenity 
no longer than necessity compelled 
them to dissemble their real senti- 

mentse, 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


" 


ments. Should a general pacifica- 
tion with the powers in coalition 
against France be once effected, the 
rancour of the republican govern. 
ment would be let loose upon all the 
royalists, without exception; and, 
meeting with no centroul from 
abroad, would make the condition 
ef those who had been concerned 
in the past insurre€tions at home 
so wretched and intolerable, that 
they would be driven into new 
insurrections, 

As the mass of the insurgents were 
under the influence of their leaders, 
so the leaders themselves were 
under the influence of the intrigues 
of the French princes, and pecuniary 
aids and promises of the English mi- 
nistry. This matter, before suspeét- 
ed, and generally believed, has 
lately been placed beyond all doubr, 
by the publication of the secret 
correspondence between Charette, 
Stoffet, Puisaye, and other Ven- 
dean chiefs ; and the count of Pro. 
vence, or claimant of the crown of 
France, and others; a publication 
which has all the charaéteristics 
of authenticity, though, perhaps, 
some letters may have been added to 
the genuine colle@ion ; or some al- 
terations, perhaps, have been made 


in certain phrases, by the prejudices _ 


and party zeal of the editor. A con- 


stant correspondence was kept up 


between the royalists in La Vendée 
and Mr. Windham. The money 
with which they were supplied con- 
Sisted at first, in false assignats, af- 
‘terwards in louis d’ors and guineas, 
and lastly, in English bank-notes ; 
but the value of these last being 
‘Known only to some French mer- 
chants, and so many risks attending 
‘their conversion into specie, they 
were discounted at a very great 
loss. This disadvantage being re. 


| presented, the supplies were again 


remitted in gold, but, in the esti. 


[or 


mation of the Vendean chiefs, al- 
ways in too scanty quantities, It 
appears, that though Charette was 
induced to make peace with the re. 
publicans, neither he nor the other 
principal leaders were tited of the 
war, or in their hearts averse to 
its continuation. But their own 
men wished for, peace: and thus 
the chiefs were obliged to give their 
consent to the moderate and reason- 
able conditions which were offered 
by the republicans. 

The Vendean chiefs were after. 
wards accused of having violated 
many of the articles of the capita. 
lation, This is not improbable ; 
and the more probable, that they 
were stung with the severe re. 
proaches of the royalists most attach- 
ed to the Bourbon family, and, in 
their language, Lewis XVIII. and 
the count d’Artois for having con. 
sented to any sort of accommodation 
with the regicides. On the other 
hand, it was currently said at Paris, 
that the dire€tory, mistrustful of the 
officers who had fallen into their 
hands, still detained many of them, 
notwithstanding the declaration of 
amnesty, inclose confinement. These 
mutual accusations may, both of 
them, have been well founded. It 
often happens, that opposite parties 
are both of them in the wrong, 

It is to be observed, that there was 
no sincere and cordial good under- 
standing between Lewis XVIII. and 
the princes of the coalition, and 
particularly the court of London, 
The design of Lewis was, to make | 
himself independent of the coali- 
tion; and to effectuate his réstora- 
tion, through the instrumentality of 
England, without consulting, sin« 
cerely, any other interests or views 
than his own, The conduét of that 
prince, in attempting to go to 
Toulon, when in our possession, 
gave great offence to ministry; who 

[F2] neveg 


68] 


never meant that he should go there; 
and were not a little surprised that 
he should a& for himself, without 
receiving his instractions. So also 
did the count d’Artois, in coming 
without permission to this country. 
The count d’Avary, a confidential 
friend, and officer in the household 
of the count of Provence, Lewis 
XVIII. ina letter to the chevulier 
de Charette, dated at Verona, the 
sixth of September, 1796, . says, 
‘© Endeavour to do away the bad 
effect of the apparent confidence re- 
posed by the king (Lewis XVIII.) 
in the English.’” To many it ap- 
peared, that it was not the plan of 
the English ministry to trust any 
important expedition into the hands 
of Lewis XVIII. ; bat only to waste 
and destroy a part of France, by 
its own inhabitants: a conviction 
which rendered the English admini- 
stration odious not only to a great 
part of the loyalists, but to the other 


parties in France, and nota few of 


the friends of peace and humanity 
in all nations. It has been said that 
the insurgents in the western depart- 
ments of France, wanted only mili- 
tary stores and provisions; and that 
they were averse to the introduction 
ef any formidable army of strangers, 
particularly of English. Yime has 
not yet unfolded the motives which 
influenced the conduét of the British 
ministry : who, professing a desire 
to restore the French monarchy, in 
Opposition to the existing powers, 
as well as a great majority of the 
French nation, nevertheless contri- 
buted only an insignificant force; and 
that too delayed beyond the time 
when it might have done the greatest 
service. It may be said, however, 
that even if no opposition had been 
made to the introduction of fo- 
reigners, on the part of the French, 

a powerful army might have ex. 
cited jealousy, roused national ani- 


ANNUAL’ REGISTER, “1795. 


mosity, and, by effecting an unios 
of parties, consolidated, instead of 
subverting the republic. 

A question arises on this subject, 
how the Vendean party could be 
so easily revived, after being lulled 
into peace—after being reduced al- 
most to total destru@ion? The so- 
lution of the problem is to be found 
in the money given to a number of 
needy and restless busy-bodies, who 
are always going and coming from 
London to Guernsey, and. from 
thence to the French coast. It is 
said, that if a confidential friend 
speak with these persons in private, 
they will not scruple to declare their 
conviction, ™ that to effec a coun- 
ter revolution, by means of the Ca- 
tholic army, is impossible ; but that, 


were they to speak the truth to the 


English ministry, they would wholly 
Jose their confidence and favour.’” 
It is this weakness of listening to 
malcontents and refugees from a 
hostile country, so justly noted by 
Machiavel, in his Discourses on 
Livy, that was the great spring of 
ourcontinued losses, and final defeat, 
in the American war. It is the same 
weakness that has produced many 
disasters, and that threatens finally 


@ similar issue of affairs to this coun. 


try, in the present. 

Phere is no military man who is 
not perfealy sensible, that the sup. » 
posed armies of sixty thousand men, 
and even upwards in La Vendée, 
cannot exist.. They know what aa 
immense quantity of provisions, mi- 
litary stores, horses, carriages, and 
other articles, are necessary to keep 
an army on foot, even for one sea- 
son; and they see plainly, that the 
poor Vendeans will fall a sacrifice in 


‘the end to the regular army .of the 


republicans. But La Vendée has fur- 

nished some very satisfactory para- ~ 

graphsinimperialand royal gazettes, 
» which, | 


. 


HISTORY “OF EUROPE. 


which, for the purposes of the day, 
have been thought sufficient. 
Through the insinuations of 
Vendean chiefs above mentioned, 
a secret dissatisfaction was spread 
among the royalists, who had sub- 
mitted, and a great majority of 
whom seemed well-disposed to rest 
contented with that situation of 
safety and tranquillity they had ob- 
tained; that they harboured no 
intentions to rise any more against 
the government, was apparent from 
their behaviour subsequently to the 
treaty, which was pacific, and con- 
formable, in every respec, to the 
articles agreed on. Both the Ven- 
deans and Chouans conducted them- 
selves in the most satisfactory man- 
ner; the chiefs of the latter depo- 
sited in the hands of Ruelle, a mem- 
ber of the convention deputed to 
treat with them, neatly a million of 
forged assignats, which had been dis- 
tributed among them, as they said, 
from a squadron of British men of 
war on the coast of Brittany. Nor 
had the insurgents any real cause to 
be dissatisfied with the conditions 
of that treaty. It was stipulated, 
that eighty millions should be given 
to the peaple of La Vendée, to in- 
demnify them for their losses, and > 
the devastation of their country ; 
that ten millions should be granted 
to the chiefs of the insurgents, to 
enable them to pay debts ‘they had 
contra¢ted, and take up the bonds 
issued in their name during the ine 
surrection ; that a body of two thou. 
sand men, in the pay of govern- 
ment, should be placed under the 
command of Charette; that no re- 
quisitions should take place in La 
Vendée for the space of five years ; 
that the Roman Catholic religion 
should be publicly exercised; and 
that nonjuring clergymen should be 


[69 


permitted to return, and resume the 
possession of their family estates. 
But notwithstanding these conces- 
sions, on the part of government, 
the attachment of the Vendeans to 
the royal cause led them into so in- 
timate and continual a correspond- 
ence with the principal of the French 
emigrants in England, that it was at 
dase discovered. Comartin, and 
others of the Chouan chiefs, were 
taken into custody, on the evidence 
of some letters that had been inter. 
cepted. About the close of May, 
the designs of the Chouans became 
manifest ; they rose in arms, invested 
the town of Grandchamp with six 
thousand men ; but a strong body of 
republicans came upon them by sur- 
prise at break of day, on the twen. 
ty-eighth, took several of their 
chiefs, and put the rest to flight. 
In the mean time an armament 
was preparing in England to second 
the intended insurre¢tion of the roy- 
alists in France.. In the beginning, 
of June it sailed to the southern coast 
of Brittany, under the command of 
sir John Borlase Warren. The insur- 
gents were at that time assembled in 
great force in La Vendée; but, as 
they were not masters of any seaports 
where to make alanding, the squa- 
dron proceeded to the bay of Quibe- 
ron, Here a body of about three 
thousand men landed on the twenty- 
seventh, and dispersed a small num- 
ber of republicans that had made a 
shew of opposing them. They be- 
sieged and took a fort garrisoned by 
six hundred men, and prepared to 
march farther into the country. 
Multitudes flocked in from all parts, 
to whom vast quantities ofarms were 
distributed ; and it was expected, 
that an army might be formed, ina 
short time, capable of facing the re- 
publican troops in the neighbourhood. 


[F3] In 


70] 


In order to sound the disposition 
’ of the people in the more inland 
districts, and to reconnoitre the po- 
sition of the republican forces, the 
count d’Hervilly, who a¢ted so 
generous and heroic a part on the 
tenth of August, 1792*, much re- 
speéted in England, and who had 
a principal command in his expedi- 
tion, put himself at the head of some 
thousands of the Chouans, and en- 
deavoured to penetrate into the 
country; but, on the approach of 
a few hundreds of the republicans, 
they threw down their arms_and 
fled. This obliged him to retire 
within the intrenchments that had 
been thrown up on the peninsula of 
Quiberon. 

The republican commanders, to 
improve thisadvantage, raised three 
redoubts, to guard the passage to 
the main land. The British troops, 
the emigrants that had been raised 
and formed into regiments in Eng- 
Jand, and the Chouans that had 
joined them, amounted altogether 
to tenor twelvethousand men. Five 
thousand of them were selected to 
make an attack on these redoubts, 
They marched against them in the 
night of the fifteenth of July, and 
carried two; but, on their ap- 
proaching the third, a masked bat- 
tery took them in flank with such 
execution, that they were unable 
to proceed, and retreated with all 
possible speed, pursued by the re. 
publicans, who probably would 
have destroyed or taken the whole 
of this body, had net some British 
ships, anchored near the shore, coin. 
pelled them, by a vigorous fire, 
to retreat in theirturn. The dis. 
aster of this day eccasioned vio-~ 
lent wranglings among the’ emi- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


” 
¥ 


1795. 


grant officers, who reciprocally 
charged each other with want of 
conduct.- Those privates who had 
enlisted from the French prisons in 
England, much more from a desire 
of recovering personal liberty, than 
inclination to the service they were 
going upon, took this opportunity 
to communicate their sentiments to 
each other; and great numbers of 
them deserted, and carried to the 
French quarter intelligence of the 


‘situation of the emigrants. 


In consequence of the informa- 
tion he had received, general 
‘Hoche, who was at the head of the 
republican forces, formed a plan 
for the attack of both the fort and 
the camp occupied by the emi. 
grants. He availed himself of a 
dark and tempestuous night, the 
twentieth of July, for the execution 
of his purpose. Having obtained 
the watch-word, the republican 
troops were conducted by the de- 
serters through the concealed ways 
and passes, with which these were 
acquainted, and entered the fort 
undiscovered. Here they found 
the gunners asleep; they immedi- 
ately extinguished their matches, 
and seized their powder, and the 
lanthorn, by the hoisting of which 
a signal was to have been made to 
the squadron in the road. Surprised 
in this manner, the garrison was 
thrown intoaconfusion, from which 
it could not recover. Many, if not 
most, of the emigrant soldiers im, 
mediately laid down their arms, and 
criedout, Live the Republic. Two 
whole regiments ofthem, after dis. 
arming some oftheir officers,andmas- 
sacring, it is said, others, went over 
to the republicans. The count de 
Sombreuil, at the head of a body of 


‘ 


% See vol. ¥xxiv. Hist. Europe, p, 45, 


emigrants, 


‘ 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


emigrants, who were warmly attach- 
ed to him, made so resolute a defence 
that, to spare the effusion of blood, 
Hoche agreed to receive their sub- 
mission as prisoners of war, if the 
convention assented to that condi- 
tion, 

This was truly a disastrous event. 
The forces in the camp and the 
fort, amounted to about ten thou- 
sand men, mest of whom were ei- 
ther kijled or taken. Among the 
latter was the count Sembreuil, a 
young gentleman highly belovedand 
esteemed in England, and whose 
fate was deeply lamented. He was 
tried, with many other emigrant 
officers, who were sentenced to 
death, as traitors to their country, 
and shot at Vannes, on the fifth of 
August. The number of sufferers 
was one hundred and eighty-seven. 
The bishop of Dol, who accompa- 
nied the expedition with his clergy, 
suffered, together with them, in the 
like manner. 

The booty that fell into the hands 
of the victors was prodigious. 
Clothing, accoutrements, and war- 
like necessaries of all kinds, for an 
army of forty thousand men, had 
been unfortunately landed, in hope 
of their being conveyed to the 
mumerous royalists that wanted 
them, Complaints of the gross. 
est mismanagement -were made 
‘in England against those French 
emigrants who -had been entrusted 
with the conduét of the expedi- 
tion. 

Notwithstanding the heavy dis. 
appointment, the hopes of being 
able, through perseverance, to make 
an impression upon the enemy, in- 
duced the British government ta 
continue the squadron on the coast 
of France. It made a fruitless at- 
tempt on the island of Noirmoutier, 


. 
~ 


(7 


lying on the coast of Poitou, and 
defended by near twenty thousand 
men, who, by an easy communica- 
tion with the land, could receive 
hourly supplies. It was more suc, 
cessful in theattack of the island, Isle 
Dieu, which, after being reduced, 
was put in a posture of defence. 
Small as this acquisition might ap- 
pear, it contributed to keep the 
contiguous coast in a state of sus- 
pense, respecting the intentions of 
the British ministry, and occasioned 
the republican government to -sta- 
tion very considerable forces in all 
the adjoining parts. This was the 
more requisite, as, had a commu- 
nication been opened between the 
British squadronand the royalists on 
shore, the support of money and mi- 
litary stores, which were the obje¢ts 
they had most in view, would alone 
have enabled them to maintdin an 
obstinate resistance, by the encouz 
ragement it would have held out 
to those numbers who readily would 
have joined them, had they been 
sure of a comfortable subsistence. 
During these transactions, the 
French were occupied in confirming 
their authority in Holland, and in 
making a variety of arrangements, 
beneficial to their interests, The 
Dutch military was settled on a 
plan more conformable to the re. 
publican system, A body of twenty- 
five thousand French were added to 
the army of the. seven provinces, 
and maintained at their expences 
An organization of their navy was 
diligently formed ; and, in short, 
all civil, military, and naval depart« 
ments placed on the most advantas 
geous footing, for the designs of the 
French, These arrangements per. . 
fe&tly corresponded with the views 
of the republican party in Holland 5 
but the proceedings of France, in 
[F4] relation 


72] 


relation to pecuniary affairs, were 
by many of this party warmly cen- 
sured as toosevere. Thesums levied 
by the French in money, and in re- 
quisitions of all species of necessa- 
ries, were computed in the course 
of this year, at more than four mil- 
lions sterling, without including the 
Iosses of the inhabitants by plunder, 
and extortions of divers sorts. The 
grievance of which they principally 
complained, was the obligation im- 
posed on the trades people and 
shopkeepers, to take from the French 
officers and soldiers a stated quan- 
tity of assignats; the value of which 
being next to nothing, the accept- 
ance of them in payment, however 
low they might be rated, was al. 
ways a certain loss. 

Since the time of the Romans, 
the system of maintaining armies at 
the expence of the conquered, was 
hardiy known but to barbarous na- 
zions, which, indeed, ravaged coun- 
tries and plundered the inhabitants, 
for the very purposes of subsistence. 
The French had now renewed that 
destru¢tive system. Contributions 
had been occasionally levied by all 
the belligerent powers in Europe ; 
but not carried to so enormous an 
extent as they now constantly were 
by the viétcrious armies of France. 
Not content with the acquisition 
of territories, and the taxes to 
be drawn from them, according to 
rates already settled by their an- 
tecedent possessors, they drew from 
them whatever could possibly be 
procured by every kind of exac- 
tion. In this light, the numerous 
conquests, made by France, were 
viewed by its rulers as means of 
support, and the most was made of 


them for that essential purpose. Ex-., 


clusively of the immense booty be. 
coming their own as the lawful 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


prize of war, they cast a scrutinising 
eye on the” circumstances of those 
who submitted to their power. 
Thus it was, that, in the campaign 
of 1794, the sums they obtained by 
the seizures of every kind they were 
perpztually making, either of hos. 
tile stores, merchandize accumu- 
lated for the use of armies, or by 
levying enormous contributions, 
were sufficient to maintain their nu- 
merous armies, and proved an-ease- 
ment of the highest importance to 
their finances. Without these ad- 
ventitious resources, they would not 
have been adequate to that vigorous 
prosecution of the war, on which, 
they were conscious, their all de. 
pended. During the space of about 
twelve months, the plunder of the 
magazines and store-houses belong- 
ing to the allied armies in the Fle- 
mish provinces, the British accumu- 
lations especially, together with the 
immense quantities of hard specie 
colleéted from the Austrian Nether. 
lands, supported the immense num- 
bers of French daily pouring into 
that country. The reduétion of 
Holland effected the same objeé& in 
1795+ 

Flushed with so many advantages, 
they doubted not to see as prospe- 
rous a termination of the campaign 
of 1795 as of the preceding. The 
spirits of the national convention 
were so clated, that they spoke of 
their enemies as destined to be short- 
ly subdued by theirarmies. They 
had no less than eight on foot in the 
conquered dominions of the coales- 
ced, powers, besides those that were 
on foot in France, to support or re- 
cruit them if necessary. Pichegru, 
now become the terror of the low 


“countries, commanded in both Bel- 


gium and Holland. His assistant 
conqueror, Jourdan, was stationed 
along 


: 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


along the Maese; general Moreau 
towards the bank s of ‘the Rhine ; 
Scherer and Marceau occupied the 
frontiers of Spain; Kellerman was 
posted on the Alps; and Canclava 
and Hoche on the coasts of the 
Channel, and the Bay of Biscay. 
These were all names of great cele. 
brity among the French, who flat. 
tered themselves, that no European 
armies or generals could be brought 
into competition with their own; 
and that ere long the French re- 
public would not only be universally 
acknowledged, but would give laws 
to all the adjacent nations. 

They certainly had nothing to 
apprehend, at this juncture, from the 
combined strength of all Europe. 
Had they followed the advice of 
their wisest politicians, and brought 
theiz schemes of revenge and punish- 
ment on their enemies, as they ex- 
pressed themselves, within a mode. 
rate compass, they might have at- 
tained a situation of security, from 
which it would have been highly 
dificult, if not impraéticable, to 
remove them. But unexpected suc- 
cess wrought that effect on the 
minds of their rulers, which it so 
seldom fails to work upon most men. 
They resolved, it seems, to strain 
their acquired powers to the utmost, 
in order to carry their vast projects 
into execution. They still kept on 
foot armies, the total of which a- 
mounted to more than a million, 
exclusively of more than two hun- 
dred thousand civil officers. To 
maintain these multitudes, the con- 
quered countries to the north of 
F rance, underwent the severest op- 
pression, and were stripped of what- 
ever the rapacity of their ambitious 
masters could deprive them. The 
circulation of assignats was compel! - 
ed ; the price was fixed on all the 


[73 


necessaries demanded ; and fabrica- 
tions in metal of all kinds were 
seized for public use. To these trea- 
sures from abroad, their calculations 
added at home, besides the stand- 
ing taxes, .the prodigious list of 
estates sentenced to confiscation, and 
the immense value of moveable 
property for sale, together estimated 
at three thousand millions of livres, 
with the vast sums annually expect. 
ed from the forced loan, levied up- 
on every individual, proportionably 
to his income. But great as these 
resources appeared, they did not 
answer the exigencies of the state. 
The credit of the assignats declined 
so rapidly, in the course of the pre- 
sent, as well as the preceding year, 
that, at the close of 1795, they 
were fallen one thousand beiow par. 
Such was the distress for money, 
that, in the course of this year, the 
French government emitted twenty 
thousand millions of livres in notes, 
in addition to ten thousand millions 
already fabricated since the revolu- 
tion. Other demands pressed, at 
the same time, upon government, 
exclusively of those required» by 
state necessities. The population 
of France, formerly its strength and 
glory, while supported by arts and 
commerce, was now become a fa- 
mished multitude, dependent on 
government for a daily allowance 
of food, The sums expended for 
their maintenance, amounted to 
near four millions sterling annually, 
So heavy an incumbrance on the 
public, had induced some persons 
to insinuate the propriety of dismiss- 
ing all supernumerary individuals 
from the capital, to which the resort 
of the poor was become greater than 
ever, on account of this allowance. 
But, on mature consideratjon, it 
was found safer to submit to this ine 

conveniency, 


74] 


conveniency, distressing as it was, 
than to run the danger of an insur- 
re€tion from people who certainly 
would not have tamely submitted 
to a deprivation of whatever was 
considered as their due. So great 
indeed was become the wretched- 
ness of the inhabitants in some of 
the countries subdued by France, 
that it was judged equally requisite 
to relieve their wants by the dona- 
tion of necessaries. In order, at 
the same time, to conciliate the in- 
ferior classes, the weight of the 


taxes was carefully thrown on the~ 


people of property, and repartitioned 
among these with the strictest regard 
to the proportion of their income. 
In the midst of every discourage- 
ment, arising from the shattered 
state of their finances, the French 
determined to venture another cam- 
paign, for the final humiliation of 
their enemies, as they said, and to 
bring them to such terms as would 
completely. disable them from re- 
newing any attempt against the li- 
berty of France. The secession of 
Prussia, the ina¢tivity of the Ger- 
man princes in the common de- 
fence of the empire, and the treaty 
they were negotiating with Spain, 
accelerated their motions in the 
Netherlands, where they opened 
the operations of the campaign on 
that side, by pressing the siege, or 
rather the blockade, of the strong 
town of Luxemburgh. General 
Bender, the governor, was at the 
head of a strong garrison, no less 
than ten thousand men. He was an 
officer of great bravery and experi- 
ence, and it was thought the French 
would not have been able to master 
it. It might, it has been said, have 
held out longer; but the certainty 
that no succours could approach it, 
and the inutility of delaying a sur- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


render, which must probably take 
place at last, determined the gover- 
nor to capitulate, in order to avoid 
the needless loss of lives. He was, 
with his garrison, permitted to re- 
tire to Germany, on condition of 
not serving against France uil regu 
larly exchanged. The reduttion of 
this fortress happened on the se- 
venth of June, 

The French had only one place 
more to reduce, inorder to compass 
that object, which was to crown 
their military operations. This was, 
to make a conquest of the strong and 
important city of Mentz, by the 
acquisition of which they would re. 
gain the ancient boundary between 
Germany and Gaul, the river Rhine. 
This, they often said, was the ex- 
tremest limit of their ambition. 
When once obtained, they would 
give up all ideas of extending their 
dominions beyond it. But a project 
of thiskind involved somany dange- 
rous consequences to the adjacent 
powers, that necessity alone would 
compel them to submit to it. The 
very countries which, in such case, 
they proposed to annex to France; 
would form with 1t an empire com- 
pletely destructive of the balance of 
power. And it was not clear that 
the inhabitants of these countrics 
would willingly become a portion 
of France, especially since the 
revolution, that had wrought such 
a change in the minds and cha- . 
racter of the French. But these had 
now contracted so high an opinion 
of their national dignity, that they 
were fully persuaded the people’ in 
the proximity of France would 
think it both honourable and ad- 
vantageous to be admitted to an in. 
corporation, 

But the situation of Mentz was 
itself a protection against the at- 

tempts 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


cempts of the French. Its commu- 
nication with che strong fortress of 
Cassel, on the opposite’ banks of the 


Rhine, secured it a constant supply 
of troops and necessaries: and till 
that was taken, it could hardly be 
reduced by any force. Hence it 
became evident, that unless the 
French were masters of the other 
side of the Rhine, they would vainly 
Jay siege to this city. They had 
now invested it for several months ; 
but the multiplicity of undertakings 
they had projected, interfered so 
much with each other, that they 
had not been able to attend to this 
one witha sufficient degree of care, 
and a great part of the summer 
elapsed, before they commenced 
that plan of operations by which 
alone they could hope to obtain pos- 
session of Mentz. 

The fact was, that the preceding 
campaign had exhausted France 
more than either their enemies or 
friends seemed to have discovered. 
Both were of opinion, that the pre- 
sent year would be an accumulation 
of successes, finish the work of 
French grandeur, and put a period 
to this destructive war, by a treaty, 
of which they would diétate the 
conditions. But their viétories had 
cost them such numbers of their best 
troops, that, although their armies 
were continually supplied with re- 
eruits, it required time to inure 
these to discipline. The profusion 
of their own blood was become so 
inseparably annexed to their taétics, 
that the loss of lives was no longer 
an objeé&t of much consideration in 
the system of French warfare. It 
was by sacrificing their people with- 
out remorse on every occasion, that 
they carried almost every point they 
a : but as those that fell 
jn thedesperate enterprises they were 


{75 


employed in, were the bravest of 
their troops, though they might re. 
place the numbers they were cons 
tinually losing, they could not sup- 
ply their places with an equal pro. 
portion of good soldiers. The 
French officers and commanders 
were fully aware of this deficiency, 
and, for this reason, were become 
less venturous and enterprising, es- 
pecially towards the Netherlands 
and the Rhine, where the bloodiest 
actions had taken place, and their 
successes had been purchased at the 
heaviest cost of men. 

From motives of this nature pro. 
ceeded the seeming inattivity of the 
French in several instances. The 
inconsiderate were inclined to attri- 
bute it to that unsteadiness which is 
thought to mark the French charac. 
ter; and the French were not dis- 
pleased it should be ascribed to any 
but the real cause, which, in the 
present junture, might have opez 
rated to the discouragement of their 
own people, and have, at the same 
time, prompted their enemies to 
exertions that might have proved 
superior to their own. It was not 
till the month of August that the 
French generals determined to open 
effectually the campaign upon the 
Rhine. They began by an attack 
upon Dusseldorf, where a conside~ 
rable body of Austrians was posted, 
The French, however, were in 
such force, and crossed the Rhine so 
unexpe¢tedly, that the Austrians 
were obliged to abandon that city, 
and retire to a large body that lay 
entrenched on the river of Lahn, 
Jourdan, who had effected this pas. 
sage, pressed these Austrian bodies 
so closely, that they fell back with. 
out hazarding any aétion; so great 
at this time, was the terror inspired 
by the French, Encouraged by this 


successy 


76] 


success, the army under Pichegru 
was immediately put in motion, and, 
crossing the Rhine near Manheim, 
easily took possession of that city. 
By his position on the right bank of 
the Rhine, he was now master of 
all the country lying between Clair- 
fait’s army onthe north, and Wurm- 
ser’s to the south of the Mayne, and 
a junction between them was 
thought impracticable. The siege 
of Mentz was in consequence re- 
solved upon, and all the previous 
preparations were made for this 
purpose. The Austrians were so 
dispirited, that they were beginning 
to retreat on all sides; and the 
French were, at the same time, be- 
come so confident and presumptu- 
ous, thatit was difficult to retain 
them under discipline. General 
Wurmser was, in the mean time, 
advancing by rapid marches to the 
relief of Manheim. Pichegru, in 
order to intercept his junction with 
Clairfait, who was retiring before 
Jourdan, and on his march to join 
Wormeer, posted alarge division of 
his army in the midway between 
them. This division fell upon the 
Austrians with its usual impetuo- 
sity, and put them to such a rout, 
that they fled precipitately from the 
posts they had taken, not thinking 
them tenable against the strength by 
which they were assailed. But the 
spirit of plunder was so predominant 
among the French, that as soon as 
they had defeated this part of 
Wurmser’s army, they dispersed on 
all sides in quest of pillage. The 
peasantry, to whom they had be- 
come extremely odious, on account 
of their irregularities andextertions, 
gave immediate notice to the 
Austrians of the disorder of the 
French. The Austriancavalry lost 
po time in returning upon the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


French ; who were so completely 
surprised, that they were compelled 
to betake themselves to flight in all 
directions; their infantry, which 
endeavoured to rally, and made as 
good a resistance as their disordered 
situation would permit, lost a great 
number ct their best men. Thé 
whole of this French division, at 
first so victorious, was compelled, 
after a fruitless resistance, to hasten 
back to Manheim, with the utmost 
precipitation, 

This unexpected reverse of for- 
tane decided the fate of the ensuing 
campaign. Clairfait, having re- 
ceived additional reinforcements, 
resumed his operations, and ad. 
vanced upon fourdan’s army, which 
had crossed the Main, and invested 
Mentz on the right side of the 
Rhine, according. to the plan pro- 
posed. But this army was thrown 
into disorder at the approach of 
Clairfait, who, falling upon its rear, 
took a large quantity of cannon des- 
tined for the siege. The march of 
Clairfait was represented by the 
French as a violation of neutral ter- 
ritory. Not expecting he would 
come upon them from that quarter, ; 
it was not guarded against a surprise, 
by means of which alone he effe@ted 
his designs+ But this complaint, 
however justly founded, did not 
clear the French from the imputation 
ofbeing deficientin precaution. The 
nature of the war was such, that no 
commander should have relied on 
agreements framed between men 
who considered each other as guilty 
of the most heinous infrattions of 
ali laws both human and divine, 
and who, in the violence of their 
reciprocal antipathy, would be little 
disposed to observe any stipulations, 
when they stood in the way of ma- 
nifest advantages. ' 


The 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


The projects of the French on the 
right banks of the Rhine, were now 
entirely defeated. © Jourdan was 
unable to continue the blockade of 
Mentz, and forced to re-cross the 
Main. He retreated to Dusseldorf, 
harassed by Clairfait, who kept 
close to him during the whole of his 
march, which was perpetually in. 
terrupted by skirmishes, wherein the 
Austrians had almost Ronptantliy the 
advantage. Sostrongly was the tide 
of success now turned against the 
French, that the army which had 
crossed the Rhine at Manheim, un- 
der Pichegru, was obliged in like 
manner to return to the other side, 
leaving in that city a garrison of ten 
thousand men. ‘The garrison of 
Mentz, was, in the mean while, 
reinforced by large divisions of the 
Austrian army, while others were 
“making good their passage over the 
Rhine, in order to attack the French 
encamped before that city. The 
intention of Pichezru had been, to 
put the French camp into such a 
posture of defence, as to repell the 
attacks which he toresaw, would be 
made against it by the victorious 
enemy. He hastened accordingly 
his march from Manheim: bat be- 
fore the preparations he had formed 
against the Austrians were com- 
pleted, these attacked the French 
with so superior a force, that they 
were unable to resist it. They 
were assailed in front by the garri- 
son, and taken in flank on the right 
and left by two numerous divisions. 
‘Their works and batteries were de- 
molished, all their artillery taken, 
and they were driven from every 
post they occupied. It was not 
without difficulty, and through the 
most obstinate exertions, that they 
were able at last to effe€t.a retreat. 

Jourdan was no longer in a con. 


[77 
dition to act offensively on the right 
side of the Rhine. He had lost a 
considerable part of his artillery, 
and numbers of his. best troops. 
The remainder was much dispirited. 
Clairfait was now master of the 
field. Leaving a sufficient force to 
guard the County from which he 
had expelled the French, he crossed 
the Rhine, and formed a jaar tion 
with Wurmser. They retook the 
Palatinate and mést of the coun- 
tries between the Rhine and the 
Moselle. Alarmed at their progress, ’ 
Jourdan colleéted all the troops thas 
were stationed in the proximity of 
the Rhine, and by forced marches 
reached, ina short time, the scene 
of action. United with Pichegru, 
he had the good fortune to put a 
stop to the rapid career of the Aus. 
trians. 

They could not, however, pre- 

erve the city of Manheim. It was, 
on the departure of Pichegru, im- 
mediately besieged by the Austri- 
ans. The French garrison made a 
resolute defence ; but as the town 
was invested on every side, and cut 
off from all hope of succour, it 
was thought proper, m order to 
prevent it from total destruction, 
to capitulate with the enemy, who 
had already greatly damaged it, by 
a terrible bombardment, in revenge 
for the facility with which it had 
been surrendered to the French. 
The reduétion of Manheim hap. 
pened about the close of Novem. 
ber, Lhe number of French who 
were made prisoners, amounted to 
eight thousand. 

The successes of the Austrians 
emboldened them to form the pro- 
ject of penetrating as far as Luxem- 
burg. hey made _ preparations 
to this intent; anda large division 
of their best ‘troops was provided 
with 


78] 


with all the requisites for such an 
attempt. The town of Luxem- 
burg itself was supplied with a nu- 
merous garrison, and with stores and 
provisions for a twelvemonth; but 
the apprehensions excited by the 
divers movements of the Austrians, 
terminated in some incursions in the 
neighbourhood of that fortress, and 


of Treves, and the adjacent dis-. 


tri@s. he resistance of the French 
became at last so vigorous and suc- 
cessful, that the Austrians could not 
extend themselyes beyond the li- 
mits which they had occupied, 
when they first compelled the 
French to retire to the left side of 
the Rhine. They continued to dis- 
pute the ground with great obsti- 
nacy and loss of blood on both sides, 
till the severity of winter induced 
both parties to suspend hostilities 
for the space of three months. 

On the Italian frontiers of 
France, the arms of the republic did 
not perform any achievements equal 
to those in the foregoing campaign. 
The superiority of strength lay on 
the side of Austria, and the utmost 
that could be done by the French 
was, to maintain themselves in the 
posts which they had already occu- 
pied. All parties, in truth, seemed 
willing to indulge in some respite of 
the dreadful trials and labours they 
had undergone, and to wait for the 
arising of some event that might 
open a prospect of their cessation. 
The only two powers combined 
against France were not sufficiently 
recovered from the alarm occasioned 
by the declaration of their associ- 
ates, to frame any great and deci- 
sive designs against France: and the 
republic had wasted so much of its 
strength in the wonderful exertions 
it had made, that whatever the 
friends of that system might pretend, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


it wanted rest even more than its 
neighbours. 

While the republican armies had, 
in the commencement of 1795, 
and the close of 1794, been em- 
ployed in reducing so many coun- 
tries, and spreading every where 
the terror of the French arms, the 
condition of the interior, in that vast 
country, was still wretched and de- 
plorable, through the animosities 
between the two parties that di- 
vided the nation. The republi- 
cans held out to the public the tro- 
phies of so many vi€tories won, and 
so many people subdued, and loftily 
demanded at what peried of the 
monarchy the French had ever ar- 
rived at such a summit of glory? 
But the reyalists, noless indignantly, 
asked, when it was that France had 
seen such torrents of blood of its 
inhabitants shed by any of its for- 
mer rulers? The very worst of 
preceding administrations, under the 
very worst of their kings, were 
models of virtue, of uprightness, 
of lenity, when compared to the 
very best of those fleeting phan- 
toms of government that had arisen 
and disappeared like meteors, and 
left nothing but the remembrance of 
the iniquities through which the 
vilest of men rose to power, and 
maintained themselves in it, and, 
through which they had been de- 
prived of it by others as wicked as 
themselves. _ 

The mass of the French people, 
though remarkably fond of national 
honour, and willing to suffer much 
for the attaining of it, had, under 
the dreadful government of Rober- 
spierre, forgotten almost every sen-+ 
sation but that of terror. None 
but the most violent abettors of the 
severest republicanism had ex- 
pressed any other sentiments than 

. those 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


those of horror at the maxims by 
which he regulated his condudt. 
His had been literally the reign of 
blood; but unfortunately for France, 
such also had been the splendour that 
accompanied his measures abroad, 
that it dazzled the eyes of many who 
could not but reprobate the atroci- 
ties of which he was guilty at home. 
Another unhappy circumstance was, 
that he had not acted alone. -He 
had a humber of associates in the 
crimes, as well as in the exploits of 
his administration; and when he 
fell, all did not fall with him. Of 
those who remained, some were 
More sanguinary than others: but 
most having gone deep into his 
measures, retained a tincture of that 
ferocity which characterised them. 
These were denominated the ter. 
rorists. They were exceedingly 
numerous, and though far out-num- 
bered by the moderate party, were 
much more active. These, indeed, 
constituted the bulk of the people ; 
and, being removed from the scenes 
of ing and ambition, were sin- 
cerely desirous of internal tranquil- 
lity, and dreaded the renewal of 
those barbarities that dwelled so 
forcibly on their memories, and 
from which no man at the time, 
however obscure his person or con- 
dition, felt himself, or was indeed 
wholly secure, The return of so 
dreadful a situation had excited such 
lively apprehensions, that even the 
most passive and acquiescent in pub- 
licaffairs, were solicitous to prevent 
“such a calamity. Hence the op- 
position to terrorism, as it was 
justly denominated, included an in- 
comparable majority in all classes, 
full of suspicions, and loud in their 
complaints at the least symptoms of 
its appearance. 
- Several intimates of Roberspierre 


had been committed to prison, at 
the time he was deposed and put 


‘to death. Two-of them were no- 


toriously criminal: Fouquier Tin. 
ville, the public accuser, and Joseph 
Lebon, ene of the most execrated of 
the many instruments of his enormi- 
ties. ‘Lhe public voice demanded 
them loudly as victims due to the 
vengeance of the nation; and com- 
plained that, notwithstanding their, 
undoubted and acknowledged guilt, 
they ‘were privately protected, and 
that earnest endeavours were used to 
save them fromthe punishment which 
they so justly merited. This neglect 
of justice was represented by the 


_moderate party, as a proof that the 


principles of the terrorists still sub. 
sisted, and that, unless they were 
vigorously opposed, they would re. 
gain ground, \and drench the couns 
try in blood, as they had done bes 
fore. In compliance with the sense 
of the public, which was expressed 
with great warmth and firmness, it 
was given to understand, that the 
strictest justice should be done upon 
them. In order, at the same time, 
to obviate the dissatisfaction at the 
sanguinary laws that had been en. 
aéted under the late tyrannical sys- 
tem, the convention directed the 
whole code to be reviewed, to the 
end of expunging them. On this 
ground several members of revolu- 
tionary committees were remanded 
to custody, to be tried, for having, 
in the spirit of those cruel laws, 
committed atts of barbarity. This 
was considered as a severe blow 
to terrorism, as these members had 
been acquitted on pretence that no 
proof had been adduced that they 
aéted from counter - revolutionary 
motives. Another measure, con- 
trary to the Jate laws, was the re- 
peal of that which had fixed a price 

on 


80] 


on merchandize and provisions, and 
which was considered as, impeding 
the circulation of trade in these ar- 
ticles. But the transaétion, which 
afforded particular satisfaction to 
the government and people, was an 
investigation of the state of the 
national finances; by which it ap- 
peared, that thedomains which had 
been declared public property, and 
were yet unsold, at the commence- 
ment cf 1795, amounted, on a rea- 
sonable calculation, to six hundred 
millions sterling, a sum exceeding, 
by two-thirds, the paper-money 
issued on their security. 

The reciprocal hatred, subsisting 
between the various parties that 
divided the French nation, had ne- 
ver ceased to manifest itself on ail 
occasions, ever since the commence- 
ment of the revolution. It aGu- 
ated individuals of all classes ; it in- 
vaded private life no less than it 
disturbed public transactions; it 
was chiefly, indeed, on occurrences 
of this nature, that it broke, through 
all the rules of decency: inflamed 
by the warmth of party, and that 
heat of temper charaéteristic of the 
French, they gave an unbounded 
Foose to their feelings, and in the 
vehemence of their unrestrained in- 
vettives, aspersed each other’s cha- 
racter with all the malice and in- 
veteracy of men determined to go 
every length of word or deed, tor 
the gratification of an enmity that 
was literally become too big for 
utterance. Hence the pictures they 
drew of their antagonists were such 
as could not fail to hold them out to 
the public as objects of execration. 
‘he most respetable members of 
every national meeting that had 
been heid, from the constituent as. 
sembly, to the present convention, 
had. thus been described in the most 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


odious colours. When engaged in 
debates, the personal abuse of 
which they were prodigal to each 
other, tarnished the splendour of the 
noblest specimens of eloquence, by 
the vulgarity of their reciprocal 
revilings. Such was their attach- 
ment to this method of treating each 
other, that they serupled not to 
justify it by the rules of oratory, and 
by ‘adducing precedents from the 
practice of the greatest orators of an- 
tiquity. The wisest, however, in 
the convention could not-help per- 
eciving, that by this behaviour they 
lessened the dignity of their station, 
and lost the respect of the common- 
ality, who, being continually wit. 
nesses of these mean altercations, 
could not retain much reverence for 
persons who made it their business 
to defame each other. This licen- 
tiousness of speech was at this time 


- carried so far, that some of the most 


discreet ameng them, thought it in- 
dispensably necessary that it should 
be forthwith restrained,lest from Jan- 
guage, they should, in the intemper- 
ance of their unguarded effusions, 
proceed to such actions as might ex- 
pose them to absolute derision, and 
annihilate their authority, already 


weakened by these reiterated proofs 


of so much levity and indiscretion. 
Tt was therefore proposed and agreed, 
that ifany member of the convention 
used abusive language to another, 
in the course of argument or dis. 
custion of any subject, he should 
be liable to imprisonment. So uses 
ful 2 regulation, it was observed, 
pught to have passed long ago, and 
would probably have prevented 
muchevil, by the restraint it would 
have put on men’s passions, and ob- 
viated those resentments which 
harsh expressions never fail to pro- 
duce, and which are frequently pro- 

ductive 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


dutive of the most deplorable con- 
Sequences. ; 

An objet of more importance 
than all the preceding, and indeed 
than any other whatsoever, was the 
entire and uncontrouled liberty of 
religious opinions and worship, that 
had often been promised to ail men 
indiscriminately, but which, from a 
variety of causes, had not heen esta- 
blished in that complete and explicit 
manner which might remove all 
complaint. 


| 3 
Vor. XXXVII. 


The convention now 


[sa 


solemnly secured it by a special de- 
cree, which placed all individuals 
beyond the reach of any species of 
persecution upon spiritual accounts. 
This was a measure that pleased all 
parties ; those only excepted, whom 
the enthusiasm of bigotry had long 
hardened against the toleration ofany 
sentiments, inspiritual matters, con- 
trary to their own, These intoler. 
ant individuals were numerous, in 
acountry long ina slavish subjection 
to the church of Rome, 


[G] CHAP. 


a2] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705, 


ON BP NP. NL 


Lxaminalion of certain Meml-ews of the late Committee of Safety. —These 
declared accessary to the Tyrannies of Rolerspierre.—An immense Crowd, 
entering the Hall of the Convention, demand Impunity for the accused 
Members. —This Tumult suppressed.—The. Menders of the tyrannical 
Committee Lanished.to Guiana.—A number of iurlulent Terrorists sent 
to Prison.—A Cominission of Eleven Memters appointed ty the Conven- 
tion for drawing up a New Constitution —Finances of France.—Judges 
and Jurors of the Revolutionary Trilunal condemned.— And executed.— 
The Lenity of the Convention exposes them to the Ill-Will of the Ter- 
rorists.—Discontents.— And Commotions.—A Crowd, breaking into the 
Hall of the Convention, demands Bread.—Firmmness of the President of 
the Convention.—Outrages and Atrocities of the Mob.—The Convention 
delivered from Insurgents ly the Military Force of Paris.—The Contest 
between the Convention and the Rioters renewed.—The Convention deem 
it prudent to lemporixe, and offer Terms of Accomsmodation—The Rio- 
ters invited to the Honours of the Sitting.—And receive the Fraternal 
Kiss.—Resist the Execution of the Law.— Forced to lay down their Arms, 
and surrender at Discretion.—The Terrorists and their Adherents come 
pletely overthrown,—Insurgents at Toulon.— Lefeated, by the Troops of 
the Line, with great Slaughter.—The Death of the Son of Lewis XVI. 
—Deliverance of the Young Princess of France from Prison.—The Con- 
vention, Ly several harsh Decrees, obviate any Suspicions that might 
arise of their Attachment to Loyalty.— New Constitution, consisting of 
two Councils, and an Executive Lireétory.—Reflections thereon. 


“ 
his charges so resolutely, that, be- 


i he the mean time, the hatred 
now borneby the mtajority of the 
nation for the sy stem of terror, intro- 
duced by Roberspierre, was felt by 
‘all who had in any manner co-ope- 
rated therein. Hence the members 
of the committee of safety, that had 
been denounced by Lecointre, as 
the agents and partners in the crimes 
of Roberspierre, though absolved, 
through the intrigues of their party, 
of the imputaticns laid to their 
charge, were still viewed as far fron: 
innocent, by those who sided with 
that bold accuser. He persisted in 


Pa 


fore the close of the year 1794, he 
succeeded in his attempt to bring 
their conduct to a severe scrutiny. 
It was ordered by the convention, - 
that the committees of public safety 
and general seeurity should inquire 
into and. make a report on the de. 
nunciations against those members. 
The result of the inquiry was, that 
there was ground for examining 
the condu& of Barrere, Billaud Va. 
rennes, Collot d’Herbois, and Vau- 
diet, who had been the principal 
ating members of the committee of 
safety, 


? 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


safety, under the administration of 
Roberspierre. A decree for thisex- 
amination was immediately made, 
and twenty-one members commis- 
sioned to proceed upon it without 
farther delay. The four members 
thus brought forward, were men of 
eminent abilities, especially Bar- 
rere, who had been the great 
spokesman to the convention, dur. 
ing the triumphant campuign of 
1794,andhad essentially contributed 
to that stupendous scheme of raising 
the people in a mass, for the pro. 
tection of the country against the 
coalition, at the time when its suc- 
cesses had occasioned a general 
alarm for the safety of the republic, 
Whatever flaws were in his charac. 
ter, he had always been reputed a 
zealous republican, and his talents 
had been warmly exerted in the re- 
publican cause. But it was strongly 
insinuated, that the destruction of 
Roberspierre would never have been 
effeéted, if Barrere and his party ia 
the committee, had been the sole 
agents, The convention, headed by 
Tallien and Bourdon de I’Oise, 
were the real a€tors in this great 
business, and Barrere, with his as- 
sociates, were at best but coadjutors, 
prompted by motives of personal 
safety. Both he and Billaud Va- 
rennes had been the cbsequicus and 
base instruments of Roberspierre’s 
tyranny, “and Collot d’Herliis had 
behaved with such barbarity at 
Lyons, after its reduétion, as to 
have incurred the general odium, 
As these imputations were not un- 
founded they made 2 strong impres. 


[83 


sion upon the public; but its indig- 
nation was farther excited by the 
continuance of favour shewn to the 
principles.of terrorism, and particu- 
larly by the respect paid to the me- 
mory of its first founder, the noted 
Marat. The remains of this san- 
guinary man had, several months 
after the death of Roberspierre, been 
solemn]. deposited in the pantheon, 
by adecree of the convention. This 
was considered as noequivocal proof, 
that thespirit of this bloody-minded 
enthusiast, in the cause of republi- 
canism, was not yet departed*, 
‘Two other circumstances concurred, 
at the same time, to increase this 
indignation; the one was a journal 
published by Freron, a man of reso- 
{ution and abilities, and a deter- 
mined enemy to the terrorists ; the 
other was a song, called the awak- 
ening of the people. The honours 
paid thememory of Marat were se- 
verely noticed in both, as well as 
the partiality to his atrocious max- 
ims, Ina tumultuous insurrection, 
his ashes were removed, and his 
bust defaced or broken to pieces. 
The Parisians, who had been re- 
markable sufferers under the mur- 
derous system lately destroyed, dis- 
played a marked readiness to op- 
pose it; and those members of the 
convention who were of the same 
mind, giadly perceived, that they 
would be powerfully supported, 
whenever assistance - might be 
necded. 

After two months’ examination 
into the conduct of the denounced 
members, it was declared, that they 


* So general and furious was the spirit of terror in the French nat’on, ‘a little time 
before this, and so readily domankind excuse, approve, and applaud, the prevailing pasa 
sion, whatever it be, that the contrary temper of moderation was dee neda vice. To 


ote this new vice, a new word was invented. 


It was common, at that time, with 


he more violent Jacobins, in their meetings, and various intercourses of life, to maké 
Charges againg those who were less so, or insinuate suspicions of MoDERATISM | 


[G2] 


had 


84] 


that, had been exercised over the 
people, and the convention. ‘To 
the courage of this body the down- 
fall of oppression was due. ‘The 
accused members. alleged, in their 
exculpation, that Roberspierre and 
St. Just were the authors of the 
atrocities committed by the orders 
issued under their direction; but 
why did not the members re- 
monstrate against those orders ? 
why did they not refuse to sign 
them? Roberspierre had absented 
himself forty days from the com- 
mittee, and St, Just was gone to 
the armies, and yet these members 
issued those orders. Sueh was the 
substance of the reports presented 
to the convention, in the beginning 
of March, by the commissioners 
it had appointed for that pur- 
pose. 

These were heavy and grievous 
charges, and not ill-founded, in the 
apprehension of those who reflected 
on the intimacy that had subsisted 
between Roberspierre and those 
members who were ostensibly the 
direct and immediate agents under 
him: but they asserted in their de- 
fence, that the jacobin club, and 
the revolutionary tribunal, were, 
in conjunction wiih him, the real 
aGtors in whatever he directed. 
Dumas, president ct the revolution. 
ary tribunal, and Coflinhail, a head 
of the jacobins, concerted with him 
all his measures; the committees 
were passive, and unuble to oppose 
them; the convention alone was 
equal to, sticha task: the tyran- 
nical laws, that gave almostabsolute 
power to Robetspierre, and em- 
powered him to shed so inch blood, 
had never been discussed in the 
committee, and were carried to the 
convention by, him and Coutkon, 


ANNUAL REGISTER; 1795. 


had been accessary to the tyranny 


as soon as they had framed them.. 
It were hard to impeach the com-: 
mittee for the crimes of the depu- 
ties to the different departments,. 
for those committed by the two hun- 
dred and fifty thousand members 
of the revolutionary committees 
throughout France, or for the cre. 


cation of six popular commissions, 


for which Roberspierre obtained a 
decree from the convention. The 


committee threw as many jobstacles 


and delays as they were able in the 
formation of these commissions. 
Roberspierre compelled the framing 
of two, which fortunately came too. 
late for his purposes. 

The case of the denounced mem-= 
bers was ably argued by' Carnot and 
Lindet, who had been their col. 
leagues in the committee of public 
safety, under Roberspicrre. During 
his empire, said they, every man 
trembled for his safety, and all his 
commands were implicitly obeyed. 
None of those members of the con. 
vention, who so inexorably ‘cons 
demmned the obnoxious members, 
would probably have dared to act 
otherwise than they did, driven by 
compulsion, and unable to resist. 
The generality of men allowed these 
reasonings to be valid. Notwith- 
standing that they lodked on the 
accused members as implicated in 
the criminal conduét of Roberspierre,y 
still they absolved thei of his atro- 
cious designs, and were willing to 
consider them as acquiescent in his 
orders, merely from the total inabi- 
lity to prevent their execution, and 
from the dread of becoming instant-. 
ly the viciims of their disobedi. 
ence, 


While the trial of these oohetal ; 


which commenced before the con- 
vention on the twenty-second of 
March, was pending, ,and it yet 

appeared 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


appeared undecided how it would 
terminate, the public was agitated 
with the most serious fears ot seeing 
a renovation of the horrors from 


which they hoped to have escaped. 


The spirit of nicderation, which had, 
since the fall of Roberspierre, been 
predominant, was so unacceptable 
to the jacobin party, which, though 
checked, was not suppressed, that, 
availing themselves of the lenity pro- 
fessed by government, they assem- 
bled in various places, and held dis- 
courses of a tendency to rouse into 
an insurre¢tion all that were disposed 
to join them. The pretence, by 
means of which they excited the 
populace to discontent, was the 
scarcity of bread. Whether this 
was rea] or affected, through their 
machinations, an immense crowd 
arose on the first of April, and pro- 
ceeded to the hall of the convention, 
demanding bread, and the constitu- 
tion of 1793. ‘The latter of these 
demands plainly shewed who were 
the instigators of this insurre¢tion. 
The jacobin members of the con- 
vention explicitly abetted these de- 
mands. Emboldened by this sup- 
port, the spokesman of the insur- 
gents told the convention, that 
those in whose name he addressed 
them were the men of the fourteenth 
of July, the tenth of August, and the 
thirty-first of May ; that they would 
not suffer the accused members to 
be sacrificed to their enemies; and 
expetied the convention would alter 
its measures. 

When the insurgents broke into 
the hall, the convention was em- 
ployed in a discussion how to re. 
medy the scarcity that was com. 
plained of; but this sudden inter. 
ruption forced them to have re- 
course to immediate means, for 
their preservation from the fury 


[85 


of the mob, ‘hey direéted the’ 
alirm bells to be rung through 
ail Paris, and the citizens to be 
called to the aid of the conven. 
tion, ‘Vhey readily obeyed the 
summons, and assembled to the 
number of twenty thousand. But, 
from two in the afternoon till six in 
the evening,’ the’ convention was in 
the power of the insurgents, from 
whom, as they had forcibly entered 
the hall, danger was reasonably ap- 
prehended ; their words and de- 
meanour being full of insolence and 
menaces, 

The city was no less alarmed 
than the convention, Knowing the 
number and resolution of the jaco- 
bins; and dreading a return of their 
tyranny, they took up arms with 
the utmost zeal in every seétion ; 
and, by this demonstration of adhe- 
rence to the convention, intimidat- 
ed the insurgents, who, finding 
themselves unequal to the force that 
opposed them, were compelled to 
disperse. What high'y contributed 
to the suppression of this tumult 
was the presence of Pichegru, who 
happened auspiciously to be at Paris, 
He took the command of the Paris 
military, and quickly restored the 
public tranquiliity. Delivered from 
their perilous situation, ‘the conven- 
tion passed a decrce for the punish- 
ment of the authors of this «riot. 
As it had evidentiy been excited 
to prevent the trial of the de: 
nounced members, it was moved by 
Dumont, a popular member, of 
noted firmuess, that they should im- 
mediately be sentenced to’ punish. 
ment, In order to soften the rigour 
of a condemnation that might ap- 
pear precipitate, their lives were 
spared ; but they were banished to 
Guiana, and ordered to be trais- 
ported thither without delay. Let 

[G3] us 


36] 


us, said he, without dooming them 
to death, cast away these monsters 
from our society, In this manner 
terminated the career of Barrere, 
Colict d’Herbois, and Billaud Var- 
yennes, 2 after having made so con- 
spicuous a figure during the two 
first years ofthe republic, Vaudier, 
their associate, had found means to 
make his escape. 

The party of the moderates re- 
solved to improve ihis opportunity 
of ridding the conventicn of seme 
of those turbulent spirits that still 
guided the motions of the remaining 
members of the mountain. ‘That 
bold and restless fa@ion, though 
subdued, was not destroyed, and 
lost no occasion of reviving and en- 
forcing its atrocious maxims. A- 
bout tw enty of the principal among 
them were put under arrest, and 
imprisoned in the castle of Ham, in 
the province formerly called Pip 
cardy. Had they acted in the same 
manner, against the government of 
Roberspierreas they had done against 
the present, no one doubted that 
they would have tosufferdeath. ‘The 
system of moderatior, against which 
they so violently de claimed, was the 

sole cause of their preservation ; 
and yet individuals arose who, with 
that philosophic ccelness which, 
however praiseworthy in its prin- 
ciple, is too prone to require the 

same regtlarity of procceding in 
tempestucus as in peaceable times, 
took upon them to describe the con- 
duét of the moderate party as de- 
serving of censure, on this occa- 
ion, for having neglected the for- 
malities of a regular trial, With. 
outentirely absolving this party, the 
universal assent of all those who 
dreaded the renovation of the jaro. 
bin system was a sufficient justifica- 
tion of the measures they took to 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


-1795. 


prevent it, Many of their lease 
partial friends heavily censured them 
for not having adopted a line of 
morse security, against men wha 
would have shewed them no mercy, 
and who, by the clearest laws of re- 
taliation, were entitled to no more 
Jenity than they had themselves dis. 
played, whenever the evil destiny 
of their country had thrown its go. 
vernment into their hands. 

As soon as this dangerous insur- 
rection had subsided, the convention 
decermincd to ener on the long- 
desired, though highly arduous, un- 
dertaking, of form.ng a constitu~ 
tion ihat might be acceptabe to all 
reasonable people, and thereby bid 
fair to be more permanent than the 
preceding. A committee was a 
pointed to prepare the method of 
carry ng this plan into execution. 
The resuit of its consultations was, 
that a commission of cleven mems 
bers of the convention should be au. 
thorized to draw up a system of go. 
vernment, comprebending a cir. 
cumstanual organization of aii its 
parts. All mn were invited to 
communicate their sentiments on 
these subjects. “The commissioners 
selected for ths great work were 
Sang Lareveilliere, Lepaux, 

(Thibaudeau, Boissy d’Ang'as, Le 
Sage, Larouche, Louvet, Bertier, 
Daunoh; Durand, Baadin. A pre. 
visional system af government was, 
in the mean while, “established, and 
to 1emain in force till the constitu. 
tion had been completed and ac. 
cepted. It was framed on prin- 
ciples consistent with those ot the 
moderate party; and calculated to 
Maintain a strict concord and cor- 
respondence between all the depart- 
ments of government, These pro- 
ceedings took place in the course of 


May. 
“An 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


An obje& of no less importanee 
to France, in its critical situation 
sespecting foreign powers, was the 
providing means to carry on the war 
with so many potent enemies. Cam- 
bon, the financier, so long celebrated 
for his labours in the department of 
finance, had been dismissed by the 
convention, and succeeded by Jo- 
hannot, a man of established repu- 
tation in that branch of political 
knowledge, In a report which he 
presented on the sixth of May to the 
convention, upon the situation of the 
national finances, he proposed two 
regulations to be observed, with 
inviolable fidelity: the one was a 
striG and punctual’ payment of the 
interest due on the national debt ; 
the other was the establishment of 
a sinking fund, to pay off the prin- 
cipal. Allowing the war to conti- 
nue two years longer, still, he con- 
tended, money enough would re- 
main, after defraying all other ex- 
pences, to answer the purposes of 
such afund. Acéording tohis state- 
ments, the property of the nation, 
in lands and forests, estates of the 
emigrants, royal palaces, and do- 
mains, together with the produce 
of the same nature in Belgium, were 
valued altogether at a sum equal to 
more than 110,000/. sterling per 
annum. This, he asserted; was 
an amount amply suffictent for 
the expences of the war, cn a 
supposition of its lasting a much 
Jonger space than probable, and for 
a complete liquidation of the whole 
debt. After entering into various 
éaleulations, to prove the justness of 
his ideas, he concluded by asserting, 
that, after defraying all charges, 
there would remain, clear and un- 
appropriated, according to the ac- 
¢ounts and valyations referred to, 


{87 


no less assum than seven thousand 
millions of livres. 

This. enumeration of ‘the re. 
sources remaining to France, af. 
forded great satisfaction to the pub- 
lic; but'the deeper class of specula. 
tors could not refrain from Fee 
their doubts of the solidity of the 
multifarious obje&ts on which his 
calculations were founded. Ad. 


_mitting theiy exaCtness, still the un. 


certainty of those amounts, which 
were to arise from assets existing 
only inexpectation, was alone a de- 
fect, that reduced his system toa 
mere possibility. But this, in-pecu- 
niary matters, was no foundation 
to build upon ; especially ina coun- 
try, the government of which was 
liable to $0 many vicissitudes, and 
the finances of which could not, of 
course, be considered in a situation 
of stability. 
The late commotions had left an 
impression on the public mind, so 
inimical to the jacobins, that the 
convention, no Jess desirous of de- 
pressing that turbulent party, and 
punishing the chief \agents in its 
enormities, resolved, in compliance 
with the reiterated desire of the 
mzjority, to bring to justice, con- 
formably to their promise, the exe- 
crated instruments of Roberspierre’s 
cruelties, the president and judges 
of the revolutionary tribunal. ;The 
multiplicity of crimes they, were ac- 


cused of, required some time to be 


arranged: they were accused of 
having prostituted the administra- 
tion of justice, in the most seanda- 
lous and insolent. manuer, to serve 
the purposes of oppression and ctu- 
elty ; and of having made out lists of 
persons to be sentenced to death, 
under juridical forms, merely, to 
gratify private enmity. Contrarily 
G 4) Fen) «lg 


88} 


to the laws of humanity, and of 
all civilized countries, pregnant 
women had been ordered for execu- 
tion. Such was their thirst ofblood, 
that they had been known to take 
no longer a space of time than three 
hours to try and condemn sixty in- 
dividuals, They were so hardened 
and unfeeling in this work of death, 
and their condué& so careless and 
inattentive, that the father had been 
executed for the son, and the son for 
the father. Frequently they had 
refused copies of indictments to 
prisoners, Instead of a lega! se- 
lection of juries by lot, our of the 
body of citizens, they had packed 
and chosen them as they thought 
proper. At the head of these accu- 
sations stood the name of Fouquier 
Tinville, a man as mach detested 
as his patron Roberspierre. Fifteen 
others were comprehended in the 
list, either judges or jurors of the 
revolutionary tribunal. They were 
condemned and executed on the 
ninth of May, to the universal satis- 
fattion of the humane and equitable 
part of society. 

There still remained a manequally 
guilty withthe worstofthose who iad 
suffered, and whohad signalized him- 
self by his barbarities as copiously 
as Roberspierre himself, This was 
Joseph Lebon, already mentioned. 
Loaded as he was with crimes and 
murders, the convention allowed 
him to speak in his own defence. 
He was one of those men, whom 
‘nature, in an evil hour for the 
community, endowed witha shrewd 
head and a wicked heart’ He 
pleaded his cause eight or nine suc- 
cessive days, with as much coolness 
and resolutiou as if his conscience 
had Been wholly clear of all offence. 
But though his audience might be 
astonished at his abilities, they were 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


too well apprised of his guilt to 
suffer him to go unpunished. He 
was unanimously delivered up toa 
court of justice, in that city where 
he had exercised most of hisenormi- 
ties, and there brought to a trial, 
which terminated in his execution 
some time in July. 

‘This marked spirit of vengeance, 
on the jacobin party, roused its 
abettors in every quarter : and they 
too derermined to seize the first mo- 
ment of revenge. They loudly ac- 
cused the moderate party of shield- 
ing themselves under that denomi- 
nation, the more securely to conceal 
the plots they were contriving for 
the restora‘ion of royalty. But the 
falsity of these accusations was so 
manifest, ‘hat they passed unheeded 
by the more cool republicans, The 
convention did not seem in the least 
inclined to favour the royalists. It 
enacted at this very time some se- 
vere egulations ‘o prevent their re- 
turn into France, without lawful 
permission. It softened, indeed, the 
unnecessary rigour with which they 
had hitherto been treated. | The 
property of none was confiscaied, 
but actual emigrants : the estates of 
such as had suff-red during the late 
tyranny, were restored to the lawful 
heirs: and the relations, and even 
the creditors of known emigrants 
were excepted from the severity of 
the laws against them. é 

But the lenity which the canven- 
tion seemed evidently inclined to 
adopt, whenever occasion offered, 
could not fail to procure them the 
ill-will of those unruly multitudes, 
whose minds had been perverted by 
the inexorable maxims of the ter- 
rorists. ‘Lhey watched in silence 
for another opportunity of rising 
against the convention ; and a fa- 
vourable one soon recurred. ‘The | 

scarcity 


r HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


fearcity of bread in the late commo- 
tion, whether real or artificial, was 
now become too true, the princi- 
pal of the remaining leaders of the 
jacobins, who lay concealed in the 
obscurest parts of Paris, availed 
themselves of the ill temper of the 
hungry populace; and _ persuaded 
them that the want of provisions 
was due to the indolence of the 
convention, and their neglecting the 
proper means of providing supplies 
for the metropolis. Among those 
leaders were two members of the 
convention whom it had sentenced 
toimprisonment with several others : 
but they contrived to escape, and 
were now concealed in that most 
turbulent faction of all the metropo- 
lis, the suburb of St. Antoine. 
These were Cambon, the financier, 
and Thurot, men equally dangerous 
through their abilities, their resolu- 
tion, and their influence over the 
multitude. Through their machina- 
tions the pecple were excited to the 
most outrageous complaints and 
menaces against the government, 
and a determination taken to rise in 
arms agiinst the convention. 

The day chosen for this purpose 
was the twentieth of May. They 
prepared it on the preceding day, 
by distributing papers in the several 


_seétions, full of the most rancorous 


charges against the convention, and 
of exhortations to submit no longer 
to so weak and Incapable a govern- 
ment. Those measures produced 
their intended effect; 
bers of the convention were openly 
reviled in the streets, and compelled 
to withdraw to places of shelter; 
but this manifestation of popa- 
Jar fury contributed in the issue 
to their safety, Forewarned there- 
by of what was preparing, they 
had time fos taking precautions, 


the mem- 


[89 


In the inflammatory paprrs, circa. 
lated by the exciters of the, insur. 
rection, they recomm*nd-d ft une- 
quivocally, asthe dury of the people 
when they were aggrieved. They. 
advised the citizens of Paris, with- 
out distin@ion of age or sex, to re- 
p2ir to the convention, thers tode- 
mand bread and the constitution of 
1793, the dissolution of "he conven: 
tion, and the arrest of all its mem: 
bers, and ‘the immediate convoca. 
tion of the primary assemblies for the 
election of another. After these 
arrangements had taken place, and 
the multitude had been provided 
with pikes and other weapons, at 
the dawn of day the alarm bell was 
rung, and the drums beat to.arms in 
the suburbs of St. Antoine. The 
convention had, in the means 
while, assembled ; and after issuing a 
proclamation to the citizens to arm 
in their defence, passed a decree to 
outlaw every one that headed the 
insurgents: but these now sur- 
rounded the hall of the convention, 
and numbers of them rushing in, 
loaded the deputies ith abuse and 
insult. The tribunes being in pos. 
session of the populace, force be- 
came necessary to exp:l them, and 
a fierce contest ensued between 
them and the convertional guards. 
The crowd was every moment 
bursting into the hall, exclaiming 
bread and the constitution of 1793. 
It was with extreme difficulty the 
president could obtain a few mis 
nutes of silence. He told the 
crowd that the convention was an. 
xiously deliberating on the means of 
supplying them with bread; but, 
that unless they desisted from riot 
and disorder, none could he pro. 
cured. He firmly assured them, 
thut the convention was not to be 
intimidated, and would resolutely 

encounter 


90] 


encounter all peril; advising them 
to demean themselves peaceably, 
and return to their homes. But 
they paid no attention to his words, 
and the crowd still continued to 
increase. A body of citizens was 
now arrived, and entered the hall. 
One of them snatching off the har 
of an insurgent, on which was 
chalked bread and the constitution 
of 1793, was instantly cut down 
with sabres, and wounded by a 
musket shot. A member of the 
convention, Ferrand, endeavouring 
to assist him, was immediately mur- 
dered by the mob, his head cut off, 
and fixed upona pike. It was now 
four in the afternoon. The tumult 
was become so dreadful, and the 
populace seemed so disposed to com- 
mit every sort of outfage, that it 
appeared no longer safe to remain 
among them. The majority of the 
members thought it prudent to 
withdraw. Those only continued 
in the hall who were known to be 
favourable to the principles of the 
insurgents. ‘This was their time to 
at, and theytook it accordingly. 
Duroi, Goujon, Dusquesnoi, and 
Barbotte, rose one after the other, 
and proposed several decrees in op. 
position to those that had been 
passed against the late government 
and its adherents. They were pro- 
ceeding in this manner, when an 
armed body of citizens in company 
with another of the military, made 
their way into the hall, and informed 
the multitude that al} the citizens of 
Paris were under arms, and march- 
ing to the aid of the convention, 
and that if the populace did not im- 
mediately depart, no quarter would 
be given to them. This menace, 
and the intelligence they received, 
that general Hoche was at the 
head of the city militia, with a 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


number of the military, struck them 
with such terror, that they direétly 
dispersed, and fied on every side, 
leaving the hall in the quiet pos. 
session of the moderate party, which 
now returned and resumed their 
seats. Boissy d’Anglas, Bourdon 
de |’Oise and some others had reso. 
lutely stood their ground, during 
this terrible fray. The formet 
boldly assumed the president’s chair, 
and thé latter spoke out fearless of 
danger. He now insisted on the 
repeal of the decrees carried by the 
violence of the jacobin majority that 
had remained in the hall, together 
with the arrest of those who had 
proposed them. This was complied 
with, and Duroi, with the threé 
other members: who had seconded 
him, was taken into custody. 

Had the convention behaved with 
more caution, after thus defeating 
its enemies, it is probable that these 
would have remained quiet; but 
their too great security: occasioned 
a renewal of the contest, with ad 
ditional violence. The insurgents, 
though driven from the hall of the 
convention, and compelled to dis. 
perse for a while, soon reassembled, 
and finding themselves neither pur- 
sued nor molested, recovered their 
spirits, and determined to make a 
second attack, They colleéted in 
vast numbers, and marched to the 
hall- of the convention, provided 
with casnon, which “they pointed 
against it, to the great alarm of the 
members, who were wholly unap- 
prised of what had been transacting 
by the insurgents, and were totally 
unprepared to resist them. The 
citizens who had the preceding day 
assisted them with so much fidelity, 
and quelled the riot so effectually, 
little thought the rioters would, ina 
few hours after, return to the 

charge. 


\ 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


charge. They were not, therefore, 
in a state of sufficient preparation to 
encounter this multitude, and the 
convention now saw itself alone, 
and exposed, unaided, to the rage 
of the insurgents, who boldly de-~ 
clared they would make the conven- 
tion repent of its ill treatment of 
them on the preceding day. The 
convention, convinced they were in 
the hands of a désperate mob, 
thought it prudent to temporize, and 
yield to necessity. They deputed 
ten members to offer terms of ac. 
commodation and fraternity, and to 
assure them, they were ready to 
restore the constitution of 1793. 
These terms were accepted by the 
insurgents : but the facility “with 
which these demands were granted, 
induced them to insist upon others. 
They required the liberation from 
imprisonment of those who. had 
spoken in their favour, and that 
those should be punished who de- 
manded money in payment in lieu 
of assignats. These two demands 
they swore never to give up. This 
resolute mode of speaking inclined 
the president of the convention to 
promise them that their requests 
should be taken forthwith into con- 
sideration ; and he invited the de. 
puties of the insurgents to the ho- 
pours of the sitting. The business 
closed by giving them the fraternal 
kiss ; and they departed fully satis. 
fied withthe success of their mission. 
All Paris, as soon as apprised of 
what had passed, testified the utmost 
astonishment. Some thought the 
convention in earnest, and that 
their condescension proceeded from 
the desire to prevent any farther 
effusion of blood, in hopes to bring 
the insurgents to a better way of 
thinking, when the present ferment 
was allayed, But most people were 


for 
of opinion, that as they had acted 
under constraint they would not 
consider their promises as binding, 

and would make no scruple to res 
scind them, as soon as they were re. 
lieved from the terrors naturally in. 
spired by a ferocious mob, 

The insurgents themselves doubt~ 
ed the sincerity of the convention, 
and the heads of them were medi- 
tating a third attack. They had 
been outlawed by the. convention ; 
and he'that had killed thé member 
of that assembly had beew seized 
and tried before a court of justice, 
which had condemned himto death, 
The insurgents resolved to oppose 
this. sentence, and he was rescued 
on his way to the place of execu- 
tion. 

This a€t of disobedience to the 
law, fully shewcd what might be 
expected from the insurgents, if they 
were not effeétually suppressed. 
The citizens now lamented their 
negligence, in suffering them to 
rally after having so completely de. 
feated them, and now saw the ne. 
cessity of repairing their errors. 
They colleéted their whole strength, 
and waited on the convention, 
with the warmest assurances of sup- 
porting their authority, and of exe- 
cuting whatever they should decree 
against the insurgents. Encouraged 
by these professions of adherence, 
the convention deciared to the in- 
surgents, that unless they delivered 
up their arms, together with the as. 
sassin of Ferrand, they should be con- 
sidered as rebels. This was what 
the insurgents had expected, the 
moment they were intormed that 
the citizens were in arms for the 
convention. They had, in conse. 
quence, barricadoed the streetg iead- 
ing tothe suburb of St, Antoine, and 
prepared for a stout resistance, But 

" the 


92] 


the suburb was ina short time sur- 
rounded by large bodies of the 
military, as well as of citizens; and 
the insurgents were threstened with 
a bombardment ef their houses, un- 
Jess they complied with the orders 
of the convention. Seeing that 
resistance was vain, they offered to 
capitulate: but they were informed 
that their submission must be urcon- 
ditional. On their hesitating whe- 
ther to submit or to risk a contest, 
the troops of the convention pre- 
pared to execute its orders, when 
the insurgents finding themselves 
inadequate to the force brought 
against them, consented to lay down 
their arms, and surrender at dis- 
cretion. To this they were partly 
forced by the inhabitants of that 
large and populous suburb, who re- 
flecting that they must be the princi- 
pal sufferers in case of a bombard- 
ment, thought it more for their in- 
terest to throw themselves on the 
mercy of the convention, than to 
stand the event of a confli€t, which 
at all events would be ruinous to 
them, even were the insurgents able, 
by a vigorous defence, to procure 
conditions less severe. 

Thus, after a doubtful conflid of 
three days, fortune declared at last 
for the convention, ‘This proveda 
complete triumph to the moderate 
party, and an entire overthrow to 
the terrorists and their adherents. 
The arms, artillery, and warlike 
stores of this tur ulent party of the 
Parisians, were taken from them, 
together with those weapons which 
had proved so terrible in their 
hands, and with which so much 
mischiefhad been perpetrated, their 
pikes; the deprivation. of which 
filled them with more grief, and 
humbled them. more than any mea- 
suse yet adopted against them. ‘The 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


pike was a ready instrument for the’ 
purpose of an instantaneous insurrec- 
tion, always at hand, and required 
no more than bodily strength and 
courage, in neither of which the 
classes that chiefly handled it were 
deficient. They could not help 
recolle@ing what feats they had 
achieved with this dreadful wea- 
pon. They locked upon them- 
selves as a conquered people, over 
whom their victorious fellow citi- 
zens would henceforth ‘exercise that 
empire which their better regulated 
strength had acquired, and to which 
their more prudent condué entitled 
them ; a refiection that struck the 
generality of men, on this occasion, 
was the impropriety of trusting‘arms 
in the hands of any but the decent 
classes of the community. All the 
horrors of the revolution were per- 
petrated by the lowest descriptions 
of the people ; and terrible as they 
were, would have been still worse, 
unless they had been restrained by 
the seasonable interposition of the 
middling sort of people; few of 
whom were guilty of those criminal 
excesses that brought so much dis- 
grace on the revolution. 

After the suppression of this dan- 
gerous insurrection, the convention 
thought it indispensable to make 
some examples of its authors and 
promoters. Six of their own body 
had largely participated init. These 
were tried by a military commission, 
and sentenced to die. Three of 
them were executed on the scaffold; 
and three perished by their own 
hands. About fifteen others of in- 
ferior note were also put to death ; 
but the convention did not judge it 
sufficient to punish these alone, and 
were of opinion, that those who 
were the primary causes of all these 
commotions, ought to atone for the’ 

evils 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. « 


eyils which they had instigated. 
On this ground they came to a reso- 
lution to remand, for a second 
trial, the three remaining chiefs of 
the jacobin faction, whose sentence 
of transportation they now con- 
sidered as too mild for the enormity 
of the guilt imputed to them. But 
two of them went on board the ship 
that was to carry them to Guiana, 
and it sailed the very evening before 
the orders arrived for their detention. 
Thus Collot d’Herbois, and Billaud 
Varennes, escaped, at this time, 
whatever may be their future desti- 
ny, and only Barrere was left be- 
hind. He was, pursuant to the 
resolution taken, committed to close 
confinement. 

The spirit that promoted this in- 
surrection had been more ative than 
was at first suspected; and the con- 
vention knew not the full extent of 
the danger they had escaped, until 
it was entirely overcome. Those, 
who were the chief contrivers of 
this bold attempt, had so concerted 
it, that it burst, as it were, inone 
united explosion in many places at 
thesame time. At Toulon, the resent- 
ment of the jacobins, at the im- 
prisonment of several of their party, 
excited them to assemble in such 
numbers, that they bore down all 
before them; they released the 
prisoners, and in a conflict with 
those who opposed them, slew a 
member of the convention, Brunel, 
took possession of the town, and 
detained a squadron that was on the 
point of sailing. Their numbers 
increasing, they marched to Mar. 
seilles, where they expected to be 
joined by a large body of their con. 

erates: but they were met on 
their way by a considerable force 
of troops of the line, by whom they 
were defeated with great slaughter. 


fre, 


Ww aU 


[93 


In other parts of France the a¢t- 
vity of the jacobins had been no 
less remarkable. . As their zeal was 
inextinguishable for the revival of 
their party, and as they feared no 
danger ina cause for which their 
enthusiasm could not: be exceeded, 
they were incessantly occupied in 
the framing of plots and conspira- 
cies against their opponents, whom 
they considered as inferior to them, 
both in courage and capacity, and 
especially in their attachment to a 
democracy, on which they chiefly 


valued themselves, and looked up- 


on as a proof of the superiority of 
their understanding. Moderation 
they viewed as the mark of a feeble 
and timid mind, incapable of those 
terrific exertions necessary, in their 
opinion, for the support of a popu. 
lar system. Lenity to its enemies 
they condemned as treason to the 
cause of liberty. Hence they as. 
serted, that unless the moderates, 
as they styled them, were destroyed, 
the royalists would take advantage 
of their forbearance, which was 
founded on pusillanimity, and want 
of necessary firmness, in the punish- 
ment of delinquents. 

The argument with which they 
supported these assertions was, the 
rancour exercised by the partisans 
of those who had fallen during 
the sanguinaryreign of Roberspierre. 
Ever since his fall, the jacobins had 
experienced the revenge of the ma- 
ny individuals whose friends and 
relations had perished through his 
cruelty. .No place in France hav- 
ing escaped it, the hand of ven- 
geance was lifted on them every 
where, and numerous were the vic. 
tims sacrificed to the resentment of 
those who had lost their dearest in. 
timates and connexions. The atro. 
cities committed by Collot d’Her. 

et ' bois 


signe 


94] 


bois, at Lyons, produced, on this 
occasion, a multi‘udeof retal‘ations. 
/His adherents, and chiefly the in- 
struments of hisinhumanities, were 
eagerly sought after, and dragged 
from their places of concealment. 
No mercy was shewn them: Those, 
even, who had been thrown into 
prison, with a view of bringing 
them to irial, were not allowed to 
‘wait for a legal condemnation, and 
were massacred in their dungeons, 
Violations of the law were reputed 
justifiab'e, against men who, under 
its pretended sun€tion, commitied 
so many acts of injustice. But the 
jacobins, who pertinaciously insist- 
ed, that nothing had been done 
while they were in power, but what 
was fully warranted by the strictest 
necessity, inveighed with unabated 
fury, against this reaction of their 
own principles upon themselves, 
and attributed the merciless treat- 
ment, so many of them now expe- 
rienced in theirturn, to the ill-timed 
lenity of those who, with all their 
pretences to be republicans, had ra- 
ther permit the republic to perish, 
than maintain it by deeds of season. 
able severity. 

A motive which, though not ac- 
knowledged, still might be justly 
presumed to operate powerfully in 
the vengeance now exercised against 
the jacobins, was the death of 
the son of Lewis XVI. That un- 
happy child had been confined in 
the Temple, at the same time with 
his unfortunate parents. He had 
now suffered imprisonment near 
‘three years, and his constitution had 
been greatly impaired by the wretch. 
edness of his situation, Jt had been 

_ proposed in the convention to set 
him at liberty. Numbers of the 
wagmest adherents to the republi- 


© 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


can system disapproved of this bar. 
barous detention of a mere infant, 
who cou!d not, were he liberated, 
put the republic in greater danger 
than it wou'd be liabie to from any 
other individual, young or old, of the 
Bourkon family. While this sub. ~ 
s sed, inheritors of itsclaims would 
never be wanting: and while the 
rest were out of the convention’s 
power, itlittle availed to retain this 
féeble infant, whoze health was on 
the decline, amd who, as secon as 
deceased, would be replaced in his. 
pretensions by others in the v'gour 
of life. But these considerations 
were disregarded: he was kept 
in a close confinement, and, if re- 
ports may be credited, he was used 
with much inhumanity*. So severe 
a lot, especially at his time of life, 
doubtless accelerated his end; he 
died on the ninth day of June, in 
the twelfth year of his age. The 
enemies to the convention hinted 
suspicions of poison; but they were 
discredited. There was, in truth, 
no need toaggravate the guilt of the 
conventicn; their injustice and 
barbarity, inexercising such lawless 
tyranny and oppression over an in- 
necent and helpless infant, suffi- 
ciently disgraced them with every 
friend to humanity. 

The daughter of the unhappy 
Lewis still remained in their hands ; 
but the most considerate of thecon. 
vention were desirons to liberate 
her. The decease of her brother 
had excited almost universal com. 
miseration, at the fate of two child. 
ren born to so splendid a destiny , and 
doomed to so gloomy a reverse of 
fortune. These sentiments had a 
proper effect; those who were at 
the head of the French government 
felt them so strongly, that they 


_ * Every horrid contrivance, it was loudly asserted, was put into execution, for 
enervating his frame,-undermining his health, and debauchiag or stupifying both 


his mind and body. 


thought 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


thought it their duty to yield to the 
generat sense of commiseration, 
openly testified in behalf of the cap- 
tive princess. In order, however, not 
to be stigmatized as forgetful of the 
interests of the republic, they made 
_her enlargement instrumental in pro- 
¢euring that of those members of the 
convention whom Dumourier had, 
at the time of his detetion, deliver- 
ed into the hands of the Austrians, 
and of the two ambassadors to the 
Ottoman court, who had been seiz- 
ed on neutral ground by order of 
the imperial court. A negotiation 
for these purposes was opened with 
the Austrian ministry in the month 
of July, and towards the close of 
December, she was delivered from 
her imprisonment in the Temple, and 
eondutted to Basie, in Switzerland, 
where she was exchanged, pursuant 
to the agreement with the court of 
Vienna, for the persons above-men- 
tioned, 
But, while the rulers of France 
were thus endeavouring to wipe off 
the stain of inhumanity from their 
character, they were particularly ~ 
anxious not to incur the suspicion of 
sympathising with the royal cause, 
or its friends. They passed at this 
time, a variety of decrees tending 
torestrict the entrance into France, 
and the residence there, of foreign. 
ers, whose attachment to the exist- 
ing government was not clearly as- 
certained, and to dismiss all those 
who might be suspected of secretly 
adhering to the enemies of the re- 
public. These decrees were ex- 
tremely severe, and effectually ob- 
wiated all dangers that might have 
arisen, by permitting all foreigners 
indiscriminately to reside in France, 
at.a time when so. many conspiracies 
_ aod machinations were continually 
forming against the established go. 
wernment, 


[95 


The dangers to which it was 
perpetually exposed, originated, 
evidently, from the want of a firm 
and stable government, settled on a 
permanent constitution, The revo- 


Jutionary movements were yet so 


strong and rapid, that, unless they 
were stopped, it was feared they 
would at last overturn the constitu- 
tion itself. The nation was full of 
parties, cach obstinate in favour of 
that form of government to which it 
inclined. ‘The convention was full 
of individuals of abilities, ambition, 
and courage, who, therefore, might 
well be presumed to aim at the pos- 
session of power. ‘The radical de- 
fect, in the present administration 
of affairs, was the fluctuation of au- 
thority from one party to another, 
and the total want of a regular form 
of government, acknowledged by 
all parties, and organized on prin. 
ciples assented to by the nation at 
large. A constitution, framed con- 
formably to these ideas, was visibly 
the only remedy for the confusions 
that had so long, and still continued 
toagitate France. It was the ear- 
nest desire of all parties, which ap. 
peared cordially willing to lay aside 
their animosities, and to unite ina 
cordial reception of such a constitu. 
tion as should be acceptable to the 
majority. 

Impressed with the strongest con- 
viétion of the immediate necessity of 
such a measure, the convention, as 
already observed, had, towards the 
close of April, nominated eleven 
members, for the execution of this 
great business. They had now 
completed it; and, on the twenty. 
third of June, laid it formally be- 
fore the convention. Faithful to the 
original ideas on which the primary 
revolution was founded, the framers 
of the new constitution prefaced it 
by a solemn declaration of the 

rights 


96] 


rights of man, nearly similar to that 
which preceded the first. By this 
constitution, every man was declar- 
ed tobe a French citizen, who was' 
born, and resided in France, was 
twenty-one years ofage, andinscrib- 
ed his name in the civic register, 
lived one year on the tetritory of 
the republic, and paid a direct con- 
tribution. Foreigne:s were natu- 
ralised by residing seven yeers—in 
France, or by marrying a French 
woman. The rights of a citizen 
were forfeited by naturalization in 
a foreign country, or by committing 
any infamous crime. 

Primary assemblies were to meet 
yearly in every canten, on the twen- 
ty-first of March, intheirown right. 
‘They were to chuse the members of 
the electoral assembly, to elect the 
justice of peace and his assessors, 
with the president of the mu- 
nicipal administration of the can- 
ton, and appoint the municipal off- 
cers. ; 

Every primary assembly was to 
nominate one elector for two hun. 
dred citizens. Eleétors to be twen- 
ty-five years of age, and possessed of 
a certain proportion of property. 
‘These were to cle&t the members of 
the legislature, the members of the 
tribunal of annulment, the high ju- 
rors, the administrators of the depart- 
ment, the president, public accuser, 
and register of the criminal tribu- 
nals, and the judges of the civic tri- 
bunals. 

The legislgture was composed of 
two councils, or chambers, one of 
ancients, and one of juniors. The 
first consisted of two hundred and 
fifty members; the second of five 
hundred. One-third of the mem- 
bers of each council was renewed 
every year; by which regulation 
every member was to sit three years. 


ANNUAL.REGISTER, 1795. 


They might be re-ele€ted immedi- 
ately once, but never again, till af. 
ter an interval of twoyears. Each 
department was represented in pro- 
portion to its population. The 
council of five hundred had the ex- 
clusive right of proposing the laws, 
and the councii of ancients the same 
right ofaccepting or rejeGting them. 
The resolutions of the council of 
five hundred, when adopted by that 
of the ancients, became laws. 
When rejected, they could not 
again be presented to them for ac- 
ceptance tilltwo yearsaiter. Part 
o: a plan rejected might, however, 
be presented. 

Primary schools were established 
in every canton, to teach reading 
and writing, arithmetic, and the 
elements of morality. Schools of a 
superior kind were also established, 
one, at least, for every two depart- 
ments. A national institution was 
also appointed for the improve- 
ment of arts and sciences, Exclu- 
sively of these institutions, citizens 
had a right to form particular esta~ 
blishments of education and instruc- 
tion, and societies for the promotion 
of arts and sciences. 

A perfeét equality was to subsist 
between all the citizens of the re+ 
public, in all the ordinary oecur- 
rences of society. The only superi- 
ority permitted, was that of public 
functionaries and that only in the ac-. 
tual exercise of their official duties. 
No religious yows or engagements, 
inconsistent with the natural rights 
of man, were santtioned by the 
laws; individuals were at liberty to 
speak, write, print, and publish 
their thoughts, subje to no other 
controul than that of responsibility. 
Freedom of religious opinion and 
worship was established, and no one 
compelled to profess or maintain any 

particular 


: HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


particular persuasion. The law did 
not authorize privileged companies 
or corporations, or any species of Ji- 
mitation to the freedom of com- 
merce, and the exercise of industry 
and arts of every kind. Citizens 
had the right to assemb'e peaceably, 
and without arms; but no assembly 
could assume a popular denomina- 
tion, or professing to debate about 
political subjects, can correspond 
with another, or associate with itin 
such investigations. 

The executive power was de- 
fegated to five persons, nominated by 
the legislature. They are styled, 
collectively, the directory. They 
were to be forty years of age, and 
have been members of the legisla- 
tive body, or employed in a great 
office, and could not be appointed 
to the dire€tory, till the expiration 
of a year after quitting their em- 
ployment. One of the dire€tors 
was to go out yearly, and to be re- 
placed by the ele¢tion of another. 
No one could be re-elected to this 
_ Office till after an interval of five 
years. The business of the di- 
rectory was to provide for the se. 
curity of the republic, at home and 
abroad ; to dispose of the military 
and naval forces; to appoint ge- 
nerals and admirals ; to superintend 
the execution of the laws; and to 
dire& the coining of money. To 
eleét the directory, the -council of 

five hundred made our a list of ten 
person», for one tobe elected ; and 
out of these the council of ancients 
ehuses one. ‘The direCtory might 
“invite the legislature to take sub- 
jects into consideration ; but could 
“not lay plans before it, those of 
‘peace and war excepted. No 

ies framed by them were valid, 
until ratified by the legislature, 
' Vor. XXXVII. 


‘ 


[97) 


without whose consent no war can 
be undertaken. 

Such are the outlines of the 
French constitution, as it was pre- 
sented to the convention, by those 
who were sele¢ted to frame one, 
It underwent the discussion not only 
of that body and of the nation, but 
of all Europe. As it was framed 
professedly in contradiction to the 
royal systems prevailing in this part 
of the world, its imperfections were 
the more readily perceived ; and it 
was generally condemned as im- 
practicable in so large a country, 
and so populous a nation, especially 
as founded on the destruétion of a 
monarchy that had sted fourteen 
centuries, and the prepossession for 
which was still very strong in the 
minds of a very considerable por- 
tion of the people. Those in par- 
ticular who adhered to the ancient 
religious establishments, together 
with the noblesse and the clergy, 
forming an immense body, and with 
few exceptions, warmly attached to 
the old system in church and state, 
having suffered so much for their 
attachment to both, they were ready 
to suffer still more, and to persevere 
to the last in their effor.s to restore 
them. 

Those who coolly weighed the 
merits and defe¢ts.of this constitu- 
tion, against those that had been ala 
ready tried, readily gaveit the pre- 
ference. It united many requisites 
to give it strength and duration. 
In imitation of the British constitu- 
tion, it divided the legislative body 
into an upper and lower house, and 
thus prevented that tyrannical pre. 
cipitation with which theconvention 
had so justly been reproached. 
This division of power rendered it 


also less liable to abuse; the one 
fH] branch 


98} 

branch of the legislature operating 
as a counterpoise to the other. The 
principal defe&t, in the opinion of 
most, was the distribution of the 
executive power into five hands, 
instead of consigning it to one only. 
A single chief magistrate appeared 
preferable to five, in several respects. 
The unity of person was certainly 
a complete security against the dis- 
union of sentiments, where it must 
be attended with the most danger. 
Abilities and integrity would also be 
more perceptible and ascertainable 
in one than in several; and, by the 
same reason, the want of them would 
be more clearly discerned in him 
that was defffient. It would, at 
the same time, be less dificult to 
call one individual to account, than 
five, among whom the praise oF 
censure of yood or of evil councils, 
being equally shared, it might not 
be easy to discover who was the 
most or the least deserving of appro- 
bation or of blame. Each would 
be desirous to appropriate to him- 
self as much as he could of the ap- 
plause due to wise measures, and 
no less anxious to shift the odium of 
ill advice apon others. In this con- 
ict it would be vain to expect that 
unanimity could long endure be- 
tween persons env ious of each other, 
from the very nature of the station 
they were jointly placed in. They 
would split into parties, the more 
inimical and violent, from the great 
power with which they were in- 
vested; and, in order to retain it, 
might not scruple to act the most 
hostile part to their rivals, and treat 
them with merciless severity. For 
this reason, numbers of the French 
themselves would have been pleased 
with one supreme magistate, to the 
duration of whose magistracy, two 
years or even. three might have 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


‘sons of equal capacity 


‘of government, one ought to be fur- 


have consented to accept of such a 


been allotted, instead of five; and 
who, enjoying the good-will of his t 
fellow citizens, might render them 
more services, ifa person of capacity, 
during that space, than could proba- 
bly be done in a longer, by five per- 
to him, but 
obstructing each other through dif- 
ference of sentiments, and even of 
temper, and liable to all those little 
jealousies that’ will often infest the 
intercourse of the best and wisest of 
men. 

Ithas been suggested, on the other 
hand, that ambition was at the bot- 
tom of this newsystem, and prompted 
this division ofalmiost supreme power 
into the hands of five individuals, 
that the framers of this constitution 
might be able to indulge the hope 
of sharing it some future day in their 
turn. That able and ambitious 
men should be governed by such 
motives is not surprising: but to 
fix an imputation of this nature on 
those persons who were entrusted 
with the framing of this new system- 


nished with better proofs than sim- 
ple surmises. The majority of them 
were chosen on account of the 
moderation of their charaf@er and 
principles. Some were noted for 
their preference ofa private to a 
public life, and none were suspected 
of intending to avail themselves of 
this opportunity of rising to powers 
lt is more probable, therefore, that 
they sought to please the nation 
than to gratify their personal ends. 
Had they lodged the chief magistra- 
cy in asingle person, it is not likel 
that the French would at this t1 


magistrate. ‘Lhe majority of th 
who possessed and were able to e3 
ert much influence, were decide 
republicans, not indeed of that vio 

le 


* 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


lent party, which had been guilty of 
-$O Many crimes, but of that which 
Was equally inimical to the op- 
pression of many, and to the go. 
yernment of one. Those were equally 
averse to the rigid republicanism of 
the terrorists and to the restoration 
of monarchy ; both which they 
were determined to oppose. To 
such then he appointment of one 
person, to preside over the affairs of 
‘the nation, would have borne such 
An appearance of monarchy, that it 
would not have been safe to make 
the attempt. Their prejudices 
against royalty would not have per- 
mitted them to distinguish between 
a responsible magistrate and a pos- 
‘sessor of absolute power. It was 
necessary, therefore, to consult the 
disposition of the times, especially 
of the metropolis. This abounded 
with those who would have re. 


» [99 


volted at the idea of a supreme go. 
vernor, which would have recalled 
to their remembrance no less the 
tyranny of Roberspierre, than the 
authority exercised by the king, 
previously to the revolution. As 
they held both in abhorrence, the 
former probably more than the lat- 
ter, the very image or resemblance 
was carefully to be avoided. It 
was a common saying among the 
populace, that if they must have a 
king, a Bourbon was at least as 
good as any other. While senti- 
ments of this kind prevailed among 
the greater number, and among the 
people of Paris more than any 
others, it was prudent, in those who 
were to plan the new constitution, 
to admit of nothing in it that 
might furnish a pretext to the jaco- 
bins, for accusing them of inclining 
to royalism, 


[Hz] CH A:?, 


100] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


CHA BioVk 


Regulations respecting the Election of Deputies to the New National Assem= 
bly.—Considered by many as Infringements on the Privileges of the Peo- 
ple—Contentions on this Sulject, between the Convention on the one 
part, and the Citizens of Paris, and other Cities, on the other,-—Am- 
bitious Views of the Leaders of the Convention A gloom cast on the 
'Expetations that had been formed from the New Constitution.— Allege- 

_tions in favour of the Convention. — Aétion hetween the Parisians and the 
Regular Troops, who took Part with the Convention.—Complete Defeat 
of the Parisians.— Artifices of the Convention in order to gloss this In- 
surrettion.— Resentment against the Parisians severely exercised by the 
Convention.—Now released from all Restraint.—Disappointment and 
Suspicions of neighbouring Nations, concerning the New Constitution, © 
and Regulation of Eleétions in France.—Plans of the Convention, for 
strengthening and perpetuating its Authority.—A Commission of Five 
appointed to consult on Measures for Saving the Country.—A Vote for 
the Annullment of the Commission of Five confirming the Constitution 
agreed on, and the Dissolution of the Assemlbly.—The Moderates pre- 


vail,— Refleétions on the Temper and Conduét of the Convention. 


T cannot be denied, however, 
that if ambition did not plan 

the present system, it prompted the 
convention tovestablish it in such a 
manner as suited the views of the 
most ambitious among them. Pre. 
viously to the ostensible deposition 
of theirauthority in the hands of the 
nation, they resolyed to provide for 
the renewal ofit by a measure which, 
to the generality of men, appeared 
highly unjustifiable. Thev passed a 
decree, enjoining theelectoral bodies 
to choose two-thirds of the deputies 
of the nation that were to be ele€ted 
on this occasion, out of the members 
of the present convention, and or- 
daining that in default of an eleétion 
of those two-thirds, in the manner 
prescribed, the convention should fill 


up the vacancies themselves. . The 
constitution, together with. these 
two decrees, was formally trans- 
mitted to the primary assemblies, 
and every species of intrigue’ was 
set on foot to procure thema favour. 
able reception. 

So singular a stretch of power, 
from a body that professed so warm 
and patriotic an adherence to the, 
interest of the nation, and so much 
respect for the rights of the people, 
did not fail to strike the public with. 
the greatest astonishment. In Paris, © 
the complaints against the convens 
tion were loud and vehement. They | 
were explicitly accused of a heinous 
violation of the undoubted privi- 
leges of the people, and of a mani« 
fest design, under the spécious pre- 

text 


: 
: 
: 
| 


the most 
“quiescence in the orders of the con. 
*-vention, and their advice prevailed. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


text of obviating dangers and dif- 
ficulties, to perpetuate their power 
against the sense and consent of their 
constituents, over whom they as- 
sumed the most despotic sway that 
could be exercised; but of requiring 
them, without the least authority for 
such an att, to pay implicit obedi- 
ence to the will and pleasure of an 
assembly, that was, by that very 
deed, subverting the fundamental 
Jaws of the republic. 

The Parisians were so exasperated 
at this illegal assumption of power, 
that they seemed tohave lost ali re- 
spect for the convention, and tocon- 
sider itas having forfeited all title 
to any farther obedience. In de- 
fiance of the orders it had issued, 
the eleétors of Paris assembled, by 
their own appointment, before the 
day fixed upon for that purpose, 
The primary assemblies at Paris in. 
sisted, that having chosen their 
electors, these being the direct re- 
presentatives of the people, had a 
right to consult together as soon as 
they judged it necessary. About 
ene hundred of them assembled ac. 
cordingly. The convention, alarm- 
ed at this bold step, and fearing that 
if it seemed intimidated, and suffered 


a measure of such audacity to pass 


unnoticed, the Parisians might next 
proceed to pronounce the conven- 
tion no longer the representatives 
of the nation, resolved to strike at 
once such a blow, as might terrify 
all that were inclined to be refrac. 
tory; it immediately ordered a 
military force to disperse this meet- 
ing. From the discontent which 
had been expressed by the Parisians, 
it had been expeéted that they 
would have made resistance; but 
rudent advised an ac- 


[101 


The example of the capital did not 
fail to influence other places, where 
the conventional decrees, relating to 
the elections, were condemned in 
ungualified terms. ‘The majority, 
in the mean time, were not explicit 
and precise in their acceptance of 
either the constitution or the de- 
crees. ‘The former was universally 
teceived by the capital and the 
whole nation; but the latter met 
with many dissentient voices. The 
convention carefully published every 
day the majorities that appeared in 
their favour: but the citizens of 
Parisasserted that froman inspection 
of the records sent up from the dif. 
ferent places of election, it would 
appear that the real meaning of the 
majority extended to an entire reno- 
vation of the legislative body, The 
want of perspicuity in the accounts 
transmitted trom the various depart. 
ments, was, it has becn said, favoure 
able to the pretensions of the con- 
vention, Irritated by the attempts 
of the Parisians to disparage themby 
invalidating their credit, thisassem- 
bly treated them with much slight 
and contempt, frequently refusing 
to give audience to. thetr deputies. 
Provoked at this asage, from those 
whom they had rescued from the ty- 
ranny of Roberspierre, and had. 
jately saved from the fury of the 
jacobins, the citizens vented their 
indignation in the bitterest terms, 
and uttered menaces of resentment 
and revenge that indicated a de 
termined resolution to resist the 
measures jmended by the conven. 
tion. 

‘This body of members was now 
in as Critical a position as it had 
ever experienced, It had lost the 
aff-¢tion of those who had constantly 
proved their firmest friends, and 
had carriedthem successfully through 

fH 3] pe 


102] 


all their difficulties. These friends 
were now become their most de- 
cided enemies, and alleged such 
reasons for their enmity, as the con- 
vention found it not easy to invali. 
date. Itresolved, inthis extremity, 
to have recourse to the military 
stationed at Paris. Between these 
and the Parisians there subsisted, 
however, such a fraternal intimacy, 
that those members of the conven- 
tion, who guided its motives on 
this perilous emergency, soon found 


that other auxiliaries would be - 


wanted. It behoved them to be 
expeditious. The language of 
their opponents’ in the capital 
breathed the worst of menaces, and 
it was evident that either the city 
or the convention must give the law 
without controul, Nothing was 
omitted by the citizens, that could 
fender the majority of that body 
odious or despicable. . Murderers, 
despots, or sycophants, were the 
terms in wh:ch they described them. 
The authors of the assassinations in 
September, 1792, and of the judi. 
cial murders of the Gironde party in 
Oober, 1793, the remnants of 
the mountain and of Roberspierre’s 
faGtion, with the approvers and 
abettors of all their cnormities: 
these, and such as these, the Pa- 
risiens said, still retained their seats 
in the convention. Were such 
men, sullied with crimes and infa- 
mies, fit to preside over 2 nation? 
What must ihe enemies of France, 
what must Europe, thnk of the 
French, if they submittes to be go- 
verned by such men? National jus- 
tice required that they should forih- 
with be dismissed from the seat of 
authority. Thiswas the least punish- 
ment that could be inflifted upon 
men who deserved so much greater. 
The utmost they could expeét from 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1798. 


the lenity of the nation was, to be 
sheltered, with other criminals, un. 
der a general aét of amnesty. But 
if they persisted in the refusal to re. 
sign their power, such additional 
guilt ought to be punished with un- 
relenting severity. It excluded 
them at once from all hopes of mer. 
cy; and the public would be justi. 
fied in carrying their vengeance te 
the utmost extremes. 

‘The obstinacy of the citizens, in 
requiring the deputies to surrender 
their authority, and the determina. 
tion of these to retain it, had kin. 
dled the wrath and indignation of 
both parties to the highest pitch. 
Numbers of the former would 
listen to nothing, short of the most 
inexorable treatment of that body. 
It was obeying the laws of impar. 
tial justice, they said, to retaliate 
upon every one of them. The con. 
duét of each, throughout the whole 
revolution, ought to be scrutinized 
in open court, and no subterfuges 
allowed, or excu!pations admitted 
for the enormities in which they had 
participated, or had not the courage . 
to discountenance. It was ineum.~ 
bent on the French to clear up 
their charaCier to the world, by ex. 
ecuting the rigour of the law upon 
men who deserved no pardon, who 
had embrued their hands in the 
blood of innacent multitudes, after 
shedding that of worthy patriots ; 
and who had, by a series of horrors, ’ 
brought the cause of liberty inté 
disgrace, and empowered its ene- 
mies to asperse its most upright 
friends and assertors. Till justice 
was done upon such men, the sur. 
rounding nations would have a right 
to consider the French as a savage “ . 
and sanguinary people, enslaved by 
the successive faétions of the day, 

and 


’ ness. 


HISTORY OF ‘EUROPE. 


and becom: the base instruments of 
their reciprocal barbarities. 

The convention sheltered their 
conduct under the necessity of pro- 
viding for the public safety, by se- 
curing the clection of a due number 
of men*experienced in public busi- 
Conscious, however, how 
little this apology would avail, they 
determined to accelerate their ven- 

ance upon their opponents ; lest 
by spreading their opinions, their 
numbers should increase in the de. 
partments, where they had already 
gained grcund. No time was now 
to be lost on either side, If the 
convention did not immediately 
suppress the spirit of insurre¢tion 
that began to shew itself, their ex- 
istence would be at stake, and the 
hourly arrival in Paris of large bo- 
dies of troops from the aimies, was 
a sufficient warning to the inhabi- 
tants, not to delay the execution of 
their designs against the convention, 
till it was become superior to all 


- their attempts, 


Unhappily for the citizens, they 
¢onfided so strongly in the attach. 
ment of the soldiery, that they 
were persuaded no danger needed 
to be apprehended from them, and 


that as they had done at the first © 


breaking out of the revolution, they 
would refuse to fire upon men whom 
they had so much reason to consider 
as friends and fellow.citizens, It 
seems, the convention were also ap- 
prehensive that the general good 
will of the troops to the Parisians 


would render them unwilling to ac 


against these. But there wag at this 
time, in the prisons of Paris, a great 
number of thase who went by the 


mame of terrorists, full of-rancour 


at the Parisians, for having so reso- 


lately assisted in quelling the insur- 


' uu 


[10% 


rections they had raised. To these, 


- men-those who direéted the motions 


of the convention did not scruple to 
make application on ‘this: emer- 
gency. 

The truth was, that the most 
active men in the convention, were, 
if not avowed terrorists, yet closely 


-conneéted with them, and aCtuated, 


in a great measure, by their prin- 
ciples. The ground on which they 
proceeded in the business of the re- 
election was clearly that of fear, lest 
tired of the bloodshed that had so 
frequently recurred in the repeated 
contests for power between the ri- 
val parties, the people of France 
might exclude from the legislature 
all those individuals who had either 
excited or given occasion for con- 
tests, and elect none but men of 
pacific dispositions, who would. 
make it their duty to silence all dis- 
putes for pre-eminence, and re- 
establish a cordial concord among all 
citizens, by espousing no party, and 
directing all their labours to the 
tranquillity and welfare of the pub- 
lic. Certain it is, that the conven. 
tiom was chiefly governed by the 
most ambitious among them. They 
thought possibly thar having steered 
the vessel of the state through so 
many storms, and escaped so many 
dangers, they ought not to be laid 
aside after bringing it safe into port; 
and, tocontinue the metaphor, that 
if unforeseen storms should again 
arise, which was farfromimprobable, 
they surely were the best qualifted 
to weather them. Doubtless they 
reasoned justly upon this suppo- 
sition, which also. was well founded : 
but it was not the mere re-eleétion 
of able men, against which the me. 
tropolis protested, or would have ob~ 
jected; it was the great dispropor- 

{H4] tion 


104] 


tion of two-thirds that alarmed the 
friends to a legislature, that 
should chiefly consist of new men, 
obnoxious to no party, and irre- 
proachable in their personal conduct, 
These requisites could be found in 
few of the convention, “They had 
almost all been violent pazty men, 
and suspicions of the worst kind lay 
heavy on the characters of many. 
Allowing their abilities and reso- 
lution to have been often dispiiyed 
in the cause of the public, they had 
also, it was justly observed, beenex 

erted for very unwarraniabie pur- 
poses ; and, taking themall together, 
the virtues and vices of the most 
conspicuous members of the con. 
vention, were, ‘o speak the most 
favourable language, equally ba. 
Tanced at best. France was at pre- 
sent desirous of rest. Enough had 
been done for its glory: ir was now 
time’to consult its repose, With all 
the praise that might be due to the 
present convention, the Jeading 
men among them were so habitu- 
ated to the tempestuous scenes in 
which they had made so remark- 
able a figure, that they had not had 
any opportunity of displaying those 
talents which would be chiefly re- 
quired in peaceable times, Ene. 
mies abroad, and faétions at home, 
had been the clement in which they 
had hitherio constantly moved. 
They were undisputably well quali- 
fed to encounter trials of this kind; 
but however great they had shewn 
themselves in the day of denger, 
they ought to be sensible that those 
qualities which tend to make them 
dreaded, wre not those which pro- 
evre them affection. The conduct 
of those who had acted the greatest 
parts, throughout the revolution, 
might command admiration; but 
these parts ‘had been so blended 
with evil as well as good, that it 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


was difficult to tell which was most 
predominant. ‘The highest obliga- 
tions were due to those intrepid 
agents by the many ; but many also 
had ample cause to rue the part 
they had acted. 

Discourses of this tendency filled 
the mouths of all men at this critical 
epoch. The dread of seeing those 
men invested with power, who had 
acted with Roberspierre, and had in 
some respects been his colleagues 
and coadjutors in office, threw a 
gioom on the expectations that had. 
been formed from the new constita. 
tion, and excited the most melan. 
choly presages. The Parisians 
knew no bounds in their complaints : 
they repeatedly assailed the conven. 
tion with the boldest remonstrances 
on their conduct, which they styled 
a manitest and barefaced usurpation, 
But this assembly confiding in the 
Preparations it was secretly making, 
set them openly at defiance, and re- 
fused at last to listen to their repre- 
sentations, which they branded 
with the name of seditious, and cal. 
culated to throw the republic into 
confusion, Were they ever so well 
inclined, said the members of the 
convention, to gratify the Parisians, 
they ought no less to consult the 
circumstances of the times. Nu- 
merous were those who waited with 
impatience for a total dissolution of 
the present legislature, in order to 
avail themseives of the new opini- 
ons and inclinations of those wha 
were to succeed it. Good policy 
required they should be disappoint- 
ed; but the only sure method to 
perpetuate the republican spirit 
now existing, was to continue in 
power those who had always shewn 
themselves its staunch supporters, 
those who had been its champions 
in the worst of times, and had op- 
posed despotism at the risk of their 

lives. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


Kives. If such men did not deserve 
well of their country, who were 
those that did? However integrity 
and unblemished character might be 
desirable and indispensable in the 
representatives of the nation, expe- 
rience was not less wanted. With- 
out this essential, the work of ncar 
six years might be undone ina few 
months; the labours of patriots, 


_ the toils of statesmen, the vittories 


of warriors, might be thrown away, 
and France return again to that 
os situation from which she 
ad been uplifted by the revolution, 
The foes to those men who had ef- 
fe&ted such great things, could 
hardly be reputed friends to the 
liberty of France. 
Such was the substance of the 


. allegations in favour of the conven- 
tion: but the hour was fast ap- 


proaching, when arguments would 
be laid aside, and force decide the 
knotty question between the two 


contending parties. They both saw 


that no other mode of decision re- 


’ mained, and trusting to the means 
_ they bad reciprocally provided to 


. 


» ensuresuccess, they resolved to come 


to action. The anger of the Parisi- 
ans was particularly inflamed at the 


_ sight of those terrorists who had 


been let loose from their prisons, 


_ they said, to renew the massacres of 


— St 


September, 1792. They appealed 
to the impartial world, whether a 
er proof could be given, that 


_ the system of Roberspierre was to be 
 Yevived, than the employing of 
~ such cut-throats andassassins, by the 


convention, in support of its mea- 
sures. But the chiefs of this body 
were now completely prepared, 


_ Hearing that the citizens were as- 


sembling in great force, they com- 
imissioned general Menou, who had 


[105 


the command of the military force 
stationed in Paris, to march against 
them. He repaired accordingly, on 
the fourth of Oétober, to that 
section of the city which was their 
head-quarters, and required them to 
lay down their arms. They an. 
swered that they would comply 
with this requisition, provided the 
terrorists did the same. The general 
not being empowered to treat, 
nothing, was concluded, and both 
sides parted: but the convention, 
irritated at the general fornot acting 
according to their intent, ordered 
him to be broke for disobedience. 
The sword was now.drawn, and 
all thoughts of reconciliation vanish- 
ed. The people of Paris were 
now to make trial whether the con. 
fidence they had placed on the mili, 
tary was well or ill founded. They 
chose the night of the ‘fourth of 
Oftober for the mustering of the 
sections. They paraded the streets 
with beat of drums and summons to 
arms. By twelveatnoon, thenext 
day, they were put in order for fight. 
ing, and took possession of several 
posts ofimportance. The combat be- 
gan about this time in the proximity 
of the conventional hall, towards 
which the citizens were marching : 
the rancour subsisting between them 
and the terrosists occasioned a most 
bloody and desperate confliét ; these 
and the reguiar troops were joined 
together, contrarily to the hopes. of 
the Parisians; but this unexpected 
junction did not daunt them: they; 
fought withsuch fury, that although 
they had no cannon, they several 
times seized that of the conventional 
troops, and turned it against them, 
The number and discipline of those 
who were all come from the victoris 
ous armies, fixed at length the for« 
tene 


i106] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tune of theday. After a fight, that 
lasted four hours, they were com- 
pelled to give way: they reireated 
' totheirhead-quarters, and continued 
the battle with unabated valour till 
past midnight, when broken and 
defeated onevery side they yieldeda 
dear-bought vittory to the conven- 
tional forces. The ill success of this 
engagement, near the hall of the 
convention, was owing to the ab- 
sence of those sections that were 
coming to their assistance, from that 
rt of Paris which lies on the other 
side of the river Seine. They were 
_crossing the bridges, when they 
were met .by the conventional 
troops, which broke them at once 
with their cannon. As they were un. 
provided with artillery, they were 
unable to renew the charge, and the 
bridges. remained in possession of 
the former. It was in this conflict 
that Buonaparte appeared first on 
the theatre of war, and by his cou. 
rage and conduct laid the foundation 
of that confidence in his powers 
which condutted him so soon after 
to preferment and to glory. 

Thus ended the memorable fifth 
of October, 1795, or the thirteenth 
of Vendemaire, to speak in the re.. 

ublican style. The numbers that 

li were not very considerable, not 
amounting to more than a thousand. 
Buta fatal precedent wasestablished; 
the convention had set itself above 
the law, and had succeeded by force 
of arms jn this unwarrantable at- 
tempt. It was fortunate for the 
convention, that a decision had 
taken place so expeditiously ; for 
numbers were on their march 
to Paris to join the inhabitants ; 
but hearing of their ill success, 
they Jaid down their arms before 
the troops were dispatched from 
the vanquished capital to oppose 


them. No humiliation or disap. 
pointment could be greater than 
was experienced by the citizens of 
Paris, on this disastrous occasion, 
Relying on the amity of the regus. 
lars, they had neglected the most es« 
sential measures for an undertaking 
of so much importance to the com. 
munity, as that of frustrating the 
diGtatorial authority assumed by che 
convention. They had provided 
no artillery, they had appointed no 
commanders, they had formed no 
plan, and hardly a sixth part of the 
city militia was arrayed on this 
fatalday. Had the citizens brought 
their whole force into aétion, and 
prepared for it with their customary 
prudence, many were of opinion, 
that the convention must have 
yielded to their remonstrances, 
especially if they had been enforced 
in due time, and before the conven. 
tion had received those succours 
from the armies, which enabled it 
to triumph over all legal opposition. 
Nevertheless, the discreetest of 
this ambitious body saw the ne. 
cessity of making sucha representa. 
tion of this business to the nation at 
large, as might impress it witha pere 
suasion, that a victory of the utmost . 
consequence had been obtained over 
the royalists, and that the insurgents 
at Paris were people of this party, 
who had long been resorting to 
Paris in order to unite in a general 
struggle against the republicans, 
An agent of the royal a hap- 
pened about this time to be dis. 
covered at Paris. From his papers 
a correspondence was reported to 
have been traced with his employers 
abroad, relating to this very insur. 
rection ; and passages in proof of it 
were published; but they were 
broken and unconneéted, and af 
forded no proper evidence, A va- 
riety 


ha oe 


_ they had proposed. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


ficty-of publications in the conven- 
tional pay asserted also, with their 
usval confidence, that the English 
ministry was deeply concerned in 
this fruitless‘ attempt to overthrow 
the republic: but they obtained no 
@redit with the discerning part of 
society. The Parisians had aéted 
so much in the face of day, their 
eonduét had been so candid and 
Open, their opposition to the con- 
ventional schemes so regular and 
elear, that no handle had been af- 
forded to their most malicious ene- 
mies, to tax them with any more 
than an inveterate antipathy to the 
Measures pursued by the conven. 
tion, and a firm determination to re- 
sist them by force. 

‘The use which the convention 
made of this success, was diated 
by the keenest resentment for the 
charges it had been loaded with by 
the citizens, with so much truth, 
though with such defamatory lan- 
guage. These were deprived of all 
their arms and warlikestores, and a 
military commission appointed to try 
them as rebels. As no resistance 
could be apprehended after subduing 
that of the metropolis, the conven. 
tion felt itself released from all re- 
straints. It now published, with- 
Out fear of opposition, or even of 
contradiction that the majority of 
votes in the departments were de- 
cidedly for the mode of election 
The terror 
they had inspired was such, that no 
More dissentient voices were heard 
tn the public assemblies of the peo- 
ple. But the expression of discon- 
tent was not the less forcible in the 
Private meetings of those mdividu- 
als who had not lost all sense and 
spirit. They foresaw that by the 
Suppression of the courageous re- 
vistance of the capital, the rest of the 


[107 


nation would be sointimidated, that 
the members of the convention, who 
were the most obnoxious to the 
public, would, in defiance of its © 
opinion and sentiments, be seated in 
the future legislature ; which, under 
another name, would still be little 
more, if any more than the present 
convention. Such, it appeared, 
through influence, intrigue, andeve. 
ry species of machination, was the 
power of this body become, that 
they would easily find means to pres 
vent the ele¢tion even of that third 
of new members, which they had 
held forth to the public, merely to 
obviate the clamours and scandal 
they must have encountered, had 
they not employed this deception, 
But exclusively of these conside. 
rations, which principally regarded 
France, there was, in the opinion of 
the public, another, which alone 
ought to have induced them to let 
the law take its due course. Anew 
constitution had been formed by the 
convention, and accepted by the peo- 
ple. ‘The theory seemed well adapted 
to the wishes of the generality, and 
not only the French, but not a few of 
their neighbours, appeared satisfied — 
withit. The backwardness of these 
to treat with France was avowedly 
the uncertainty and fluétuation of 
the government; but, more than all, 
the character of its present rulers, 
The declared sentiments of some 
among these were sincere; and they 
were, for that reason, well pleased, 
when they understood that a new 
constitution was framing, and still 
more, when they were informed 
that the legislature was to consist 
wholly of new members. They 
doubted not that these would bring 
apter. dispositions for peace than 
their predecessors, whom they had 
long viewed with a malevolent eye; 


and 


108} ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


and considered in the light of ene- 
mies, much more than they did the 
French ration. What must, there- 
fore, it was said, be their disappoint- 
ment, on finding, that hardly any 
other alteration was intended in the 
form of the French government than 
of names? The same persons that 
now presided over the affairs of 
France, in the assembly, styled the 
convention, would continue to di- 
ret them, under the appellation of 
council of ancients, and of juniors. 
What expectations could foreign 
powers harbour, of meeting with 
more facility to treat, than they 
had done before ? They would have 
the same men to deal with, the same 
pretensions to combat, the same an- 
tipathies would still subsist on both 
sides. The abhorrence with which 
foreigners beheld those men, who 
had shed so much of the blood of 
their fellow citizens, would still in- 
fluence any correspondence that 
might be opened with foreign 
powers, They would meet the 
same individuals, whom they had 
lately. indulged the hopes of never 
Meeting again. Had a total change 
taken plice in the constitution, had 
it, in reality, been framed so as to 
devolve the supreme authority into 
new hands, the lassitude now felt, 
both by France and the coalition, 
would: have smoothened the road 
to a general pacification, equally 
wanted, and equally desired by 
both. But confidence would in- 
stantly vanish, when the coalesced 
powers found themselves so grossly 
disappointed. Instead of pacific 
dispositions, they would direétly 
conceive the most violent suspicions, 
that the convention meaned to de- 
ceive at once both the French, and 
the powers with which they were 
at war. ; 


; 


Such were the reasonings of a 
great number of individuals among 
the French; but the convention 
was now in a condition to supersede: 
allarguments. Proud of a situation 
that rendered them uncontroulable 
masters of their country, the sole 
obje& now in their contemplation 
was, tocement the absolute autho- 
rity they had acquired, so as to ren. 
der it indissoluble, and to reduce 


‘their opponents at home to such a 


degree of weakness, as to deprive 
them of the very idea of raising any 
opposition, With this view, the 
predominant party in the conven- 
tion procured a commission to be 
appointed, consisting of five persons, 
who were empowered to consult 
together what measures © were 
proper to be adopted, in order to 
save the country. As soon as this 
commission was passed, and notice 
of it given to the public, all France 
was struck with amazement. -A 
constitution, it was said, had been 
framed ; and now the convention, 
by whose orders it was framed, 
came forward with a declaration, 
that such was the danger of the state, 
that nothing less than a dictature of 
five men, invested with absolute 
power, would be able to save it; 
this was exaétly the mode, and the 
very style adopted by the ancient 
Romans, in times of great calamity 
and danger. The situation of France 
was calamitous indeed, incessantly 
exposed, as it was, to internal ty- 
ranny ; but with what other danger 
was it threatened at the present 
hour? its foreign enemies were 
thoroughly humbled, and ready to 
enter into terms of peace, provided 
they could depend on the permanence 
of the government with which they 
made them. Such a government 
was onthe point of being settled be 
t 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


the universal satisfaction of the 
French nation, when its rulers, for 
reasons which did not appear, 
thought proper to suspend the great 
expectations they had raised, by 
recurring to a precedent which had 
never failed to be accompanied with 
the worst evils of tyranny. 
Regardless of these popular com- 
plaints, the convention proceeded 
in the adoption of the measures se- 
cretly planned by the leaders of the 
jacobins and terrorists, who seemed 
again to have gained an ascendancy 
in the convention, and to diétate 
whatever they thought proper. 
They had truly verified their own 


_ assertion, that activity and boldness 


peculiarly belonged to chem. The 
other members bowed implicitly to 
their opinions, and confirmed, with- 
out hesitation, whatever they pro- 
posed. Meanwhile, the public re. 
mained in a state of surprise and 
alarm, at the conduct of a body of 
men, whom they were at a loss in 
what light to consider, whether as 
Antending to adopt the constitution 
they had recommended for accept- 
ance, or to pass it by, without far. 
ther notice, and erect themselves 
‘into a supreme power, without con- 
sulting the nation, and trusting 
only to the sword for their support, 
against the opposition of their coun. 
trymen. 
__ The day was approaching that 
had been fixed upon by the conven. 
tion, formally to lay down their 
auhority ; but no signs of such »n 
Intention were perceivable; the 
permanence of its power was the 
very subject on which the commis. 
‘Sion of five was busily employed. 
‘The . people now saw, that the per- 
uation, of its authority 2s evi. 
ently the design of the conv» tion, 
4a which case che reign of barvarity 


o: 


[109 


would certainly return, as the pub. 
lic, however terrified by the late 
success of that body, in suppressing 
the Parisians, would not remain en- 
tirely passive, in its submission to 
such unwarrantable usurpation. The 
days.of Roberspierre were now pre- 
sent to every man’s memory ; the 
very expression used by the conven. 
tion, in appointing a commission 
to save the country, reminded the 
public of the many similar terms 
employed by that tyrant and his 
party, whenever oppressive and san- 
guinary designs were in agitation. 
The jacobinical faétion, that 
domineered in the »convention, 
seemed resolved to persevere in the 
arbitrary plans that had so long suc. 
ceeded in the hands of their predes 
cessors of that party, when in power. 
But there still remained in that body- 
a few men of a determined spirit, 
who, struck with indignation at the 
apathy or cowardice of those pliant 
members who suffered themselves to 
be so ignominiously governed, re- 
solved, at all hazards} to stem the 
torrent that threatened to overbear 
the moderate party, and to render 
it a passive accomplice in the 
iniquitous schemes of that ambitious 
and unprincipied faction, which had 
again nearly accomplished its pers 
nicious designs. The principal of 
those members, who exerted them- 
selves on this critical occasion, were 
‘Thibaudeau, Lanjuinais, _Boissy 
d’Anglas, Larevelliere Lepaux, 
Lariviere, and Lesage. The come 
mission of five were about to enforce 
the report for the permanence of 
the conven:ion, when the first of 
those members, inflamed with rage 
at the pusillanimous acquiescence 
that appeared in the assembly, une 
dauntedly arose, and in a speech re- 
plete with fire and energy, bupenis 
t 


210] 


the passing of that 1 ignominious pro- 
posal. He insisted, in the name of 
the nation, that the commission of 
five should instantly be suppressed, 
and that the constitution decreed, 
by the acceptance of the people, 
should take place, and the conven. 
tion be dissolved on the day ap- 
pointed. Thibaudeau was vigorously 
seconded by his friend, Larevelliere 
Lepeaux : their joint exertions re- 
called the majority of the assembly 
to a sense of the'injudicious and 
shameful measure they were about 
to sanction. They recovered them- 
selves on this occasion, and notwith- 
standing the violent declamations of 
those who were interested in this 
measure, they voted the annulment 
of the commission of five, the con- 
stitution agreed upon, and the digso- 
lntion of the convention. 

The gaining of these three points 
was a matter of serious triumph to 
the regular party, which was now 
that of the moderates. It shewed 
that the nation was not cordially 
disposed to approve of the measure 
that had been carried, to re-ele& 
two-thirds of the members ; and it 
forewarned those who were to con- 
stitute the majority of the future 
legislature, to be cautious in the ex- 
ercise of a power with which they 
‘were invested evidently against the 
sense of their fellow citizens. The 
manifest disapprobation, expressed 
by the public at this proceeding, 
induced the violent party to coin- 
cide with the moderate in passing 
some acts previously to theirdissolu- 
tion by which they hoped to in- 
grtatiate themselves with the gene- 
tality, and wipe off the stain of ter- 
aorism. By these aéts, the punish- 
‘ment of death was to be abolished 
after the restoration of peace, anda 
general amnesty was also to be 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


granted ; but this was clogged with 
a variety of exceptions that demon. 
strated from which of the two pars 
ties they proceeded: those which 
excluded the enemies to the new con« 
stitution, and the forgers of assig- 
nats, were judged treasonable ; but 
the clauses against the emigrants 
and the clergy, sentenced to trans- 
portation, ought, it was said, to 
have been mitigated ; and those af. 
fefting the late insurgents in the 
capital, ought never to have been 
enacted. 

These blended aéts of lenity and 
revenge, characteristic of the re- 
spective parties that framed them, 
terminated the proceedings of the 
convention. It dissolved itself on 
the 26th of O&ober, after sitting 
upwardsof threeyears. Nopolitical 
assembly, recorded in history, ever 
did much greater or worse things, 
As it consisted of men chosen by a - 
populous nation, it partook of the 
dispositions that characterized the 
various partisans of the people of 
France. The fire and impetuosity 
of temper that marks the inhabi- 
tants of the southern provincesy 
and the pertinacity and unyielding. 
ness of mind that is usually found 
in those of the northern parts; 
but that which will eternize the me. 
mory of this famous assembly, is the 
undaunted audacity with which it 
shook off those ideas that, implanted 
by education, and confirmed by the 
habit of years, remain soobstinately 
fixed in the human mind. Mon. 
archy and catholicism, the two fa. 
vourite objects of the French na. 
tion, sanctioned by the attachment 
and veneration of centuries, began 
to totter the very first moment of 
their meeting, and were completely 
overthrown as soon as they attempt-_ 
ed to regain their preponderance ; 

: sO 


| 


-HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


so entirely had these artful and en. 
terprising meu obtained the confi- 
dence and prepossession of the mui- 
titude. When they had new 
moulded the public mind, according 
to their own form, they conceived 
the vast prospect of extending the 
same influence over their neighbours; 
and they succeeded beyond their 
own expectations, and even beyond 
the fears of their enemies. They 
did for the grandeur of France more 
than had been done in its most tri- 
umphant periods, and more than 
ever had been done for a country 
by its most victorious rulers. They 
did those things through means not 
heretofore imayined. All was new 
and unprecedented in their hands: 
they created, as it were, the very 
materials with which so many stu- 
pendous deeds were performed: 
their statesmen, their generals, their 
soldiers, were of their own forma. 
tion. When they began the execu- 
tion of the vast plans they had 
formed, they had the whole world 
to encounter: all kings, all states, 
all nations were at once their de- 
clared, and, as they menaced de- 
struction to mers establishment but 
their own, their necessary enemics. 
What rendered their a€tions pecu- 
liarly striking and marvellous, the 
attors in those astonishing scenes 
were men wholly unknown to their 
country, before they assumed the 
reins of government ; they were not 
-conspicuouseither by birth, station, 
or riches: their consequence was 


innate, and called forth by a singu- 
“larity of events, without which it 


‘must have remained in that obscu- 
ity which is the atrendant ofall those 
talents, however great, that are not 


_ brought forth by great occasions. 


assembly ever displayed a more 
aw 
o> 


faaa 


astonishing mixture of shining quali. 
ties, and of atrocious vicess Am- 
bitious, cruel, unprincipled, are 
epithets inadequate to convey an 
apposite idea of their enormities. 
They were true to their character 
from the very beginning; overturn. 
ing without scruple or remorse 
whatever stood in their way, and 
compassing their ends without ever 
adverting to the rectitude or moral 
impropriety, or turpitude of the 
means employed. #The only quali- 
fications, on which they seemed to 
set a substantial value, were courage 
and capacity, boldness and expe- 
dition. These, divested of all vir. 
tuous or sentimental feelings, ap. 
pear to have been the real attributes 
of those extraordinary, but not re. 
spectable names that continued for 
three years to keep all Europe in 
unceasing alarms ; that made kings 
rembie on their thrones, that pro. 
gressively overcame all their ene. 
mies; that changed the fear of all 
christendom in some of the most ese 
sential respects ; that introduced sys- 
tems which, if through the hand of 
power they may be repressed, will 
never be eradicated; that founded 
in short an epoch, from which may 
be dated events that are only be- 
ginning to unfold themselves, andthe 
ultimate issue of which it is not with- 
in the compass of the profoundest 
politics to ascertain ; but which- will 
probably, if not certainly, be felt 
in the remotest ages to come. 

Such were the men who now 
yielded, for the first time, to their 
antagonists; but these were not the 
rivals, but the supporters of their 
power. To this they were com. 
pelled by the circumstances of the 
times; and they were t.0 wise to 


oppose the irresistible wali of a peo- 
ple 


112] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ple who had been taught to feel 
their strength, and might have ex- 
erteditto their cost. They resign- 
ed, however, only a name that was 
no longer tenable with safety ; but 
they retained the substance of that 
authority they had solong exercised, 
and with their usual dexterity esta- 
blished it upona constitutional basis, 
when they found that no other 
means would secure its existence. 
Conscious at the same time that the 
constitution, which they had been 
obliged to frame, would operate to 
their disadvantage, unless they were 
placed at the head of it, they never 
rested till, by their intrigues and 
machinations, they had found means 
to exclude, from the principal ma- 
nagement of affairs, those men whose 
intentions were to abide with the 
strictest punctuality tothe letter and 
spirit of the new constitution, upon 
whom the eyes of their countrymen 
were fixed, as individuals of unim- 
peached integrity, and who, in the 
midst of those atrocities which they 
could not prevent, had the courage 
to reprobate them, and to keep 
their own characters . unstained. 
These being men precisely the re- 
verse of themselves, they had no 
other method of preserving their 
own consequence with the public, 
than to represent them either as timid 
and fearful to aét a strong and re- 
solute part in the tempestuous scenes 
that had accompanied the formation 
of the republic, or as concealed par- 
tisans of royalism under the mask 
and denomination of moderates, 
They had even the insolence to brand 
them withthe appellation ofChouans, 
the most odious of all those who op- 
posed the revolution, on account of 
the barbarities and depredations 
with which they disgraced the cause 
they had espoused, ang rendered 


many who were not disinclined to 
favour it, suspicious that, should it 
obtain the upper hand, it would, 
under another name, renew the 
reign of terrorism, and fill France 
with proscriptions and massacres. 
These surmises against the Chouans, 
and their abettors, being founded ort 
facts that could not be denied, ope- 
rated powerfully against the roy- 
alists in general, sand made people 
apprehensive that were they to suc- 
ceed in their indefatigable attempts 


‘to crush the republican party, they 


would not make a more moderate 
use of their success than these had 
done. Hence multitudes, dreading 
the repetition of the horrors they had 
witnessed, were cordially willing to 
acquiesce in the government now 
established ; and viewed not only 
with disapprobation, but with ab- 
horrence, every endeavour that was 
made to overturn it, as tending ne- 
cessarily to create new confusions, 
and replunge the nation into those 
miseries from which it was gradually 
emerging. 

Could the predominant party 
have effected their intention te 
ruin, in the public Ricem, those 
men who had so spiritedly opposed 
their attempt to. annul the new con- 
stitution, they would have been un- 
controlled masters of the new sys. 
tem. But, happily for the nation, 
its opinion of those men was so 
strongly, as well as so justly, settled 
in their favour, that small as their 
number was in the new legislature, 
its weight was such as to form ne 
inconsiderable counterpoise to the 
great majority of worthless and pro- 
fligate men it had to oppose. The 
respect of the public for these men 
had been testified in the most mortj- 
fying manner for their antagonists. 
Thedifferent departments vied with 

each 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


each other which should have the 
honour of being represented by 
them. Hence it happened how- 
ever, that as each ot them could 
only take his seat for one, and yet 
had been elected by many, the con- 
vention, conformably to the decrees 
carried by that party, which was: 
thereby to become the majority in 
the legislative body, had a farther 
opportunity of adding to its superio. 
rity, by supplying those departments 
for which they had not made their 
option, with members of its own 
choosing. This was an advantage 
which it seems they had well fore- 
seen, when they passed that decree, 
by which the convention should be 
empowered to nominate to the de- 
ficiencies occasioned by the defaults’ 
in the departments ’of not electing a 
sufficient number. But instead of 
a majority of members, the party 
which now atied in opposition to 
that which was superior in numbers, 
counted the major part of the na- 
tion on its side, and thus felt a con- 
“sequence that emboldened it to en- 
ter the lists, unappalled at the mul- 
4itude it would have to encounter. 
| It ought not, however, to be for- 
gotten, that much of the rancour 
that aétuated these opposite parties 
was owing to the refusal of the one 
tocoalesce with the other. Advances 
of reconciliation had been made, 
‘by the chiefs of the predominant 
‘faGtion, with the heads of the mo- 
derate party. As those advances 
were prompted by interest, they 
may justly be presumed to have been 
sincere, Those who made them 
were conscious that their conduct 
had long been odious to the nation, 
Which had always considered them 
as the coadjutors of Roberspierre, 
and imputed their defection from 
him, not so much to their aversion 


* You, XXXVII. 


to his measures, as to the necessity 
of preventing the 
they either knew, or suspeéted he 
had formed against them. To save 
their own lives they had rescued the. 
nation from his tyranny : but their 
subsequent conduct had not suffi- 
ciently proyed their abhorrence of 
his measures; and the terrorists had 
always viewed them in the light of 
patrons, and testified a marked rea. 
diness to be subservient to them: In 
the late cohtest with the metropolis 
the reciprocal confidence subsisting 
between them and the terrorists had 
been too strongly evinced, to suffer 
any doubt that they were intimately 
connected, and that they would 
stand by each other whenever the 


one or the other was in danger, 


Such being the relative situation of 
the prevailing faction in the conven. 
tion, and of the great body of the 
terrorists, the heads of the mo- 
derates disdained a!l connexion with 
that party, looking upon them as 
men of blood, who would not scru- 
ple to imitate their former leader, 
Roberspierre, if they could doit with 
safety ; and who had, in faa, imi- 
tated him in their conduct towards 
the Parisians, and were preparing 
to imitate him still farther, by that 
despotic commission which was to 
have invested five of them with the 
whole authority of the state. Tal. 
lien, Legendre, and Freron, were 
the prine‘pals of this party. They 
were undoubtedly men of strong 
parts and great resolution: their 
influence was extensive, and those 
who were personally attached to 
them, were also men of known abi- 
lities and courage. Finding that 
their advances were slighted, and 
that the nation was manifestly in- 
clined to favour their rivals, they 
determined to model the legislative 


[1] body 


Die 


designs which. 


r 


14] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795, 


body, to be eleéted together with 
the new constitution, in such wise, 
as te frustrate the expectations of 
their rivals, that the supreme power 
would devolve into their own hands 
as soon as the people had the dis- 
posal of it. After succeeding in 
this bo!d project, they discovered, 
however, that notwithstanding their 
arts had been ptevalent within the 
walls of the convention, they had 
tompletely failed in that point they 


had next at heart, to conciliate the 
good will of the public, Here they 
met with invincible obstacles. he 
naines of the chief members in the 
minority resounded everv where 
withsuch applause, that theytought 
it prudent to abenden that part of 
their plan, whichhad for iis obje@a 
total exclusiow of their rivals from - 
all the powers and dignities of the 
new constitution, 


CHAR 


. 


; most intricate natcre. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. = [118 


CrA Bay Md, : 


“% 


Meeting of the New Lezislature.—Stre ngth of the predominant Port; —New 


sand great Object afi Ambition among the amr edly oF ay = FS Gf the 
Members of the nex aly -estublished Direéory. — Pomp and Parade of the Di« 
ve Bory —Palicy of ke ping up a Taste for external Splend-ur and Distinisae 
—These hateful in the rigil Republicins.—The Terr rists, cilled nay the 
Society of the Pantheon, resume their primary Desigus.— [he Dire&ory, 
alarmed, yet judge it exp:dient tr court the Favour of ‘the Terrorists, —Res 


. gulations of the Direory, and Contests respecting the public S. ong s of. Paris. 


—The 8 pirit and Temper of the Purisians indicated by these Crntesis; a sea~ 
sanable dma ition. ta the Dire ory «—Deelire of Lerr_rism.—TDhe 1 pit ists, 
ar Society of the Pantheon, suppressed, and the House its: Lf shut up.—The 
Lerrsrists continue toassemble, and give vent to their rages ixsmall Parties. 
—A new Opposition to the Diredtory, more farmidable than the Society of 


? the Pantheon had been.—Redu@ian of the Galli ries in the Hill of the 


Comventisn, to a Space not containing more than Three Hundred SpeBator. rm 
—Uiility of dividing the Legislature into.two independent Badi:1,—Re- 

markable drtifice of vo Junior Council for commanding the App Yytment of 
all the Members of the izweBory.— Establishment of an Lnstituiron in #rance 
Sor the Advantement of Arts and Sciences,—And of Central Schisls. for 
Languages, Literature, and Phalasophys in all the Departments. —Perfc& 
Enjoyment of Rel oe Tolerati.n.— Bigotry and Presumption f the’ Roman 
Catholics. —Checked with Moderatiin by the Directory. —Treatirs of Peace 
Between the French Republic and sther Governments. —Public Mention of 


them hy different St.tes. 


ambition was now to occupy @ scat 
on the directozigl throne... All the 
great leaders of the ruling party 


“HE meeting of the new legisla- 
ture opened a scene of the 
The predo- 


) inant party held the reins of go- 


ernment in-their hands, and enier- 
tained no apprehensions that the 
Other would eyer be able to sup. 
plant them. The people, it was 
true, favoured their rivals; but 


Bhey were supported by that essen- 


tial engine of absolute power, an 
‘army, which they had so artfully 
sien that it was entirely at 

irdevotion. Still, however, they 
‘were agitated by those passions that 

§ accompany men of aspiring 
ispositions, The great object of 


were secretly exerting their interest 
for this purpose; and the public 
were suspended between the hope 
that men of parts and fair character 
would be raiséd:to.this high station, 
and the.féarthat the spirit of faction 

would All it unworthily. Had the 
wishes of the nation been consulted, 
the most eminent of the moderate 
party would undoubredly-havejbeen 
promoted to that dignity, or if wny 
of the others had been admitted: to 
a participation, in order to obviate 
the jealousies and complaints of tac 


be mud 


116} 
‘much partiality to one side, still the 

reponderance of number would 
dave rested with the popular choice. 
But the very reverse happened. Out 
of five direétors, four were of the 
ruling faQion. These were Reubel, 
Latourneur de la Manche, Barras, 
Sieyes, and Lareveiliere Lepaux. 
Reubel was a man of strong, though 
pot shining parts, born in the pro- 
vince of Alsatia, where he exercised 
the profession of the. law, and early 
distinguished himself, by pleading 
the cause of the lower, against the 
upper classes, and braving ministe- 
rial power undeér the old royal go. 
vernment, He had been employed 
“jn some arduous and jntricate affairs 
by the opposition to the court, and 
had always condu¢ted himself with 
an inflexible determination never to 
abandon that party. He now reap- 
ed the réward of his attachment to 
it; no man was more confided in 
by the republicans. He was one 
from principle, and his very man- 
ners displayed an austere simplicity 
that highly recommended hm to 
them. Latourneurdela Manche was 
originally an officer in the army : 
his abilities were moderate; but 
he was of a steady and resolute dis. 
position: firmly and decidedly a 
republican, but averse to severity, 
and an avowed enemy te the violent 
measures pursued by the jacobins 
and terrorists. Barras was one of 
the most singular characters that 
have figured in the revolution, De- 
scended from a very ancicnt and no- 
ble family in Provence, and heir to 
the title of yiscount, he. entered 
young into the army, like most 
young noblemen, during the mo- 
narchy. Throughaseries of adven- 
tures that rendered him peculiarly 
remarkable, he rose into notice, and 
became at last a decided partisan of 


‘ 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


the revolutionists. His invincible 
courage extricated him more than 
once trom very difficuit and dange- 
rous situations. ‘This qualification 
recommended him to ‘he convention 
upon three trying occas‘ons: on the 
27th of July, 1794, when Robers- 
pierre was overthrown; on tre 
2oth of May, this year, when the’ 
insurgeots of the suburb of St. An. 
toine were suppressed; and on the 
sth of October, when the Parisians 
were subdued. His courage and 
conduc on each of these emergen- 
cies were greatly serviceable to the 
convention, and they now thought 
it prudent to place a man in the di- 
rectory, in whose attachment and 
intrepidity they could confide, and 
who, though not possessed of splen- 
did parts, knew how to command 
attention, and make himself feared, 
if not respetted, Sieyes is a name 
better known, perhaps, than that 
of any man in France, since the 
breaking outof therevolution. Bred 
a clereyman, he made a distinguish. 
ed figure in that profession, and 
would probably have risen to the 
first ecclesiastical dignities, had not 
the church been overturned as well . 
asthestate. He stood forth an able 
champion against the seizure of the 
clergy’s revenues, He was, how. 
ever, more conspicuous by the part 
he acted in favour of the revolution. 
From his ideas proceeded the famous 
declaration of the rights of man, and 
many other strong measures of the 
constituent assembly. Hisopinions 
on government have always carriéd 
much influence; yet he has often 
been suspected of indecision on 
these matters. ‘The dexterity,with — 
which he had weathered all the 
storms of the revolution, wherein so 
many able men have been wrecked, - 
subjected him to the suspicion of 
having | 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


having more pliancy than fortitude, 
and of being rather a time server* ; 
but by those who had observed him 
More carrowly,~he was reputed 
more cautious than timid, and seem- 
ed less desirous of life itself, than 
anxious to see in what manner those 
stependous events would terminate, 
‘in which he bore so considerable a 
“share. He was by the rigid repub- 
Jicans considered as a concealed 
royalist; but the stern and decisive 
_ manner in-which he veted for the 
king’s death i!l agrees with such a 
suspicion. Though fond of influ- 
etice, and not easily foiled in his 


| pretensions and efforts to prescribe 


in-matters of opinion, yet he studi- 
ously avoided ostensibility, and left 
to others the danger, as well as the 
honour, of acting an open and ex. 
plicit part; his known abilfties 
made him a valuable acquisition to 
his party, but as he chose to guide 
unseen he never appeared as a 
leader; and his absence from the 
field of a¢tion, on many important 
occasions, had thrown a stigma of 
uncertainty upon his character, 
which he farther confirmed by re- 


fusing to accept of the high dignity” 


now conferred upon him. This 
refusai occasioned some perplexity. 
‘Though Sieyes could not be charge 
with the various enormities that 
either preceded or followed the 
king’s death, yet his unequivocal 


_ assent to this deed, and his connec- 


tions with that sanguinary faction, 
_ styled the mountain, sufficiently re- 
commended him to the jacobins and 
‘terrorists, as a man whose inclina- 
tion, as well as extraordinary ta- 
ents, fitted him for the highest 
trusts in their power toconfer. His 


one of their rivals. 


f217 


place, after some intrigues and dif. 
ficulties, was supplied by Carnot, 
a man of whose capacity. the most 
brilliant proofs had appeared in the 
arrangement and dire¢tion of mili- 
tary affairs, during the three pres 
ceding campaigns. To him was 
originally attributed the constant 
success that attended the. arms of 
the republic. He was in the cas 
binet. what the celebrated Folard 
had been in the field; an oracle to 
all the generals that consulted him, 
and the aethor of those multifarious 
plans, in executing which they rose 
themselves to such celebrity: though 
bred in the army, and, in the pro- 
gress of the revolution, necessarily 
connected with Roberspierre, in the 
time of his exaltation, yet he was 
wholly guiltless of his harbarities, 
and was only, known by his utility 


These four members of the dis 
reftory were avowedly of the ruling 
party, which would willingly have 
added another out of their own 
body; but the fear of disobliging 
the majority of the nation, by con» 
fining these honours entirely to 
themselves, induced them to remit 
their partiality, and to allow a par« 
ticipation in the supreme power to 
The ian thus 
distinguished was Larevelliere Le. 
paux. He was professionally a law« 
yer, yeteminent not only forhis parts, 
but his-integrity ; he was remark- 
able for the plainness of his man- 
ners, and his aversion to intrigue; 
his disposition was calm and studi- 
ous, and he had cultivated lJitera- 
ture with uncommon success+ he 


of Bertrand de Moleville affirms, that Sieyes was needy and desirous of coming over 


the side of the court,in 1789, on the condition of his being appointed to a rich 


i / 


“abbacy; amatter which was in agitation, but neglected by the archbishop of Seas. 


[13 had 


{1@]) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


had been eleGted to 2 seat in the 
convention entirely from the ex. 
éellence of his charatter ; and had 
aéted invariably from principle. 
During the tyranny cf Roberspierre, 
he was proscribed with the adhe. 
rents of the Gironde party, to which 
he remained firmly atteched ; and pis 
life was perpetually in danger. He 
would have declined the honour 
proffered hin ; and he accepted it 
merely in compliance with the 
earnest solicitations of the worthiest 
men in the minority. 

There was 2 men who did not 
view these individuals soh'ghly pro. 
moted without secret indignation ; 
and who thought himself gréarly 
neglected by his party, in not seating 
him in the directory. ‘his was the 
famous Tallien, who had acted so 
conspicuous a fart ever since the 
abolition cf monarchy, asd had 
signalized his courage in effe€ing 
the downfall of Roberspierre, ata 
time when few men had the bo d. 
pess persenal'y to eaccuner him, 
Ve was, in fact, at the head of the 
reling party ; but he hed a number 
of sceret encm es, who didnot wish 
to sec him so much exalted. His 
abilities and Kis spimt were une 
questionable, bai though he had so 
materially coniributed to destroy 
Robersnicrre, he had acted with 
him, ‘and was supposed te have 
abetted his conduct ui! he was com. 
pelled ro accelerate -h’s des:ruction 
to save himse’f. | fig- was in high 
favour with che terrorists, notwith- 
standing that he had endeavoured 
to ingratiate himself with the mo. 
derates; but ke was alwoys suse 
pected by them; and he verified 
their susvicions by joining with their 
adversaries against the unhappy Pa- 
risians, on the fifth of October, in 
support of the decree ior a re-clec. 


tion of two-thirds of the conven- 
tion. His ambitious views were 
rendered manifest by the part he 
openly took in favour of that com- 
mission of five, which was to super- 
scde the intended constitution, 
and to engross the whole governs 
ment. Ot thit commission he had 
the address to procure himself to be 
nominated a member; and he had 
also the audacity to load with in- 
vectives persons’ of irreproachable 
charatter in the convention, and 
to insinuate, that without such a 
commission the country. was not 
safe. But his behaviour on this 
oce:sion had, it seems, exasperated 
both the parties. When the mas 
jority of the convention became; 
through dint cf zrgument, con. 
vinced of the scandalous impropriety 
of thatcommission, Tallien lost at 
once almost all his influence; and, 
instead of a place im the directory, 
saw himself excluded from the hope” 
of obtaining any post of importance, 
To this it may he added, that he 
was thought to have hada hand in 
the massacres of September, 1792, 
and in those of La Vendée. All 
these considerations operated so 
much to bis disadvantage, that, 
though he had been occasionally a 
useful agent to the republic, he had 
aecuired no confidence nor esteem, 
and was viewed as a man governed 


hy no other principles. than those of ~ 


the most iniquitous ambition. — 
‘There were others of his party 
no less aspiring than himself; but 
muvh the same objettions militated 
aga‘nst them. It appeared, in'truth, 
that the ruling party was inclined 
father to establishits principles, than 
to invest its chiefs with much av. 


thority. ‘heir personal dispositions ~ 


were too much dreaded, and top — 
weil known, to command implicit 


reliance 


” 


4 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


teliance on the sclf-denying princi- 
ples they now soc:refully professed. 
For this reason it was judged more 
consistent with the public peace and 
security; to fix them in secondary 
employments, than to constitute 
them the principal personages in 
the republic. Louvet, Legendre, 
Freron, Cambaceres, to mention no 
others, were individuals who an- 
swered exactly thisdescription, Full 
of courage aid parts, but no less of 
artifice and tergiversation, they had 
on several occasions acted undaunt- 
ediy and faithfully for the service 
of the state; but they had also 
exhibited so much unsreadiness in 
their principles, and such variations 
in their conduét, that they had tor- 
feited that confidence which can 
only be secured by an unquestion< 
able stability in both. : 
The members of ihe directory 
Were installed in their high offices 
With great pomp. Guards and all 
the magnificence cf royalty were an- 
nexed to them; and their appearance 
in public, and upon days of aadi- 
ence, was ina styleof grandeur, nos 
thing differing from that of the so- 
vereigns of Europe. To a great 
number of people this was very ac- 
ceptable; it retraced the former 
splendour of the monarghy, and ens 
couraged those arts that conduce to 
the elegance of social life. It also 
roved an incentive to those am- 
itious spirits, whose chief motive 
for exerting their abilities is the 
prospect of rising to such personal 
distin¢tions as may point them out 
to the gaze of the multitude; and 
the number of these is much more 
considerable -in France than, ap- 
eyenly: in any other country of 
arope. During the regal govern- 
ment, a prodigious proportion of 
the military had no other reward to 


-[iig 


expect for their services than ex. 
ternal decoration ; and such was the 
temper ofthe French, that the highest 
value was set upon them, and they 
were.preferred to more substantial 
recompense. To preserve such a 
spirit, appeared worthy of con. 
sideration to those who framed the 
new constitution; but there were 
others who professed an utter dis. 
like to what they called the relics 
of royalty; they viewed them as 
incentives and temptations torestore 
it, and would willingly have banish. 
ed all formalities from the exercise 
of government, and have stripped 
it of every appendage that’ was 
not indispensably requisite for the 
transaCtion of business. These were 
the rigid republicans, who were ges 
nerally men of austere manners, foes 
to expensive gaieties, and desirous 
to reduce both public and private 
life to the rules of the plainest sim+ 
plicity; through their influence, 
titles had been abolished, and the 
forms of social intercourse divested 
of complimentary phrases ;_ no dis. 
tin@tions remained but those of pub. 
lic funGtions, and even to those ng 
epithets were added; the official 
appellation was deemed sufficient, 
and to covet more was reputed the 
mark of a vain and frivolous dispo- 
sition. To these men the superb 
ceremonial that encompassed the 
directory wasextremely odious, and 
they laboured ail in their power to 
depreciate it in the estjmation of 
the public. The maxims they had 
so zealously inculcated came now 
to their aid: baving for years ins 
veighed against the luxurious pomp 
of courts, they had taught the 
people to look upon it as the trap- 
pings of vanity, purchased at the 
expence of the community. In pury 
suance of these maxims, their pro- 

{1 4] selites 


1200] ANNUAL-RE 


selytes loudly disapproved of all 
ostentation in the functionaries of 
the state, who were bound, io their 
opinion, to set the example in plain- 
ness of living, and to avoid all spe- 
cies of gaudiness in their appear- 
ance, especially as-it could not be 
indulged without putting the public 
to expence, which, in the present 
_ circumstances of the republic, would 
be unpardonable in its principal re. 
presentatives, who ought, in the 
spirit of true republicanism, to glory 
in the contempt of superfluit‘es, and 
be the first to inculcate bo.h the 
lessons and the practice of frugality. 
‘These maxims had been embraced 
by multitudes, particularly of the 
lower sort, who complained in the 
bitterest terms of the costliness of 
the new government. Their dis- 
contents on this head were not to 
be slighted; they constituted that 
* formidable mass which had over- 
turned the monarchy, and had over- 
awed those forms of government 
that had been ere@ed on its ruins. 
it was with difficulty their repeated 
insurrections had been suppressed ; : 
and, though of late kept in some 
subjettion, they were ready at a 
moment’s warning to break loose 
on the first opportunity. ‘The pe- 
riod was extremely critical, Though 
the new constitution met with the 
general approkation, it was chiefly 
ot that class of society which was 
inclined to peace, and would, for 
the sake of a quiet life, have sub- 
mitted to almost any system that 
seemed likely to procure it; but 
the violent in all parts cf the coun- 
try were numerous, and were still 
as obstinately wedded io their own 
system as ever; they began to re- 
new their meetings and their ac- 
tivity. An objeét on which their 
attention wes princivally turned, 


Saray Fy 


1 - 
GISTER, 1705. 
was the liberation of those of their 
party who were still detained in 
prison, in consequence of the two 
insurrections in the month of April 
and May ; to effect this deliverance 
had been the great aim of those in 
the convention, who'had procured 
the passing of an act of general am. 
nesty ; and who were themselves 
strongly, though not avowedly, cen- 
netted with ‘that’ party. Nothing 
could more effectually prove this 
connexion, than the formal ex- 
ception; from this amnesty, of the 
Parisian insurgents, on the fifth of 
Otober. The real or pretended 
dread of these being aétuated by 
the agents of royalism, prevented 
the moderate party from succeeding 
in their endeavours to procure their 
inclusionin thisa¢t. ‘Lhus the ter. 
rorists were again released, and re- 
assumed immediately their primary 
desizns in their fullestextent. They 
met in large numbers, and held con. 
sultationsevidently hostile tothe new 
constitution. ‘lheir intentions were 
clearly tosubvert it, and restore the 
revolutionary government, asitstood 
under Roberspierre, of whom they 
scrupled not to speak m terms of 
applause. Their audacity increased 
to such a degree, that they now 
formally assembled in a house se- 
le¢ted for that purpose, and situated 
in ore of the most public places 
in Paris. As it was contigusus to 
the Pantheon, those who held their 
meetings in that house were called 
the seciety of the Pantheon. Con. 
fiding in their powerful friends, in 
the new legislature, they now ven- 
tured tc resume their long-prohibit- 
ed correspondence with their pro- 
vincial a sociates; which, however, 
was carried on with so much art, 
as to appear, to is A cect 
legal. , 

Alarmed 


HISTORY OF EUROPE.’ 


Aljarmed at the manifest danger 
that was threatened by this combi. 
nation of the mountain. party and 
the terrorists or jacobins, for their 
principles were tie same, the di. 
rectory was much perplexed in 
what manner to a&t. The council 
of juniors, or five hundred, patro- 


‘nized this party too strongly to dis 


oblige it: and the majority of the 
directors owed their seats to its+ 
friends in the legislature. They 
thought it, for these reasons, the sur- 
st policy to conciliate the terrorist 


faktion, by placing its favourites and 


chief adherents in the principal em- 
ployments. . It was not, however, 


without dread of the consequences, 


that the public now saw the release, 
from their imprisonment, of those 
members of the convention who had 


sided with the insurgents, in’ the © 
-month of May, and their promotion 


to places of trust. It wasscill with 
more terror they beheld the mem. 


bers of the revolutionary commit. 


tees throughout France not only de. 
liyered from confinement, but dis- 
tinguishedby preterments. Those, 
however, who coolly investigated 
the proceedings of the direttory, 
thought they perceived in them true 
and sound policy. It was their bu- 
siness to keep all parties in‘a due 
equipoise, and, at the same time, 
to obviate a!l suspicion that they in- 
clined toroyalism. The royalists had 
cerainly formed sanguine hopes, 
that the i!l treatment of the Parisi- 
ans would induce these to make a 
common cause with them. In this 
expectation they were secretly en- 
deavouring to rally their scattered 


force, in order to makea fresh at- 


tempt in that quarter, which now 
seemed the best calculated for such 
an intent. ‘This was evidently the 
Metropolis, where the resentments 


<ptay 


of the most reputable: part of the 
inhabitants Hamed:high, on, account 
of the severity they had, and still 
experienced from the legislature, 
and the subjectioa they felt theme 
selves under to the ignobler classes, 
from whose licentiousness they had 
so lately proteéted the convention. 
They were equally indignant at the 
ingratitude of the one, and the in- 
solence of the others, and doubte 
less wouid have embraced the océa- 
sion of testifying their antipathy to 
both. But the royalists were un- 
founded, in presuming that they 
would have gratified their revenge 
at the expence of their principles. 
The Parisians were in general the 
most attached, of any of the French, 
to a commonwealth, and, from 
that very principle, had so violent. 
ly opposed the power usurped by 
the convention, 2gainst the spirit 
of the constitution they had adopt. 
ed. The dire€tory, conscious of 
the dissatisfaction of the capital at 
the new legislature, determined, 
for that reason, to trust only tothat 
portion of the inhabitants which 
had latterly stood by the convey. 
tion; and those were the terrorists. 
They were now taken into favour 
by the governing party, as the only 
men that would boldly push for- 
ward every measure taken up by 
their friends in the legislature, and 
who might, through this favourable 
usage of them, be prevailed upon 
to drop their own designs, and ac. 
quiesee in the present settlement of 
affairs. 
But the terrorists were so violent-: 
ly attached to their persecuting 
maxims, that no consideration could 
reclaim them. Nay, proud of the 
superiority they now possessed over 
their disarmed antagonists, they pa. 
raded the places of public resort, and 
lorded 


Jorded it over the better sort of ihe 
eitizens, who were compelled, from 
their helpless situation, to put up 
with perpetuat indignities. In 
compliance with the desire of the, 
ruling faGion, and possibly from 
the motive of preventing disturbs 
ance, the direftory prohibited the 
fzrous song called, Le Réveil du 
Peuple, the awakening of the peo- 
pk, from being sung at the public 
theatres. Fbis song had been exe 
tremely popular ever since the 
downfal of Roberspierre. It was 
by the generality of people, the 
Parisians in particular, called the 
true song of liberty. It breathed 
an abherrence at every species of 
barbarity and oppression ; bur, be- 
ing particularly levelled at his ry- 
ranny, the party of whom he had 
been the head, procured its sup- 
pression. This was partly done 
out of revenge to the Parisians, 
who, while preparing to resist the 
illegal decrees of the late conven- 
“*" tion, in the affair cf the re-cleCtions, 
“were cotstantly used to sing that 
‘song in all their meetings. ‘Lhree 
other songs were substituted in its 
stead, all formerly very popular ; 
but as they were favourites of the 
jacobins and terrorists, the hatred 
borne to them extended to their 
very songs; and whenever any of 
these were sung, at any public place, 
by the jacobins, the Parisians im- 
mediately followed them with the 
Réveil du Pesple. The jacobins 
upbraided them for refusing to join 
in those three songs; but the Pa. 
Frisians answered, that they had 
been so often sung on the most ex. 
ecrablé occasions, that to join with 
them would seem to approve the 
atrocious deeds which those songs 
had beer. made to accompany. The 
dire@teria! prohibition having. de. 


‘ 


“ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


barred the Parisians from the useé of 
their own song, they were now 
¢onstra ‘ned to listen with silent in- 
dignation at those of the iacobins : 
but as various passages of those 
songs were peculiarly levelled at 
tyranay, there the Parisians loudly 
united their voices with those of 
their antagonisis, in order to shew 
how deeply they felt the tyrannical 
silence imposed upon them. ‘This 
contest lasted a few weeks, when 
the direCtory, finding the Parisians 
obstinate in refusing to bear a part 
in those songs, thought it prudent 
to revoke their orders, and permit 
them td sing theirown. : 

As occurrences, apparently of 
little importance, frequently, how- 
ever, indicate the opinions and sen. 
timents of men, this behaviour of 
the people of the metropolis proved 
a salutary warning to the directory, 
not to dim at such an extension of 
their authority, as by being im. 
pratticable, might at once subject 
them to- ridicule and render them 
odious. It also admonished them 
of the great majority of those who 
disapproved of the prineipies of the 
terrorist faction, and induced them 
to put 2 stop to, the excesses come 
mitted in various departments, by 
the commissioners they had aps 
pointed for the execution of their 
measures. Among these were two 


men who had imprudently been — 


nominated by the late convention, 
its executive agents at Lyans, and 
other departments of the highest 
importance; the city of Lyons, 
the greatest mart of the inland 
trade of France, had suffered dread. 
fully two years before, in its ex- 
ertions for the royal cause; bat was 
beginning to recover its losses, when 
it was unhappily given up to the 
management of Reverchon, a no- 

torlous 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


rious terrorist, whose conda@ was 
so violent, and who shewed him. 
self so inexorable to tnose whom he 
Jooked upon as enemies to the re. 
public, that the inhabitants, fear. 
ing for their safety, abandoned the 
City; as they were chiefly persons 
engaged in business and manufac- 
“tures, the injury sustained by their 
desertion was heavily feit, and oc. 


casioned such complaints, that the, 


directory, to prevent farther mis= 
chief, immediately recalled him. 
The other was the celebrated 
Freron, a man of ietters and cone 
siderable parts, but of a turbulent 
and wavering disposition, He be. 
gan his career by acting a resolute 
and open part for the jacobin fac- 
tion, of which he continued a 
noted favourite, until the destruc. 
tion of Roberspierre ; in which, trom 
motives common to others beside 
himself, that of sclf-preservation, 
he found it expedient to concur. 
He now changed his principles, 
and in a periodical publication, 
which had a great run, attacked 
the terrorists so effectually, that, for 
a time, they hardly durst appear in 
Paris, where all the young men 
of reputable condition, in the vari- 
ous seCtions, made it their business 
to Joad them with scorn and deri- 
sion, and. to point them out as 
wbjeéts of execration. His ambi- 
tion, nevertheless, was such, - that 
finding no other means to gratity 
it, after the terrorists hadagain ob. 
tained the superiority, than by res 
turning to that party, he joined it; 
and, in consideration of his abili. 
ties, was appointed by the conven- 
tion, which now was wholly guid- 
ed by its influence, a delegate to 
the departments situated ‘in the 
_ gountry formerly called Provence. 
Here he assumed so much state, 


{123 


and exercised such improper autho- 
rity, that he soon. became extreme- 
ly odious; he dismissed from the'r 
official employments those who held 
them by popuiar eleCion, and filled 
them with individuals of the ter- 
rorist party, whom he delivered from 
prison tor the very purpose of do- 
mineering over those who detested 
them. It has been alleged, in vin. 
dication of his conduct, that the 
departments, over which he had 
been sent to preside, were so much 
under the influence of the royalists 
and ecclesiasties, who had insinus 
ated themselves clandestinély inte 
those -parts, that they could no 
longer be considered as taithful sub. 
jects to the state, and were almost oe 
in a state of rebeilion; but his pros 
ceedings were so vidlent, and tend- 
ed so little to reconcile them, that 
the dife&ory recalled him, and 
sharply reprimanded him for the ilf 
use he had made of the power with 
which he had been invested. 

Ta order, at thesametime, to con» 
vince the public, that they were 
averse to unnecessary severities, they 
sent an address to, the departments 
which had been aggrieved, with 
solemn assurances of impartial jus- 
tice in the administration of their 
concerns. ‘This public aét of con- 
ciliarion’ removed in a great mea~ 
sure the apprehensions that had 
been emtertained from the direc= 
tory. ‘The enemies to the new 
constitution had given out, that it 
would prove as despotic and op-« 
pressive a tribunal as any that had 
preceded it, in the very worst pe« 
riods of the revolution: this sur. 
mise originated principally from= 
the royal party. ThedireGtory saw 


the necessity of counteracting ig, 
not only by words, but by deeds, 


and resolved, that henceforth no 
Causes 


14} ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


causes of complaint against their 
exercise of power should be afford- 
ed to those who were endeavouring 
to misrepresent it, to the intent of 
casting. a stigma upen the new sys- 
tem of government. This fortu- 
nite determination led them gradu- 
ally to lay aside the maxims of the 
terrorists. Many of the heads of 
that party, who were now in office, 
perceived also the propriety of re- 
laxing from them, if they meant to 
preserve the tranquillity of the pub- 
lic, and secure its acquiescence in 
the power .which they were con- 
scious had not heen obtained by 
them through justifiable means. 
Thus terrorism seemed to dectine of 
itself, and merely from the impraéti- 
eability of reconciling it with the 
measures necessary for the support 
and credit of the new mode of go- 
¥ernment. 

Still, however, the society of 
the Pantheon subsisted. Itwas, in 
faét, the jacobin society revived; 
it acted precisely on the same gene- 
ral plan, and was advancing, by 
rapid strides. towards the same ends. 
The directory were sensible of the 
consequences that must infallibly 
result from the sufferance of so 
dangerous an assembly ; happily 
‘for them, the public viewed this 
assembly in the same light; the 
remembrance of the many evils oc- 
‘easioned by the jacobin clzb dwelt 
forcibly in every mind that was in- 
elined to a renewal of them. The 
directory judiciously seized the cri- 
tical moment of general disappro- 
bation of this meeting. It issued an 
order, by which it was formally sup- 
pressed, and the house itself shut 
up, with a severe prohibition to 
open it any more for the purpose of 

* such an assembly. 


This was the first measure of 
J 


great importance adopted by the 
direftory: it established, at once, 
their charaéter for strength and de- 
cision, and shewed they were firm- 
ly cererm'ned to permit ne compe- 
tition with the supreme power of 
the state. This proved, at the’same 
time, a no less severe than unex. 
pected blow to the terrorist faction, 
who had promised themselves the 


paramount direCtion of affairs, in 


the same manner in which it had 
formerly been exercised by the jaco- 
bins. No invectives were spared 
to the authors of this bold measure; 
but the public applauded it loudly, 
as an a¢tion of men who had there- 
by shewn themselves worthy of 
the great honours and powers to 
which they had been exalted. 
‘The members of the suppressed 
society were asked, by what au- 
thority they pretended to controul 
a government established by the 
unanimous consent of the nation? 
they were told to look back to the 
confusions that arose from admit. 
ting of two governments in the 
state. These reasonings, which 
were evidently founded on truth, 
did not, however, silence the mem. 
hers of this society; though’ de- 
barred. from the opportunity of 
meeting in large numbers, they 
still continued to asscciate in smal- 
ler, and here they gave full vent 
to the "rage they felt, at being de- 
prived of the expetations they 
had formed, of treading in the 
steps of their jacobin predecessors, 
and of enjoying, under another 
name, the very same authority. — 
In default of the opposition, 
which the terrorist party had form- 
ed against the directory, in the so. 
ciety which these had the cou. 
rage and good fortune to suppress, 
another subsisted of a much. more 
serious: 


serious nature. This was an as- 
sembly of those members of the 
legisluture that had lately been of 
the convention. The design of 
this meeting was previously to 
agree what measures to propose, 
and in what manner to carry them 
through the two houses, or coun. 
cils, as they were denominated. 
This meeting now became the _re- 
~ceptacle of ail the discontented and 
disappointed members of the le- 
gislative body ; end being compos- 
ed of the most numerous part of 
the legislature, occasioned much 
perplexity to the directory, which, 
they plainly perceived, was inclin- 
ed to moderate measures, and more 
desirous to please the public than 
to gratify any partys The chief 
agents and corrduétors of this meet- 
ing were exactly those who had go- 
verned the late convention. ‘Lhe 
head of tho moderate party, and the 
new-elected third, never apppeared 
in this meeting, which they justly 
looked upon as an assem)lage of fac- 
tious men, who met together to 
concert how to perpetuate the 
principles of their party, and en- 
force the practice of them. As the 
publications daily coming out were 
not favourable to them, and ma- 
nifested a decided predilection for 
the moderate party and the new 
third, this meeting came to a re. 
‘solution to curtail the liberty of 
the press, by means that should 
place it under their own dire€tion. 
But here a division took place in 
the meeting itself. This liberty 
was so clearly the great bulwark of 
all other liberty, that when the 
motion to shackle it was brought 
forward, not only the moderates 
| 

. 


and the new third strenuously op. 
posed it, but when the votes were 
collefted, a majority of the whole 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


[125 


legislature was found to ‘concur 
with them. 

This was a matter of no small 
surprize to the faction, that had 
hitherto so constantly carried every 
question it had thought proper to 
propose; but it was a subje@ of 
the highest satisfation to the pub- 
lic at large. It shewed that the 
spirit of terrorism was evaporating 
even among its former abertors, 
and that upon questions of essen. 
tial importance, a-majority for jast 
and reasonable measures might be 
expected. What rendered this 
matter the more remarkable, the 
restriction was proposed by two 
public writers, Chenier and Loa. 
vet, both, the first especially, men 
of abilities. Private rancour, how- 
ever, against persons who had 
taken up the pen in opposition to 
them, was well known to have 
prompted them, and it was chiefly 
for that reason their proposal met 
with a negative. 

This precedent, in the mean 
time, opened an agreeable pros. 
pect to the nation. The dread of 
the terrorists began to abate, and 
people flattered themselves, that, 
between the dire€tory and the 
moderates, an union of sentiments 
would be formed, of sufficient 
weight to counterpoise that odious 
faction, and to prevent its res 
gaining that ascendancy of which 
it_ appeared so desirous, doubtless, 
in the general opinion, for the very 
worst purposes, But the faction 
itself, looking upon this discomfi- 
ture as of little importance, and 
affecting only a couple of indivi. 
duals, for whom they entertained 
but a small regard, persisted bold. 
ly in its endeavours to domineer 
over their opponents in the legis. 
lative body, and to frustate the 

spirited 


126] 


spirited and incessant efforts of these 

to resist their tyranny. Conseious 
that these opponents were viewed 
by the nation as its only true re. 
presentatives, and themselves as in- 
truders, they laboured to asperse 
them as faise to the republican.cause, 
and eleéted for that reason by its 
enemies ; but the injurious epithets 
they bestowed upon the moderate 
party, being proofless, fell to the 
ground, while the charge of des. 
potism and usurpation were retorted 
vpon them with undeniable pro- 
priety. 

Nor were the moderates defi. 
cient in counteraGing their enenmes 
by the same methods that were used 
by these to effect their purposes. 
The crowds that resorted to the 
galleries, consisted usually of those 
classes remarkable for their ferocity 
and violence. They were naturally 
the partisans of the terrorists, aad 
seldom failed to support them by 
clamours and vociferations levelled 
at their oppo-ers. The direttory, 
consulting its own dignity, and 
strongly abetted as well as applaud. 
ed by the moderate party, deprived 
their antagonists of these long-tried 
and staunch auxiliarjes, by reducing 
the galleries for the admission of 
speftators to a space not containing 
more than three hundred. 

Experience also soon proved the 
utility of dividing the legislature 
into separate and independent dbo- 
dies. The upper house, or council 
of elders, consisting of two hundred 
and fifty members, soon conceived 
ideas of their importance, that Ied 
them to act with a reserve and de. 
liberation suitable to the superiority 
assigned to them. The lower house, 
er council of five hundred, enter- 
tained so just a sense of their dis. 
cretion, that at the very outset, as 


v 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


it were, of the new constitution, 
not daring to crust them witha fair 
and reasonable choice of persons 
for the directory ; and, being deter- 
Mined to have that option them- 
selves, they contrived, by a remark. 
able artifice, to confine them to the 
choice of five out of six. The 
method of electing the direttory, 
ag prescribed by the constitution, 
was thateach member of the lower 
house should give in the names of 
Rfty persons ; out of the numbers 


thus named, those fifty who had, on 


scrutiny, most voters, were notified 
by a written list te the council of 
ancients ; who, out of these fifty, 
nominated, by electien, the five di, 
rectors. The majority in the lower 
house, influenced by theiz rulers, 
gave in the names of six persons 
whom these were desirous to pro. 
mote, adding to them forty-four 
ether names of persons so insignifi, 
cant end obscure, that the council 
of ancients could not stoap to pay 
them attention, and were in fact 
restrained to ithe choice of six; but 
this artifice, mean as it was, evinced 
the opinion of the council of five 
hundred, and that they considered 
the council of ancients as too re. 
gardful of their own consequence 
to follow incensiderately the im. 
pulse of the lower house, and to 
become obsequiously the passive Ine 
struments of any party. 

This was farther confirmed by 
the rejeftion of a decree, passed in 
the council of five hundred, by 
witich the parents of emigrants 
were, during the life of these, to 
divide their property with the na- 
tion, The injusticeand inhumanity 
of this decree struck so forcibly the 
house of elders, that they refused 
their assent, to the great satisfaQion 
not only of the pcrsons eener 

at 


i 


' in theyswere not deceived. 


: HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


but of the public, which now looked 
up to the council of ancients as an 
effetual check on the inconsiderate 
precipitation with’ which the other 
council seeined liable to adopt the 
proposals of its leaders, and to be 
actuated by fection. The modera- 
tion displayed on several occasions 
of this nature by the council of 
elders, and the .impartiality inva- 
riably observed by the directory, in 
its condu& towards all parties, pro- 
cured them such attachment and 
respect, that the ruling members in 
the lower house began to apprehend 
that their credit would thereby suf. 
fer a considerable diminution: here- 
The 
popular vo:ce of applause was ma- 
nifestly in favoar of the two former 
branches of the government; and 
the most discerning part of the pub- 
lic did not hesitate to affirm, that 
unless the Jower house regulated 
its condué@t by other maxims than 
_ those with which it had begun, it 
_ would lose all esteem and confi- 
dence, and the people no longer 
' leok upon them as their protec- 
_ tors but their tyrants, and transfer 
_ their affe@tion, and possibly their 


eee 


allegiance, to’ those who by their 


_ humanity and discretion had shewn 


_ them to be more deserving of it. 


Discourses and surmises of this kind 
were not unfrequent; they pro- 
_ duced a good effect: the principal 
members of the council of five 
hundred, who were men of too 
_ much perception not to foresee the 
‘@endency of these ideas, saw the 
“Mecessity of removing their causes, 
dy an alteration of the system that 
_ exposed them to so much censure, 
_ Thus by degrees the reign of terror 
‘subsided, and the nation cast off that 
gloom which continual apprehen- 
sions had introduced, 


[127 


While these flattering prospects 
of better days were reviving the 
spirits of the public, the directory 
resolved to signalize their entrance 
into power, and the settlement of 
the new constitution, by one of those 
establishments that give a durable 
fame to their founders, by being 
calculated for national honour and 
uiility, This was, the celebrated ins 
stitution for the progréss and en- 
coursgement of arts and sciences. 
It consisted of one hundred and 
forty-four members, among whom 
were some of the most illustrious 
names in Frarce, and indeed in 
Europe. Not to appear inferior in 
the respect which Lewis XIV. had 
paid to men of eminence in these 
departments, by assigning them a 
place in his palace, the directory 
gave orders that they should be put 
In possession of apartments in the 
Louvre, formerly the royal resi. 
dences of the kings of France; 
they were installed with great so. 
lemnity in the ancient hallof the 
academy of sciences. Inorder, at 
the same time, to procure a general 
diffusion of learning, in every part 
of the republic, a central school or 
college was established, in each de- 
partment, for the instra@tion of 
youth, in languages, polite litera- 


ture, and philosophy. The professors 


were allowed ample salaries, but to 
accept of no gratification from their 
scholars, whose education was to be 
entirely gratuitous, Thus, from the 
highest to the lowest classes of so« 
ciety, a communication was formed, 
during their early years, on a foot. 
ing of perfect equality, and wherein 
no sort of distin¢étion was allowed 
but that which arose from a’ supe. 
riority of parts and merit! No 
system could certainly conducemore 
effettually to obliterate all impres. 

$10n 


128] 


sions of respett or deference, on ac- 
count of family or of opulence, than 
this promiscuous mixture of youth 
of all descriptions, subjected to re- 
gulations and treatment common to 
all, and carefully taught to value 
nothing in’ each other, but personal 
worth and talents. 

The attention paid by the direc- 
tory to the public peace and wel- 
fare, and the lenity of its conduc& 
upon all occasions, induced the mul- 
titudes, whe adhered’ to the ancient 
forms of religion, to avail themselves 
of the liberty of opinions, and of 
worship, established by the new 
constitution; they now claimed and 
enjoycd whatever had been decreed 
in their favour ; and, excepting the 
ecclesiastical grandedr of their for- 
mer ceremon: clad nothing was want- 
ing to satisfy their reasonable ex- 
pectations ; but their zeal for the 
restoration of the pontifical authori- 
ty in France would not permit 
them to rest contented. ‘The go- 
vernment had even, under the pri- 
mary constitution, and with a mo- 
narch at its head, dissolved the con: 
nexion with the see of Rome; but 
the bigotry cf its votaries prempted 
them to form public assemblies, with 
the professed design of renewing ir, 
Bat this proved tco audacious an 
attempt to meet with the least 
countenance from government; the 
pope was justly considered as a de- 
cided enemy to the French re- 
public, both in a spiritual and po- 
litical light: it had not only cast off 
all submission to his authority, in 
church matters, but had also seized 
his dominions, and annexed them 
to France, notwithstanding the un- 
disturbed possession of them by num- 
bers of his predecessors, during 
many centuries. To re-establish a 
correspondence with the court of 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


Rome, in these circumstances, was’ 
an attempt so inimical to the re. 
public, that it was immediately pro- 
hibited, and the synods, that had 
been appointed by the Romish 
party for the accomplishment of this 
purpose, were strictly forbidden to 
assemble. No resentment, how. 
ever, was shewn beyond this simple 
prohibition ; but as religious ran- 
cour has the fatal tendency to ren. 
der men irreconcileable, the firm- 
ness exercised, on this occasion, by 
the government, raised them nu- 
merous enemies, in the superstitious 


_Multitudes they had offended, by 


refusing to comply with demands 
evidently unseasonable. ‘Lhe libe~ 
ral. manded beheld with grief the 
obstinacy of those unhappy pre- 
judices, that peculiarly distinguish 
the Romish persuasion, and that ren 
der it so inimical toevery other se& 
of Christianity. 

While these great alterations had 
been taking place in the internal 
government of Frances a variety of 
transactions with foreign powers 
had happened, conducive to the end 
which French politics had princi. 
pally in view. ‘This was, todimi- 
nish the number of their. foreign 
enemies, in order to employ ad- 
ditional exertions against those that 
remained. Exclusively of the paci- 
fication with the two great powers 

of Spain and of Prastia, other ami- 
cable treaties had been concluded, 
Early in the month of February, ne- 
gotlations had been opened with 
the grand duke of Tuscany. The 
successes of the French armies oa 
the borders of Italy, during the 
preceding campaign, and their ap, 
prebended. approximation to that ~ 
prince’s territories, had excited so. 
much alarm; and the naval prepa. 
rations, making i in the ports on the 
Medi. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


Mediterranean, were so contiguous 

to his own harbours, that, thinking 
- it more advisable to put himself out 
of danger than to encounter it, with- 
out any visible motive of interest, 
he determined to detach himself 
from the coalition, and tonegotiate 
a peace with France: the terms 
were readily agreed to on both 
sides. The French administration 
was glad of an opportunity to con- 
vince their people, that the war 
in which they were engaged, was 
purely defensive, and that they were 
,teady to put an end to it, by em- 
bracing any reasonable offers on 
the part of their enemies. The 
grand duke was not a formidable 
one; but being the first in the coali- 
tion that formally expressed a de- 
Sire to treat: to accept of his prof- 
fer, which was the only one that 
had been made, would be the first 
step towards breaking up the con- 
federacy. The articles were few: 
the duke engaged, on his side, to 
Felinquish his alliance with the co- 
alesced powers; and the French, 
on theirs, to a renewal of the peace 
and good understanding heretofore 
‘subsisting between France and Tus- 
cany ; which was to remain on a 
footing of perfec neutrality. 

Not long after the conclusion of 
this treaty, the ministry of Sweden, 
in April following, resolved to de- 
Jay no longer the recognition of the 

"French republic: the intrigues of 
ussia had hitherto preventedit, but 
the prudence of the regent dictated 
the propriety of being on a cordial 
footing with a state which, whether 
‘Under a monarchical or a republican 
eet would always, from 
‘MOtives of interest, provea faithful 
ally to Sweden. Baron Stacl was 
Appointed, by the Swedish court, to 
/ Vor. XXXVII. 


[129 


perform the ceremony of the ac- 
knowledgment: the address to thé 
convention, in that monarch’s name, 
was conceived in terms of great 
friendship; but the enemies to tlie 
republic remarked, on this occasion, 
that Sweden had long before dis- 
tinguished itself by acknowledging 
and paying court to usurpers : it had, 
in the last century, paid the same 
honour to Oliver Cromwell, the 
murderer of his sovereign, and the 
usurper of his throne. But these in- 
vettives fell to the ground, when 
it was recolleéted that neither 
France nor Spain, nor any of the 
European powers, had dared to a& 
otherwise. This formal acknow- 
ledgment by a crowned’ head, 
though not of the first importance, 
yet of considerable weight, was 
highly acceptable to the French, aS, 
together with the recognition on the 
part of Tuscany, it formed a species 
of counterpoise to the refusals of 
other powers to acknowledge the 
republic; but the chief difficulties of 
this sort being at length removed, by 
the two treaties with Prussia and 
Spain, other states became less un- 
willing to open negotiations. The 
cantons of Switzerland had been no- 
ticed, ever since the commencement 
ofthe revolution, for their aversionto 
those who had etfeCted and supported 
it; they had explicitly espoused the 
royal cause, and adhered firmly to 
it; even after the dethronement of 
the king, the meeting of the con. 
vention, the abolition of the mo: 
narchy, and the ereétion of the 
republic, all these events, that fol- 
lowed each other so rapidly, had 
not been able to alter thei# deter. 
minations: they still continued in- 
imical to French maxims and po- 
litics, though they cautiously ab- 

[kK] stained 


130] ANNUAL REGISTER, 


stained from direét hostilities; but 
the uninterrupted career of success, 
that attended every where the arms 
of the republic, inclined the most 
prudent among the Swiss to a@ 
with more caution than they had 
hitherto done. The first of the 
cantons that acquiesced in the re- 
cognition of the republic, was that 
of Basle; nor was this canton pre- 
vated upon to take that step, till 
the treaty between France and Pras- 
sia had been concluded; the lofty 
conduct of the French on that oc- 
casion had made a profound im. 
pression upon their netghbours, 


Their minister refused to sign his | 


mame in any instrument of nego- 
tiation, subsequently to the signa- 
ture of any foreign minister: the 
consequence of which was, that 
each party signed separate papers, 
to be delivered by each other, As 
this determined spirit shewed how 
they were disposed to act, it was 
judged advisable not to exasperate 
them by delays, which must end at 
last by yielding to the necessity of 
coming to terms with them. ‘The 
Protestant cantons followed the ex- 
ample of Basle, in acknowledging 
the French republic; but the Romish 
cantons, instigated by their clergy 
and by the French emigrants, szill 
continued averse to any accommo- 
dation; and, by the inveteracy of 
their conduct, laid the foundation 
of an enmity to them, of which the 
consequence proved fatal, at last, to 
all their countrymen. 

Among the preceding treaties, 
that between France and Prussia 
was peculiarly beneficial, by fixing 
a line of neutrality, beyond which 
the belligerent powers were not 
to extend their operation, and by 
producing two other pacific treaties ; 


(1795. 


the one’was with the landgrave of 
Hesse Cassel, by which he agreed 
to furnish no more troops to serve 
against the republic ; and the other 
with the king of Great Britain, as 
elector of Hanover, and by which 
he acceded to make the same con- 
ditions. ‘(hese two treaties, which 
took place about the close of Au- 
gust, left the French at liberty to 
pursue their plans in other parts, 
without fear of molestation on their 
frontiers to the North, 
Lower Rhine. This was an ad- 
vantage of the greatest importance, 
as they proposed to direct their 
chief exertions against thé coun- 
trics situated on the Upper Rhine, 
and to open the next campaign by 
an invasion of the Austrian domi. 
nions in Italy. ~ 

In addition to the foregoing 
treaties, one of alHance, cffensive 
and defenstve, was framed, in the 
course of the year, between France 
and the Seven United Provinces, 
now styled the Batavian republic, 
As these provinces were wholly in 
the hands of the French, their go- 
vernment was entirely at their dis. 
posal ; and whatever they demanded 
was immediately complied with, as 
resistance or compiaint would be 
vain, ‘They now drew up a treaty, 


the articles of which were manifestly . 


diétated by their own convenience) 
and completely calculated to render 
their Dutch allies subservient, in 
every respect, 
France, which were alone and ex. 
clusively consulted throughout the 
whole tenour of this treaty. All 
the strong towns, that guarded the 
frontiers of the provinces, were 
without exception, retained by the 
French, together with Dutch Flan- 
dere, and the chief islands in Zea. 
land. 


and on the — 


to the interests of 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


land. The Batavian republic was 
to pay, as the price of its emanci- 
pation from the British and Prussian 


_ government, the expences of the 


war in Holland for that purpose, 
and a payment of twenty millions 
was immediately required. The 
free navigation of the rivers in 


es [K2] 


fist 


Holland was to be the right of both 
French and Dutch indiscriminately, 
without exacting toll from either. 
Such were the general outlines of 
a treaty, by which the French pre- 
tended to have restored their liber- 
ties and possessions to the people of 
the United Provinces. , 


CHAP. 


132] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


yA HA, Pl aM ibe 


Incorperation of the Austrian Netherlands with the French Republic.— An 
Object of Alarm ts the Neighbouring Natiins.—Debility of the French 
Marine.—Naval Exertions of France confined to Depredatimns on the 
British Trade.—Revolt under the Auspices and Condu& of Vidor Hughes, 
of the French West-India Islands, that had been reduced by the English. 
—Superisr Skill, Bravery, and Success, of the British Officers and Sea- 
men.—The Dutch Colony at the Cape of Good Hope taken by the English. 
Success of tue French in Piratical Warfare.— Bold and masterly Retreat 
of Admiral Cornwallis. —Prosperous State of French Affairs on the Conti. 
nent.—Interference of the French ix the Government of the small State of 
Geneva. —This new-modelled after the Fashion of the French Republic.— 
InsurreGions.—Violence.x—A Revolutionary Tribunal.—Intrigues of the 
French, for bringing the City of Geneva under Subjection ta the French 
Republic. —The Influence of the New Principles of the French extends 
across the Atlantic—and excites dangerous Commotions in America.—The 
Authority of Government maintained in the United States of America, by 
the Moderation, Prudence, and Vigour, of General Washington.—In- 
surrection of Emigrants from Ireland, and the Highlands of Scotland, in 
the Western Parts of Pennsylvania.—Quelled by the Approach of a great 
and irresistible Force under General Washington.— A Dispute between the 
American States aid the Indians, on the Frontiers, supported by a Body 
of Canadians and British Colonists.—Settled by the spirited and judicious 
Condud of General Wayne. 


UT the transaction which occu- 

pied the chief attention of 
Europe, was that famous decree 
which the convention passed a short 
space before its dissolution, and 
which it considered as a legacy leit 
to the French nation, by chese men 
who had founded its liberty, and 
preserved it, by their excrtions, 
against the united powers of Europe. 
By that decree all the Austrian Ne 
therlands were formally inc rporated 
with France, anda solemn admoni-. 
tion given to consider them as con- 
stituent parts of the French repub-. 
lic, never to be ceded, but retained 


at all events against all claims and 

pretences. This decree was uni- 
versally . viewed, by the political 
world, as a firebrand that would | 
eventually kindle no less a confla- 
gration than the celebrated decree 
of November, 1792, by which the 
convention had virtually invited the 
subjects of all princes to throw off 
their obedience. The Austrian Ne- 

therlands, if suffered to remain in 
the possession of France, would, in _ 
the perception of all discerning men, 
prove such an addition of territory, 
of population, of wealth, and of- 


strength, to France, as would render 


it 


‘HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


is irresistible. Never, therefore, it 
was said, should the powers of Eu- 
rope permit these countries to be 
annexed to France, whether it con- 
tinued a republic, or. resumed the 
form of a monarchy. Its neigh- 
boursespecially, if they valued their 
independence, should think no cost 
too excessive in reducing France to 
its former limits. Unless this were 
done, not oniy the balance of Eu- 
rope, but the national existence of 
every peop!e around, would be con- 
tinually exposed to the hostile en- 
terprises of this ambitious and rest- 
less nation. rit 
The great victory obtained by 
lord Howe, on the 1st of June, 
1794, had so completely ruined the 
marine of France, and extinguished 
all expectation of its being able, 
during a long time, to meet that of 
Great Britain in battle, that the 
French government abandoned all 
designs of this nature, and deter- 
mined henceforth to confine its na- 
val exertions to depredations on the 
British trade and navigation: a 
system to which the politics of 
France had constantly resorted, 
under the monarchy, after expe- 
tiencing such disasters at sea, as had 
disabled her marine from: encevn- 
tering that of Britain in open fight. 
In this species of maritime wartare 
they proved more successful than the 
other. ‘The list of captures, by the 
French, at the close of 1795, 
_ amounted, it has been reported, to 
more than two-thirds of their own 
losses; they had taken three thou- 
sand vessels, and had lost only eight 
hundred. How far such estimates 
may ascertain the respective da- 
ee either party, it may be 
dificult to decide, without a specific 
return of the tonnage and cargoes 
‘of the shipping thus taken. But the 


*could be 


[133 


detriment to this country must cer. 
tainly have been very considerable, 
advetting only to the number. of 
seamen that must have fallen into 
the enemy’s hands, and allowing 
the other damages to have been 
equally balanced. 

One material cause of debility, 
that befel the French marine, was 


_ the inexpertness of those multitudes 


that crowded their ships. The ne- 
cessity of supplying without delay 
their armies on the frontiers, which 
were daily losing such numbers, 
compelled government to colle¢t 
able-bcdied men as soon as they 
rocured, and wherever 
they could be found. Hence their 
shipping of -all descriptions was 
stripped of sailors, who were sent to 
fight the battles of the republic at 
land. he French administration 
was severely censured for sacrificing 
their seamen, instead of the many 
others that might have been furnish- 
ed out of those classes that had little 
or no employment in the general 
scarcity of trade and business: but 
necessity and expedition was their 
plea, and appeared unanswerable 
during the dangerous crisis to which 
the republic continued reduced, 
while pressed on the frontiers by 
the numerous armies of the coalesced 
powers. 

Great complaints were made at 
the sume time in England, that with 
a fleet superior in point of real 
strength, considering the skill of the 
officers and men, to that of all Eu- 
rope combined, still the transmarine 
possessions of France were able to 
resist the exertions of the naval 
strength of this country, and to 
maintain the contest in some of those 
parts on more than equal ground. 
‘The year 1794 had been marked by 
the successes obtained in the West 

[K3] Indies 


134] 


Indies by sir Charles Grey, and sir 
John Jervis. Martinico, St, Lucia, 
and Guadaloupe, had been taken 
from -the French; but. before the 
conclusion of the year, the last was 
recaptured; and early in the year 
ensuing, the French compelled St. 
Eustatius, the great magazine of all 
the Dutch islands, to surrender; and 
put it into so strong a posture of de. 
fence as to frustrate ail expectations 
of retaking it without the greatest 
difficulty. Encouragedby thesead- 
vantages, they formed a plan for the 
reduction of the other islands seized 
by the English inthe preceding year. 
The French forces were under the 
command of the noted Vi¢tor 
Hughes, aman of a ferocious dispo- 
sition, but uncommon activity and 
courage, and remarkable for his 
hatred of the English, Hehad been 
sent from France, as commissioner 
from the convention, with particular 
orders to execuie the famous decree 
by which the negroes were to be 
declared free. He carried it ac. 
cordingly into the fullest execution, 
and furnished with arms and uni- 
forms all the blacks and mulattoes 
that were willing to enter into the 
French service. It was at the head 
of this desperate multitude, aided 
by three or four thousand regular 
troops, that he had retaken Guada- 
loupe, and now projected to recover 
the other French islands, Asa pre- 
paratory step to this undertaking, 
a secret correspondence was set on 
foot with the disaife¢ted French in- 
habitants of those islands, and emis- 
saries were sent among the negroes 
and people of colour to excite 
them against the English govern- 
ment. The result was, that, in the 
spring of this year, a concerted re- 
volt took place at the same time in 
_ all these islands, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


In that of St. Lucia it broke out 
so suddenly, and the insurgents were 
so numerous, that they overpowered 
the British garrison, most of which 
was obliged, after a gallant but in, 
effectual resistance, to retire into 
the fort. Collecting their scattered 
force, they attacked the principal 
post of the insurgents, Pe i after a 
severe dispute, threw them into dis. 
order, But they rallied, and after 
a second confliét, wherein the Bri- 
tish forces were repulsed with great 
loss, the insurgents remained masters 
of the field, and the garrison re- 
treated to the fort; and, after suf- 
fering a three months bidckade, eva. 
cuated the island. Grenada being 
a place of more importance than 
the former, the Frenchcommissioner 
dispatched a body of chosen men ; 
assisted by whom, the blacks, and 
their associates of all colours, furi- 
ously attacked the British troops, 
and defeated them in several en. 

gagements. As soon, however, as 
these had been reinforced, they fell 
with so much vigour on the insur- 
gents, that they drove them from 
the open country, and forced them 
to take shelter in the mountainous 
partsofthe island. Here they were 
reduced ‘to the greatest distress for” 
provisions; though such was their 
obstinacy, that they refused to sur. 
rendcr,and chose rather to encoun- 
ter all hardships, in those wretched 
but inaccessible fortresses, than re- 
turn to theirformersubjection. The 
island of Dominica was attacked in 
like manner by a body of troops sent 
from Guadaloupe by the French 
commissioner, and who were joined 
by a multitude of negroes and many 
of the old French inhabitants. The 
number of British regulars was very 
small; but the Bricish settlers them- 
selves supplied that ae nee 

their 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


their valoor. They engaged the 
enemy with so much resolution, that 
the rebeilion was entirely suppressed. 
The French who had revolted were 
punished with great severity, and 
numbers of them expelled the island 
on account of suspicion. The In- 
dians inhabiting St. Vincent had 
also, at the instigation of Viétor 
Hughes, taken up arms against the 
English; but they were not without 
Some pretence: they had been 
wrongfully deprived of some of their 
'Tands, and though years had elapsed 
since that deprivation, they were 
prompted, by that revengeful dispo- 
sition common to the Caribbs, to 
seek for occasions to gratify it. 
_ They encountered the British troops 
“with great courage, and discomfited 
them in some very bloody engage- 
Ments; and theugh they were _fi- 
nally repressed, and confined within 
theirown limits, they still continued 
to maintain their ground there, and 
remained unsubdued, 
But the most melancholy event 
that happened this year, in the Bri- 
tish West Indies, was the fatal dis- 
pute that took place in Jamaica, be- 
tween the colonists and the ancient 
inhabitants of that lofty ridge of 
mountains which intcrseéts the 
island. When it was conquered 
from the Spaniards, in the last cen- 
_ tury, during the government of Oli- 
‘ver Cromwell, these people refused 
to submit to the conquérors; and, 
withdrawing to their mountainous 
» Fecesses, insisted that the lands they 
inhabited should be their own, and 
‘themselves remain free, and retain 


[335. 


dred and forty years ; during which, 
though z!tercations had happened 
between them and the’ colonists, 
they had still-preserved their privi- 
leges. Among these was a remark- 
abiestipulation, by which they were 
not to be punished by the courts of 
judicazure in that island, for any of- 
fence or crime, but were to be de: 
livered up to their dwn people, to 

2 tried, and suffer punishment ac. 
cording to their own laws. “Such, 
it has been represented, was the 
right and claim of the Maroons, the 
appellation by which they were dis. 
Yinguished ftom the other inhabi- 
tants ofthe island. It happened, 
unfortunately, that one of them, be- 
ing deteéted ina theft, instead of 
being put into the hands of his 
countrymen, to receive due chas- 
tisement, was, by the authority of 
a magistrate, sentenced to be whip- 
ped. This being executed upon 
him, he applied to his countrymen 
for their interference, in order to 
procure him redress for a punishment 
which, of all others, was to them 
the most odious and disgraceful, 
and had at the same time been in- 
flicted upon him contrarily to esta- 
blished usages. ‘he Maroons com- 
plained to the government, that 
their privileges had been violated, 
and required satisfaction; but as ~ 
none was obtained, they determined 
to procure it by force, and had re. 
course to arms. Whether it pro. 
ceeded from contempt, or a resolu- 
tion to punish their temerity, no 
endeayours were used to bring 
about any conciliation, and they 
were proceeded against with unre- 


cy ‘their former customs and privileges. 
This being agreed to, and solemnly 
_ fatified, they had lived ever since 
' ependent of the British govern- 
ment in Jamaica. In this situation 
they had now continued one hun. 


lenting severity, ‘They made a des- 
perate defence, but were accused 
of having exercised horrible barba. 
rities upon the prisoners they took, 
They were at length subdued, and 
[K4] almost 


136] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


almost exterminated. The recesses, 
to which they fled for shelter, were 
s0 intricately situated, and so diffi- 
cult of access and discovery, that 
blood-hounds were procured from 
the Spanish island of Cuba, in order 
to pursue and trace them by their 
scent. The exaét number of the 
fugitives that escaped,’ was never 
clearly ascertained in England, and, 
it is probable, that from the inyete- 
rate rancour of the colonists, against 
a tribe of men who had so frequent- 
ly withstood their efforts, they were 
little disposed to shew them any 
mercy. But the circumstance, 
which gave most offence ta the pub- 
lic, was the employing of the same 
means for their destruction, as had 
formerly been used by the Spaniards, 
when they first discovered and in- 
vaded this new world. The cruel- 
ties exercised upon the Indians, by 
those blood-thirsty and inhumancon- 
querors, rendered them universally 
odious to all the Europeans; but 
that horrid practice of hunting and 
destroying human beings with dogs, 
trained up for that purpose, had 
particularly contributed to make 
them detested. 

». The checks received by the Bri- 
tish forces, in the West Indies, were 
chiefly due to the immense superi- 
ority.of numbers with which they 
were attatked. » Notwithstanding 
the many difficulties the convention 
was incessantly struggling with at 
home, they were!too conscious of 
the value of the French transmarine 
possessions, not to exert themselves 
to the utmost for, their retention. 
No opportunities, therefore, were 
omittea of sending reinforcements 

” to protect them from the attacks of 
the Engiish, or to retake those that 
had falien into their hands. 

The conquest of Martinico, St. 


Lucia, and Guadaloupe, by the 
forces under the command of gene. 
ral sir Charles Grey, and admiral 
sir John Jervis, had been attended 
with circumstances peculiarly bril- 
liant. The difficulty of access to 
the places and positions occupied 
by the enemy, was such, that the 
French entertained 2 sanguine hope, 
that the English would be repulsed 
every where, especially as every 
post had been fortified with the ut- 
most skill, and was in the strongest 
posture of defence, both with respect 
to number of men, and quantity of 
ammunition and artillery. The va- 
lour, conduct, and knowledge in 
tactics, displayed by the Britishcom- 
manders and officers on these various 
expeditions had been: remarkable, 
and the courage of the soldiers had 
been no less striking. They en. 
countered every obstacle with an 
intrepidity and perseverance which 
the French had not expeéted ; and 
what was particularly deserving of 
notice, they obtained most of their 
advantages by means of the bayonet, 
a weapon with which the French 
had, in their European battles, 
gained signal successes; and in the 
use of which they considered them. 
selves as decidedly superior to their 
enemies. Gi ea 

The skill and bravery of the offi. 
cers and seamen of the squadron, 
emplayed in this service, had been 
eminently conspicuous, Soestablish. 
ed was their reputation at this junc. 
ture, that no intention of even meet- 
ing them. in combat was entertain. 
ed by the French, whose principal 
aim was to elude their vigilance, 
and to throw what succours they 
were able into’ their islands by 
stealth, not daring to try the chance 
of fight with British cruizers, when 
these were on a parity of strength. 


They 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


They a€ted so invariably upon this 
principle, that their ships were 
usually constructed with a stedfast 
eye to the celerity of saiiing, where- 
in they commonly exceeded the Bri- 
tish vessels. It was by dint of sea- 
manship, that these were able to 
come up with the others, which, 
when brought to attion, seldcm 
could resist the valour and superior 
dexterity of the Britishseamen, The 
many engagements between single 
cruizers of both nations, during the 
present and the preceding years, 
amply proved this superiority. 
Early in the commencement of 
1795, captain Faulkner, who had 
so greatly signalized himself in the 
expedition to Martinico, fell in 
with La Pique, a French frigate of 
38 guns, and near 400 men: his 


own ship, the Blanche, carried 32. 


guns, of an inferior metal, and lit- 
tle more thanz00 men. ‘The a¢tion 
lasted four hours, when she struck, 
after 200 of her people had been 
either slain or wounded, and only 
30 on board the Blanche. But this 
brilliant success was fully counter- 
balanced by the Joss of captain 
Faulkner, who fell during the en- 
gagement. He was succeeded in 
the command by lieutenant Wat- 
kins, to whom the honour fell of 
compelling the enemy to surren- 
der. 

In the two preceding years, other 
naval officers had distinguished them- 
selves by exploits of asimilar nature. 
Captains Pellew, of the Nymphe: 
Saumarez, of the Crescent ; Laforey, 
ofthe Carysfort ; Paget, of the Rom- 
ney ; Newcome, of the Orpheus; to 
mention no others, rendered their 
names, and those of the ships they 
commanded, highly celebrated in the 
naval transa¢tions of this war, The 


ate 


[437 


zeal and ardour with which the of. 

ficers of the British navy sought 
the enemy, and constantly overcame 
him wherever he was to be found 
or overtaken, excited the admira- 
tion ofall Europe. It was not only 
in foreign parts the French were 
thus unfortunate : the like disasters 
attended them upon their own 
coasts. Few of their ships of force 
that yentured out of their ports, 
either single, or in squadrons, could 
escape the vigilance of the English ; 

who either took or destroyed them, 
by compelling them to run ashore, 
and burning them. Many feats of 
this kind were performed in the 
most daring manner. They ven- 
tured close in withthe Jand, exposed 
to the superior fire of formidable 
batteries, which they frequently si- 
lenced with their own guns; some- 
times landing their people and 
committing the enemy’s shipping to 
the flames, in spite of the most vi- 
gorous resistance. ‘Those British 
officers who chiefly distinguished 
themselves by a¢tions of this kind, 
were sir Richard Strachan, sir Ed- 
ward Pellew, sir John Warren, and 
sir Sidney Smith, ali tried men for 
yncommon palit and seamanship ; 
and who, by their wonderful exer- 


.tions'and successes, became the ter- 


ror of the French marine. 

But, in defiance of their manifest 
infirtority in every trial of skill and 
bravery at sea, and of the numerous 
losses and disgraces on every part of 
the extensive coast of France, the 
principal speakers in the convention 
had the effrontery to represent the 
officers and seamen in their navy, 
as no ways unequal to those of the 
British fleet, and their condué and 
aGtions as no less conspicuous. 
Their audaciousness was such, that 


they 


138] 


they described the famous victory 
gained by lord Howe, .on the 1st of 
June, as an aétion that terminated 
to their advantage, notwithstanding 
the capture of seven of their capital 
ships, and aloss of men that amount- 
ed by the clearest calculation, to 
upwards of ten thousand, in killed, 
wounded, and taken; while of the 
British fleet, not one ship was lost, 
and not one thousand men killed -or 
wounded. 

This great and decisive viétory 
proved a prelude to their subsequent 
defeats, in some general attions, in 
the course of 1795. On the 14th 
of March, a British squadron, of 
fourteen ships of the line, engaged a 
‘French squadron, of fifteen, that was 
carrying a large bedy of troops to 
Corsica, in order to retake it from 
the English, who had wrested it from 
the French in the preceding year. 
So averse were the French to risk an 
engagement, that no other motive 
would have compelled them, but 
the necessity of rescuing two of their 
ships, which, by falling to leeward, 
had afforded an opportunity to the 
British squadron of attacking them 
‘with advantage. By the skilful ma- 
“nagement of admiral Hotham, who 
commanded it, they were accord- 
ingly cut off and taken, with up- 
wards of two thousand of the troops 
destined against Corsica: the re- 
mainder of the French squadron was 
obliged to take refuge at Toulon. 
Though the success obtained on 
this occasion was not signal, yet it 
defeated the expedition, as‘imtended 
for the recovery of Corsica; the 
importance of which, in the opinion 
of the French, may be estimated 
from the force embarked on this 
squadron, which consisted of eight. 
‘teen thousand regulars, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Tn June following, another aétion 
took place between a British squa- 
dron of five ships of the line, and 
two frigates, and a French squadron 
of thirteen ships of the line, besides 
frigates. They surrounded the Bri- 
tish squadron, which, unable to cope 
with so superior a force, engaged it 
however in a running fight, which 
Jasted a whole day. Through dint 
of extraordinary skill and bravery, 
the English fought their way through 
the French, who were not able to 
take a single ship of the squadron. 
This aftion; which happened on the 
seventeenth of June, did great ho- 
nour to the naval talents of admiral 
Cornwallis, : 

Six days after, admiral lord Brid- 
pot fell in with twelve French ships 
of the line, and nine frigates : they 
were the same from which admiral 
Cornwallis had effected so bold and 
masterly aretreat. The Britishships 
of the line were fourteen, and the 
frigates eight ; the French endea- 
voured to avoid an engagement, 
and stood close in with the shore, 
in order to receive the assistance of 
some batteries that greatly annoyed 
the Britith ships ; but this did not 
prevent them from taking three 
French ships of the line, and se- 
verely damaging the others, which 


‘e-caped, with difficulty, into the 


harbour of 1’Orient. ; 

But the event which principally 
signalized the British arms at sea, in 
the course of this year, was the re. 
duction of the famous Dutch colo- 
ny, at the Cape of Good Hope, found- 
ed in the preceding century, with so 
much labour, expence, and industry, 
and which was now become one of 
the most valuable and important set- 
tlements of that commercial people. 
It was taken by admiral iat a 

ant 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


and general Clarke, to whom, after 
an ineffectual defence, it surrendered 
on the 16th of September. 

These defeats and losses not only 
diminished the strength of the 
French at sea, but, what was more 
detrimental to them, greatly dis- 
couraged their seamen; and re. 
duced their hopes merely to such 
advantages as might be gained by 
depredations on the British com- 
merce. Herein they met with con- 
siderable success, before the close 
of the present year ; especially on 
that branch of trade carried on with 
Turkey, which, from the necessity of 
traversing the whole of the Medi- 
terranean, lay more exposed to their 
annoyance than any other. In or. 
der to intercept this, together with 
that from the ports of Italy, a squa- 
dton, of nine ships of the line, was 
put under the command of admiral 

ichery, an experienced and re~' 
solute seaman. ‘The trade of the 
Mediterranean, amounting to sixty 
sail, with valuable cargoes, was 
escorted by three ships of the line, 
and four frigates ; it had proceeded, 
On its way homeward, as far as the 
latitude of Cape St. Vincent, where 
it was attacked by the squadron 
commanded by Richery, and one 
half of it was taken, together with 
a ship of the line. 

Conformably to the predatory 
system of warring at sea, now 
adopted by the French, besides 
Richery’s squadron, which was fitted 
out at Toulon, they prepared two 
others at Rochefort, in order to in- 
tercept the homeward-bound fleet 
from Jamaica; but they took only 
twelve, the value of which hardly 
reimbursed the expence of fitting 
out those squadrons. 

_ But the defeats, losses, and dis- 
appointments, of the French, at sca, 


[139 


were amply counterbalanced bytheir 
successes “at land; their compulsory 
retreat across the Rhine excepted, 
they had succeeded in every other pro- 
ject, and completely frustrated the 
attempts of the coglesced powers. 
Two of the principal members of 
that formidable confederacy had 
beendetached from it, besides others 
of secondary note. They had re- 
volutionized the governments of 
all the countries they had subdued, 
together with the minds of a large 
majority of the inhabitants, The 
Austrian Netherlands, to which their 
ancient denomination of Belgium 
was now solemnly affixed, were, in 
general, well affected to the French 
republic, from the remembrance of 
the tyranny and haughtiness they 
had experienccd under the house of 
Austria, The German provinces, 
on the left side of the Rhine, seemed 
mostly willing tounite with France, 
rather than to return to the do. 
minion of their former masters; 
and the dispositions of the people 
of Switzerland, of the Protes. 
tant cantons especially, were be- 
coming much more favourable to 
the French than they had hitherto 
appeared. 

Unwearied pains had been taken, 
by the French government, ever 
since the commencement of the re- 


‘volution, to conciliate the people of 


Switzerland. ‘Though principles of 
democracy, nearly similar to those 
professed by the French, prevailed 
in some of the inferior cantons, the 
greater were governed aristocrati- 
cally, and warmly opposed the in- 
troduction of French politics. The 
time was not yet arrived for the 
French to proceed to violent mea. 
sures against the Helvetic body : 
they contented themselves with the 
private encouragement of those nu- 

merous 


140] 


merous individuals among the 
Swiss who disapproved of the 
system of goverment prevailing 
in their country, and were desi- 
rous of innovations on the revolu. 
tionary plan. 

They had, however, in one in- 
stance, laid aside their usual dissimu- 
lation, and openly countenanced the 
alterations that had taken place, ina 
state, which, though of smallextent, 
had always maintained a respec- 
table appearance. This was the 
city of Geneva, Jong famous for 
the industry of the inhabitants, and 
their inflexible attachment to li- 
berty and protestantism. Their 
contiguity to France interested 
them more deeply in its concerns 
than any of its other neighbours : 
they were, indeed, descended chief- 
ly from the French; particularly 
the refugees from that kingdom, 
persecuted for their religious opi- 
nions, French was the native 
Tanguage of the place, and all the 
social habits of life were the same 
as in France. ‘The court of Ver- 
sailles had formerly exercised great 
interference, in the affairs of this 
Jittle republic; but had always 
aéted with decided partiality for 
those classes that constituted the 
aristocratical party. Through such 
powerful aid, it maintained a 
_ Superiority extremely offensive to 
the democratic body, which, 
though the most numerous, was 
mot the most considerzble. At 
the breaking out of the revolu- 
tion, this party conceived imme- 
diately the design of rendering it 
instrumental for the purpose they 
had long meditated, which was, 
to destroy the power of their 
antagonists, and to establish a 
pure democracy. The sovereign 
authority of the state was lodged 


ANNUAL. REGISTER, 1795. 


in the general assembly of the 
citizens, who were such, either 
by inheritance of purchase. In- 
dividuals born of foreign parents 
were styled natives, but excluded 
from the privileges enjoyed by 
the former. This was a subject 
of much grievance to them, and 
they determined to remove it, 
the first opportunity. In 1791, 
the political ferments in France 
were so favourable to their wishes, 
that they seized the occasion to 
propose a law for their admis. 
sion to all the rights of citizens, 
on paying a moderate fine: their 
demands were deemed so reason- 
able, that they were granted. 
Matters rested on this footing till 
the - next year; when, after the 
dethronement of the king, and 
the abolition of monarchy in 
France, a French army, employed 
in the redu€tion of Savoy, ad- 
vanced towards Geneva. The 
inhabitants, alarmed at this con- 
duét, applied for aid to the go- 
vernment of Switzerland, which 
immediately dispatched a body of 
troops'to their assistance. They 
sent, in the mean time, a depu- 
tation to general Montesquieu, who 
commanded the French, to in- 
quire the motives of his conduct. 
His answer was, that the Gene- 
vese had behaved with undue 
partiality to the emigrants from 
France, by permitting them to 
settle in their city and territory, 
The Genevese replied, that, far 
from harbourirg enmity.to France, 
they had been the first and were 
still the only people that had 
acknowledged the French repub- 
lic. These reasonings prevailed on 
the French administration to di- 
ret Montesquieu to remove from 
the Genevese territory. But the’ 

convention 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


convention disapproved of this 
measure, and determined to ef- 
feét a total revolution in Geneva; 
solicited, as they observed, by a 
plurality of the inhabitants, who 
complained that the title of citi- 
zen was restricted to those only 
who composed the general assem- 
bly, but ought to be extended 
to every inhabitant without 
exception. The ruling _party 
resolved instantly, for the sake of 
peace, to admit of these preten- 
sions: but that portion of the ci- 
tizens, who were styled natives, 
without waiting for the formal 
sanétion of the general assembly, 
hastily took up arms, and insisted, 
that, for the security of their 
claims, all posts and places should 
be resigned to persons of their 
Own party. ‘Their strength and 
resolution prevailed, and they ob- 
tained all their requests. A con- 
vention eleéted by universal suf- 
frage, assembled and took the su- 
preme power into their hands. 
They new modelled the whole 
government; and, among other al- 
terations, introduced the trial by 
jury. They met with opponents 
and censurers, in those whom they 
had ousted. But they paid the 
strictest regard to property, and 
acted altogether in so equitable 
and popular a manner, that, ina 
general assembly of the people, 
held for the purpose of accept. 
ing or rejecting the new consti- 
tution, it was confirmed by four 
thousand against only two hun- 
dred. The satisfaGtion of the ge- 
nerality was, however, disturbed, 
shortly after, by the machinations 
of an individual, who declaimed 
against the constituted government, 
az inclined to favour the rich 
4M opposition to the poorer classes,. 


“ 


[141 


in the assessment of taxes that 
was then projecting. Through his 
suggestions, a desperate mob arose, 
and took possession, by surprize, 
of the arms of those whom they 
looked upon as enemies to their 
designs, and of whom they im- 
prisoned such as they conceived 
the most dangerous. Suspending 
the constitutional government, they 
assumed the legislative and the 
executive power, under the deno. 
mination of arevolutionary tribunal, 
of which, Bousquet, the leader of 
this insurrection, was declared pre- 
sident. But their condu@ was 


-marked by too much lenity, in 


the opinion of multitudes of their 
adherents, who insisted on the 
immediate massacre of all the pri- 
soners, amounting to near six hun. 
dred. They were compelled, in 
order to appease this multitude, 
to pass sentence of death upon 
seven out of eight individuals 
brought before them, two of whom 
only they had at first condemned. 
An appeal was made, to the body 
of the people in favour of the 
other five, and the sentence was, 
in consequence, reversed in be- 
half of three of them: but the 
violent ‘party still persisted on the 
execution of the seven, and t 
tribunal did not dare to disobey. 
This merciless party proceeded 
to a variety of other oppressive 
and cruel aéts. No man was 
spared, either in person or pro. 
perty, against whom they con- 
ceived suspicions. In the course of 
fourteen days, upwards of five 
hundred individuals underwent a 
trial before the revolutionary tri- 
bunal; out of these, thirty-seven 
were condemned to die, but only 
eleven were executed; the others 
not appearing to their Nee 
f) 


142]. ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


of the remaining four hundred and 
sixty prisoners, twenty only were 
acquitted; the others were either 
stripped of their propetty, expelled 
the city, or imprisoned. _ Geneva 
continued thus three months in a 
state of confusion and tyranny. The 
most prudent of the different par- 
ties found itnecessary, at length, to 
drop their feuds aad yen Neg 
and to unite for the preservation 
of their civil independence against 
the private intrigues of the }rench 
and their emissaries, to bring the 
city under subjection. After a mul- 
tiplicity of efforts to defeat these 
inimical projects, they succeeded so 
far as to obtain, from the convention 
at Paris, the eal of the French 
resident at Geneva, who had been 
at the bottom of the designs against 
its independence. They inflicted 
punishments adequate to their guilt 
on those who had been concerned 
in this treasonable business, 
alse reversed: those judgments pro- 
nounced by the revolutionary tribu- 
nal, which had been di¢tated mere- 
ly by the spirit of party. They laid 
an equitable assessment of taxes on 
the public: they prohibited party 
clubs, and threatened severechas- 
tisement to those who abused the 
liberty of the press by incendiary 
Pablications. 

But it was not only in the vicinity 
of France that the principles of re- 
sistance and innovation were felt : 
they extended their influence across 
the Atlantig, and excited dange- 

“rous commotions in the united states 
of North America. The necessities 
of the publi¢ had cbliged govern. 
ment to adopt several of those me- 
thods of levying money, that are 
practised in Europe. That which 
appeared the most odious of any 
was the excise, so long held in ab. 


They . 


horrence in all free states, notwith. 
standing the arguments not unjustly 
alleged for its propriety. A slight 
duty was imposed on the distilleries 
in the American states, by the con. 
gress that sat in 1790. It was sub. 
mitted to by the generality, without 
complaint or dissatisfaction ; but in 
the western parts of Pennsylvania it 
created discontents, that broke out 
into open resistance, in the course of 
1794. These parts werechiefly in- 
habited by emigrants from the High. 
lands of Scotland, and from Ireland. 
As they had left their native coun. 
try, in the hope of experiencing a 
happy and great change in their 
condition, which animates all*emi- 
grators from their native climes, and 
which, indeed is the only motive 
that induces men te relinquish the 
place of their birth, they saw with 
particular reluétance that mode of 
taxation exercised over them, which 
they had in their own conntry been 
taught to consider as highly tyran- 
nical and oppressive. irom mur. 
murs they proceeded to atual resist- 
ance, and not only refused obedi- 
ence to the laws enjoining the tax, 
but maltreated the officers that were 
employed to levy it. 

“Recalling to their minds the 
modes of resisting thestamp-act, and 
the other obnoxious methods of tax- 
ation that brought about the Ame- 
rican revolution, the opposers of the 
excise-duties exepéted that they 
would, in the present case, be at. 
tended. with the same syecess, and 
they adopted them accordingly. 
They assembled at Pittsburgh, the 
principal place in the distontented 
counties. Here they agreed on a 
general remonstrance to congress, 
and on the establishment of com- 
mittees of correspondence among 
themselves, They entered into reso. 

lutions 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


lutions against all communication 
with those who should accept of 
commissions for the levying of the 
duty. Inconsequence of these mea- 
sures, the persons thus commissioned 
were so harshly used, in the execu- 
tion of their orders, that, apprehend- 
ing their lives were in danger, they 
had recourse to flight. 

Intelligence of these transactions 
arriving at Philadelphia, excited 
much alarm in the government; 
averse to severity, and yet fore- 
seeing that, without coercive méa- 
sures, obedience to the law would 
probably be refused. The circum- 
stances of the times were also parti- 
cularly critical: the contest between 
Great Britain and France had oc- 
casioned material differences of opi. 
nion throughout the united states, 
Open parties had been formed in 
favour of each of these formidable 
powers, and they carried their re- 
ciprocal enmities to such a length, 
that it was becoming a task of great 
difficulty to contain them within 
bounds of any moderation. 

Happily for that country, and 
Great Britain itself, general Wash- 
ington still presided over the Ame- 
rican councils. He saw the neces- 
sity of uniting vigour with concilia- 
tion, and of putting a speedy period 
to this spirit of resistance to the au- 
thority of government, before it 
rose to such a height as to become 
contagious, or through unforeseen 
¢asualties, be rendered instrumental 
in the hands of that party which 


‘Sought to involve America in the 


. Is that distracted Europe. 


issioners were sent to the re- 


Yarre 
fraétory party, in order to negoti- 


ate with the heads of the opponents, 
who appointed sixty of their own 
people to meet them, But the pro- 


[143 


posals on the part of government 
were rejected, and it was intimated 
to the commissioners, that unless the 
tax were repealed, the inhabitants 
of the opposing counties would re. 
nounce their allegiance to congress, 
and apply for assistance to Great 
Britain. 

A menace of this nature raised 
in the commissioners a suspicion, 
that the disaffected were secretly 
instigated to their resistance by 
agents among them from the Bri- 
tish government. This was far- 
ther confirmed by the treatment 
they experienced from the popu- 
lace, which insulted them in the 
grossest manner. Thus the negoti. 
ations were broken off, and the 
commissioners departed without 
hopes of effecting a reconcilia. 
tion. 

The American government had 
now no other alternative but to re- 
peal, or to enforce the tax. The 
general submission to it, as just and 
judicious, by all the other provinces 
of the union, soon determined the 
administration to act with vigour 
on this occasion; rightly confiding 
in a faithful and unanimous support. 
A proclamation was first issued, re. 
calling, in friendly terms, the re. 
fractory counties to their duty, and 
warning them of the necessary con. 
sequences of their disobedience, 
But whatever motives. prompted 
them, they openly bid defiance to 
all threats, and assembled, to the 
number of five thousand men, in 
arms, at Pittsburgh, fully deter. 
mined to oppose force with 
force. 

The exigency was now become 
too serious for any longer delay, 
The militia of the counties adja- 
cent to those in insurrection, which 

were 


144} 


were four in number, received or- 
ders toembody, General Miflin, 
who had made a conspicuous ‘fi- 
gure in the,American war, took 
the field against them, at the 
head of six thousand volunteers, 
and another body of seven thou- 
sand men was. on its march to 
join them. ‘These different corps 
amounted to near thirty thousand 
men. This great force had been 
colle&ted with the view of intimi- 
dating the insurgents into submis- 
sion, without the effusion of blood. 
The plan succeeded completely. 
On the approach cf generai Wash- 
ington, they gave up all ideas of 
resistance. Lhe army entered, 
without mecting with the least 
molestation, into the country of 
the insurgents, who had at first 
assembled in considerable numbers ; 
but finding that opposition would 
be vain, disbanded every where; 
their chiefs, thus defeated, were 
obliged to fly. Several of them, 
however, were taken. The insur- 
re€tion being suppressed in this 
expeditious manner, a meeting 
was called at Pittsburgh, of the 
principal settlers in the disaffect- 
ed parts, who came to a determi- 
nation to submit to the tax, and 
to pay due obedience to the laws 
enacted by congress, and to main- 
tain them to the utmost of their 
power. In order to reconcile 
the malcontents by moderation, 
after subduing them by force, their 
leaders, who had been seized, re- 
ceived 2 full pardon with the other 
prisoners, and the insurrection fi- 
nally terminated, as the govern- 
ment had cordi ially desired, without 
effusion of blood. 

This speedy ond fortunate issue 
of a business, that wore at first so 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. | ~ 


menacing an aspect, did great 
honour to the American govern- 
ment. ‘Through the firmness and 
prudence displayed throughout the 
whole of this transaction, not only 
a dangerous insurrection was quel]_ 
ed, but a strong precedent was 
established, of the inefficacy of re- 
sistance to the just and moderate 
demands of the ‘legislature. It 
was also the more  seasonable, 
that the state was, at this very junc- 
ture, involved in a quarrel with 
the Indians on the frontiers to the 
West of the United States, and 
not a little apprehensive that the 
dispute might, before long, assume 
a greater degree of maghitude, from 
the interference of that power which 
the Americans had most reason to 
dread. 

An officer of noted courage and 
conduét had been placed at the 
head of the force dispatched a- 
gainst the Indians. This was ge- 
neral Wayne, who had greatly 
distinguished himself in the Ame. 
rican war. He had, on this oc- 
c4sion, a difficult part to aét. He 
had not only the Indians to en- 
counter, but a considerable’ body 
of Canadians and British colonists, 
of Detroit, intermixed with them, 
A farther difficulty occurred from 
a circumstance unforescen and un- 
expected. A fort, within the fi. 
mits of the United States, stood 
behind the encampment of this 
force, and had a British gar- 
rison, which had lately retaken 
possession of it. This being an: 
infraction of the treaty of 1783, 
general Wayne thence concluded, 
that hostilities were intended a- 
gainst’ the American states. He 
had also received information that a 
British agent among the dndians had 

excited 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


excited them to take up arms; un- 
willing to act aggressively, in so 
dubious a case, he proposed a nego- 
‘tiation for peace; but his offers 
were rejected. He now saw him. 
self constrained either to make a 
retreat, or to engage an enemy, 
whose strength was doubie to his 
own; confiding, however, in the 
bravery and experience of his peos 
ple, he resolved not only to stand 
his ground, but to proceed to an 
immediate attack. ‘The position of 
the Indians, and their auxiliaries, 
was strong and well chosen, and 
they did not imagine that he would 
venture to assail them with an in. 
ferior force: this he did, however, 
with such impetuosity, and so much 
judgment, that they were entirely 
‘defeated, and forced to disperse in 
“several directions. 
So complete a success, obtained 
under the guns of a British fort, oc- 
-casioned its commanding-officer to 
expostulate with the American ge. 
neral, for having made so near an 
approach, and to warn him against 
any att of hostility ; as no war ex- 
isted between Great Britain and the 
United States. The general re. 
plied, that he had of right expelled 
an enemy from the territory of the 
states ; but that an aét of hostility 
had been committed by the British 
_troops, in re-occupying the fort of 
which they were in possession, as it 


stood confessedly on ground belong. - 


ing to the states ; he required him, 


o 


- 
SF. cot 


~ Vou. XXXVI, 


[145 


for that reason, toevacuateit, and 
retire within the British boundaries. 
The answer to this; which was no 
other than a summons to surrender 
the fort, purported, that being com- 
missioned to occupy it, by superior 
authority, he could not deliver it 
up; expressing at the same time, 
his hope of an amicable settlement 
of the matter, by their respective 
governments. 

Such was the substance of the let. 
ters that passed on this occasion, be» 
tween major Campbell, commander 
in the fort, and general Wayne. 
The latter was too prudent to in- 
sist on a compliance with his tes 
quisition from the British officer, 
which might have produced cons 
sequences of a very fatal nature; 
he therefore withdrew; leaving the 
termination of this difference to a 
more friendly mode of decision.. It 
was, however, shrewdly suspeéted, 
from a variety ofcircumstances, that 
inimical designs were in agitation ; 
if not by the immediate dire¢tion 
of the British administration, still 
through the interference of its agents 
among the Indian tribes. Much 
was said and written on this sub. 
je@t by the American ministry, and 
the British resident; but it was 
not finally settled till the next year, 
when a formal embassy was sent 
from America to Great Britain, for 
that purpose, as well as others of 
equal importance. 


{L] CHAP. 


m6] ANNUAL RECTETER, 


CE AnH bbe 


Successes of the Arnis of France in every port of Europe. —Most ofthe Powert, 
engage ed in the C. calitions alarmedat the Backaeardness of their People to 
push the War for the Restoration of the French Monarchy.—General 
‘Partiality of the inferior Ranks, tx all N. ations, to the French Repusligert: 
Different Sentiments entertained af the French Republic, by different Powers 

. of Burope.— And of the necessory political Balance.—Treatics between the 

. | French Repubiic and seweral Mimbers of the Confederacy. —Mesting of the 

— British Parlicments—sS peech from the Throney recommending a vigorous 
Prosevition of the War.—Adaresses, in Answer; from both Houses.— 

~ Debates theveons—Motion, hy Mr. Sheridum tending to the Repeal of the 

» » Suspension of the Hibecs Corpus.—Negatived.—Motion, by Mr. Wilber- 
fortes for negitidting-a Peace with France. —Negatived.—Motiim for a 
Repeatof ‘the “AX, suspending that of Habeas Cirpus.—Negatived.— 
Motion for continuing rhe Suspension AG.——Carried in both Houses. 


I itBeonettion ofthe year 1704, 
and the commencement “of the 
“year 1795, wére markéd by the 


“splenddur attending the “arms of © 


France, in every bare of Ebrope, ard 
“the deje@ion’ with Which their suc- 
esses had impressed ‘most of the 
“powers engaged in the coalition. 
“Exclusively ‘of their continual de- 


“feats in’ the ‘field, ‘they had ‘other ° 


“motives togriéve them, ofa nature 
“disttessing in proportion to their un- 
““villingness to “avow them; these 
were the backwardness of their'own 
people in seconding their views, and 
the manifest aversion they openly 
expressed to a war, which they con- 
sidered as undertaken merely to 
compel France to revert to a mo- 
narchical government. Herein the 
multitude could net perceive in 
what manner they were interested ; 
their feelings led‘them to condemn 
ae attempt from which they had 
e 7 é ' 


£ 


hitherto derived ‘nothing but losses 


‘and disgraces abroad, and misery 


at home. Hence, in the anguish of 
their hearts, they were not ‘sparing 
of censure on the condué of their 
rulers ; and looked apon themselves 


“as vidtimsidevoted ta theirambition, 
which could not brook that any por. 


tion of Mankind should live under 
any other government than that of 
fellow-monarchs. Full of this idea, 
the inferior ranks, throughout ‘all 
Europe, reprobated the coalition 


-against ‘the French republic, and 


styled it the war of Kingsagainst the 
people. 

‘This idea was propagated by the 
French, with indefatigableindustry, 
in every kingdom, and had, at this — 
period, gained them prodigious num. 
bers of well-wishers ; nor were the 
lower classes alone under its influ- 
ence: a large proportion of the 
more decent aids reputable people 

were 


5 
- 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


Were not averse to those maxims of 
liberty, both in political and re- 
ligioas matters, which the Wrench 
inculcated with so much zeal, and 
supported with so much valour and 
success; they were secretly pleased 
at the ineffectual efforts of the co- 
alesced powers to overturn the re- 
public, and acknowledged their good 
wishes to it as far as ‘they durst. 
This partial disposition to't France 
was too visible, in most of the Eu- 
ropean monarchies, to remain con- 


cealed from the heads of the state ; © 


but it wis a discovery which pru- 
dence forbade them to promulgate: 
they were conscious that this par- 
tiality was produced by the sense 
that men entertained of the wrongs 
and oppressions ‘they endured, 
through the misconduét and i inigui- 
tous’ government of their rulers; 
but they carefully abstained from 
the manifestation of such conscious. 
ness, and, in their addresses to the 
public, always expressed themselves 
as if perfectly satisfied of its attach. 
mentand entire approbation of their 
measures. By thusdissembling their 
wn sentiments, they prevented, in 
“great measure, those of others from 
being propagated through those ex- 
tensive communications that always 
take place between individuals, 
dwhenever complaints and proclama. 
‘tions are issued by government, 
against those who are obnoxious to 
them. 
‘From causes of this nature pro. 
seseded, at this timc, much of the 
ragement that appeared in 
the enemies of the French republic. 
But, without advegting to such mo. 
*tives, there was a sufficiency of 


_ reasons to be alarmed at the con- 


‘tinwal victorics and conquests of the 
Boones; and the rapid progress of 
Opinions. Their situation, 


[147 


though agitated at home, was tri« 
umphant abroad. Notwithstanding 
that they were professedly foes to 
kings, yet, in the opinion of sound 
politicians, they were esteemed too 
judicious to carry this enmity be.- 
yond mere speculation, whenever 
their evident interest should require 
them to contradic that theory bya 
contrary practice. Thus it was, 
that a mutual good understanding 
first took place between them ang 
Prussia, as it already subsisted be- 
tween them and the two northern 
courts of Sweden and Denmark ; 
which, instead of joining the coa- 
lition against them, obstinately per- 
sisted in a friendly neutrality; and 
even united together to maintain 
it, and to require a compensation 
for the damages done to their com, 
merce, in violation of the treaties 
on which their commercial rights 
were founded. 

These transaGions evinced, at the 
same time, that all the European 
powers did not coincide in their 
ideas of the French government. 
Their nearest neighbours were, 


doubtless, so deeply interested in 


the diminution of their overgrown 
power, that it was not surprising 
they should strain every nerve to 
effect it; but those at a distance 
were no less interested in ptevent= 
ing the depression of France, with- 
out the weight of which, the po- 
litical balance of Europe was no 
Jess in danger of being destroyed, 
than by its retention of the ims 
moderate power it had now at. 
tained. ~ 

Ideas of this kind, operated, more 
effeQtually in favour of France; than 
many have seemed to perceive, or 
thought proper to acknowledge; 
they prepared the way to those 
treatles. which the French found 

[L2] mocaris 


148 | 


méans to conclude, in the course of 
2795, with some of the most con- 
siderable members of the confede- 
racy ; whose dereliction of it, at 
the beginning of the preceding 
vear, was not even suspected, and 
the apprehension of which would 
have appeared chimerical. 

It was in the midst of the triumphs 
of France over all its enemies, and 
while the potentates of Europe were 
beginning to hesitate concerning 
the measures proper to be pursued, 
that the parliament of Great Bri- 
tain, resumed its annual sessions 1 
they were opened by the king on 
the thirteenth day of December ; the 
royal speech insisted on the necessity 
of a vigcrous continuation of the 
war, and on the rapid decline of the 
resources of France. Holland ter. 
rified at the dangers that threatened 
it, had sought to obviate them by 
negotiation for peace with the 
French government; but this was 
not to be confided in, and its enmity 
to Great Britain, in particular, ren- 
dered every attempt at a reconcilia. 
tion disgracetul and impracticable : 
the most effe¢tual means had, there- 
fore, been used for the augmenta- 
tion of the national force; and the 
operations of the next campaigns 
would be concerted with due care, 
in conjunction with those powers 
that were convinced of the neces- 
sity of a&ting with the utmost vi- 
gour, ‘The acceptance of the crown 
of Corsica was mentioned, together 
with the treaty of amity and com. 
merce with America, and the mar. 
riage of the prince of Wales with 
the princess of Brunswick. The 
commons were exhorted to make 
‘an ample and timely provision for 
the public service; the flourishing 
state of commerce, credit, and pub- 
lic resources, was strongly asserted ; 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795, 


and the prospect held out, that, by 
resolution and perseverance, secu 
rity would be obtained at home, and 
Europe. delivered from the dangers 
to which it was exposed. 

In the house of lords, the ad- 
dress was moved by lord Camden, 
and seconded by lord Besborough : 
they warmly insisted on the prose- 
cution of the war, and that the ill. 
success of the last campaign render- 
ed negotiations for peace unseascn. 
able, as the enemy would require 
concessions too dishonourable to be 
granted, ‘The situation of France, 
compared to that of England, was 
far more critical, from its destitu. 
tion of the many resources re- 
maining to this country. Never 
had the strength of Great Britain 
been so powerfully exerted; the 
revenue was particularly flourishing, 
and the forces by land and sea had 
at'no period displayed a more formi- 
dable appearance. 

They were opposed by the earl 
of Guildford, who in strong terms, 
reprobated the continuance of the 
war, and alleged its impoliey, from 
the incessant disasters it produced to 
the country, which was in a much 
worse situation than when it com- 
menced. The object, proposed by 
ministers, was as distant as at that 
time; and the allies, who were to 
assist in its accomplishment, a¢ted as 
if they rather permitted than wanted 
the aid of this country. Our en- 
gagements tied us to them, more 
than them to us, and were framed 
for the purposes of their ambition, 
Holland had been sacrificed to it, 
and, without a peace, was utterly 
undone; France, it was clear, could, 
neither be conquered nor dictated to 
by the confederacy; to represent 
that country, as labouring under 
heavier calamities than, England, 

was 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


was no encouragement to proceed 
in a war that had proved so ruinous. 
The ministry had been equally im- 
provident and unskilful in the di- 
recting of military operations, and 
in the framing of treaties. Their 
foreign politics were marked by in- 
considerate prodigality, and their 
domestic proceedings by unconsti- 
tutional rigour. Immense subsidies 
had been trusted, for instance, to 
the king of Prussia, which he ap- 
plied to the destruction of the li- 
berty and independence of Poland. 
And alarms had been raised at home, 
in consequence of which, personal 
freedom was at anend. The earl 
concluded by recommending peace, 
without suffering the French system 
of government to stand as an ob- 
stacle, and made a motion to that 
purpose, as an amendment to the 
address. 

He was supported by the earl of 
Derby, who, in answer to the earls 
of Morton and Kinnoul, who spoke 
against the earl of Guildford, went 
over a variety of those arguments so 
frequently adduced against the mi. 
nisterial measures. He touched par- 
ticularly upon the business of Cor- 
Sica; the possessionof which, hesaid, 
would be productive of more ex- 
pence than utility. He complained 
of the enormous bounties given to 
recruits, amounting to twenty-five 
guineas a man, a price far beyond 
the competency of the country’s 
finances at the present day, when, 
if not entirely exhausted, they were 
alarmingly diminished. The navy, 
he also complained, was sacrificed to 
the army ; the supplies of men for 
which, prevented the manning of 
the navy with its usual proportion of 
one-third of landsmen. He ended 
by advising a change of ministers, as 


[149 


France would not treat with the 
present. > 13/9 WG : 
Lord Spencer, in reply,: recom: 
mended. a spirited prosecution of the 
war; stating that the navy would; 
in the following spring, assume the 
most formidable appearance ever 
known. He maintained the great 
use of Corsica, were it only forthe 
reception it afforded to the British 
fleet, in the proximity of the many 
harbours occupied by the enemies 
to this country. 4 
A recapitulation of the victories 
won, towns taken, and the other 
advantages obtained, by the French; 
was laid before the house» by the 
marquis of Lansdowne, with his 
usual accuracy. He warmly in- 
veighed against the continuance of 
the war; especially since the ap. 
proach of the French to Holland, 
which would inevitably fail into 
their hands, sow that the rivers 
were, through the intenseness of the 
frost, become passable every where. 
He noticed that Germany was in. 
clinable to peace ; Prussia, in par- 
ticular, could not'be deemed a real 
enemy to’ France, while Austria, 
the great rival to both, had an ex- 
istence, National credit, the mar- 
quis observed, had long stood its 
ground ; so it had in France, under 
the former government, but failed 
at last, This was an admonition 
not to be slighted. . It was, in the 
mean time, absurd to deny the com. 
petency of the French government 
to formtreaties. In the fluétuation 
and uncertainty of itsinternal situa. 
tion, it had not violated its engage. 
ments with foreign states. Advert. 
ing to Corsica, he cited Volney and 
Neckar in proof of its little yalue. 
His opinion was, that the French 
government would refuse to treat 


(L 3] with 


350) 


with theprésent ministry; he meant 
not, however, to covet their places ; 
frequent ministerial changes he 
strongly reprobated, and thought 
that country the best governed 
where ministersremained such; while 
their abilities, their diligence, and 
their honesty, stood unimpeached, 

A variety. of historical passages 
were adduced by lord Mulgrave, on 
this occasion, in favour of the mit 
nisterial determination to persist in 
thewar. The French, he observed, 
had frequently met with the most 
signal reverses of fortune, after ob. 
taining the most astonishing succes- 
ses. Lewis X]V. was a remarkable 
instan¢e of this inthe last, and inthe 
beginning of the present century ; 
no monarch had been mere vittori- 
ous, but none was finally reduced to 
more distress. ' In the memory of 
living witnesses, the French had 
begun with triumph, and ended 
with disgrace ;\ as particularly in 
the warof17gg. It was unmanly, 
therefore, as well as unreasonable, 
to look on the present progress of 
the French as irresistible, What- 
ever were our sufferings, they ought 
cheerfully to be borne, sobbed it was 
reflected, that we were struggling 
for our ‘national preservation. In 
speaking of Corsica, he noticed the 
intrinsic unimportance of Minorca 
and Gibraltar, which, however, by 
their local situation, were highly 
useful to Great Britain. 

Lord Stanhope seconded, with his 
usual emphasis, the amendment 
moved by lord Guildford, and was 
replied to by lord} Mansfield. This 
speaker represented the pecuniary 
resources of France. as totally ex- 
hausted. The expenditure of France 
in the last campaign amounted to 
one hundred and forty-four millions 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1793. 


sterling ; the assignats, ina€tual cirs 
culation, were two hundred and 
forty millions, and the quantity of 
forged assignats was immense ; hence 
they were altogether sodepreciated, 

that no person would take them but 
at an incredible discount, reducing 
their value almost to no:hing. 

“It was remarked, on this subjeét, 
by Jord Lauderdale, that if the fis 
nances of France were in reality so 
reduced, the French would never 
retain so haughty a style; nor cught 
they to be so heavily charged \ with 
ambitious views, when it.was well 
known they were, at that time, so- 
liciting peace from one of the co- 
alesced powers; and. had serupu~ 
lously observed the stipulations with 
neutral states. . He dwelt severely 
on the prospe&,: held out. by lord 
Spencer, of the most -formidable 

navy, ina few months, ever put to 
sea; while, at the same time, the 
admiralty were not apprized, that 
the French were masters of thé ens 
trance of the Channel. He cen. 
sured the ministry for not sending 
out a larger force to the West in- 
dies, where the French were: most 
vulnerable; and ascribed to their 
weakness, in rendering the public 
a security for the Imperial loan, the 
facility with which ir was procured 
by the Austrian agents, 

The arguments, that had been 
alleged for and against the con. 
tinuance of the war, were res 
viewed by lord Grenville, who con- 
cluded for the prudence and pro- 
priety of continuing it with ad- 
ditional spirit. The marquis of — 
‘Abercorn, and the duke of Leeds, ~ 
rejected the amendment; though 
they refused to bind themselves with 
the ministerial party to the “Support 


of the war, h 
The 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


The speech of the duke of Bed: 
ford, like those he had already de- 
livered, was. extremely animated. 
It had, he said. been,explicitly af 
firmed, by ministers, that the French 
were utterly unable to defray the 
charges of avother campaign; and 
yet, experience had shewn thay they 
had, in the last, baffled all the cal- 
qulations founded on.their phi 
It was absurd to infer their want of 
means from the prodigiousness of 
their expences ;, and of, these.no va~ 
Iid proofs had. been stated. He 
condemned, with great warmth, the 
idea of a war of mutual extermina- 
tion, which was, in fact, the object 
pursued and recommended by. mi- 
nisters. He concluded with point. 
ed strictures on the exhortation of 
Ministers, tO unite in supporting 
what they styled the generous ex- 
ertions of war: these words he 
stigmatised, as inconsistent with the 
miseries and distresses accompany - 
ing a military life; and, more than 
all, with the sen ations that must be 
felt, by men torn from all domestic 
comforts, and compelled to leave 
their dearest relatives exposed to 
want and wretchedness. 

Lord Grenville ended the debate, 
by declaring that, notwithstanding 
the insinuations, that the royal 
speech purported To peace would 
be made with France while it con- 
tinued a republic, such a construc. 
tion was erroneous, and could not be 
Warranted by any part of it. On 
psifieu the question for Jord Guild- 

’s amendment, it was rejected 
by one hundred and seyen votes 
957394 twelve, 

the house of commons, it being 
2 previously to moving the ad- 
dress, to read the bill for Af prose~ 
cuting of clandestine outlawries, 
the speakes, of course, presented the 


fish 


bill; but, Mr,:Sheridan opposed its, 
reading, His reason was, that it 
heing acustom established, merely, 
to. assert the right. of the house, to 
proceed, to any. business they judged, 
proper, before that of the roya 
speech, they ought to realize thas, 
right, with which they were, doubt. 
less, invested for useful purposes. 
Instead of reading, therefore, t 
outlawry. bill, he “would move th 
reading of apart of much more 
importance, at the present junCture., 
They were.called together to give, 
their advice to the king, on subjects 
of the highest consequence to the 
nation; but before they, could con- 
sider themselves in a situation to 
advise with freedom and impar- 
tiality, it was proper they should: 
be ina state of liberty ; and this 
they could not be while under the 
terrors of a suspension of the habeas 
corpus act; his intention, therefore, 
was to move for a repeal of thas 
suspension. 

This motion was warmly opposé sd, 
by Mr. Dundas, who declared peed 
self of opinion, that instead of bie 
repealed it ought to. be renewe 
He was supported by the solicitor- 
general, who, in a speech of some 
length, asserted that the evidence 
on the late trials had proved the 
reality of a conspiracy, though by 
the verdi¢t of the jury, the persons 
acquitted .could not be brought to 
a second trial. Others beside him- 
self were, he said, of this opinion. 
He then detailed the proceedings of 
the several societies, and concluded 
by condemning, in violent terms, 
their claim to universal suffrage, 

The solicitor-general was opposed 
by Mr. Fox. According tothe spirit, 
as well as the letter of the law and 
the constitution, it appeared to him, 
that a jury’s acquittal established 

L4] the 


152} 


the innocence of the party ac- 
cused; but the speech he had 
now heard tended to overturn the 
validity of a jury’s verdi€t, which 
was the stronges: fence of the con, 
stitution, by securing the personal 
freedom of the subject, The in- 
tent of that speech was to maintain 
the doctrine of constructive trea. 
son: which, if it were not vigo- 
rously opposed by the house, might, 
in time, be held out as the law of 
the land. If the solicitor-general 
thought himself better om sisal 
than the jury, why did he not com, 
municate this superior information 
to them onthe trial, or tothe house 
at present? but the truth was, that 
jury consisted of disinterested men, 
who had no favours to ask, nor to 
expect from government, Was it the 
opinion of a crown-lawyer, or of 
an English jury, that would have 
the greatest weight in deciding the 
charaéter of an individual? — 

In answer to Mr. Fox, Mr. ser- 

eant Adair reviewed the proceed. 
ings of the societies, and demanded 
whether it were probable that their 
designs did not aim at the destruc. 
tion of the monaych, or the consti- 
tution? The guilty were often ac- 
quitted in courts of justice; not be- 
cause they were considered as inno- 
cent, but merely because there was 
no striétly legal evidence produced 
against them. A doubt of their 
guilt was sufficient, in the breast 
of the jury, for their acquittal; 
but that did by no means clear the 
charaéter of the accused. 

There was no reason, Mr. Pitt 
alleged, for repealing the bill, un- 
less it were proved that it had been 
enaéted upon errqneous grounds, 
and without sufficient deliberation ; 
or that government had abused the 
power it had entrusted to them, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Those causes of alarm that had oc.. 
casioned it had not been disproved, 
nor that the accused were involved 
in a conspiracy as dangérous as 
treason itself. The verdict in their 
favour could not, therefore, operate 
as a motive for repealing the att, 
even admitting that their inditt- 
ment for high-treason had not been 
supported by legal proofs; and if 
the judicious and unbiassed public 
looked upon them as guilty of an 
attempt, for which the law had not 
provided a due punishment, it was 
the duty of parliament to make 
such provision. ; 
In reply to Mr. Pitt, it was as. 
serted, by Mr. Sheridan, that the 
bill had been hurried through the 
house in two days, without the usual 
notice, a circumstance far from im- 
plying requisite deliberation. He 
was convinced, by what he had 
heard, that a farther suspension of 
the bill was determined upon ; but 
he was resalved to oppose it with 
every argument he was able to ad- 
duce, that ministers might have no 
opportunity of grounding it on ap- 
prehensions of their own creating, 
and reasons which, if not combated, 
they might represent as unanswer- 
able. ‘ 
Mr. Sheridan proceeded next to 


call in question the propriety of 


Mr. Dundas’s appearing in the 
house as amember. By Mr. Burke’s 
bill of reform, the office of third 
secretary of state had beenabolished, 
and an aét passed, that if it should 
be revived, and conferred on.a mem- 
ber of parliament, his seat should 
thereby be vacated. Mr, Pitt an- 
swered this obje€tion, by intimating 
that the duke of Portland was the 
third secretary of state; an ex. 
planation that Mr. Fox and Mr. 
Sheridan thought disrespeétful Re 

yi that 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


that nobleman, who had formerly 
concurred in the abolition of that 
office. . 

These discussions being thus ter- 
minated, the address was moved by 
sir Francis Knatchbull, and second- 
éd by Mr. Canning ; who observed, 
that though unfavourable circum- 
stances had occurred abroad, they 
ought not to prevent a vigorous 
prosecution of the war: they had 
been occasioned by the desertion 
of our allies, and not by the mis- 
conduct of ministers. The fall of 
Roberspierre, and the subsequent 
changes in the government of 
France, did not warrant this coun- 
try to attempt atreaty. The French 
divided their enemies in two classes: 
the instigatorsof the coalitionagainst 


_ them, and those whio had joined it 


through compulsion. We weve in 
the first class, the Dutch in the 
‘second; the treatment of the Jat- 
ter would shortly shew what we 
had to expeét; but a pacification 
with them, at present, would bring 
$0 little security, that no diminu- 


_ tion of our fleets and armies could 


ensue, and our expences must re. 
main as great as ever. 

Mr. Wilberforce objefted to the 
address,as pledging the house to 
earry’on the war till a counter. 
revolution was effefted in France. 
Thealterations in that country made 


hn ml in his opinion, more in- 


ned to moderation than hereto. 


fore. Jacobinism had been sup- 


3; and the 


overnment had 


assumed an aspeét of lenity, incom. 


le, who were sincerely desirous 


ren, with the general sense of the 
peace. The coalition, he ob- 


‘served, was dissolved, and we could 


not expeét to overcome, with our 


Single strength, a nation that had 


resisted so powerful a confederacy, 


[153 


pressing upon them from abroad ; 
while they were, at the same time, 
assailed with near fifty insurrections 
at home. He did not think a mo- 
narchy the fittest form of govern- 
ment for the French, at the present 
juncture. Were monarchy restored, 
the country would not be pacified, 
as its friends and enemies would 
still preserve their animosities, and 
the latter still remain the superiors 
in number. It ought to be recol- 
lected, by those who thought a 
counter-revolution in France, prac 
ticable, that six years had now 
elapsed since the first revolution ; 
during that space, a new genera~ 
tion of young men had been ¢are- 
fully trained, and brought up, in re- 
publican principles; and numbers 
of the elderly, and others averse to 
these, were either dead, or had 
emigrated to other countries, He 
concluded by moving a negotiation 
for peace, which, whether success 
ful or not,,would prove to the 
people that the government desired 
peace. The nation would then 
feel the necessity of uniting with 
Ministers, whose offers of recon. 
ciliation had been reje¢ted-by the 
enemy, and would cerdially give 
their vigorous support to what no 
one could deny, in such a case, to 
be a just and necessary war. 

The motion of Mr. Wilberforce 
was seconded by Mr. Duncombe 
and Mr. Burdon, but opposed by 
Mr. Windham. The ill success of 
the war he solely imputed to the 
miscondu€t of some of the allies. 
Comparing the events of the pre. 
sent with those of former wars, 
he asserted that all that could be 
said on this subje€t was, that 
hitherto it had only been nega. 
fively successful. The most alarm. | 
ing circumstance attending it, 
. wag 


154] 
was, he said; that we were not 
true to ourselves. The political 
societies, in) England, had propa-. 
gated, principles inimical to it. 
The acquittal of those members 
belonging to. them, by a jury at 
the late trials, he represented: in 
the most odious light, styling them 
no better than acquitted felons. 
This’ expression was so highly. 
resented, that he was immediately 
called to order. He explained 
himself by saying, that though 
proofs had not been adduced of 
their legal guilt, it did nor fol. 
low that they were free from 
moral guilt. He justified the in. 
terference of Great Britain in 
the affairs of France, by the au, 
thority. of Vattel, whose opinion 
was, that every government, that 
is threatened, has a right to re, 
sist the power that threatens it, 
till it is secure from that power, 
Henceforth, he said, the. charac, 
ters of men would be known, 
by theig condemnation-or appro, 
val of the French revolution, tg 
which those who had hitherto act, 
ed as enemies, could not, with pro. 
ptiety, change their conduct, and 
declare for terms of conciliation 
with that people. He deprecat. 
ed the opening of a treaty with 
them, as it would lead the way 
to an intercourse, between the 
two nations, that might introduce 
into England. all the calamities 
and horrors that desolated France. 
We were not yet reduced to the 
necessity of recurring to sd dis, 
graceful a measure; we still 
were able to make the most spi- 
rited and  powerfol | exertions, 
without suffering from them ; all 
classes were competent to the 
weight of the burdens laid upon 
them; neither the rich nor the 


‘ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


poor had yet reason to. complain > 
while the former felt no, incon. 
veniences, the latter would. feel 
none, as the expences and luxu. 
ty of the wealthy were the sup. 
port of the indigent. He con. 
cluded with an exhortation, to, 
display as much firmness and per. 
severance in a good cause, as the 
French did in a dad one. 

The desire of terminating a 
ruinous war was strongly approv. 
ed by Mr. Bankes, as ° equally. 
just and indispensable; after the 
fruitless trial to reduce the enes 
my to our own terms. If no peace 
were admissible, while France was 
a republic, the war might be end. 
less. The time must, nevertheless, 
arrive, when we must treat: the 
sooner, therefore, the better, for 
both parties. Phe desertion of 
our allies, in particular, afforded 
a motive, which glone was suf. 
ficient for putting an end to. a 
contest of which they were the 
original movers. Sir Richard 


_ Hull expressed himself of the ame 


opinion. 

These explicit avowals of a 
disapprobationof farther hostilities, 
on the ‘part of members who had | 
hitherto coincided with the. mi- 
nisterial system of war, seemed. to 
strike ‘Mr. Pitt with great sur- 
prize. He denied the tendency 
of the King’s speech, to incul- 
cate the continuance of the war 
till France reassumed a monarchi. 
cal form; though he acknowledg, 
ed his persuasion, that no peace 
could be depended on, till can 
royal government was re-estahlis 
ed; the only proper one, in his 
opinion, for all the ‘European na, 
tions. The coalition, once dis. 
solved, would not easily be™ re, 


stored 5 and we then should be ; 
’ left 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


left alone to contend with France. 
Was it probable, that if we were 
to abandon the contest, the French 
would alter their present system? 
Would their immense armies be 
peaceably disbanded? Would not 
the French government find it ne- 
cessary to give them employment, 
and what other could be found, 
than to complete the ruin of the 
royal party, which still remained 
in sufficient force to afford us a 
powerful co operation? Could the 
Jow countries: be giyen up 
France, consistently with our safe~ 
ty? Should the French islands, 
in the West Indies, be restored 
to them; not only those who had 
placed themselves under our pro- 
teétion would be ruined, but our 
_ own. possessions would soon be 
thrown into confusion. The real, 
losses of the French far exceed- 
ed those of the coalition, and the 
resources of the latter were 
“greatly superior to those of the 
former. The pecuniary strength 
‘of France arose from the immense 
extortion of money and property 
from all ranks of people ; a me- 
thod of procuring supplies that 
could only be supported by ter- 
ror and violence, and could not, 
in the nature of things, be lasting. 
_ France had expended, since the 
revolution, no Jess than three hun- 
_ dred and twenty millions sterling. 
The paper money they had, cre- 
ated, had hitherto supported this 
prodigious expenditure. But pa- 
credit was at an end, and 
it was evident, by the debates 
in the convention, that they did 
not dare to venture on farther 
_ €missions. 
_ A reply was made to this 
speech by Mr. Fox. Had the 
minister, he said, avowed that his 


to. 


[155 


design was to destroy. the French 
government, he well koew thas 
he vwrould not have been so. nws 
merously supported; bat his des 
termination, to procufe approvers 
of his plan, led him to disguise 
it; and what was the consequence ? 
a scries of the most astonishing 
successes on the part of the enes 
my, and of the most mortifying 
disasters on that of the coalition. 
He might be reproached for this 
favourable representation of- the 
exploits of an ancient and. invetes 
rate foc; but he felt. himselt 
bound to speak truths, however, 
disagreeable, from which’ only, 
motives of condu&t..could be 
formed. Folly, not fortune, was 
the cause of our disasters. If 
other nations. could live peaces 
ably with France, why could nots 
Britain? Denmark, -Swedea, and 
North America, had stood aloof 
from the contest without detris 
ment; and so we-~might have 
done. Could. England,- with ho. 
nour, it had been asked, submit 
to treat with France? But in 
what consisted this submission’? in 
no more than allowing.the French 
to havea bad government. But 
had we not treated with govern. 
ments as bad? Had the governs 
ment of France been better for 
a century past? . Had we not 
tamely submitted to-the infamous 
treatment of Poland? Could we, 
without disgracing ourselves, at 
was said, sue for peace. to the 
French? He would answer this 
question by another. Were. na. 
tions, at war, bound, in honour, 
to exterminate each other? for 
such must be the issue to one, 
if neither were to request @ 
peace. The royalists had been 
mentioned, as standing through 

our 


156] 


our engagements to them, in the 
way of a pacification ; but surely 
the nation was not to be sacri- 
ficed to the rash promises of a 
minister. Experience had shewn 
we could depend on none of our 
allies, who were gradually desert- 
ing the cause into which they 
had drawn us. Prussia had for- 
saken it, and so probably wouid 
Austria, at a convenient season. 
The French finances were said 
to be ‘entirely exhausted ; but this 
assertion had been repeatedly made, 
and as repeatedly belied, by the 
events of every year. It had also 
been affirmed, that whenever the 
French reverted toa more mode. 
rate system, which they must ne- 
cessarily do at last, there would be 
an end to their exertions, which 
were only supported by violence ; 
but had their aétivity and efforts 
been diminished, since the fall of 
Roberspierre, when they undeniably 
adopted a plan of moderation ? 

Mr. Joliffe coincided with “Mr. 
Fox, and objected to the address, 
as binding the house to an impli- 
cit support of the war. He ex- 
pressed himself, however, highly 
averse to any treaty of peace, of 
which the French should diate 
the conditions. The debate con- 
cluded at four in the morning, 
when, on a division, seventy-three 
voted for the amendment, and 
two hundred and forty-six against 
it. 

On the sth of January, the 
discussion on the suspension of the 
habeas corpus aét was resumed 
by Mr. Sheridan. The preamble 
to that suspension stated that a 
dangerous and treasonable conspi- 
racy existed in this country; but 
a verdi in court: had shewn this 
conspiracy to be a mere fabrica- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tion of ministers, who had exer- 
cised an illegal influence over the , 
grand jury, that found the indict. 
ment against the parties accused. 
He severely animadverted on the 
expression of acquitted felons, used 
by Mr. Windham, in the pre- 
ceding debate, as  scandalously 
misapplied. The parties had un- 
dergone the stri€test trial, and 
no pains had been spared to cri- 
minate them. Eight thousand 
pounds had been paid to the 
crown-lawyers, and -no less than 
two hundred witnesses had been 
procured against one alone, at a 
vast expence. He strongly ridi- 
culed the epithet of formidable, 
bestowed on the supposed ‘con- 
spiracy ; the strength and prepa- 
rations made by which, he jocu- 
larly stated, as consisting of an 
arsenal furnished with one pike 
and nine rusty muskets, and an 
exchequer containing nine pounds 
and one bad shilling. These were 
the ways and means with which 
the conspirators proposed to over- 
turn the government of Great 
Britain. The suspension of the 
habeas corpus act, Mr. Sheridan 
explicitly affirmed, was, in fact, 
to suspend the whole British con- 
stitation, Nothing less than im. 
minent, as well as evident dan- 
ger, could warrant such a mea- 
sure, But ministers now acted on 
the most questionable of all infor- 
mation, that of spies; a species 
of agents) more numerous and 
more employed and relied upon 
than at any preceding periods. He 
described, with great force of lan- 
guage, the various evils resulting 
to society, from the encourage- 
ment of persons base enough to 
assume so detestable, as well as 
so despicable, a charaéter. The 


people 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


people at. large had, he observed, 
been lately charged with a sedi- 
tious disposition; but the fact was, 
that they were discontented at the 
measures of administration, and apt 
to express their sentiments of per- 
eons in power, without disguise. 
‘The only method of preventing the 
complaints of the public would be, 
to alter the ruinous system hitherto 
pursued, Mr. Sheridan, then re- 
‘suming the, subje&t of the late 
trials, asserted, that the persons 
tried were not certainly more cul- 
pable than those well-known mem- 
bers of the societies, in 1780, that 
had aéted precisely on the same 
principles, and that ought strictly 
to be considered as having get them 
the example. If their imitators 
were guilty of treasonable prac- 
tices, they had also incurred np 
less criminality, and merited equal 
punishment. Look to France, he 
noticed, was now the cry, when. 
ever the reform of abuses, de- 
manded by those societies, was 
Ansisted on, as necessary to remove 
the complaints of the people. But, 
were he to look to France, he 
would look to the causes of its 
present calamities; the pride and 


oppression which the French had 


so long endured; the miscries of 
a despotic government, deaf to the 
repeated remonstrances of a fuf. 
fering people ; and spurning at all 
entreaties, for an alleviation of 
their burdens, These. were the ob- 
jets that would claim his atten- 
tion, as they doubtless would that 
‘of every man in England who re.- 
flef&ted, that, in order to avert, 
from this country, those evils that 
now affli¢ted France, the causes that 
shad produced them must be re- 
“moved, 


? 
a 


[159 
Mr. Winiham. replied, with 


great warmth, to Mr. Sheridan, 
He imputed the favourable verditt 
of the jury, in the late trials of the 
persons accused of conspiracy, totig- 
norance and incapacity to discern 
the true state of the case before 
them. He asserted, that the real 
object of the societies was to over- 
turn the constitution, and that 
the principles imported from France 
would produce the worst effects, 
unless they were opposed with the 
strictest vigilance. He took this 
occasion to deny his having uttered 
such an expression as ‘* perish the 
commerce of England,’’ which he 
attributed to another member, 
Mr. Hardinge, who did not dis- 
avow it. 

The propriety of continuing the 
suspension of the habeas cor- 
pus was discussed, in a long and 
elaborate speech, by Mr. Erskine, 
who concluded, from what had 
passed on the trials, which he ac- 
curately recapitulated, that a con- 
spiracy had been explicitly dis. 
proved. ‘This being the basis on 
which the suspension rested, no 
pretence could remain for its 
continuance; which would be ito 
suspend the liberty of the whole 
nation, on the mere suspicion of 
some individuals, 

If the determination of a jury, it 
was replied by Mr. Adair, were 
never to be called in question, upon 
what feeble ground the subject’s 1i- 
berty wouldstand! Parliament was 
clearly entitled to investigate the 
conduct of juries; otherwise there 
would be no redress against the 
corruptioi: of juries or of judges, 
nor against ministerial oppression. 
On this maxim he justified the dis. 
cussions on the late trials, the issue 


‘* 


of 


158} 


of which, though in favour of the 
accused, had, by no fixed rule, esta- 
blished their i innocence. The sus. 
icions entertained against them 
ee not been cleared up to their ad- 
_ wantage: in one particular case, 
“the jury hesitated ‘two hours. 
Would the judges, would the grand 
gory, have-countenanced the accusa- 
tion, unless it had appeared found- 
ed? but the transa€tions of the so. 
Cieties sufficiently proved their trea- 
sonable intentions. The general 
statement of a conspiracy was unde. 
miable. The same circumstances 
n. which the suspension-act was 
grounded in the preceding year, 
still existed, and no valid motive 
could be atleged for its repeal. 
In answer to Mr. Adair, it was 
asked by Mr. Fox, upon what argn- 
ment the repeal would be founded, 
the former argument having been 
degally disproved ? the decision of a 
jury, though doubtless revisable by 
parliament, could not, consistently 
‘with reason and equity, be question- 
ed without the most evident neces- 
sity. In the present cases, no ac- 
‘quittal had taken place, but afier 
the strictest and séverest trial: In 
‘that of Hardy, whitch decided the 
‘others, had a conspiracy been 
proved, hemust, unavoidably, have 
as condemned, as he was privy 


to all the transa€tions of the parties. 


accused. His-discharge was, there- 

fore, a proof that no cone 
existed. Such being the fact, what 
was to be the motive of the suspen. 

sion? the house ought to reflect, 

that they were now sitting as a jury, 

on the palladium of English liberty. 
To say, that a suspension of the 
habeas would obviate the necessity 
of bringing people to trial, was pre- 
cisely the argument urged in defence 
“of the detires de cachet, under the old 


‘moved by the attor 


ANNUAL REGISTER,: 1795. 


Sovernment of France, by which 4 


person might remain 4 prisoner for 
years, or for life. He concluded, by 
réproaching ministers for chatging 
opposition with promoting discoti- 
tents, if the same manner as they 
accused the dissenters of being bad 
sudjects, and enegura gediain ignorant 
and bigoted populs sce to treat them 
with barbarity.. 

The propriety of thebill suspend. 
ing the habeas was mgintained by 
the mast 
nestly opposed by Mr Thomson, and 
Mr. Milbanke. After a concluding 
speech in its support, by Mr. Pitt, 
the debate'closed, by 41 votes fora 
repewl of the suspension, and 185 
az rises it. 

en days after the decision of 
ms mattet, a motion for leave to 
bring in a bill, to continue the sus- » 
pension of the habeas corpus, was 
ney-general, and 
carried by 71 against 13. But the 
second reading, which was on the 
23d, met with a strong opposition. 
Mr. Lambton observed, that the 


power entrusted to the minister, by 


the intended bill, was enormous ¢ 
he might imprison individuals on 
what pretences he thought proper. 
The whole nation was in a manner 
surrendered to his discretion. “The 
worthiest’ men were liable to be 
thrown into confinement, without 
being informed of the particular 
crime or offence for which’ they 
suffered, without knowing their ac- 
cuser, and without the benefit ofa 
trial till it saited the minister’s con- 
venience. Was such treatmenr of 
the subjeét to be endured, in @ 
country, calling itself free, without 
the most glaring and ‘self-evident 
necessity? Thetrials, that had taken 
place, had proved the innocence of 
the parties accused, of every charge 


brought 


\ 


er of the rolls, and as ear- < | 


y 


i 


broughtagainst them. What more 
was required, by the law of the 
| Janda, toclear them of those accusa. 


tions that brought them into court ? 
was not this sufficient not only for 
their discharge, but to shield them 
from all malicious imputations? No 
‘atts of treason had beensubstantiated 
against them, ‘This being the main 
* intent and scope of their trial, and 
having entirely failed, what remain. 
ed for the candid parts of society, 
‘bat to acquiesce in the verdié of an 
unbiassed jury, and to acknowledge 
them, what they certainly were, af- 
“tersuch a decision, not guilty of the 
¢rime laid to their charge? The 
gtand jury, it was alleged, had 
found the bill against them; but 
‘upon what evidence? that of per- 
“sons suspected of being spies and in- 
formers, and whose occtpution it 
“Was to discover guilt in hope of a 
‘téward for their discovery. Were 
») these charaétcrs worthy of the least 
credit, either in private transactions 
or in a public court ? did it become 
“either ministers, or their partisans, 
‘to insist upon the weight of such 
' testimony ? Had they not been con- 
jfiited in open court? was it fair, 
| was it legal, to build on the reports 
“of such men, so weighty a measure 
| as the suspension, which was to af- 
| __ feet the public tranquillity, and the 
_ domestic quiet of a whole nation? 
_ for who. was safe, when once sus- 
_ Picions were deemed sufficient mo- 
|‘ tiyes to rob a man of his liberty ? 
| 
| 


_ These were not surmises, nor 
groundless insinuations ; every man 
| that had spirit enough to avow his 
| disapprobation of ministerial mea- 
_Bures, laid himself cpen ‘to the se- 
: Yerest treatment. Before a ‘trust of 
| “such magnitude as that which was 
| given to government, by the sus- 


—_—_——_ 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


[159 


pension of the habeas, could be as- 
sented to by the representatives of 
the people, they ought to be well 
persuaded, that it was indispensably 
required ; they ought also to have 
proofs of such necessity: without 
these they had no right to inchain 
their constituents at the foot ofa 
minister, subject toall those passions 
that are the natural concomitants of 
an exalted post, and whose native 
uprightness of disposition, however 
it might be asserted by his adhe. 
rents, ought by no means to com- 
mand implicit confidence. Warious 
societies had of late years been esta. 
blished throughout the nation, and 
obtained great popularity : it was 
usual, in the ministerial circles, to 
represent them as consisting chiefly 
of disaffeéiéd people. But these 
societies were the very life of liberty 
in a free country ? those only dis= 
approved of them, who were better 
friends to the agents of the execu. 
tive power, than to the freedom of 
the constitution; the existence of 
which depended on the avowal and 
circulation of free and manly ideas 
on political subjects. To oppose, or 
to depreciate these societies, wasa 
proof that ministers dreaded their 
investigating spirit. This alone 
shewed a consciousness of deserving 
censure ; but this was the strongest 
argument in favour of these societies, 
and how firmly they ought to be 
supported by a nation that valued 
its freedom. The incessant coma 
plaints of their seditious tendency 
proceeded solely from the mouths 
of notorfous tools of power. He 
was himself, Mr. Lambton said, a 
member of one of these societies, 
that of the friends to the people, 
and defied any unprejudiced man to 
tax their proceedings with the 

: least 


160) 


Jeast impropriety or disaffection to 
government. They canvassed its 
measures with unreserve; but were 
‘steadily attached to the constitution 
itself; which indeed had so little to 
apprehend from these societies, that 
itwas chiefly among them the warm- 
est supporters of it were found. The 
reform of parliament had long been 
their principal object. Motives of 
prudence and moderation had, in 
the present tempestuous season, sus- 
pended their efforts to accomplish 
it; but they would certainly pursue 
their determinations on that point 
at a more auspicious period. 

Such was the purport of the re- 
markable ‘speech made by Mr, 
Lambton, on thisoccasion. It was 
answered by the attorney-general, 
who solemnly declared, that he was 
induced by no other motive than 
conviction of its propriety, to sup- 
port the continuance of the suspen- 
sion-act. It was withgrief, he said, 
that he had heard the arguments of 
so able a speaker as the iast, in op- 
position to it, as they seemed cal. 
culated to encourage persons ill- 
affe&ted. It was not, he said, the 
guilt of particular individuals that 
was now under examination: it was 
the existence’ of a conspiracy of 
which parliament was clearly com- 
petent to decide the reality, what- 
ever might have been the opinion 
of a court of justice. ‘The accused 


had indeed been pronounced not’ 


guilty: but that did not impose 
silence on the supreme court of the 

nation; which, without interfering 
with judical authority, had still a 
fi ight to retain its own opinions. 
Who could deny the prepossession of 
the societies in favour of the French 
and of French principles, as well as 
that of the writingsof Paine, Barlow, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


Macintosh, Mrs. Wolstencroft, Mr. 
Christie, and other champions of 
the revolution? Was it not incum. 
bent on persons in power to guard 
against the dissemination of such 
dangerous do&trines? From the 
conduct of those who formed the 
convention in Scotland, it fully ap- 
peared, that the societies, and their 
abettors, had mo intention to apply 
to parliament for those alterations 
they required; they had determined, 
it was, plain, to depend solely on 
oe ownenergy, 

- Jekyll contended for the 
bis of conduct in the so- 
cieties, in commissioning their 
agents to Insist on arcform in par- 
liament, which would never, of 
its own accord, undertake a task, 
so irksome to most of its compo- 
nents. No punishment, it had been 
said, was inili€ted, by holding per- 
sons in custody, as if their very de- 
tention were not a sufficient punish- 
ment. 
unqualified manner in which the 
persons acquitted at the late tri. 
als had been stigmatized in the 
house. The suspension-a&t, he in- 
sinuated, was gliding into an an- 
nual motion, and unless arrested 


in its progress, would be, at Iast,. 


considered as a standing rule for 
every session. He resolutely ex- 
posed the ignominious employment 
of spics, wherever they could be 
introduced on any part of society. 
He read, in proof of what he as- 
serted, a letter, des¢ ribing the ar- 
tifice ‘and bribery that had been 
used, in order to prevail upon 2 
ccriain person to become a spy. 


Mr. Curwen, and Mr. Francis, _ 


zealously opposed the suspension. 
att: Mr. Francis particularly ex. 
posed the inconsistency of pre. 

‘ ferring 


He warmly reprobated the. 


- HISTORY. OF EUROPE, 


Ferring the opinion of a grandjury, 
to the verdict of a jury ona legal 
trial. No case of treason having 
arisen since the late trials, there 
was no ground for the suspending- 
a&t, which, previously ‘to them, 
had rested on that pretext of a 
conspiracy, by which they were 
occasioned, 

In order to prove that a con- 
Spiracy might be real, and yet no 
proofs of it be produced, the soli. 
citor.general alleged the well- 
known case of captain Porteous, 
during the reign of George II. 
not one of the agents in which was 
ever discovered, though the trans- 
ation itself happened in the midst 
of a large and populous city. Inthe 
same manner, though proofs had not 
been yet brought home to the pre- 
sent conspirators, yet the reality of 
there being such in the kingdom, 
was strongly in the persuasion of a 
majority of the legislature, which, 
of itself, was a valid reason for con- 
tinuing the aét of suspension, 

- The authenticity of the proofs, 
adduced to ascertain the existence 
of a conspiracy, was insisted upon, 
in a long and laborious argument, 
by Mr. Hardinge, who was replicd 
to, in one no less elaborate, by 
Mr. Erskine, who objeéted to the 
intricacy and obscurity of his reason- 
ing. A conspiracy, he allowed, 
might exist, and the conspirators not 
be known or convitted; but this 
was not the casein agitation. The 
conspiracy, now in question, was 
Specifically to assemble a conven- 
tion, independently of government : 
papers of various kinds had been 
brought forward to substantiate it; 

the authors of which were ascertain. 
ed: but had these papers been trea- 
sonable ,how could their aurhors have 

avoided conviétion? these papers, 
© Vor, XXXVITI. 


[161 


therefore contained no treason, and 
the acquittal of their authors proved 
that they were not engaged ina 
treasonable conspiracy. This pre- 
tence, of course, fell to the ground, 
and could not, consequently, war. 
rant the continuance of the suspen- 
sion act. A traitorous spirit was at- 
tributed to these papers, and a de~ 
sign to dégrade and vilify the na- 
tional representation ; but to com- 
plain of the misconduét of par. 
liamentary men was not treason. 
The best answer to the complaints 
of the public would be to listen ta 
them, and correét those errors and 
flaws in their condu& that had 
givenoccasion fordiscontent. **Was 
ita time, said Mr. Erskine, to treat 
the people wath severity, and repeal 
their most essential privileges, when 
the very existence of government 
depended on their affections ?’” 
Ministers ought, he added, to take 
warning trom what had happened 
in the low countries ; the people 
there had loudly demanded the 
restitution of their ancient rights 
and immunities, as the people in 
England now did a reform in par- 
liament; but they were treated 
with megleé& and scorn by the Au- 
strian government, What, in the 
issue, was the result of this contempt 
and haughtiness? as soon as the 
French carried their vi€torious arms 
into that country, the power of 
Austria fell before them: the people 
flocked to their standard, and pre. 
ferred submission to a foreign con- 
queror, to the slavish subjection re. 
quired of them by a family descend. 
ed from their ancient sovereigns, 
Lhe history of Holland spoke the 
sume language; and that of Ame. 
rica held up a precedent of which 
a British ministry ought, on the pre. 
sent occasion, to be earnestly re. 

[M] minded, 


162] 


minded. He concluded by saying, 
that, ‘¢ the friends of kings would 
never be quiet until they had de- 
stroyed all the royal governments ; 
the loss of their pcople’s affection, 
and of their power, had uniformly 
arisen from the pernicious counsels 
of those friends.’’ 

Mr. serjeant Adair maintained 
the reality of a conspiracy, from the 
constant language and transactions 
of the popular societies: though, 
possibly, not yet guilty of treason, 
they bordered upon it ; and govern- 
ment aéted wisely in taking timely 
alarm, and obviating evils, which, 
if left unchecked,wouid rapidly have 
become irresistible. It was through 
the seasonable interposition of go- 
vernment, that the enernies of the 
state were still'so weak in number, 
and so insignificant in character. 

The principle of punishment up- 
on suspicion was reprobated by 
Mr. Fox, as incompatible with the 
law, and with the spirit, of the Eng- 
lish constitution: it was the prin- 
ciple of all the tyrannical govern- 
ments in existence. The. suspen- 
sion of the habeas corpus had only 
that treason in view which was 
clearly defined by the statute of 
Edward III. but, if constructive 
treason were once admitted, any 
species of misdemeanour might come 
under that interpretation, So strong 
and positive had been the acquittal 
of the persons lately tried, that 
government was completely  de- 
terrcd from farther prosecutions, 
It was asserted, by the supporters 
of ministry, that the reasonings of 
Opposition, against the suspension, 
were few in comparison. of those 
that’ militated for its propriety ; 
butjif few, said Mr. Fox, they 
were apposite to thecase ; they were 
founded upon law,- the best of all 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


reasons. He denied the disaffection 
imputed to the opposers of mi- 
nisterial measures: to these, he al- 
lowed there were multitudes of. 
enemies ; burtthese the truest friends 
to theconstitution, and to the means 
of its duration ; the most efficient 
of which means, was to treat the 
people with lenity, and to restore. 
to them that safeguard of their con- 
stitutional freedom, the habeas, of 
which they were so causelessly de- 
prived. Discontents would always 
exist; but that was no argument 
for wrath and resentment ata whole 
community. The loyalty of the 
people at large was unquestionable ; 
they had hitherto submitted to the 
executive power, without the least 
shadow of resistance; their desire — 


of a reform in the representation 


was well founded, and ought to 
meet with compliance, before dis- 
contents rose to an alarming de- 
gree. Parliament, though elevated 
to the supreme authority of legisla. 
tion, should remember who exalted 
them, and consult at once the in- 
‘terests and the wishes of their con- 
stituents. When opinions became 
general ina nation, its rulers should 
act conformably to them; asit could 
not reasonably be supposed, that the 
body of an immense people were 
not able to judge for themselves so 
well as those whom they deputed 
and authorized to a&t for them, 
merely to prevent, turbulence and 
confusion, It were a happy cir- 
cumstance for nations, if their rulers 
would more frequently condescend 
to receive impressions from them : 
had not the British government — 
unfortunately disdained such im- 
pressions, Britain and America — 
would, at this hour, be but one 
people. Inauspiciously for states, 
these impressions wege usually fele 

i. too: 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


too late, and» when the retrospect 
of past errors forced. them upon 
‘ministers.and; their followers ; but 
then;they served only to fill them 
with repentance at their havghtiness 
_.and folly. Till then they persisted in 
scorning to place any advice ona 
level with their own councils, and 
in giving these an exclusive prefer- 
ence, not only. to, the admonitions 
of all other men, but to the expe- 
tience enfozced upon them, by the 
disasters arising from their own,ob« 
stinacy. 
' Insupport of the suspension, it 
was argued by Mr. Pitt, that it 
was a constitutional remedy, the 
application of which had always 
proved effectual in cases similar to 
the present ; it was prudent, there- 
fore, to apply it before the evils ap- 
prehended became incurable : | pre- 
_ yention was proverbially preferable 
tocure. Through the measure pro- 
posed, the revolution that seated 
William on the throne was confirm- 
ed, and the accession of the house of 
Brunswick secured. The times re- 
guired that a discretionary power 
should be lodged in government, 
_and that a speedy execution of mea- 
sures should follow the determina- 
tions that circumstances pointed out 
as indispensable. Were legal proofs 
of inimical designs to be waited 
for, they might be carried into ex. 
ecution with the most fatal facility, 
as they would then be only known 
_ by being executed. It were, nu- 
‘gatory to deny the existence of 
. Fostile projects to the constitution ; 
| allowing that nothing had been 
|| Btriétly proved, all nevertheless was 
puspected that had been alleged 
@gainst the parties accused. It 
would, therefore, be unpardonable 
in government to remain ina¢tive 
in the midst of so much danger. 
PAH 


[163 


This'was the greater, for the in- 
dustry aid art with which it had 
been kept out of the reach of legal 
proof; for that was the utmostthat 
could, be affirmed of the conspiracy 
alluded to; in every other respett 
it was evident and notorious. Those 
who were parties, those who were 
privy to it, did not; in general, seem 
yn the Jeast anxious to. conceal the 
plans they had in contemplation 5 
they did not direAly. avow. them, 
but their hints and insinuations were 
easily comprehended, and left no 
room to doubt of their intentions. 
The actual necessity of the sus. . 
pension-ac&t was denied, by Mr. 
Grey, on the ground that no prece. 
cedent could be cited of its being 
put in force, unless in cases of 
manifest and pressing danger to the 
state, or to the person of the so. 
vereign. Neither of these could 
now be said, with any propriety, to 
be exposed either to public or pri- 
vate machinations, worthy of the 
least attention. To pretend ap- 
prehensions, while none were en- 
tertained, was a deception which 
could not be pragtised upon the 
public, without weakening its con- 
fidence and attachment: the pre- 
servation of which depended on the 
openness and candour of its rulers, 
but would irrecoverably be lost, - 
whenever co unwarrantable an im- 
position was detected. The sus. 
pension-aét was justified, it. was 
said, by the necessity of guarding 
against jacobini:m ; but how could 
the seizure and imprisonment of in. 
dividuals prevent the propagation 
of their principles? experience, in 
all ages and countries, had in 
variably proved, that harsh treat. 
ment had always a contrary effect, 
Public murmurs were not to be si- 
lenced by such ineans ;--the discon. 
[M2] tents 


164] 


by the writings of men, but by the 

bad conduct of governments, While 
these acted irreproachably, they 
might safely bid defiance to calum- 
nies and misrepresentations. 

. The debate continued till three 
in the morning, when the bill for 
the suspension was carried by two 
handred and three votes against 
fifty-three. 

In the house of lords, much the 
same arguments were used for and 


affOUL!! Mit 


ANNUAL REGISTER, i795. 


tents of nations were not produced 


against the bill. The speakers 
in its support were lords Grenville, 
Carlisle, Warwick, - Hawkesbury, 
Spencer, Sydney, Auckland, Hay, 
and the chancellor, with the dukes 
of Leeds and Portland. Its opposers 
were the dukes of Norfolk and Bed- 
ford, the marquis of Lansdowne, 
and the earls of Lauderdale and 
Guildford, who, on ‘the bill’s pass- 
ing, entered a protest against it, 
conceived in the strongest and most 
animated terms. 


CHAP, 


* duétion by 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


[165 


CHA Po Xx. 


State of the Codlitina.—Mbtion in the House of Commons for augmenting the 
Number of Seamen and Marines.—Army Estimates. —The Conduft and the 
Result of the present War.—Loan of Four Millions to the Emperor.—Dis- 


cussions on Continental Allianoes.—Statement of the Farce, requisite for the 


Service of 1795.—New Taxes. 


N the mean time, daily intelli- 

gence was arriving of the rapid 
and irresistible progress of the French 
in Holland, which might now be 
considered as totally lost to the con- 
federacy. The inhabitants of the 
Seven United Provinces were never, 
jndeed, sincerely cordial in the cause 
of the coalition, looking upon them- 
selves as sacrificed to the interests 
of the house of Orange, by whose 
influence and authority the people 
complained, they had been forced 
into the present war. 

Inordertosupply, if possible, the 
place of so considerable a member 
of the coalition, no other method 
appeared than that of increasing the 
force to be employed against the 
French, by numbers proportionable 
to those which were furnished by 
the Dutch, previously to their re- 
France. To this pur- 
pose, ministers found it necessary 
to prepare, by times, the funds 
that would be requisite to keep 
the coalition together; and to 
prevent the whole weight of 
th: vi€torious enemy from falling 
upon Britain, without alliances to 
divert it. 

The opinion of the British pub. 
lic, at this junéture, was, that, being 
jnyolved in a ruinous war, it was 


indispensable to exert. the full 
strength of the national resources, 
in omer to extricate the kingdom 
from the dangers that threatened 
it. Discussions on its justice and 
necessity, as well as on its judicious 
or imprudent management, should 
be referred to a future opportunity ; 
and all the vigour and abilities of 
the different parties, that had di. 
vided the nation, ought. to unite, 
on this pressing occasion, for its 
defence, against the formidable ene- 
my that now threatened it witha 
destruction which would become 
unavoidable, without a sincere and 
spirited union at home. This alone 
could save the country ; no depend. 
ence ought, in prudence, to be 
placed upon foreign assistance; our 
allies wanted either power or in- 
clination to make sufficient efforts 
to resist France. The truth was, 
that they relied upon Britain much 
more than Britain could rely upon 
them; nor waseven their good will 
to this country unquestionable. Its 
superior state of prosperity, and the 
perpetual obligation to have, reo 
course to its finances, were circum. 
stances highly offensive to their 
pride, and excited their envy much 
more than they conciliated their gra- 
titude and attachment, ‘The in- 


[M3] tended 


166} 


tended desertion of Prussia and of 
Spain was well known, and the ap- 
prehension of their changing sides 
not less suspected. In this com- 
plication of difficulties stood the 
only remaining members of the co- 
alition, Austria and England, when 
the ministers of this latter were 
summoned to: call forth their re- 
sources for the joint support ot 
both. 

The house of commons met on 
the second of January, inacommittec 
of supply, Mr. Fox, who foresaw 
the large demands that would be 
made, required notice when the 
Joan’ would be proposed, that the 
house might have a due attendance. 
The imperial loan was an object of 
disagreeable speculation to all par- 
ties, and they felt with disgust the 
necessity of supporting a power that 
had drawn this country into his own 
quarrel, and whose readiness to 
abandon it, the moment he could 
procure tolerable terins, no intelli- 

ent person doubted. This neces 
sarily created a reluctance to answer 
‘his calls, for fresh supplies, which 
as soon as granted, might be con- 
verted to quite other purposes than 
those for which he should obtain 
them. The case of Prussia was ex. 
a@ly in. point; twelve hundred 
thousand poynds were acknow- 
ledged, by the minister in the 
house, to. have been advanced, to 
the Prussian monarch ; whoemploy. 
ed that immense sum in executing 
his designs on Poland. 

On the seventh of January, a mo- 
tion was made, by admiral Gardner, 
for dn augmentation in the number 
of seamen and marines. The ser- 
vice of the nayy would this year re- 
quire a proportion of eighty-five 
thousand of the former, and fifteen 
thousand of the latter, A remark. 


ANNUAL REGISTHR, igs. 


able discussion took place, on this 

occasion, upon the construction of 

the English ships of war. Mr. Ro. 

binson asserted their inferiority ‘to 

the French, in the circumstance of 
quick sailing, Captain Berkeley ad- 

mitted they were better built, but 

denied their sailing faster; theFrench | 
models he acknowledged .to be su- 

perior to the English ; but these had 

the -superiority in workmanship. 

Admiral Gardner, however, allowed 

the quicker sailing of the French ; 

and ascribed their superior construc. 

tion tothe premiums given, by their 

government, for the -best models, — 
which were regularly submitted to 

the examination and decision of the 

academy, of sciences. But the ves. 

sels taken from them had lately 

been the means of _ considerable 

improvements in the building of 
ourown. .. 

In consequence of this discussion, 
it was observed by Mr. Fox,.. that 
the knowledge and experience of 
the people of this country in naval 
affairs ought, long ago, to have en. 
abled them to surpass their. French 
rivals, in a point of such jmportance 
to the honour and security of the 
nation, It was neither creditable 
to the ministry, nor the admiralty, 
to have so long suffered this. de. 
grading inferiority, The sooner it 
was remedied the better, at this 
critical period, which required un, 
common exertions of skill and va- 
lour in every attive department, but 
principally in the naval, on which 
the satety and glory of the nation so 
visibly depended. He complained 
that, considering the decided supe- 
riority of the British navy, its at. 
chievments had not been adequate 
to the expectations which the na. 
tion hada right to form. Our ex- 
ertions at sea had, he noticed, been 

greatly 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


greatly impeded, by the extensive 
efforts lately made to strengthen the 
service at land. The bounties given 


_ to recruit the army took off*num- 


bers of able men from the navy; 
on which, however, every judicious 
man placed more reliance against an 
invasion of this country, than upon 
~itsland forces. Theincessant threats 
of the enemy oughtto render govern- 
ment peculiarly sdlicitous to provide, 
in time, the means to frustrate them. 


_ The navy was the bulwark of-the’ 
. realm, and it were criminal at the 


present jun¢ture, ‘not to pay it a 
much higher degree of attention 
than military operations on the con- 
tinent; ‘which the experience of 
three campaigns had shewn to be 
ineffeCtual for the main’ obje@ of 
the contest, the reducing France to 
Submit ‘to our own terms. 
* Mr. Dundas, in vindication of 
ministry, stated, that no efforts had 
ever been made superior, if equal, 
‘to those: which had taken. place in 
the naval department of the king- 
dom, since ‘the ‘commencement of 
the present war. “The number of 
seamen, at that period, amounted 
only to sixteen thousand, but was, 
at this day, noless than ninety-five 
thousand. He was convinced, from 
good information, that our ating 
force at sea was double to that of 
the enemy ; much, he observed, had 
been said in favour of the superior 
skill of the enemy in naval ‘archi- 
teCture; but we were confessedly 
the superior in action, and while we 


_| retained this superiority, the collate- 


! 


De etiNene Si, 


ral advantages of construction and 
expeditious sailing would be of 
little avail to the enemy, , 

Mr. Sheridan made several ob- 
servations on the assertions of Mr, 
Dundas ; he particularly sioticed 


the difficulty of overtaking vessels 


[ 167 


so much more advantageously con- 
structed for quick sailing thin ours, 
as the French seemed to be gene- 
rally acknowledged; and reprobated 
with much severity the negleét of 
government, in not accelerating the 
improvements necessary to remedy 
so essential a defect. 

Mr. Pitt confessed that extraordi- 
nary efforts had been made by the 
French to increase and strengthen 
their navy: but, like their exertions 
at land, they would not be ofa du- 
rable nature: they were tco hurried 
and precipitate to-last. He pro- 
ceeded from this topic to the ge- 
neral state of that country ; the vi- 
gour.and resources of which he 
represented to be on the declines 
Herein he was contraditted by ge- 
Neral Tarleton, who described*both 
as very far from being exhausted ; 
and their ingenuity as incessantly 
on the stretch to profit by every op- 
portunity that occurred. ‘heir 
system of a€ting had, since the fall 
of Roberspierre, undergone material 
alterations ; convinced that severity 
and terror were not so effectual 
as lenity and conciliation, they had 
wisely adopted: these’ wherever 
they could be applicable. Hence 
the aversion formerly excited, by 
the merciless proceedings ‘of their 
late government, had given> way 
to sentiments Jess hostile and re. 
pugnant to the principles . they 
were labouring to establish.’ The 
treatment ‘oftheir prisoners, in 
particular, since that time, had been 
much more humane, and they seem: 
ed, upon the whole, studious to aed 
quire a charaéter of mildness: and 
moderation ; all these circumstances 
shonld be taken into consideratiom 
Whea we animadverted on the 
present state of that nation, as they 
had been lately described with jus- 

[M4] tice, 


168 ] 


tice, as ferocious and sanguinary, 
they ought, by the same rule, to 
be represented, at present, in more 
favourable colours. It was, by 
treating each other with equity, 
that nations at variance drew near- 
er to reconciliation, and not by in- 
duiging in reciprocal defamation, 
whih only tended to eternize 
enm sy. ; 
In answer to some strictures, 
on the conduct of the admiralty, 
that were thrown out in the se- 
quel of this debate, it was observ- 
ed, by: admiral. Gardner, that, 
in the course of the last ycar, 
applications were made for one 
hundred and eight convoys, which 
had been accordingly granted. 
This service had employed — one 
hundred and forty ships, exclusive. 
ly of sixteen constantly cruizing 
on the coast to protect its trade. 
Mr. Lambton took this oppor- 
tunity to notice the efforts of the 
French, to put their navy on a 
formidable footing. Models of the 
various parts and timbers, proper 
for the construction of ships of the 
line, were sent to the several pro~ 
vinces, where wood for such pur, 
poses was procurable. Here the la~ 
bouring people were directed in what 
manner to cut down and prepare 
the trees scleéted for ship-building, 
which wete conveyed, in the rough, 
to the dock.yards, there to be 
completed by the ship-wrights, and 
put together with all possible dis- 
patch, By this expeditious me- 
thod of proceeding, they would 
be able, according to their cal. 
culation, to add sixty new ships 
to their fleet in a very short time. 
Such a process, in their construc. 
tion, would not certainly admit of 
much solidity and duration; but 
these were not wanted: the quan, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tity, not the quality of the ships, 
for immediate. service, was the 
only object in request. Such being 
the plans and intention of the ene- 
iny, government could not be too 
anxious in preparing to meet the 
numerous marine that might so 
shortly be created, through these. 
extraordinary exertions. In con- 
sequence of these various discus. 
sions, one hundred thousand sea- 
men were’ uvanimously voted for 
the service of the present years 
On the 21st of January, Mr... 
Windham presented to the - house 
the estimates of the army. | These 
amounted, including the regulars, 
the militia, and the new levies, 
to one hundred and fifty. thousand 
men; a force that was deemed 
amply sufficient for the preserva~ 
tion of internal tranquillity, and 
the protection of the kingdom 
against all enterprises from abroad. 
The expence of maintaining it 
was computed at six millions six 
hundred and fifty-two thousand 
unds. He moved, that the ar- 
my establishment, for the present 
year, should consist of the number 
stated, , 
General Tarleton severely repres 
hended the methods used for the 
ordering and recruiting of the ar. 
my. Veteran officers thereby were 
loaded with heavy expences, to 
which, if inadequate, they were li- 
able to have raw young men set 
over them. He cited some pre. 
cedents of promotions of this na~ 
ture, equally offensive to officers 
of long standing, and detrimental 
to the segvice. Hence, he said, 
the .recruiting business had fallen 
into the hands of crimps and 
school-boys. ‘The avarice of the 
former and the inaptitude of 
the latter, was accordingly vi. 
sible 


} 
‘ 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


sible in the individuals whom they 
enlisted. He next adverted to the 
expence of maintaining the army ; 
the statement of which he censur- 
ed, as not sufficiently explicit. To 
the enormous sum already mention- 
ed, were still to be added, those 
wanted for the support. of the 
ordnance, and for the extraordi- 
mafies, to say nothing of the im- 
mense subsidies to foreign powers. 
These, he observed, necessarily ab- 
sorbed a fatal proportion of the 
money that ought to be reserved 
for the various expeditions that 
employed our own people, whose 
numbers, from that cause, had 
proved inadequate to the services 
en which they were sent. Hence 
it was, that instead of ten thou. 
sand men, sir Charles Grey was 
placed at the head of only half 
that number, to reduce the French 
West Indies, that were provided 
with a larger force to defend, than 
he to attack them. He then re- 
viewed the events of the campaign 
upon the continent, where he as- 
eribed many of the disasters that 


had befallen the coalition, to the 


perfidious conduct of our allies, 
as well as to the avarice with 
which they economised, for their 
own purposes, the vast sums of 
money which they received from 
our profusion and credulity. What- 
ever successes might attend the 


_ arms of the coalition, in the next 


campaign, they would never com. 


_ pensate the misfortunes of the last. 


In answer to general Tarleton, 
and to Mr. Hussey, who seconded 
him with arguments of much the 
Same import, it was replied by 
Mr. Pitt, that, in order to ena. 


ble the navy to make a proper 


impression on our foes abroad, we 


ought to place ourselves in a state 


[169 


of complete security at home, 
which could be done only by 
keeping a formidable army on foot. 
The expences arising from this 
necessary measure were, doubtless, 
great, but the dangers thereby 
averted were much greater. True 
it was, that the confederacy had 
suffered severely ; but this country 


not only maintained its superiori- 


ty on the seas, but had, in the 
midst of every pressure oScasioned 
by the war, increased both its 
commerce and its resources; ina 
manner that opened the most pros 
mising prospect of being able to 
carry it on with the utmost. vi- 
gour, and that afforded the strong~ 
est presumption of terminating 1t 
finaily to our honour. 
To these assertions Mr. Fox 
opposed the continual failure of 
every attempt of the coalition, 
and the perpetual success attend. 
ing the arms of the French, in 
ali their undertakings, To speak 
in a style of exultation, after ex 
periencing such a series of cala- 
mities, was, he said, to insult the 
understanding of those who heard 
him. But what was now the 
object he proposed, by persisting 
in this unfortunate contest? it 
could. not susely be the reduétion 
of the French, who were now in 
4 situation that entitled them, with- 
out vanity, to assume that style 
of superiority which it so ill be- 
came the minister to affett. A 
counter-revolution was no longer 
to be expeéted; the powers of 
which the coalition consisted had 
been so completely humbled by their 
defeats, that they did not seem to 
harbour the least idea of that ten. 
dency. It would, therefore, be te. 
merity, not fortitude, on us to conti- 
nue a quarrelon our single strength, 
which 


170] 


which the united force of so many po- 
tentates could not maintain. ‘Lhe 
pecuniary resources of Great Bri- 
tain were immense ; but our peo- 
ple were’ too advanta, zeously oc- 
cupied in adding to the wealth, 
by which our greatness was sup- 
ported, to be taken from those 
beneficial ‘occuptaions. It was 
not, therefore, at home we were 
to look for men to fight the bat 
tles of the contederacy; that task 
belonged exclusively to our allies: 
but such had been the slaughter 
of their own people, that they 
would themselves find. it difficult 
to replace. the number of | the 
slain. In the mean time, though 
a competent force was necessary 
for the land service in this coun- 
try, it was a secondary object, 
when compared with the navy: 
This claimed not only our atten- 
tion, but our utmost anxiety, 
and he lamented, that so large a 
proportion of the fencible inhabi- 
tants- of this country were to 
be employed in the army, in lieu 
of the navy. It no less: grieved 
him to perceive, by the tenour 
of the ministerial speeches, that 
thousands more of our people were 
to be sent “abroad to fall in bat- 
tle, or endure the miseries of a 
prisons’ *To sum up the condutt 
of ministry, they were, he asserted, 
equally imprudent. “and entries 
nate; but what was still worse, 
they aéted with an obstinacy, that 
fio misfortunes could counteract. 
Experience, -instead of reclaiming 
them from error, increased their de- 
termination to persevere in the en- 
countering of difficulties which eve- 
ry day became more insurmount- 
able. What name could be.given 
to so fatal a delusion? 
manly to cherish hope in the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


. coalition, 


It: was » 


1795. 


‘midst of distress; but. it was folly 


to persist in distresses that could 
be avoided. A fair trial had been 
made to compel France to altér 
the system she had embraced ; the 
trial had terminated in) her fa- 
vour, and had lasted long enough 
to convince all the members of the 
the English , govern. 
ment excepted, of the inefficacy 
of all farther attempts. It was 
time. to follow the advice ‘ con- 
tained) in the»example: they seem- 
ed willing to set before ‘us, 
remitting of the violence and ani- 
mosity with which they/first en. . 
gaged in this war. “If they were 
not averse to its termination, we 
could have no reason to’ be more 
inflexibly determined upon “its 
prosecution. Events had so decid: 
edly declared against the “pros 
bability of recovering the losses 
sustained by the confederacy, «that 
they could not be censured for 
preferring a treaty with the French, 
to a continuation of the ‘contest. 
Cur situation afforded, undoubt- 
edly, a powerful security from hos- 
tile designs; but our expences. 
were so great, and our debts so 
enormous, that as their increase 
was incessant, prudence forbad: to 
stretch them to any farther extent, 
lest, in an evil hour, we might 
find it impracticable, at once, to 
pay the interest of the one, ‘and 
to provide for the support of ‘the 
other. 

_ The misfortunes of the present 
war, Mr. Pitt replied, did not 
arise from the negle& or the ins 
capacity of ministers, but from 
causes which it was not in their 
power to obviate. Whatever de- 
pended ‘on their exertions had 
prospered. The management of 
the ‘navy had been ‘such, that we 

were 


- 


cation between 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


were not only masters of the seas, 
but had obtained one of the most 
Signal victories that ever graced 
our annals. The commerce and 
atedit of Great Britain never were 
on a more splendid footing, while 
that of the enemy had literally no 
existence ; their commerce was re- 
duced to a precarious communi- 
their own sea- 
ports, subject to a destructive in- 
terruption from our cruizers; and 
their credit consisted of promissory 
fabrications, founded on extortions 
from their own people. In the 
worst days of our adversities, no 
disgrace had sullied our military 
character. We had been unsuc- 
cessful, but true courage was not 
to be dismayed by disappointments, 
while contending for all that was 
dear and valuable. The expedi- 
tions, so bitterly censured, had suc- 


ceeded in the completest manner ; 


and the number of trovps, sent 


‘to the West Indies, had proved 


fully sufficient. The  reinforce- 
ménts intended for that quarter, 
had been retarded’ by the insur- 
mountable obstacles of wind and 
Weather. The disasters that had 


_ befallen the allies, in the Nether- 


lands, certainly were not imputa- 
ble to the British ministry, whose 


faithful performance of every en- 


gagement with foreign powers was 
undeniable, and who ought not 


to be blamed for misfortunes pro- 


duced by the miscondué&t and 
want of punctuality in those who 
were bound, by every tie of ho- 
w#our and interest, to be true to 
the cause for which they had 
taken up arms, in conjunétion with 
this country. The debate closed 
by the passing of Mr, Windham’s 
motion, | 


[172 

Cn the 22d, wher the report 
of the committee of supply was 
brought up, Mr. Fox renewed 
his objections to the greater de- 
gree of attention paid to the 
augmentation of the army, at the 
present than at any former pe- 
riod. Mr. Pitt replied, that cir- 
cumstances required this extraor- 
dinary attention. The land and 
séa service were so much conneét- 
ed in the operations of this war, 
that it was indispensably requisite 
to put them both on a formida- 
ble footing, for their mutual as- 
sistance. It were, doubtless, bad 
policy to sacrifice the one to the 
other; but this could never hap- 
pen, while able-bodied landmen 
entered in such numbers into the 
navy, and while so many soldiers, 
as well as marines, were conti. 
nually employed in ships of war, 
and had constant opportunities of 
becoming good seamen. : 
“Tt was observed, on this occa- 
sion, by Mr. Dundas, that, so far 
from apprehending a diminution 
of the number of seamen, he found 
it was, upon the best information, 
a matter of much more difficulty 
to provide a sufficiency of marines. 
Lundmen, desirous of going to 
sea, entered as sailors, and those 
who preferred the army, listed as 
soldiers. Hence the marine-service 
was recruited with much less faz 
cility than the two others. He 
complained of the severity with 
which opposition spoke of the 
treatment of the sick soldiery, on 
board the transports for foreign 
service, to whom, he asserted, every 
attention was shewn, that duty 
and humanity could require. Af. 
ter some altercation concerning 
convoys, and the employment “sd 
the 


172] 


the naval forces, the resolutions 
of the committee of supply were 
agreed to. ; 
The expeditious manning of the 
navy, without the odious expedi- 
ent of pressing, was, at this time, 
" an object in the serious contempla- 
tion of government. Many schemes 
had been proposed, of late years, 
in order to avoid the disayreeable 
necessity of this oppressive method, 
but none had appeared sufficiently 
practicable to be adopted. The 
public, in the mean time, loudly 
condemned this violation of per- 
sonal liberty, and expressed much 
impatisnce at the tardiness of those 
whom it concerned, in bringing 
forward a more effectual, as well 
as a more humane regulation, for 
supplying the navy with seamen. 
In compliance with the repeated 
desire and “expettation ef all par- 
ties, Mr. Pitt: produced, on the 
ad of February, the plan he had 
formed to that intent. The mer- 
eantile shipping of the nation was, 
he observed, the great seminary 
ef ovr seamen: to this, therefore, 
ke would chiefly look for the sup. 
port at present wanted. The pro. 
posal he had in contemplation was 
to levy. a number of seamen, pro- 
portionable to the quantity of tun. 
nage in every vessel, on its clear- 
ing our. There were, he asserted, 
according to authentic statements, 
one hundred theusand seamen, 
employed in the service of the 
merchants of Great Britain. The 
proportion of sailors was one to 
fourteen tons; one man out of 
every seven able seamen, of two 
landmen in their stead, was the 
requisition he proposed. None 
would be required from vessels 
under the burden of thirty-five 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tons; but every vessel upwards, 
from that measure to seventy, was 
to furnish one. landman, and 
every one above that, to one 
hundred and five tons, was to 
find either one seaman or two 
landmen ; and from all vessels 
above one hundred and fifty, one 
landman for every fifty tons would 
be required. The number .of 
men, that might be procured by 
this method, was computed at near 
twenty thousand, But beside this 
supply, another was to be obtain- 
ed by the intended scheme, from 
the different parishes in the king- 
dom, These amounted te ten thou- 
sand, and from each one man 
would be required. To the above 
would be added, those numbers 
of idle and disorderly persons, 
whom the magistrates would be 
authorized to zpprehend, for that 
purpose. : 
These proposals were opposed 
by several members, as harsh and 
oppressive. Mr. Harrison proposed, 
that every one enjoying a place 
or pension ef three hundred a 
year, should furnish one seaman 
or two landmen; those who had 
four hundred, to find two sea- 
men or three Jandmen; such as 
had five hundred, two seamen or 
four landmen; and that for every 
hundred pounds above five. hun- 
dred, one more should be required, 
Mr, Joliffe was of opinion that 
unnecessary men. servants, men- 
milliners, and hair-dressers, and all 
men employed in occupations that 
might be filled by women, should, 
on this occasion, be called upon. 
to find people for the service. 
After a variety of stri€tures on 
Mr. Pitt’s proposals, they passed 


with a few alterations. | . 
The 


—— TP ee 


_—_ —— 


| 


-HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


The extraordinary expences of 
the land-forces, for the year 1794, 
were laid before the house, on 
the zoth of February, by Mr. 
Windham, who moved, that three 
millions and sixty-three thousand 
pounds should be granted to de- 
fray them. Mr. Fox and others 
objeéted to several of the charges, 
as.exorbitant and improper. But 
they were justified by Mr. Pirt, 
on the ground of expediency, in 
some cases, and of justice to in- 
dividuals in others. To the cen- 
sures, on the expences for the erec- 
tion of barracks, he answered, that 
they were of essential utility, for 
the health and good order of the 
soldiery, and relieved the publicans 
and inn-keepers from a heavy bur- 
den. Mr. Windham’s motion be- 


‘ing agreed to, he added another 


for four hundred and twenty-seven 
thousand pounds, in order to raise 
a corps of emigrants. 

But the principal subject of par- 
liamentary debate, in the month 
of February, was that which took 
place on the 4th, when Mr. Pitt 
brought a message to the house, 
from the king, signifying the ear- 
nest. inclination of the emperor, 
to make the most vigorous exer- 


_ tions, in the next campaign, against 


the common enemy, but intimat- 
ing, at the same time, the neces- 
sity of a loan of four millions, on 
the credit of the revenues arising 
from his hereditary dominions. 
Through such assistance, he pro. 
posed to bring two hundred thou. 
sand men into the field. Great 
as this force was, the king was 
still desirous to have it augment. 
ed, and had, for that reason, com- 
Missioned the British minister, at 
the imperial court, to signify this 
desire, and that he purposed to 


[173 


apply to parliament for the pe- 
cuniary arrangements that would, 
in that case, be requisite. 

This message occasioned a dis. 
cussion on the subsidy granted in the 
preceding session to the king of 
Prussia, Mr. Sheridan explicitly 
complained, that theends, for which 
that subsidy had been put intd his 
hands, were not answered, and 
that he had employed the immense 
sums, entrusted to him, in ser. 
vices quite foreign to the intent 
of the treaty, by means of which 
he had obtained them. Yet, in 
the present circumstances, this 
ought not, he said, to obstruct a 
loan to the emperor, who might 
be expected to at with more 
punctuality in his engagements, 
as more deeply concerned in the 
present contest. Ministry ought, 
however, to be more cautious 
whom they trusted, and to frame 
such stipulations, as would com. 
pel the contracting parties. to a 
strict performance of the condi- 
tions to which they acceded. He 
blamed, as unconstitutional, the 
engagement entered into by the 
crown, to guarantee the imperial 
loan, without previously consulting 
parliament. This, he observed, 


was placing a confidence in the 


Austrian ministry, to which the 
fluétuation and insincerity of its 
conduct did not entitle it. The 
faithless behaviour of Prussia ought 
to operate as a warning to beware 
of continental engagements. Had 
the stipulated aid of sixty thousand 
men, promised by that court, been 
brought to a¢t with the forces of 
the coalition in the Netherlands, 
during the campaign of 1 it 
was hy decided Solatoh OF wy 
Austrian ministers, that Brabant 
and Flanders would have been effec. 

taally 


174] 


tually protected, and that the united 
provinces would, of consequence, 


have been preserved. Such a breach 


of faith, after receiving. twelve 
hundred thousand pounds for ser- 
vices promised and not performed, 
merited, Mr. Sheridan observed, to 
be duly noticed by parliament ; and 
he concluded, by making a motion 
to that purpose. 

Mr. Jeky!! supported the motion ; 
but Mr, Pitt opposed it, admitting 
however, tHat the conduct of Prussia 
was highly censurable, though it 
had contributed, in some measure 
to arrest the career of the French in 
other parts. Sir William Pulteney 
declared himself of the same opinion, 
They were vigorously opposed by 
Mr. Whitbread, and Mr. Francis, 
who considered the question before 
the house, as requiring the severest 
investigation. Great Britain was 
not thus to be sported with by Ger. 
man despots, who took its money 
on false pretences, and expended it 
in prosecuting measures not only fo- 
reign to their engagements, but 
‘odious to the British nation itself. 
Mr. Fox, and general Tarleton, se- 
conded the two last speakers; but 
Mr. Pitt’s motion for the previous 
question was carried, and put an end 
to the debate. 

The minister then considered the 
ropriety of the imperialloan, which, 
he said, would enable the emperor to 
make the most formidable Seren: 
against France by land, and thereby 
empower the navy of Britain to aét 
with the greater vigour and success. 
Austria was the power to which he 
could look with just expectation for 
the most effectual assistance in the 

resent contest ; ‘the cause at issue 
was peculiarly its own: the house 
of Austria was’ the ancient and na- 


tural ally of England, and the peo. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


ple under his dominion were brave 
and warlike, and remarkably hostile . 
to the French. Now was the time 
to exert the united strength of both 
powers against France, The inter- 
nal pressures of that country were so 
heavily felt, that the principal heads 
of the convention had unequivocally 
acknowledged the indispensable ne-. 
cessity of diminishing them ; which 
could, be done only by a reduction, 
of the immense quantity of paper. 
currency that deluged the country, 
and banished all confidence from 
the common transaétions of society, 
But this step, however necessary, 
could not be taken without a con- 
siderable, or rather a prodigious di- 
minution of the French armies, 
which must, at once, debilitate the 
republic to an alarming degree, 
and evidently deprive it of the 
power of resisting its numerous 
enemies. Would it therefore be 
policy in England, to withdraw it- 
self froma connexion with Austria, 
ata time when so much wanted for 
our own purposes ? It was the sin. 
cere wish of France to disunite us 
from that powerful ally, as well as 
from all others, by concluding trea- 
ties of peace with them, that would 
leave us alone to contend with the 
whole strengh of France. Every 
motive ought therefore to induce 
Great Britain to come forwards with 
her treasures tor the support of the 
Austrian interest, which was in faét 
become our own. It were even 
more prudent to maintain, at our 
expence, the whole military force. 
of Austria, than to suferit to remain 
inactive, at a time when we stood. 
in so much need of the powerfullest 
diversions in our favour on the con- 
tinent, But this, happily, was not: 
the case. The loan required by the 
emperor was perfectly yeasonabley 
) an 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


~ and the repayment of it was secured 
‘on the fairest terms. 

Mr. Pitt then entered into a mi- 
nute discussion of the conditions pro- 
posed by the Austrian ministry, and 
concluded. by moving, that they 
should be complied with, as the 
safest» and most.appropriate line of 
policy that could be adopted by 
Great Britain, in the present situa- 
tion of public affairs. 

He was replied to by Mr. Fox, 
who reminded the house, thit he 

_ had foretold, when the Prussian sub- 
sidy was voted last session, that it 
would prove the prelude to other 
loans of a similar kind, and which 
probably would be attended with 
the same consequences. It was 
highly imprudent, he asserted, to 
quote as proofs of fa¢ts favourable 
to our views, the affirmations of 
members of the convention, that 
were contradicted by others. We 
had already been egregiously de- 
ceived in our calculation of the re- 
sources of France, and it were scan- 
dalous to repeat our mistakes at a 
time when it behoved us to look 
with a stedfast eye upon our remain- 
ing resources, and to compare them 
without exaggeration, to those of 
the ‘ formidable and, unyielding 
enemy, with whom we still continued 
a quarrel that threatened so many 
dangers. Butwas Austriathat firm 
fiend so this country, so warmly 
_fepresented? Had the conduct of 
_ Austria, during the last campaign, 
_ been wholly free from suspicions ? 
_ Was it wise to entrust such a mass 
of wealth as four, or perhaps six 
_ millions, to hands that might divert 
it to quite other purposes than those 
_ for which we were solicited to grant 
‘ ee esienee had shewn, that nei: 
Prussia nor ‘Austria were to be 
_ trusted, . Those who governed their 


'* - 


[urs 


councils had aéted with notorious 
perfidy, and. it were despicable 
weakness to treat with them in any 
expectation of meeting with honour 
and punctuality. The interest of 
the emperor. in this war, so strongly 
insisted on by ministers, was. cer- 
tainly a very dubious point. He 
had joined with the diet of the em- 
pire in concerting terms of peace, 
which, if they were to take place, 
would clearly preclude him from 
centinuing the war. How could 
he, in such a case, perform his sti- 
pulations with this country? at all 
events, his country was exhausted 
of fencible men, as well as of pecu- 
niary resources. , 

Mr. Fox advised a subsidy to the 
emperor, rather than.a loan; we 
could, if occasions warranted it, stop 
the payment of the former, but not 
of the latter, however emergencies 
mightrequire it, as the money would 
not remain at our command. The 
subjects of the emperor were so desi- 
rous of peace, that he might think it 
prudent to gratify their wishes; but 
were he willing to prolong the war, 
he could not do it without applying 
to this country for loans or subsidies : 
these would be regularly expecied 
and demanded every recurring year, 
and were we ina condition to com- 
ply with these demands, and to sup- 
port the war-establishment of Au- 
atria together with our own, to say 
nothing of the numerous claims on 
our finances by other members of 
the coalition? Mr. Fox detailed, 
with minute accuracy, the circum. 
stances of the loan required by the 
imperial ministry, and concluded, 
by moving for its rejeftion: but hie 
motion was negatived by amajority 
of nig. i 

A royal message of the same im. 
port was ‘delivered to the house of 

‘ Jords, 


176] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Jords, on the gth of February. The 
marquis of Lansdowne opposed it 
with remarkable warmth. Herepro. 
bated the connexions of Great Bri- 
tain with the continent, especially 
with the princes of Germany. He 
reminded the house of the reduction 
from six to four per cent, interest in 
the bank of Vienna: a proof how 
little reliance could be placed on 
the security to arise from the impe- 
rial finances. With his numerous 
subjets, and his wide extended 
domains, the emperor was not, it 
fairly appeared, able to raise four 
millions to support himself in a con- 
test, in which he was more deeply 
involved than any other prince in 
the coalition. Was this a situation 
wherein he could be expected to re- 
fund the prodigious advances which 


his ministers had the confidence to 


claim from this country? There 


were other powers to have recourse- 


to, if we wanted allies. Denmark 
and Sweden, for a fourth of what 
was demanded by Austria, were 
able to secure to us the uncontrolled 
superiority of the North and Baltic 
seas, and to prote& our trade in 
those parts from all molestation, 
This would be a@ing more wisely 
than to provoke them by injudicious 
restraints upon the freedom of their 
navigation, which could not fail to 
render them inimical to this coun- 
try, and favourable to its enemies. 
He concluded by moving, that the 
house should so far take the royal 
message into consideration, as to de. 
liberate what measures were advise- 
able in the present circumstances of 
the nation. 

He was answered by the earl of 
Mansfield, who supported the pro- 
priety of continental alliances, par- 
ticularly with the house of Austria, 
in conjunction with which we long 


had so effectually curbed the ambi- 
tionof France. Lord Mansfield was 
seconded by the lords Hawkesbury 
and Auckland, and opposed by the 
earls of Guildford and Lauderdale :. 
the latter of whom observed that the 
emperor’s subjects were notoriously 
averse to the war, and that it was 
absurd to expect that they would 
make greater efforts to regain than 
they had done to retain the possession 
of the low countries. The Imperial 
troops were well disciplined men 
during the two last campaigns, and 
yet were repeatedly defeated by the 
French. Was it consistent with 
reason to presume, that unexpes 
rienced recruits would be more suc- 
cessful? for “of such must the Au- 
strian armies be chiefly composed, 
after the destruction that had been 
made of them during the three last 
years, It was ridiculous, he said, 
to build on the pecuniary resources 
of the Austrian dominions, after 
the loss of the Netherlands, the 
richest part of the Austrian domains, 
when even these were not considered 
as sufficient security for the loans so- 
licited by the Imperial ministers. 
The issue of the debate was, that 
the address in approbation of the 
loan was carried. 

The disasters of the preceding 
campaign had been so fatal to the 
coalesced powers, and had so tho~ 
roughly broken the spirit that had 
hitherto kept them together, that 
England and Austria were the only 
sovereign states that remained true 
toeach other. But the exertions of 
both, it was apprehended, however 
earnest and zealozs, would not prove 
adequate to the object they still had 
in view, the redu¢tion of the French 
republic. It now seemed so &rmly 
established, by the uninterrupted 
successes that had every where at. 

tended. 


-HISTORY OF EUROPE: 


tendéd its victorious arms, that the 
world in general considered the 
resolution of Great Britain and Au- 
stria, to persevere in their primary 
designs respe€ting France, as pro- 
ceeding from the rage of disap- 
pointed ambition and revenge; ra- 
ther than as the effect of cool delibe- 
ration. Others, however, were of 
opinion, that notwithstanding the 
successful career of the French re- 
publicans, the seeds of discord were 
so profoundly sown among them, that 
little would be wanted to disunite 
them, especially when they looked 
upon themselves as wholly secure 
from.foreign attempts, which alone 
had compelled them to unite for 
their preservation. Could, there- 
fore, the coalesced powers have re- 
‘mained firmly connected, and afed 
patiently on the defensive, it was 
imagined, that the fervour of the 
French would gradually abate, and 
| give way to that desire of returning 
‘toastate of tranquillity, which was 
evident inthe majority of the French 
Ration. 
A circumstance in, the connexion 
pewrec Austria and Great Britain, 
that rendered it highly unacceptable 
to the people of this kingdom, was, 
that they were to beur the burdens 
of their ally in addition to their own. 
‘Though convinced that unless they 
submitted to this heavy weight, 
| they must forswear his alliance, and 
singly encounter the whole power 
_ of France, yet they considered it as 
"an unreasonable pressure upon them, 
't0 defray the charges of a confede. 
fate, who was reputed more deeply 
Wolved in the issue of the quarrel 
an themselves, and to whom far 
ter advantages would accrue 
its prosperous termination. 
» Bat the European world, though 
Fonvineed of the impratticability of 
| Vou. XXXVII. 


[¥77 


restoring monarchy in France, 
through the efforts of England 
and Austria, decidedly approved 
of their union against it, without 
which the situation of either would 
become alarming; from the vast 
exertions that France would make 
to reap every possible advantage 
from their separation. It was on 
this ground, that the British govern. 
ment thought itself entitled to call 
upon the nation for its concurrence 
with their determination,. to assist 
Austria in resisting the attacks of the 
French; to the vety utmost of its 
abilities. 

A statement of the force, that 
would be requisite for the service of 
1795, was accordingly produced to 
the house of commons on the 23d 
of February. It.amounted to one 

undred thousand seamen, one hun- 
dred and twenty thousand regulars, 
for the guards and garrisons of the 


kingdom; to fifty-six thousand mi- 


litia, and forty thousand men em- 
ployed, partly in Ireland, and partly 
in the West Indies and the planta. 
tions, exclusive of fencibles and vo. 
lunteers, of foreign troops in British 
pay, and of embodied French emi- 
grants. The sums required to 
maintain this force, together with 
the extraordinaries of the army, and 
the expences of the ordnance, were 
calculated at sixteen millions twen= * 
ty-seven thousand pounds, of which 
six millions three hundred fifteen 
thousand five hundred pounds were 
appropriated to the navy, two mil- 
lions seven hundred seventy-seven 
thousand to the army, two millions 
five hundred sixty-four thousand to 
the forces in Ireland and the plan- 
tations; to the militia and fencibles 
sixteen hundred and seven thousand ; 
to foreign troops in British pay near- 
ly a million ; to the regimented emi- 
(NJ grants 


178] 


grants, four- hundred twenty-seven 
thousand ; to the army extraordi- 
naries, two millions six hundred 
sixty-four thousand; to the ord- 
nance, two millions three hundred 
twenty-two thousand. ‘The. other 
articles wer two hundred thousand 
pounds annual subsidy to the king 
of Sardinia ; miscellaneous services, 
two hundred fifty-seven thousand 
pounds; monies due, one hundred 
and ten thousand pounds; annual 
addition to the sinking fund, two 
hundred thousand pounds ; defici- 
ency of grants, seven hundred forty - 
_ five thousand pounds ; deficiency of 
the land and malt tax, three hun- 
dred fifty thousand; exchequer- 
bills, six millions. The total of 
thesesums amounted to twenty-seven 
millions five hundred forty thousand 
pounds, The ways and means pro- 
osed for raising this supply, con- 
sisted of the land-tax, producing 
two millions; the malt-tax, seven 
hundred fifty thousand pounds ; the 
consolidated fund, two millions two 
hundred thirty-five thousand pounds; 
the India Company, five hundred 
thousand pounds ; exchequer-bills, 
three millions and a half; the Joan, 
eighteen millions; making altogether 
twenty-seven millions one hundred 
forty-five thousand, nearly four hun- 
dred thousand short of the supply. 
In order to make an ample pro- 
vision for this and all deficiencies in 
the articles enumerated, the follow. 
ing taxes were proposed: upon 
wine, five hundred thousand pounds ; 
foreign and British spirits, two hun- 
dred and sixty thousand pounds ; 
tea, one hundred and eighty thou- 
sand pounds ; coffee, forty thousand 
pounds; insurances, one hundred 
and sixty thousand pounds ; raisins 
and foreion grocery and fruits, 
seventy-seven thousand pounds ; 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


timber, one hundred and ten thou.” 
sand pounds; writs and affidavits, 
sixty-eight thousand pounds; by 


abridging the privilege of franking,. 


forty thousand pounds ; the hair- 
powder license, two hundred and 
ten thousand pounds. Such was the 
valuation of the taxes proposed-by 
Mr. Pitt, according to which, their 
produce wouldyamount to one mil. 
lion six hundred and forty - four thou- 
sand pounds, a sum that more than 
covered the apprehended deficien- 
cies, 

He took this occasion to observe 
the extraordinary increase of the 
nationalcommerce. It had, by au- 
thentic documents, exceeded in thé 
preceding year that of the most 
flourishing periods of peace. He 
also adverted to the Imperial loan, 
which he represented as extremely 


beneficial to the subscribers, yield-. 


ing an interest of no less than six 
per cent. and secured to, them by 
beimg made payable at the bank of 
England. 

Opposition was very severe on 


ministry, for not having raised the 


supply by an open competition be- 
tween the lenders, by which a con- 
siderable saving would have been 
made, Mr. Fox was very circum- 
stantial in the investigation of this 
subject. He represented the ad- 
vantages that womld accrue to those 
who subseribed to the emperor’s 
loan, as a strong presumption how 
little attention had been paid to 
that business by his ministers, and 
as strong ground for suspeting that 
they did not mean to refund the 
money procured. He censured 
some of thetaxes proposed, as inju- 
dicious, and others as oppressive. 
He accused the minister of having 
described the commercial prosperity 
of the kingdom in terms much toe 


advan 


ogmn @f| res > ss sz = 3 


mn. lh SllC(iC CO oe ee ce 


, et. = = Sa 


as * f- 


a 2 


advantageous: he mentioned. the 
high price of insurance on shipping, 
as a proof of the precariousness of 
trade, ‘and how liable to be inter- 
cepted by the enemy. He took an 
extensive view of the national ex- 
penditure, and adverted to the pro. 
bability of its annually increasing, 
ifwe' persisted in our claims to dic- 


| tate a form of government for the 


French : but he could not persuade 
himself that the representatives of 
the English nation, would proceed 
~ to such a degree of infatuation, as to 
continue voting the money of their 
constituents in support of so absurd 
a claim, or that the nation itself 
would long consent to he made the 
victim of so fatal a delusion. 
A minute explanation of the pro- 
_ priety of the taxes, and of the ad- 
vantages to arise from the loan, was 
entered into by Mr. Pitt, who in- 
_ sisted, that by the arrangements tobe 
made, the commodities consumed, 
chiefly by the poorer classes, would 
be obtained at a cheaper rate, and 
in a better condition than before. 


tion, which closed at Jast by the re» 
solutions for the supply being put, 
_ and agreed to by a majority that ad- 
mitted of no competition. 
A tax that met with the approba- 
tion of all parties, was that which 
_ abridged the privilege of franking. 
It had long been — scandalously 
_ abused: it was computed that the 
~ loss to the revenue by the franks of 
‘about forty members of parliament, 
‘and by those of about a hundred 
clerks in public offices, was not less 
than fifty thousand pounds annually : 
ten years before it did not exceed 
_ sik thousand: so rapid and enor- 
mous an increase rendered an 
abridgement immediately necessary, 
and fifteen franks a day was the 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


This occasioned a farther alterca-- 


[179 


limitation appointed for each per- 
son allowed that privilege. 

The. taxon the wearing .of pow« 
der was heavily felt by the nume- 
rous body of hair-dressers, whose 
profits by jt were considerably dic 
minished. _ Numbers, also of those 
individuals who only wore powder 
occasionally, complained that they 
would be as highly rated as those 
who were in the constant praétice 
of powdering: the exemptions 
were by many not deemed sufficient : 
clergymen not possessing one hun- 
dred a year, subalterns in the army, 
and officers in the navy, under the 
rank of masters and commanders, 
were the only persons in public cha- 
racters exempted from it, and in 
private families all the daughters 
except the two eldest. 

Some members of the house were 
so weak as to object to this tax, on 
account of the expence they must 
incur to entitle their servants to 
wear powder: others objected to 
the very wearing of powder at a 
time when, through the scarcity of 
flour, bread had risen toa price that 
alarmed the whole nation, and re. 
duced the lower classes to the most 
serious distress ; and when, through 
the severe winter experienced 
throughout all Europe, general 
fears were entertained every where 
for the next harvest. The answer 
to these was, that upon the striétest 
investigation, there was no reason 
to apprehend any scarcity, and that 
the greatest plenty was, en the con- 
trary, to be expeéted, both in our 
own and in other countries. 

The immensity of the sums levied 
in Great Britain, for the service of 
the current year, was an object of 
astonishment to all the European 
naiions: they amounted, includin 
the interest for the national debt, 

[N2] to 


180] 


to forty thillions*sterling. Neitheri 
the annual revenues of Ireland, nor 
ofthe West or East Indies, madepart 
of this “account: and these ‘were 
computed’ ‘twelve millions more- 
This prodigious income, instead of 
suffering the least diminution from 


aberon “tow 
, : 
is eae € 
aso s ‘ 
oma © {33 ‘4 
4 stu i 
3 
- — at 7 
r 
ia 
; 
' 
; 
~ ' a 4 
oe . 4 
: 
~ : a’ Mi 
sins I, 
r ; 
¥ ‘ 


ANNUAL “REGISTER, 1795. 


the pressures of so extensivera Wary 
wasincontrovertibly on the inerease, 
through the jrresistibleiexertions of 
the British marine in-everyepartof 
the: globe, und through: the spiritof — 
enterprise that» animated the: coms 
mercial classes ofrthe nations: 


erpiee 


fe: 


— “4 i 


HISTORY OF* EUROPE, [181 


A 
: 


Car’ AW. sl. 


The Sentiments of the French towards the English.—Motion in the House of 
Peers by the Earl of Stanhope, for Non-interference in the Internal Affairs 
of France.—Unanimously rejefted.—Motion of a like Tendency in the 
House of Commons.—Negatived.—Motion in the House of Peers for fa- 
cilitating the Opening of a Negstiation with F rance.— Negatived.—Motion 
for a vigorous Prosecution of the War.—Carried.—Sundry Motions for 
Preparing a Way for Peace with France.—Negatived.— Motion in the 
House of Commins for an Inquiry into the State of the Nation.—Nega- 
tived.— Another to the same Intent in the House of Peers.— Negatived.— 
Motion in the House of Commons, tending to a General Pacification, by 


Mr. Wilberforce.—Negatived.—A Motion of a similar Tendency in the 


House of Lords. —Negatived. 


IHE French, in the midst of 
theirsuccesses, against all their 
other enemies, were deeply ex- 
asperated at the unconquerable re- 
sistance of the English, and at the 
resolute perseverance with which 
these ancient rivals seemed deter- 
mined to oppose them every where. 
The principal speakers in the gon- 
vention were not wanting in their 
endeavours to depreciate the British 
charatter, as degenerated and fallen 
from that height to which it had 
risen in’ former periods: but the 
people of sense and knowledge, 
with which France abounds, were 
strongly impressed with the con- 
wiction, that the English were the 
most formidable of their enemies, 
and that more danger was to be ap- 
prehended from them than from all 
the other powers of the coalition. 
It was from this conviction that the 
ruling men in France were so earnest 
in stirring up the people to exert 
themselves, in order to overcome 
theirotherfoeswithall possiblespeed, 


that they might be able ultimately 


to encounter England, deprived of 
all foreign assistance, and reduced to 
depend solely on itself. . Until they 
could compass this point, they were 
persuaded that the utmost, effec of 
their successes,however great, would 
only be to produce a temporary and 
precarious state of security : which, 
while England animated the coa- 
lition with its spirit, and supported 
it with its treasures, would always 
be liable to be shaken and destroyed 
through the undiminished efforts 
which the English would never cease 
to make, and the unabated courage 
their example would infuse inta 
their allies. 
Such were the general ideas of 
the French at this critical period. 
They were no less those of the Eng- 
lish themselves. But the heavy 
burdens, necessary to be borne by the 
public for the prosecution of this 
expensive contest, excited the more 
discontent, that the object of it did 
not appear clearly ascertained, and 
[N3] scemed 


182] 


seemed continually to vary in those 
whom it ‘principally behoved to 
free it from uncertainty.. Prompted 
by motives of this nature, the prin- 
cipal members of the opposition, in 
both houses, resolved to renew their 
endeavours to procure the govern. 
ment’s assent to their motions for 2 
negotiation with France. So carly 
as the sixth of January, carl Stan- 
hope moved, in the house of lords, 
that a declaration should be made, 
purporting that Great Britain nei- 
ther ought nor would interfere in 
the internal affairs of France. He 
supported this motion witha va- 
riety ofarguments : he particularly 
insisted on the numbers, the disci- 
pline, and the excellent condition of 
the French armies, which consisted 
of more than a million of men, and 
had vanquished, during the course of 
a single campaign, the bravest and 
most expert veterans in Europe. He 
stated their pecuniary resources at 
fourhundred millionssterting,exclu- 
sive of their possessions in land, He 
compared the depreciation of their 
paper-money to what had happened 
in America, which, notwithstanding 
the hopes conceived in this country 
from that circumstance, had main- 
tained its ground agajust all the 
boasted might of our treasures, It 
was absurd, he said, to pretend that 
ourstrengthwas unimpaired,and that 
we lad suffered no loss. Had we not 
dost Holland, and the Netherlands ? 
Had not upwards of ofe. hundred 
and thirty thousand of the choicest 
troops of our allies, either fallen in 
battle, or been made prisgners? 
Were not these mortifying circum- 
stances toa people whose reputation 
iad stood so high previously to this 
unfortunate contest ? But what was 
its object ? ong shat ought to cover 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


the British nation with shame : tode- 


“prive the French of a government, 


erected by them on the ruins of 
their former servitude. Were we 
the only people entitled to be tree ? 
The pretence for this quarrel was a 
resolution passed in the convention, 
which hed been rescinded the mo. 
ment they found ic had given of- 
fence to oar government. On these, 
and other aliegations of a similar 
import, lord Stanhope moved the 
propriety of entering into a pacific 
negotiation with France. 

The earls of Abingdon and Car, 
lisle opposed the motion, for the 
many reasons that had already been 
alleged in preceding debates against 
treating with France. Lord Auck- 
land seconded them, and attributed 
the disasters of the foregoing cam- 
paign to the bad management of the 
allies, and the want of concert in 
their operations. Nevertheless, it 
were, he said, bad policy to betray 
despdndency, and:prudence dittated 
perseverance in the contest, until 
we could terminate it honourably. 
Were it once made evident that 
France had renounced the ambitious 
designs she had unquestionably been 
prosecuting, in consequence of the 
unexpected successes, no objections 
could lie toa fair and just negotia- 
tion with her on sate and equitable 
terms: but till this were unequivo. 
cally manifested, our only security 
was to continue the war with vigour. 
He did not mean, however, that 
the restoration of monarchy should 
be insisted on at all hazards to this 
country; butonly that while hostili- 
ties lasted, we should employ our 
whole strength to restore it, as that 
species of goverament which would 
best answer the purposes of general 
peaceand safety to all the powers 

f in 


‘ 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


1n the coalition. Neither the for. 
fune nor the power of the French 
were objects so formidab’e as re- 
presented. Their prosperous ca- 
Teer was incontrovertibly owing 
to peculiar circumstances, which 
would have enabled any enemy to 
be victorious. Their means of re- 
sistance had, however, been stretch- 
éd to such a degree, that it was 
highly improbable they would bear 
much more-extension. It was, 
therefore, incumbent on the coa, 
[ition to remain firmly determined 
to improve the circumstances of 
their interior pressures to the utmost. 
Notwithstanding the French had 
_ displayed uncommon firmness Jin 
bearing the many calamities they 
had brought upon themselves, yet 
it was clear that their patience was 
almost exhausted. This was the 
favourable moment for exerting our 
Strength: our means were unim. 
paired, and with unanimity and reso- 
lution we yet had it in our power to 
compel the enemy, if not to submit 
to our own terms, at least to treat 
with us on a footing of equality. 
_ The earl of Mansfeld insisted on 
the right of a’nation to interfere in 
the government of another that 
aéted on principles dangerous to its 
neighbours : the French having in- 
disputably adopted such principles, 
those against whom they were lc- 
velled, might justly challenge their 
renunciation, and till this were pro- 
cured, to the satisfaction of all the 
parties concerned, the latter could 
net be censured for exerting all the 
means in their powcr to accomplish 
an object they had the clearest title 
to look upon as their indubitable 
claim. 

The duke of Bedford, and the 
marquis of Lansdowne, "coincided 
with carl Stanhope’s motion, though 


=< 


[183 


they did not approve his manner of 
expressing it. ‘he earl replied to 
the animad versions of his opponents 
with much accuracy, asserting, 
among other particulars, that the 
cbnoxious decree of the rgth of 
November, 1792, was erroneously 
attributed to the convention, by 
which it had never been regularly 
adopted. His motion was rejected 
by a majority of sixty-two, himself 
standing alone against all his op~ 
ponents. 

In the house of commons, a mo. 
tion of a like tendency was made 
by Mr. Grey, onthe 26th of Februa. 
ry. The direét purport of it was, that 
the present government of France 
ought not to be considered as 
precluding a negotiation for peace, 
‘Two years of a most bloody and 
expensive war had, he observed, 
now elapsed without bringing us 
nearer to the obje¢t proposed, than 
at its commencement. It was a 
war which, from the ministerial Jan- 
guage, could only terminate with 
the destruétion of one of the com- 
batants. He asked whether the 
house seriously approved this dread. 
fal determination? The nation had 
aright toknow the minister's mind: 
on sO important a question. ‘The 
French themselves had a right tode- 
mand from the English, what the ob. 
ject was for which they were con- 
tending. He noticed that, prior to 
the commencemenr of the war, the 
king had received the thanks of the 
house for his prudence in abstaining 
from interference in the affairs of 
France ; and yet the people of that 
country had dethroned their king at 
that time, and abolished the, mo- 
narchy. Hence it plainly appeared, 
that we did not consider the repub-, - 
lican form of government they had 
soe as incompatitle with, the 


[N4] safety 


isf} ANNUAL 
safety ofourown. If, however, the 
sense of the house went to the in. 
dispensable necessity of destroying 
the system now established in France, 
it was their duty to reflect, without 
animosity or prejudice, whether such 
an attempt were praQlicable. The 
only chance we could reasonably 
look to, for the accomplishing so 
arduous a task, was a counter-revo- 
lution, to be effected by the French 
themselves, or such a depression of 
their finances as would absolutely 
deprive them’of the means to resist 
their enemies ; but was either of 
these the case? was it not clear, to 
unbiassed observers, that an irresist- 
ible ‘majority of the Frerch were 
decided republicans, | and sworn 
enemies to a monarchy ? their. fi- 
nances, however unfixed and irre- 
gular, had hitherto answered every 
purpose they had proposed. The 
example afforded, of the uncertainty 
of pecuniary calculations, by the late 
contest with our lost colonies, ought 
to teach us, that national energy 
and spirit are the best and surest 
resources, and that mone ey is far 
from being the principal sinew of 
war. The real debts of France, 
free from exaggeration, did not at 
the present hour exceed, if they ap- 
proached, , four hufdted thillions ; 
but, to counterbalance them, the 
landed possessions of the state ‘a- 
mounted to more than six hundred. 
Great Britain, doubtless, abounded 
in resources }. but, what were those 
of our allies? > Did they not explicit. 
ly acknowledge that they depended 
on our treasures for the maintenance 
of their armies in prosecuting this 
war? Were they not, therefore, ra. 
ther mercenaries, thane allies, fight. 
ing for pay, and not from principle? 
Could we trust'such édnfederates ? 
Had not a prinaipal one of: ee al. 


Vis 
4 


REGISTER, 


1795. 


lies betrayed us, in the most scandal. 
ous manner, and materially injured 
the interests of the coalition? Thus 
we were undeniably reduced to the 
necessity of supporting every one 
of our confederates, with the alarm. 
ing reflection, that we could not 
place the least reliance upon any 
one of them. Was this a situation 
to be embraced by a people who 
were not governed by the most fatal 
delusion? Ought not the consider- 
ation of these various circumstances 
induce us to listen to those who 
hold up the propriety of terminating 
the contest, upon any terms that 
were safe and honourable, rather 
tigin to continue it at an expence 
that must ultimately invelve us in 
the most cbvious and unavoidable 
danger? To treat was not to sub- 
mit: ifthe french, grown-presump- 
tuous from our moderation, should 
make unreasonable demands, it 
would become our duty to refuse 
them ;/and the magnanimity of the 
British nation would cordially adopt 
every measure that a spirited minis. 
try might think proper to propose. 

To these and other allegations, 
Mr. Pitt replied, that, notwithstand. 
ing the French had been so success 
ful, there was no motive sufficiently 
strong toinduce this country to look 
upon the’ affairs of the coalition as 
in a state of danger: he would 
not, therefore, swerve, in the least, 
from his resolution to move, that it 
was the determination of the house 
to prosecute the war, as the only 
means of procuring a permanent 
and secure peace; relying on a vi- 
gorous employment of the force of 
this country, to effect a pacification 
with France, under any govern- 
ment: capable of maintaining” the 
relations of peace and amity: This 


‘surely, said Mr. Pitt, was not toin- 


sist 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


sist’on the restoration of the old 
monarchy, as.an indispensable con- 
dition of peace. He eagerly main- 
tained, that the perils attending thé 
present war, did not equal those 
that would result from such a peace 
as could be made between the two 
countries, at this uncertain crisis. 
The internal situation of France, 
and the well-known disposition of 
its rulers, rendered every compact 
with them precarious and unstable. 
‘Terror and severity, though some- 


"what abated since te fall of Robers- 
_ pierre, still subsisted in full force, 


and parties were still animated 
‘against each other, toa degree that 


_ eft them no other security for ther 


Tespective existence, than the de. 
struction of their antagonists, whose 


_ ‘measurestheyobstinatel yreprobated, 


“as tending to the destruction of the 
‘commonwealth. While such were 
‘the reciprocal sentiments of these 


furious and implacable enemies to 


veach other, whatever was effected 


‘by the one would be controverted 


‘by the other, as injurious to the 
“state; and annulled on the very 
first opportunity. Could, therefore, 
/any other state securely rest on the 


_ faith of any contraét or stipulation 


-made with people of this character? 
Until another system took place of 
“this one, he could not ‘think him- 


_ self authorized in reason to enter 
‘into any negotiation with thosewho 


Yheld the reins of government, in 

midst of such incessant flu@tua- 
‘tions. A powerful proof, how great 
» the number was of those, in France, 
who were inimical to the present go- 


~ -vernment, evidently appeared inthe » 
x a odigious sums levied by confisca- 


: : the eoaien a been és, 
“during ‘the foresoing’-year and a 
Ube, Cohanoaheee ‘hUndtéd., ‘millions 


pping’ 'Di Worthis "sufficiently »the discontented and factious 


fiss 
evince the fallacy, or the error, of 
those who asserted the inconsiderable 
quantity of adherents to monarchy ? 
‘These were, toa man, the friends 
to this country, and waited only an 
occasion to declare themselves ready 
to second our efforts in their cause. 
Would it be policy to deprive’ our- 
selves of the good wishes’ aad co- 
operation of the multitudes, whom 
no terrors nor barbarities had been 
able to reduce to any degree of sub. 
mission to the existing system? but/ 
were we disposed to negotiate with 
the French republicans, could we 
be certain of a similar disposition 
on their part? was it not notorious, 
that they harboured an irreconcile- 
able hatred to this country, and its 
inhabitants ; and that the’ principal 
motive of their willingness to make 


‘peace with the other members of 


the confederacy, was, that, they 
might convert their whole rage 
against us ? would they not interpose 
such obstructions’ to a pacification, 
that it “must remain unattainable 
without sacrificing, at once,. both 
our honour and our’ dnterest to ob. 
tain ic?) The very principles on 
which the French republic. was 
founded, were. such, that to ac- 
knowledge it, which must be done 
in case of -a\treaty, was to. confess 
all other governments:founded upon 
injustice. “A peace built on such 
grounds would be not only disgrace- 
ful, but fatal to our own constitu. 
tion, by undermining its principles, 
and empowering its many domestic 


‘enemies to represent it-as inequi. 


table and oppressive. Such a peace 
would be worse than war. French 
emissaries, under’ the-various pre- 


»tences’ of ‘business’ and commercial 


transactions, - would. be let loose 
upon us in swarms} and, united with 
here, 
would 


isd ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. : 


would gradually poison the public 

_ mind, while the suspicions and jea- 
lousies of government, would com- 
pel it to remain in a state of prepa- 
ration and defence that would con- 
tinue to exhaust the country, and 
to perplex the people. 

It was observed by Mr. Wilber- 
force, that though parliament was 
agreed in declaring the republican 
form of the French government no 
obstruétion’ to peace, yet the lan- 
guage of our ministers, in unison 
with that of the princes in the coa- 
dition, afforded strong reasons to sus- 
pect that their real intention was to 
restore the monarchy. But it were 
more prudent to give up this design, 
which past endeavours had shewn 
‘to. be vain, than to prolong the con- 
test, probably to no other end than 
to find ourselves obliged, at last, to 
accept of terms which we might have 
procured at first.. Peace would, in 
all likelihood, prove more prejudi- 
cial to the enemy than tous. The 
immense armies of France, when 
returned to that’country, would cer- 
tainly take part in its internal dis. 
sentions, and effectually contribute 
to reduce it to desolation. But by 
persevering in the war we should 
necessarily constrainthem teactwith 
unanimity in their own defence. 
The increase of their paper-moncy 
would follow, with that of confisca- 
tions, and the “holders of the onc, 
and purchasers of the others, would 
augment in the same proportion, and 
add to.the numbers and strength of 
those wha supported the republican 
system. History had shewn how 
™moch it was our interest to remit of 
our native obstinacy in the prosecu. 

’ tion of foreign wars. We had more 
than once reje&ted terms of peace ; 
which, afteriexpending much trea- 
sure, and shedding much blood, we 


had, at length, thought proper to 
accept. 

Mr. Fox reminded ministers, hn 
they had branded opposition with 
the most injurious epithets, for hay- 
ing moved the adoption of senti- 
ments similar to those which. they 
had this day brought forward.as just 
and proper. It was time, he said, 
to be fair and explicit in the mani- 
festation of our thoughts on the pre- 
sent situation of affairs, and on the 
measures we meant to pursue, 
The restoration. of tranquillity to 
France, on the plan proposed by 
ministers, was evidently unattain- 
able. The royalists themselves were 
the principal champions in their 
own cause, and so far from relying 
upon our exertions in their favour, 


they had constantly added fresh 


vigour to their own, on the failure 
of the various efforts we had made 
to assist them. The consistency of 
parliament had been pleaded for its 
continuing to insist on the conditions 
it had held out at the commence- 
ment of the contest. But events had 
not corresponded with the sanguine 
expectations then formed, and ne- 
cessity required, that we should con. 
sult what was feasible, in preference 
to what had been projected antece- 
dently to those disasters that had de. 
feated our schemes. A refusal to 
treat with the French, unless they 
submitted to our demands, was no 
less unjust and absurd, than if they 
were to require the English to yield 
to theirs, previously to their con- 
senting to listen to terms of peace. 
Arrogance was not to de tolerated 
in the intercourse between nations 
that sought to re-establish amity. 

While we challenged the right of 
ditating forms of government to the 
French, we must expect that they 


_ would resist us withall the rancour 


and 


HISTORY( OF EUROPE.: 


and enthusiasm of justly excited in- 
dignation. As to the apprehension 
of danger, from the influx of French 
principles, experience had taught 
the English to beware of imitating 
their unhappy neighbours, and to 
adhere, more firmly thanever, to the 
principles of their own constitution. 
He concluded, by reminding Mr. 
Pitt, that, notwithstanding the de- 
claration made by his father, that 
the English should die, on the last 
breach, before they consented to the 
independence of America, he did 
not think himself bound to abide by 
it, and had commenced his political 
cateer, by declaring for their inde- 
pendence. By the same rule he 
ought to retract his determination 
respecting France. 

Mr. Dundas opposed the motion 
in question, on the ground that it 
would interfere with the plans of 
government, and that the arrange- 
ment for the ensuing year were so 
promissory, that we had every mo- 
tive to expect a change of fortune 
in our favour. The allegations of 


_ Ministry occasioned Mr. Grey to re- 


sume the subject with great warmth 
and perseverance. He dwelt princi- 
pally on the improbability of those 


' calamities that were pretended by the 


adversaries toa negotiation. Other 
powers had treated with France, 
without expressing any dread of the 
consequences; why should Great 
Britain, therefore, entertain any? 
His motion was negatived by a ma- 
jority of 183, and that of Mr. Pitt 
carried. on 

In the house of lords, a motion 
was made on the 27th of February, 
by the duke of Bedford, the pur- 
port of which, like Mr. Grey’s, 
was, that no form of government 
that might prevail in France, should 
preclude a negotiation with that 


[187 


country, Or prevent a peace, when: 
ever it could be made consistently 
with the honour, interest and secu- 
rity of thisnation. He supported 
his motion with a variety of argu- 
ments. Such a declaration would 
not oblige ministry to accept of any 
othercenditions than they chose, nor 
to treat but at their own time, 
Were it togbe admitted as a fixed 
rule, that no peace should be sued 
for but by the aggressor, wars might 
be endless. But the French, strictly 
speaking, had not begun the contest. 
They had formerly retracted the de- 
cree that had given so much offence, 
and had made it an article of their 
new constitution, to interfere with 
the government of no country. As 
to that permanency of peace soscru- 
pulously required, had the world 
ever witnessed any peace that lasted 
beyond the interest or conveniency 
of either of the contracting parties ? 
the duration of a peace was chiefly 
founded on its equitableness, and, 
he would add, more likely to be 
lasting with a republic than with a 
mouarchy: the decision for peace 
or war in the former of these, rested 
on the judgment and consultation 
of many ; but in the Jatter was in 
the breast of only ene individual, 
usually influenced by personal mo- 
tives, and whom no one dared to 
contradict, Our proposed exertions, 
doubtless, would be great, to repair 
the disasters of the preceding cam, 
paigns: but could they possibly be 
greater than those that had already 
been made to so little effect ? Our 
allies manifested unequivocal dispo- 
sitions to peace ; why should we be 
more averse to it than they were, 
who certainly could not be more in. 
terested in procuring peace than 
ourselves? ‘The situation of the 
French republic was im no wise a 


188] 


be considered as less formidable than 
at its primary formation, The suc- 
cesses of France had been stupen- 
gous, and the ople were ani- 
mated with the conviGion, that they 
were fighting for their existence, 
and that no medium remained for 
them, but to conquer their enemies, 
ot become their slaves. While this 
idez, which was a just one, was 
uppermost- in their minds, they 
would sacrifice their property with. 
out reluctance to preserve them. 
selves from+so great an evil as that 
of becoming a conquered nation. 
This war, he noticed, had been’ 
dignified by its abettors, as waged 
in the cause of God, and humanity : 
but vas it promoting the honour of 
the divine Being, or the welfare of 
the human race, to sacrifice hun. 
dreds of thousands ‘of men in. the 
field of battle, and to involve whole 
countries in misery and desolation ? 
The unbiassed* and unprejudiced 
agreed, that the condition of the ge. 
derality of people in France, espe. 
cially the infertor clases, who con- 
stituted every where the bulk of so- 
ciety, was preferable to whatit had 
been under the former’ monarchy. 
What, therefore, ‘could be our pre- 
tence for insisting ‘on ‘the propriety 
of a.change) of government im that 
country?) Whatever hed been as- 
serted about the vast proportion of 
royalists, and) their resolution never 
‘to submit to the republieans,! facts 
had proved that they could notavoid 
submission, arid that they were con- 
istantly not only overcome; but out- 
numbered “wherever they ventured 
“to “rise against the government. 
<Their’resistanee how was'no other 
that 6f sbanditti,” associated onfor 
the! purposes "of: plunder, © Wasvit 
“en such. men, without ordervorsdis- 


ipline, “that we cotld-depend-fér 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1705. 


anyregularandsubstantialassistante? 
Peace therefore was the most judiL 
cious, as wellvas the safest measure 
we could embrace: France, it was 
experimentally found, was not to be 
subdued by force of arms. ‘ Neither 
did it appear that we should be able 
to weary out the French by dint of 
superior finances: the depreciation 
of their assignats had not operated as 
we had long expected and prediéted. 
Such as they, were, they still upheld 
the fabric for the support of svhich 
they had been created, andhad proved 
more serviceable than our hatred 
and prejudices. would permit) us to 
acknowledge. Our own finances 
had undeniably suffered through this 
war, and ic would bewise to: termi 
nate it before we made; a much 
longer trial how far the resources of 
this country might ‘be stretched, 
without bringing it to ruin. 

The duke was answered by lord 
Grenville,, who re-adduced’ those 
numerous arguments, so often al< 
leged against treating with France 
in its present sitvation. He assert. 
ed, that it appeared to him that a 
majority of the French were «in. 
clined to.the royal cause. <A 
Frenchman, of’ sense and erudi, 
tion, had lately published a per. 


formance, wherein he’ expressed.a 


doubt ~ which ‘of the two parties 
was the most ‘numerous in France, 
the royalists or the republicans. 
But. so great was the alarm of 
the French government, Jest the 
royal party: should, be «proved the 
most numerous, that the work was 
suppressed, and the author, threat- 
ened .to be ibrought before .the 
revolutionary ‘tribunal. * A proof 
of vthe instability of that system of 
anoderation, ‘said to prevail at pre- 
sent; -was the. difficulty;which that 
‘party experienced in. bringing to 

justice, 


HISTORY OF EUROPEY / 


justicé, Lebon, one: of> the most’ 
wicked) and execrated / associates 
ef Roberspierre.:Other» instances» 
might-be mentioned to»prove that 
tyranny and terror, were far from. 
being laid aside, and-that the vio- 
lence: and audacity\of those who 
opposed the ruling. party, were 
supported by such numbers, that. 
its duration was daily becoming 
extremely precarious... In such a 
state of uncertainty, no confidence 
could be placed in the faith of 
negotiations, framed, with either of 
the parties. No peace, therefore, 
was desirable in the present cir- 
cumstances of affaivs, and he would, 
for that reason, move a. vigorous 
prosecution of the wary; as; the 
most effectual means of arriving 
at a solid and secure peace. 

This motion. was opposed by 
the duke of Norfolk, and support- 
ed as earnestly by the earl of 
Darnley. The bishop of Landaf 
took this occasion to make an ani- 
mated discourse on the subject of 
the war. Though Scripture, he 


observed, did not condemn, in’ 


express terms the pra¢tice of war 
among nations, yet few were the 
@ccasions when it could be law- 
ful.. Justice and necessity were 
indispensable to authorize the use 
of the sword: but what might 
be just, was not therefore neces- 
sary: no war could _ conscien- 
tiously be undertaken, without 
previously employing all the pos- 
sible means to avoid it. He 
would not assert, whether we had 
r not exerted our utmost endea- 
vours to avert it; but he would 
declare himself of opinion, that 
the close of the campaign of 1792 
had offered a fair opportunity to 
event the calamities that tol- 
ed, After the attempts of 


7 
_ 
- 


[sy 


Austrid.and Prussia had, been frus- 
trated, Great Britain might,: vith 
great i:propriety, have interfered, 
so far, \as. to have» insisted. that 
France, should have used her suc. 
cesses with moderation; /.and, con. 
formably..to her.constitutional prin. 
ciples, have confined herself with. 
in- her ancient limits... But this 
interference should; also have been 
accompanied with ;a solemn ens 
gagement, on-our part, to; have 
abstained from, obtrusion. in their 
domestic affairs, and. to have left 
the’ settlement of them entirely. to 
themselves. It was. absurd to 
consider the war as indispensable, 
to step the propagation of repub- 
lican:principles. Armies and coer- 
cion were feeble instruments 
against opinions that were accept. 
able to mankind, and. lenity 
alone. could render royalty desi- 
rable. In this country especially, 
while the crown remained withia 
the limitations .assigned by the 
constitution, a King had nothing 
to apprehend. ‘The. disaffected 
among us were few, and could 
easily be contained within bounds 
by. the existing laws. The title 
of republic might be assumed in 
France, without causing any alarm 
in England. The-history of those 
nations that had adopted repub. 
licanism had nothing fascinating 
nor enviable; and neither the con. 
stitutions of France nor of Ame. 
rica, however founded on the po- 
pular maxims of universal rights 
and equality, could be proposed 
as objects of imitation, . till the 
experience of many years had shewn 
they were deserving of it: this 
experience was -conspicuously on 


.the side of the British constitution ; 


andthe people of this country 
were so well convinced of it, that 
there 


190] 


there was no necessity to destroy 
the French government, in order 


to secure the continuance of the’ 


English; the superiority of which 
was too well established in the 
minds of the people here, to need 
so harsh and unjustifiable a me- 
thod of confirming it. Peace was 
therefore preferable to the conti- 
nuance of a war that only tended 
to perpetuate a ‘spirit of enmity. 
which was certainly both impoli- 
tic in itself, and injurious to both 
nations; as a pacification must of 
necessity take place at last, unless 
we both were resolved on mutual 
extermination, and as- the ca. 
Jamities we brought on each other 
became daily more dificult to he 
remedied. To persist in a con- 
test, in which we had been so 
unsuccessful, was not fortitude but 
obstinacy. It was thus we had 
Jost America, and might now 
plunge ourselves into difficulties 
and misfortunes of a much more 
tremendous nature. It had’ been 
asked, whether the atrocities, of 
which the French had been guilty, 
ought to remain unpunished? 
But what right had we to assume 
the task of avengers?) This should 
he left to the discretion of hea- 
ven. ‘But, were we to succeed 
in re-establishing Lewis XVII. on 
the despotic throne of his: ances- 
tors, would he make this country 


any compensation for the blocd 
yt had shed, and the treasures it 
had expended, im his cause? 


Would his subjects permit it? 
Would our allies consent to it? 
The French were accused of athe- 
ism; this, doubtless, was an enor- 
mity, “as well as a folly, of a 
most deplorable nature. But was 
it curable by war and destruction? 
Christianity stood on better foun- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


dations than force and violence,’ 
and needed no such support to 
triumph over its enemies. 

The bishop was eagerly dibs 
by lord Hawkesbury, who re- 
curred to those various arguments 
in favour of the ministerial mea- 
sures which had been so repeat-’ 
edly urged. The marquis of 
Lansdowne was equally vehement 
against them. He dwelt princi- 
pally on the loss of Holland, as 
an essential diminution of strength 
to the coalition, and an unanswer- 
able motive for immediate ‘peace. 
The revolutionary governments 
that had arisen, in consequence 
of the surprising events produced 
by the present contest, instead of 
preventing a pacification, ought, 
he asserted, to incline us to it, 
for the most obvious of all rea- 
sons, lest we should be affected 
by the storms that had wrought 
such unexpected alterations amorig 
eur neighbours. We had treated 
with our revolted subjeéts in Ame> 
rica; why should we refuse to nes 
gotiate with the French, whe 
were neither our subjeéts, nor the 
first to provoke vs to a contest, 

Vhe carl of Hardwicke, lord 
Hawke, and earl Spencer, sup 
ported the minist@rial motion;:lord 
Mulgrave seconded them, |) ob2 
serving,. that though defeated, rhé 
coalition was too formidable a body 
to be considered without terror} 
even by the wctars, and while 
acting firmly together, ‘had every 
thing to hope. We were masters 
of the West Indies, thut immense 
repository of trade and riches, 
and our fleets were universally 
vitorious; but if we offered to 
treat of peace with the French, 
they would claim a surrender of 
all the advantages we had ——. 


i 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


in that quarter of the globe, «and 
would quickly take occasion to turn 
them against us. 

The debate continued with great 
warmth, anda multiplicity of ar. 
guments were brought forward by 
the respective contendants, of mach 
the same description as the many so 
often reiterated. Itclosed at length 
with a majority of eighty-eight in 
favour of ministry, against a mino- 
rity of no more than fifteen, 

Opposition, though discomfited, 
still returned to the charge: Mr. 
Grey moved, in the lower house, 
on the 6th of February, that it was 
incumbent on government to re- 
move every impediment that stood 
in the way of peace between Great 
-Beitain and France; and that with. 
ost acknowledging some competent 
power to treat with in that country, 
the war-must necessarily last till one 
of the two nations was subdued or 
exterminated by the other: he pro. 
posed, therefore, that the house 
should, for the purpose of avoiding 
so dreadful an extremity, formally 
declare itself of opinion, that the 
government now established in 
France was competent to negotiate 
and conclude a peace with the go- 
vernment of this country. He 
made a copious and animated speech 


en this occasion, and was vigo-- 


rously seconded by the principal 
speakers in the opposition; and no 
less warmly opposed by the, ad- 
herents to ministry. ‘The previous 
question being moved, by Mr, Dun- 
das, was carried in the afirmative, 
by one hundred and ninety, against 
sixty-nine. 

In the house of lords, the duke 
of Bedford moved, on the 12th of 
February, that the government of 
France was no obstruétion to a 
treaty; but that if, through the 


“so perilous as at present. 


[191 


ambitious motive of aggrandizing 
the republic, or in order te propa- 
gate their principles, the French 
should refuse equitable conditions, 
the house would give a vigorous 
support to the war. He was se. 
conded, and opposed, in the usuah 
style cf arguing upon this subje@; 
and the previous question being 
moved, by lord Hawkesbury, was’ 
carried by a majority of sixty three: 
a, protest, however, was signed, 
against the ministerial measures, b¥ 
the duke of Bedford, and the earls 
of Guildford and Lauderdale. 
These reiterated defeats of all 
the endeavours to induce ministers 
to turn their thoughts to peace, in- 
duced Mr. Fox to make a motion, 
on the 24th of March, that acom- 
mittee of the whole house should 
take into consideration the state of 
the kingdom. The case was so 
important, the dangers threatening 


-it so obvious, that such an inquiry 


ought not to be delayed, He had, 
in consequence of our defeat at 
Saratoga, during the American war, 
made a similar motion, and it had 
been acceded to: though our situa. 
tion at that time was far from being 
An idea 
pervaded the mass of the peopie, 
that the commons could not fairly 
be reputed the representatives of 
the nation, from their undeviating 
compliance with every measure pron 
posed by ministry, notwithstanding 
the ii] success with which they had 
conducted the war. ‘Ihe obstinacy 
theyconstantlydisplayed, in resisting 
every motion for peace, required 
the stri¢test investigation; what 
couid be the motives for so ex. 
traordinary. a confidence in men 
who were continually unfortunate ? 
While ministers were able to- set 
themselves, ig this unprecedented 

manner 


192] 


manner, above all inquiry, they 
were in Jfactiabove responsibility ; 
andthoser who complained that the 
constitution was on the decline, and 
that a system of despotism had taken 
place in this country, could not be 
refuted. . Men» that dreaded in- 
guiries into their conduct, afforded 
the clearest presumption that it 
would not’ bear examination: and 
the high hand. with which they kept 
it at a distance shewed, at the same 
time, that the spirit of that consti- 
tution was departed from those whose 
duty it was tocall ministers to ac. 


eount for the misfortunes that befel - 


the’state, in order to ascertain whe- 
ther they were owing to irresistible 
causes,..or to the perversity of mi: 
nisters themselves. The most evi- 
dent necessity now diétated such an 
inquiry: the war had lasted only 
two years, and, in that short period, 
the enemy had» made a progress un- 
known. to, former zras; they had 
evercome all-resistance, and. ac- 
quired: such-an extent of territory, 
as. placed them in the ;most alarm- 
ing state of superiority to the con- 
federation “formed against them, 
Could we with safety and prudence 
proceed in this war? Did our re. 
sources Warrant its prosecution, 
even allowing it to be just and ne-= 
cessary ? but was it in truth either 
of these? Had ministers acted an 
upright and spirited part in uader- 
taking and. condu¢ting it? these 
were questions to be resolved pre- 
viously toengaging more deeply in 
so serious a business. Our losses had 
been immense ; but the utmost in- 
dustry was used to conceal or di- 
minish them. Mr. Fox then en- 
tered into anelaboraie investigation 
ef the numbers that had perished 
by the sword, or been taken by 
the enemy. He adyerted to the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, *1795. 


State of population throughout the 
kingdom, which he theught on the 
decrease. He calculated the ex- 


pences of the war at seventy mil- . 


lions, and the permanent taxes it 
had occasioned at three millions. 
He asserted the trade of the country 
to be diminished, the exports being 
much less than in the year before 
the war, and insurance as high as 
in the American, war, while cons 
tending. with our colonies, Spain, 
France, and Holland, united. We 
had allies, he said, but could we 
trust them? one of. them, Prussia, 
by the treaty of 1788, was bound 
to furnish thirteen thousand men, 
and had received twelve hundred 
thousand pounds to double that 
number: had he-effeCtually done 
it? Had we the least reason to-pre+ 
sume that Austria would treat us 
more honourably, after: receiving 
the four or the six millions it had 
demanded ? the like demands would 
ensue, year after year, until we 


were entirely exhausted; The Sar. 


dinian subsidy was perfectly useless 5, 
that power had done nothing, and 
Spain was already so reduced, that 
it must also be subsidised, or have 
recourse to an immediate peace for 
its preservation. Our conduct to 
neutral nations had been highly dis- 
graceful. .We had first provoked 
them by the tyrannical haughtiness 
of our behaviour, and, after injuring 
their commerce, had found it neo 
cessary to indemnify them. Our 
councils had been so equivocal, that 


neither friends nor foes could form 


a precise idea of our real intentions =. 
the very emigrants and royalists 
mistrusted us, and looked upon the 
coalition as a scheme for dismem- 
bering France much more than for 
restoring it to the Bourbon family. 
The naval part of the war, consider- 


iog 


“HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


ing our superiority at sea, had, he 
said, been very injudiciously ma- 
naged, and our losses greater than 
during the Americancontest, though 
we were now confederated with 
those very powers at that time our 
enemies. The situation of Ireland, 
he observed, required no less the 
strictest inquiry: the extreme irri- 
tation of the great mass of the 
people ought to warn minisgers 
not to render themselves responsible 
for the very possible event of its 
dismemberment from the British 
empire, by the refusal of an inquiry 
into the discontents of its inhabi- 
tants, While rulers of such a de- 
scription as the present presided 
over our affairs, he was thoroughly 
convinced these would never pros. 
per; but before he would enter on 
the propriety of their removal, he 
would move for an inquiry into the 
state of the nation. 

Mr. Pitt, in reply to this speech, 
allowed the subjects proposed for 
inquiry to be of the highest im- 


portance; but this was not a sea. 


son to discuss them. So extensive 
an investigation demanded more 
time than the remainder of the 
session could allow; besides, that 
every subject alluded to had already 
undergone an ample discussion: he 
would advert, however, to some 
material errors: the loss of men, for 
instance, was tenfold greater with 
the enemy than with us; and the 
increase of manufaCtures was pro- 
digious, without the decrease of any 
particular branch. The numbers 
wanted for the navy and the army 
were great, and yet the exports for 
the last year had exceeded those of 
any preceding year of war. With- 
‘out justifying the conduct of Prussia, 
still he would recommend the stri¢t- 
est alliance with Austria, of whose 
Vo... XXXVII. 


from) that . quarter. 


£193 


finances we should readily supply 
the deficiency, in consideration of 
the auxiliary strength we derived 
He did not 
deny the rise of insurance; but at- 
tributed it to the extraordinary 
augmentation of our foreign trade; 
and, in a great measure, to the de- 
struction of the naval power of the 
French, which had induced them 
to convert the remainder of their 
marine into privateers, by which 
means they now carried on a pre- 
datory war: but methods, he af- 
firmed, would, ere long, be found 
to resist this new system of depreda- 
tion. He ‘complained of the pro- 
pensity of those who disapproved 
of the war, to lessen our successes, 
and to magnify our losses; but 
whatever changes, he added, might 
happen in the ministerial depart. 
ment, these were not the men in 
whom those who felt for the honour 
of their country would repose con- 
fidence. He concluded by moving 
the previous question, after strongly 
admonishing the house to wave all 
notice of the affairs of Ireland, as 
entirely improper at the present 
period, and productive of more per- 
plexity than service to either of the 
two kingdoms. 

Mr. Sheridan censured, with great 
asperity, Mr. Pitt’s answer to Mr. 
Fox, as totally irrelevant of the 
main subject. Mr. Canning asserted 
that the a¢tual situation of Ireland 
was a sufficient exculpation for des 
clining all discussion on the sub. 
ject. They were followed by Mr. 
Fox, who resumed the subject with 
great warmth andenergy. He was 
not surprised, he said, that ministers 
should object to an inquiry that 
would endanger their places: but 
was the nation thus to be sacrificed 
to their convenience? They had in- 

[Oo] sultingly 


fo] 


sultingly hinted, that if they were 
dismissed, still he stood no chance of 
sececeding them ; but whatever mi- 
nistry took their place, however 
superior their abilities might be to 
those of their predecessors in office, 
never should they meet with his co. 
operation while they adopted the 
principles now acted upon iy those 
in power, His conduct, he ob- 
served with great emotion, had been 
represented as tending to lower the 
dignity of the British nation; but 
how coulda man presume to tax 


him with so heinous a charge, who 


had, through his obstinacy, brought 
itso near to absolute ruin?) Mr. Fox 
reminded the house, how ‘earnestly 
he had- recommended conciliatory 
/ measures with France, before the 
commencement of the owar, and 
with what disdain they’had been 

rejected by the minister, ‘Did he 
now imagine, that as advantageous 
terms would be ebtained from the 
French as at that period? dared he 
to hope, after so many disappoint- 
ments, for amore auspicious oppor- 
tugity than the present ? The time 
to negotiate on an equal footing, 
with the Frenc h, was before. an ap- 
peal had been mide torthe sword, 
and not after repeated defeats, 
which had placed them on the 
vantage ground, and lowered our 
own consequence, We then were 
rich in resources, and our reputa- 
tion unimpaired; bat who could be 
so bold as ‘to deny that both kad 
suffered? Our alhes were . then 
strong in numbers, and high in their 
military character ; but how much 
‘fallen since? how depressed in spirit, 
how much weakened and dis- 
united? how desirous to drop the 
contest? It was insufferable, Mr. 
Fox said, that a minister, who had 
so grossly miscalculated the progress 


/ 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


of events, and so unhappily ma. 
naged the affairs of this country, 


should accuse another of endeavour- 


ing to debase the national character, 
who had uniformly forewarned 
him, that, by persisting in this 
fatal eontest, he would expose this 


country to the most alarming dan. 


gers. This debate concluded by 
Mr. Pitt’s s Moving an adjournment, 
and carrying it, by two hundred 
and nineteen against sixty-three. 

On the 30th “of March, a motion, 
similar to that of Mr. Punts, was 
made, in the house of lords, by 
the earl of Guildford, who sup- 
ported it by much the same argu. 
ments, and inculpated, with great 
acrimony, the measures of governs 
ment, as marked with negligence 
and want of judgment, both in 
the naval and military depart- 
ment. 

He was replied to’ by lord Gren- 
ville, who spoke on the subject of 
Treland, in the same manner as the 
minister, He explicitly affirmed, 
that, however the forces of the coa- 
lition had been unsuccessful on 
the ‘continent of Europe, the for. 
tune of war had declared for the 
British flag in every other, part of 
the world. The commerce of 
France was nearly annihilated, and 
our fleets ruled uncontrollable in 
every sea. The blow given to the 
French at. Toulon would long re- 
main irretrieved; and the repeated 
defeats of their squadrons had so 
thoroughly established our naval 
superiority, that. they had abandon- 
ed all thoughts of meeting \us in 
battle, and confined themselves to 
a war of piracy and plunder, when- 
ever chance offered them our ‘com- 
mercial shipping unproteéted and 
defenceless.. The victorious career 
of the French'on the continent, he 

2°) Monte 


“HISTORY OF EUROPE. [198 


Considered as a powerful argument 
for the necessity of counteraéting 
them, and of exerting the strength 
of Great Britain, in opposition to 
its most inveterate enemy. 
The marquis of -Lansdowne ex- 
‘pressed himself with his usval fer- 
vour against ministerial measures. 
He was particularly severe on the 
frequent refusal of ministers to lay 
before the house copies of in- 
structions to admirals and generals. 
This practice had begun, he ob- 
served, in the reign of George I. 
to the high disgrace of parliament; 
of which it had greatly wounded 
the dignity in the eyes of the na- 
tion. It was incumbent on this 
body to assert the right it had en- 
joyed till that period, of claiming, 
without denial, a participation in 
the knowledge of those public docu- 
ments, on which alone. it could 
form a clear conception of the pro- 
priety of ministerial measures in 
‘matters of the most essential conse- 
quence. The marquis entered with 
great accuracy into an examination 
of the relative interests of the chief 
European powers. He represented 
the desire of Russia, to form acon- 
“‘hexion with England, as flowing 
“from the dread entertained by that 
power, that the poientates of Eu- 
rope were meditating an union 
against this overgrown empire, in 
order to set bounds to its ambition. 
‘This was a measure of such ne- 
eessity, that it were the height ofim- 
policy tocounteract it. But no na- 
tion could so effectually oppose the 
nterprises of Russia, as the Ger- 
‘mans assisted by the French, who 
had always been the surest friends to 
the independence of the German 
“princes. This connexion ought not 
therefore to be disturbed, nor the 


French prevented from ating the 
part they had already done in be- 
half of Germany, merely on ac- 
count of their having changed. the 
form of theit government, from 
monarchical to republican. The ine 
terests of France were invariably 
the same, whether a monarchy or a. 
republic: but the infatuation of 
those who opposed the establishment 
of the republic, might induce it, in 
order to attain that objet, to conz 
nive at the pretensions of its princi- 
pal enemies, and permit them to 
swallow up the smaller states of the 
German empire, provided the 
settlement of the republic was no 
longer obstructed. ‘The prospects 
that arose from this new arrange- 
ment of things, were, in the opinion 
of the marquis, more critical than 
any alterations that had happened 
in the course of many centuries. 
It was easy to foresee, that if France 
allowed the greater powers to adopt 
thesystem ot partition, they must in 
return permit the same to the 
French. Thus Europe would be 
thrown into a state of confusion 
highly unfavourable to the interests 
of this country, which evidently re- 
quired that the political situation 
of Europe should remain as hereto- 
fore, and that nod power whatever 
should be aggrandized at the ex- 
pence of another. The greater 
the number of smaller powers, the 
greater must be the safety and in- 
fluence of Great Britains Were 
Europe to be divided, on the par- 
titioning plan in contemplation at 
the ambitious courts well known to 
desire it, no peace could henceforth 
be lasting or secure, The thirst of 
dominion once excited, and partially 
gratified, would never rest, and the 
dividers .of states and kingdoms 

[O22] would, 


196] 


would, like plunderers on asmaller’ 


scale, fall out among themselves 
about the division of the booty, and 
keep the world in continual alarms 
and dissentions. ‘wo of the mem- 
bers of the coalition had already 
acted on this plan, in the business of 
Poland, One of them, Prussia, had 
deserted us, and the other would 
probably do the same, were France 
to proffer better terms than England, 
Thus, after throwing away immense 
treasures, we might at length be 
abandoned to our sole exertions 
against an ancient enemy, provoked 
at our endeavours to reduce him to 
a worse degree of servitude than he 
had ever experienced; and become, 
through our folly, more able than at 
any former period to make us feel 
the weight of his resentment. It 
was in the mean time illusory to 
boast of the extent of our com- 
merce. Insurance,. the best crite- 
rion of Joss or gain, was continually 
rising ; and of three islands taken by 
usin the West Indies, oneonly, Mar- 
tinico, remained. Instead of inciting 
the Chouans and other insurgents to 
persevere in a fruitless resistance, 
“were it not more consistent with 
humanity. and good policy to treat 
with the French government for gn 
amnesty to the emigrants, or on 
failure, to make them a donation of 
haif a million, or more if necessary, 
to enable them at once to fix them- 
selves in'some settled way of living? 
“The marquis concluded by adverting 
to the affairs of Ireland, on which 
he expressed himself in the same 
manner as the other speakers in the 
opposition. 

The other adherents and oppo. 
nents to ministerial measures took 
part also in this debate. Lord 
Lauderdale in particular took no- 
tice, that, according to ministers, our 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


allies were the whole human race,. 
and our wealth that of the whole 
world, Yet, with allies innume. 
rable, and wealth inexhaustible, we 
could not, he observed, bring the 
French to our terms. The earl of 
Guildford’s motion was negatived 
by @ majority of ninety. 

Asa final struggle on the part of 
opposition, Mr. Wilberforce, on the 
27th of May, moved the house of 
commons to declare itself of opi- 
nion, that inthe present circum. 
stances of France, the British go. 
vernment ought not to object to 
proposals for a general pacification, 
and that it was the interest of the 
Nation to put an end to the war as 
soon as just and honourable terms 
could be obtained. He supported 
his motion in a long and pertinent 
speech. Though he would not, he 
said, insist on the common axiom, 
that the voice of the people was the 
voice of God, yet much weight 
should be allowed to sentiments ge- 
nerally received. Thus the public 
being in the persuasion that a speedy 
end ought to be put to the present 
ruinous war, it was incumbent on 
the legislature to pay a due defer- 
ence to the inclinations of its con- 
stituents, and earnestly to seek for 
every facility inthe way to attainit. 
The people were the more justified 
in their warm expression of so rea- 


sonable’ a desire, when they heard 


how readily the most potent of our 
allies acceded to the wishes of his 
people in this particular: the very 
day on which the emperor signed 
the treaty for a loan of money 
from this country, he also signed a 
rescript, expressing that he was ready 
to enter into a negotiation with the 
French. What were we to think of 
such behaviour? Did he really mean 


to be true to the conditions on 
which 


—————EOEE—eeeee——— eee ee eS Le eee eer 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


which he accepted our subsidy?’ or 
to sacrifice the faith he owed to this 
country, to thé inrerest and the en- 
treaties of his,;subje€ts. © Which- 
ever of these determinations he 
adopted, he could not be exculpated 
from duplicity, as he must neces- 
sarily deceive one of the parties. 
Could we proceed in security wich 
such allies? Were the French them- 
selves less worthy of being ‘rusted? 


_ The condition of these, however 


deplorable in the representation of 
those who argued for the war, was 
now much more formidable than 
when it began: they had suppressed 
all domestic insurrections, they had 
made peace with Prussia, and were 
negotiating with the other mem. 
bers of the coalition, which in fa& 
was, ifnot actually dissolved, on the 
point of dissojution ; they had con- 
quered Belgium and Holland, and 
expelled all their enemies from the 
low countries: they were masters of 
the spaciaus and opulent provinces 
on the left side of the Rhine, and 
were preparing to cross it in great 
force: their deliverance from: in- 
surrections at home, and the pacific 
treaties they had concluded abroad, 
had strengthened their armies against 
the remaining members of the con- 
federacy, to the amount of near three 
hundred thousand men. Were such 
a people to be declared unfit to be 
treated with? Much had been hoped 
from the depreciation of their paper- 
money; but was it not strange that 
we would sot take lessons from our 
own woeful experience ? How had 
America combated and overcome us 
with paper, one hundred per cent. 
below par? The French were pro. 
ceeding directly in the same track. 
Provisions were cheaper in France 
than in England, and the republican 
armies had remitted nothing of 


[197 


their attachment to the principles of 
the revolution, nor of their enthusi- 
asm in its cause. We still con- 
tinued to trust to the commotions 
reported to be breaking out among 
them, and to the number of dis- 
contented people daily looking for 
Opportunities to rise against govern- 
ment: but might not the French on 
their side allege the multitudes in 
this country that disapproved of the 
war? Theexcessive bounties given, 
and the difficulties found to procure 
men for the navy and army ? the re- 
sistance in some places to the in- 
janétions of our legislature ? might 
they not adduce these particulars as 
proofs how much we were exhausted 
and inadequate to the farther pro. 
secution of the war? Neither was 
our situation in the East or the 
West Indies on a footing of perma- 
nency : in the East, the princes of 
those countries were watching the 
opportunity to distress us, and from 
theirnatural superiority in numbers, 
in opulence, and in native resources 
always at hand, would probably 
soon or late reduce'us to such 
straits, as might compel us to re- 
vert to our primitive situation of 
merchants and traders. Inthe West 
the same system of emancipation 
from thraldom, heid out by the 
French tothe negroes, had already 
effected a revolution among them. 
In the island of Hispaniola they had 
in a great measure thrown off the 
yoke of servitude, and their nume 
bers were such, amounting to some 
hundred thousands, that a reduction 
of them was hardly practicable, 
We should not, therefore, in pru- 
dence build much on our acqui- 
sitions there, Our situation nearer 
home was extremely serious. Ire. 
land, our sister nation, felt deeply, 
and expressed loudly, every species 


[93] of 


198] 


of discontent : at home itself the peo- 
ple were exasperated at their suffer- 
ings, and the less disposed to bear 
them, that they did not clearly com- 
prehend why they should. The ef- 
feéts of the war were of a truly 
alarming nature: it not only spread 
calamity through the land, but di. 
verted a Jarge portion of the people 
from © peaceable ‘occupations, to 
which they never returned with 
alacrity after they had been used to 
a military life, and contracted those 
habits of idleness and dissipation al- 
ways attending it. Another effect 
was, that the Americans were appre- 
hensive, lest, if successful in our at- 
tempts against the French islands, 
we might narrow their commerce in 
those parts : nor were they disposed 
to bear with patience the haughty 
and contemptuous language we be- 
stowed on republican principles and 
governments. The longer the war 
lasted, the stri€ter would be the 
union of the French, and the more 
fervent their resolution to maintain 
their domestic independence, with 
which their present form of govern- 
ment was daily becoming so inti- 
mately connected. ‘The “rulers in 
that country, sensible of the general 
inclination to peace, were very far 
from ayerse to it themselves: the diffi- 
culties perpetually arising in pro- 
viding the means to continue’ the 
war, and their anxiety not to run 
counter to the reasonable wishes of 
the majority, were motives that must 
strongly influence them to close 
with equitable offers. All’ these 
were objects that called for the most 
serious attention on our part. He 
had proposed them in the clearest 
point of view they appeared to him, 
and ‘to those who coincided with 
his sentiments. : 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


This speech occasioned a warm 
reply from Mr. Windham, who 
contended, that it was nugatory to 
talk of the willingness of the French 
government to listen to oyertyres 
from this country, after the explicit 
manner in which they had. deter- 
mined to reduce its power and in. 
fluence throughout Europe. France 
was at the present hour ina state of 
Universal agitation; jealousies and 
mistrusts Gf each other distracted its 
rulers, and irritation at their con- 
duct pervaded the mass of the peo- 
ple, who had never been so prone 
to shake off the usurpations of their 
governors, as they appeared of late, 
Motions to treat for peace were 
totally unseasonable for those rea< 
sons: they tended to dishearten the 
public from the prosecution of a 
war which promised to terminate so 
favourably to the cause of this coun- 
try and its allies: they promoted 
disaffection, and placed government 
in an odious light. He would, 
therefore, oppose the present mo- 
tion, by moving the order of the 
day. 
Herein he was seconded by sir 
B. Hammet; but vigorously op- 
posed by Mr.:Fox, who amidst a 
variety of other allegatiors, par- 
ticularized the satisfa€tion expressed 
by the subjeéts of those powers that 
had made peace with France. He © 
instanced the grand duke of Tus- 
cany, who had rendered himself 

highly popular by abandoning the 
coalition ; which was an. object of 
hatred to the commonalty of all 
Europe. The constitution which 
the coalition held out to the French, 
as the price of peace, was precisely 
that which they had proscribed. 
This alone was sufficient to excite 
their aversion to it : nospirited peo- 
b “ple 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


ple being willing to acceptiof a go- 
vernment upon compulsion. but 
did our allies require from us 2 con. 
tinuation of this war? Were they 
not all inclined to peace? Was it 
not also a fact, that so fsz from ex. 
tinguishing jacobinism ov fo coun. 
try, which was one of the most com- 
mon pretences for the war in those 
who approved it, those who went 
under that name rejoiced in its con- 
tinuance, from the-prospect it af- 
forded of accelerating the ruin of 
Ministry, and of the party that 
sided with them, and of promoting 
all the views of their adversaries. 
The good faith of the French was 
at least equal to that-we had ex- 
perienced from our allies: were the 
French to deceive us, they would do 
no more than had been done by our 
allies under the mask of friendship 
to this country, and after having, 
through that pretence, drained it of as 
much treasure as they could prevail 
on our credulity in their promises to 
bestow. We had sufficiently felt 
theevils of war: those prognosti- 
cated from peace had no existence 
but in the speculations of persons 
who did not feel the calamities of 
the times: but ‘ought the mere 
speculations of men in power to 
outweigh the contrary opinions of 
the great mass of the community ? 
among whom it were an insult to 
common sense and experience to 
deny, that as much knowledge and 
understanding might be found as in 
any ministry. 

It was argued by Mr. Pirt in re. 


ply, that to representit as ‘the duty ' 


-of ministers, to acknowledge them. 
selves ready to accept of overtures 
et peace from the enemy, was tak. 

ng from them the advantages they 
ought to possess in relation to them: 
they must, from their situation, best 


(199 


know the language tovbe held with 
him. For this reason the constitus 
tion had invested the executive 
power with the exclusive right of 
foreign negotiations, from the supe. 
rior degree of information it could 
not fail to derive through the. vari. 
ous channels of which it had the 
sole direétion. From sources of this 
nature proceeded the reluctance of 
government, to comply with the 
opinion of those who were desirous 
to shew a willingness to treat with 
the rulers in France. From “au., ’ 
thentic intelligence, the situation of . 
that country was more critical than 
ever: the resources were universally 
diminished in every quarter from 
whence they had arisen, or been ex.” 
torted. Disunion reigned in every 
department of the state, and dissatis. 
faction extended through all classes. 
Was this, therefore, a time to come 
forward with proposals tonegotiate, 
while, through the patient delay of a 
short lapse of time, alterations. 
might happen in the internal parts 
of thatcguntry, more favourable to 
us, than we could expect from the 
most advantageous treaties that 
could be framed at the present mo- 
ment? To negotiate now would 
therefore be precipitation and im. 
prudence unbecoming the discretion 
of government, while so thoroughly 
acquainted with the diminution of 
strength in the enemy, and that not. 
withstanding the apparent vigour 
and success of his exertions, they 
could not last much longer. This 
description of the state of France he 
compared with that of England, of | 
which the resources still remained 
unexhausted, and where, though 
impositions had been numerous, 
they had notdepressed the industry, 
nor affected the general welfare of 
society. The debate closed by the 
[94] order 


s 


200] 


order of the day, which wascarried 
by 209 against 86. 

The earl of Lauderdale made a 
sim'Jar motion to that of Mr. Wil- 
berforce, in the house of lords, on 
the sth of June, and supported it 
with much the same reasonings. 
Spain, he observed, was the only 
ally that was not in thepay of Great 
Britain. The loss of Holland ren- 
dered an augmentation of the mili. 
tary strength of the coalitionimprac. 
ticable. Every power in Europe, 


‘even those hostile to France, had 


virtually if not formally, acknow~. 
Jedged the French republic. It was 
indecent in government to arrogate 
the exclusive privileges of deciding 
on the propriety of negotiation : 
in so weighty a case as the present, 
parliament had a right to interfere ; 
he would therefore move, that an 
address should be presented to the 
king, requesting him to enter intoa 
negotiation with France fora speedy 
and honourable peace. 

Lord Grenville opposed this mo. 
tion, chiefly on the ground that the 
French would construe a negotiation, 
thus recommended by the voice of 
parliament, as proceeding from des- 
pair of success. The hands of mi- 
nisters would be tied down, and 
freedom of a¢tion would be taken 
from them in the most essential ex- 
ecution of their office. Such, in the 
mean time, were the preparations 
for the ensuing campaign, on the part 
of the emperor, aided by the power- 
ful subsidies of Great Britain, that 
a force would be brought into the 
field fully competent to meet that 
of the enemy. A vigorous resistance 
to the ambition of France was ne- 
cessary for the security of Europe. 
To speak of the empire as disposed 
to a pacification, without recover- 
ing the provinces seized by the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795, 


French, betrayed a total want of 
insight into its indispensable, inte- 
rests. The presumed willingness of 
the French to negotiate was 4 mani- 
fest error, as they had even refused 
to treat for sousual a thing in war, 
as an exchange of prisoners. After 
a few other observations from both 
sides, lord Lauderdale’s motion was 
negatived by 53 against 8. 

The Imperial loan was the next 
subject that engaged the attention 
of the house: it was brought for- 
ward, on the 28thofMay, by Mr. 
Pitt, who observed, that every se- 
curity had been provided for pay- 
ment of both the interest and prin. 
cipal to the lenders, -and moved 
that the whole should be guaran- 
teed. Mr. Fox objected to the 
agreement made by government 
with the emperor, as placing our- 
selves in-his power, without any. 
certainty that he would perform the 
stipulations agreed upon. From 
four to six millions were to be ad- 
vanced him, proportionably to the 
augmentation of the force to be em- 
ployed against France, beyond the 
original stipulation of twa hundred 
thousand men. But nothing precise 
had ‘been decided, and we. were 
totally uninformed of the exact pro- 
portion intended. ‘The conduét of 
the emperor in the military tran. 
sactions that had taken place, did, 
by no means, entitle him to such 
implicit faith from thiscountry. It 
had been asserted, and not contra- 
dicted by ministers, that, ina situa. 
tion of the most imminent danger, 
he had refused the assistance de. 
manded of him, and evidently need. 
ed by. the British troops. Notwith- 
standing this ungenerous and in. 
equitable treatment, we still con- 
tinued to pay him one hundred 


thousand pounds amonth, and this 


too 


HISTORY. OF EUROPE.» 


too ata time when he had quite 
deserted us. Other breaches of 
good faith, in the court of Vienna, 
were particularised by Mr. Fox, 
which ought, he said, to render us 
extremely circumspe¢t in our pecu- 
niary negotiations with that minis- 
try. Should it conclude a peace 
with France, as not a little to be 
apprehended, what an immense sum 
would have been lavished to no 
effet: he dwelt with great indigna- 
tion on the uncertainty to which we 
submitted in the emperor’s condutt, 
and demanded, with great firmness, 
that the committee of the house, 
“now sitting upon that important 
subject, would express their sense 
of itinexplicitterms. Afterseve. 
tal reasonings, by other members, 
the ministerial resolutions in favour 
of the loan, were carried by 77 
to 43. 

The second and third readings of 
the bill relating to this loan, were 
attended with very animated con- 
tests. The two-fold character of 
the emperor, as head of the empire, 
and as the sovereign of other domi- 
nions, occasioned a variety of dis- 
cussions ; some insisting that he 
could not well separate these charac- 
ters in practice, and others alleging, 
that neither of them interfered with 
the other, and that were he to con- 
clude a peace with France in his 
Imperial capacity, he might still 
continue the war'as king of Hungary 
and Bohemia, and sovereign of other 
states, from which he derived far 

ter importance and power than 

rom the Imperial dignity. A re- 

petition took place, as usual, of the 

many other arguments already em. 

ployed by both sides on this subje¢t, 

which terminated, at length, by the 
passing of the bill, 


[201 


, In the house of lords, the bill was 
strongly opposed by the dukes. of 
Norfolk and Grafton, as introduced 
too abruptly, and without a suffi. 
cient expianation on the part of mi- 
nisters: it was a measure involving 
the dearest interests of the nation, 
and tending to deprive it not only 
of its property, buc of the very 
right of disposing of it; which, by 
the present arrangement, was in 
reality lodged in the hands of mi. 
nisters, 

Their condu& was zealously vin. 
dicated by lord Grenville, who se. 
verely censured the  reasonings 
drawn from the defection of Prussia, 
against confiding in the emperor; 
as if eyery sovereign could be sup- 
posed void of honour and honesty. 
He denied the disapprobation of the 
war by the people at large, ‘and as- 
serted, that the public had never 
been more thoroughly convinced of 
its propriety. 

The bill was strenuously opposed 
by the earl of Lauderdale. He ad- 
duced a variety of reasons why it. 
ought never to have been produced 
to the house in its a¢tual form, 
which divested us of all security 
from the emperor, and left jt at his 
option to act independently of every 
motive that could bind him to do 
us justice, His zeal for the com~ 
mon cause was very precarious, and, 
since the disasters of the last cam. 
paign, he had proved a useless ally, 
Ministers hoasted of what had been 
done in the West Indies, and of 
what was projected against France: 
but fifteen hundred thousands pounds, 
issued for the relief of the people in 
our islands, proved how little these 
assertions ought to be credited, and 
our disappointments on the coast of 
France, shewed how ill-founded 

' our 


202] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


our expectations | were in that 
quarter, 

Lo these and other allegations 
the earl of Mansfield replied, much 
in the same style of arguing uscd by 
those who supported the bill; and 
was answered by the carl of Guirid. 


ford in like manner: other Jords 
spoke also for and agzinst it with 
equa! e€arnesiness on each side. ‘ihe 
debate finally conciuded with the 
passing ot the bili, oy 60 votes in its 
favour to 12 against it, 


CHAP. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. = [202 


EL eye, Peterctts 


/ 


Motion in the House of Commons, by Mr. Wilberforce, for a final Abslition 
of the Slave-Trade.—Negatived.—Acquittal of Mr. Hastings.—Reflec- 
tions on the History and Issue of his Trial, and’ on his oun CharaGer and, 
De portment.—Motion by Mr, W dein tending to maintain Discipline, 
and increase the Sting ih of the Militia Regiments.—Carried.— Bill 
passed for new-mode ling the London Militia. —Motion for intr oducing 
‘into the Miliiia the Use of Artiller, ry —Carried.—Exira Allowance to the 
Army for Bread and Meat, herd ty the Army by Gowernment, without 
the Participation of Parliameut,—A subje& of Alarm to Oppositim, and 
many others.—Moation for a Censure on this step, by General Macleod.— 
Negatived.— A Laan of Public Money to the Merchants of Grenada and 
St. Vincent? st iStarenens of East India Affairs,— Regulations in favour 
of the Officers in the Military Service of the East India Company.— 
Marriage of the Priace of Wales to the Princess Caroline of Brunswick. 


—Settlement of his Revenuc,—And éther Pecuniary Affairs. 


HILE these discussions, on 
the great objects of the war, 
employed the abilities of ministry 
and of opposition, a large portion of 
the public sincerely lamented that 
an object, which had lately been 


’ favoured with the peculiar atten- 


tion of the people at large, should 
remain almost in. state of neglect, 
especially as the wishes of a majority 
of the nation .wére considered as 
friendly to, the, intentions of those 
who first brought it before parlia- 
ment. This was the long-agitated 


business of the slave-trade, so zeas_ 


lously reprobated by-one party, as 
a. criminal and digraceful, 

no less warmly justified by the 
other, as absolutely necessary in the 
actual situation of the commercial 
and colonial affairs of Great Britain. 
Those. two contradictory opinions 


_ stilldivided numbers, both in and 


out of parliament, and were mains 


tained by the respective adherent 
to each, with great fervour and 
variety of arguments. 

Mr. Wilberforce, the original 


* promoter of this business, recalled 


the attention of the house of com. 
mons toit, on the 26th of February, 
He reminded the house, thata formal 
resolution had passed in the sessions 
of 1792, that after the expiration of 
the month of January, 17965 it 
should no longer be lawful to im. 
port African negroes into the Bri, 
tish colonies and plantations. He 
recapitulated the chief motives that 
had led to this determination; such 
as the barbarity of the practice, and 
the excessive loss of scamen in the 
unwholesome climates where that: 
trade was carried on. He adverted 
to the reasonings adduced to prove 
its impolicy, and to the acknow. 
ledgment of nearly the whole 
house, that they were epmatly 

ed, 


204] 


ed. He strongly objected to the 
idea, that civilization first fourished 
on sea coasts : some persons, he ob- 
served, had travelled three hundred 
miles from Sierra Leone, into the 
interior parts of Africa, and had 
discovered civilized people, inha- 
biting considerable towns, possessed 
of the knowlege of reading and 
writing, and of many more of the 
conveniences of life, than were 
Known to the inhabitants on the sea 
shore. He took notice of the ma. 
nifest disposition of the newly im. 
rted negroes to rise against the 
white people, and of the consequent 
necessity of maintaining a numerous 
military force to keep them in awe 
and subjection. He urged several 
other arguments against their farther 
importation into the West.India 
islands, and concluded by moving a 
final abolition of the slave-trade. 
He was seconded by Mr. W. 
Smith, and opposed by Mr. Denr, 
Mr. Barham, and Mr. East. Were 
such a bill to pass, these gentlemen 
thought the property of planters 
would be greatly endangered : they 
deprecated all discussion as extreme- 
ly dangerous in the present crisis : 
were the. negroes once induced to 
hope for emancipation, disappoint- 
ment would render them ungovern- 
able, through the irritation it 
would occasion, and the com. 
parisons they would make between 


_ their situation and that of their 


countrymen inthe French islands, 
Were even the bill to pass in the 
commons, it was. not probable the 
lords would acquiesce in it. 

They were answered by Mr, 
Whitbread, and Mr. Fox, who 
pointedly noticed the length of time 
employed by the house of lords in 
the examination of witnesses on this 
subje&.. But even those who were 


ANNUAL’ REGISTER, 


1795. 


averse to the abolition of the trade, 
had not ventured to justify it. The 
calculations of Mr. Wilberforce, 
respecting the sufficiency of the ac- 
tual number of blacks in the islands, 
for their cultivation and improve. 
ment, were undisproved. The 
more moderate their numbers, the 
less would be the danger from them, 
and the better their treatment. The 
French system of disciplining their 
negroes ought to be an example to 
us: in proportion as we shewed 
them confidence, they would be. 
come attached and faithful. At all 
events, it became a British parlia- 
ment to discontinue the countenance 
it had shewn to so iniquitous and 
inhuman a trade. 

Mz. Dundas alleged, in reply, 
that the motive ofdeferring the abo. 
lition until the beginning of 1796, 
was, to afford time to the planters to 
ah suitable arrangements for it : 
but the war had prevented the re. 
cruiting of the present numbers, 
which were not sufficient for their 
exigencies. He approved of the 


abolition, but was of opinion it 


ought to be gradual, 

Mr. Pitt declared for an immedi- 
ate abolition.. The numbers’ of 
slaves imported into the colonies, 
had, he said, been large enough 
during the three last ‘years, to an- 
swer every purpose of the colonists. 
The negroes themselves were not 
desirous of these importations,. as 
they found, by experience, that 
their own labours were not lessened 
thereby, nor their condition better- 
ed. After a variety of other argu- 
ments for and against the abolition, 
the motion was postponed for‘six 
months, by a majority of 17. 

This decision’ was conformable to 
the expectations of the ‘public, 
which had, for some time past, 

begun 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


begun to entertain the opinion, that 
the prodigious property embarked 
in, all the concerns relating to the 
West Indies, would operate as an 
insurmountable obstacle to the de- 
sign of tying up the hands of the 
planters in the management of these 
distant possessions on their own 
plan. 

A decision, long looked for 
with still more impatience, was 
that relating to the conduct of 
Mr. Hastings, in the East Indies. 
This tedious business had now 
fasted seven years, to the great 
diminution of his fortune, and at 
a large expence to the public. 
This protraction was considered 
as unnecessary, and occasioned hea- 
ee eerie, not only from Mr. 
Hastings himself, but from the ge- 
nerality of people, who thought, 
that the forms of justice were un- 
duly lengthened, and. that a sen. 
tence of condemnation or of ab. 
solution might, and ought, there- 
fore, to have passed long before 
this time. The defence which he 
drew up and presented to the 
lords, in Westminster-hall, was 
written with great eloquence and 
_ability, and made a strong impres. 
sion in his favour. He was so- 
lemnly acquitted of every charge 
brought against him. Out of 
twenty-nine peers, who pro- 
_ nounced judgment on this occasion, 
twenty-three declared him inno- 
,cent. But the costs of this ex- 
. pensive trial would have proved 
a grievous load to him, and too 
heavy ta be borne, had not the 
East-Indja company, with a spirit 


/ 


[205 


of gratitude, greatly to their credit; 
taken upon them to discharge the 
whole, amounting to upwards of 
seventy thousand pounds. The 
company also avoided the disgrace 
of leaving so meritorious a servant 
in indigence, by a moderate pecus 
niary donation.—He retired from 
the perilous situation wherein he so 
long" had stood, with an injured 
constitution: but witha reputation 
not only unimpaired, but, nots 
withstanding the indefatigable at. 
tempts to ruin him in the esteem 
of the public, confirmed and 
exalted. | 

The trial of such a character, 
political and private, as Mr. Hast. 
ings, whose services had so of- 
ten received the sanétion of pub. 
lic approbation and grateful ap- 
plause, and which, in fact, had 
proved, in a crisis of the utmost 
alarm, the salvation of his coun- 
try*—the trial of such a man, 
protracted to such an enormous 
length of time, was a novelty in 
the history of England, and deep- 
ly fixed the attention, as well as 
the wonder of foreign nations : 
to the principal of whom, the 
merits of Mr. Hastings appeared 
to be better known than to his own 
countrymen. That one who, had 
deserved so well of his country 
should be stretched so long on 
the rack of ‘* the law’s delay,’’ 
and that this should be so long 
borne by a generous nation, ap- 
peared utterly astonishing to na- 
tions but little acquainted with 
the tedious formalities that are: 
incident to processes under, free 


* Yor dn account of the manner in which the exertions of Mr. Hastings saved hie 

country, by enabling the English minister, as he acknowledged, to make the peace 

_ of 1783, and-also of the intrigues and cabals that gave birth to the impeachment of 
Mr. Hastings, see Memoirs of the late War in Asia. 


governments, 


{ 


206] 


governments, :abd.to all who: do 
not refleét, that much of what 
may appear blameable to foreign 
nations and other ages, is often 
shaded and softened to the eye of 
the contemporary, which looses sight 
of the whole. scene, sees it only, 
as it wete; in fragments; and 
these too diminished and distorted 
by the intrusion. of .a thousand 
other circumstances and concerns 
that constantly solicit the attentions 
of self-love, and soon blunt our 
sorrow at the sufferings of others, 
when long continued, by the very 
means that should heighten . our 
sympathetic affe@tion. Amidst the 
thickest vapour, the traveller still 
enjoys light enough to see the near- 
est objects, and calls it only a mist ; 
but the distant spectator views 
it as a dark ‘and  portentous 
cloud. 

But there was no period, even 
when the accusations against Mr. 
Hastings were the loudest, and 
before the time was»come for re- 
ply, in which a general sympa- 
thy and concern for his state was 
wholly lost or suspended in can- 
did and impartial breasts, ‘The 
violence mixed with the oratory 
made use of against him, served, 
in some measure, as an antidote 
to the gall from whence it sprung. 
The true motives that urged on 
the impeachment became general- 
Jy suspeCted. The sentence pro- 
nounced by ‘the highest court in 
the kingdom, in tavour of Mr. 
Hastings, was universally gratulat- 
ed with sincere joy. . Men re- 
joiced to. find, that the integrity: of 
the late governor geheral had been 
‘ proved equal to his abilities. 
impressions that were made on the 


The 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


public mind by the» trial of Mr, 
Hastings, in its different stages, 
ate faithfully described in a pre- 
face to a publication, which gives 
an. account of many curious cif- 
cumstances relating to the origin, 
progress," and issue, of sthe trial, 
and also suggests not a few im- 
portant reflexions.on the whole. 
Itis §* The History of the Trial of 
Warren Hastizgs, Esg. containing 
the whole of the proceedings and 
debates in both houses of parliament 
relating to that celebrated prosecu- 
tion, 

‘¢ From the moment that an im. 
peachment of Mr. Hastings was 
agreed on by the house of coms 
‘mons, the editor of the present 
compilation determined to | 
the progress, and to: colleét an 
to preserve every. document and 
memorial, in’ any material degree 
connected with a trial so .new in 
its nature, sO various and exten. 
sive in its -relations, and that 
might probably, in’ its issue, pro- 
duce the most important, though 
unknown consequences. The ins 
dustry with which he has execut= 
ed this plan will be readily ac- 
knowledged. To. some, perhaps, 
it may appear, to ‘have been car- 
ried to excess; but, of most of 
the. papers. he has preserved, a 
little reflection will discover some 
purpose either of utility or entertain. 
ment, and future conjunétures will, 
no doubt, as usual, by opening a 
wider sphere of relation, consti- 
tute and disclose new ways in 


-which these fugitive pieces may 
-contribute to the instru€tion: -of 


the civilian and the historian, and 
the amusement of the future anti- 


‘quarian: to the lawyer it is a 


record 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


record of judicial precedents, re- 
ports, and decisions: to the his- 
torian it presents, collaterally, a 
wider field of political intrigue 
and military operation than had 
entered, at any former nie 
into the British history: and, 
future antiquaries, many Say 
ing anecdotes relating to persons 
who not only make a figure im 
the present shifting scene, but 
whose names may penetrate into 
times to come. But it is not to 
future antiquaries only that the 
pieces here collected, not neces- 
sarily though naturally connetted 
with the trial, will appear inte- 
resting—the greater part of them, 
we doubt not, will please general 
readers of the present times 
_ «* This trial derives still higher 
consequence from its connexion 
and influence in our political sys. 
tem. It has served, in its com. 
mencement, progress, and termi- 
nation, to define the political situa. 
tion of this country with respect 
to India; to give greater preci- 
sion to her maxims both of po- 
licy and jurisprudence in that 
country ; to ascertain the line of 
conduct that may be pursued, on 
various emergencies, by the civil 
and military officers of the com- 
pany and the crown; and, on the 
whole, in various ways to cons0- 
lidate the British empire in Hin- 
dostan, 

“ Thus far it is particularly i in- 
teresting to every subject of Bri- 
tain; but especially to all who 


shave any share in the Brirish go. 


-vernment. But it is not either 
asa gratification of curiosity, a 


‘direGtory to lawyers, a source of 


‘information to historians, and of 


Instruction to politicians and the 


{207 
executive government .in all ‘its 
branches, that this trial is chiefly 
interest in possesses an Inte. 
rest of a xind still more noble and 
affecting. In a moral view, it 
is interesting to all men, and all 
ages, to whom a good man, strug. 
giing with adversity, can’ never 
be an object of indifference—a 
good man, after saving his coun- 
try by the brightest exertions of 
genius as well as pablic virtue, 
attacked by private malignity, com- 
bined with, political intrigue; un- 
usual merit followed by unprece- 
dented persecution and hardships. 

“« Mr, Hastings is a man of gen. 
tle manners, and of an elegant 
mind. « From his earliest years he 
has been devoted to study, and 
to the service of his country. In 
private life he has uniformly dis. 
played universal benevolence to 
all around him, as well as most 
exemplary moderation in the go- 
vernment of his own passions— 
in the public characters in which 
he was successively employed, the 
most impartial justice. His mind, 
aétive and comprehensive at all 
times, rose with an elastic force 
under every pressure; and, conse. 
quently, his talents and. virtues 
shone forth with the greatest splen- 
dor, in times of difficulty and dan. 
ger. In 1778, at a crisis preg 
nant with danger and full of 
alarm, he pursued those measures 
which the impending calamities 
required. In another hemisphere, 
and among nations governed by 
other religions, customs and laws, 
he maintained the British domi. 
nion in India, by means exactly 
of the same kind with those that 
acquired them, and by which alone 
it was possible to maintain them. 
It 


ner 


208] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


/ 

Tt hag been justly observed, on the 
subject of legislation, that what is 
metaphysically true may be, in that 
very proportion, politically false ;* 
and that, in all cases, respect should 
be had to times and circumstances. 
it could scarcely be expected that 
Mr. Hastings, incircumstances that 
admit of great latitude of conduct 
in Europe, should attempt to wea- 
ther a storm in India by an Kvropean 
compass. Without violating the 
usages and laws of Asia, he com- 
bined and direéted a large military 
force for the preservation. of our 
Asiatic settlements. 

«¢ The confederacy of Europe with 
America; the eruption of Hyder 
into the Carnatic; the flight of sir 
"Thomas Rumbold trom Madras ; the 
supineness and imbecility of his suc. 
cessors in that presidency ; the de- 
fear of the British army under sir 


HeGor Munro; the excision of © 


colonel Baillie’s detachment: all 
these circumstances of improvi- 
dence, disgrace, and disaster, struck 
a temporary panic, and, for a time, 
annerved the heart, and. unstrung 
the arm. He who was the first in 
mind, asin station, to whom every 
anxious and imploring eye was 
now turned, did not disappoint the 
-fond hopes and expectations of his 
countrymen. From the centre of 
Calcutta an energy was diffused 
throughout the whole of the British 
settlements in Hindostan. The 
governor-general displayed a digni- 
ty and elevation of mind that seemed 
to carry him wholly out of himself, 
and to sink every private interest 
-and concern in the grand pursuits of 
“public spirit. And, in the midst of 
an unremitting struggle with the 
most odious and rancorous oppo- 


sition (springing, indeed, partly 
froma heétic irritability of temper) 
that was ever made to any system, 
he conducted the war at last to a 


- prosperous and glorious issue. 


‘© Such is Mr. Hastings ; whom 
neither innocence, nor virtue, nor ta- 
lents, nor complete and brilliant sues 
cess in the most arduous as well as 
important enterprise, was able to 
save from a prosecution not more 
surprising in its origin than wonder. 
ful in its condu@; which, when we 
reflect on the spirit that diated, 
perplexed, and protra€ted ity may 
be called, in the emphatic language 
of the sacred Scriptures, a FIERY 
TRIAL; and of which it may be 
remarked, that never was trial more 
unmerited, so long protratted, or so 
completely triumphant over such 
a combination of learning, ability, 
and political power. - » file 

‘© The public mind, by the ob. 
trusion of never ceasing assertion, 
was stunned into an apprehension 
that the late governor-general might 
not be found so free as was gene- 
rally wished, from all ground and 
shadow of reproach. Year passed 
on after year, and a degree of sus- 
picion was followed by a greater 
degree of indifference to the matter 
at issue. 

“© At last men began to wonder 
that where accusation was so loud, 
proof should be so feeble ; and public 
opinion, that had been the slowest 
to give any degree of credit to his 
accusers, formed the first and most 
certain presage of his acquittal. 

“ Every, thing in human affairs és 
mixed. Good is blended, and de- 
pends, in some measure, for its very 
essence, on evil. But the ways of 
Providence, though mysterieus, aré 


* See Mr, Burke’s Letter on the State of France. 


just. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


just. The cause of temporary af- 
Biétion, has consigned the name of 
Hastings to immortal honour, by in- 
eorporating his life and ations with 
the juridical as well as the political 
and military history of his country. 
The charges brought against Mr, 
Hastings are not now to be con. 
sidered as misfortunes, but as diffi- 
culties that have proved and en« 
nobled his virtues. 


[209 


Tt deserves to be tecorded, in 
justice to the feelings of human na.° 
ture, as well as a testimony to tlie 
merit of Mr. Hastings, that a great 
number of writers, both at home 
and abroad, appeared as volunteers 
in his cause, sometimes for the ex- 
press purpose, and at others collate- 
rally, in writing on other subjeéts*. 
A like observation may be extended 
to the steady ardour with which 


Mr. 


* In one of the literary and political joutnals of the times, which, from the be- 
ginning of the trial to the end, had occasionally animadverted on the condué of all 
the members of the coalition against Mr. Hastings with the utmost freedom, we find 
the following congratulation on the acquittal of Mr. Hastings :— / 

“ We heartily congratulate our countrymen in every part of the world, and indeed 
all good men, on the honourable acquittal of Mr. Hastings, a man whose whole life, 
as we have had formerly occasion to observe, has been one continued scene of pub- 
lic service, public honour, and public prosecution. When Socrates, being accused 
of crimes and misdemeanors against the state, was asked if he did not intend to avail 
himself of the pleadings of orators in his behalf, which was freely offered, he said, 
that he did not intend to offer any other defence than that which the whole tenor and 
course of his life afforded; and on this ground he was contented to plead his own 
‘cause. On this ground, too, Mr. Hastings might have defended himself: for, al- 
thwugh he might have failed to unravel the nets woven for catching him, by the com- 
bined talents of opposite parties*, he would have satisfied the world, and all poste- 
rity, of his innocence and egregious merit: and aithough he might, for the want of 
such aid for extrication, have been found guilty in Westminster-Hall, the fine in which 
he would have been amerced would not have amounted to the third part of what his 
— defence cost him. Justice is not yet completed to Mr. Hastings by his country. 
The glory of invincible fortitude and patience may perhaps compensate for ten years 
of trouble and suspense, but cannot make up for an impaired fortune, never more 
than moderate.”"—English Review, Vol. XXKV. p. 320. 
© Inthe same journal the following criticism, both on the preface to the compilation 
respecting the trial, and the whole character and conduct of Mr. Hastings, appeared 
in the number for April, 1796, The writer of the preface, in his account of the com- 
pilation that forms his subject, rises, by a very natural and easy climax, from its sub- 
serviency to the purposes of the civilian, the politician, the antiquarian of future times, 
and the historian, to the interest which human nature, in all times and places, takes 
in a good nian struggling with adversity, and a vindication of the ways of God to 
man. In this view the trial of Mr. Hastings may be considered in the light of an 

‘heroic poem, whether of the epic gr dramatic kind, the grand moral or end of which, 
is, to illustrate the patient fortitude that arises from the consciousness of innocence 
and virtue. - 

_ There is an active and there is a passive fortitude: the latter not certainty less, but, 
in some respects, superior to the former. It was this species of fortitude that distim 

—— the hero of the sublimest poem that ever was composedf; it was this kind of 
fortitude that proved the Son of God in the desert, which Milton has made the subject 
of the Paradise Regained ; in the bloody sweat in the garden; in mount Calvary; and 

It has been Mr. Hastings’s fate to have had singular opportunities of displaying both 

and passive fortitude: the former in his conduct im India} the latter in the 
trial to which that conduct doomed him at home. 


_ © And on that day Herod and Pilate became friends. Mat. xxvii. 
# See Dr. Lowth s Dissertatlons on the sacred Hebrew Poetry, where he discourses on the Bock of Job. 


Vou. XXXVI, [P] 


In 


210] ANNUAL REGISTER, :1795. 


Mr. Hastings’s friends clung to tion, neither to be purchased with 
him during the whole of the trial: money, nor awakened by a love of 
even the lawyers who pled his fame. 
cause, were touched with an emo- 

A true 


In the trial of Mr, Hastings, considered as an heroic poem, we recognize great 
unity of design; to harass, provoke, discompose, embarrass, and finally overwhelm 
and discomfit, an innocent sufferer. Various episodes occur in their nature and ten- 
dency with the main fable: the merit of the accused, particularly magnanimous pa- 
tience, the virtue by which, in this epopeeia, he was most eminently. distinguished, 
was contrasted with the impotent fretfulness and impatience of his principal tormen- 
tor; and, what has been thought by some critics indispensable in a composition of 
this kind, somewhat of the ludicrous and burlesque relieved this serious drama, in 
the petulant obloquy of a Thersites— 


‘ An angry ape, 
- Playing such fantastic tricks’before high Heaven 
As make the angels weep.’—SuaxsPeare. 


The task undertaken by the prosecutors appeared, on the outset, to be, what indeed 
it was, singularly arduous. Public opinion was in favour of Mr. Hastings. And, 
while calumny was heaped on calumny in England, letters were constantly received 
from, India; proclaiming his merit in terms of the most enthusiastic gratitude and ap- 
plause. But the managers of the impeachment, and particularly two men, who were 
of the same country, the same nearly in point of genius, as well as birth, though each 
was marked by)some peculiarities of character, undertook, under the auspices of fac- 
tious combination, to brave every difficulty, and ta storm the temple of virtue on the 
wing of poetical fancy. ‘hey bothof them possessed great variety of style, as welbas 
vigour of ienagibetien: By the magic of their eloquence they could give animation to 
every object they might have occasion to describe; and, where real objects should 
fail, to’ call into existence a thousand airy nothings, They were poets of evidence*. 
They had philosophy enough to know, that a degree of belief attends vivid concep- 
tion} and:that, to arrest the attention of men, is a great step towards their conviction, 
It-appeared to be their general aim to accommodate all appearances to a system 
merely, hypothetical, by exaggeration, by fancy, and a strong appeal to the passions. 
Nor were these gentlemen, it has been supposed, in this ingenious work, actuated 
snierély by an inveteracy against Mr, Hastings; but, in part, on so splendid a theatre 
_as.was opened. by this trial, by a competition for literary,fame. Burke was richer in 
his varidus metaphors and.allusions, as well as more lively in his transitions; but he 
mixed the serious too often with the low and the burlesque. Sheridan’s muse was less 
desultory,and more equal in her flight; though they, both of them, soared with epic 
freedom into the boundless regions of fancy. ; } aa Gaby 
The listless, tedious, and torpid calm,produced by the law’s delay, it mist be owned, 
mars the comparison that has been made between this trial and an epic or dramatic 
representation, in which the art of the poet passes, with an interesting rapidity, over 
what is dull and languid, to changes and events of an affecting and striking nature. 
But, to the eye of true philosophical criticism, the patience of the person principally 
concerned, sustained with invincible fortitude in such torpid calms, appears to the 
greatest advantage. Jn the conflict and agitation of danger quickly to beover, or 
) quickly to spend its utmost fury, the mind of the patriot and hero 1s awakened and 
fortified by general attention and sympathy; when these are removed, and the sufferer 
fs remanded, as it were, to hissolitary prison, the eclat of his virtueis/less, butthe proof 
of its constancy greater; greater in the inverse ratio of the magnitude of the trouble 
and the danger, to the indifference with which: it is regarded, Nor did Mr. Hastings 
_feel,or affect to feel, in his unmerited as unprecedented situation, astoical indifference. 
EHF Oe : 


4 


* As was said of the Italian poct Dante, ‘Ii poeta defl’ evidenza? 


: 


He 


» HISTORYOOR EUROPE: 


_A true critic. could easily. observe 
_a very .wide. difference, indeed, be- 
“tween the eloquence ,of ; the de- 
fenders of Mr. Hastings, and the 


studied, affected, and theatrical, de- 


_clamations of those who were. ac- 
‘counted the principal managers of 
the impeachment. The speech of 
one ,of, these, .on, the partieular 
charge committed to his.carey was 
continued.for several days. Almost 
-all the speeches of the:managers ran to 
alengthal together upprecedented in 
the history ot impeachments,; it wis 
shrewdly observed, at thetime, that 
this unusyal prolongation of speeches 
was aproof of the extreme difficulty, 
and impossibility, of the task under- 


‘enly, nor yet to the other cireum- 


more 


tars 


“stance of a tivalry between: pro- 


fessed orators, ‘before an audience of 


the first dignity and splendour, that 


the extreme, length of the speeches 
in, question »is to be attributed, 
_A revolution’ has taken place in this 
country, at least, in oratory, some- 
what analogous''to that in military 


operations: by which the com- 


manderstin-chief .of armies donot 
attempt to carryia few posts in*suc- 
cession, byedifferent detachments, 
but by an immense force, anda con- 
tinuation of aétion, to carry the 
iwhole of the enemy’s line»ofide- 
‘fence, though extended over a fron. 
tier to be measured only ‘by hun- 
vdreds. of leagues.* 

_ Every humour, spirit, custom, 
_and pursuit, almost without .exeep- 
tion, is: tinétured:in its progress, iby 


‘He confessed he was ‘ not. a-man of apathy’ _He bore his sorrows as;a man; bute 


‘also felt them a$ aman. “Aud he implor 


ed repeatedly, though too muchin vain, evenat 


othe expenée’of waving: the benefit of “most material evidence in his favour, a speedy 

termination of his trial. This too, in the eye of trué philosophical criticism, will be 

considered as'none of the léast-indications of a great as well as an amiable character. 

4 _As we have given an example of the writing that was from time to time volunteered 

*in favour of “Mr. ‘Hastings, at home, so we shall just make one quotation from_a fo- 
oreign'publidation:— . re sry iagh inet AN ecu” 

_ “ Hserait injuste de quitter ce sujet sans avouer que'ce trésordes connaissances prinni- 

‘tives mous) été ouvert par les soins d’un gouverneur zélé pour le progrés des sciencés, 

M. F astings dont la conduite, pleine de douceur,ct demoblesse, engagea les Bramines 

“a lui découvrir volontairement ce que les menaces et les moyens de seduction, employ¢s 
par une longiie’sitite de souverains dans le Mogol, n’avaient jamais puobteniz. 

, Al powrre paraitre extraordinaire que je parle si favorablement dum homme qui de- 

edge Sept, ans est en éiat diaccusation devant Ja chambre: des pairs de la Grande 

: i yoke mais on doit observer que je parle ici ‘de sa\conduite envers les Indiens, 

gui Pappelient encore leur peére, ct non des actes de rigueur_qu'il peut avoir jugés 

_ métessaires pour la conversation de I’Inde, contre quelques chefs réfractaires, dans wx 

Moment \ehitique ot nos établissemens dans POriet semblaient menacés 2 Ia fois 

des nations Européennes et par les Indiens. Peut+étre méme serait-il avanta- 

Eo, our tous les états, qu'on, tamenit séverement.a/la raison tous, les fa€tiens, 

Squé la ‘patrie se trouve dans un moment de crise.” » wvéeie 


Sten pit oer 
PITTED UG OTE 


Dissertations. sur Les Antiquités de Riissie;. par Matthieu Guthrie, Conseiller de Conr de Sz 
Xo foie fepiret Médecin du Corps Leap righ ides Cadets Wobles : traduites sur son oyvrage 
Anglais 3 dedié a ta Socteté Royale des Antiquaires Li cosse, Fe. Few Ste Petersbourg, 1796. 


PY is] 


- - . . . . ul Sona 
+ fF Atiss@bserved by our Saviour, as characteristic of hypocrites, ormeh who do 


* speak from sincerity and simplicity of heart, they that think “they  shall'be 
heard for their much speaking.” Mat. vi. 7. ond 


Pycwv0lns Ae; ‘al Ped human 


412] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1798, 


human weakness and folly, until, at 
last it is involved in a degree of 
ridicule. Chivalry, though founded 
in the noblest principles of mind 
and heart, became ridiculous; phi- 
Tology became ridiculous; logic be- 
. ame ridiculous. “A degree of ridi- 
- cule, by the frivolous researches of 
mere empirics and nomenclators, 
has of late been affixed, in the 
imaginations of many, to the pur- 
suits of even experimental philo- 
sophy. ‘There is nothing more pre- 
posterous than to seek the fame of 
eloquence by prolixity, Grand 
ideas, convincing truths, warm and 
generous sentiments, are quickly 
communicated from mind to mind 
with the speed of lightning. 
The time is certainly not far dis. 
stant, when all speakers in parlia- 
ment, who possess sound taste and 
judgment, will be as studious of 
brevity as most of our present ora. 
tors are of diffusion. 

An object of more consequence 
to the nation than this famous trial, 
occupied at this time the public 
mind. The prosecution of this un. 
fortunate war, rendering the utmost 
exertions necessary, the increase of 
the military, and of the naval 

‘strength of the nation, had been un. 
ptecedented, Ofships and seamen, 
the natural defence of this island, 

people viewed with satisfaction the 
increasing numbers ; but they began 
to entertain jealousies of the daily 
augmentation of the land-forces, 
looking upon them as: the most dan. 
gerousinstruments in thehands of mi- 
nisters who might harbour inimical 

-designs to the libertiesofthecountry. 
‘Fhe many precedents of their sab- 
version, wherever a great military 
power had been established, alarmed 
the discerning part of the commu. 
nity, and was ina great measure 


the motive for the wishes, so warmly 
expressed, by the generality, for a 
speedy restoration of peace. —__ 
The original establishment of the 
militia had been long considered as 
a counterpoise to the power vested 
in the crown, through the command 
and management of the army. 
Those who ventured to give vent to 
their thoughts upon this subject ex- 
plicitly, boldly termed the regular 
forces, the army of the crown, and 
the militia the army of the people. 
They were, at the same time, of 
opinion, that this latter body of men 
should remain perpetually distin® 
from the former, and thatall the regu. 
lations respecting them should be sa 
framed as to allow no ministerial in- 
fluence to alter them; and, above all 
that the officers belonging to this 
body should be placed on a footing 
essentially different from that of the 
officers of the army, in point of 
subordination, advancement, and 
aye 
2 Lie alteration had taken place 
in the arrangements relating to the 
militia from the date of its primitive 
institution, till the dangers resulting 
from the present war, induced men 
in power to prepare for those 
emergencies they might occasions 
Among the means of resistance to 2 
foreign enemy, none appeared more 
eligible than to augment the militia, 
improve its discipline and assimi. 
late it as much as possible to the 
army. With this view Mr. Wind. 
ham moved, on the 6th of March, 
for a committee to prepare an éstis 
mate of the additional allowances 
intended for the subaltern officers of 
the militia on the return of peace, 


He grounded his motion on the nes. 


cessity of having expert subalterns in 
that-service: anobject not to be ate 
tained without adequate encourage. 

ment. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


ment. By this measure a descrip. 
tion of men would be retained, en- 
tirely adequate to the purpose of 
maintaining due discipline, and of 
rendering the. militia of no less 
utility than the regulars. 

His motion was seconded by 
Mr. Bastard, and Mr. Yorke, and by 
colonels Stanley, Sloane, and Upton ; 
and opposed by Mr, Curwen, ge- 
neral Tarleton, Mr. Robinson, Mr. 
Sheridan, and Mr. Fox, as tending 
to increase. the influence and patron- 
age of ministers, and to place the 
whole military strength of the king- 
dom under their immediate di- 


rection ; astepevidently preparatory - 


‘to the completest establishment of 
arbitrary power. 

The motion was supported by 
Mr. Pitt, as intending no more than 
to provide a sufficient number of in- 
ferior officers, properly qualified for 
their stations. ‘Lhe allowance was 


only to those in aétual service, and. 


in that respeét differed materially 
from a pension or halt pay. General 
Smith, Mr. Cox, and Mr. Wilber- 
force, spoke on the same side of the 
question, whichwas carried without 
farther opposition, 

Another subject of a military na- 
ture was-brought before the house 
on the 30th of March. ‘This was 
the bill for new modelling the Lon. 
don Militia. It was opposed by 
Mr. Sheridan, as a dirett violation 
of the city charter. From time im. 
memorial, the citizens had enjoyed 
uninterruptedly the power of regulat~ 
ing end commanding their own mi- 
litsa ; no royal proclamation having 
hitherto been issued in London, as 
in other parts of the kingdom, re- 

_ lating to the service of its military 
forces. In the latter years of 
Charles Il, this. charter had been 


[213 


violated, like many others ; but this 
was no precedent, as what had been 
done by that arb trary prince, had 
been shortly after annulled as il. 
legal. 

Mr. alderman Newnham, and 
Mr. Lushington, supported the bill. 
he latter maintained, in explicit 
terms, that the defence of the city 
would be better entrusted in. the ~ 
hands of military men, than placed 
in the hands of magistrates. ‘This’ 
expression was severely censured by 
Mr. Sheridan, who represented the 
acquiescence of the citizens in a bill 
of this kind, as derogating from the 
spirit with which their ancestors had 
preserved a privilege lodged in them 
for ages, and of which they had oc- 
castonally made +o honourable a use, 
in defence of the common liberties: 
of the nation, The bill passed 
without farther discussion. 

Yo these alterations in military 
matters another was added some. 
time after. In order to render the 
discipline of the militia perfectly 
complete, it was judged requisite to 
introduce into that body the use of 
artillery, and to train a number of 
the men to that service. ‘he idea 
was generally approved ; but some 
clauses in the bill, to that intent, 
were opposed as unconstitutional, by 
lord Radnor, in the house of 
Jords, on the 22d of May, The 
bill authorized the pressing into the 
regular corps, those militia-men, 
who should become expert in the. 
management of artillery, It also 
permitted those privates who were 
inclined to serve in the navy, or in 
the artillery, to quit the militia ser- 
vice. ‘Lhese ard several other 
clauses, tending toencourage militie - 
men to enter into other corps, he. 
objected to, aa lessening materially 


{P3] the 


214] 


the strength of that body of’ men, 
who. were evidently the most’con- 
stitutional defence of the kingdom. 

The propriety “of allowing men, 
bred to the sea, to prefer the navy 
to any, other service, was strongly 
urged by lord:Grenville; as of equal 
justice to individuals, and utility to 
the public. The artillery also was 
become of such use and importgnce, 
in the present system of war, that it 
‘required the highest encouragement. 
The numbers that wou!d quit the 
militia, for those two branches. of 
service, would not, however, prove 
so large as might be apprehended, 
when it was recollected, that the 

ivates were mostly labouring men, 
in their several counties, and that 
the proportion wanted, for the ar- 
tillery, was very smali. Other ar- 
guments were used in favour of 
the measure proposed and against it ; 
but it was carried by a great ma- 
jority. 

- An affair of more particular im- 
portance was, at this time, under the 
consideration of the commons. An 
extra allowance, for bread and for 
meat, had been made in the month 
of April, tothe army, without the 
participation of parliament, The 
public was equally surprised and 
alarmed at a measure, which ap- 
peared to the generality unprece: 
dented and unconstitutional. “fhe 
complaints of the soldiery, at the 
scantiness of their pay, and its in. 
sufficiency to sapport them, at a 
time when the dearness of provisions 
was so excessive, had induced go- 
vernment to grant them the allow. 
ances in question: but though the 
humanity of the measure was ins 
disputable, the method of carrying 
it into execution was violently re. 
probated by the generality of peo. 
ple. ‘The fact was, that by virtue 


ANNIDALI RE GISTER, “i79s. 


ofan order from thé’ watr-office, 
countersigned by the secretaty of 
that department, an immense sum 
of money would he levied upon the 
nation. What highly aggravated 
this conduét, ahd rendered it a 
manifest insult to the legislature + it 
took place while parliament was 
actually’ sitting, and ready to’ re. 
ceive favourably, any application 


to that intent. Such a proceeding | 
in ministers could no otherwise be 


accounted for, than from a desire 
to establish a pretedent, authorising 
them to raise money witkout apply. 
ing to parliament. 


impression on thesoldiery,unfavour- 


able to parliament, and to the pub. * 
They would be taught to rely _ 


lic. 
on the generosity of the crown, 
preferably to that of the nation and 
its’ representatives, and would, of 
course, carry their attachment to 
those whom they looked upon as 
their best’ friends and proteétors. 
Such was the language of multi- 
tudes on this occasion. — The oppo- 
sition thought it necessary to espouse 
the cause of a majority, so loudly 
and repeatedly expressed’; and, ot 
the 18th of May, general Macleod 
moved, that a committée should be 
appointed to take the matter ‘into 
consideration. He grounded’ his 
motion on the sentiments of the 
public, enforcing them ‘with addi. 
tional arguments, and proposed that 
the house should formally résolve, 
that it was unconstitutional to aug. 
ment the pay of the army, without 
previously consulting, oraftérwards 
submitting such a measure to, par. 
liament ; and, at'thée-same'time; to 
request the king to order the causes’ 
of ‘the late grants to the military, 
to be laid: before: the-housé; and to 
assure him ef its readiness to con- 


cur. 


It was calcu. ’ 
lated, at the same time, to make an ' 


% 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


cur in making every necessary pro- 
Vision in a constitutional manner. 

~ Ministry justified the measure, as 
proceeding from absolute and im- 
mediate necessity. “Troops, when 
encamped, were usually turnished 
with bread at a reduced price, on 
the principle that government could 
provide it at a cheaper rate than 
soldiers could buy it : from the same 
thotive they now were also found 
in meat, by an additional allow- 
ance of money to purchase it. 

~ Itewas replied, by Mr. Fox, that 
without entering into minute and 
embarrassing discussions, it was clear 
that, while parliament was sitting, 
no additional pay could be granted 


- to the army, without the consent of 


both houses: no objection lay to 
the grant itself, but to the slight put 
upon the legislature, by not apply- 
ing for its assent. 

Mr, Pitt exculpated ministry, by 
representing the relief given to the 


soldiery, as temporary, and arising 


wholly from the circumstances of 
the moment : it would of course, he 
doubted not, be sanétioned by par- 
liament, though it had not yet been 
communicated regularly to the 
house, the estimates of the expence 
not having been ascertained. Were 
an augmentation of pay to be form- 
ally voted, it would become per- 
manent; whereas the present mode 
of relief making it only occasional, 
it would cease with the necessity 
from which it arose. 

“The motion was warmly support- 
ed, by generals Smith and Tarleton, 
Mr, Martin, and Mr. Robinson. 
Royal bounties of this nature, it 
was observed by general ‘Tarleton, 


Were inauspicious omens to the 


rties of a people, The present 


easure would cost little less than- 


a million: but, what was of greater 


[215 


importance, it was a link of that 
chain intended for the enslavement’ 
of the nation. The greatness “of 
the sum was, in the opinion ‘of Mr. 
Grey, of no importance, when 
compared with the introduction of 
so dangerous a principle, and pre, 
cedenr, as that of taking the people’s 
money without consulting their re. 
presentatives, who certainly might 
have been applied to, ‘by a general 
communication of the measure, 
without particularizing the amount 
of what might be required’ for the 
purposes proposed. Mr. Francis 
was remarkably zealous in his op- 
position to the measufe': no «prin’ 
ciple, he observed, was clearer in 
the English constitution, and espe- 
cially in the formation of the house 
of commons, than its exclusive dis- 
posal of the nation’s money : the 
crown had not the most distant 
right to participate in this preroga- 
tive; much less was it entitled, 
from its sole authority, to distri- 
bute largessestothe army. This was 
not only an usurpation of the rights 
of parliament, but ‘2 violation of 
them for the worst purposes; those 
of alienating the attachment of the 
military from the parliament, and 
transferring it tothe crown, as the 
soorce from whence bounties and 
donitions were to flow. It had 
been’ much insisted on, that minis. 
ters would subsequently obtain the 
approbation of parliament; but 
admitting the supposition, that this 
approbation were refused, what — 
must the consequence prove to the 
parliament, but hatred, and perhaps 
Violence, from an enraged military ; 
and an implicit devotion and sub- 
serviency, ever after, to the will of 
the crown? Whatever the’ minister 
might allege, of the approval given 
to preceding measures of this kind, 

[P4] no 


216] 


no other proof of it appeared, than 
the consent of the house to defray 
the expences incurred; but this 
could not stritly be deemed an att 
of choice ; the consciousness of the 
danger that would result from a re- 
fusal, might as probably have made 
it a matter of necessity. The de- 
bate continued some time, with 
equal warmth on the side of ministry 
and opposition, and concluded by sir 
W. Pulteney s moving the previous 
question, which was carricd by six- 
ty-seven against twenty-three. 
Some days after this debate, an 
attempt was made, in the lower 
house, to represent the conduct of 
sir Charles Grey, and sir John Jer- 
vis, in the West Indies, as deserving 


of the highest censure ; but after an 


altercation between their accusers 
and justifiers, which was carried on 
with great acrimony, the result was, 
that they were cleared of the 
charges brought against them, and 
the thanks voted to them, in the 
preceding session, for their services, 
were confirmed. 

This decision was followed, on the 
rth of June, by one very remark- 
able, in favour of the merchants con- 
cerned in the trade to Grenada and 
St. Vincent, A petition presented 
on their behalf, by Jord Sheffield, 
stated, that, in consequence of the 
troubles and devastations in those 
two islands, they were reduced to 
great difficulties and distresses, and 
disabled from maintaining theircom- 
merce and credit, unless they were 
favoured with timely assistance from 
government. He enforced the pro- 
priety of their petition, by the sa- 
lutary effects that had atrended the 
seasonable relief given to a nomber 
of respe¢table merchants in London, 
and in other commercial cities, two 
years before, ; 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


He was zealously seconded by 
Mr. Pitt, who contended with great 
force of argument, for the pro. 
priety of supporting effetually the 
mercantile interest of the kingdom, 
on those emergencies where it was 
visibly conneéted with the prospe. 
rity ofthe state, and their losses were 
occasioned by those public calami- 
ties, which they could neither fore. 
see nor avoid, The connexiong 
between this country and the West 
Indies were of such importance, 
and the returns of -trade often so 
flu€tuating and so tardy, tharit was 
necessary for government to afford 
them relief occasionally. 

_ Mr. Fox disapproved of the pe. 
tition, as involving public and pri. 
vate concerns in too close and dan. 
gerous a manner, and tending to 
create an influence over the great 
commercial body, that would place 
it on the most abjeét dependence on 
ministers. Hence they would be~ 
come the inyariable supportess of 
all governments, good or bad, in 
expectation. of assistance from them 
in all pecuniary difficulties. Of the 
miny innovations lately introduced, 
this was one of the most dangerous, 
and alarming; it woy!d reduce a 
class of people, hitherto remarkable 
for their independent spirit, to a 
situation of subseryiency that would 
necessarily destroy all their former 
importarce, and subjeét them en- 
tirely to the direction and manage. 
ment of al] feture administrations. 
Nor would jt be less pernicious im 
another light, by lessening the ex- 
ertions of individuals in the mercan- 
tile line; they would certainly re- 
mit of theiranxiery and cares, when 
they reflected, that in those perilous 
occurrences to which traders are 
peculiarly liable, they might rely 
upon government for certain relief, 

Mr, 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


Mr. Dundas supported the pe- 
tition, as equally founded on the 
just claims of the petitioners, and the 
propriety of supporting a branch 
of commerce of the highest necessity 
to this kingdom, in its present situa. 
tion. He dwelt, with much anima- 
tion, upon theability of this country 
to extend its aid to every descrip- 
tion of people that needed it: an 
energy, he observed, of which 
no other government in Europe was 
capable. Agreeably to the petition, 
the sum of one million and a half 
was granted to the merchants that 
had requested it. 

On the 16th of June, Mr. Dun- 
das had another occasion of coming 
forward, by laying before the house 
his annual statement of the East- 
India company’s affairs: according 
to his report, they were, in March 
1795, bettered by one million 
four hundred and twelve thousand 
pounds. He noticed, that notwith- 
standing the discouragements and 
obstructions arising from the war, 
and while the European markets 
avere shut against them, their sales 
were more extensive than ever. 
He delivered it, at the same time, 
as his opinion, that it would be for 
the interest of Great Britain, to 
pen the trade of India to’ a!l na. 
tions: he also proposed a variety 
of regulations, in favour of the 
officers in the military service of the 
company. His statements were 
¢ontroverted, but passed together 
with his proposals. 

One of the most remarkable 
transactions that took place during 
the parliamentary session of this 
year, was the marriage of the prince 
of Wales to the princess Caroline 

Brunswick ; and the settlement 
f his revenue, and other pecuniary 
affairs: his nuptials were cele. 


brated on the Sth of April; and, on 
the 27th, a message was delivered 
from the king, to the house of com- 
mons, recommending the settle- 
ment of an income on the prince, 
suitable to his present circum- 
stances ; and stating the necessity 
of relieving him from his incum- 
brances, and of making such ar- 
rangements, in respect to his do- 
mestic expences, as should obviate 
all embarrassments in future. ‘The 
means proposed for effecting these 
purposes, were to appropriate to 
them a part of the income to be 
settled upon him, together with the 


‘revenues of the duchy of Cornwall, 


In consequence of this message, 
a motion was made, by Mr, Pitt, to 
take it into consideration ; colonel 
Stanley observed, that parliament 
having already paid the debts of 
the prince, it was proper that a call 
of the house should precede any 
farther grants of this nature. Mr. 
Pitt opposed this proposal, as un- 
necessary ; the king’s intention not 
being to require a sum sufficient to 
discharge at once the whole debt, 
but only to enable the prince to 
pay it off gradually: he then en- 
larged on the propriety of making 
an adequate provision for the splen-. 
dor that ought to attend the heir 
apparent of the British crown; ree 
marking, at the same time, that the 
aflowance, which would now be 
asked for, was comparatively smaller 
than that which had been formerly 
settled on the prince’s grandfather ; 
the expences of all denominations 
being so much more considerable at 
the present period, as to render a 
ats larger sum of money of far 
less value, in reality, than at the 
former. 
This application, in behalf of the 
prince, excited great dissatisfaction 
in 


218] 


in the house. Mr. Sumner ob-’ 


served, that before it proceeded any 
farther in bis business, it ought ro 


be informed in what manner their 
preceding grant had been applied; 
and Mr. Curwen reminded the 
house, that one of the leading causes 

of the. French revolution was the 
prodigality of the princes of the 
royal family. 

After stating the amount of the 
prince’s debts, and urging the in- 
dispensable necessity of discharging 
them, Mr. Pitt informed the house, 
of the insufficiency of the civil list 
to defray so heavy a charge: he 
warned the members to beware of 
warmth on this occasion, and to re- 
flect, that the safety of the nation 
depending on the preservation of a 
hereditary monarchy, the honour 
and credit of the royal family ought 
to be anxiously consulted. “To this 
Mr. Martin replied, that the surest 
method of maintaini ig the mo. 
narchy was to prevent. it from be- 
coming oppressive to the nation, 

On the resumption of this busi- 
ness, the 14th of May, Mr. Hussey 
proposed to. have resource to the 
crown-lands, as a proper fund on 
this, occurrence: their annual pro- 
duce did not exceed six thousand 
pounds; but might with due ma. 
nagement, be errid to four hun- 
dred thousand, But his proposai 
was negatived; and Mr. Pitt pro. 
ceeded to call the attention of the 
house to the propriety of making, 
without unnecessary delay, a settle- 
ment of an adequate income for 
the prince, and of a jointure for 
the princess. Cne hundred thou- 
sand pounds, eighty years ago, con- 
stituted the whole revenue of his 
great grandfather, George IT. then 

rince. of Wales ; and thé income 
of his grandfather, thirty years afs 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


ter, amounted to the like’ sum, €X- 
clusive of the’ duchy of Cornwall, 
computed at thirteen “ thousand 
pounds annually. The diminished 
value of money required a larger 
allowance ; and thé Jeast that the 
prince had a right to expect was a 
hundred and forty thousand pounds, 
including the duchy of Cornwall. 
The marriage expences, he stated, 
at twenty-eight thousand pounds, 
the completing of Carlton-house, at 
twenty-six thousand, and the join- 
ture of the princess at fifty thousand 
a year. He would leave it to the 
house to decide on the best manner 
of liquidating the prince’s debts, 
which he calculated at six hundred 
and thirty thousand pounds, advis- 
ing, atthe same time toconsult on the 
business in a secret committee, as 
being the most expeditious method, 
His opinion was, that twenty-five 
thousand pounds ought yearly to be 
appropriated to the extinguishing 
of the debts, and set apart from the 
prince’s income for that sole pur. 

se; by such a regulation, they 
would be paid off in the course of 
twenty-seven years. In case of his 
aie before the expiration of that 
period, that sum would be annually 
charged on the succession; but were 
a demise of the crown and of the 
prince to happen within that period, 
the charge would be laid on the 
consolidated fund. In order to ob. 
viate the incurring of farther debts 
no arrears should be suffered to go 
beyond the quarter, and no claims, 
after its expiration admitted; and 
all suits for recovery of debts due 
by the prince should. lie against his 
oflicers only. 

: Mr, Grey proféssed himself. equal. 
a desirous to support the s lendour 
of the royal family, with Mr. Pitt, 
or any slippery sycophant of a ggiitt : 

e 


sf 


‘HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


The pritice was doubtless entitled 
<0 a proper establishment ; but there 
would be moré dignity in declining 
than in reqairing ‘an €xpensive one. 
In times of public distress, such as. 
the présent, was it prudent to con- 
tinue the’ shameful profusion of less 
unhappy times; and, would the 


legislature countenance that pro- 
digal spirit which had brought the 
country and the constitution into 


such imminent danger, by destroy- 


ing the independence of people of 


fortune, and exposing them to the 
controul of the court, and the con- 
tempt of the people? The revenue 


_ of the king’s father was limited, for, 
years after his marriage, to fifty 


thousand pounds, and he did not 


apply to parliament for the pay- 


ment of his debts, He would not 


_ oppose the granting of an establish- 


"a just sense of his imprudence. 


., 


* 
+ 


ment to the prince, equal to that of 
his ancestors ; but neither would he 
consent to the payment of his debts 
by parliament. Other means ought 
to be resorted to than the liberality 


of the nation, which would be very” 


ill-timed in a season of so much 
difficulty and pressure, and no less 
ill_applied, when the manner of 
contraCting the debts was duly con- 
sidered. A refusal to liberate him 
from his embarrassments would cer- 
tainly prove a mortification; but 
it would, at the same time, awaken 
In 
the mean time, his creditors, when 
no longer presuming on the facility 
of parliament, and deprived of ex- 
pectations from the public purse, 


would readily come to a compo-. 


sition; which would leave the 
a in possession of a sufficiency 
tO support his station becomingly. 
‘He concluded by moving, that in 
lieu of sixty-five thousand pounds, 
Proposed by Mr, Pitt, an addition 


aon 
[219 
of forty thousand should, be. voted 
to the prince’s revenue. © , 

Mr. Grey’s motion was warmly 
seconded. by several members, and. 
opposed in the same, manner by. 
others, Mr. Lambton in particular, 
observed, that to refuse the pay. 
mént of the prince’s dcbts were, to 
compel him to retire to.a privacy of 
life, and cut off his intercourse with 
those various parts of society, with 
which it was indispensable that ‘he 
should preserve the amplest commu. 
nication. When his former debts: 
were paid, it clearly appeared, that, 
it would be difficult for him to limit, 
his expences to less than one hun. 
dred thousand pounds. »Had_his- 
revenue then been carried to that 
extent, the inconveniences to which 
he was now reduced, would possibly, 
have been avoided. 

A minute investigatiomof the cire, 
cumstances attending the establish... 
ments of the prince of Wales, since 
the accession of the Brunswick fa- 
mily, was brought forward, on this 
occasion, by Mr. Fox. He made it 
appear, that they were matters of 
party, and varied according to the 
footing on which they stood with 
ministers. ‘This might. .in some 
measure, be applied to the business 
before the house. He would not 
be directed by personal motives in a 
case of thisnature; but from acon. 
vittion that a liberal support wag 
necessary, would vote for the allow. 
ance moved for by the minister, 
provided that requisite precautions 
were taken to obviate the repeti~ 
tion of a similar application. He 
thought, however, that a contribu. 
tion from the civil list ought to have 
come in aid in such an. occurrence 
as the present. Queen Anne, and 
the two first sovereigns of the house 
of Brunswick, had set a laudaole 
example 


220] 


example. A motive that ought to 


influence the house in favour of the 


prince, was the generosity with 
which parliament had increased the 
revenues of the crown, since the 
king’s accession, and that too in 
times of great d fficulty and expence, 
Why should not the prince par- 
take of the same indulgence? He 
wauld, nevertheless, objeét to the 
smailness of the sum set apart for 
the annual payment of the prince’s 
ereditors: it threw them at an un. 
reasonable distance from the term of 
final settlement. A larger portion 
of his income ought to be appropri- 
ated toso just a purpose ; and he was 
of opinion, that not less than sixty- 
five thousand pounds a year, toge- 
ther with the revenues of the duchy 
of Cornwall, should be a 
the liquidation of his debts, e 
credit arising to him, from so liberal 
an appropriation, would more than 
compensate the inconveniences that 
might accrue from the stinted income 
to which he would of consequence be 
narrowed, Were these inconvenien- 
ces to be put in competition with 
the applause he would gain from the 
whole kingdom? Inorder, however, 
to obviate the difficulties that might 
be apprehended from too circum- 
scribed an income, Mr. Fox advised 
the selling of the duchy of Cornwall ; 
the produce of which would enable 
the prince to discharge all incum- 
brances in three or four years. He 
used several other reasonings on the 
subjeét ; after which the house di- 
vided on Mr. Grey’s motion of 
amendment. Ninety-nine approved, 
and two hundred and sixty rejected 
it. The repairirg of Carlton. house 
was carried by two hundred and 
forty-eight aga‘nst ninety-nine, and 
the marriage expences by two hun- 
dred and forty. oneagainsta hundred, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Various other discussions took 
place on this subje¢t in both houses, . 
similar in matter and manner to 
what has been above-mentioned. It 
was insisted on by some, that the 
duchy of Cornwall ought to be dis~ 
posed of for the purpose in question, 
and by others, that it ought to re- 
main unsaleable, and the revenue 
only made use of. A number of 
observations were a!so brought for- 
ward relating to the nature of that 
duchy and its tenure, the monics 
arising from it during the prince’s 
minority, and whether they were 
claimable on behalf of the prince. 
A multitude of arguments were pro- 
duced on this occasion, and a tedi- 
ous course of litigation employed the 
attention of the house during several 
sittings. 

In the house of lords, the duke 
of Clarence took severe notice of 
the conduct of ministers towards the 
prince, his brother, They had, he 
said, carefully deprived him, as far 
as lay in their power, of the popu-. 
larity towhich he wasjusrly entitled, 
for the readiness of his. acquiescence 
in all the measures proposed in rela- 
tion to him, and had endeavoured 
to impress the public with the idea 
that they only had consulted its in- 
terests. They had also, in the bill 
to prevent future princes of Wales 
from contracting debts, pointed at 
him with unjustifiable personality. 
It was certainly no equitable trear-, 
ment of the prince, to single him 
out as an exception to the un, 
bounded liberality with which they 
supplied the foreign princes, who 
applicd to them for pecuniary as-, 
sistance. 

The duke of Bedford expressed 
himself in much the same manner, - 
A variety of circumstances, he said, 
would occur to candid minds, in 

: " extenu. 


HISTORY OF EUROPE, 


extenuation of the errors of the 
ince, which were of a juvenile 
escription, and did by no means 
call for asperity of censure. The 
earl of Lauderdale spoke in the same 


style, observing, that debtsofa much. 


larger amount had been discharged 
in the antecedent reigns, without 
stigmatizing the princes who had 
incurred them. The aid required, 


‘consisted of some hundred thousands; 


and did it become so great and opu- 
Tent a people, to a&t with severity 
towards a young prince, from whose 
“virtues, abilities, and accomplish. 
‘ments, they might justly expect to 


derive so much contentment? 
This business, after it had been 


agitated during two months, closed, 
at last, on the 27th of June, by an 
‘att, settling on the prince an annual 
revenue of one hundred and twenty. 


five thousand pounds, together with 


[223 


the rents of the duchy of Cornwall, 
valued at thirteen thousand, Oug 
of this income seventy-three thou. 
sand were appropriated to the dis. 
charge of his debts, under the direce 
tion of commissioners appointed for 
that purpose by parliament; and . 
provision was made, at the same 
time, to prevent the accumulation 
of debts, by the regulations that 
have been specified, and that were 
not adopted, however, without vio. 
lent debates, 

This settlement, though carried 
by a great majority in both houses, 
was considered, by several of the 


_Most respectable members, as injus 


dicious and defective; and they de. 
clared it their opinion, that consis 
derable amendments would shortly 
be necessary, to render it effectual - 
and satisfactory. 


CNAP, 


ead] ANNUAL REGISTER, 11705. 


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” ; Ay? iT ‘ 'f : ; +o a ? he ; Pa Oe 
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Affairs of Freldids—Papulation. Ee Spsjattical Divihion? of 


proving his Conduft.—Various Addresses to his Eopa 

Parties of the disaffeded.—Extreme versatility of the “Trish Parliament.— 
The Motions carried but a few Days before, almost unanimously negatived 
now by great Majoritics.—The unsteadiness and tergiversation of the Irish 
Parliament-men.—Sow the Seeds of Mistrust and Fealausy in their Consti- 
tuents.—Altercations in the British House of Peers, respecting the Instruce 
tions given to Lord Fitzwilliam, previously to his assuming the Government 
of Ireland.—Mbotion by the Duke of Norfalk, for a Parliamentary Inquiry. 
into the Condu& of Ministry in this Matter, and the Grounds for their Dis~ 
missal of the Earl Fitzwilliam from the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ire- 
land.— Rejeéted.—Debates in the House of Commons on a similar Motion. 
—And which met with a similar Fate.—Speech fram the Throne.—And 
Prorogation of Parliament. 


HE most important subject 


Britain to permit the whole Irish 
brought into parliament, during 


nation to take up arms, in order to 


the present session, was the situation 
of Ireland. This large, fertile, and 
populousisland, justly entitled the 
sister of Great Britain, was, at this 

period, in a fermentation, that had 


subsisted, in a greater or less degree, 


ever since the dangers threatening 
the British empire during the Ame- 
rican war. ‘hese had induced, or 
rather compelled, the ministry of 


preserve the country from the inva~ 
sion of the Spaniards and the French, 
whose intention it certainly was, 
at that critical period, tohave made 
the attempt; if they had not been 
deterred by the numerous force that 
was prepared to resist them, Em- 
boldened by their numbers, and by 
the consciousness of their importance 
on this trying occasion, the people 

° 


HISTORY OF: EUROPE, 


of Ireland, throwing aside ae Te 
- Tigious animosities, unitedinadeter- 
‘mination to place, shemales ona 
footing of entire independence. on 
Great Britain, without breaking, 
however, the connexion. that,-held 
ie tH kingdoms together by thé 
acknowledgment of one sovereign, 
This resolve was partly carried in- 
to execution; and. diiring, some 
years, the controul of in British 
administration over, Ireland, re- 
mained uncertain and_ precarious, 
But. the differences, between the 
Roman Catholics and the Protest- 
ants, gradually diminished the cor- 
diality with which they, had united 
for their mutual security, in the hour 
~ of common danger; and the sup- 
port of England being indispensabie 
‘for the preservation of the Protest- 
ants, these of course renewed their 
adherence to this country, which 
soon recovered its former ascendan- 
cy, and felt.at the same time the ne- 
cessity of affording the, strongest 
countenance to that party ; which, 
rtly from religious, partly from 
political motives, looked upon itself 
as bound for its own safety to make 

one common cause with Britain. . 
_ The population of Ireland is cal. 
eulated at near four millions: three 
of these consist of Roman Catholics, 
the other million of Protestants, 
one half of whom. adheres to the 
Church of England, . the other to 
that,of Scotland, from which coun. 
try the majority of the people of 
that .persuasion are originally de. 
scended, But, though the antipa- 
thy of the Presbyterians to the 
wrch of Rome far exceeds. that 
the Episcopalians, the exclusive 

4 44. wee | 4 

ileges enjoyed by those in al 
ters relating; to . government, 
have by {ide 5 tat idk £0 Te. 
eoncile the Roman Catholics with 


~~ 


[228 


therdissenters» from; the Ohurch of 
England, and to connect them, to. 
gether in the pursuit of their,politi- 
cal.interests. i 


.. The superiority ,of numbers, on 
the side of the Catholicsand Dissen. 
fers, amounting, according to their 
representation, to, seven-erghths of 
the whole nation, naturally excited 
their, discontent, at their. subjection 
to so inferior a proportionjof their 
countrymen... The. Roman Catho- 
lies,..an particular, ..whose-religious 
zeal wasinflamed by: the» exaction 
of tythes and. other ecelosiastieg} 
dues, enforced upon them usually 
with greavstri¢tness,' frequently, re. 
sistedthe collectors, and treated them 
with unmercifulvidlences.,.45 «7 
_Uhe moderate party in the Irish 
parliament, «fearful..of. the, conses 
quences that might.ensue ifrom, this 
hostile disposition in .so.vast-a mas 


‘jority-of the inhabitants, thought it 


prudent to frame such regulations in 
the colle¢tion of .tythes and church 
dues, as..might remove. the caine 
plaints of those who deemed : thems 
‘selves aggrieved; but theirvendeas 
vours to obtain from the legislature 
the establishment-of such ‘arranges 
ments, as might prove less onerous 
were entirely frustrated ; the ruling 
party dreaded that, by complying 
with these demands, ‘othérs: would 
follow, attended with.more danger 
either in the grant or thetrefusal. + 
. This repulse of an attempt which 
was thought equally. consistent with 
justice and good ,policy,.: deeply 
exasperated all those who. were af. 
fected by it. . Assemblics. of the 
principal Roman. Catholics! were 
held, wherein it waswesolvedto ap. 
ply tothe king himself, fomaredress. 
of those hardships, and of otherdes 
gal oppressions ; and. to.petition him, 
at the same time, for a participation 
in 


224) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


in all the rights of their fellow 
subjects. 

This was an application of the 
most serious nature. A total com. 
pliance or rejection were fraught 
with equal peril. The British mi- 
nistry were desirous to oblige one 
party without offending the other, 
But the Roman Catholics, numerous 
and determined, were become so 
formidable, that it did not appear 
safe to refuse the petition, which 
they were convinced was founded on 
manifestequity. The Irish legisla. 
ture, on the other hand, composed 
entirely of Protestants, were zealous 
in opposing demands that would 
‘place their antagonists on a parity 
with themselves. Nor was the 
ministry inclined to weaken in any 
essential manner the Protestant in. 
terest in Ireland, on which alone it 
had long been used to place any re- 
liance. Inorder, therefore, to re- 
tain the attachment of the one, and 
mot to lose the good will of the 
ether, an answer was returned to 
the petition, containing a number of 
material concessions : the validity of 
Matriages with Protestants, the 
right of taking apprentices, of 
keeping schools, and of pleading at 
the bar, with other privileges hi- 
therto withheld from them, were 
fully established. 

When the restritions so many 

ears laid on the Roman Catholics 
in Ireland, and of which they had 
so bitterly complained, are duly 
considered, these were certainly 
valuable concessions : but the firmly 
cherished hope, of a total deliver- 
ance from all disqualifications, was 
so predominant among them, that 
these grants met with a cold re- 

tiON, 

The murmurs and discontents 

that now prevailed both among the 


Catholics and the Dissenters, ex. 
cited the most serious alarms in Eng. 
Jand. The secret connexions, sub- 
sisting between many of the Irish 
and French revolutionists, were 
justly dreaded, and it was not doubt. 
ed, that these would exert their ut- 
most efforts to stir up insurrections 
in that kingdom. 

It was in this critical juncture, 
that earl Fitzwilliam was appointed 
to the government of Ireland. His 
inclination to healing measures ren- 
dered this appointment peculiarly 
acceptable to the people of that 
kingdom, and he was received with 
universal satisfaction, The Irish 
parliament met on the 22d of Janu- 
ary, 1795, and unanimously voted 
him the most favourable addresses ; 
and, on the oth of February, agreed 
to the amplest supplies that had ever 
been granted in that kingdom. 

In the mean time, the Catholic 


party was preparing to renew its ~ | 


solicitations, and to enforce them 
with all the weight that time and 
circumstances would produce iw 
their favour. Lord Fitzwilliam 
soon perceived that he would find it 
imprat¢ticable to defer the decision 
on their demands, without incurring 
the highest danger: in order to 
place himself in a favourable light 
with this formidable party, he em- 
ployed, in the transactions with its 
leading members, a person in whom 
the Catholics universally confided, 
as a friend to conciliatory measures . 
this was thecelebrated Mr. Grattan, 
whom they had seleéted as the most 
proper and aétive member of the le- 
gislature, for the effecting of their 
purposes. He moved, accordingly, 
on the 12th of February, for leave 
to bring in a bill for the relief of 
persons professing the Roman Ga- 
tholic religions 

Ehe 


HISTORY 


The minds of the people of Ire- 
land had so long been prepared to 
expect a motion of this kind, and 
the disposition of the house itself 
was so favourable to it, that hardly 
any opposition was made. . Leave 
being given to bringin the bill, Mr. 
Grattan, Mr. Ponsonby, Mr. Forbes, 
and Mr. Knox, were appointed to 
prepare it. 

The joy and exultation expressed 
by the Roman Catholics on this oc- 
casion, had never been equalled in 
Ireland: they were accompanied 
with effusions of loyalty and attach- 
ment to the British government and 
nation, that indicated how effectually 
‘Teligious animosities might subside 
through a mild and conciliatory 
conduct, and that religious, as well 
as political differences, are soonest 
terminated by furbearance and 
lenity. — 

But the universal satisfaction 
arising from the hopes conceived of 
an approaching emancipation from 
all restrictions, was quickly damped 
by the intelligence that arrived two 
days only after the passing of the mo- 
tion, that the British ministry was 
averse tothe measure. Lord Fitz- 
William informed them of the great 
danger that would infallibly result 
from retracting the assent so formally 
given to a motion of such impor- 
tance, and explicitly refused, by 
taking upon him that office, to be 
the person to raise a flame which 
nothing but the force of arms could 
keep do Such were his own 
words. — consequence of this 
answer, he was dismissed from his 

t which was conferred upon lord 

mden. 

The consequences of this dis- 
missal were immediately apparent in 
‘|the proceedings of the [rish parlia- 
ment. Sir Laurence Parsons, in the 


OF EUROPE. 225 


house of commons, proposed an ad- 
dress to lord Fitzwilliam, to express 
the confidence reposed in him by 
the Irish nation, and its represen- 
tatives, and the apprehensions they 
felt on his premature removal from 
astation, wherein his conduct had 
been so acceptable to them. Ano- 
ther member Mr. Duguerry, not 
only seconded the motion, but pro- 
posed the impeachment of Mr. Pitt. 
Though this address was withdrawn 
at the request of those who wished 
to prevent farther acrimony on this 
occasion, it sufficiently manifested 
the resentment excited by the mea- 
sures of the British ministry. Ano- 
ther address, however, was voted, 
highly approving of his conduct. 

The universal dissatisfaction of 
the [rish at the removal of lord Fitz- 
william was soon after manifested in 
@ more serious manner: tumults 
arose in several places, which were 
not quelled without the intervention 
of the military. From the mostmo- 
derate of the disaffected, addresses 
to him were presented, full of ran- 
courat the treatment he had exe 
perienced, and of invectives against 
the authors of his disgrace. 

From this period may be dated 
the deep and settled spirit of discon- 
tent, which at once pervaded, and 
by degrees inflamed to the highest 
pitch of violence, both Catholics 
and Dissenters, and was even felt 
by numbers of the protestants them- 
selves, who thought that the most 
auspicious opportunity of reconcile 
ing all parties and interests, had 
been arrogantly thrown aside by the 
unwarrantableand ambitious machi- 
nations of a selfish faction, grasping 
at the exclusive enjoyment of all 
the places of power and profit, and 
at the’sole management of all affairs 
of state, 


[Q] a The 


226] 


The resentment of the public was 
particularly marked on the 25th of 
March, when Jord Fitzwilliam took 
his departure from Ireland. It was a 
day of general gloom: the shops 
were shut, no business of any kind 
was transacted, and the whole city 
put on mourning. His coach was 
drawn to the water side, by some of 
the most respectable citizens, and 
the people seemed intent on every 
demonstration of grief. 

When earl Camden arrived at 
Dublin, five days after, his reception 
was far different. Every appear- 
ance of displeasure was exhibited ; 
and such was the violence of the 
populace, that it broke out in dis- 
turbances, which force became ne- 
cessary to suppress. But these were 
the mere ebullitions of popular fury, 
and proved how little dependence, 
in matters of state, is to be placed 
on the disapprobation manifested by 
the populace, in contradiction to 
the sense, or the interest of people 
in power. 

A striking proof of this was ex- 
hibited on the very first meeting of 
parliament, after lord Camden’s ar- 
rival. Notwithstanding the severe 
disappointment experienced by the 
Roman Catholics, they were not dis- 
heartened from the prosecution of 
their object ; and Mr. Grattan, their 
agent, made a motion for an inquiry 
into the state of the nation, and 
particularly the reasons for the re- 
callof lord Fitzwilliam: but it was 
negatived by a great majority of 
those very members who had voted 
with such warmth and readiness in 
favour of Mr. Grattan’s motion for 
a quite contrary purpose. Qn his 
presenting the bill for the emancipa- 
tion of the Roman Catholics, it met 
with the same fate. 

This unsteadiness and tergiver- 
sation of their representatives, which 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


it was not difficult to trace ta its 
true source, filled the people of 
Treland with mistrust and. jealousies 
that have never subsided since. 
The language of the commonalty 
became unusually explicit, in 
reprobating their abjectness and 
servility. No farther confidence, 
it was openly said, ought hence- 
forth to be placed in them, and 
no epithets were sufficiently de- 
grading to accompany the names of 
those who had acted so ignomini- 
Ously, . 

On the return of lord Fitzwilliam 
to England, an altercation arose 
between him and the ministry, con 
cerning the instructions he had re- 
ceived previously to his assuming 
the government of Ireland, and the 
motives for his recal. The duke 
of Norfolk took up this business 
with great warmth. It had, he 
said, long been understood in that 
country, that the restraints on the 
Roman Catholics were to be taken 
away. This opinion had been cur-~ 
rent in Ireland, ever since the time 
of the American war, when the 
loyalty of the people of all persua- 
sions to the government of Great 
Britain rendered it manifest that 
no distinctions ought any longer to 
subsist among them jn point of civil | 
rights and privileges. When lord 
Fitzwilliam was appointed to the 
office of lord lieutenant of Jreland, 
he accepted it in full expectation . 
that he was to carry over with him 
a final deliverance from all disquali- 
fications upon religious accounts. 
This was no less the opinion of 
Mr, Grattan, and of the Irish par- 
liament itself: the members of 
which concurrred almost unani- 
mously in a cordial readiness to re- 
pel thoser strictions; and solely on 
that groyid voted the most ample 
suypli s ever granted in that king- 

dom, 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 22 


dom. But contrarily to the best 
founded hopes, the people of Ire- 
land had been deceived in the most 
insulting manner: their reasonable 
requests had heen denied, and the 
man of their confidence recalled, for 
having shewn an inclination to 
gratify them. A conduct so haughty 
and domineering ought to undergo 
a strictexamination, and parliament 
was bound in justice to the public, 
to compel ministers to account for 
so inconsistent and mysterious a con- 
duct. The duke, therefore, madea 
motion to this effect. 

The earlsof Mansfield, Coventry, 


‘and Carnarvon, and lord Sydney, 


opposed the duke’s motion. Lord 
Fitzwilliam’s character not having 
suffered by bis removal, they main- 
tained that no enquiry was needed 
to clear itup. The prerogative of 
the crown empowered it to dis- 
miss ministers at discretion; it were 
unconstitutional to institute en- 
quiries into the reasons for such dis- 
missions; and parliamentary dis- 
cussions were the more improper, as 
they might disclose matters that 
ought never to have been divulged. 
The dismission ef lord Fitzwilliam 
proved no more than a difference of 
opinion on his part, touching the 
affairs of Ireland, that made it im- 
proper he should act with ministers 
who were of another: neither was 
there sufficient evidence of the dis- 
contents in Ireland, to require any 
articular investigation. 

It was observed by the earl of 
Guildford, in reply, that, as without 
encroaching on the royal preroga« 
tive, to declare war, or to conclude 
peace, the propriety of either the 
one or the other might be discussed 
in parliament, so might the pro- 
priety of any other act of the crown. 
On this principle the removal of 


lord Fitzwilliam merited an enquiry, 
that the people of Ireland might 
know their friends in this country 
from their enemies. He was spi- 
ritedly supported by the duke of 
Leeds and lord Moira, who declared 
themselves satisfied that an enquiry, 
instead of danger, would ultimately 
be productive of safety, by eluci- 
dating a transaction, the motives for 
which were so obscure, ‘that the 
people of Ireland- were at a loss to 
comprehend them, and might har- 
bour resentments against those who 
had no participation in the measure. 
Lord Fitzwilliam was charged with 
imprudently forwarding a design to 
emancipate the Irish Catholics: but 
was it not sanctioned by every pru- 
dent motive? Did not three-fourths 
of that nation petition for it? Did 
the other fourth oppose it?, He had 
laboured with particular zeal to put 
a stop to the glaring abuses prevail- 
ing in the administration of affairs 
in Ireland: these were arrived to 
such a height, that if not corrected, 
their consequences would shortly 
prove fatal to the government of 
that country, however it might 
deem itself secure. Was it not te- 
merity in the extreme, amidst so 
many causes of dissatisfaction, to 
add so material aone, as the depriv- 
ing them at once of their hopes of 
obtaining what they were willing to 
consider as aredress of all griey- 
ances, 

The eatl of Westmoreland de-- 
cidedly condemned the introduction 
into the Irish parliament of the bu- 
siness relating to the Catholics ; 
which he asserted was contrary to 
the instructions carried from Eng- 
land: their emancipation, he main- 
tained, was repugnant to sound 
policy, as well as to the king’s oath, 
and the laws of the land. 

fQ.2 Ta 


pa) 


228] 


To this lord Fitzwilliam replied, 
that the most necessary policy had 
called upon him to act as he had 
done. Ireland was ina state of im- 
minent danger from internal feuds 
and external foes: the Catholics 
were equally powerful and dissatisfi- 
ed: the French were become masters 
of Holland,and thirty-six hostile sail 
of the line were hovering on the west- 
ern coast of Ireland. In this peril- 
ous situation he had the happiness 
to unite all parties ina determination 
to act vigorously for the defence of 
the kingdom. But could he have 
effected this, had he not convinced 
the Irish of the liberal intentions of 
this country ? 

He was answered by lord Gren- 
ville; who, after alledging much the 
same reasons against an enquiry as 
those already “adduced, remarked 
that were parliament (o'assume the 
right of enquiring into the motives 
for the dismission of ministers, they 
might, by the same rule, proceed 
next to the examination whether 
those who were appointed to suc- 
ceed them had been properly cho- 
sep. This would obviously lead to 
still more dangerous enquiries, tend- 
ing ultimately to unhinge the con- 
stitution. 

After other arguments on both 
sides of the question, the motion for 
anenquiry was rejected by one 
hundred against twenty-five. 

In the house of commons very 
spirited debates also took place on 
this subject. Mr. Jekyll intros 
duced it by observing, that the 
house had an unquestionable right to 
examine the use made of the royal 
prerogatives, and to limit them if 
necessary. He reminded the minis- 
ter of his solemn promise, that 
whenever the period came for in- 
vestigation, he would undertake to 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


prove that no blame was imputable 
to the ministers of thiscountry. Mr. 
Jekyll vindicated the conduct of 
lord Fitzwilliam from his letters. 
According to these he had acted in 
strict conformity to his instructions, 
which went to the emancipation of 
the Catholics, a condition without 
which he would not have under- 
taken the commission entrusted to 
him. But the fact was, that the in- 
terest of a particualr family was 
primarily to be consulted; that of 
the Beresfords: their dismission from 
oftice was the real ground of dis- 
sension between lord Fitzwilliam 
and the minister, and the business of 
the emancipation was only the pre- 
tence; it were absurd, Mr, Jekyll 
said, to mention the oaths taken by 
the king, as obstacles to such a mea- 
sure. In Canada, in Corsica, the 
Catholic religion was settled by 
law, without violation of the royal 
oath. He concluded by moving for 
an enquiry into the conduct of 
ministers in dismissing from his 
office the lord-lieutenant of Ireland. 
It was stated, in reply, by Mr. 
Pitt, that no communication of the 
correspondence between lord Fitz« 
william and the ministry, could be 
permitted without the king’s assent; 
and ministry were officially bound 
to the strictest secrecy in all cases of 
thi: nature. He would not, for this 
reason, enter into any verbal ex- 
planations of the business in ques= 
non, and neither should admit nor 
deny the facts or the inferences al- 
ledged. The king had clearly the 
right to nominate, and_ to dismiss 
ministers without assigning his mo- 
tives; cases of an extraordinary na- 
ture excepted. We forcibly urged 
the indispensible necessity of an en- 
tire agreement in sentiments be- 
tween the king’s ministry, without 
which 


HISTORY OF EUROPE. 


which it were impracticable to 
conduct the affairs of the nation 
with any regularity or success ; and 
yet they might differ without. any 
diminution of reciprocal friendship 
or esteem. He deprecated the dis- 
cussion of subjects now before the 
Irish parliament, as a manifest vio- 
lation of its independence; and 
warmly exhorted the house to leave 
the settlement of affairs in that na- 
_ tion to its representatives, who cer- 

tainly were best qualified for that 

purpose. 
_ Mr. Pitt was seconded by other 
members. The principal answer 
to ministry was made by Mr. Gray : 
hecontended, in forcible terms, for 
the propriety of an inquiry, in a 
case wherein the highest interests of 
the British and Irish nations were 
equally involved; the question be- 
fore the house was incontrovertibly 
of this description. The people of 
both countries were sensible of its 
importance, and it ill became mi- 
nisters to endeavour at the conceal- 
ment of matters that ought to be 
held out to the fullest consideration 
of all parties concerned. Both the 
English and the Irish had a right to 
know, whether the restrictions, of 
which the Irish Catholics com- 
plained, were to be taken off, or to 
remain; and to be made acquaint- 
ed, at the same time, with the real 
Causes why they should either con- 
tinue or subsist no longer. The 
private interest of a very minor part 
of the community should not, upon 
any pretence, be suffered to super- 
cede the natural rights of the whole 
community at large, when every 
argument, founded upon equity, mi- 
litated for them. Induced ty the 
proofs which the Irish had given 
of an unfeigned attachment to Eng- 
land, so conspicuously displayed, at 

5 bi 


[299 


a time when the difficulties we were 
contending’ with afforded them a 
fair opportunity of throwing off their 
connection with us, we had come 
to a determination to break those 
fetters that were evidently no lon- 
ger wanted to secure them. We 
had excited the liveliest hopes of 
a total emancipation from all those 
restraints; which the inimical.dis- 
position of the Roman Catholics to 
the Protestants had formerly ren- 
dered necessary; and now, when 
on the point of extinguishing all 
religious feuds, and terminating 
happily all differences, a sudden 
check was given to all these pleasing 
expectations: the man selected to 
put the finishing hand to those ar- 
rangements that were to constitute 
the basis of everlasting concord, 
between the sister nations, was re= 
called, in the midst of his exertions 
to bring them to a final issue, and 
censured, as if he had been com- 
mitting an act of disloyalty to his 
own country. Was this behaviour 
of the Liritish ministry to be borne 
with patience by the Irish? Was i¢ 
to be submitted to by the English, 
whose honour was, ina manner, 
solemnly pledged, and whose in- 
terest ought forcibly to lead them 
to gratify the people of Ireland in 
the reasonable demands they now 
were making, and had certainly a 
right to insist upon ? Whence, there- 
fore, could this unexpected denial 
proceed, but from private motives, 
too personal to interest the public, 
and too base to be brought to light ? 
A pretence was set up, that the in- 
dependence of the Irish parliament 
would be violated by this country’s 
interference in the settlement of the 
affairs of Ireland: but who did not 
see the futility of this pretence? 
Who did not know that the deli- 

berations 


230] 


berations on this side of the water 
had an irresistible influence over 
those on the other? The question, 
before the British parliament and 
nation, was clear and unequivocal : 
it required neither explanation nor 
comment; were the Irish Roman 
Catholics to be freed from all dis- 
qualifications, on account of their 
religion, or were they still to remain 
subject to them? They had been 
led to expéct this emancipation, 
and now it was withheld, in a man- 
ner almost amounting to a denial. 
What could ministry propose either 
by adelay or a refusal? the danger 
was nearly equal from both; and, 
in the present circumstances of af- 
fairs, there was little, if any, dif- 
ference between the one and the 
other: as probably the Irish would 
soon see, and take their mea- 
sures according to the interpretation, 
of those who saw matters in this 


light. Impatience and indignation, : 


at our tardiness in doing what they 
considered as no more than our du- 
ty, would provoke them as much 
as if we had determined never to 
do it; and we should lose, through 
an unseasonable hesitation, the op- 
portunity of granting that with a 
good grace, which might afterwards 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


be extorted from us by the evil hour 
of necessity and compulsion. 

Other speeches were made by 
the supporters and opposers of ad- 
ministration, much in the same 
strain as the antecedent. After 
which, an end was put to the de- 
bate, by the order of the day being 
moved by Mr. Pitt, and carried by 
one hundred and eighty-eight, a- 
gainst forty-nine. 

Such were the most interesting 
debates, during this session ;_ which 
closed, on the 27th of June, with 
the customary formalities. The 
speech from the throne contained, 
as usual, the king’s acknowledge- 
ments to parliament for the ample 
supplies granted for the prosecution 
of the war: the liberal assistance 
given to extricate the prince of 
Wales from his embarrassments, and 
to settle an income upon him, was 
duly noticed; and it concluded 
with the hope of such a change in 
the government of France, as might 
produce a disposition to maintain 
the accustomed relations of peace 
and amity; and with the promise 
to make the most effectual use of 
the force entrusted to government, 
for the attainment of these salutary 
purposes. 


CHRONICLE 


ON ea 


JANUARY. 


Te day, a little before 
Ist. : ; 

twelve o’clock, two 
houses at the powder mills belong- 
ing to Viessrs. Pigou and Andrews, 
at Dartford, blew up, by which 
accident eleven men, employed in 
the same, unfortunately lost their 
lives. The explosion was so great, 
thar it shook most of the buildings 
in the town, and the concussion 
was sensibly felt in many parts of 
the county of Suffolk. The scene 
on the spot was shocking beyond 
description, as the adjoining ficlds 
were covered with fragments of the 


‘buildings, consisting of large beams 


of timber shivered into thousands 
of splinters, sprinkled with blood, 
and interspersed with the mangled 
limbs of the unfortunate sufferers, 
many of which have been gathered 
up for interment, but not one of 
their heads has been yet found. 
How the accident happen-d, is at 
present, and probably ever wili re- 
main, unknown. ‘The explosion 
took place a fiw minutes before 
twelve o’clock, when providential- 
ly the overseer and two boys had 
just left the works, and one of them 
was ringing the bel! for dinner, or 
they could not have escaped the 
untimely fate of their companions. 
Mrs. Wilkes, the wife of the ma- 


nagets standing at her own door, . 


or. XXXVII. 


about two hundred yards distance, 
was knocked down, but happily 
rot materially hurt. 
6th. , Captain Telford arrived at 
* the Sierra Leone House, with 
dispatches from that colony, ‘dated 
the 28th of November, by which 
it appears, that a French squadron, 
consisting of |’Experiment, a 50 
gun ship, two frigates, two armed 
brigs, one of 18, the other of 12 
guns, and two Guineamen (prizes), 
also stoutly armed, had, on the 28th 
of September, appeared off the set- 
tlement, which, as all resistance 
was thought likely to be ineffec-_ 
tual, immediately surrendered. 
The French, however, fired seve- 
ra] suots into the town after the flag 
was struck, by which a woman and 
a girl were killed, and a.man and - 
three women wounded. The 
French force having landed, pro- 
cecd:d to pillage the town, and 
then destroyed all the public build- 
ings, as well as the company’s 
small vessels, the Thornton, Do- 
mingo, Venus, James, and Anna, 
then lying in the river, the na- 
tives and some of the settlers being 
encouraged to partake of the plun.. 
der. ‘The company’s ship the Har. 
py, of 490 tons, happening to arrive 
while the French squadron was in 
the river, was capturédd. Two 
other small vessels belonging to the 
company were afterwards captured 
on 


2 ANNUAL REGISTER, 


on the coast. The Harpy and her 
cargo were luckily insured. The 
French squadron remained about 
15 days inthe river. They also 
captured and pillaged the factory at 
Bance Island. When they were 
on the point of departing, they put 
onshore about 120 British sailors, 
most of them extremely sick, who 


had been taken from different ships 


captured on the coast, and having 
destroyed or carried off all the 
company’s stores and Provisions, 
except a supply of about three 
weeks for the sailors left on shore, 
they setsailtothesouthward. The 
distresses of the colony were ex- 
tremely great on the eve of their 
departure, the season at that time 
being remarkably sickly, and ail 
the medicines having been carried 
away or destroyed, Of the sailors 
who were landed, about 80 perished 
for want of proper accommedation, 
as well as medicine and sustenance. 
The Nova Scotian settlers, how- 
ever, suffered little. “hough many 
of the company’s servants suffered 
much in their health row ill-treat- 
ment and exposure, but only two or 
three of themhavedied. The go- 
yernor and council mention, that 
their distresses had much abated 
a few weeks after the departure 
of the French squadron; that a 
vessel also had arrived from Eng. 
land, which had furnished them 
with many necessary articles, and 
that a sufficient supply of rice was 
then in the colony; that the health 
of the Company’s servants was im- 
proving ; aod that at the time when 
they were stripped of their arms and 
ammunition, and every other ne- 
cessary, no want of order had pre- 
yailed. hey were in full expecta- 
tion, that if the company should 
-send them out the proper supplies, 


1795. 


the colony would recover this mis- 
fortune. The Nova Scotian settlers 
being all on the land, which proved 
more fruitful than was expected, 
they were able to support them. _ 
selves, and they had a quantity of 
stock en their farms.. ‘the French 
squadron appears to have been pilot. 
ed and assisted by some American 
slave traders. 

A very great mob assembled 
in London road, leading from 
the Obelisk in St. George’ s fields to 
the Elephant and Castle, at New. 
ington Butts, and, havigg intima- 
tion. that a Helabes of men. were. 
infprisoned by a cee description 
of crimps, attacked the house 
‘where these persons were confined, 
demolished their windows, and re- 
leased 18 men, who were chained 
together by handcuffs and other 
iron ligaments. ‘The Borough ma- 
gistrates, on hearing of this out- 
rage, immediately sent down their 
officers; and the ating recruiting 
serjeant being taken into custody, 
he was, after a short examination, 
committed to the New Gaol. The 
circumstances which led to. the 
discovery of this imprisonment was 
that of kidnapping a pot-boy, who, 
before he wag chained down, con- 
trived to break a pane of glass~ in 
the drawing-room window (for the 


gth. , 


_house was a private one, and ele- 


gantly furnished) from whence he 
cried out © murdeg!”’? This alarm- 
ed the neighbourhood, and, as it 
had been suspected by them that 
persons were illegally confined 
there, the doors and. windows were 
scon demolished, and the prisoners 
liberated, This serjeant and his 
crew, had two women of the town 
gentgelly dressed up, for the purpose 
of inveigling young. men into the 


house, which they styled their 
lodgings, 


eee 


CHRONICLE. 3 


lodgings, Sibers the deluded were 
instantly handeuffed; and about 
three or four o’ciock in the morn- 
ing sent off in coaches, hired for 
the purpose, to the country. Next 
day, several more youths, who 
were cenfined in other parts of the 
fields, were released by ihe magis. 


trates, amtidst the plaudits of a nu- 


merous multitude of sp-<tators. 
‘This even'ng a peace offi. 
cer, with a warrant from a 
Magistrate, went to apprehend a 
footpad in one of the litti¢ public- 
houses which line the quays of the 


i2th. 


river Thames, in that part of the 


Borough called Bankside. On en- 
tering the tap, he immediately dis. 


‘covered the delinquent he was in 


search of, dressed in a seaman’s 


- jacket and trowsers, and tippling 
‘with several other persons in the 


same dress. ‘Lhe officer immedi- 
ately advanced to seize him; but 


- the fellow pulled out a pistcl, and 
_discharged it at the constable, who, 


feeling himself wounded, immedi- 
ately went out of the tap, and 
walked about ten yards to a neigh- 
bouring house, which he entered, 
and sat himself down on a chair, 
and, without being able to ttter a 
word, immediately expired. The 
desperado who committed this atro- 
‘cious deed was, we are sorry to 
find, suffered to escape with his 
companions. The contents of the 
pistol had lodged in the cons:able’s 
breast. 

'. The followin San 
TP oak place by ballot at the 
dndip House, in Leadenhall-street : 
_ That no dire¢tor be allowed 
to trade to or from India in his pri- 

capacity, either directly or in- 

Gly, either as principal or 
agent.” 
Tbe ballot commenced at ten 


o’clock in the morning, and closed 
at six in the evening. At half 
past eight o'clock, the chairman 
entered the general-court room, 
and declared the numbers to be as 
follow : ; 
For the proposition 
Againstit = 


541 
348 


Majority 193 
Sth. . LWo delegates from Ho]. 
~" " Jand waited upon lord 
Grenville, with a remonstrance, 
respecting the detention of the 
Datch Kast Indiamen and cargoes 
in British ports; the following is 
almost verbatim what passed on this 
occasion 
Lord Grenville—“ I would wish 
to be informed, gentlemen, in what 
capacity you wish to be received ?”* 
Delegate—‘* As representatives 
of the sovereign people of Batavia,’’ 
Lord Grenville—‘ I know of no 


+such delegating’ power, and there- 


fore must decline any further cop- 
ference with you.’’ 

About twelve o’clock, 
two vessels broke from their 
moorings a little below London- 
bridge; the tide then running up, 
drove them against the bridge with 
such force, that one of them (a West 
Indiaman with three masts) making 
the centwee arch, carried away all 
her masts close by the board, knock- 
ed down two of the lamps on the 
top of the bridge, bent .the lamp- 
iron in an astonishing manner, and, 
with a crash that’ made the whole 
fabric shake, passed through the 
arch with incredible velocity, and 
drifted up the river with the tide to 
Blackfriars-bridge, which she also 
went through, but, without any 
farther accident; and continued 
her course sill she came above So. 
merset-house, where she drove on 

Ba / shore, 


19th, 


4 ANNUAL-REGISTER; 


shore, and with some difficulty was 
moored. The crew, perceiving 
their danger, took to the boat a few 
minutes before she reached London- 
bridge, which, in all probability, 


saved some of their lives. The 
ether vessel, strikinyy against the 


starlings of one ef the smaller 
arches, waz prevented from going 
through, but from the shock must 
have been considerably damaged. 
She remained there tiil the curn of 
the tide, when she was got off, and, 
with the assistance of some bouts, 
was towed into a place of safety. 
The above accident is supposed to 
have happened from the large pieces 
of ice brought up the river by the 
tide, cutting the cables by which 
the ships were moored. 
’ Fhe most dreadful fire 
ever remembered in Liver- 
pool happened on Sunday morning, 
the 18thinst. At five o’clock the 
Exchange (the noblest building of 
the kind, without exception, of any 
in the kingdom) was discovered to 
be on fre” the inside of which was 
entirely destroyed in iess than two 
hours : with the grearest difficulty 
the town records, regalia, mace, 
sword, &c. were preserved from the 
flames, though kept on the opposite 
side of the building from whence 
the fire broke our, so rapid was its 
progress. Several accidents hav- 
ened, and it ts feared one man has 
perished, A little before five tr was 
discovered by the Exchange keep- 
er’s wife, who, being troubled with 
an asthma, found inconvenience 
from thé smoke that entered the 
‘bed-chamber: she awoke her hus- 
and, and, on entering the assem- 
bly-room, found it in flames. ‘lhe 
alarm was instantly giver, but too 
late to impede its progress: in less 
than one Aour and a half the whole 


zoth. 


1795. 


roof fell in. Fortunately the wind 
was moderate, otherwise the house 
inhabited by Mr. Jones, silversmith, 
and Mr. Gore, printer, would have 
shared the same fate, notwithstand- 
ing a street of at least 2§ yards 
breadth intervening. Amongst 
other matters destroyed are two ele- 
gent paintings, executed by Mr. 
Martin, and presented by him to 
the Corporation of Liverpool ; one 
representing ** The murder of Mac- 
duff's family,’’ the other, ‘* Cleopa. 
tra arming Anthony.’ 

Seven men attempting to 
pass, on the ice, to a collier 
in the river, near Radcliffe-street, 
fell into the water, and were all 
drowned, 


21st. 


This morning two watch- 
men, belonging to the parish ~ 
of Bloomsbury, were found trozen 
to death on their posts. “They had 
been ‘seen, a few hours before, re- 
galing themselves with liquor, to 
enabie them to encounter the seve- 
rity of the weather, which, it is 
supposed, caused them to fall inte 
a sleep, from which they never 
awoke, 

The same day a man, who it is 
supposed had fallen overboard, 
flcated through London bridge with 
the ice. Only his head and arms 
could be seen, and he was frozen to, 


death, : 
sys A servantof Mess. Green 
2? “* and) Ward, Ludgate-hill, 
was drowned near Putney, attempt, 
ing to.cross the river on the ice, 
ante Between twelve and one 
~~" o'clock, the Stadtholder of 
Holland, accompanicd*by the Prin- 
cess Irederiea Louisa Wilhelmina, — 
his daughter, and Prince Williag 
George. Frederic, his second son, 
arrived in London, and immediate. 
ly proceeded to the house of the 
Duteh 


23d.. 


ORO Nop. Bsk,. 5 


Dutch ambassador. Hampton-court 
palace is fitting up, by order of 
the king, for the residence of the 
Stsdtholder and his f: mily, till the 
completion of which they are to re- 
side at the palace of Kew. 

The mails for the .conti- 
ie nent, except those to- Spain 
and Portugal, are in future to be 
conveyed from Yurmouth to the 


‘Fibe ; they are to be carried in a 


frigate; and ihe post-office agent 
has orders to proceed with the mils 
of Tuesday next to Cuxhaven, on 
the Elbe, to render the necessary 
arrangements for their furtherance. 
The post will branch off trom Cux- 
haven i in two direétions ; the one, 
having the Jetters tor Holland, 
Francfort, Switzerland and italy, 
will go by the way of Bremen; the 
other mail, containing fetseok for 


Germany, and the north of Europe, . 
will pass through Hanburgh, 


The 
packet which carries ovt the first 
mails will sail from Hurwich, and 
be conveyed to the Elle by a sloop 
of war; but afterwards the packets 
will aay from Yarmouth, 
Dirp—3d. 
wood, at his seat in Staifcrdshire. 
The public usefulness and private 
virtues of this gentleman entitle 
him to particular notice. He was 


the younger son of a porter, but. 


derived jirule or no property from 
his father, whose possessions con- 
sisted chefly of a small entailed 
estate, and descended to the eldest 
son. 


has been benefited in a proporiion 
not to be calculated. His many dis- 

coveries of new species of earthen- 
wares and porcelains, his studied 
forms and chaste style of detoration, 
and the correctness and judgment 
with which aJl his works were exe- 


Fi + yer 
Mir. Josiah Wede-. 


He was the maker then of 
his own fortune, ard his country. 


a) 
cuted under his own eye, and by 
artists for the most part of his own 
forming, have turned the curren 

in this. branch of commerce ; for,, 
before his time, England imported 
the finer carthen-wares; but for 
more than twenty years past she 
has exgorted. them to a very great 
annuai amount, the whole of which 
is drawn from the earth, and from 
the industry of the inhabitants ; 
while the national taste has been 
improved, and its reputation | raised 
in foreign countries. His inven- 
tions have prodigiously increased. 
the number of persons employed in 
the poticries; and in the traffic 
and transport of their materials 
from distant parts of the kingdom ; 
and this class of manufacturers is 
also indebted to him for much me- 
chanical contrivance and arrange- 
ment in their operations ; ; his pri-. 
vate manufactory having had, for 


‘thirry years and upwards, all the 


eflicacy of a public work of expe- 
riment. Neither was he unknown 
in the walks of philosophy. His 
communicatiens to the Royal So. 
cety, of which he was a member, 
shew a mind enlightened by sci- 
euce, and cuntribured to procure 
him the esteem cf scientific men at 
home, and throughout Europe. 
At aneaily period ot his life, seeing 
the impos:inility of extending con- 
siderably the manufactory he was 
engay:d it, on the spot. which 
gave him birth, without the advan- 
tages of inlend navigation, he was 
tlie proposer of the Grand Trunk 
canal, and the chief agent in ob. 
taining the aQ@ of patiament for 
making it, against the prejudices 
of the landed interest, which at that 
time stood very high, and but just 
before had been with great difficul. 
ty overcome in another quarter by 

B3 all 


6 


t 
all the powerful influence of a no- 
ble Duke, whose canal was at that 
time the only one that had been 
constru¢ted in this kingdom. ‘The 
Grand. Trunk canal is go miles in 
length; uniting the rivers Trent 
and Mersey; and branches have 
since been made from it to @-. Se- 
v¥ern, to Oxford, and to many other 
parts, and it will also have a com- 
munication with the Grand junc. 
tion canal from Braunsion to Brent- 
ford. 

25th, Of anasthmatical and drop- 
sical complaint, to which he had 
been long subject, the Rev. 
Rich. Southgate. He was of St. 
John’s college, Cambridge, where he 
proceeded B, A. 1749; but took 
no farther degree; elected F. A. S. 
1794: presented, on the death of 
Dr. Halifax, bishop of St. Asaph, 
to the rectory of Warsop, county or 
Nottingham, worth gool. per ann. 
July 1790, by his friend John Gally 
Knight, esquire, to whose father, 
the learned Dr. Gally, he had been 
many years curate; appointed as- 
sistant librarian at the British Mu- 
seum, under Joseph Planta, esq. 
1785; and curate at St. Giles’s in 
the Fields, where his assiduity in 
the reformation of the manners of 
its parishioners of the lowest, most 
wretched, «nd most abardoned 
charaéters, will long be gratefully 
remembered. Innumismatic know. 
ledge jhe stood almost. unrivalled ; 
and the professors of that branch 
of virth have to regret that he did: 
not live te finish his noble design of 
illustrating the Saxon coinage; or 
that his progress in ict (for some 
progress he had made) was retarded 
by his difidence. His knowledge 
of books was good; and he was 
employed by the trustees of the Bri- 
tish Museum in making purchases 


“grand = precession; 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


of many curious articles. —A report 
was in circulation thar his deark 
had been occasioned. by having 
been il]- treated by some poor Irish. 
men, disyusted.at not having par- 
taken of charity distributed by him 
at.St. Giles’sschurch, and even a 
Grabean elegy, alluding to it, cried 
about the streets: bat, on inquiry, 
we find this to have been erroneous, 


ceeveca: 


P°E BRU ACR OY. 


pe rie This night the $t. Jago Spa- 

“nish register prize cause was 
finally decided in favour of the cap. 
tors. The precise value of this 
ship, retaken in April 1793 from 
the French, is q35,000l. The per. 
sons interested in this decision are, 
Rezr Admiral John Gell, esq. who 
commanded the squadron, and the 
captains, officers, and crews of the 
St. George, of 98 guns, Egmont, 
Edgar, and Ganges, of 74, and 
Phaeton, frigate of 18 guns, which 
last conveyed her sale to Ports- 
mouth, Admiral Lord Hood gets 
fifty thousand. pounds as his share 
oi the St. Jago Spanish register ship, 
sth His Excellency the Torkish 
9" ambassador made his so long 
delayed ‘public entry. The am. 
bassador and his suite, after break- 
fasting with Sir G. Howard, at 
Chelsea Hospital, carte to town in 
the coach in 
which he rode was fhat used by the 
king in going to St, Piui*s ¢athe. 
dral; the state horses were six in 
number, very richly caparisoned ; 
four of them were those sent as a 
present to the king from the Grand 
Seignior ; the other two having died 
on their passage, were supplied by 
two from the King’s stud. The 
ambassador wore a ‘green ee 

an 


= 


CH Bat Nu LE. 7 


and turban nearly of the same co- 
lour, studded with jewels. ‘The 
concourse of people on the’ occasion 
was so great, that when they ar- 
rived at St, James’s it was with dif- 
ficulty the horse and foot guards 
who attended the procession could 
clear the way. Each of the car- 
riages was drawn by six horses, de- 
corated with ribbands, and attended 
by two or three servents in their 
court liveries, The ambassador 
addressed himself to the king, in 
the language of his country, which 
was translated by Mr. Persixni, the 
dragoman; and the same ceremo- 
py wus repeated to the queen ; af- 
ter which the drawing-room com- 
menced, and the business of the 
court proceeded as usual. ‘The 

resents brought over by the am. 
aren were delivered) at St. 
James’s. ‘They consist of, to the 
king, a pair of gold pistcls, the 
stocks aud burrels solid gold; four 
Arabian horses, with gold bridles 
and saddles, trimmed with gold ; 
and = er dagger, with belt orna- 
mented with pearls and diamonds. 
To the. queen and princesses, a 
thest of silks, embroidered with 
gold; a plume of feathers for the 
head-dress, supported with a band 
of solid-gold, and the top of the 
feathers ornamented with diamonds : 
to the prince of Wales, duke of 
Portland, and lord Grenville, chests 


of silks, 
ar The earl of Abingdon 
* was brought into the court 
of King’s Bench to reccive judg- 
ment for .a libel on Mr. Sermon, 
Previously to sentence being passed, 
his lordship requested leave to say 
a few words. He apologized for 
his intemperate language to Mr. 
Erskine and the Bar on the day 
‘when he was last brought up, Mr. 


. 


Erskine expressed hie wiltingness to 
accept the apology, which he trust. 
ed would have a proper effect on 
the court. His lordship was sens 
tenced to three months imprison- 
ment in the King’s Bench, anda 
fine of rocl. and to find security 


tor his fatwre good behaviour. 


‘The following are the particulars 
of the reception of. the hostage 
princes, by their father,. Tippoo 
Sultan, as contained, in letters ars 
rived from Madras. These illus. 
trious pledges arrived at Duonelly, 
about thirty miles from Bangalore, 
by easy marches, and paid a. visit 
of ceremony at Celar, the tomb of 
their grandfather, Hyder Ally, on 
the 28th of May... At Duonelly, 
Lippoo Sultan, with 10,000 men, 
had been encamped. from the 18th 
of March, anxiously expecting their 
approach. On the zgth at noon, 
the princes, with their. numerous 
suite, accompanied by Capt. Dove- 
ton, proceeded en their visit to the 
Sultan, who received them in a very 
supero pavilion, -inclosed within a 
wali of a very extraordinary extent. 
— the Sultan was seated at qne ex- 
tremity, and on each side, at suita- 
bie distances, were placed, accord- 
ing to their several ranks, about 
ferty or fifty of his principal at- 
tendants. Cn their entrance into 
the pavilion, the young princes 
sprang forward to the throne where 
theirioyal father sat, and protrasted 
themselves before it. And here 
the etiguctte of Asiatic courts put 
nature cempletely to flight—for 
the father, instead of advancing to 
embraeeé his darling children, con- 
tented himself with coldly placing 
a hand on the neck of each, and on 
the instant the princes arose, and 
respectfully retired. Ir is a re- 
markable fact, that not a syllable 

B4 


8 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


was exchanged at thisextraordinary 
interview. Captain Doveton was 
next presented, and placed on the 
right hand of the sovereign, who 
conversed with him on Kurope:n 
topics for more than an hour and 
an half. He was afterwards re- 
galed with beetle, cloves, anda va- 
riety of Asiatic dainties on a service 
of gold plate, The Sultan, duriug 
the interview, did not rise trom his 
seat, which was a square cushion, 
covered withcrimson velvet, slight. 
ly embroidered:with go!ld—on his 
side was placed a sword and some 
papers, and on them a gold snuff. 
box, apparently of European manu- 
facture. Tippoo has a very majes- 
tic deportment, and is of the mid. 
dle stature, with a countenance very 
expressive. His eye particularly 
animated and scrutinizing, his nose 
large, with oblique dilated nostrils ; 
his mouth small with thick lips, 
and an eminence towards the cen. 
tre of the upper lip, which projects 
but is by no means unhandsome. 

His majesty has conferred 
pensions of sool. per ann. 
on admiral Jord Graves, and the 
rear admirals sir George Bowyer, 
and sir Thomas Paisley, in Gonse- 
quence of the wounds received by 
these gallant officers on the first of 
June.-—Mr. Ibetson, who retires 
from the second secretaryship of the 
the Admiralty, will likewise re- 
ceive a pension of 6o0ol, per annum, 
in recompense of his long services 
in that office. 

This being the day ap. 
pointed for the general fast, 
it was observed with due solemnity. 

Stanislaus, king of Po- 
land, has taken leave of his 
capital, thisday, probably for ever. 

The floods that prevailed during 
this season, have perhaps never 


24th. 


27th, 


28th. 


been equalled in the memory of 
min; the accounts of the ruinous 
effects from all parts of the country 
would fill more pages than can be 
spared by us, / 

Diep—zoth. Dr. Alexander . 
Gerard, professor of divinity in 
the university and King’s college, 
Aberdeer:, and one of his majesty’s 
chaplains for Scotland. He was 
the author of—r. An Essay on Taste, 
8vo. 1759: 2. National Blessings, 
an Argument for Reformation; a 
sermon preached at Aberdren, 1760: 
3. The Influence of the Pastoral 
Office on the Charaéter Examined, 
with a View especially to Mr, 
Hume’s Representation of the Spirit 
of that Office; a sermon preached 
at Aberdeen, April 8, 1760, 8vo2 
4- The Influence of Piety on the 
Public Good: a sermon preached 
at the High Church, Edinburgh, 
May 31,1761,8vo. §. Dissertations 
on Subjects relating to the Genius 
and Evidence of Christianity, 8vo. 
1766; 6. An Essay on Genius, Svo. 
1774: 7. Liberty the Cloak: of 
Maliciousness, borh in the Aimeri- 
can Rebeilion and in the Manners 
of the Times; a sermon preached 
at Old Aberdeen, Feb. 26; 1778, 
8vo. 8. Sermons, Vol. f. 8vo, 
1789: g. Sermcus, Vol. II. 8vo. 
1782. 

In the’ 63d’ ycar of. his age, at 
his seat of Ollantigh, in Kent, John 
Sawbridge, esq. alderman and re. 
presentative of the city of London. 
He early in life succeeded, by the 
death of his father, toa very prince. 
ly fortun>,, In November 1763, 
soon after hts father’s decease, he 
intermarried with the only daugh, 
ter of sir Orlando Bridgman, bart. 
with whom he had a large dowry ; 
by this lady, whom he had the mis- 
fortune to lose within about two 

months 


CHRONICLE. o- 


reonths after their nuptials, he had 
no issue. He afterwards married 
the second daughter of the opulent 
alderman sir William Stevenson. 
This gentleman had already served 
the high office of lord-mayor of the 
city of London; and being a wi- 
dower, Miss Stevenson did the ho- 
nours of the table as lady-mayoress. 
By this lady, who ‘is still living, 
Mr. Sawbridge had three sons and 
a daughter. The eldest son died 
some years since at Caen in Nor- 
mandy; the second, who succeeds 
to the family estate, continues, 
highly to his honour, to serve as 
major in the East Kent regiment of 
militia, of which his father was 
many years colonel; the youngest 
is at present at Westminster school. 


In attempting to draw a faithful. 


portrait of the late alderman Saw- 
bridge, ‘in private and public lite, 
it would be only difficult to decide 
whether he was more truly emi. 
nent in the discharge of the social 
and domestic duties, or in the more 
animated scenes of public patrio- 
‘tism. As a husband, father, bro- 

ft, friend, master of servants, he 
ajsplayed the purest pattern of mo- 
rz] excellence. In his neighbour- 
heod in the country, where he re- 
sided during the summer months, 
his memory will be long held in 
the highest esteem and veneration ; 
for he not only rendered himself 
respectab'e by the srlendid hospi- 
tality of his maision, but by his 
great utility to that part of the 
county in wh'ch he lived, by con- 
stantly acting in the commission of 
the peace, and rendcring to all who 
came before him that equal: and 
impartial justice, for which he was 
so highly celebrated after he suc- 
ceeded to the municipal chara¢ter 
of an alderman of the city of Lon. 


don. It has not been very. usual 
for a country gentleman to accept 
the gown of an alderman.of Lona. 
don; in the case oi Mr. Sawbridge, 
it was an event that took place in 
consequence of the politics of the 
times. His political carcer had 
commenced by gaining his election 
for the town and port of Hythe, 
against a strong aristocratical inte. 
rest. 1t was during the period that 
he sat in parliament as a cinque. 
port baron, that the right of elec. 
tion in the person of Mr. Wilkes 
was violated in the county of Mid- 
dlesex ; a county, in which Mr. 
Sawbridge possessed considerable 
property. It was an usurpation of 
the people’s rights, which oar high. 
spirited baron, whose breast glow. 
ed with the purest flame of civil 
liberty, could ii] brook and endure. 
He so manfally resisted this att of 
ministerial tyranny, both in and 
out of parliament, as to render him. 
self highly popular with the citizens 
of Loudon; and, in consequence, 
was chosen, together with the Jate 
aiderman Townsend, by the voe 
luntary and unsolicited suffrages of 
the livery, sheriff of London. He 
soon aiterwards became an alder, 
man of Langbourn werd; and in 
duc course ot time, he was called 
to the dignity of lord-mayor of 
Londim, ai oftice which Mr. Saw. 
bridge filled with no less honour to 
himself rhan to the first city of the 
civilised wor'd.. Mr. Sawbridge 
was afterwards chosen one of t 
city members, and sat during three 
parliaments as a representative of 
the metropolis of the British em. 
pire. That he well and faithfully 
discharged the high important duty 
of an English senator is well known, 
and will ever be held in grateful 
memory by | his. feilow-citizens, 
During 


10 


During the whole course of the 


American war, he constantly and 
zealously opposed it; and he was 
duly sensible, that to the j inereasing 
influence of the crown we might 
justly impute our too frequent wars. 
He exerted himself, however inef. 
ficaciously, in the cause of pariia- 
mentary reform, as the most likely 
means to correct it. His political 


views were truly patriotic ; and his ° 


speeches in parliament, if they 
possessed not all the brilliancy of a 
complete orator, displayed, which 


is perhaps better, in concise and 


nervous Janguage, the sentiiments 


of a just, unbiassed, and upright, 


member of the cominons-house of 
parliament. In effect, so truly in- 
dependent was his spirit, that he 
disdained to accept, and pledged 
himself that he never would accept, 
any title, place, or pension, which 
government had to bestow. He 
loved his country, because it was a 
land of freedom ; and, on all those 
pret occasions in which Mr. Saw- 
ridge thought the liberties of his 
country were interested, he tock an 
ative and spirited part. Happily 
for him, his faculties gave way 
previously to the present disastrous 
war; otherwise, it ismost probable, 
that he would, with the same ar- 
dour, have opposed it, in all its 
Stages, as he hetetiSte did the on. 
fortunate American war. Heaven 
in its mercy decreed, bie he should 
he a stranger to all its horrors ; this 
valuable man having been, for the 
Jast two years of hts sublunary-ex- 
{stence, Jost to his country, his fa- 
imily, his friends and himself; his 
death, therefore, was a consumma- 
tion devoutly to be wished. His 
Yemains were interred in the parish 
‘church of Wye, in the county of 
Kent, wherein is the family bury- 


ing-place, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


At Philadelphia, Mr. John Penn, 
formerly governor of the province 
of Pennsylvania ; the last surviving 
male issue of the founder of that 
colony. 


MARCH. 


This day a common hall 
was held at Guildhall, for the 
purpose of electing a representa. 
tive in parliament, i in the room of 
the late Mr. alderman Sawbridge. 
Mr. Lushington being proposed, a 
great show of hands appeared in his 
favour. Mr. Harvey Combe had 
likewise a respeQable show ; but a 
poll being demanded, the same im- 
mediately commenced. At the 
close of the poll on the sth, the 
numbers were— 
For Mr. Lushington 2334 
Mr. Combe 1560 

The latter gentleman then: des 
elined the poll. 
4th One Richard Brothers, sites 

“ly a lieutenant in the navy, 
having for some time past promul. 
gated prophecies concerning the 
French Revolution, the destruétion 
of London, &c. twisting the apoca- 
lypse to whatever purposes he pleas. 
ed, did not a little terrify -the good 
people of Loudon. 

‘The most singular circumstance 
attending this man was, the disti- 
ple he gained in.the person of Mr, 
Halhed, a member’ of ° parliament, 
and not unknown in whe Oriental 
world.. This gentleman professed 
himself a sincere and thorough 
convert, and wrote a pamphlet in 
defence of the divinity of Brothers’s 
mission. 

In consequence of the tnischict. 
ous tendencies-of some of his pro- 
phecies, Mr, Brothers was this 

mosning 


morning, notawithstanding his divine 
mission, taken up at his house by the 
king’s messengers, Messrs. Ross, 
Higgins, and assistants. He re. 
ceived them with his usual com- 
plaisance, and expressed his know- 
ledge of their commission. 
shewing their authority he sabmit- 
ted, without opposition, to have 
all his papers seized. They then 
requested him to attend them to a 
coach, which was in waiting, and 
were cheertuily obeyed; but, on 
coming to the coach door, he re- 
fused to enter it unless compelled 
by force. Brothers is a very strong 
and powerful man; but gave the 
messengers no occasion to proceed 
to any extreme violence; for, on 
being pushed forward, he entered 
without putting them to the neces- 
sity of using any harshness what- 
ever. They had, however, much 
more danger to apprehend from the 
fury of the multitude; but even 
that, with some difficulty, they 
escaped; and he was conducted 
safely to the house of Mr. Ross, 
the messenger, in Crown-street, 
Westminster, Brothers’s arrest 
seeme the more urgent, as, from 
the nature and object of his visions, 
there is reason to believe that he 
was become the tool of faétion, 
employed to seduce the people, and 
tO spread fears and alarms. Go- 
vernment has therefore very pro- 
perly secured the person of the 
Prophet, in order to prevent this 
Nephew of God [ashe styles himself] 
from doing the qwerk of the Devil. 
The warrant on which he was ap- 
prehended was grounded on the 
r5th of Elizabeth ; and in which 
he stood charged with ¢ unlawful- 
ly, maliciously, and wickedly writ- 
ings publishing, and printing vari- 
ous fantastical prophecies, with in. 


CHRONICLE, 


After 


tr 
tent to cause dissentions ‘and? other 
disturbances within this realm, ard 
other of the king’s dominions, con- 
trary to the statute.’? 

A young woman, servant 
to a lady in Liverpooo), was 
engaged to marry a sailor on his ar- 
rival from the West Indies ; whence 
however he never retuined.... Being 
there seized with the yellow fever, 
he died, leaving to her his clothes, 
wages, watch, and about twelve 
guineas.. The generous maid, 
learning that he had a mother, old 
and indigent, sent to her this lega_- 
cy, praying, that this unexpected 
supply might in some measure con. 
tribute to support her woder “the 
loss of so good a son, trusting to her 
labour for her own support. 

‘his afternoon 3 fre’ 
broke out at Edinburgh, in 
the printing-house of Mr. Mundell, 
On the first alarm, the magistrates 
came oat of the church, and gave 
their attendance, as also a party of 
colonel! Ferrier’s regiment, the. 
city guard, and town Gilicers ; and, 
by their mutual exertions, with the 
assistanée of the fire engines, it was 
speedily extinguished, though not 
without cousideradle damage to the” 
valuabie stock of books. ‘he pre. 
mises were covered hy the Edin. 
burgh Friendly insurance office. 

The body of a plain dressed man 

vas found dead in a field near Bea. 
consfleld, Bucks, supposed to have 
lain there a week, und whose do 
remained with the corpse : the dog 
would seareely permit any person to 
approach it: yet so famished by 
hunger as to have eaten away all 
the upper part of the poor man’s 
face, some of his neck and one of his 
shoulders, 


27th, 


14th. 


- 


rgth, 


A commission was held 
this day at tae king’s arms, 
in 


12 


in Palace.yard, Westininster, to 
ascertain the state of mind of Mr. 
Brothers, the pretended prophet ; 
when the jury, after hearing the 
opinions of two physicians appoint. 
ed by the Privy Council to attend 
him, found him a lunatic, and gave 
their verdict accordingly. 


A PERIL, 


Dublin. Tuesday evening 


qth. last, between seven and eight, - 


as the lord chancellor was passing 
in his carriage through Dame-street, 
on his return from the: castle to 
Ely-place, a band of ruffans, who 
had been lying in wait at the end 
of George’s-street, assaulted his 
lordship with a shower of stones, 
one of which unfortunately struck 
him on the head, and wounded him 
over the lefteye. His lordship cr- 
dered his carriage to stop; but the 
ru‘ians had instantly disappeared. 
He then procceded to his house, 
followed by a number of the most 
respectable citizens. . The. feelings 
excited in every loyal breast, by the 
account of so base an attempr, wiil 
be alleviated by the pleasing incel- 
ligence of his lordship having re. 
ceived but a very slight wound, 
From the position in which he sat, 
the stone struck him obliquely ; it 
only hurt him as it glanced. His 
lordship, as his carriage approached 
George’s-street, observed a well- 
dressed ruffian lurking about the 
corner of the strect, whose manner 
betrayed his purpose so much as to 
fix his lordship’s attention, ull he 
attually saw him throw a stone 
into ihe carriage. This person, we 
ear, his lordship can identify, and 
the crime of which he has been 
guilty is an a of high treason. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


The archbishop of Armagh was 
also insulted on returning home 
from the castle; and several stones 
were thrown at his carriage, by 
which the glasses and panneis of it 
were broken, but his grace received 
no personal injury. A mob rushed 
down from the Liberty, at eight 
o’clock at night, displaying green 
cockades, with mottos of ‘* Liber- 
ty! Equality! and no lord licu- 
tenant!’? and, having divided into 
sets of about one hundred each, one 
party was sent to cxtinguish the 
speaker.. They accordingly at- 
tacked his house with stones ;. but. 
his trusty servants (urning out arin- 


ed, and firing a blunderbuss at rhe 


‘assailants, the latter fled, having 


performed their business so ineffec- 
tually as only to break his windows, 
Another party was sent to the new 
custom-house, to extizguish Mr. 
John Claudius Beresford. They 
were, however, warmly received ; 
for, after they had broken a num- 
ber of the custom-house windows, 
and threatened to break into his 
banking-house, he fired at them, 
and wounded three of them, upon 
which the rest precipitately retired. 
One of those wounded is a weaver, 
and now languishes’ in the Inn 
squay infirmary without any pros. 
pect of recovery. Lhe windows 
of alderman Warren were also bro- 
ken; bur the mob passed with such 
rapidity through Wiiliam-streer, 
that they escaped the consequences. 
of a resistance which was prepared | 
for them by the alderman, On. 
the first assembling of the mob, 
alderman James and the high 
sheriffs called out different parties ° 
of the military, with which they 
continued till midnight to patrole. 
the city. To the exertions of these 
magistrates the citizens are ait 
, e 


CHRONICLE. 


ed for the protection of their per. 
sons and their property; wherever 
their presence was necessary, their 
appearance was zlmoust immediate : 
they apprehendéd several of the 
rioters, four of whom were yester- 
day committed to Newgate by 
Alderman Fierisg. = Alderman 
James, a short time after «he art- 
tack had been made on the lord 
chancellor, seized one of the mob 
in College-greeen, who had a large 
stone concealed under his coat: he 
is at present in Newgate, where 
we understand his lordship went 
yesterday to view him. His name 
is Denis O’Brien, a cadet servant 
lately discharged by Mr. Kemmis. 
es This morning between one 
51+ and two o’clyck, a very despe- 
rate attempt was made to rescue 
Isdwell Isdwell, a jew, who stood 
' charged with some others, with 
being concerned in a late forgery 
of stamps, and who, in a scuflle, 
lost his life in the following man- 
ner: Isdwell, who was confined in 
New Prison, Clerkenwell, per. 
suaded two of the turnkeys, that 
an aunt of his, who was very rich, 
then lay at the point of death, and 
that he had been informed, thar, 
could she see him before she died, 
she would give him a thousand 
pounds; and therefore, if they 
would let him out and accompany 
him to the place, he would give 
them fifty guineas each for their 
trouble, and that thé matter might 
be effected without the knowledge 
of the keeper of the prison, or any 
other person, they having the keys 
of it at night, and the rime requir. 
ed being very short. To this pro. 
posal the turnkeys agreed; and ac. 
cordingly, about one o’clock in the 
Morning, the gates were opened, 
‘and Isdwell, with his irons on, was 


) 


13 


conducted in a hackney coach by 
one of them, armed witha blun- 
derbuss, to the place directed, 
which was in Artitlery-lane, Bi. 
sho, sgate-street, where they gained 
immediate admittance on ringing a 
bell; and, on enquiring for the 
sick lady, were ushered up one paie 
of stairs, Isdwell went into the 
room first, on which several fel- 
lows rushed forth and attempted to 
keep the turnkey out ; but not suc. 
ceeding in that respect, they put 
the candles out, wrested the bluns 
derbuss out of his hands, and dis. 
charged it at him. At this instant; 
it was supposed, Isdwell was en- 
deavouring to make his escape out 
of the door, as he received the 
principal part of the contents of 
the blunderbuss in his back, and 
fell dead; the turnkey also fell, 
one of the slugs having grazed the 
upper part of his head; and the 
villains, by some means finding 
their mistake, though in the dark, 
beat him in so shocking a manner 
with the butt end of the blunder. 
buss, while he lay on the ground, 
as to break it to pieces, fracture 
his skull in two places, and bruise 
him dreadfully about the body. 
The noise which the affair occa- 
sioned, brought a number of 
watchmen and patroles to the 
house, who secured ten persons 
therein, mostly jews. There is 
every reason to suppose that they 
wou.d have completely murdercd 
the turnkev, had not timely assist- 
ance been afforded. 

The princess of Wales, accom. 
panied by Mrs, Harcourt, lord 
Malmesbury, and commodore 
Payne, disembarked from the Ju. 
piter, and went on board one of 
the royal yachts: and a few mi- 
nutes after twelve o’clock landed at 

Greenwich 


14 


. Greenwich hospital. The princess 
was received on her landing by sir 
Hugh Palliser, the governor, and 
other officers, who condué¢ted her to 
the governor’s house, where she 
took tea and coffee. Lady Jersey did 
not arrive at the governor’s till an 
hour after the princess had landed ; 
and soon after, they both retired 
- into an adjoining room, and the 
dress of the princess was changed, 
from a muslin gown and blue satin 
petticoat, with a black beaver hat 
and blue and black feathers, for a 
white satin gown, and very elegant 
turban cap of satin, trimmed with 
crape, and ornamented with white 
feathers, which were brought from 
town by Lady Jersey. It 1s impos- 
sible to.ccnceive the bustle occa. 
sioned at Greenwich by the .prin- 
cess’s arrival. The congregation 
at the hospital chapel lett it, before 
the service was halt over ; and even 
the pulpit was forsaken fer a sight 
of her highness, The acclamations 
of the people were unbounded. A 
little atter two o'clock, her royal 
highness left the governor’s house, 
and got into one of the king’s 
coaches, drawn by six horses. In 
this coach were also Mrs, Harcourt 
and Jady Jersey. Another of his 
Majesty’s ccaches and six, preceded 
it, in which were seated Mrs. Har. 
vey Aston, lord Malinesbury, lord 
Clermont, and colonel Greville. 
In-a third coach with four horses, 
were two women. servants, whom 
the. princess brought from Germa. 
ny, and are her only German at. 
tendants from thence. The prin- 
¢ess’s carriage was escorted on each 
‘side by a party of the prince of 
‘Wales’s. own. regiment of - light 
dragoons, commanded by lord -Kd- 
ward Somerset, son to the duke of 
Beaufort. Besides.this escort, the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 17095. 


road was lined at small distances 
by troops of the heavy dragoons, 
who were stationed from Green~ 
wich all the way to the Horse 
Guards. There were besides hun- 
dreds of horsemen who followed 
her totown. Westminster bridge, 
and all the avenues leading to the 
park, and the palace, were crouded 
with spectators and carriages ; but 
the greatest order was preserved. 
The people cheered the princess 
with loud expressions of love and 
loyalty, and she in return, very gra- 
ciously bowed and smiled at them 
as she passed along. Both the cars 
riage windows were down, At 
three o'clock her serene highness 
alighted at St. James’s, and was in- 
troduced into the apartments pre- 
ared for her reception, which look 
into Cleveland-row. After ashort’ 
time the princess appeared at the 
windows, which were thrown up, 
The people huzzaed her, and she 
curtsied; and this continued some 
minutes until the prince arrived 
from Carlton-House. Ata littlebe. 
fore five o’clock, the prince and 
princess sat down to dinner. 

The people continuing to huzza 
before the palace, his. royal high. 
ness, after dinner, appeared at the 
window, and thanked them for this 
mark of their loyalty and attention 


- to the princess, but he hoped they 


would excuse her appearance then, 
as it might give her cold. This 
completely satisfied the crowd, 
who gaye the prince three cheers, 
The princess of Wales travelled in 
amantle of green satin, trimmed 
with gold, with loops and tassels 
ala brandenbprgh; and wore a 
beaver har, 

In the evening, when the po- 
pulace had become rather noisy 
in their expressions of loyalty | 

an 


and attachment before the princess’s 

apartments, in Cleveland-row, her. 
royal highness, in a voice replete 

with melody, and delicacy of tone, 

thus addressed them from her 

palace window : 

“© Believe me, I fecl very happy 
*€ and delighted to ste the coop 
*€ and brave English people—the 
best nation upon earth,’’ 

The prince atzerwards addressed 
the populace in a very engaging 
manner; and received the tribute. 
of no venal applause. 
8th This evening the solemnity 
* of the marriage of his royal 
highness the prince of Wales with 
her highness the princess Caroline 
of Brunswick, was performed in the 
chapel royal by the archbishop of 
Canterbury. The processions, to_ 
and from the chapel, were in the 
following order: 

The Procession of the BRIDE. 
Drums and ‘Trumpets. 
Serjeant ‘Trumpeter. 
Kettle-Drums. 

Master of the Ceremonies. 
Bride’s Gentlemah Usher between the 
two Senior Heralds. 

His Majesty’s Vice Chamberlain, 
-His Majesty’s Lord Chamberlain. 
The BRIDE, 

In her nuptial habit, with a coronet, led 
by his Royal Highness the 
Duke of Clarence, 
her train borne by four unmarried daugh- 
ters of dukes and earls, viz. 


Lady Mary Os- Lady Caroline Vil- 
borne, liers, 

Lady Charlotte Lady Charlotte 
Spencer, Legge; 


And her Highness was atiended by the 
ladies of her household. 

On entering the chapel her 
highness was conducted to the 
seat prepared for her, near her ma-' 
jesty’s chair of state. The master 
of the ceremonies, with the gen- 
tleman usher, retired to the, places 


assigned them, 


+ Coli RO NedeC LB; yy » 


‘ 


15 


The lord..chamberlain and 
vice-chamberlain, with a herald,’ 
returned to attend the bridegroom ; 
the senior herald remaining. in the 
chapel, to condu¢t the several per- 
sons to their respective places. 

The BRIDEGROOM’s Procession, 

In the same order as that of the Bride, 
with the addition of the Officers of his 
Royal Highness’s Household, 
flis Royal Highness 
THE PRINCE OF WALES, 
In his collar of the Order of the Garter, 
supported by two unmarried Dukes, 
VIZ. 

The Duke of Bed- | The Duke of Rox- 

ford, burgh. 

And his Royal Highness being con- 
duéted to his seat in the Chapel, the 
Lord Chamberlain, Vice Chamberlain, 
and two Heralds, returned, to attend his 
Majesty. 

THEIR MAJESTIES? Procession. 
Drums and Truiapets as before; 
Knight Marshal. 
Pursuivants, 

Heralds. 

Treasurer of the Household. 
Master of the Horse. 

Two married Dukes, viz. 

Duke of Leeds. | Duke of Beaufort. 
Lord Steward of the Household. 
Provincial Kings of Arms. 


Qe Lord Privy Seal. £6 

8 Archbishop of York. && 

“4% 3Lord Pres. of the Council.( 

2s Lord High Chancellor. } 2 & 
Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Gent. | Garterprincipal Kingof | Gent. 

Usher. | Arms, with his sceptre. | Usher, 


The Earl Marshal, with his staff. 
PRINCES OF THE BLOOD 
ROYAL. viz. 

Prince William. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of 
Gloucester. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of York, 
Vice Chamberlain of the Household, 
Sword of State, borne by the Duke of 

‘ Portland. 
Lord Chamberlain of the Household. 
HIS MAJESTY, 
In the collar of the Order of the Garter, 
Captain 


16 


Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard. 


Colonel of the Life Guards in Waiting. - 


Captain of the Band of Gentlemen 
Pensioners. 
The Lord of the Bedchamber in Waiting. 
Master of the Robes. 
Groom of the Bedchamber. 

Vice Chamberlain to the Queen, 
The Queen’s Lord Chamberlain. 
HER MAJESTY. 

The Queen’s Master of the Horse. 
Their Royal Highnesses 
‘The Princess Royal, 

Princess Augusta Sophia, 
Princess Elizabeth, 

Princess Mary, 

Princess Sophia, 

Princess Amelia, 

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of 
York. 

Princess Sophia of Gloucester, 
supported severally by their Gentlemen 

' y Ushers. 
The Ladies of her Majesty's Bedchamber. 
Maids of Honour. 
Women of her Majesty's Redchamber. 


Upon entering the chapel, the 
several persons in the procession 
were conduéted to the places ap- 
pointed for them. Their majesties 
went to their chairs on the haut- 
pas, the bridegroom and the bride 
to their seats, and the rest of the 
royal family to those prepared for 
them. 

~ At the conclusion of the mar- 
riage service their majesties retired 
to their chairs of state under the 
canopy while the anthem was per- 
forming. The processionafterwards 
returned in the following order: 


Drums and Trumpets, as before, 
_- Master of the Ceremonies. 
The Princess's Gentleman Usher, be- 
tween two Heralds. 

Officers of the Princess’s Houshold. 
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales 
leading the bride, 
and supported by the two married 

‘ Dukes, viz. 
Duke of Beaufort. | Duke of Leeds. 
he Ladies of her Royal Highness’s 
Houshold. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


The king was attended by the 
great officers, in the same manner 
in which his majesty went to the 
chapel; and her majesty and the 
princesses in the order before men- 
tioned, 

The procession, at the return, 
filed off in the privy chamber. 
Their majesties, the bridegroom 
and bride, with the rest of the 
royal family, andthe great offi. 
cers, proceeded into the levee 
chamber, where the registry of the 
marriage was attested with the’ 
usual formalities, after which the 
procession continued into the lesser 
drawing-room: and their majese 
ties with the bridegroom and bride 
and the rest of the royal family, ' 
passed into the great council 
chamber; where the great offi- 
cers, nobilizy, foreign ministers, 
and other persons of distinétion, paid 
their compliments on the occasion. 

The evening concluded with 
very splendid illuminations, and 
other pubiic demonstrations of joy 
throughout London and Westmin-- 
ster. 

: At a numerous and respett- 
9m ble meeting of the Roman 
catholics of the city of Dublin, 
Mr. Byrne, Mr. Keogh, and Baron 
Hassey reported, that they had 
presented the petition of the catho- 
lics to his majesty, which petition 
he was pleased to receive very gra- 
ciously; and that they were. in- ° 
formed by his majesty’s ministers, . 
that his majesty’s speech on the 
subje¢t of the catholic claims was 
comumunicated to the lord Iieu- 
tenant, through whom it might 
be known; but that the deputa- 
tion, in consequence of their in- 
structions, did not consider them. 
selves at liberty to make any far-° 
ther application, The thanks of 

the 


CHRONICLE. 


the méeting were then voted to the 
deputies; after which Dr. Ryan 
rose, and observed, that. the reso- 
lutions just passed, went to the 
establishment of ‘union in this 
country; and he had now two 
other resolutions to submit, which 
went to deprecate every idea of 
union with any other country. Af- 
' ter a handsome compliment to the 
gentlemen of the colicge, and a 
vindication of the catholics from 
intolerant or oppressive principles, 
‘he concluded by moving two reso- 
lutions to the following effect. 
Resolved, that it is the opinion of 
this assembly, that an union with 
Great Eritain would be ruinous 
t6 the liberties, independence, and 
prosperity of Ireland, and that ra- 
_ ther than accede to such a measure, 
we would resist even our own 
emancipation, if it was to be pro. 
posed as the price ofsuch a measure, 
_ Resolved, that though we have 
made this declaration in vindication 
of our principles, we do nct appre- 
hend that any minister would risk 
a propositjon to which no set of men 
are warranted to give effet by 
‘surrendering the rights of the peo- 
ple. ‘These resolutions were car- 
ried unanimously, with the loudest 
acclamations. 
David Downie, condemn- 


roth. ed for high treason at Edin. 


17 


hering to the king’s enemies; to 
substantiate which, there were fours 
teen overt atts laid in the indict. 
ment. The trial continued. till 
twelve o’clock at’night, when lord 
Clonmell charged the jury, who 
retired at three quarters after three, 
and at half after four brought in 
their verditt, guilty ; but recom- 
mended him to mercy. The chief 
justice inquired of the jury, if they 
had any doubts on their minds that 
led them to such ‘recommendation, 
and alderman Exshaw answered im- 
mediately, ‘* No, my Lord.’’? The 
judges Clonmell, Boyd, and Cham. 
berlain, consulted for a few mia 
nutes; and the chief justice ob- 
served to the jury, ‘‘ Gentlemen, 
you have acquitted yourselves with 
honour and conscientious regard 
for justice; you have done your 
duty, and we will do ours. It 
is more than a century since this 
land has been cursed with such a 
crime, and we trust your verdict 
will operate in preventing a repe- 
tition of it. Yourrecommendation 
shall be laid before government.’’ 

This day the Peers ae. 
quitted Warren Hastings, 
esq. [for a list of the wotess see the 
Appendix to the Chronicle. | 

The second reading of the 
catholic bill came on in, the 
Irish house of commons. ‘The de- 


25th. 


27th. 


bate was opened by the solicitor- 


burg, has received his majesty’s : 
general, who moved the bill should 


_ pardon on condition of being im- 


 prisoned for a year, and afterwards 
banishing himself from Great Bri- 
‘tain for life. 
| RG The trial of the Rev. Mr, 
24th. Jackson, so long confined 
in Newgate, Dublin, came on at 
ten o’clock on Friday last. The in- 
~difiment was read by. the clerk : 
tcharged the prisoner with two 
Species of treason; that of com. 
passing the king’s death,. and, ad. 
_ Vou. XXXVII, 


be rejected. This motion was se- 
conded by lord Kingsborough ; 
and on the same side were Messrs. 
Coote, Pelham, Wolfe, Col. Bla. 
quiere, Sir Edward Newenham, 
Messrs. Cuffe, Ogle, Mason, Sir J. 
Parnell, Messrs. Barrington, John- 
son, and Fox, Dr. Duigenan, and 
Mr. Latouche.-—The .. bill, .was 
supported by Sir Hercules, ‘Lan. 
egrishe, Mr, Fitzgerald, (not, the 

Cc prime 


18 


prime serjeant) Mr. Ruxton, sir 
Laurence Parsons, Mr. Fletcher, 
Mr. Tighe, jun. Mr. Smith, Mr. 
Knox, Mr. Egan, Mr. O’Connor, 
Mr. Osborne, sit lhomas Osborne, 
Col. Doyle, Mr. Hoare, Mr. C. 
Hutchinson, Mr. Curran, Mr. 
G. Ponsonby, and Mr. Grattan. 
The debate began at five in the 
evening, and continued till eleven 
hext morning, when the motion 
for rejecting the bill was put, and 
carried by a majority of 71; there 
being against the rejection 84, for 


-itrss. 
3oth This day at noon theRev. 
* William Jackson, wasbrought 
up to the court of King’s Bench, 
where a motion was made by his 
counsel in arrest of judgment. 
During the argumenf of the law- 
yers, the wretched prisoner was 
seized with violent emotions, such 
as the drawing up of his shoul- 
ders, frothing at the mouth, &c. 
and shortly afterwards fell down 
and expired on the spot. It is 
more than probable that he took 
poison in the morning ; at least the 
circumstances atiending his death 
bear strong symptoms of such a 
desperate expedient having been 
had recourse to by him. When he 
came into court, he was uncom- 
monly pale, and in a state of per- 
spiration. 

Portsmouth. The trial of capt. 
Anthony Pye Molloy began on board 
his majesty’s ship Glory, in Ports- 
mouth Harbour, on Tuesday, April 
28. 

At-eight o’clock in the morning 
the signal-gun was fired for the 
court to assemble; and at nine it 
met, when all! the witnesses on be- 
half of the prosecution being or- 
dered to attend, their names were 
called over, after which the judge- 
advocate read the order from the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. — 


lords of the admiralty for bringing 
captain Moily to trial, upon the 
charge of his not having brought 
up his ship, and exerted himself to 
the utmost of his power, in the 
engagements which took place on 
the 2gth of May and 1st of June 
1794; and for not crossing the 
enemy’s line. 

The following members were 
then chosen to constitute the court, 
and sworn accordingly : 

Admiral John Peyton, phate 

MEMBERS. 

Vice-Admiral Sir Richard iid, 

Vice- Admiral Charles Buckner, 

Rear- Admiral John Colpoys. 

CAPTAINS. 
Francis Parry, Christ. Parker, 
Powel Hamilton, Right Hon. Lord 
Alex. Greme, Cha. Fitzgerald, 
Andrew Mitchel, C. M. Pole, 

Sir Eras. Gower, Jas. Rich. Dacres. 
Sir Roger Curtis conducted the 
prosecution. 

Moses Greetham, esq. judge advo- 
cate. 

Aaron Graham, esq. conduéted the 
defence, 

Assisted by Mr. Fielding. 

Sir Roger Curtis informed the 
court, that the admiral (earl Howe) 
was very ill, and confined with the 
gout, so that it was impossible for 
him to attend as prosecutor on the 
present occasion. 

The court was cleared, in order 
that it might be determined whe- 
ther it was proper that sir Roger 
Curtis should represent lord Howe 
on the trial; and the decision of 
the court was in the affirmative. 

The court then proceeded to the 
examination of witnesses, 

On the 1gth of May the court. 
martial finished: when the judge 
advocate read a paper, which — 
stated the purpose for which the — 
court-martial was called, the cir, 

- cumstances 


CHRONICLE 


eumstances which caused it, the 

mames of the members, and the 

charges which they had to try. 

The first charge was, that captain 

Molloy, ofhis majesty’s ship Cesar, 

did not on the 29th of May, 1794, 

cross the enemy’s line, tn obedience 

to the signal of the admiral :—the 
second, that on the first of June 
he had not used his utmest endea- 
yours to close with and defeat the 
enemy. . 
THE SENTENCE. 

The court having heard the evi- 
dence on the part of the prosecu- 
tion, and that on behalf cf caprain 
Molloy, and having duly weighed 
and considered the same, 

*€ Ts of opinion, that the charges 
have been proved against captain 
Anthony James Pye Molloy ; but 
that, as it appears to the court 
that in the a€tions of the 2gth 
of May, and the ist of June, as 
well as on many former occasions, 
his personal courage has been 
unimpeachable, they do adjudge 
him to be dismissed from the 
command of his majesty’s ship 
Czsar,’” } 


MA Y. 


This moring a fire. broke 
out on board of his majesty’s 
ship Boyne, of 98 guns, which con. 
tinued with irresistible violence till 
five o'clock, when the magazine 
blew up. 

The cause of this melancholy 
accident has ‘not yet been clearly 
ascertained. The fire was first 
discovered in the after-part of the 
ship, and is supposed to have pro. 

ed either trom a live cartridge 

from the musquets of the soldiers, 
ho were exercising with smail- 

fms on the windward side of the 
ship, having lodged in the captain’s 


Ist, 


19 


or admiral’s cabin, and caught 
something combustible, or from the 
funnel of the admiral’s cabin hav- 
ing been on fire, and communi. 
cated to the deck. 

The fiames burst through the 
poop before the fire was discovered. 
Fortunately, the greatest part of 
the powder had been sent on shore 
three days before, and, upon the first 
alarm, the cock was turned upon 
the grand magazine. The fore 
and aft hanging magazines con- 
tained but little powder ; the former 
exploded with very Mttle effe@. 

When the fire broke out there 
was a fresh breeze at S. W. 
and it being tide of ebb, the ships 
were riding with their sterns to the 
wind. Within half an hour after 
the commencement of the fire, the » 
tops and all the rigging were ina 
blaze. : 

About twelve the tide turned, 
and the position of the ships became 
changed,. but it was then too late 
to make any attempt, or even for 
boats to get near her. Previous to 
this, hotvever, from the number 
of boats that went instantly to 
their assistance, it is hoped that 
most of the crew were saved; 
though, from the rapidity of the 
flames, it is feared that some of 
them must have perished. 

All her guns were loaded, and as 
they became heated they went 
off, the shot falling amongst the 
shipping, and some of them even 
reached the shore, but without, it 
is hoped, having done any damage, 
Tt was upwards of two hours from 
the first discharge till all the guns 
had gone off. About two her. cas 
bles were burnt, and she went 
a-drift,, the fire blazing through 
every port-hole. The sight, though 
at noon-day, was awfully grand. 
‘The ships to leeward of her having — 

Ca got 


20 


got under weigh to get clear of her, 
ran down to St..Helen’s, and she 
drifted slowly to the eastward, her 
mizen-mast and top-masts having 
fallen down beiore she began to 
drift. About five o’clock the wreck 
was drifted L by the tide further on the 
spit, opposiie South Sea Castle, when 
the magazine blew up with a PeEy 
great explosion, This noble ship, 
which was only five years old, was 
completely manned and victualled 
there were also a vast number of 
women and children on board, 
many of whom, it is apprehended, 
must have perished. The men 
jumped over-board, and were 
mostly taken up by boats belong. 
ing to the fleet, which had all been 
manned on the first alarm, and or- 
dered to render every assistance. 
The port-admiral, sir Peter Parker, 
at the same time, went on board the 
Royal William, and made the sig- 
nal jor ail the ficet instantly to get 
under weigh. . The wind was very 
unfavourable, but the orders were 
executed with so much judgment 
and alacrity, thar all the other ships 
got out of her way, and very for. 
tunately, being in the day time, 
dropped down to St. Helen’s with- 
out any of them receiving the sma!i- 
est Gamage. The explosion wis 
tremendous and grand: shot, - and 
pieces of timber, were thrown to 
a very considerable distance all 
around her, and a column of smoke 
arose in the air that formed itself 
into the most sublime and pictu- 
resque appearance. . Itis melancholy 
to add, that as several boats were 
near the wreck at that moment, 
it is the general apprehension that 
some of them must have been sunk. 
‘ Richard Brothers, the pre- 
4 tended prophet, was this day 
removed. from the house of the 


Fi ry4 
he a 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


king’s messenger, and placed undeg 
the care of Dr. Simmons, physician 
to St. Luke’s hospital, at Fisher. 
house, Islington. , 

This evening a melan. 
choly accident happened on 
the Humber, opposite to Stallingbo- 
rough, in Yorkshire. As Mr. Rich- 
ard Mitchell and four others, all of 
this town, were proceeding down 
the river in a boat with sails up, 
a heavy squall came on suddenly 
and overset the boat. . On this un- 
fortunate occasion Mr. Mitcheil and 
one of the men were drowned: 
the other three saved themselves by 
swimming to the shore. The body 
of Mr. Mitcheil was taken up on 
Sunday. : 


15th. 


This night, about eleven 
o’clock, major Dundas, ac- 
companied by two other gentlemen, 
were stopped in a post-chaise near 
Slough by four footpads, who fired 
two shots into the carriage before 
they demanded the gentlemen’ s 
money, which having obtained, toa 
considerable amount, together with 
two watches, one cf them struck 
major Dundas on the arm with a 
pistol, and then cut away three 
portmantcaus which were fastened 
on the fore part of the chaise, with 
which they got clear off. 

This night that noble 
mansicn-house, Cliffden, the 
property of the earl of Inchiquin, 
on the banks of the Thames, caught 
fire. The flames were so rapid, 
that very few articlés of value were | 
saved, and only the wings, which 
were joined to the centre by a colo- 
nade, escaped,, This house was 
begun, but ieft unfinished, by — 
George Villiers, duke of. Bucking 
ham, _ in the reign of Charles IT. 
and was the counterpart of that. 
which he built in St, James’s park, 
now 


1gth. 


20th. 


4 


CH RON TC E-E. 


now the residerce of her majesty ; 
‘and came, by marriage with Eliza- 
beth, eldest da aughter ef \sif ‘Ed 
ward Villiers, and sister to’ Ed- 
ward earl of Jersey, to’ the earl 
of Orkney, who Brenily improved 
it; and whose “eldest dauvhter 
“married William Obfien,. earl ‘of 
Enchiquin, who. now possess2s it. 
Its lofty situation on the side of a 
hill, gave it every advantage of a 
DP beautiful and extensive prospect, 
It was the favourite summer resi- 
dence of his present majesty’s fa- 
ther. The cause of this fire is va- 
riously accounted for. It is gene- 
. fally believed that one of the cham. 
ber. maids turning down the bed in 
the evening, left a candle burning 
in the middle apartments, which 
set fire to the eurtaing! bid -this 
is mere surmise. ‘The flames broke 
out at nine o’clock at night, and 
_ were *so‘sudden and. so rapid, that 
all assistance to save the furniture 
and the house was vain. Lord and 
lady Inchiguin were on a_ visit 
there at the time, and at tea, or 
rather after tea, in the summer- 
house. So sudden and so violent 
was the fire, ‘that nothing was 
saved, not even the plate: and 
what is considered as an irrepa- 
able loss, the whole of the beauti- 
fal tapestry, representing the va- 
Tious battles won by the famous 
duke of Marlborough, fella viGtim 
_n this occasion, so as not to leave 
a trace behind of that extensive 
_ Specimen of art. Weare sorry to add, 
that not so much of wearing ap. 
parel was saved as to furnish a 
" change of any article ta the family 
for the next day. The conflagra- 
- tion was seen many miles round. 
Ws “8 Yesterday Maria Theresa 
3% Phinoe was capitaily indicted, 
n the Old Bailey, for putting in 


21 


fear, and violently and fe'cniously 
taking away from John Courtoy a 
premissory note, value 2000l. 

This very extraordinaey ease ap- 
peared tobe as follows: Mr. Cour. 
toy being-at Mrs. Phipoe’s house in 
Hans Town, Brompton, theatter, 
with the assistance of her ‘servauit, 
Mary-Browne (who was’ the prin- 
cipal evidence against her) fastened 
Mr. Courtoy to the back of a chair, 
and extorted from him a note for 
20001. by threatening and attempt- 
ing to cut his throat. After he 
had signed and given the note, she 
again attempted to kil! him m the 
same manner, having first ¢ffered 
him his choice to die by arsenic, 
the pistol, or the knife; and he 
escaped with great difficulty, three 
or four of ‘his’ fingers being cut in 
the struggle. 

The indi@tment was founded on 
the stattite of 2d George Il. which 
enats, that if any person shall steal, 
or obtitt by force or violence, any 

exchequer order, promissory note, 
é&c. such an offence shall be deemed 
felony without benefit of clergy. 

Mr. Courtoy was then'called, and 
the note being produced, he was 
asked, whether i it was the same he 
gave to the ‘prisoner? to which he 
answered in the affirmative. 

Mr. Fielding, as counsel for the 
prisoner, objected to the admissibi- 
lity ot the evidence of Mr. Courtoy. 
He contended, that he stood in the 
light of an interested witness, inas- 
much as his evidence went to in. — 
validate the note, ‘which upon the 
face of it apperred to be the lega 
property of the prisoner. 

After the counsel for the prose. 
cution were heard on the other 
side, the court were of opinion, 
that Mr. Courtoy ought not to be 
examined, 

C 3 


Mary 


22 


Mary Brown, the servant of Mrs. 
Phipoe, gave an account. of the 
transa€tion as above, as did the 
other witnesses, 

The jury, without leaving the 
box, pronounced the prisoner— 
Guilty. 

The prisoner’s counsel moved an 
arrest of judgment, upon the ground 
that the offence did not come with- 
in the meaning of the statute, the 
note not being in any legal sense 
the property of the prosecutor, at 
the time it was alleged to have been 
forcibly taken from him by the pri- 
soner. 

James Lyons, who remained on 
commitment for having forged re- 
ceipts in the three per cent. consol. 
to the amount of 14401. with intent 
to defraud the governor and com- 
pany of the bank of England, was 
brought up for judgment. Mr. 
justice Grose informed the prisoner, 
that it was the opinion of the 
judges, that the crime which he 
was guilty of was not that stated 
in the indi&tment, The judges were 
therefore agreed, that judgment 
should be given against the crown. 

Mr. Lyons addressed the court by 
saying that an ation was brought 
against him in the court of King’ 5 
Bench, and a verdi€ of soool., 
given, which happened in conse~ 
quence of his papers being detain~ 
ed; he therefore begged that the 
court would order them to be re- 
turned, 

Mr. justice Grose informed him, 
that his appplication must be to the 
court of King’s Bench,—-Ordered 
back into custody. 

This morning the new- 
ereCted horse-barracks at 
Rumford, in Essex, were burnt 
down to the ground, except a small 
division of the building uncom. 


27th, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1705. 


pleted. ‘The accident was. owing 
to the carelessness of some work- 
men, in letting a fire communicate 
tosome shavings. The loss is com. 
puted at. 10,000. 

Dizp—At his house in Great 
Poland.street, in the ssth’year of 
his age, James Boswell, esq. Of 
this celebrated biographer of John- 
son,- we shall give some anecdotes 
in a subsequent part of this vo. 
lume. 


j U.N Es 


A general court was held at 
the East India house, to deter. 
mine by ballot the following ques. 
tion, carried at thé last court, viz. 

‘© That this court do recommend, 
that the court of directors should 
apply to Warren Hastings, esq. for, 
a statement of the legal expences 
incurred by him in making his de. 
fence; and that after having as. 
certained the same, by a full and 
satistactory investigation, they do 
discharge the amount thereof, not 
exceeding the sum of 71,000l. 

The ballot commenced at eleven 
o’clock, and continued till six in” 
the afternoon, when the glasses 
were closed, and delivered to the 
scrutimers; and about a quarter 
past eight, the deputy chairman, 
attended. by some other directors, 
entered the court-room, and de. 
clared the numbers to be as fol. 
lows: :; 

For the question 544 
Against tt - - 244 
Majority - 300 

And on the 2d a genera] court 
was held for determining by ballot 
the following question : : 

‘© That it is the opinion of this 
court, 


Ist. 


CHRON] Ci. E. 


court, that in consideration of the 
long, faithful, and important ser- 
vices of Warren Hastings, esq. and 
to mark the grateful sense enter- 
tained by this company of the ex- 
tensive benefits which they have 
réceived from those services, a 
grant of an annuity of scool. from 
the ist of January 1795, to issue 
from the territorial revenues, during 
the term of the company’s pre- 
sent exclusive trade, to Warren 
Hastings, esq. his executors, ad- 
ministrators, and assigns, be pre- 
pared by the court of dire¢tors, 
and submitted to the board of 
commissioners for the affairs of In- 
dia, for their approval and con- 
firmation, pursuant to the att of 
parliament.’’ 

On casting up the votes the num. 
bers were, 

For the question - 508 
Against it - - - 220 


Majority - 288 

Bath. Yesterday a dread- 

act of desperation was 
committed in this city by John 
White, a young man about nine- 
teen, who got up in the morning, 
procured a brace of pistols, which 
he loaded, and with coolness and 
deliberation walked into the school. 
room of Maria Bally, inCorn-street, 
an amiable young woman, to whom 
- he was affectionately attached, and 
after a short conversation, present- 
ed one of the pistols to her head, 
and shot her instantly dead, The 
noise of the pistol, and the smoke, 
greatly terrified the children in the 
school, and their cries alarming the 
neighbours, he was taken into cus- 
tody coming out at the door. The 
mayor shortly after summoned his 
jury, and a verdict of wilful mur- 
der was brought in against him. 


toth. Ga 


23 


When before the magistrate. he 
behaved with much decency; and 
on being asked the cause of his 
committing so horrid’a deed, said 
it was for contemned love; and 
whether he was not terrified at 
the idéa of the punishment that 
awaited him both here and here- 
after? He replied, that David hav- 
ing caused the death of Uriah to 
obtain Bathsheba, and been for. 
given, he also hoped forgiveness, 
When the mistress of the house 
where he lodged came in, and in 
bitter tears lamented his fate, and 
that she should never see him 
more, his agony was very piercing, 
and deeply affected all present, 
He is committed to Ilchester gaol 
for trial. 9 

Brighton. The Oxfordshire 
regiment marched on Friday 
night last, at eleven o’clock, from 
Seaford, in order to attend the exe. 
cution of the two men who were 
condemned py. a general court mar. 
tial for riotous and disorderly con: 
du@. The hour of four was the 
time appointed to assemble. On 
the march the regiment halted ;- 
and twelve men who had takena 
part in the riot were called out ;— 
when the commanding officer or- 
dered them to fix their flints, and 
prepare to execute the sentence, 
This was done to demonstrate to 
the men that state of obedience in 
which the officers were determined 
to hold them; and by this measure 
they felt more pointedly the folly | 
of their former conduct, when those 
persons, whom they had _ before 
made their leaders, were now to 
suffer death at their hands. 

The regiment was then conduét. 
ed to a spacious valley, and divided 
into two wings, which were sta- 
tioned on each side of the place® 

C4 ab 


14th. 


. 


QA 


"of execution, they were then fol. 
lowed by the whole line of encamp- 
ment. On the rising ground above 
the valley three thousand cavalry 
(or near that number) were post- 
ed; they were followed by ail the 
horse artiflery. ‘The guns were 
pointed and matches lighted. From 
the disposition of the ground, and 
from the arrangement oi the troops, 
a more magnificent and a more 
awful spe¢tacle was never exhibit- 
ed in this country. 

After the eerporal punishments 
had been inflicted upon the offenders 
of less note, Cooke and Parish, 
the two unfortunate men condemn- 
ed to die, were brought forward 
with a very strong escort. They 
walked along the vale in slow and 
solemn procession, accompanied by 
the clergyman who had devoted his 
‘time 50 conscientiously to them, 
from the moment the sentence had 
becn made known, that they were 
fully prepared to meet their’ fate. 
They approached the fatal spot 
with resignation, and expressed 
much concern and penitence 
for the crime. They then kneel- 
ed down upon their coffins with 
cool and deliberate firmness; when 
the one who was to drop the signal 
said to his comrade—‘* Are you 
ready??? Upon the reply being 
made, he dropt a prayer-book ; and 
the party did their duty at about 

. :- * 

six yards distance. One of them 
not appearing to be entirely dead, 
was instantly shot through the 
head; and the same ceremony was 
performed to the other, After this 
the whole line was ordered to 
march round the dead bodies. 

Horsham. Sykesand Sansom, the 
two Oxfordshire militia-men sen- 
tenced to be hung at the late special 
assizes at Lewes, forstealing flowr at 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Blatchingdon, were executed yes- 
terday at this place about one 
o'clock. ‘They appeared very peni- 
tent, and desired the spectators to 
take warning by their untimely 
fate, and not to mix with, or be- 
come a¢tive in, any mob or public 
disturbance, as they ‘themselves 
were insensible of the consequences 
at the time of committing the of- 
fence for which they suffered. The 
troops of the yeomanry cavalry 
raised in Sussex attended, the exe. 


cution, The high sheriff was also 
present. 
ch Dumfries. On Thursday 


evening the rth instant 
one of the soldiers of the first fen- 
cible regiment ‘having’ been con- 
fined for impropriety in’ the field 
when underarms, several of-his 
comrades resolved to releasevhim; 
for which purpose they assembled 
round, and. endeavoured to force 
the guard-room; but they were re- 
pelled by the adjutant and officer 
on guard, who made the ringleader 
a prisoner. The commanding of- 
ficer of the regiment immediately 
ordered a garrison covrt.martial, 
consisting of his own corps and the 
Ulster light dragoons. When the 
prisoners were remanded back from 
the court to the guard-room,’ their 
escort ‘was attacked by fifty or 
sixty of the soldiers, with fixed 
bayonets. Theescort, consisting of 
a corporal and six men, charged 
them in return, and would not 
have parted with their prisoners, 
but at the intercession of the ser- 
jeant-major, who thought resist. 
ance against such numbers was in 
vain. The mutineers then set up 
a shout, and part of them ran away 
with theprisoners. Thelieutenant- 
colonel and major, on hearing the 

noise, 


CHRONTCLE. Vie BS 


noise, ran down to the street; and 
the former seeing the way the pri- 
soners had gone, follo: wed and re. 
took them. They submissively 
agreed to go with them to confine- 
ment; but when they had reached 
the middle of the street, the officers 
were surrounded by a great number, 
who. charged them with fixed bayo- 
nets in every direction. The ma- 
jordid hisutmost to bear down their 
bayonets on the left, and captain 
John Grant, jun. was near hiin on 
the right, equally active. § The mu- 
tineers, like cowards, were encou- 
raging one another to push on, and 
Wl enclosed the three officers in a 
narrow compass, when one of the 

most violent approaching the Jieu- 
‘ tenant-colonel’s breast, and threat- 
ening to run him through,. he was 
under the necessity of pulling out 
a pistol, and presenting it at his 
head. The fellow immediately 
stooped, and the whole fell back, 


as if they had received the word of 


command. Many of the officers 
had by this time joined, and order 
Was soon restored; they were pa- 
yaded at the dock, the mutiny ar- 
ticles read, and a forcible speech 
made to them by the lieutenant. 
colonel. They were then ordered, 
as a mark of returning duty and 
allegiance, to face to the right and 
march under the colours, which 
was instantly complied with. The 
ranks were then opened, and six of 
the ringleaders picked out, sent to 
the guard under an escort, and the 
affair reported to the commander 
dn chief. The regiment has since 
received a route to march to be en- 
camped on the sea coast, 
xgth This evening, between 4 
* and 5, as the workmen were 
employed in pulling down three 
panees in Bridewell, .New Bridge. 


street, formerly occupied by the 
arts-masters, but which were to be 
made into prisons, they suddenly 
gave way. 

This melancholy event was caus- 
ed, in part, from removing the 
main beams below without shoring 
up the buildings in a proper man- 
ner, but principally from a violent 
and momentary gush of wind, - It 
is supposed that between v2 and 15 
men were brried in the ruins, six 
were got out very soon; two of 
them not much bruised, but the 
others considerably hurt, who were 
immediately sent to the hospital. 
In the evening two more were dug 
out alive, but very dangerousiy 
hur rt; and two others have since 
been found, who appeared to have 
been killed on the spot. The walls 
which, from the dangerous state 


‘after the fall of the honses, threat. 


ened further destruction, were next 
morning pul'ed down, 
ey This morning, Isdwell, 
* Clarke, and Sharpe, con. 
victed in May sessions of different 
forgeries, were executed in the 
Cid Bailey. Isdwell, for the for- 
geries on the stamp-office, died 
worth upwards of z000l, He con-., 
fessed a short time before his death, 
that he and his associates had com- 
mitted forgeries on the bank ‘of 
Denmark to a large amount, 
Birmingham. Yesterday as 
bout noon, a mob of: 1000 
people assembled before the mill 
and bakehouse of Mr. Pickard, of 
Snow-hill, in this town, on account 
of the dearness of provisions, cry. 
ing out--** a large loaf ; are we ta 
be starved to death ?’’ and present. 
ly demolished the windows, win- 
dow casesy shutters, and doors to 
the front of the bakchouse, which 
some of them entered. The acting 
magistrates 


23d. 


26 


magistrates ofthis town, W. Hicks, 
and W. Villers, esqrs. however, be- 
ing informed of it, repaired to the 
piace and called out the military ; 
and the riot aét being read, the 
mob were appeased, and order again 
restored, insomuch that al! the mi- 
litary, except a guard of twelve 
men, who were left -at the mill, 
were ordered to their quarters, 
with direGions, however, to lie on 
their arms, and assemble at the 
sound of trumpet. About eight 
o’clock at night the people became 
more riotous, and threw stones at 
the guard before the mill, upon 
which three were taken into cus- 
tody, and escorted by a file of men 
to ‘the dungeon. As they were 
éondutting thither, the escort were 
assailed with stones and brick-bats, 
and a rescue apprehended; on 
which two of the soldiers fired 
and killed one man of the name 
of Allen, and wounded another 
dangerously in the breast with a 
ball, who now lies in our hospital, 
There are five in custody for being 
aétive in the mob. 

A printed hand-bill, of an in- 
flammatory nature, has been cir- 
culated in the streets this morning. 
The magistrates have offered a .re- 
‘ward of 100 guineas for the dis- 
covery of the author. 

A murder was committed at 
Kew, on the bodies of an old man 
and his wife, who resided in Kew- 
_ Jane, and with whom it appears 
the murderer, who used to work 
in the gardens about that neigh- 
bourhood, was in the habits of the 
greatest intimacy. The old people, 
who lived on a small independent 
imeome, frequently assisted the 
wretch, who afterwards proved 
their assassin, with the loan of lit- 
tle sums of money, some of which 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


not having repaid, the old woman 
refused to lend him .any more, 
when he went to her for that pur- 
pose last night, about 10 o’clock, 
at which time her husband, being 
somewhat indisposed, was gone ito 
bed. The villain, finding he could 
not prevail on her, went up stairs 
to the old man, who, it is’ sup- 
posed, also denied him, as he im- 
mediately murdered him in the. 
most shocking manner with a ham- 
mer, and the old woman, hearing. 
the groans of her dying husband, 

was hastening to his assistance, 
when the villain met her, and with 
the same instrument shattered het 
head in so dreadful a degree; that 
sheexpired soon after. Lhe neigh- 
hours, alarmed by the noise, got 


into the house and secured the 
murderer. He was taken before 


the magistrates at the police-office, 
at Union-hail, in the Borough, 
where he pars rent. an examina- 
tion, the result of which was, his 
being fully committed to take his 
trial for the murders at the next 
assizes for the county of Surrey. 

Birmingham. Vranquillity 
is restored to this town and | 
neighbourhood. The king’s own 
dragoons are returned to their 
quarters from Dudley, Stourbridge, 
and Bromsgrove, except about 
thirty men, who have been left 
at the latter place on account of 
its being fair-day. 

The following hand-bill was cir- 
culated, in counteraétion of a very 
seditiops one calling the people to 
arms. 

‘* Brother artificers and fellow 
townsmen, forour own credit, safe. 
ty, and happiness, let us reverence 
the magistrates, and the laws of 
the land. Rioting can do no good, 
but may do much mischief, and 

increase 


24th. 


CHRONICLE. 


increase the town rates, already too 
heavy to be borne ; and as there is 
no answering for the conduét of 
armed men, when insulted on their 
duty, my advice is, to keep out of 
the way. It is the sight of a large 
crowd of curious persons that én- 
courages the real rioters, who 
would be afraid to act if left in 
the street by themselves. Let every 
peaceable man, therefore, stay in 
his own house, and there keep his 
servants and children, and, my 
word for it, the rioting will imme- 
diately cease.’’ 

The intense cold which set 
in on Thursday night the 18th, 
there is great reason to apprehend, 
will materially check the progress 
of vegetation; and from the in- 
formation already come to hand, 
much mischief has been done among 
the flocks, just shorn of their 
wool, and deprived of that warm 
clothing which from the unsea- 
sonable severity of the weather was 
then so peculiarly necessary. At 
Broadchalk, Wilts, near 2000 sheep 
perished, about half of which were 
the property of one farmer ; and 
120 at Downton: 120 were killed 
at Steeple-Langford, the greater 
part of which suffered from the 
hail-storm; Mr. Russel, near Shafts. 
bury, lost no less than 300; 60 
were lost in Coombe and its neigh- 
bourhood ; rooat Place-farm, Swal- 
low-clift; and a great many at 
Codford, and on almost all the 
farms around Salisbury Plain, In 
short, it is computed that one- 
fourth of the flocks in Wiltshire 
are destroyed by this sudden and 
unexpected calamity. ; 
26th Earl Fitzwilliam, attend. 
* ed by lord George Caven- 
dish, and Mr. Beresford, attended 


by sir George Montgomery, met in ~ 


27 


a field near Tyburn turnpike, to 
settle an unhappy dispute, which 
had arisen in the late political 
quarrel about places and pensions. 
Just as the principals had taken 
their ground at twelve paces dis. 
tance, a magistrate with peace offi. 
cers came up and prevented any 

further proceedings. 
Drep.—S8th. At Paris, inhis 11th 
year, Louis XVII. only son of the 
Jate king of France. This important 
event was thus announced to the 
national convention by Sevestre, in 
the name of the committee of pub- 
lic safety : ‘* For some time the son 
of Capet had been troubled by a 
swelling of the right knee, and an- 
other of the left wrist. His appetite 
failed, andhe was at length attacked 
by a fever. The celebrated Dessault 
was appointed to visit and attend 
him; his talents and his probity 
convinced us, that none of the at. 
tentions due to humanity would be 
spared. Dessault died on the 16th 
of this month, June 4; and your 
committee appointed as his succes- 
sor citizen Pelletany a very distin- 
guished officer of health; citizen 
Demanger, first physician of the 
hospital of health, was added to 
the former. Faithful to the prin- 
ciples of humanity, your committee 
neglected nothing to re-establish 
the health of the sick youth. The 
disease, however, manifested alarm. 
ing symptoms. At eleven yester. 
day morning, the bulletin deliver- 
ed to us announced great and im- 
mediate danger; and this morn.’ 
ing, at a quarter past two, we were 
apprized of young Capet’s death. 
I propose that the. minute in which 
it is entered may be deposited in 
the national archives.’? Decreed, 
The above report to be’ inserted 
in the bulletin, Louis XVII. was 
born 


28 


born on the 27th of March, 1785. 
His surviving sister was born De- 
cember 19th, 1780. - Monsieur 
(now Louis X VIII.) has just enter- 
ed the 41st year of his age. 

25th. The Rev.. William Ro- 
maine, re€tor of St..Anne’s, Black- 
friars, and le@turer of St. Dunstan’s 
inthe West, inhis Srst year. Mr. 
Romaine was a native of Hortle. 
poo!, and edueated at Christ Church, 
Oxford, where he took the degree 
of M. A. October 15, 1737. In 
1749, he succeeded Dr. Terrick as 
legturer of St Dunstan’s in the 
West.. In. 1751 he was chosen lec- 
turer of astronomy at Gresham col- 
lege, a place which he soon resign- 
ed. He afterwards became rector 
of St. Anne’s Blackfriars, which 
he held until his death, 


jul y. 


Yesterday Jonathan Jones, 
18t+ William Tilley, George Hard. 
wick, James Haydon, John Henley, 
John Delany, William Heanlon, 
Simon Jacobs, John Solomon, John 
Philips, and Charles Croswell, were 
severally indicted for felony, ia 
aiding -and abetting Isdwell Isd- 
well in an attempt to escape from 
‘New Prison, Clerkenwell. 

- The first witness en the part of 
the prosecution was Mr. Newport, 
head-keeper of the gaol, who proved 
the warrant of commitment against 
Isdwell, Roberts, his deputy, con- 
curred in the same point, and also 
said that he knew not of the plan 
designed between Isdwell and his 
turnkeys, one of whom (Day) on 
his examination, said, that being 
induced by the promise of a large 
sum, he went with Isdwell to Artil- 
Jery-lane, to see, as Isdwell said, a 


“ANNUAL REGISTER; 1795. 


sick aunt, who wished to see him. 
When they arrived there, three of 
the prisoners, James iaydon,’ John 
Heniey, and: William: ” Heanlon, 
scized him, and wrested from him 
a blunderbuss, which was: fired off 
in the dark, by which Isdwe!l was 
killed, and he himself wounded.” 
Rernard Solomon, the next wit- 
ness, said, he lived servant’ with - 
Mrs. Isdwell, that he often went: : 
with messages to Isdwell; that he 
had been sent to Gosport for Jona- 
than Jones, who was Mrs. Isdwell’s 
uncle; that Jones came to town, 
and took lodgings for her in Artil- 
lery-lane.—On Good Friday, the 
day on the evening of which Isd- 
well was killed, he observed that 
Mrs. Isdweli had set out her bed- 
room with a number of phials and 
other apparatus, so as to give the 
room the appearance of a sick per- 
son being there; he saw Jacobs, 
Hardwick, Haydon, and_ Philips, 
in the house previous to the acci- 
dent: he opened the door when 
Isdweil and_ Day came, and some 
time after he heard the report of a 
blunderbuss ; after which, he sur- 
rendered himself to” the people, 
who came into the house in conse- 
quence of the alarm. - 
Many other witnesses corrobo- 
rated this evidence, -and also iden-= 
tified the persons’ of the remaining 
prisoners. ‘ 
The prisoners brought many re- 
spectable people, who gave them 
very good characters. 
When the judge had summed up 
the evidence, the jury, after having 
retired for a short time, brought 


dn their verdict, Jonathan Jones, 


William Tilley, and John Delany 
—Not guilty; George Hardwick, 
James Haydon, John Henley, Wil- 
liam Heanlon, Simon Jacobs, Joh 

Solomon, 


CHRONICLE. 


Solomor, John Philips, and Charles 
Croswell—Guilty. 
Somé disgraceful tumults, 


roth. : 5! 
2 which commenced at Char- 


ing-cross this night, originated 
from the foliowi ing cause. A fifer, 
of the name of Lewis, went to 


the King’s-Arms public house, 
and called for some beer; the man 
ef the house, seeing him in liquor, 
refused it to him, on which a 
quarrel ensued, and Lewis was 
turned out. He scon collected a 
mob, on whom he imposed a tale 
of his companion having been 
crimped in the house, and then con- 
fined in the ceilar, and that he with 
dificulty escaped. The peopie, 
indignant, forgot that respect to 
the laws of their country which 
should at all times govern their con- 
duct, and giving way to the impuise 
of the moment, broke open the 
door, and destroyed every article of 
furniture that the house contained : 
when thus employed for about two 
hours the military appeared, and 
_ they dispersed. Lewis was, how- 
ever, taken into custody, and after 
€xamination on Tuesday at Bow- 
street, committed to Newgate, to 
take his trial for the cffence. 
_ The mob again assembled at 
Charing-cross, and on being dri- 
ven from thence and Downing- 
street, where it Is stated they broke 
some of Mr. Pitt’s windows, they 
proceeded to St. George’s Fields, 
where they gutted 4 recruiting- 
_ house near the Obelisk, and like. 
wise destroyed by fire the furniture 
belonging to one Edwards, a bat. 
cher, The horse guards, the City 
and Borough associations, and Lam- 
beth volunteers, at fength arrived, 
headed by a magistrate, who read 
the riot a&t, but with no effea, 
when. the horse guards galloped 


re Ny 


Ig 


in among the crowd, trampled down’ 
many, andseverely wounded others. 
The military remaised under arms 
all night. 

A very large mob again assem. 
bled about the Royal George re- 
cruiting.house, in St. George’s 
Fields, on Tuesday evening, took 
from the house that part of 
the furniture which they had not 
destroyed on she | receding e evening, 
and burnt it in the road; the timely 
arrival of three companies of .the 
toot gua rds, a detachment consist. 


ing of the life guards, and as many 
of nee s wry © fencibles, prevented 
uny further mischief: one man 
had’ hi whcind cut off by a. life. 
guard aide? who was, severely . 
wounded by a brick which was 


thrown at ‘him; and we are ins 
formed that a pistol was discharged 
at the soldiers. © 

Vhis day came on, at 
Chelmsford, - the trial of 
Miss Anne paneipna for the mur. 
der of Wir. Errington, a Barrister. 
It appeared, by the. opening ‘of 
the counsel for the ‘crown, that 
she had been kept by Mr. Erring- 
ton for twelve years.— The defence 
set up was the insanity of thepriso. 
ner; and which was very clearly 
proved by a variety of witnesses. 
particularly her servants, trades. 
people, and persons » acquainted 
with her family. The unhappy 
woman was accordingly acquitted, 
to the apparent satisfaction of a 
very crowded court. 

Reading. On Monday 
18th. : ‘ 
morning last the following 
melancholy occurrence took place 
in the bishop of Winchester’s park 
at Farnham-castle. As the keeper. 
was walking in the park, attended 
by two assistants, they observed 
four men armed with a gun each; 

they 


17th. 


30 


they instantly made after them, al- 
though only the keeper was armed, 
who had a double-barrel gun; 
when they got near them, one of 
the men presented his gun, declar- 
ing they would fire if they did not 
keep off; they, however, ‘persist- 
ing in approaching them, the men 
fired, and kiiled one of the keeper’s 
companions, an old man, on the 
spot ; the kceper then fired one of 
his barrels, which was loaded with 
shot, at the legs of his opponents, 
thinking to intimidate them; on 
which the three, whose guns were 
loaded, fired at the keeper and his 
companion, but luckily without 
the intended effet, though the 
keeper heard the balls whiz by 
him; he then fired his remaining 
barrel, which was lozded with ball, 
and killed one of them. ‘he re- 
port of the guns, bringing some 
people to the spot, the three men 
were secured, and lodged in gaol, 
Letters from Vienna state 
the unfortunate death of the 
archduke Leopold, palatine of Hun- 
gary, and brother to the emperor, 
on Friday the roth instant. On 
that day, the emperor and his bro- 
ther amused themselves at the Im- 
perial palace at Luxembourg, near 
Vienna, with preparing fire-works, 
assisted by a page and an Hunga. 
rian chasseur, ‘he emperor had 
been some time superintending this 
business, when finding the room 
warm, he walked out for the bene- 
fitof the air. ‘Che acchduke wished 
to try the effect of a rocket at one 
of the windows, but, it rebounded 
back again and set fire to the pow- 
der, and other fire-works, which 
were there. [very one ran to lend 
all possible assistance as soon as the 
explosion was heard, but all efforts 
were in vain. The archduke ex. 


29th. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


pired, after suffering fifteen hourg 
of excruciating pain. | 

Diep — At: Lymington, Dr, 
Adair Crawford, physician to St. 
Thomas’s hospital, professor of chy- 
mistry at Woolwich, and author of 
‘© Experiments and Observations 
on Animal Heat and the Inflamma- 
tion of Combustible Bodies: being 
an attempt to resolve these pheno-~ 
mena into a general law of nature,’ 


8vo. 1799. 


ALG Goa Sr. 


Létters from Jamaica, by 
the last mail, dated June 14, 
give an account of a dreadful fire 
which broke out the r2th of that 
month at the town of Montego Bay 
in that island. One hundred and 
ten of the best houses in the town 
were destroyed. Two hundred 
hogsheads of sugar, and one hun- 
dred puncheons of rum, besides 
great quantities of provisions, wine,’ 
soap, candles, and other property, 
belonging to the merchants, were’ 
totally consumed. ‘The loss is esti- 
mated at little less than 400,000. 
The accident was occasioned by a 
gunsmith; while he was forging 
the spring of a gun, the sparks 
from the forge flew among the 
straw of a crate of earthen-ware, 
which blazing up, set fire to the 
house, This trivial accident caused 
the devastation in less than three 
hours. 

Mr. Mallet, wine-merchant of 
Mark-lane, lost his life a few days 
ago on the road to Bath, in conse~ 
quence of the following melancho- 
ly accident : he was travelling with 
his lady and child in a gig, when: 
the horse became somewhat unruly, 


Ist. 


and passing over a rut or stone, Mr. 


Mallet, 


CHRONICLE. 


Mallet, who had risen for the pur- 
pose of having a betier command, 
was thrown trom the chaise upon 
his head; the horse at the same 
time galloping away, was pursued 
by his servant for more than two 
miles before the chaise could be 
stopped. When medical assistance 
was procured, Mr. Maliet’s skull 
was found to be fraétured, and he 
scarcely spoke again. 

Dover. A violent-storm 
of thunder, lightning, and 
rain, fell here this day as noon, 
that poured in torrents down our 
hills; and a most unfortunate cir- 
cumstance took place: as a cart 
and four horses, belonging to a Mr. 
Coleman of the priory, were car- 
rying a load of dung, a violent clap 
of thunder, attended with light- 
ning, killed the four horses and the 
driver, Andrew Greaves. 

The thunder storm of last Thurs- 
day appears'to have been very gene- 
ral throughout the kingdom, and in 
many places attended with consi- 
derable mischief. It was particu- 
arly violent in some parts of Essex. 
_ A ball of fire passed through Brain- 

tree near midnight, which burnt 
three houses, together with all the 
furniture. © It also struck the 
church steeple, which was shivered 
into an hundred pieces, melting 
the clock-work, &c. The rain fell 
in such torrents as to inundate the 
country for several miles round 
Rumford, sweeping away several 
bridges, and laying whole fields of 
wheat, &c. flat upon the ground. 
A granary and stable of Mr. Vipon, 
at Southeys, near Newcastle-upon-. 

yne, were set on fire by the light- 
ning, and ali attempts to save 
them proved ineffectual. A girl 
about 18 years of age, who was on 
a Visit to some relations at Mylso, 


ad 


‘14th. 


“ 


* 


31 


near Newport Pagnell, Bucks, be- 
ing greatly alarmed by the tremen- 
dous storm, arose from her bed 
with the rest of the family, and 
standing near the chimney-place, 
was struck dead by a flash of light- 
ning; she expired without a groan. 
At Fieldalling, in Norfolk, a fire- 
ball fell down the chimney of one 
Thomas Carr, a labouring man of 
that parish, which split the chim. 
ney and back of the house;. the 
tea-kettle, and the hake on which 
it was suspended, were both melted 
down. ‘The poor woman had a 
looking. giass on her lap, and was 
eoing to put on her cap, when she 
was struck blind; her husband was 
knocked down, and remained 
senseless for some time: and the 
looking-giass they have not been 
able to find, nor even the least re. 
mains of it. What is vety re. 
markable, a child of about a year 
old, sitting in a chair in the cor. 
ner, received no hurt, but was 
covered all over with soot by the 

explosion. 
Portsmouth. His royal highness 
the prince of Wales arrived here 
from Brighton: he went on board 
the Jason frigate, capt. Sticling, 
(late of the Canada). to see mon. 
sieur the ¢cf-devant count d’ Artois, 
accompanied by the marquis of 
Buckingham, the earl of Moira, 
admiral sir Peter Parker, commis. 
sioner sir Charles Saxton, and col. 
Mulcaster: immediately on his get. 
ting on board he was saluted with 
twenty-one guns, ahd shortly after 
the standard being hoisted on board 
the Jason, a royal salute was fired 
by the whole fleet. He remained 
on board about two hours, and 
then returned to Portsmouth in sjr 
Peter Parker's barge, being saluted 
again / 


32° 


again on his departure with 21 
guns. On his landing he went to 
the governor’s house, ” where most 
of the naval and military officers 
went to pay their repe¢ts. 

f Weymonth. Their majes. 
I 8th. . a i on 
ties and their royal high. 
nesses the princesses set out from 
Windsor yesterday morning at a 
quarter before five o’clock, and ar. 
rived at Gloucester-lodge at a quar- 
ter past five the same evening, in 
pertect health. 

Bridgewater. Cn Tues- 
day came on, at our assizes, 
the trial of William White, for the 
murder of Miss Maria Bally, a* 
young school-mistress, of Bath 
(to whom he had for. some time 
paid his addresses, which, in the 
sequel, she had forbidden), by 
shooting her with a pistol, in the 

of her scholars. After 


presence : 
the witnesses for the crown had 


been examined, he was asked if he 
had any thing to say in his defence : 
he replied, that he left his case en- 
tirely to the counsel, who called 
three witnesses to prove the insa- 
nity of the prisoner, but their evi- 
dence went merely to a. dejection 
of spirits he had manifested previ- 
ously to the murder. 

The jury, without hesitation, re- 
turned a verdi&t—Guilty.—The 
judge then, in a most solemn man- 
ner, proceeded to pass sentence. 

‘White was composed during the 
greater part of the trial, and heard 
the sentence with resignation, bow. 
ing submi ssively to the court, and 
particularly to the prosecutor. He 
then shook hands with the witnesses 
that had appeared against him, say~" 
ing they had spoken nothing but 
what was trazh, 

He was taken from the prison 
about half an hour after ten o’clock 


2oth. 


passages 
passag 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


’ 


on Thursday morning ; the cart in” 
about ten minutes arrived at the 
place of execution. He spent half 
an hour, in‘fervent prayer with the 
county cheplain and another mini- 
ster. He afierwards addressed the 
numerous spectators in a clear con- 
pected speech of full twenty mi- 
nutes, in which he quoted many 
from Yourg’s Night 
Thoughts, and cautioned the 
younger part of his hearers to be 
careful how. they formed con. 
nexions, and when formed, not to 
trifle with . ch other’s feelings, — 
When the clergyman left the cart 
he sind composed, and met 
his fate with becoming fortitude. 

‘The body, after receiving some 
incisions from the surgeon, was 
delivered to the friends of the dea 
ceased. 

Bristol. Asa vessel front 
Milford, bound for this port, 
was yesterday coming up our chan- 
nel, the people saw a small vessel, 
appearing to have many persons on. 
board, in great distress, and, beu 
fore they could give her any assist- 
ance, she overset, and every one of 
the crew and passengers unfortu- 
nately perished; the sea running 
so high, that, although the Mil- 
ford vessel was but a short distance 
from her, it was found impossible 


21st. 


- to send their boat to the relief of the 


wretched people. And this morn- 
ing the Brothers, Capt. Bert, sailed 
from Padstow for Ireland; but, the 
wind proving contrary, returned 
in the evening; in coming backs 
about a league from land, he saw a 
vesse] that had upset; on getting 
nearer, he found her to be a cutter, 
about so tons burthen, with her 
masts and sails in the water; he 
sailed round her, thinking to take 
her in tow, but was prevented, ow- 


a ing 


CHRONICLE. 


ing to a heavy sea, neither could 
he tell whether she had a name on 
her stern or not, but supposed that 
the crew had all perished. 
27th Advices of the 19th inst. 
~" have been received from sir 
John Warren; by these it appears 
that opposition had been made by 
the republicans ‘to the landing of 
some ammunition from the British 
ficet, destined for the royalists. 
Charette sent down a detachment 
of 1500 of his men, who defeated 
the republicans, and accomplished 
the object of their enterprize. 
The republicans lost a considerable 
number of men; the royalists 
about 200. This is so far import- 
ant, as it is the first aétive hostile 
operation since the sham treaty 
formed between the commission- 
ers of the convention and Charette. 
Wednesday, rear-admiral 
28th. 5 : 
. Harvey sailed from Spithead 
with five ships of the line, two fri- 
gates, and a sloop, under his com- 
mand, convoying a fleet of up- 
wards of 210 transports with troops 
on board, bound to the coast of 
Brittany. 
The count d’Artois sailed in the 
above. ; 
The earl of Moira has at 
length resigned the com- 
mand of the troops assembled in 
the environs of Southampton. It 
appears, that as it is not intended 
that any British troops should be 
sent to act offensively on the conti- 
nent of France, lord Moira’s com- 
mand was no longer necessary. 


' 2oth, 


SEPTEMBER. 


We learn by letters from 
Dublin, that some serious riots 
have taken place there among the 


' Vor, XXXVIL, 


3d. 


33 


soldiers of the 104th, or Royal Man- 
chester Volunteers, and rirth, or 
Birmingham Fencibles, on account 
of a determination to complete 
some regiments by drafts from 
others, But the timely interfe- 
rence of the magistracy, aided by 
the greater part of the military, 
who resisted every attempt to se- 
duce them from their dury, happily 
quelled the tumult, and tranquil- 
lity is perfectly restored in the city. 

Mr. O’Connor and Mr. Griffin, 
two of the friends of the French 
convention in Ireland, were found 
guilty of high treason at Naas, in 
jreland, on Tuesday the first inst. 
and are sentenced to be hanged, 
drawn, and quartered. After Mr. 
O’Connor had received his sentence 
he addressed the court, in a speech 
of considerable length, in which 
he censured the abuses of govern- 
ment. Thirteen apprentices and 
journeymen, of different trades, 
making in the whole thirty, have 
been zpprehended in Dublin, charg. 
ed with having sworn to the De- 
fenders’ oath, and associating and 
conspiring, with several other per- 
sons of a similar description, in 
acts of treason. 

Mr, Hamilton Rowan arrived at 
Philadelphia, from Havre, on the 
17th of July. He hada narrow 
escape; the vessel in which he 
sailed was boarded by his majesty’s 
ship Meiampus, and Mr. Rowan 
was introduced to the officer as a 
Mr. Thompson of South Carolina. 

The village situated on the lake 
of the four towns belonging to Lu- 
cerne, in Switzerland, ~ named 
Weggis, has disappeared. The 
following are the circumstances at. 
tending this strange event: a brook, 
which had always flowed from the 
mountain of Regis to the village, 

suddenly 


34 


sudden changed its course; its 
new course was followed, and it 
was perceived that it flowed into a 
deep gulph of the mountain.” At 
the same time it was perceived that 
in several places near the village 
the earth sunk, and that the steeple 
tottered. The inhabitants imme- 
diately carried away their effects. 
In a few hours the ground, on 
which the village was situated, gave 
way towards the lake, and at the 
same moment a part of the moun- 
tain fell and covered the village, 
not a vestige of which remains. 
Letters received by the 
Irish mail on Friday, state 
the unpleasant intelligence, that the 
tosth and 114th British Fencible 
regiments, which have since the 
3d inst. marched into Cork, hav- 
ing again been ordered to be draft- 
ed into other regiments, the men, 
headed by the serjeant-major, as 
their generalissimo, dismissed them- 
selves on the parade, and continued 
(according to military interpreta- 
tion) in a mutinous state for some 
time, nevertheless, asserting, they 
were ready to obey their ofkcers, 
and proceed as aregiment to where- 
ever they were ordered. ‘The fel- 
lowing is the manner of their be- 
ing subdued by General Massey, 
commanding the district. Upon the 
mutineers forming a hollow square, 
he ordered seversi bodies to march 
round to the ditierent avenues of 
the parade, by which means he 
completely blocked them up. He 
then gave the signal for the cannon 
to advance, and he mutineers were 
made to ground their arms, which 
were taken up and sent off. Gene- 
ral Massey then harangued them on 
the folly and rashness of their con- 
du&. They were then marched 
prisoners to the barracks, and thus 


oth. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ended an affair that gave infinite 
uneasiness, and threatened the 
most scrious consequences, P 
r7th A quarterly general court 

* was held at the India-house, 
when after the last minutes had 
been read, the chairman, sir Ste- 
phen Lushington, stated, that the 
opinions of the attorney and solici- 
tor general, relative to the legality 
of carrying the resolutions of the 
general court respecting Mr. Hast- 
ings into execution, had been ré- 
ecived, and should, with the 
other opinions of counsel, be printed 
for the use of the proprietors, pre- 
vious to the mecting to be held in 
Oftober, After a desultory: conver- 
sation, inwhich Maj. Scott, Messrs. 
Grant, Jackson, Thornton, Hench. 
man, and the chairman, severally 
offered their sentiments, it was 
agreed, that some correspondence 
between the chairman and Mr. Pitt 
should form a pat of the printed 
papers. if 

Yesterday afternoon, a- 

18th. YY 
bout two o’clock, a+ fire 
broke out in the cupola. of the’ 
church of St. Paul’s Covent-garden, 
which communicated to the roof, 
and in two hours consumed the 
whole inside of that very beautiful 
building. ‘lhe fire was occasioned 
by the carelessness of some work- 
men who were repairing a part of 
the lead-work about the cupola. 
The whole top was in a few mi- 
nutes in flames, and in a short time 
falling in, nothing but the bare 
walls were left standing. 

The communion-plate was saved ; 
but every other arti¢le pertain. 
ing to the edi fice, | including the 
valuable and celebrated organ, the 
clock, &c. &c. was devoured by 
the unconquerable fury of te de- 


structive element. 
The 


CHRONICLE. 


The original cost of the building 
was no more than 6,sool. Its re- 
pairs, about six yearsysince, were 
charged at 10,000]. It will not 
appear trifling, however, to the in- 
habitants of the parish. They then 
paid 72 per cent. for the repairs of 
this church. For this last acci- 
dent they willhave at least to pay 
' 25 percent. on their rents. 

Yesterday, at the Old Bailey, Sa- 
rah Crawford and Ann Maywood 
were convicted of stealing cern 
out of the field of Mr. -William 
Jones, a farmer. The defence set 
up was, that they had gleaned it. 
However, though that fact did not 
appear, the learned judge took the 
opportunity of declaring the law 
on the subject, that gleaning was 
not a custom of strit right, but 
merely to be permitted or not, at 
the will of the owner of the ground. 

eh Parliament, which stood 
uae prorogued to Tuesday the 
first day of Oftober next, was by a 
_ proclamation issued this day further 
prorogued to Thursday the 2gth 
day of Ofober 1795: then to be 
held for the dispatch of divers 
important affairs. 

Government received dis- 
* patches from sir John Borlase 
Warren, this morning, dated the 
16thinstant. The transports with 
the troops on board under the or- 
ders of Monsieur, were to sail the 
next day for the place of their 
destination. His royal highness 
enjoyed the best state of health du- 
ring the whole voyage. Monsieur 
took with him from the isle of 
Howat the artillerymen and other 
troops who escaped from Quiberon. 

During the five days which his 
royal highness passed on the isle of 
Houat, he received deputations 
4rom a great number ot parishes 


22d 


35 


and cantons on the coast of Brit- 
tany, which seem all to be ani- 
mated with a spivit of loyalty. 
From them full particulars were 
received of the heroic death of M. 
de Sombreuil, and of the fate of 2 
great number of other prisoners, 
who were taken at the unfortunate 
affair of Quiberon. Several, how- 
ever, were saved by the inhabi- 
tants of Vannes, who found means 
to conceal them. Monsieur order- 
ed a solemn. funeral service to be 
performed. for them at the isle of 


Houat. 
The Discovery sloop of 

24th. ; 

war, captain Vancouver, ar- 
rived at Limerick on the 13th inst. 
in company with the homeward 
bound East India fleet, having 
completely effeéted the object of 
her expedition, and made some 
important discoveries on the north- 
West coast of America. She sailed 
from England with 150 men on 
board, -and such was the attention 
of the officers to their health, that 
only one died in the course of a 
very fatiguing voyage of four years, 
They speak in the highest terms of 
the inhabitants of the Sandwich 
Islands, from whom they experi. 
enced every possible civility and 
attention, 

Lord Camelford, after he left 
his majesty’s ship Discovery, in the 
South Seas, on his return to Eu- 
rope, fell in with the Resistance of 
44 guns, captain Edward Paken. 
ham, in the Indian Seas, and ims 
mediately entered on board her, 
where his lordship was serving a8 
a lieutenant, when the Jast advices 
left that ship, and paid stri@ ate 
tention to his professional duties. 

The corporation of the 
Trinity-house in London 
have now causcda vessel, fitted for 

D2 a floating 


25th. 


36 


a floating iight, to be placed near 
the Goodwin-sands, about one mile 
N. E. from the North sand head, 
between the North and South Fore- 
lands; on which vessel three dis- 
tin& lights are exhibited, to dis- 
tinguish them from the North and 
South Foreland lights, and which 
will be constantly attended, and 
kept burning from sun-setting to 
sun-rising, for the benefit of navi- 
gation ; a large bell is also fixed on 
board, which will be rung in hazy 
or thick weather, to warn ships of 
the danger as they approach the 
said sand, when the lights may not 
be seen. 

This day William Curtis, 
esq. was elected lord-mayor 
of London, for the year ensuing. 


2gth. 


EE 
OCTOBER. 


As the remains of the right 
18te hon. Edward Henry John 
Spencer, late his majesty’s ambas- 
sador to the court of Berlin, and 
second son to his grace the duke of 
Marlborough, who died July 3, 
were passing through Aylesbury, 
after a procession of five days from 
Yarmouth, where they had halted, 
the hearse broke down in the mid- 
dle of the town, and the coffin, 
which had been shaken in the 
rough roads on the Coniinent, fell 
out, and bursting open, presented 
the body, a shocking spectacle ; 
the stench of which annoyed the 
town for a considerabie time. As 
soon as it could be deposited in an- 
other .cofin, it was privately in- 
terred in a temporary vault under 
the chancel at Ardiey, in the coun. 
ty of Oxford, near Burcester. 

A robbery was this day 
7th- committed in the house of 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


Mr. Ardesoif, of Hampstead, to a 
considérable amount; the circum. 
stances of which have gained the 
interest and attention of many per- 
sons. It appears that Mr. Ardesoif 
is an o!d gentleman of considerable 
property, and not long discharged 
one Joseph Bodkin from his service 
as butler. The man was saucy, and 
vowed vengeance. Soon after, 
some drawers were plundered and 
set ‘on fire, by means of a hole in 
the back of a closet; and furniture, 
money, and many articles, were 
stolen. By means of a young wo. ° 
man, of the name of Ann Hales, 
to whom it appears that Bodkin 
pretended passionate love, though 
he had been many years married, 
many of the articles have been 
found; and he was yesterday com. 
mitted from the Public Office, in 
Bow-street, for trial, and the young 
woman bound over to appear as an 
evidence. They both appeared 
very much agitated, and the wo. 
man fainted several times. She 
was bailed by two gentlemen, with 
whom she formerly lived as ser- 
vant. 

Anextraordinary circum. 
stance occurred in Bridge- 
street, Black-friars. A bullock 
worried by the dogs, ran into the 
aperture made in the arch, which 
covers the large drain from Fleet- 
market to the Jhames, under 
Bridge-street. The animal dropt 
into the drain, and was carried by 
the current of water down to the 
Thames, where it was laid hold of. 
The bullock lost one of its eyes in 
the fall, but came out alive. 

Dublix. Some time in the . 
course of last month, the ap- 
pearanccs of a gold mine were dis- 
covered in the mountains of the 
county of Wicklow. ear iF 

e 


r2th. 


zoth. 


CHRONICLE. 


ble quantities of gold having been 
found in a stream and adjacent bog, 
the country people were all in 
search of it, and were so successful, 
that the place obtained the naine 
of Little Peru. his mine, other- 
wise called Crogham = mouitain, 
was taken possession of on ‘i burs. 
day last, on behalf of his oiajesty. 
Major Browne, of the royal engi- 
neers, attended by Mr.’ Coates, 
port surveyor of Wicklow, marched 
two companies of the Kildare mili- 
tia from the barrack of Arklow, 
toward the place where the gold is 
got; but, with great judgment 
and propriety, on consulting with 
‘that aGtive and spirited magistrate, 
Thomas King, esq. it was juaged 
proper to send a constable before 
them to read a proclamation, and 
advise the crowd to disperse and 
leave the ground. In an hour af- 
terward the major, accompanied by 
Mr. King, Mr. Hayes, sub-sheriff 
(who readily attended) and Mr. 
Coates; marched the army (about 
sixty-eight men rank and fil) to 
the place, when the crowd immedi. 
ately, without riot or resistance, 
_ dispersed, 

A general meeting of the 
ndon Corresponding So- 
ciety was held im the ficlds, near 
Copenhagen-house, where the 
number assembled as members, 
auditors, and spectators, was ex- 
tremely great. Three rostra were 
erected for the convenience of 
those who wished to speak. On the 
recommendation of a commitice, 
communicated by Mr, Jones, Mir. 
John Binns was ca!led to the chair, 
who opened the business ot the 
meeting, which he stated to be— 
An address to the nation on its 
present very critical and calamitous 
State; a remonstrance to his ma- 


26th. tb 


37 


jesty on the neglect and contempt 
shewn to the late address delivered 
into the hands of his ministers; 
and certain resolutions which were 
though: aj plicable to the present 
alarming crisis, and absolutely ne- 


} 


cessufy to be entered into. After 
Mr. Hodson had recommended 


hearing the sentiments of every 
person present who chose to deliver 
them, whether a member of the so- 
cictv or net, and no such. person 
appearing, the address, remon- 
strance, and resolutions, . were se- 
verally read, and adopted by accla- 
mation; and they are to be printed 
and distributed at the expence of 
the society. The meeting was 
closed by speeches from Thelwall, 
Hodson, and Jones; and, from 
proper precautions that had been 
preciously taken, the multitude 
dispersed in the utmost quietness. 
agth On the occasion of hie 
“7°"* majesty’s going to the house 
of lords, the Mall and the parade 
of St, James’s park and Parliament. 
street, were completely choaked up 
with spe€tators. The crowd was 
by no meaus so great at the coro- 
nation, and to see the king go to 
the house, there never were before 
more than a tenth part of the num- 
bers of this-day; for they at least 
amounted to 200,000. Several no- 
b.emen 2nd cabinet ministers passed 
through the park from Bucking- 
ham-house abouttwoo’clock. The 
earl of Chatham, duke of Glou- 
cester, &c, were hissed, and theduke 
of Portland was very much hooted. 
About twenty minutes. after- 
wards the king left Buckingham. 
house, and was violently hissed and 
hvoted, and groaned at the whole 
way; but no violence was offered 
till he arrived opposite the Ord. 
nance office, when a small pebble, 
D3 or 


38 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


or marble or bullet, broke one of 
the windows. In returning, the 
moment his majesty entered the 
park, the gates of the Horse Guards 
were shut, for the purpose of ex- 
cluding the mob who followed ihe 
carriage; at which, as it passed 
opposite Spring Gardens Terrace, 
another stone was thrown, but it 
fortunately struck the wood-work 
between the windows. 

The crowd now pressed closely 
round the coach, and his majesty, 
in considerable agitation, signified, 
by waving his hands to the horse- 
guards on each side, his anxiety 
that the multitude should be kept 
atadistance, Inthis way hepassed 
on through the park, and round by 
the Stable-yard, into St. James’s 
palace at the front gate, the bottom 
of St. James’s street. A consider- 
able tumult took place when his 
majesty was about to alight, and 
one of the horses in the state coach 
took fright, threw down an old 
groom of the name of Dorrington, 
and broke one of his thighs, but it 
proved fortunately a simple frac- 
ture. His other thigh was consi- 
derably bruised, but not dange- 
rously. 

A few minutes after his majesty 
had entered the palace, the mob 
attacked the state coach with 
stones, and did it greatinjury. In 
its way along Pall Mall to the 
Mews, ‘many things were also 
thrown atit. After.a short time 
the king went in his private coach 
from St. James’s to Buckingham- 
house; but on his way through the 


park, the mob surrounded the ear- 


riage, and prevented it from pro- 
‘ceeding, crying out, ‘* Bread! 
Bread! Peace! Peace !’?—— The 
guards were, however, speedily 


prought up, a#nd they protected 


the carriage till his majesty got safe 
into Buckingham-house. 

When his majesty entered the 
house of peers, the first words he 
uttered were these, to the lord 
chancellor : 

_ ‘© My lord, I have been shot at!?” 

This alluded to the . substance 
which had broke the window while 
passing the Crdnante office. 


Thrée or four persons were ap- . 


pechened on suspicion of having 
thrown stones, &c. at the king, 
and one of them was charged with 
having called out ‘* No king,’’ 
and other such expressions. They 
were all examined at the duke of 
Portland’s office; and, waiting the 
result of this business, nothing was 
done in the house of lords till near 
six o’clock, when lord Westmore- 
land, who rode in the carriage with 
the king, having previously moved 
that strangers be ordered to with- 
draw, stated the insult and outrage 
with which the king had been treat- 
ed: and added, that his majesty, 
ana those who had accompanied 
him, were of opinion, that the 
glass of the coach had been broken 
by a ball from an air-gun, which 
had been shot from a bow-window 
of a house adjoining the Ordnance- 
ofice, with a view to assassinate 
the king. 

The king, through the whole of 


ithe riot, displayed the cool mag. 


nanimity for which the family 
have ever been distinguished. —At 
the time that the glass of the coach 
was broken, he said to lord West. 
moreland—‘* That’s a shot !”’ and, 
instead of leaning back in the car. 
riage, or striving to avoid the assas. 
sin, he pointed to the round hole 
in the pane, and examined it. But 
this was not all;—he went into 
the private coach, to go from St. 

James’s 


CHRONICLE. 


James’s to the queen’s house, in the 


midst of the wildest commotions of 


the multitude, thereby exposing 


himself, almost without guards, to, 


their fury; and then it was that his 
majesty’s person was most immi- 
nently in- danger. 

Confident in the attach- 
ment of -his people, notwith- 
standing the alarms of the preced- 
ing day, the king, accompanied 
by her majesty and three of the 
princesses, ‘visited Covent-garden 
theatre, and at their entrance was 


30th. 


received with the usual burst of ap- 


plause.—‘* God save the king” 
~ was sung twice,\and by a considera- 
ble part of the house over- zealously 
called for a third time; this, ina 
corner of the gallery, provoked a 
few hisses, which however were 
soon over-ruled, and one or two of 
the most a¢tive of the turbulent 
party were turned out; after which 
the performance went on. 
Dizep—8th. At his house in 
Crown-street, Westminster, the 
rev. and learned Andrew Kippis, 
D. D. F. Re and A. S. He’ was 
born at Nottingham, March 28, 
(QO S.), 1725. His father, a re. 
spectable tradesman of that town, 
was descended from the rev. Ben. 
jamin King, of Oakham, Rutland- 
shire, an ejected minister; and his 
Sainther Ann Ryther, was the 
grand-daughter of the rev. John 
Ryther, who was ejected from the 
church of Ferriby, in the county 
of York, Jn the year 1730, he lost 
his father, and went to reside with 
his grandfather, Andrew Kippis, of 
Seaford, in Lincalnshire. He re- 
ceived his classical education at the 
Grammar School in that town: but 
what contributed most to his future 
eminence was, the friendship of the 
rev. Mr. Merrival,who was equalled 


39 


by few of-his contemporaries in 
various branches of iearning, ‘par- 
ticularly in his acquainiance with 
the classics; his knowledge of an- 
cient and modern history, and his 
refined taste’ in the bedles Vettres. 
Dr. K. frequently said, that it was 
impossible tor him to express his 
obligations to this friend of his 
youth. In 1741 he removed to 
Northampton, and commenced his 
academicz! studies under Dr. Dod- 
dridge. After a residence of five 
years at the academy, he was invited 
by several congregations to become 
their minister. Though he was 
pressed to settle at Dorchester, and 
had been chosen/their minister, he 
gave the preference to an invitation 
trom Beston, in Lincolnshire, where 
he went to reside in September 
1746. Here he continued four 
years ; and in November 1750 ac- 
cepted the pastoral charge of a con- 
gregation at Dorking, in Surrey. 
‘The congregation meeting in 
Princes-strect, Westminster, having 
been without a minister about two 
years, he was chosen, in June 1753, 
to’ succeed the rev. Dr. Obadiah 
Hughes. On the 21st of Septem. 
ber following, he married, at Bos- 
ton, Miss Elizabeth Bott, one of 
the daughters of Mr. Isaac Bott, a 
merchant of that place; and in the 
month of October fixed his resi- 
dence in Westminster, In June 
1767, he received thedegreeofD.D. 

from the university of Edinburgh, 

on the unsolicited recommendation 
of the late learned professor Ro- 
bertson, He was eleéted a mem- 
ber of the society of Antiquaries on 
the rgth of March, 1778, and on 
the 17th of June, 1779, he was cho- 
sen a fellow of the Koyal Society. 
In both societies he had the honour 
of being in the council two years. 


D4 


AO 


Dr. Kippis was eminently distin- 
guished for the virtues and accom- 
plishments which form the chief 
ornaments of private life. With a 
suavity of manners and urbanity of 
behaviour peculiarly attractive, he 
united that knowledge of men and 
books which rendered his conver- 
sation uncommonly entertaining 
and instructive to the circle of his 
acquaintance and friends. As a 
minister he wes not less eminent 
for his profound acquaintance with 
every branch of theology, than for 
the happy manner in which he ap- 
plied it. to the improvement of 
those who attended his ministry. 
His sermons were remarkuble for 
perspicuity, elegance, and energy ; 
and his elocution was unaffected 
and very impressive, particularly at 
the close of his discourses. But the 
superior powers and vigour of 
mind which he derived from na- 
ture, and which he had cultivated 
with unremitting diligence and pe- 
culiar success, were not to be con- 
fined to the narrow limits of private 
life and the duties of the pastoral 
charge, however important ; they 
were designed for more extensive 
and important services to his coun- 
try and.to mankind. The interests 
of literature, science, and religion, 
have received from the exertions 
of his talents, as a writer, the most 
essential advantages.—His first ef- 
forts in literature were made in the 
Gentleman’s Magazine; a periodi- 
cal publication called the Library ; 
and the Monthly Review : to each 
of which he contributed many im- 
portant articles, especially in the 
historical and philological depart- 
ments of the last, He was the au- 
thor of three important tracts, viz. 
«« A Vindication of the Protestant 
Dissenting Ministers,’”” &c, ‘* Ob. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


servations on the late Contests in’ 
the Royal Society ;’’ and ** Consi- 
derations on the Treaty with Ame- 
rica’? &c. His improved edition 
ot Dr. Dodderidge’s Lectures, is a 
work of great value; and he like- 
wise wrote ‘* The History of 
Knowledge, Learning, and Taste, 
in Great Britain,’’ prefixed to the 
New Annual Register. He publish. 
ed, at different times, several single 
sermons; among which, that on 
the death of his triend, the rev. Mr. 
Laugher, is entitled to very high 
Praise. he greater part of these 
he republished, with other prattis 
cal discourses, in the year 1794; 
but the work which, next to the 
studies immediately connetted with 
his office as a Christian minister, 
engaged his principal attention, 
and by which he has long been 
distinguished, is, the improved 
edition of the ‘‘ Biographia Bri. 
tannica.’? In this great national 
publication, the comprehensiveness 
and powers of his mind, the cor- 


. reétness of his judgment, the vast 


extent of his information, his inde- 
fatigable researches and unremit- 
ting assiduity, his peculiar talent of 
appreciating the merit, and analyz. 
ing the labours of the most emi. 
nent writers, and his unshaken in_- 
tegrity, unbiassed fidelity, and im~- 
partial decision on the characters of 
the philosopher, statesman, poet, 
scholar, and divine, are strongly 
displayed and! universally acknow~ 
ledged. His style, formed on the 
models of sir William Temple and 
the classical Addison, is remarkable 
for its perspicuity, elegance, and 
purity ; and gives a peculiar lustre 
to the rich stores of knowledge 
treasured in the volumes now pub. 
lished. This work has given him 
a high rank among the literari re 

tals 


CHRONICLE. 


this country, and will carry down 
his name with distinguished .repu- 
tation to posterity. 

At Dishley, in the county of 
Leicester, Mr. Robert Bakewell, of 
whom a longer account shall be 
given in a future part of this vo- 
Jume. 

On the dreary hills be- 
twixt Festiniog and Yspytty 
in Denbighshire, on his return on 
foot from the former place, where 
he had been upon business, Mr. 
Richard Powell, master of Yspytty 
schcol. His body was found on 
the following Wednesday after- 
noon, a considerable distance from 
the road ; and it is supposed that 
night coming on, he being near- 
sighted, unfortunately missed his 
way, and through fatigue had lain 
down, when death overtoook him, 
and put a period to his existence. 
His death will be severely felt by 
his aged mother, whom he had for 
Many years past maintained out of 
the small pittance acquired by ho- 


rgth. 


nest industry. We may say of him, - 


without the least tin&ture of flat- 
tery, that he was one of the great- 
est geniuses Wales had produced in 
the present century. As a Welch 
grammarian he was equal to most; 
and as a poetical writer, his “ Four 
Seasons’? (for which he gained the 
Gwyneddigion’s annual medal in 
1793, although contested for by 
eleven able candidates) will be a 


Jasting monument of his poetic 
skill. 


NOVEMBER. 
Mr. Ald. Curtis, the new 


9+ Jord mayor, was sworn into 
office at the Exchequer, Westmin- 
ster-hall, before the lord chief ba- 


Al 


ron. The day being uncommonly 
fine, the show was very brilliant 
both by water and land. ‘The tide 
serving early, the lord-mayor and 
his company returned to Blackfri- 
ars-bridge before three o’clock. 

The memory of man does not 
recolleét so violent a hurricane as 
that which was suffered on Friday 
morning, the 6th inst. Its' con. 
tinuance was happily short. It bee 
gan about half past one, and had 
totally subsided before four o’clock. 
‘The squall came from the north- 
west, and was not accompanied by 
rain or hail. ‘Its ravages were 
dreadful beyond description ; trees 
were torn up by.the roots, stacks 
of chimnies blown down in every 
corner of the metropolis, houses 
totally uncovered,. and a number 
of buildings entirely demolished, 

The following are a few of the 
particulars. 

A house in Mead’s-row, Lambeth, 
was blown down, and a lady, who 
slept in the first floor (and who was 
to have been married that day), bu 
ried in the ruins; two of the ser. 
vants were very much hurt. A 
child in the same row was also kill- 
ed, by the falling of a stack of 
chimnies. 

A house in another part of Lam. 
beth was unroofed, by which an 
old woman lost her life. In St. 
George’s Fields, a young woman 
was killed, and another dreadfully 
maimed, by the falling of a house. 
A house in New Road, Fitzroy. 
square, and another in Conduit. 
street, were completely destroyed. 
A brew-house belonging to Mr. 
Huskisson, in the New Cut leading 
to Westminster-bridge, another in 
St. John’s-square, and the orchestra 
in the Apollo-gardens, are entire 
heaps of ruins. 

The 


42 


The house of sir John Sinclair, at 
Whitehall, is very much injured: 
the upper part fell into the street. 
The dwelling-house of a poor man 
at Somers’-town, by trade a bow 
and arrow maker, was swept away, 
and all his little property destroyed. 

The brick wall at the south end 
of the Opera-house was blown 
down, and talling into the adjoining 
court, did considerable damage to 
the houses. At Limehouse bridge 
a pile of deal boards was thrown 
down and carried by the force of 
the wind to the distance of an hun. 
dred yards, 

Several dweilings in Cornhill, 
Moorfields, the Borough, Shadwell, 
Wapping, &c, &c. also received 
very material injury. 

Several large trees in St. James’s 
and Hyde parks, were blown down, 
and great numbers torn up by the 
roots in other places. e 

' At Twickenham, also, several 
trees, which stood before the house 
of lord Dysart, were blown down. 

“In St. °James’s park, and at 
Knightsbridge, similar accidents 
happened. In Greenwich park se- 
yeral trees fell a sacrifice. The ef- 
feG&s of this hurricane at sea, we 
fear, ‘have been of the most melan- 
choly nature. In the river several 
tier of ships started from their 
moorings, and received much in- 
jury. 

' An immense torrent of rain pre. 
ceded the srorm. 

In the late high winds, several 
of che colliers, and other vessels, 
were driven from their anchors in 
the Downs, on the coast of France, 
where two or three of them went 
ashore; two or three others were 
so fortunate as to reach Calais har- 
bour, by which their crews escaped 
perishing. : 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


In the Temple, many chambers 
were unroofed. A brick wall and 
handsome paling, with which the 
Bedford fields had been lately in- 
tersected, and the upper part- of 
one of the new houses building on 
the same scite, were totally demo-~ 
lished. ‘The paling seems to have 
been blown about the fields in 
sheets, 

The king and queen, who were 
at Buckingham-house, arose from 
their beds, as did many hundreds 
of families; for the storm of wind 
was of that continuance, weight, 
and pressure, that scarcely any fa- 
bric seemed to be capable of bear- - 
ing its force. 

Many of the largest and most beau- 
tiful trees in the walks of King’s, 
St. John’s, and Queen’s colleges, 
Cambridge, were torn up by the 
roots. St. John’s bridge has also 
been considerably damaged. 

At Brompton, Chatham, and Ro- 
chester, the effets of the storm 
were severely felt. The church of 
St. Margaret’s, at the latter place, 
was much injured. The vestry- 
room chimney was blown down, 
and much of the tiling-blown off. 

At Norwich, one of the largest 
treés in Chapel-field was actually 
snapt in twain during the tremen- 
dous storm, and five others very 
much damaged. The demolition 
of chimnies, and the unroofing of 
houses, were very general through- 
out that city. Also in the neigh. 
bourhood of Reading, a windmill 
on Bishop’s-hill was totally demo- 
lished. The mail coach going to 
Ipswich was several times actually 
blown out of the road, and the 


‘ guard obliged to dismount to lead 


the horses. 
Great damage was done at St: 
Alban’s; also to the buildings and 
walls 


CHRONICLE. AB 


walls of the dowager lady Spencer, 
and in and about lord Grimstone’s 
park. 

At Birmingham the hurricane 
was much felt; two women were 
killed by a stack of chimnies fall- 
ing in Lionel-street ; Mr. Barker’s 
garden-wall at Summer-hill, 180 


‘feet long, covered with choice 


peach and ne¢tarine-trees, was en- 
tirely thrown down to its very 
foundation ; and the night corckes 
were greatly impeded and endan- 
gered upon all the roads, by the 
falling of’ trees torn from their 
roots, &c. 

Much damage was also done to 
the shipping at Spithead, and in 
various parts along the coast. 

From Essex we are informed of 
the following particulars of a 
dreadful accident which occurred 
during the above hurricane :—A 
stack of chimnies belonging to the 
house of the Rev..Dr. Walier, arch- 
deacon of that county, at Waltham- 
house, were blown down, and 
forced their way through the roof 
of the house, into the room where 
the doctor was lying; the bricks 
drove a part of the roof with them 
which fell dire@ly upon him as he 
lay, and prevented him from mak- 
ing his escape; nearly a cart load 
of bricks was lying upon him with 
some large beams at one time; 
assistance was procured him as 
soon as. possible, but the do¢tor 
was unable (as we are informed) 
to rise ; he was therefore obliged 
to be moved for the present: a 
surgeon was immediately sent for, 


and the bruises which he had re-. 


ceived were hoped not to be mor- 
tal; he, however, languished till 
Tuesday following, and then, to 
the irreparable loss of his family 


and friends, died. Mrs, Waller 


had, providentially, just before the 
horrid crash, jumped out of bed 
and lefr the room, fearing some- 
thing of the kind might occur, to 
alarm the family. ; 

Yesterday, in consequence 
of a public meeting, inthe 
fields behind Copenhagen house, 
having been called by the London 
Corresponding Society, an immense 
concourse of persons assembled 
there about twelve o’clock. Five 
ros-ra-or tribunes being raised in 
different parts of the fields, Mr. 
A.hley, the secretary, informed the 
multitude, that at each a member of 
the society would offer totheir con. 
sideration three petitions: .1. To 
the king; 2. ‘fo the house* of 
lords; 3: To the house of coms 
mons; which he entreated them 
to hear and receive with a decorum, 
that should refute the misrepre. 
sentations of their enemies, 

At two o’clock the rostra were 
entirely: filled, art less than an 
hundred thousand persons  sur- 
rounded them. ‘lhe petitions. were 
signed, and the multitude dispersed 
with perfect peace and good order, 
isi! This day, there was ameet- 

* ing of the electors of West- 
minster (in pursuance of a public 
notice signea by Mr. Fox) to con- 
sider of a petition to the house of 
commons against the two bills now 
pending in that house, for the bet. 
ter security of his majesty’s person, 
and the suppressing of seditious as- 
semblies.’ The meeting was at- 
tended by the duke of Bedford, Mr, 
Fox, Mr. Grey, and Mr. Sheridan, 
who severally inveighed against the 
bills, as utterly subversive of the 
liberties of the people. . On the 
other ¥ de appeared lords Hood and 
Belgrave, Mr. Jenkinson, &c. The 
‘two former were the only dissenti- 

ents 


13th. 


44 


ents from the proceedings adopted 
by the. meeting ; and lord Hood 
protested against the present mode 
as unfair, insisting that the sense of 
the ele€tors of Westminster could 
be known only by meeting’ of their 
respective vestrics. A petition, 
however, was agreed (by all but 
the two dissentients) to be pre. 
sented to the house of commons, 
. against the two bills in question, 
after which the meeting quietly 
dispersed. Parties of the military 
were stationed in different places ; 
but, happily, their interference was 
not necessary. 

About two o’clock this 
co si morning a. most tremendous 
fire broke out in the dwelling~house 
of Mr. Billings, in the Gallowstree- 
gate, Leicester, which entirely con- 
sumed the same, together with the 
adjoining one, occupied by Mr. 
Phillips, printer. The rapidity of 
the flames was so great, that scarce- 
ly a single article was saved, and 
the parties escaped with great diffi- 
culty. Much praise is due to the 
troop of Oxford Blues, quartered in 
the town, whose spirited exertions, 
together with those of the inhabi- 
tants, prevented an extension of its 
dreadful ravages. A child was un- 
fortunately killed by the falling of 
awall. A literary society, lately 
established in Leicester, have lost 
by this accident their whole library, 
to the amount of about 2oocl. 

The outward-bound West- 
r8th. India fleet, under the com- 
mand of rear admiral Christian, 
having in the whole near sixteen 
‘thousand troops on board, passed 
down the channel on Tuesday, and 
exhibited off Weymowh, a grand 
and beautiful spe¢tacle; but the 
scene was soon changed to horror 
and dismay. The following letter 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795.. 


from an officer at Weymouth, de. 
scribes the melancholy events that 
ensued. i 
Wey mouth. Togive atrue 
19th description of abe keels of 
horror I have since yesterday been 
witness to, would be impossible. 
The outward-bound West India 
fleet sailed from St. Helen’s on 
Sunday night, and passed by Wey- 
mouth on Tuesday morning with 
so light a breeze, thatevery sail was 
hoisted to it. In the afternoon, 
however, it began to blow very 
fresh; in the evening, quite a gale 
of wind, and all night a most dread. 
ful hurricane. The fleet could not 
make Torbay, though very near it, 
the wind blowing from the west ; 
they therefore put about, in order 
to make for Weymouth, The con- 
voy (a 74, with frigates, &c.) came 
safely to anchor in Portland roads ; 
but many of the transports and mer- 
chantmen, being heavily laden with 
troops and merchandize, could 
not stretch out far enough (the 
wind being S. W.) to get out of 
what is called the Western Bay, 
so as to clear the isle of Portland, 
consequently several of them were 
lost by striking on a bank of pebbles 
extending from Portland nearly 
to Bridport. Here the dreadful 
scene began: a transport with near 
two hundred troops on board (in- 
cluding officers, sunk within fifty 
yards of the shore: the cries of the 
unfortunate wretches en board 
were distinétly heard on shore: 
the bodies floated on the waves, 
and hundreds of people were on the 
shore, but the means of affording 
assistance impracticable: of the 
two hundred ten lives were saved, 
by the waves throwing the bodies 
upon the beach. But instead of 
the speftators (who were chiefly 
people 


CHRONICLE. 


people from Portland, and. who 
are always praying for wrecks 
on their coast) attempting to re- 
scue the drowning wretches from 
the water, their whole attention 
was devored to plunder, and I 
was myself witness to a scene the 
most unpardonable that ever huma- 
nity shuddered at: the body of an 
oficer was driven ashore; a party 
of the Portland people ran to itfor 
the purpose of plunder; a chest, 
however, coming ashore at the 
instant, the body was left to be 
washed back by the next wave, 
while the inhuman wretches were 
solely intent on preserving the 
chest, which they bore away in tri- 
umph. The officer, however, was 
saved by some of our people, and is 
now living. 

Three vessels went to pieces in 
this way within the space of an 
hour. Out of one, only two lives 
were saved; out of another, ten; 
and out of the third, three; of those 
saved, one was alady, whose hus- 
band, an officer of the 26th light 
dragoons, was drowned; she had 
been ill, and was in bed when the 
ship struck, but was miraculously 
carried through a port hole, and 
thrown on shore naked and very 
much bruised. She was conveyed 
to a house senseless, and has since 
been delirious, at times waking to 
a recolleétion of her situation, only 
to add to her misery. Of the ten 
who escaped from one of the ships, 
one (asoldier) had his leg broken, 
and crushed by a piece of the wreck 
in so shocking a manner, that he 
just crawled on the sand, and then 
very soon died from the loss of 
blood. Some vessels were lost 
farther up the country, and out of 
these some, but not many, lives 
“were saved. Among these a lieu- 


A5. 
4 
tenant-colonel Ross, and a surgeon, 
are the only officers I have heard 
of. During the whole time, the 
Portland people, and a considerable 
mob from different parts, were sole- 
ly intent on plunder; neglecting, 
with more than savage indifference, 
to give the wretched sufferers the 
smallest assistance. An officer’s 
party from our regiment at length 
put acheck to their proceedings, 
and we remained on the sands the 
whole of last night to protect the 
property. One merchantman ran 
ashore without bulging, and though 
all but ten of her hands were drown- 
ed, the property of this vessel was 
saved, and great part of it brought 
ashore, and we posted ‘sentinels 
over it during the night; bur even 
this did not prevent the rascals 
from attempting to plunder, and our 
men were absolutely obliged to fire 
upon them to disperse them, The 
number of vesséls lost is not. yet 
ascertained, although it is known 
that six or seven certainly are: 
one is now lying off Weymouth 
quite dismasted ; another with only 
a foremast standing, &c. The 
number of people drowned it is im~ 
possible to guess at; but you may 
conceive it to be great, when I 
assure you that I counted 275 dead 
bodies which the tide had thrown 
up to the sands yesterday, many of 
them women, and their numbers 
are hourly increasing, 
6K Weymouth. Theshorefrom 
* hence to Abbotsbury, about 
seven miles distant, is still covered 
with dead bodies, and parts of the 
wreck are hourly appearing. Yes« 
terday we counted nine bodies 
thrown upon the beach by one 
tide within the space of a quarter 
of a mile; the violence of the sea 
had torn every particle of clothing 
off 


46 


off them and from bruises, . and 
lying so long in the water, they 
made the mest shocking appear- 
ance. Part of the Gloucester mili- 
tia, aided by the peasantry, are con- 
stantly employed in burying them. 
The number of sufferers almost 
exceeds belief; upwards of sixteen 
hundred bodies having, it is said, 
been thrown up along the beach. 
An officer of the Gloucester mili- 
tia, has assisted at the burialof 300, 
The vessels lost in the West Bay 
were seven in number, and such 
was the fury of the waves, that se- 
veralb of the transports, heavily 
laden, were driven to the very sum- 
mit of the beach, which is consider- 
ably higher than a common built 
house. Had the poor wretches 
continued on board, many more 
would have been saved; but such 
was their agitation and fright, that 
as soon as the vessel struck, they 
leaped overboard, and were ex- 
hausted before they could reach 
the shore. A soldier of the 63d 
says, that previous to his quitting 
the transport, one of the officers of 
the regiment, who was lame and 
in bed, and conscious of the impos- 
sibility of his escaping death, met 
it with a most dignified constancy ; 
he told the soldier, that from his 
Strength there was a chance of his 
safety, and told him how to hus- 
band it best to his advantage; and 
then gave him his purse and watch, 
which he observed were no longer 
nedessary to him.—There were 170 
troops in this vessel, and five only 
were saved. Captain Bearcroft, 
who commanded the detachment, 
is among the sufferers,—The lady, 
whom we mentiened to have been 
so miraculous!y preserved, was wife 
tocornet Burns, of the 26th. On 
Tuesday his remains, togethsr with 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


those of lieutenant Kerr, of the 
46th and 26 others, were buried 
at Wick church, about two miles 
from. hence, with military honours ; 
the Gloucester militia, &c. attend- 

ing.—The people of Abbotsbury 
say they saw five vessels, exclusive 
of what are known to have beea 
wrecked, run foul of each other, 

and it is probable most of them 
hav: foundered. The transports 

were, it appears, most wretchedly 

manned; the Hannah was driven 
ashore by another transport, the 

master of which was the only sea- 
man on board of her. The Han- 

nah went to pieces last night on the 

rocks, but the crew and cargo have 
been saved. Several horses on 

board were drowned. 

Glasgow. Aboutoneo’clock 

this morning a violent storm 

of wind and rain, accompanied 

with snow, came on here, which | 
continued till four in the afternoon. 

Early in the forenoon the river 

Clyde rose to a prodigious height, 

so as to lay all the low part of the 

town, near the river, under water. 

The Gallowgate burn, from the 

overflowing of the Monkland ca- 

nal, came down with such rapidity 

as to fill all the low houses in the 

Gallowgate, east side of the Salt- 

market, and lower part of St. An- 

drew’s square, with water. The 
fine new bridge across the river 
opposite the Salt-market, which 

was passable to foot-passengers, is 
totally swept away. Boats for the 

relief of the inhabitants are plying 

along the bridge gate, the depth of 
water being near six feet in some 

places. From Charlotte-street to 
Jamaica-street isa continued sheet 

of water of considerable depth, and 
the passage by any of the two 

bridges is impassable for the pre- 

sent. 


27th, 


CHRONICLE. Ay 


sent. A considerable number of 
cows, sheep, horses, &c. are carried 
away by the-violence of the water, 
apdlost. A great deal of goods in 
the cellars near the river will be 
greatly damaged, if not entirely 
useless: indeed the amount of the 
loss sustained, though it cannot as 
yet be ascertained, must be very 
great. ‘he height of the water 
in the Salt-market at present, (sc- 
ven o’clock), is within 16 inches of 
_the inundation in March 1782. * 
24th Mr. Redhead Yorke was 

‘brought before the court 
of King’s-Bench at Westminster- 
hall, to receive judgment for a se- 
ditious libel, of which he was con- 
victed at the last York assizes, 
when Mr.’ justice Ashhurst pro- 
nounced, that he should pay a fine 
of rool. be imprisoned two years 
in the common jail of the county 
of Dorset, and at the expiration of 
that term should give security for 
his good behavicur for seven years, 
himself in 1000]. and two sureties 
in sool. each. 


DECEMBER. 


a The loan was agreed for 
* by Messrs. Boyd, Robarts, 
Solomons, &c.—The terms are, for 
every rool. subscribed, 1201. 3 per 
cent. consolidated annuities, 25]. 
. 3 per cent. reduced ditto, and 
6s. 6d. long annuity. The loan 
was only intended to have been 
for 16 millions, but two millions 
more have been borrowed in order 
t0 pay the bounties on corn. 
gth On Monday the London 
’~* Corresponding Sogiety, toge- 
ther with an immense concourse of 
spectators, assembled in Mary-le- 
bone fields, About one o’clock 


rostra were erected, and Mr. Browne 
was called to the chair. After an 
explanatory speech, an address to 
the people, and a petition to the 
king, were read and unanimously 
approved of, tegether with a num. 
ber of resolutions. Mr. Jones and 
Mr. Thelwall were the speakers. 
The petition to the king and the 
resolutions are in strong, firm, and 
respectful Janguage. The conduét 
of the multitude was temperate and 
orderly. hey signed the papers in 
great numbers, and separated ‘in 
good order, and without’ the least 


tumult. 
16th Dublin. On Saturday 
*~ evening last a most shocking 
murder was committed on the bo. 
dies of two men, labourers, by a 
man, supposed to be a companion 
of theirs, near Clogheen, in the 
county, ef Tipperary. It seems 
the deceased were brothers, and 
had, during, this season, acquired 
by jtheir industry four or five 
guineas, and were about proceed- 
ing to the county of Kerry, their 
native place; when, as is the cus. 
tom with the lower orders of 
people at parting to testify their 
friendship in drink, they were at 
a public house, and at paying the. 
reckoning discovered to their com. 
panion the fruits of their industry, 
which is believed to be the cause 
of their untimely death, as, at leav. 
ing the house, he insisted on ace 
companying them afew miles on 
their journcy, and even took from 
one of them his spade, saying, he 
would ease him of the weight of it 
while he continued with them, and. 
which is the weapon with which 
he perpetrated the horrid deed, 
Shortly after, they were. found 
about a mile from the house they 
had left, with their skulls almost 
cloven 


48 


eloven asunder, and robbed of the 
above sum. 

Plymouth. This evening about 
five o’clock a dreadful fire broke 
outin asail- loft, inSouthside-street, 
belonging to Mr. Douglas, sail- 
maker; in a few minutes the 
whole building was in flames ; 
every exertion was made to check 
its progress, but the lofts were filled 
with such inflammable substance 
as rendered every effort ineffec- 
tual. Inaddition to the sail-cloth, 
rope, &c, belonging to Mr. Dou- 
glas, the lofts of the same pre- 
mises were filled with a valuable 
cargo of bale goods, landed out of 
a Danish ship that was then under 
repair, to which the fire soon‘com- 
municated, and the conflagration 
became terrible indeed ; the flames 
presently extended to the houses 
on each side Mr. Douglas’s, and, 
they being occupied by people of 
the same profession, their lofts 
were also filled with the like in- 
flammable articles,.so that the fire 
became extremely alarming, and 
threatened destruction to the whole 
neighbourhood ; it continved burn- 
ing six hours, with incredible fury, 
when, by the great exertions of the 
inhabitants and the military, with 
the assistance of the dock-yard and 
hospital engines, it was fortunately 
prevented trom spreading farther, 
but the three houses were entirely 
consumed: the loss, is supposed to 
amount to 15,o00l.. Many of the 
unfortunate sufferers are uninsured, 
and subscriptions are now open for 
their relief. It is a providential 
circumstance, that the-tide was 
flood at the time, or the fire 
would have communicated to the 
shipping in the pool, and probably 
jn that case half the town would 
have been destroyed. 


ANNUAL. REGISTER, 1795. 


Aa This day a man who had 
* the appearance of a labourer, 
was found strangled in a field near 
Camberwell, Surrey. It appeared 
that he had stolen a sheep, the hind 
legs of which he had tied together, 
and put them: over his forehead, 
in order to carry it away; but it is 
thought, that in getting over the 
gate the sheep struggled, and by a 
sudden spring slipped his feet down 
to his throat, for in that posture 
they were found, the animal hang- 
ing on one side of the gate, and the 
dead man on the other. 
“ The annual ele¢tions for the 
3 ‘city senate have terminated 
with much fewer changes than 
might have been expeéted from the 
unusual exertions that were made. 
The average number of new snem 
bers, in the most quiet times, 
amounts, from deaths and volun- 
tary resignations, to eighteen: on 
the present occasion there are but 
twenty-two. In the majority of 
the wards, all the old members are 
returned ; in others a.single mem- 
ber is removed, cither of one party 
or the other, as local circumstances 
have happened. The strongest 
contest has been in the wards 
of Cheap and Farringdon With. 
out. In Cheap, eight new candi. 
dates appeared, all on the side of 
Government ; and three were suc- 
cessful. In Farringdon, on the 
contrary, were six new ones on the 
side of opposition; who so far car- 
ried their point, as to intrdduce 
two of their champions, but were 
disappointed in the main object of. - 
their attempt. 
goth About three o'clock this 
* afternoon, a gentleman was 
hustled, at the door of Will's cof- 
fee-house, in Cornhill, by several 
well dressed pickpockets, and we 
be 


CHRONICLE. 


bed of his pocket-book, containing 
bank-notes to the amount of soo): 
‘together with bills of exchange to 
the value of 2000]. most of which 
were accepted and indorsed. 

The brewers have at length 
‘determined not to raise the 
price of porter; but that they may 
be enabled to persevere in so laud. 


31st 


able a resolution, they miean, in- 


future, to resist all superfluous ex- 
pences; and it has been proposed 
by an eminent brewer in the neigh. 
bourhood of Liquorpond-street, to 
abolish all publicans’ feast clubs, 
and the custom of giving moncy for 


the entertainment of benefit socie- | 


ties. 

Dizep—In Tichfield-street, J. 
Paradise, esq. LL.D. of the uni- 
versity of Oxford, and F.R.S: He 
was born at Salonichi, brought up 
at Padua, and by far the greatest 
part of his life resided at London ; 
Was passionately fond of learned 
men, and opened his house to all 
descriptions of them: He was na- 
turally silent and reserved in con. 
Versation; owing to an excess of 
modesty, which made him pay 
greater deference to the opinions 
of others than his own, He spoke 
many languages with facility; 
among others the modern Greek, 

* Latin, Turkish, French, Italian, 

_ and English, were alike familiar to 
him; and he was as amiable in his 
manners as he was eminent in his 
literary attainments. 


ey 
BIRTHS for the Year 1795. 


. Fan. 5; The lady of Richard 
Joseph Sulivan, esq. M. P..a son. 
17- Lady of the right hon, 
Charles Townshend,’ a daughter. 
_ Vor. XXXVI. 


Ag 


27. Viscountess Belgtave,a son. 

‘Lhe lady of sir Gilbert Heath. 
cote, bart: a son and heir. 

Lady of sir John Rous, bart. a 
son. | . 
Feb. 1. Lady of sir Henry Har- 
pur, bart. a sons 

14. Lady Auckland, a son... 

26. Lady of sir Henry Dash. 
wood, bart. a son. 

March 5. Lady of lordG: H.Ca. 
vendish, a daughter. 

21. Princess of Brasil, asdn. 

April6. Viscountess Conyngham; 
a son, ae 

18, Lady of William Manning, 
esq. M. P. a son. 

May 24. Lady Anne Wombwell, 
a son. BGs 

Fune25. Lady of Dr. William 
Cleaver, bishop of Chester, a 
daughter. 

Fily 2. Countess of Exeter; ason 
and heir. . 

7. Lady Elizabeth Loftus, a son. 

10, Countess of Breadalbane; a 
daughter. 

24. Lady of Thomas Boothby 
Parkyns, esq: M. P.a daughter. 

26. Lady of sir John Ingilby, 
bart. a daughter. 

30. Lady Arden, a son: 

Lady Rodney, a daughter. : 
_ Aug. 7. Lady Harriot Sullivan, a 
daughter. 

Lady of sir Francis Ford, bart. 2 
daughter. / 

g. Lady Mary-Anne Sturt, a son 
and heir. 

Lady of sir Archibald Dunbar, 
bart. of Northfield, a daughter. . 

11. Duchess of Dorset, a daugh. 
ter. 

26. Lady Charlotte Hope, ason. - 

Spt. 26; The consort of prince 
Lewis of Prussia, a prince. — 

O#, 16, Countess of Jersey, ason, 

E 18. Lady 


50 


18. Raiden aval Eleghsey moar 
a daughter. 

20. Lady of Thomas Anson, esq. 
M.P. a son and heir. — 

30. Lady of Gentes Smith, esq. 
M. P. a son. 

Lady Sherard, a daughter. 

Nov, 3. Lady Fludyer, a daugh- 
ter. 

Dec. 4. The empress ofGermany, 
a princess, baptised Carolina- Ludo. 
vica-Leopoldina. | 
. 8. Lady of sir H. P. St. John 
Mildmay, bart. a son. 

10. Duchess of Manchester, a 
daughter. 

19. Hon, lady Shaw, adaugh- 
ter. 

Countess of Carlisle, a son. 


. MARRIAGES for 1795. 


. Fan. 18. Hon. Simon Butler, to 
miss Lynch, daughter of Edward 
Lynch, esq. of Hampstead. 

19. Francis lord Down, son of 
the earl of Moray, to miss Lucy 
Scott, daughter of the late general 
Scott. 

Lately, hon. Henry Forbes, bro- 
ther of the earl of Granard, to miss 
E. Preston, sister of John Preston, 
esq. M. P. for Navan. 

24. Earl of Barrymore, to miss 
Coghlan, daughter of Mr, Coghlan, 
of Ardo, in the county of Water- 
tord. ; 

30. Hon. Newton Fellowes, son 
of the earl of Portsmouth, to miss 
F. Sherard, daughter of the rey. 
Castell Sherard. 

Hon. Edward Massey, second 
son of the late lord Massey, to miss 
Villicrs, daughter of John Vil- 
diers, esq. of Limerick. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 
Feb. g. Rev. George Trevalyan, 


. son of sir John Trevalyan, bart. to 


miss Neave, daughter of Richard 
Neave, esq.of Dagnam-park, Es- 
sex. 

15. Elector Palatine of the Rhine, 
to the archduchess Maria-Leopol- 
dina, second daughter of the arch- 
duke Ferdinand of Austria. 

21. Captain Metcalf of the Staf- 
fordshire militia, to miss “Vane, 
daughter of the hon. Mr. Vane, 
brother to the earl of Darlington. 

Lately, Thomas Cole, esq. to 
lady Elizabeth Henrietta Stanley. 

Marck 5. Richard Johnstone Van- 
den Bempdé, esq. M. P. to miss 
Scott, niece of the rev. Dr. Scott, 
rector of Simonbourn. 

10. Lieutenant Lascelles, son of 
lieutenant-general Lascelles, to miss 
Gould, daughter of sir Charles Mor- 
gan, bart. 

24. Earlof Dalkeith, tothe hon, 
miss Harriet Townshe ends daughter 
of lord Sidney. 

25- Hon. Robert Banks Jenkin. 
son, to lady Louisa Hervey, daugh- 
ter of the earl of Bristol and bishop 
of Derry. 

30. Hon. and reverend Richard 
Bourke, second son of the late earl 
of Mayo, archbishop of Tuam, to 
miss Frances Fowler, daughter of 
the archbishop of Dublin. 

Dr. Henry Vaughan, physician 
extraordinary to his majesty, to 
the hon. Elizabeth Barbara St. 
John, sister to lord St. John of 
Bletsoe. 

31. Captain Patrick Hunter, to 
the hon., miss Jane Rollo, daughter 
of the late James lord Rollo. 

Francis Drake, esq. to the only 
daughter of the late sir Herbert 
Mackworth, bart. 

April 3. Lord Torpichen, to miss 

Inglis, 


CHRONIC LE. 


Inglis, daughter of sir John Inglis, 
bart. 

15. Sir Harry Burrard, bart. to 
miss Neale, daughter of the late 
Robert Neale, esq. of Shaw House, 
Wilts.—Sir Harry takes the name 
of Neale. ; 

27. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 
esq. M. P. for Stafford, to miss 
Ogle, only daughter of the dean of 
Winchester. 

May 4. Sir Robert Wilmot, bart. 
to miss Howard, only daughter of 
the late Charles Howard, esq. of 
Litchfield. 

g- Sir J. Sanderson, bart. M. P. 
for Malmesbury, to miss Skinner, 
daughter of the lord-mayor. 

. 10. Hen, lieutenant-col. George 
St. John, to miss Lavinia Bre- 
ton, daughter of William Breton, 
esq. 

11. Finely Ferguson, esq. to the 
hon. miss Maclellan, only daughter 
of Jord Kirkcudbright. 

_ 26. Sir Edward Denny, bart. to 
miss Day, daughter of Robert Day, 
esq. of Dublin. 

28. John William Clough, Esq. 
of Norton Conyers, Yorkshire, to 
miss Elizabeth Broughton, daugh- 
ter of the rev. sir Thomas Brough- 
ton, bart. 

30. Earl of Winterton, to Mrs. 
Bodicote of Westerham. 

Lately, hon. captain Fortescue, 
brother of earl Fortescue, to lady 
Ackland, widow of sir Thomas 
Ackland, barr. 

Fune 8. John Willes, esq. eldest 
son of the late hon. Mr. justice 
Willes, to miss Charlotte Floyer, 
only daughter of Charles Floyer, 
esq. of Portland-place. 

42, Captain George Parker, of 
the royal navy, nephew of sir Peter 
Parker, bart. to miss Harriet Butt, 


_ esqs 


5% 


daughter of Peter Butt, esq. of the 
Dockyard at Deptford. 

16. Sir Richard Bedingfield, bart. 
to miss Jerningham, daughter of six 
William Jerningham, bart. 

17. Crauford Tait, esq. to miss 
Susan Campbell, daughter of thé 
right hon. Ilay Campbell, lord- 
president of the court of session of 
Scotland. 

18. Captain Grey, of the royal 
navy, third son of sir Charles Grey, 
K. B. to miss Whitbread, youngest 
daughter of Samuel Whitbread, 
M. P. of Bedwell Park, 
Herts. 

20. Lord Charles Fitzroy, second 
son of the duke of Grafton, to miss 
Mundy, daughter of Edward Mil- 
ler Mundy, esq. M. P, for Derby. 
shire. 

22. John Dalrymple, esq. of the 
3d regiment of guards, eldest son 
of the right hon. sir John Dalrym- 
ple, bart. one of the barons of the 
exchequer in Scotland, to miss 
Johnson, daughter of the reverend 
R.A. Johnson, of Kenilworth, 
Warwickshire. 

23. Sir John Wrottesly, bart. to 
lady Caroline Bennett, daughter of 
the earl of Tankerville. 

The earl of Banbury, to miss 
Charlotte Blackwell, daughter of 
the late Ebenezer Blackwell, esq. 
of London, banker. 

29. Rev. George Moore, eldest 
son of the archbishop of Canter. 
bury, to lady Maria Isabella Hay, 
daughter of the late earl of Errol. 

Fuly 1. Reverend Brook Henry 
Bridges, brothercfsir Brook Bridges, 
bart. to miss Jane Hales, second 
daughter of the late sir Thomas _ 
Hales, bart. 

1s. Hugh lord Carleton, lord 
chicf justice of the common pleas 

E2 in 


32 


ee 
in Ireland, to miss Mathew, at Ux- 
bridge. 

zo. Lord George Seymour Con. 
way, to miss Isabela Hamilton, 
daughter of the late hon, and rev. 
George Hamilton. 

21. William Henry Digby, esq. 
of Twickenham, to lady Anne Ken- 
nedy, daughter of the late earl of 
Cassilis. 

25. Lord Paget, to lady C. Vil- 
liers, daughter of the earl of Jersey. 

Lord St, Asaph, to lady Char- 
lotte Percy, daughter of the earl of 
Beverley. 

29. Right hon. Dudley Ryder, to 
lady Susan Leveson Gower, 

30. Viscount Dungannon, to the 
hon. miss Fitzroy. 

Ang. 4. Marquis of Titchfield, 
to miss Scott, daughter of the late 
general Scott. 

8. Earl of Belfast, son of the mar- 
quis of Donegal, to miss May. 

Lord Spencer Stanley Chiches- 
ter, second son of the marquis Do- 
negal, to lady Harriet Stewart, 
daughter of the earl of Galloway. 

20. Sir William Langham, bart. 
to miss Vane, only daughter of the 
hen. C. Vane, 

24. Thomas Beevor, esq. eldest 
son of sir Thomas Beevor, bart, to 
miss*Hare, only daughter of Hugh 
Hare, Esq. of Hargham, Norfolk. 

Lately, hon. Robert Leeson, son 
of the late earl of Miltown, to miss 
Grace Head, of Derry, in Tippe- 
rary. } j 

dept. g. Sir John Riggs Miller, 
bart. to lady Davenport. 

. 24. Charles Duncombe, esq. 
(eldest son of Charles» Slingsby 
Duncombe, esq. of Duncombe- 
park, Yorkshire) M. P. for Shaftes- 
bury, tolady Charlotte Legge, only 
daugh:er of the earl of Dartmouth, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. ° 


Edward Wigley, esq. M. P. for 
Worcester, to miss Anne Maria 
Meysey, only daughter and heiress 
of the late Charles Watkins Mey- 
sey, esq. of Shakenhurst in Boyn- 
ton, Worcestershire. 

O&. g. John Richard viscount 
Dungarvon, to the hon. Isabella 
Henrietta Poyntz, maid of honour 
to her majesty, and daughter of 
William Poyntz, esq. of Midgham. 
house, Berks, 

Francis Gregor, esq. M. P. for 
Cornwall, to miss Jane Urquhart, 
niece of general Morris. 

15. Major-general Ross, to miss 
Gunning, daughter of sir Robert 
Gunning, K. B. 

20. Lord Mulgrave to miss So. 
phia Malling, daughter of C. T. 
Malling, esq. of West Hennington. 

26. Harrington Hudson, esq. of 
Blessingby, Yorkshire, tolady Ann 
Townshend, daughter of marquis 
Townshend. : 

27. John Gibbons, eldest son of 
sir William Gibbons, bart. of Stan- 
well-place, to miss Taylor, daugh- 
ter of the late Richard Taylor, esq. 
of Charlton-house, 

31. Captain Knox, of the first 
regiment of foot-guards, to miss 
Emma Williams, daughter of Tho- 
mas Williams, esq. M. P. 

New, 2. Charles Pole, esq. second 
son of sir Charles Pole, bart. to miss 
Buller, daughter of Richard Bul- 
ler, esq. of Crosby-square. 

7. Robert Dalrymple, esq. som of 
admiral Dalrymple, to miss How- 
ard, of Knightsbridge. 

11. Mark Sykes, esq. high sheriff 
of Yorkshire, and eldest son of sir 
Christopher Sykes, bart. to. miss 
Masterman, only daughter of Hen- 
ry Masterman, esq. of Stettring. 
ton. 

13..cit 


CHRONICLE. 53 


13. Sir Francis Henry Drake, 
bart. to miss Anne Frances Mateby, 
daughter of Thomas Mateby, esq. 
of Great Mary-le-bone-street. 

Thomas Ridgate Maunsell, esq. 
to miss Daly, daughter of the late 
James Daly, esq. of Upton-house, 
near Brixham, Devon. 

Dec. 12. Sir John William Rose, 
knt. recorder of London, to miss 
Fenn, of Walworth. 

15- Hon, Geo. Augustus Legge, 
son of the earl of Dartmouth, to 
miss Honora Bagot, daughter of 
the rev. Walker Bagot. 


DEATHS, 1795. 


Fan. 6. Rev. George Berkeley, | 


D. D. prebend of Canterbury, &c. 
son of the celebrated bishop of 
Cloyne. 

Lately, earl of Coleraine. 
* Colonel William Dundas, hro- 
ther to the right hon. Henry Dun- 
das. 

19. Hon. Thomas 
under secretary of state. 

15. Lady of Lord Romney. 

19. Lady Vane, relict of the rev, 
sir Henry Vane, bart. 

22. Countess dowager of Car- 
licle. 
_ Sir Lucius O’Brien, bart, 

23. Sir John Hynde Cotton, 
bart. 
i 25. Edwin lord Harewood, the 
title extinct. 

29. Hon. miss Fitzroy, eldest 
daughter of lord Southampton. 
_ go. Lieutenant-general Douglas, 
colonel of the ggth regiment of 
foot. 

gi. Charles William ear} of Sef- 
ton. 

Sir Hugh Hill, bart. M, P. fer 
Londonderry. 


Broderick, 


Feb. 3. Richard Edwards, esq, 
admiral of the blue. 

George earl of Mount Edg- 
cumbe. 

Iohn Webb, esq. M. P. i 

. Sir John Duntze, bart. M. P, 

Sir James Langham, bart. 

8. Lady Rivers. 

9. Thomas earl of Macclesfield. 

10. Margaret baroness Clon- 
curry. 

12. Thomas Grosvenor, esq. 
M. P. brother to earl Grosvenor, 

14. Thomas earl of Bective. 

19. Sir Thomas Massey Stanley, 
bart. 

20. John Sawbridge, esq. alder- 
min and M, P. of London. 

22. Jane duchess dowager of 
Athol. 

March 3. Hon. Stephen Digby, 
son of the earl of Digby. 

4. Viscountess Colloseav, sister 
ef sir John Trevalyan, bart. 

Hon. admiral Keith Stewart. 

5. Basil William Douglas, lord 
Daer. 

Sir William Gordon of Gordon- 
stown, barre 

g. Sir Henry Houghton, bart. 
M. P. 

12. William Mostyn Owen, esq. 
M. P. 

18. Lord Edward Murray, third 
son of the duke of Athol. . 

20. Lieutenant-general sir Wile 
liam Erskine, bart. 

29. Hon. and rev. St. Andrew 
St. John, second son of John, 10th 
lord St. John of Bletsoe. 

go. Lewis Monson Watson, lord 
Sondes, 

April 6. Sir George Collier, knt,’. 
vice-admiral of the blue. 

8. Sir Alexander Livingstone, 
bart. 

10. Mr, Worsley, only son of sir 
Richard Worsley, bart. 

E3 12. Hon. 


54 


12. Hon. Philip Tufton Perceval, 
brother to the earl of Egmont. 

13. Lady Sarah Annesley, daugh- 
ter of the earl of Mountmorris. 

16. Lady Grantley. 

17. Thomas Whitmore, esq. M.P. 

24. Hon. Thomas Talbot, bro- 
ther to the earl of Shrewsbury. 

May 2. Sit Herbert Perrort Pack- 
ington, bart. 

16. John Aldridge, esq. M. P. 
for Shoreham. 

17. Thomas Sainsbury, esq. al- 
derman of Billingsgate-ward. 

Henry Beaufoy, esq. M. P. for 
Great Yarmouth, 
- 18. Thomas duke of Newcastle, 
a major-general in the army. 

Lately, hon, John Plunkett, son 
of the earl of Fingal. 

William Drake, jun.esq. M. P. 
for Agmondesham. 

26. Sir Edward Lloyd, bart. 

Lately, ‘sir Nicholas Conway 
Colthurst, bart. 

Fune, 8. Hon. captain Charles 
Nairne. 

2. Lady Stepney, mother of sir 
John Stepney, bart. 

18. Countess dowager of Radnor. 

22. Sir Robert Murray Keith, 
K. B. col. of the 2oth regiment of 
foot, and formerly ambassador ex- 
traordinary to the court of Vienna. 

30.GeneralsirJohn Vaughan,K.B. 

Fuly 3. Lady Sarah Bruce, daugh- 
ter of Thomas earl of Kincardine, 

Lord Henry John Spencer, second 
son of the duke of Marlborough, 
and envoy extraordinary at Berlin. 

5. Miss Mary Yorke, daughter 
of the hon, and right rev, the bishop 
, of Ely. 

6. Sir Philip Musgrave, bart. 

SirWilliam Middleton, bart.M.P. 

g. Right hon, field-marshalHenry 
Seymour Conway. 
- Sir Francis Wood, bart. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


22. Lord Clonbrock, of the king. 
dom of Ireland. 

24. Sir William St. Quintin, bart. 

Jonathan Faulkner, esq. admiral 
of the blue. 

28. Lady Susan Gordon, daugh. 
ter of the earl of Aberdeen. 

Fuly. 28. John Richard West, earl 
Delawar. 

2g. John Heathcote, esq. M. P. 

Aug. 1. Henry Hippesley Coxe, 
esq. M. P. 

2. Vicountess Tracey. 

4. Sir Robert Sinclair, bart. of 
Murkle, lieutenant-governor of Fort 
George. ; 

17. Lady Mary Stanley. 

Lady Susan Drummond. 

27. Lady Lyttelton, second wife 
of George lord Lyttelton. 

Sept. g. Viscount Kenmare. 

12, Alexander Jord Macdonald. 

30. Hon. Miss Charlotte Clive, 
sister of lord Clive. 

O&.5. Hon. Mrs. Home, relict 
of the hon. Geo. Home. 

17. Sir John Gordon, bart. of 
Earlston. 

New. 1. Sir Michael Bruce, bart. 

3. Sir John Hotham, bart. bi- 
shop of Clogher. 

g. Hon. Mrs. 
Townshend. 

24. Samuel Estwick, M. P. for 
Westbury. 

28. Hon. Mrs. Robinson, lady of 
colonel Robinson, and sister to lord 
Clive. 

Dec. 7. The princess Louisa, 
daughter of the hereditary prince of 
Denmark. 

8. Rev. sir James Stonehouse, 
bart. M. D. reftor of Great and 
Little Cheverell, Wilts. 

21. Thomas Wildman, esq. M. P. 

23. In the 103d year of her age, 
Mrs. Beresford, great aunt to the 
marquis of Watertord. 

24, General 


John Thomas 


24. General sir Henry Clinton, 
K. B. 

25. Hon. Mrs. Murray, wife of 
rear-admiral Geo, Murray, M. P. 

29. Countess dowager of Find. 
later and Seaford. 

30. John Butler, earl of Ormond. 

Matthew Batson, esq. admiral of 
the white. 


PROMOTIONS for the Year 1795. 


Fentary 4. John earl of Bute, 
lord-lieutenant of Glamorganshire. 
14.George earl of Warwick, lord- 
lieutenant of the county of Warivick. 

17. George James earl Cholmon- 
deley, chamberlain to the prince cf 
Wales, and intendant of the houses. 

John earl of Darnley, groom of 
the stole to his royal highness, 

Charles Nassau Thomas, esq. 
vice-chamberlain. 

John Byde, esq. master of his 
royal highness’s household. 

Earl of Jersey master of the horse. 

21. Robert Shore Milnes, esq. 
governor of Martinico. 

29. Dr. William Newcombe, bi- 
shop of Waterford, archbishop of 
Armagh. 

Rey. Thomas Lewis a Berne, 
bishop of Ossory. 

Hon. Charles Lawrence Dundas, 
private secretary to the lord-lieu- 
tenant. 

Rev. Dr. Richard Murray, pro- 
vost of Trinity-college, Dublin. 

John earl of Portarlington and 
George lord Milton, privy-counsel- 
lors of Ireland. 

Feb. 10. General the duke of 
York, field-marshal of the forces. 

March. 4. George Johnearl Spen- 
cer, Charles George lord Arden, 
Charles Small Pybus, sir Charles 
Middleton, bart. lord Hugli Sey- 


CHRON Cwm. E 


55 


mour, Philip Stephens, and James 
Gambier, esqrs. lords of the admi- 
ralty. 

Philip Stephens, esq. a bart. with 
remainder to his nephew Stephens 
Howe, esq. 

6. Lord Hugh Seymour and lord 
Villiers, gentlemen of the bed.cham. 
ber to the prince of Wales. 

William Churchill, esq. first 
groom of the bed-chamber, master 
of the robes, and privy-purse to 
his royal highness. 

7. Lieutenant-colonel Hervey 
Aston, one of the grooms of the 
bed- chamber. 

11. Right hon, Thomas Pelham, 
a privy-counsellor, 

John Jefferies earl Camden, lord- 
lieutenant of Ireland. 

Henry Willoughby Rooke, esq. 
page of honour to his majesty. 

27. Susannah baroness Hood, of 
the kingdom of Ireland, barohess 
Hood of Great Britain. 

Dr. John Law, bishop of Killala 
and Achonry, bishop of Elphia. 

April 11. ThomasT yrwhitt, esq. 
private secretary to the prince of 
Wales. 

Sir GeorgeChetwynd, cf Brofton- 
hall, in the county of Stafford, and 
sir John Dryden, of Canons Ashby, 
in the county of Northampton, knts, 
Robert Salusbury, of Llanwern, in 
the county of Monmouth, esq. Rich. 
ard Gamon, of Minchenden-house, 
in the county of Middlesex, esq. 
(with remainder to Richard Grace, 
of Rahin, in the Queen’s County and 
kingdom of Ireland, esq. and his 
issue male) Lionel Darell, of Rich- 
mond.hill, in the county of Surry, 
Richard Neave, of Dagnam-park, | 
in the county of Essex, Henry Haw- 
ley, of Leybourne Grange, in the 
county of Kent, John Pollen, of 
Redenham, in the county of South. 

E.4 ampton, 


56 


ampton, esqrs. and John Went- 
worth, esq. lieutenant-governor of 
Nova Scotia;* baronets, 

16. Sir Richard Hughes, bart. 
John Elliot and William Hotham, 
esqrs. vice-admirals of the red, admi- 
rals of the blue. 

22. Thomas Pickering, esq. may- 
er of Arundel, knighted. 

23. Earl af Bute, ambassador ex- 
traordinary and plenipotentiary to 
-the court of Madrid. 

25. John Eamer and Rob. Burnet, 
esqrs. sheriffs of London, knighted. 

29. Earl of Mount- Edgcumbe, 
lord-lieutenant of Cornwall. : 

May 8. Robert Mackreth, esq. 
M. P. knighted. 

William Lushington, esy. M. P. 
for Lendon, alderman, of Billings- 
gate.ward. 

June 1. Hon. Edward Stopford, 
William Lloyd, Mark Milbanke, 
and Nicholas Vincent, esqrs. Tho- 
mas lord Greaves, Robert Digby, 
esq. and Alexander Jord Bridport, 
K. B. admirals of the blue, admi- 
rals of the white. 

Joseph Peyton and John Carter 
Allen, esqrs. sir Charles Middleton 
and sir John Laforey, barts. John 
Dalrymple, Herbert Sawyer, sir 
Richard King, Jonathan Faulknor 
and Philip Affleck, esars. vice-admi- 
rals of the red, admirals of the blue. 

Sir John Jervis, K. B. and Adam 
Duncan, esq. vice admirals of the 
white, vice-admirals of the blue. 

Richard Braithwaite, Philip Cos- 
by, Samuel Cornish, John Brisbane, 
Charles Wolsely, and Samuel Cran- 
ston Goodall, esqrs. William Henry 
duke of Clarence, Richard Onslow 
and Robert Kingsmill, esqrs. vice- 
admirals of the white, vice-admi- 
rals of the red. 

Sir George Bowyer, bart. sir Hyde 
Parker,knt, Benjamin Caldwell, esq. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


hon. William Cornwallis, vice-ad- 
mirals of the blue, vice-admirats 
of the red. 

William Allen, John M‘Bride, 
George Vandeput, Charles Buckner, 
John Gell, and William Dickson, 
esqrs. and sir Alan Gardner, bart, 
vice-admirals of tla: blue, vice-ad- 
mirals of the white. 

Jolin Lewis Gidoin, George Gay - 
ton, George Murray, and Robert 
Linzee, esqrs. sir James Wallace, 
knt. William Peere Wiliiams, esq. 
sir Thomas Paisley, bart. rear ad- 
mirals of the red, vice-admirals of 
the white. 

Jchn Symonds, esq. and sir Tho- 
mas Rich, bart. rear-admirals of the 
red, vice-admirals of the blue. 

Charles Thompson, James Cum- 
ming, John Ford, John Colpoys, 
Sket. Lutwidge, Archibald Dickson, 
George Montagu, and Thomas Du- 
maresq, esqrs. and the hon, sir 
George Keith Elphinstone, K. B. 
rear-admirals of the white, vice. 
admirals of the blue. 

James Pigott, esq. and hon. Wil. 7 
liam Waldegrave, rear-admirals of 
the blue, vice-admirals of the blue, 

Thomas Mackenzie, and Thomas 
Pringle, esqrs. sir Roger Curtis, knt. 
Henry Hervey, Robert Man, Wil- 
liam Parker, Ch: irles Holmes, Eve 
ritt Calmady, and John Bourmaster, ~ 
esqrs. sir George Young, knt. John 
Henry, and Richard Rodney Bligh, 
esqrs. rear-adimirals of the blue, rear- 
admirals of the red. 

Captains, Alexander Grame, 
George Keppel, Samuel Reeve, Ro- 
bert Biggs, FrancisParry, Isaac Pres- 
cott, John Bazeley,Christopber Ma- 
son, fhomasSpry, sir JohnOrde, bart. 
Wiiliam Young,andjames Gambier, 
esqrs, rear- admirals of the white. 

Captains, Andrew Mitchell, 
CharlesChamberlayne,PeterRainier, 


Hugh 


CHRONICLE. 


Hough Clo. Christian, William Trus- 
cort,lord Hugh Seymour, John Stan- 
hope, Christopher Parker, Philip 
Patton, Charles Morice Pole, John 
Brown, and John Leigh Douglas, 
rear-admirals of the blue. 

6. Horatio Nelson, esq, hon. Tho- 
mas Pakenham, and hon. George 
Berkeley, colonels of marines. 

- Rev. John Porter, D. D. bishop 
of Killala and Achonry. 

10. George lord Vernon, Richard 
Aubrey, and John Price, esqrs. de- 
puty lieutenants, to execute the of- 
fice of lord-Jieutenant of Glamor- 
ganshire, during the absence of John 


’ garl of Bute. 


James Watson, esq. serjeant at 
law, knt. 

_18.John viscount Fitzgibbon, lord 
chancellor of Ireland, earl of Clare, 

Charles Agar, archbishop of Ca- 
shel, baron of Somerton, in the 
county of Kilkenny. 

‘Lord chief baron Yelverton, lord 
Yelverton, baron of Avenmore, 
jn the county of Cork, 

20. James Crawford, John Brick- 
wood, Allen Chatfield, John Bowles, 
and Alexander Baxter, esqrs, com- 
missioners for the care and disposal of 
such ships and vessels, with their car- 
goes, as are or hereafter may be 
detained in, or brought into, any of 
the ports of this kingdom, pursuant 
to an aét of the present year of his 
majesty’s reign, entitled, ‘* An ac 
to make further provision respecting 
ships and effeéts come into this king- 
dom, to take the benefit of his»ma- 
jesty’s orders in council of the 16th 
and 24st of January, 1795, and to 
provide for the disposal of other ships 
and effeéts detained in, or brought 
into the ports of this kingdom.’’ 

Duke of Portland, lord-lieutenant 
of Nottinghamshire, and steward, 
keeper, and guardian of the forest of 
Sherwood, and park of Polewood, 


57 


22. Edmund Henry lord Glent. 
worth, keeper of the privy seal ip 
Jreland. 

Hugh O'Reilly, esq. of Ballia. 
lough, bart. of Ireland. 

23. John Murray, of Lanrick, in 
the county of Perth, colonel and mi. 
lirary auditor-general of Bengal; 
William Peirce Ashe a Court, esq.- 
of Heytsbury, Wilts; Richard 
Bempdé Johnstone, esq. of Hack. 
ness-hall, Yorkshire (remainder ta 
his brother Charles Johnstone, esq, 
of Haverford- West): JamesHam!yn, 
esq. of Clovelly-court, Devon, and 
of Ed-vinsford, in the county of Car. 
marthen; and John Methuen Poore, 
esq. of Rudshall, Wilts (remainder 
to his brother Edward Poore, of 
Wedhampton, same county, esq.) 
baronets of Great Britain, 

go. Right honourable Henry Dun- 
das, lord Grenville, duke of Port- 
land, right hon, William Pitt, duke 
of Montrose, earl of Mornington, 
lord Belgrave, earl Bathurst, hon. 
E. J. Elliot, hon. R. B. Jenkinson, 
and right hon. Sylvester Douglas, 
commissioners for managing the af- 
fairs of India. 

Fly 4. Sir J. Banks, bart. K. Be 

11, Daniel Hailes,esq. envoy ex. 
traordinaryat the courtofStockholm, 

Lord Robert Stephen Fitzgerald, 
envoy extraordinary at the court of 
Copenhagen. 

William Wickham, esq. minister 
plenipotentiary to the Swiss cantons, 

15- Major Thomas Saumarez, 
knighted. 

Major-general Ralph Abercrom, 
bie, K. B, 

29. Right hon, sir George How, 
ard, K. B. a privy counsellor, and 
governor of Jersey. 

30. Thomas Jackson, esq. secre- 
tary of legation to the court of 
Turin. 

Aug. 15. Earl of Elgin, minister 

pleni- 


, 


58 


plenipotentiary and envoy extraor- 
dinary to the court of Berlin. 

26. William Parsons, Mus. D. 
composer of his majesty’s band of 
music at St. James’s, knighted. 

Sept.21. Roper George, Ambrose 
Serle, John Schank, and William 
Aibany Otway, esqrs. captains in the 
navy, and John March, esq. com- 
missioners of the transport service 
and of prisoners of war. 

Od. 6. Robert viscount Leitrim, 
earl of Leitrim. 

Charles Lord Lucan,earlof Lucan. 

Luke lord Mountjoy, viscount 
Mountjoy. 

Robert lord Londonderry, vis- 
count Castlereagh. 

Lawrence Harnan lord Oxman. 
town, viscount Oxmantown. 

JohnlordO’ Neil, viscountO’ Neil. 

Francis lord Bandon, viscount 
Bandon, 

Mrs. Anne Wolfe, wife of the 
tight hon. Arthur Wolfe, baroness 
of Kilwarden. 

Right hon. Richard Longfield, 
baron Longueville. 

Sir Ralph Payne, K. B. baron 
Lavington. 

Thomas Boothby Parkyns,. esq. 
baron Rancliffe. The above eleven 
of the kingdom of Ireland. 


19. Alexander baron Loughho. _ 


rough, lord chancellor of Great Bri- 
tain, baron Loughborough, of Lough. 
borough, in the county of Surry, 
with remainder to sir James St. 
Clair Erskine, bart. and to his bro- 
ther John Erskine, esq. 

24. James Bland Burges, esq. un- 
der secretary of state for foreign 
affairs, a baronet. 

Horace Hayes, esq. 2 commis- 
sioner of taxes, 


Nov. 7. Majoz-general his high. 


* Onhis decease, soon after, Philip Morshead, of Wordey, wis appointed. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


ness prince William of Gloucester, 
colonel of :he 6th regiment of foot. 

Dec. 1. George John earl Spencer, 
Charles George ford Arden, Charles 
Small Pybus, esq. lord Hugh Sey- 
mour, sir PhilipStephens, bare. James 
Gambier, and William Young, ignd 
lords of the adm:ralty. 

2. Isaac Pennington, esq. regius 
professor of physic ‘of the university 
of Cambridge, John Bulkeley and 
Cuthbert Shite, esqrs. and Thomas 
Bonsall, esq. high sheriff of Cam. 
bridgeshire, knights. 

17. George Aust, esq. commis. 
sary -general ” of the musters, chief 
muster master of all the forces in 
Great Britain, and secretary and re. 
gister of Chelsca-hospital. 


SHERIFFS appointed by his Majesty 
ia Coancil, for the Year, 1795. 


Bedfordshire, John Harvey, of 
Ickwell. 

Berks, William Thoyts, of Sur. 
hamsted. 

Bucks, Lovell Badcock, of Little 
Missenden. 

Cambridge and Huntingdonshire, 
Thomas Quintin, of Hatley St. 
George. 

Cheshire, James Hugh Smith 
Barry, of Marbury, esq. 

Cumberland, sir James Graham, 
of Netherby, bart. 

Derbyshire, William Drury Lowe, 
of Lockow. 

Devonshire, William Clarke, of 
Buckland Tout Saints*. 

Dorsetshire, Edward Gyeathead, 
of Uddings. 

Essex, John Hansan, of Gust 
Bromley-hall. 


Glous 


CHRONICLE. 


Gloucestershire, Samuel Edwards, 
of Botham-lodge. 

Herefordshire, John MooreGreen, 
of Cagebroke. 

Hertfordshire, James Harding, 
of Tring. 

Kent, Gabriel Harpur, ‘of Gore- 
court. 

Leicestershire, Edward Muzloe, 
of Pickwell.* 

Lincolnshire, Ayscongh Bouche- 
rett, of Stalingborough. 

Menmouthshire, Richard Mor- 
gan, of Argoed. 

Norfolk, “George Nelthorpe, of 
Lynford. 


Northamptonshire, V alentine 


‘Knightly, of Fawsley. 


Northumberland, Cuthbert Shaf. 
toe, of Basington. 

Nottinghamshire, Jonas Betti. 
son, of Holme-Pierrepont. 

Oxfordshire, Strickland Free- 
man, of Henley upon Thames, esq. 

Rutlandshire, sir Gilbert Heath. 
cote, of Normanton, bart. 

Shropshire, Henry Bevan, of 
Shrewsbury. 

Somersetshire, Edward Lyne, of 
Saltford. 

Southampton, Wither Bramston, 
of Oakley-hall. 

Staffordshire, Thomas Swinner- 
ton, of Butterton. 

Suffolk, Jacob Whitbread, of 


S Raddham. 


Surry, Thomas Turton, of Star- 
borough-castle. 

Sussex, Francis Newberry, of 
Heathfield park. 

Warwickshire, William Little, 
of Kenilworth. 


59 


Wiltshire, James Montague, of 
Alderton. 

Worcestershire, William Wal- 
dron, of Stourbridge. 

Yorkshire, Mark Sykes, of Sled- 


mire, esqrs. 
SOUTH WALES. 


Brecon, Henry Skreen, of Darby 
park. 

Cardigan, Thomas Bonsal, of 
Trodfraith, 

Carmarthen, John Rees, of Kily- 
maenilwyd. 

Glamorgan, Wyndham Lewis, of 
Lanishen. 

Pembroke, John Herbert Foley, 
of Ridgeway. 

Radnor, Francis Fowke, Bough. 
rood, esqrs. 


NORTH WALES. 


Anglesey, John Bulkeley, of Pre- - 
faddfed. 

Carnarvon, William Jones, of 
Bodfaur. 

Denbighshire, John: Wynne, of 
Gorwenvawr. 

Flint, Bromfield Foulkes, of 
Gwern y gron. 

Merioneth, Robert Lloyd, of 
Cefngoed. 

Montgomery, Lawton Parry, of 
Welch Pool, esqrs. 


SHERIFF appoimted by his Raat 
Highness the Prince of Wales in. 
Council, for the Year 1795. 


County of Cornwall, Ralph Al- 
len Daniel, of Truro, esq. 


* On his decease, some time after, Anthony Kech, of Stoughton-hall, wasappointed. 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE, 


Landon Gazette, April 6, 1795. 


A dispatch, of which the following 

~ Is acopy, was this evening re- 
ceived from Vice-admiral Ho- 
tham, commander of his Majes- 
ty’s ships and vessels in the 
Mediterranean, 


Britannia at Sez, March 16,1795. 


Sir, 
yee will be pleased to in- 
- form their lordships, that 


en the 8th instant, being then in 
Jeghorn road, I received an ex- 
press from Genoa, that the French 
feet, consisting of 15 sail of the 
dine and 3 frigates, were seen two 
days before off the isle of Mar- 
guerite, which intelligence cor- 
responding with a signal made 
from the Mozelle, then in the off. 
ing, for a fleet in the north-west 
quarter, I immediately caused the 
squadron to be unmoored, and at 
daybreak the following morning 
we put to sea with a strong breeze 
from the east north-east. 

The ‘Mozelle previously re- 
turned to me with the informa- 
tion, that the fleet she had seen 
were steering to the southward, 
and supposed to be the enemy; in 
consequence of which I shaped my 
course for Corsica, lest their des- 
tination should be against that 
island, and dispatched the Tarle- 


ton brig to St. Fiorenzo, with or- 
ders for the Berwick to join me 
with all possible. expedition off 
Cape Corse; but in the course of 
the night she returned to me with 
the unwelcome intelligence of 
that ship’s having been captured 
two days before by the enemy’s 
fleet. 

To trespass as little as possible 
vpon their lordships’ time, I shall 
not enter into a detail of our pros 
ceedings until the two squadrons 
got sight of each other, and the 
prospect opened of forcing the ene- 
my to attion, every movement 
which was made being direéted to 
that object, and that alone. 

Although the French ships were 
seen by our advauced frigates daily, 
yet the two squadrons did not get 
sight of each other until the :2th, 
when that of the enemy was disco- 
vered to windward. 

Observing them on the morn. 
ing following still in that direc. 
tion, without any apparent intention 
of coming down, the signal was 
made for a general chace, in the 
course of which, the weather be 
ing squally, and blowing very 
fresh, we discovered one of their 
line of battle ships to be without 
her top-masts, which afforded to 
captain Freemantle of the Incon- 
stant frigate (who was then far ad- 
vanced on the chace) an opportu- 
nity of shewing a good proof of 

Ne British 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


British enterprise, by his attacking, 
raking, and harassing her until the 
coming up of the Agamemnon, 
when he was most ably seconded 
by captain Nelson, who did her so 
much damage as to disable her 
from putting herselfagain_to rights ; 
but they were at this time so far 
detached from our own fleet, that 
they were obliged to quit her, as 
other ships of the enemy were com- 
ing up to her assistance, by one of 
wiich she was soon afterwards 
taken in tow. 


Finding that our heavy ships 


did not gain on the enemy during 
the chace, I made the signal for 
the squadron to form on the lar- 
board line of bearing, in which or- 
der we continued for the night. 

At day-light the next morn- 
ing (the 14th) being about six or 
seven leagues to the south-west of 
Genoa, we observed the enemy’s dis- 
abled ship, with the one that had 
her in tow, to be so far to leeward, 
and separated from their own squa- 
dron, as to afford a probable chance 
of ourcutting them off. The oppor- 
tunity was not lost, all sail was 
made to effect that purpose, which 
reduced the enemy to the alterna- 
tive of abandoning those ships, or 
coming to battle. 

Although the latter did* not. 
appear to be their choice, they yet 
came down (on the contrary tack 
towhich we were) with a view of 
supporting them; but the Captain. 
and Bedford, whose signals were 
made to attack the enemy’s dis- 
abled ship and her companion, 
were so far advanced, and so close- 
ly supported by the other ships of 
Our van, as to cut them off effec- 
tually from any assistance that could 
be given them; the confli€t ended 
in the enemy’s abandoning them, 


6 


and firing upon our line as they 
passed with a light air of wind. 

The two ships that tell proved 
to be the Ca-Ira (formerly the 
Couronne) of 80 gunsy and the 
Censeur of 74. 

Our van ships suftered so much 
by this attack, particularly the Illus. 
trious and Courageux (having each 
lost their main and mizen masts) 
that it became impossible for any 
thing further to be effected. 

I have, however, good reason 
to hope, from the enemy’s steering 
to the westward, after having pass- 
ed our fleet, that, whatever might 
have been their design, their in- 
tentions are for the present frus- 
trated. 

The French fleet were loaded 
with troops; the Ca-Ira having 
thirteen hundred men on board, 
and the Censeur one thousand, of 
whom, by their obstinate defence, 
they lost in killed and wounded 
between three and four hundred 
men. 

The efforts of our squadron to 
second my wishes for an immedi. 
ate and effeftual attack upon the 
enemy were so spirited and unani- 
mous, that I feel peculiar satisfac. 
tion in offering to their lordships 
my cordial commendation of all 
ranks collectively. It is difficult 
to specify particular desert, where 
emulation was common to all, and 
zeal for his majesty’s service the 
general description of the fleet. 

It is, however, an at of jus. 
tice toexpress the sense I entertain 
of the services of captain Holloway, 
of the Britannia. During a long 
friendship with that officer, I have 
had repeated proofs of his personal 
and professional talents; and on 
this recent demand for experience 
and information, his zeal afforded 

me 


62 _ 


me the most beneficial and satis- 
factory assistance. 

Herewith I transmit a list of 
the killed and wounded on board 
the different ships of the squadron, 
and have to lament the loss of cap- 
tain Littlejohn of the Berwick, 
who (I understand from some of 
her men that were re-taken in the 

-Ca-Ira) was unfortunately killed 
the morning of the ships being-cap- 
tured; by which misfortune his 
majesty has lost a most valuable 
_ and experienced officer; and I have 
only to add, that he has left a wi- 
dow and four small children, 
T am sir, 
Your most obedient 
humble servant, 
Wn. HorHam. 


P. S. Inclosed are lists of the 
ships that composed the two squa- 
drons on the 14th instant. 

Tam now on the way with the 
prizes to St. Fiorenzo, but doubt 
much whether it will be possible 


to get them in, as they.are dis.” 


masted, greatly shattered, and.very 
leaky, particularly the Ca-Ira. 


~ Return of the officers and men 


killed and wounded on board the 
different ships of the squadron 
urider viee-admiral -Hotham’s 
command, in an action with the 
’ French fleet off Genoa, the r4th 
of March, 1795. 
Britannia, captain Holloway— 
seaman killed, 18 ditto wounded. 
Princess Royal, captain Purvis-— 
3 seamen killed, 7 ditto wounded ; 
1 marine or soldier wounded, 


St. George, captain Foley—Third’’ 
lieutenant R. Honyman’ wounded, ° 
4 seamen killed, 12 ditto wounded. 


ANNUAL REGISTER; 1795. 


Windsor Castle, ‘captain Gore— 
First lieutenant Thomas Hawker 
wounded, ¢ seamen killed, 28 ditto 
wounded ; 1 marine or soldier kill- 
ed, -2 ditto wounded. 

Captain. captain Reeve—Mr, 
William Hunter (master) and first 
lieut. Wilson Rathbone, wounded ; 
3 seamen killed, 17 ditto wounded. 

Fortitude, captain Young—1 sea- 
man killed, 4 ditto wounded. 

Illustrious, captain Frederick— 
Mr. Samuel Moore (midshipman) 
wounded, 15 seamen killed, 68 ditto 
wounded ; 5 marines or soldiers kill. | 
ed, 1 ditto wounded. 

Egmont, captain Sutton—7 sea- 
men killed, 21 ditto wounded 
~ Terrible, captain Campbell—6 
seamen wounded. 

Cotrageux, captain Montgome- 
ry.—Mr. William Coleman (mid- 
shipman) killed, Mr. John Black- 
burn (master) wounded; 8 seamen 
killed, 21 ditto wounded ; 6 ma- 
rines*‘or soldiers killed, 11 ditto 
wounded. 

- Bedford, captain Gould—First 
lieutenant Miles wounded ; 6 sea- 
men killed, 14 ditto wounded; 1 
marine or soldier killed, 3 ditto 
wounded. o 

Agamemnon, captain Nelson.— 
Mr. John Wilson (master) and 12 
seamen wounded. 

‘ Diadem, captain Tyler—3 sea- 
men killed, 7 ditto wounded. 

‘ Inconstant, captain Freemantle 
+3 seamen killed, 4 ditto wound. 
ed. 

> Tancredi, Le Chevalier Caracci- 
oli—1 seamankilled, 5 ditto wound- 


Total—7s killed, 280 wounded, 
W, Hornam. 


Order 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 63 
Order of Battle, the 14th of March, 1795. 
Lowestoffe repeating frigate. | 
Tarleton, Palade, Poulette, and Minerva frigates. | 
Van squadron, 
Under the commander in the second post. 
No. — Ships. Commanders. Guns. Men, 
1. Captain, Captain Reeve, 74 5go | Starboard 
2. Bedford, Captain Gould, 74 te or 
Tancredi Cuptain Le Chevalier Ca- Weather 
3: ce wae raccioli, 74 2° > Division. 
4. Princess Royal, Captain Purvis, go i Vice-ad- 
gs. Agamemnon, Captain Nelson, 64 491 | Goodall, 
Inconstant, Meleager frigates, to repeat signals. 
Centre squadron, 
Under the commander in chief, ' 
6. fllustrious, Captain Frederick, 94 590 | 
q7- Courageux, Captain Montgomery, 74 6404 
8. Britannia, Captain Holloway, 100 839 ‘one 
5 
g. Egmont, Captain Sutton, 74 §90} 
to. Windsor Castle, Captain Gore, go 755 | Rear-ad. 
Linzee. 
Romulus repeating frigate—Fok. cutter. 
Rear squadron, Larboard 
Under the commander in the third post. for Lee 
: ivisiony 
r1. Diadem, Captain Tyler, 64 491 | Vice-ad. 
12. St. George, Captain Foley, go 760 | sir Hyde 
13. Terrible, Captain Campbell, 74° §90{ Parker. 
14. Fortitude, Captain Young, 14 590) 


Names of the ships which cemposed the French fleet on the 14th March, 


I 
ea On oud 
Complement at the time 
Names, _ Guns, - of men, “of action, 
-Le Sans Culotte — — 120 3200 2000 
Le Viétoire (late Languedoey — 80 95° 1300 
Le Tonnant —_-—--— — 80 950 1300 
Le Guerrier --—--—-— 7% 730 1000 
Le Conguerantt — — — — 74 730 19000 
Le Mercure, — — — — 74 730 1000 
Le Barraa — — ——§ — — 74 730 1900 


G1 


Names. 
Le Gensreaux —_ = 
Le Heurcux 
Le Duquesne 
Le Timoleon (late 

Bourdeaux } 

Le Ca-tra (taken} 
Ee Censeur {taken 
L*Alcide © 
Le Souverain 
La Vestal 
La Minerve 
La Thamise 
L’Alceste 
Scout 
Le Hazard 


—_ 


Commerce de 


RSOe ee 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1405. 


: Gn, board 

Complement at the time 

Guns. of men, * of action, 
74 Fegan 1cD0 
74 730 1000 
74 730 1000 
74 Wie eho: Ioco 
80 950 1300 
74 G30 TOOO 
74 930 tooo 
7+ 930 1000 
aps 250 250 
40 300 3200 
40 300 300 
32 250 250 
18 120 #20 

20 120 TZ0* 


Wo. Hornams 


London Gazette, Fune 27. 

The following dispatch was this 

morning received from admiral 

Jord Bridport, K. B. 
Royal George at Seay Fune 24,1795 

Sir, 

'T is with sincere satisfaGtion I 

acquaint you, for the informa- 

tion of the lords commissioners of 
the admiralty, that his’ majesty’s’ 
squadron under my command at. 
tacked the enemy’s fleet, consisting 
oftwelve ships of the line, attend- 
ed with eleven frigates, and some 
smaller cruizers,on the 23d instant, 
close in with port L’Orient. The 
ships which struck are, the Alex- 
ander, Le Formidable, and Le Ti. 
gre, which were with difficulty re- 
tained. If the enemy had not been 
protected and sheltered by the land, 


I have every reason to believe that 
a much greater number, if not all 
the line of battle ships, would have 
been taken or destroyed. — ~ 

In detailing the particulars of 
this service I am to state, that on 
the dawn of day, on the 2ed in- 
stant, the Nymph and Astrza, be- 
ing the look-out frigates a-head, 
made the signal for the enemy’s 
fleet. L soon perceived that there 
was no intention to meet me in 
battle; consequently I made the 
signal for four of the best sailing 
ships, the Sans Pareil, Orion, Rus- 
sel, and Colossus, and soon after- 
ward for the whole fleet, to chase,. 
which continued all that day, and 
during the night, with very little 
wind. 

Early in the morning on the 29d 
instant, the head'most ships, the Ir= 


* A most curious circumstance in this affair is, that out of the fifteen shipg of the 


lime of which the French fleet consisted, six were actually ships said by lord Hood to 
be burnt on the 18th December, 1793, viz. Le Tonnant, Le Conqueraht, Le Mer- 
cure, Le Heureux, Le Timoleon (then Commerce de Bourdeaux) and Le Ca-Ira 
(then La Couronne), and a seventh, L’Alcide, he reported to-be unfit for service. 
If our readers will take the trouble to refer to the Gazette extraordinary of the 17th 
January 1794, in the Appendix to the Chronicle of our, Annual Register for 1794, 


they will find this to be the case, ne 
resistible, 


APPENDIX 


fesistible, Orion, Queen Charlotte, 
Russell, Colossus; and Sans Pareil, 
were pretty well up with the ene- 
my, and a little before six o’clock 
the action began, and continued 
till near nine. Wheh the ships 
struck, the British squadron was 
near to some batteries, and in the 
face of a strong naval port, which 
will manifest to the public the zeal; 
intrepidity, and skill of the admi- 
rals, captains, and all other officers, 
seamen, and soldiers employed up- 
on this service; arid they are fully 
entitled to my warmest acknow- 
ledgments, 

I beg also to be allowed to mark 
my approbation, in a particular 
manner, of captain Domett’s con- 
du, serving under my flag, for his 
manly spirit, and for the assistance 
T received from his ative and at. 
tentive mind. I feel likewise great 
satisfaction in doing justice to the 
meritorious conduct of all the offi. 
. cers of every class, as well as to the 
bravery of the seamen and soldiers 
in the Royal George, upon this 
event, and upon former occasions. 

I judged it necessary upon the 
information I had recéived of the 
force of the enemy, to put the Ro- 
bust, Thunderer, and Standard, in- 
to the line of battle ; but from their 
distance from my squadron, and 
under the circumstance of little 
wind, they could not join me till 
after the aétion was over; 

I shall proceed upon my station 
as soon as [ have ordered a distri- 
bution of the prisoners, and made 
other necessary artangements for 
the squadron. Jt is my intention 
to keep at sea, in order to fulfil 
every part of my instructions. 

Thave judged it necessary to send 
captain Domett with my dispatches, 
who will give their lordships such 

Vo.. XXXVI. 


to the CHRONICLE. 


63 


further particulars as shall have oc- 
curred to him on the victory we 
have gained. __ 

You will herewith recéive a list 
of the killed and wounded, with 
the ships they belonged to, and the 
commanders’ names. 

Tamm, &ci 
BrrppPor?t. 
Evan Nepeany es9- 


N. B. I am happy to find by the 
feport made to me, that captain 
Grindall’s wourids are not danger- 
ous. : 

Note. Captain Domett reports, 
that the remainder of the enemy’s 
fleet made their escape into L’O- 
rents © 


List of the killed and wounded on 
board his majesty’s squadron un- 
der my command, in an action 
with the enemy off port L’Orient, 


June 23, 17953 


Trresistible, captain Grindall—g 
seamen killed, g seamen and 3 sol- 
diers wourided ; captain Grindall 
and Mr. Trovghton, the master, 
wounded. 

Orion, sit James Saumarea—g5 
seamien, and 1 soldier killed, 17 sea- 
men and one soldier wounded. 

Queen Charlotte, sirA. S. Dou. 
glas, 4 seamen killed, 25 seamen and 
5 soldiers wounded; Mr. David 
Coutts, master’s mate, and Mr. 
Charles Hornsby, midshipman, 
wounded. 

Russeil, captain Thomas Larcom . 
—z seamen and 1 soldier wound. 
ed, g seamen wounded; captain 
Bacon of 11th regiment wounded. 

Colossus, captain J. Monkton— 
4 seamen and x soldier killed, 26 
seamen and’ 2 soldiers Wiidisbicl bed 
lieutenant Mends and Mr. John 
Whiley, midshipman, wounded. 
F Sans 


66 


Sans Pareil, right hon. lord Hugh 
Seymour, captain Browell—7 sca- 
men and 1 soldier killed--iieutenant 
C, M. Stocker, od lieutenant; lieu- 
tenant W. Jephcott, lieutenant of 
marines, killed; lieutenant F. Nott, 
and Mr, Richard Spencer, midship- 
man, wounded, 

London, -captain E. Grifith—2 
seamen wounded ; Mr. J. E. Baker, 

.Taidshipman, wounded, 

Queen, vice-admiral sir A. Gard. 
ner, captain Bedford—none killed 
or wounded. 

Prince George, captain Edge— 
none killed or wouuded. 

Royal George, admiral lord Brid- 
port, captain Domett— 5 seamen 
and 1 soldier wounded. 

Briprort. 


Royal George at Seay Fune 24. 


Landon Gazette Extraordinary. 
Horse Guards, Nov 23, 1795+ 


Dispatches, of which the following 
are copies and an extract, have 
been this day received by the right 
hon. Henry Dundas, one of his 
majesty’s principal secretaries of 
state, from vice-admiral sir Geo, 
Keith Elphinstone, K. B. and ma. 
jor-generals Alured Clarke, and 


J. H. Craig. 


Castle of the Cape of Gsed Hope, 
Sept. 21) 1795- 

Sir, 
HE Dutch governor having 
- not only rejected, in the most 
peremptory terms, the proposals 
which had been made to him, that 
the settlement should place itself 
under the protection of Great Bri- 
tain, but having also a¢ted in a 
manner demonstrative of such hos- 
tile dispositions towards us, as to 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


justify the suspicion which was 
conveyed to us of its being his inten- 
tion to set fire to Simon’s Town, 
from which all the inhabitants had. 
been obliged:to retire by his order, 
the admiral and myself concurred 
in thinking it expedient to prevent 
the execution of his -purpose, by 
Jandivg ourselves, and taking pos- 
session of the place, which I ac- 
cordingly did on the a4th of July, 
with the part of the 78th regiment 
under my command, and the ma- 
rines of the squadron, the latter 
amounting to about 350 men, and 
the former to 450. Very few days 
elapsed before our patroles were 
fired upon by the Burghar militia 
and Hottentots, who occupied the 
hills round us, while our  pcople 
were restrained by the directions 
which they had received not to 
commit any act of hostility towards 
the Dutch troops. Hostilities be- 
ing, however, thus commenced, 
and as the time approached when 
we might reasonably expect the ar- 
rival ot the troops and stores which 
had been requested of the goyernor 


of St. Helena, it appeared to me 


to be an object of consequence to 
dispossess the Dutch forces of the 
post which they occupied at the 
important pass of Muizenburg, as 
by it we might perhaps open a 
more ready communication with 
the country, at the same time that 
we should by doing so convince 
the inhabitants of the reality of 
our intentions, of which we knew 
they entertained doubts. I accord- 
ingly proposed it to sir George El- 
phinstone, who immediately agreed 
to it with that readiness which has 
so strongly attended all the in- 
stances of assistance which I have 
received from him. Sir George. 
having landed a detachment of sea- 

meny 


Ee 


[-——_— 


ne ee es oe Oe CF 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.. 


men, which was formed into two 
battalions, we were only delayed 
by the want of a proper wind, 
which would not permit the move- 
ment to take place till the morns 
ing of the 1st of August, when sir 
George having made the signal that 
it would serve, the Ametica and 
Stately, with the Echo and Rattle- 
Snake, got under weigh about 12 
o’clock, and 1 marched at the same 
time with the 78th and marines, 
together avith the seamen, being in 
ali about i600 men. 

The post of Muizenburg being 
extremely strong to the front, and 
covered by a numerous field artil- 
lery, against which I had not one 
gun to opposey our pi ‘incipa al reli- 
ance was upon the fire from the ships, 
which, being properly disposed of 
at the different stations assigned 
them by commodore Blankett, pro- 
duced every effect which cou'd be 
expected fromit. Theenemy were 
driven from two twenty-four pound. 
ers, which were directed towards 
the seay and abandoned the post 
before it was possible for us to ar. 
rive near enough to profit by the 
Circimstance so completely as we 
were in hopes of doing, as they 
carried off all their artillery, ex. 
cept the two heavy guns above- 
‘mentioned, and one brass six-poun- 
der, with two eight-inch howit- 
ers. 

The enemy having, however, 
taken post on an advantageous ridge 
of rocky heights, very strong, and 
difficult of access, a little beyond 
the camp, the advanced guard, un- 
. der the command of major Money- 
penny, of the 78th, supported by 
the battalion of ‘that regiment, at- 
tacked and drove them from thence, 
With the greatest spirit, although, 
in addition to the strength of the 


/ 


67 


ground, the enemy were further 
protected by cannon from the op- 
posite side of the Lagoon, which 
covers the post of Muizenburg to- 
wards the Cape Town. In this af- 
fair, which terminated only with 
the day, the a@ivity and spirit of 
the light company of the 78th, un- 
der the command of Captain Camp- 
b-ll, were conspicuously displayed. 

Captain Scott, of the 78th, was the 
Only officer wounded on the occa- 
sion. 

The next morning the enemy, 
having drawn out their whole force 
from the Cape Town, eight field 
pieces advanced to attack us, but 
finding us too strongly posted, and 
being themselves fired upon from 
the pieces they had left behind 
Oi preceding day, which had 

en drilled and brought forward 
8 the exertions of a company of 
pikemen under licutenant Coffin, 
of the Rattlesnake, they thought it 
more prudent to desist from the 
attempt, and retired, after som2 
skirmishing, attended with little 
loss on our side, and only remark- 
able fot the steadiness displayed by 
the 1st battalion of seamen, com. 
manded by captain Hardy, of the 
Echo, who having crossed the wa- 
ter with the marines, received the 
enemy’s fire without returning a 
shot, and manceuvred with a re- 
galarity that would not have discres 
dited veteran troops, The marines, 
under major Hill, displayed an equal 
degree of steady resolution on the- 
occasion. 

On the gth the Arniston arrived 
from St. Helena, with such assist 
ance as governor Brooke had been 
able to afford us. It consisted of 
352 rank and file, with some field 
artillery, and a very limited pro. 
portion of ammunition, They were 

Fea directed 


68 


direfted to proceed immediately to 
camp, and the boats of the fleet 
were unremittingly employed in 
forwarding stores and provisions to 
us: a work in which, from the pe- 
euliar difficulty of our situation, 
and the insuficiency of our means, 
our progress was very slow, and 
frequently so much interrupted by 
nfavourable weather, that we 
could hardly get a-head of our 
cousumption. While this neces- 
sary business was going on, our 
future operations became the ob- 
ject of my mostearnest consideration. 
On the one hand, as the enemy 
appearcd numerous, and disposed 
to an obstinate defence, for the 
which they had had ample time 
to make the best preparations, I 
could not but be sensible that the 
force under my command was, in 
point of numbers, inadequate to 
ihe attempt of reducing them; 
and I had little to rely on to coun- 
terbalance the disparity, but the 
spirit of the individuals belonging 
to it. I possessed no cattle or car- 
riages for the transport of ammu- 
nition or provisions, and a com- 
munication of twelve miles was to 
be kept up to be furnished with 
either, at least till I could open a 
shorter one with the ships that the 
admiral might send to Table Bay, 
for which the season was still very 
unfavourable. On the other hand, 
though these difficulties were suf- 


ficiently discouraging, yet the 
arrival of general Clarke was 


uncertain, and the state of our 
provisions was such as to render 
the possibility of our stay, till it 
should happen, very doubtful. Un- 
der these circumstances, I deter- 
mired on an attempt by night on 
the most considerable of the ene- 
my’s out-posts, in the hopes that a 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


severe execution among the burgher 
militia might intimidate them, and 
produce circumstances to our ad. 
vantage. It took place on the 27th 
of last month; but unfortunately, 
notwithstanding every attention on 
the part of lieutenant-colonel 
M‘Kenzie, who commanded, it 
failed, from the intricacy of the 
roads and the timidity and ignorance 
cf the guides; while it served only 
to produce among the enemy a de. 
gree of vigilance, which soon con- 
vinced me of the impratticability of 
any further attempt by way of sur. 
prize. 

On the morning of the 1st ot 
September, the enemy, having lined 
the mountains above us with Hot. 
tentots and burgher militia, com. 
menced a fire of musquetry upon 
our camp, which, from the total 
want of effect that had attended a 
former attempt of the same nature, 
was little atrended to, till unfor- 
tunately the piquet of the reserve, 
being too much occupied, with 
covering themselves from it, neg. 
le€&ted their front, from whence 
the enemy poured in considerable 
numbers, and forced them with 
some loss. Captain Brown, with 
the 78th grenadiers, advancing 
however to their support, the ene- 
my were immediately driven down 
the hill again, and the ground of 
the piquets re-occupied. In this 
affair major Moneypenny, of the 
78th, was severely wounded ; and 
we suffered a great loss in being 
deprived of the assistance of an ot. 
ficer of distinguished zeal and ac- 
tivity in the command of the re- 
serve, with which he had been 
charged since our march from Si- 
mon’s Town. Captain Dentatie, 
of the St. Helena troops, was also 
wounded, 

In 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 69 


' Ina conference with sir George 
Elphinstone, on the 2d of Septem- 
ber, it was agreed to wait six days 
longer for the possibility of the ar- 
rival of general Clarke, and that 
if he did not appear by that time I 
should then advance, and, under 
every disadvantage of numbers and 
Situation, try the fortune of an at- 
tack, which, however hazardous, 
we deemed it our duty to make, 
before the total failure of our pro- 
Visions put us under an absolute 
necessity of seeking a supply else- 
where, 

On the morning of the 3d, how- 
ever, the enemy, encouraged by 
the litrle success which had attend. 
ed our attempt on the rst, meditated 
a general attack on our camp, 
which in all probability would have 
been decisive of the fate of the co- 
lony: they advanced in the night 
with all the strength they could 
muster, and witha train of not less 
than 18 field pieces. Some move- 
ments which had been observed 
the preceding evening had given 
me a suspicion of their intention, 
and we were perfe@tly prepared to 
receive them. They were on their 
march, and considerable bodies be- 
gan to make their appearance with- 
in our view, when at that critical 
moment the signal for a fleet first 
disconcerted them, and the appear- 
ance of 14 sail of large vessels, 
which came in sight immediately 
after, induced them to relinquish 
their enterprise, and retire to their 
former posts. General Clarke came 
to an anchor in Simon’s Bay the 
next morning: and for the subse. 
quent events, which have been 
attended with the capture of this 
important colony, I do myself the 
honour to refer you to his account ; 
trusting that his majesty and our 


country will do me, and the troops 
and seamen under my command, 
the justice to believe, that it has 
not been owing to any want of zeal, 
or of a cheartul determination to 
encounter every hazard in the ne- 
cessary discharge of our duty, that 
the same event did not take place 
during the period in which we were 
left to ourselves. Under the cir- 
cumstances of our situation, I did 
not think the attempt justifiable, 
unless compelled to it by necessity ; 
but we were at the same time fully 
resolved not to retire, in any event, 
without making that ‘attempt, 
which, whether successful or not, 
would at least have/been a proof of 
our zeal for his majesty’s service. 
It is impossible for me to close 
this report, sir, without making 
my acknowledgments to lieut. co- 
lone! M‘Kenzie, of the 78th, major 
Hill of the marines, and the cap- 
tains Hardy and Spranger, of the 
Echo and Rattlesnake sloops, who 
commanded the two battalions of 
seamen. Animated by theexertions 
of those officers, the troops and 
seamen have undergone great fa- 
tigue and hardships with a chearful 
resignation, and have encountered 
a more numerous enemy with an 
aétive spirit, which entitles them 
to the most favourable report frem 
me to his majesty. Lieutenant 
Campbell, of the Echo, who com. 
manded a company of seamen, 
which I formed into a light com- 
pany, merits also that [I should 
notice his indefatigable zeal, and 
the ability with which he conducted 
the service in which his company 
wasconstantly employed. To this, 
sir, I have only to add, that my 
sense of the obligation I am under 
to sir George Elphinstone is such, 
as I should not do justice to in an 
3 attempt 


70 


attempt to express it; his advice, 
his active assistance, and cordial 
co-operation on every occasion, 
have never been wanting, and en- 
title him to my warmest gratitude. 
I have the honour to be, 
with the greatest respect, sir, 
your most obedient, 
humble servant, 
J. H. Crate, major-general. 


I have the honour to enclose a 
return of the killed and wounded 
during the period of my command. 


Right hon. Henry Dundas, cne of 
bis majesty’s principal secretaries 


of state, Ge. 


[Then follows arcturn of the 
killed, wounded, and missing, of 
the troops and seamen under the 
éommand of major-general Craig, 
‘between the 7th of August and the 
3d of September, 1795; amount. 
ing in the whole to 3 rank and file 
killed; 1 major, z captains, 1 sub- 
altern, 1 drummer, 32 rank and 
file wounded; 5 rank and file mis. 
sing. | 

Names of the offierrs wounded, 
Major Moneypenny, of the 78th 

regiment; captain Hercules Scott, 

of ditto; captain Dentaffe, of 

St. Helena corps; Mr. Hardy, 

midshipman, R. N. 

J. H. Crate, major-gen. 


Cape Town, Sept. 23,1795. 
Sir, 

My letters from St, Salvador, by 
the Chatham brig, will have ac- 
quainted yqu of our spe day that. 
place: and I have now the honour 
to inform you, that all the India 
¢ompany’s ships having troops on 
board, arrived off the Cape of Good 
Hope on the 3d, and entered Si- 
mon’s Bay on the 4th instant, where 
J found the admiral in possession of 


ANNUAE REGISTER, 1795. 


the harbour, and major-general 
Craig at Muyzenburg, a post of im2 
portance about six miles on the 
read to this place, with a corps 
composed of seamen and marines 
from the fleet, six companies of the 
78th regiment that came init, and 
a detachment of the East-India 
company’s troops from St. Helena, 
amounting in all to about 1900 
men, ard the enemy, who had pe- 
remptorily rejected all negotiation, 
in a state of active hostility against 
us. Under these circumstances it 
became necessary to endeavour to 
effect the execution of our orders 
without loss of time; I therefore, 
in conjunction with, and aided by. 
the admiral, disembarked the regi- 
ments, artillery, and necessary 
stores, and forwarded them to the 
advanced post as fast as possible, 
where, through his ardent zeal for 
the public service, and indefati- 
gable exertions, as much provision 
was collected as we hoped might 
enable us to set down before. the 
town, and go on till we could com- 
municate with our ships in Table 
Bay, or draw some assistance from 
the.country behind us: and having 
made the best arrangement we 
could for transporting our provi- 
sions, guns, .stores, ammunition, 
and necessary articles of every kind, 
by the only means in our power, 
men’s labour, we marched on the 
14th from Muyzenburg, leaving 
a sufficient detachment for the pro. 
teétion of our camp and stores at 
that place. The enemy could see 
all our motions, and the country 
through which we were to pass for 
several miles being very favourable 
to the sort of warfare that it was. 
their business to pursue (many of 
them being on horseback, and 
armed with guns that kill at a great 

é distance}, 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. ’ 


distance), I had reason to think we 
~ might be greatiy harassed, and 
suffer much on our route, Our 
loss, however, from the precau- 
tions taken, and the shyness of the 
enemy, fortunately proved less than 
might have been expected, having 
only one seaman killed and seven- 
teen sojdiers wounded in our pro- 
gress to the post of Wynberg, 
where the enemy were in force, 
with nine pieces of cannon, and had 
determined, as we are told, to 
make serious resistance. But hav- 
ing formed the army from columns 
of march in two lines, and made a 
detachment from my right and left 
to attack both their flanks, while I 
advanced with the main body and 
artillery (which, much to the cre- 
dit of major Yorke, was extremely 
well conducted and served) against 
their centre, they found themselves 
so pressed. by us, and at the same 
time alarmed by the appearance of 
commodore Blankett with three 
ships the admiral had detached into 
‘Table-bay, to cause a diversion on 
that side, of which they were very 
jealous, that they retired with the 
loss, of a few men from our cannon, 
before we could gain the top of the 
hill; from whence we followed 
them close for two miles; but dark 
coming on, and great part of the 
troops being much fatigued by the 
burdens they carried, and the ha- 
rassment they met with through 
very swampy ground in the course 
of the day, { determined to halt for 
the night in the position I found 
myself, which proved favourable 
for the purpose, with the intention 
of prosecuting my march at day- 
light next morning. In this situa- 
tion an officer arrived with a flag 
and letter from governor Sluyskin, 


rk 
asking a cessation of arms for 48 
hours, to arrange and offer propo- 
sals for surrendering the town; bu» 
I did not think it- prudent to grant 
more than 24, in which time every 
thing was settled agreeably to the 
articles of capitulation that I have 
the honour to enclose, whereby the 
regular troops that formed the gar- 
rison became prisoners of war, and 
his majesty put into the full pos. 
session of the town and ,colonyy 
which I hope will prove acceptable 
to him, and justify the commenda- 
tion and report that I think it my 

“duty to make of the meritorious 
services of all the officers, soldiers, 
seamen, and marines that have been 
employed in this arduous service. 
The difficulties and hardships that 
great part of them have experienced - 
are extreme, and the perseverance 
and. cheerfulness with which they 
were encountered, do them :the 
highest credit, and, I am persuaded, 
will -recommend them all in the 
strongest manner to his majesty’s 
favour, 

The general character of sir 

George Keith Elphinstone, and his 
ardent desire to serve his country, 
are too well known to receive addi- 
tional lustre from any thing I could 
say upon that subject; but I should 
do injustice to my own feelings, if 
I did not express the obligations I 
am under, for the ready co-opera- 
tion and assistance that he afforded 
upon every occasion, which so emi- 
nently contributed to the successful 
issue of our joint endeavours, 

The arrangements made by ma- 
jor-general Craig previous to my 
arrival, and the attive services he 
rendered afterwards, claim my 
thanks, and furnish the best proof 
of his having condutted his majes- 

F 4 ty’s 


72 


ty’s service in a manner honourable 
to himself and beneficial to his 
country. P 
Lieutenant-colonel M*‘Murdoc, 
‘deputy quarter-master-general to 
the expedition under my orders, 
will have the honour of delivering 
this dispatch. He is well qualified 
to give you every information that 
his short residence here will admit ; 
and I take the liberty, sir, of re- 
commending this old and most valu- 
able officer to your good offices and 
his majesty’s favour, 
I have the honour to be, 
with the highest respeét and regard, 
sir, 
your most obedient and most faithful 
humble servant, 
ALURED CLARKE. 


P.S. The quantity of ordnance, 
ammunition, naval and other stores 
that we find here, is very consider- 
able; but as there is not time to 
have it examined, and proper inven- 
tories made before the departure of 
the ship which conveys these dis- 
patches, we must defer sending such 
documents as may be thought neces- 
sary upon this subject till another 
opportunity. 

The regular troops made prison- 
ers of war amount to about one 
thousand, six hundred of which 
are of the regiment of Gordon, and 
the rest principally of the corps of 
artillery. Enclosed is a return of 
the killed and wounded-on the 14th 
instant. ACs 


ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION, pro- 
posed by the honourable com- 
missary and council of regency 
of the Care of Good Hope, to 

eneral Alured Clarke, com- 
manding his Britannic majesty’s 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


troops, and to vice-admiral the 

honourable sir George Keith 

Elphinstone, K. B. commanding 

the ships of war of his said ma, 

yesty. 

Art. J, The castle and the town 
shall be surrendered to the troops 
of his Britannic majesty. 

Ans. ‘Vhe capitulation being 
signed, the castle and the town must 
be surrendered to a detachment of 
his Britannic majesty’s troops at 
eleven o’clock this day. 

Art. II. (hemilirary shall march 
out with the honours of war, and 
shall then Jay down their arms and 
become prisoners of war; but the 
officers shall retain their swords. 

Ans. Agreed. 

Ast. Ili, Such officers as shall 
be desirous of leaving the colony 
shall have permission to do so, they 
giving their parole of honour that 
they will not serve against Great 
Britain during the present war; 
and there shall be no impedinient 
to their going home in neutral 
ships, if they chuse it, at their own 
expence. 

Ans. Agreed; and in the mean 
time they shall remain prisoners on 
their parole at the Cape Town. 

Art. IV. Such officefs as chuse 
to remain here without service, 
shall have leave so to do, 

Ans. Agreed. 

Art, V. All property belonging 
to the Dutch East India Company 
shall be faithfully delivered up 
without reservation, and proper in- 
ventories furnished to such officers 
as shall be appointed to receive it ; 
but all private property of every 
sort, whether belonging to the 
company’s civil, naval, or military 
servants, to the burghers and inha- 
bitants, to churches, orphans, or 


public 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. "3 


public institutions, shall remain 
free and untouched. 

Ans. Agreed, in its fullest lati- 
tude. 

Art. VI, Servants of the com- 
pany out of pay, or in the service 
of the burghers, desirous of remain- 
ing in the colony, shall be permit. 
ted to do so. 

Ans. Agreed. 

Art. VII. The inhabitants of 
the colony shall preserve the prero- 
gatives which they at present en- 
joy. Public worship, as at present 
in use, shall also be maintained 
without alteration, 

Ans. Agreed. 

Art. VIII. His Britannic majes- 
ty shall continue the paper money 
in its present valve, to prevent the 
total ruin of the inhabitants, 

Ans. Agreed. 

Art. 1X. No new taxes shall be 
introduced, but the present ones 
shall be modified as much as possi- 
ble, in consideration of the decay 
of the cojony. 

Ans, Agreed, 

Art. X. The commissary, as go- 
vernor, being prisoner of war, shall, 
after having delivered up what be- 
longs to the company, be at liberty 
to depart from hence on his patrole 
of honour, and may, if he chuses 
it, take his passage on board a neu- 
tral ship. 

- Ans. Agreed. 

Art, XI. He shall also be per- 
mitted to carry along with him, or 
to realize all his private property 
of every sort, giving his word of 
honour as to its being really such. 

Ans. Agreed. 

Art. XII. He shall likewise have 
permission, after having faithfully 
delivered up all papers, plans, &c. 
belonging to this government, to 
_ getain all papers belonging to him- 


self, and which may appear neces- 
sary to him for the vindication of 
his condu@ during the time of his 
ministry, in the same manner as he 
might have done, had he been dis- 
charged by his sovercign. 

Art. XIII. No persons whatever, 
whether servants of the company, 
seamen, military, burghers, or 
others belonging to the colony,. 
shall be pressed into his Britannic 
majesty’s service, or engaged but 
by their own free-will and consent, 

Ans. Agreed. 

(Signed) 
Avurep Criarke, General, 
Geo, KzeitTH KLPHINSTONE, 
Vice-admiral, 


Additional Article.—It having 
been represented to us, that the ute 
most confusion must ensue in the 
colony, and that it would, in alt 
probability, be attended with the 
entire ruin of it, if the paper mo- 
ney now circulating in it were de- 
prived of that security which can 
alone give any effet to the eighth 
article, we therefore consent, that 
the lands and houses, the property 
of the Dutch East India company 
in this ~settlement, shall continue 
the security of that part of the mo- 
ney which is not already secured 
by mortgages upon the estates of 
individuals, by its having been 
lent tothem. ‘This is to be, how- 
ever, without prejudice to the go- 
vernment of Great Britain having 
the use of the buildings, &c. for 
public purposes. And we will fur- 
ther represent to his majesty’s go- 
vernment the infinite importance 
of this subject to the future pros- 
perity of the colony, and request 
that they will take it into consider. 
ation, in order to make such ar- 
rangements as May appear ge 

. 


+. 


Te. 


for its further security, if necessary, 
~ er for its final liquidation, if prafti- 
cable. 

(Signed) 


Auvurepo Crarke, General. - 


Geo. KertH ELPHINSTONE. 
Vice-admiral. 
Copy of translation, 

Jouwn Jackson. 


Return of the killed and wounded 
of the troops and seamen under 
the command of general Alured 

’ Clarke, on the 14th of Septem- 
ber, 1796. 

78th grenadiers, 2 rank and file 
wounded. 


S4th ditto. 1 rank and file 


wounded. 
gsth ditto. 4 rank and file 
wounded. 
98th ditto. .2 rank and file 
wounded, 
78th light infantry. 2 rank and 
_ file wounded. 
gsth .ditto. 2 rank and. file 
wounded. 


St. Helena Company. 1 serjeant, 
2 rank and file wounded. 
98th regiment. 1 rank and file 


wounded. 

Light company of seamen. 1 rank 
and file killed. 
Total. 1 rank and-file killed, 1 


serjeant, 16 rank. and file 
wounded. 
Water CuiFre, 


Dep. Adj. Gen. 


Extraét of a letter from vice-admi- 
ral the hon. sir G. K. Elphin- 
stone, K. B, to Mr. Secretary 
Dundas, dated on board his ma- 
jesty’s ship Monarch, Table-Bay, 
Cape of Good Hope, September 
23, 1795- 

“© IT have the honour to inform 
you, that onthe gd instant, the India 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ships from Salvador arrived in False 
Bay ; his majesty’s ship, Sphynx, 
which. sailed with them, having 
met with an accident, was obliged 
to return to the former place for , 
repair. 

‘© On the 4th general Clarke 
came into the harbour, and on a 
conference with him, it was deter 
mined to land the troops without a 
moment’s loss of time; but, not- 
withstanding the utmost exertion 
of the troops and seamen, it was the 
14th before provision, guns, am~ 
munition, &c. could be collected 
to enable the general to move for- 
ward from the camp at Muyzen. 
burg. 

“© On the morning of that day 
the army marched, each man car- 
rying four days provisions, and the 
volunteer seamen from the India 
ships dragging the cannon through 
a deep sand; the country being 
difficult to proceed on, they were 
considerably galled by the enemy 
during a fatiguing march perform. 
ed in hot weather. 

‘« At Wynberg the bulk of the 
Dutch made a stand, but were 
soon dislodged by his majesty’s 
forces; and nearly at the same mo- 
ment commodore Blankett, whom 
I had previously detached for the 
express purpose of alarming the 
enemy, and giving them a diver. 
sion on the Cape Town side, ap- 
peared off Camps Bay with the Ame- 
rica, Echo, Rattlesnake, and Bome 
bay Castle India ship, and performed 
that service in the completest man- 
ner. At elevenP. M. the commis- 
sary Sluyskin sent in a flag of truce 
to demand a cessation of arms for 
48 hours; and on the following 
morning the colony was surrens 
dered to his majesty. 

‘© I cannot conclude this letter 

without 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


without acknowledging the conso- 
Jation I have derived from the 
friendly assistance and advice of 
Major-general Craig during a tedi- 
ous sojournment before this place, 
under many distressing circum. 
stances ; and it is a real pleasure to 
add, that, with him, and also since 
the arrival of general’ Clarke, the 
same sentiments seem to have a¢tu- 
ated the minds of the officers to 
whom his majesty has been pleased 
to entrust the conduct of the expe. 
dition. 

** IT beg leave to notice the emi- 
nent services of captains Hardy and 
Spranger; the conduct of the offi- 
cers, and of the sea and marine 
corps, is also truly praise-worthy, 
and will be: acceptable to his. ma- 
jesty: the readiness with which 
the seamen of the India ships, un- 
der the command of captain Acland, 
of the Brunswick, offered their 
service, gave me the highest satis-. 
fastion ; irdeed all ranks of men 
bore this long service, during bad 
weather, with the utmost cheerful- 
ness, though often unavoidably ill 
fed, and attended with great fa- 
tigue. 

«© My anxiety to dispatch the Or- 
pheus, and the short time since our 
obtaining possession, will, I hope, 
plead. my excuse for not: transmit- 

“tung, by this opportunity, a return 
of the naval stores taken, which I 
understand are considerable; but 
the variety of other circumstances 
at present occupying my mind have 
hitherto prevented my attending to 

‘that point.” 


. Admiralty Office, Now, 23, 1795. 
A dispatch, of which the following: 
. is an extraét, has been this day 

received from vice-admiral the 


hon, sir George Keith E\phin.. 


25 


stone, K. B. dated on board his 
majesty’s ship Monarch, in Table 


Bay, Sept. 23) 1795+ 
‘© T have the honour to acquaint 
you, for the information of my 
lords commissioners of the admi. 
ralty, that on the 16th instant, the 
colony and castle of the Cape of 
Good Hope surrendered by capitu- 
lation to the British arms, in con- 
sequence of which I proceeded in 
the Monarch to this bay, whither 
I had previously dispatched com. 
modore Blankett, in the America, 
with the two sloops and an India 
ship, for the purpose of raising an 
alarm on the Cape Town side, in 
which he succeeded admirably. 

‘© This event has:given me great 
satisfaction; not only from thé for- 
tunate termination, but also from the 
relief it affords to the officers, seay 
men, and marines of the fleet under 
my command, after a laborious 
service for a length of time, where= 
in they were continually fatigued, 
and often unavoidably ill fed. 
They merit my warmest thanks, to 
which the volunteer seamen from 
the East India company’s ships are 
also entitled, for their readiness in 
undertaking to draw the. cannon, 
and the cheerfulness with which 
they performed that duty; and I 
must more particularly beg leave 
to. notice the eminent services of 
captains Hardy and Spranger, 
which, however, are more fully 
described in a letter from major. 
general Craig to me, a copy of 
which I have the honour to enclose, 
together with a list of promotions, 
wherein you will perceive I had 
given the command of the Princess 
to capiain Hardy, whose acknow, 
ledged merit will, 1 trust, justify 
my election, and recommend him 

te 


76. 


to their lordships’ confirmation. 
This ship is one of those found in 
Simon’s Bay, called the Dutch 
Wilhemstadt and Boetzlaar, of 
1000 tons burthen, mounting 26 
gons, and most completely sound, 
with copper in the hold sufficient to 
sheath her. 

‘©The ship Castor, and Star arm- 
ed brig, late belonging to the Dutch 
East {ndia company, were found 
at anchor in this bay; the latter 
being fit for his majesty’s service 
and much wanted, I have aiso pre. 
sumed to commission her.’’ 


SOFT Ey I 


THE NEW FRENCH CONSTITUTION. 


Adopted by the Convention, Au. 
Zust 22, 1795-6 


Declaration of the Rights and Duties 
, of Man, and of a Citizen, 


ti French people proclaim, 
in the presence of the Supreme 
Being, the following declaration of 
the rights and duties of man, and of 
a citizen, 


Rights. 


1. The rights of man in society 
are—liberty, equality, security, 
property. 

2. Liberty consists in the power 
of doing that which does not injure 
the rights of another. 

3. Equality consists in this— 
that the law is the same for all, 
whether it prote¢t or punish— 
Equality admits oe distinétion of 
birth, no hereditary power. 

4- Security results from the con- 
currence of all to secure the rights 
of each. 

5- Property is the right of en. 
joying and disposing of a man’s 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


own goods, his revenues, the fruit | 
of his labour, and his industry. 

6. The law is the general will, 
expressed by the majority either of 
the citizens or of their representa- 
tives. 

7. That which is not forbidden 
by the law cannot be hindered.— 
No man can be constrained to that 
which the law ordains not. 

8. No one can be cited, accused, 
arrested, or detained, but in the 
cases determined by the law, and 
according to the forms it has pres 
scribed. 

g. Those who solicit, expedite, 
sign, execute, or cause to be exe. 
cuted, arbitrary a¢ts, are culpable, 
and ought to be punished. 

10. All rigour not necessary to 
secure the person of a man under 
charge, ought to be severely re. 
pressed by the law. 

11. No man can be judged until 
he has been heard or legally sum- 
moned, 

12. The law ought not to decree 
any punishment but such as is 
stri@ly necessary, and proportioned 
to the offence. 

13. All treatment that aggra- 
vates the punishment determined 
by the law is a crime. 

14. No law, criminal or civil. 
can have a retroactive effect. 

15. Every man may engage his 
time and his services; but he can- 
not sell himself, or be sold; his 
person is not an alienable property. 

16. Allcontribution is established 
for general utility ; it ought to be 
assessed ppon the contributors in 
proportion to their means. 

17. The sovereignty residesessen- 
tially in the universality of citizens. 

18. No individual, and no par- 
tial union of citizens, can arrogate 
the sovereignty. _ 

19. No man can, without a legal 

dele- 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 74 


delegation, exercise any authority, 
‘nor fill any public function. 

20. Each citizen has an equal 
right to concur immediately or 
mediately in the formation of the 
law, the nomination of the repre- 
sentatives of the people and of the 
public funtionaries. 

21. Public funétions cannot be. 
come the property of those who 
exercise them. 

22. The social guarantee cannot 
exist if the division of powers is 
not established, if their limits are 
not fixed, and if the responsibility 
ef the public funCionaries is not 
assured. 
, Duties. 

1. The declaration of rights con- 
tains the obligations of legislators : 
the maintenance of society de- 
mands that those who compose it 
should equally know, and fulft 
their duties. 

2. All the duties of man, and. of 
a citizen, spring from these two 
principles, engraved by nature in 
every heart:—‘* Do not to ano- 
ther that which you would not 
another should do to you.”,—“ Do 
constantly to others the good you 
would receive from them. 

3. The obligations of each socie- 
ty consist in defending it, in serv- 
ing it, in living obedient to the 
laws, and in respeGing those who 
are the organs of the laws. 

4- No man is a good citizen, if 
he is not a goodson, a good father, 
a good brother, a good friend, a 
good husband. 

__5- No man is a good man, if he 
is not frankly and religiously an 
observer of the laws. 

5. He who openly violates the 
laws, declares himself in a state of 
war with society. 

_ 4. He who, without openly, in- 


fringing the laws, eludes them by 
craft or by address, hurts the in~ 
terests of all; he renders him- 
self unworthy cf their benevolence 
and of their esteem. 

8. Upon the maintenance of 
property rest the cultivation of the 
earth, all produce, ail means of 
labour, and all social order. 

. Every citizen owes his service 
to his country, and to the mainte. 
nance of liber ity, of equality, and 
of property, as oftenas the law calls 
upon him to defend them. 


Constitution. 


1. The French republic is one 
and indivisible. 

z. The universality of 
citizens is the sovereign. 

Title, I. 

3. France is divided into 
departments. These departments 
are; 1’Ain,: l?Aisne, 1”Allier, les 
Basses-A!pes, les Hautes- Alpes, les 
Alpes-Maritimes, 1’Ardéche, les 
Ardeones,]’Arriege,l’ Aube,]’ Aude, 
l’Aveyron, les Bouches du Rhone, 
le Calvados, le Cantal, la Cha. 
rente, Ja Charente Inférieure, le 
Cher, la Correze, la Céte-d’Or, les 
Cétes-du-Nord, la Creuse, la Dor. 
dogne, le Doubs, la Dréme, 1’Eure, 
Eure-et- Loire, le Finisterre, . le 
Gard, la Haute-Garonne, le Gers, 
la Gironde, le Golo, 1’Herault, 
llle-et-Villaine, l’Indre, Indre-et. 
Loire, 1’Isére, le Jura, les Landes, 
le Liamone, Loire-et-Cher, la Loire, 
Ja Haute-Loire, la Loire-Inferieure, 
le Loiret, le Lot, Lotet-Garonne, 
la Lozére, Maine-et-Loire, la 
Manche, la Marne, la Haute-Marne,~ 
la Mayenne, la Meurthe, la Meuse, 
le Mont-Blane, le Mont Terrible, 
je Morbihan, la Méo2zelle, la 
Wiévre, le Nord, I’Oise, Orr, 
Pas-de-Calais, le Puy-de-Dome, 

lcs 


French 


78 


jes Basses-Pyrennées, Les Hautes- 
Pyrennées, les Pyrennées-Orientales, 
Je Bas-Rhin, le Haut-Rhin, le 
Rhone, Ja Haute-Saone, Saone-et- 
Loire, la Sarthe, la Seine, la Seine. 
Inferieure, Seine-et-Marne, Seine- 
et.Oise, les deux Sevres, la Somme, 
le Tarn, le Var, Vaucluse, la 
Vendée, Ja Vienne, la Haute- 
Vienne, les Vosges, |’ Yonne. 

4- The limits of departments 

may be changed or reCtified by the 
degislative body ; but in this case, 
the surface of a department cannot 
exceed one hundred square myri- 
ametres (400 square leagues, of 
2566 toises aritys 

5- Each department is distri- 
buted into cantons, each canton 
into communes. The cantons 
retain their present limits. Their 
limits may nevertheless be changed 
or rectified by the legislative body ; 
but, in this case, there cannot bé 
more than one myriametre (two 
leagues of 2566 toises each) from 
the most distant commune to the 
chief place of the canton. 

6. The French colonies are in- 
tegrant parts of the republic, and 
supject to the same constitutional 
law. 

9. They are divided’ into de- 
partments as follow ; The island of 
St. Domingo, the legislative body 
of which shall settle the division 
into four departments at least, or 
six at most. Guadaloupe, Marie- 
Galante, la Desirade, les Saintes, 
and the French part of St. Martin ; 
Martinico; French Guiana and 
Cayenne; St. Lucia and Tobago, 
The isle of France, les Seychelles, 
Roderigue and the establishments 
of Madagascar. The isle of Reu. 
nion. The East Indies, Pondicher- 
ry ,{Chandernagore, Mahe, Karical, 
and other establishments. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


Title I1.— Political state of Citizen#, 
8. Every man born and resident 
in France, who being twenty-one 
years of age, has inscribed his name 
on the civic register of his canton, 
and who has lived afterwards one 
year on the territory of the republic, 
and who pays a’ dire¢t contribution, 
real or personal, is a direct citizens 
g. Are citizens without any 
condition of contribution, French 
men who have made one or more 
campaigns for the establishment of 
the republic. 

10. A foreigner becomes a French 
citizen when, after having attained 
the age of twenty-one years, acd 
having g declared his intention of 
settling i in France, he had resided 
there for seven years following, 
provided he pays a dire€&t contri- 
bution, and moreover possesses 4 
real property, or an establishment 
in agriculture or commerce, or has 
married a French woman. 

it. French citizens alone can 
vote in the primary assemblies, and 
be cailed to the fun@tions establish. 
ed by the constitution. 

12. The exercise of the rights of 
a citizen is lost: —1. by naturali- 
zation in a foreign country. 2% 
By affiliation with any foreign cor- 
poration, which supposes distinc. 
tions of birth, or requires religious 
vows. 3. By the acceptance of 
functions, or of pensions; offered 
by a foreign government. 4. By 
condemnatiou to corporal or in. 
famous punishment until recapa- 
citation. 

13. The exercise of the rights of 
citizens is suspended :—1. By a 
judicial interdi€t on account of in- 
sanity, idiotism, or imbecility. 2. 
By a-state of bankruptcy, or being 
an immediate heir,. and detaining 
gratuitously, the whole or a 

0. 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


ef the succession of a bankrupt. 
g- By being a domestic on wages, 
attending on the person, or serving 
in the house. 4. By being under 
accusation, 5. By a sentence of 
contumacy, until that sentence 
shall be annulled. : 

14. The exercise of the rights 
f citizen is neither Jost nor sus- 
vended, but in the cases expressed 
u the two preceding articles. 

15. Every citizen whohas resided 
even years following out of the 
erritory of the republic, without 
mission or authorization given in 
he name of the nation, is reputed 
1 foreigner. He becomes not a 
Trench citizen until he has con- 
‘ormed to the conditions prescribed 
vy Article 10. 

16. Young men cannot be in- 
scribed in the civic register, unless 
ihey prove that they can read and 
write, and exercise a mechanical 
profession. The manual opera- 
tions of agriculture belong to me- 
chanic professions. This artiele 
shall not operate till the twelfth 
year of the republic. 


_ Title 111,—Primary Assemblies, 


17. The primary assemblies are 
cOmposed of citizens domiciliated 
in the same canton. The domici- 
liation requisite for voting in these 
assemblies is acquired by simple re- 
sidence during a year, and is lost 
by a year’s absence. 

18. No man can send a deputy 


to the primary assembly, or vote 


for the same. object, in more than 
ene of these assemblies. 

1g. There is one primary assem- 
bly at least for every canton. 
Where there are several, each -is 
composed of 450 citizens at least, 
®r goo at most. These numbers are 
understood of citizens, present o: 


79 


absent, having a right to vote in 
them. 

zo. The primary assemblies are 
constituted, provisionilly, under 
the presidency of the oldest man; 
the youngest fills provisionally the 
office of secretary. 

21. They are definitively con-. 
stituted by the nomination, by bal- 
lot, of a president, a secretary, and 
three scrutineers. 

22. If dificulties arise upon the 
right of voting, the assembly de. 
cides provisionally, saving recourse 
to the civil tribunal of departments, 

23. In every other case, the le- 
gislative body alone pronounces oa 
the validity of the operations of 
the primary assemblies. 

24. No man can appear in arms 
in the primary assemblies. 

25- Their police belongs tg 
themselves. 

26. Theprimary assemblies meet, 

1. Yo accept or reje& the 
changes in the constitutional att, 
proposed by the assemblies of revi. 
sion, 2. To make the ele@tion 
which belong to them according 
to the censtitution. 

27. They assemble in full right 
on the 1st Germinal ‘(March 21} 
of each year, and proceed accord- 
ing as there may be occasion to the 
election. —1. Of the members of 
electoral assembly. 2. Of the juss 
tice ot peaceand hisassessors. 3. Of 
the president of the municipal ad-. 
Ministration of the cantong or of 
the municipal officers in communes 
ef more than 5000 inhabitants. 

28. Immediately after these elec. 
tions, there are held, in communes 
of less than S000 inhabitants, com. 
munial assemblies, which eleét the 
agents of each commune and their 
assistants. 

2g. Whateveris doneinaprimary 

or 


sO 


er communal assembly, beyond the 
abject of its convocation, and 
against the forms dete*mined by the 
constitution, is null, 

30. The assemblies, whether pri- 
mary or communal, 
tions but those which are attributed 
se them by the constitutional ac. 

31. All the elections are made 
by secret ballor. 

3z. Every citizen whois legally 
conwited of having sold or boaght 
a suftrago, is excluded from the 
primary rand communal assemblies, 
asd from all public functions, for 
twenty years; in case of a second 
offence, he is excluded for ever. 


Mle IV.—EE oral Assemblies. 


33 Each primary assembly no- 
minates ane elector for 200 citi- 
zens, present. or absent, having a 
sight to vote in the said assembly. 
Te the number of 300 citizens in- 
elusively, but one elector is nomi- 
nated. YTwoarenominated, fortrom 
301 to 500; three, for from go1 to 
700; four, for trom Jor to goo. 

34. The members of the electo- 
ral assemblies are nominated every 
year, and cannot be re-elected till 
after an interval of two years. 

35. No man ¢an be nominated 
an eleétor if he be not twenty-five 
years of age, and if he do not unite 
xo the qualifications, necessarv for 
exercising the rights of a F French ci- 
tizen, one ct the following condi- 
tions, viz. In communes of more 
than 6000 inhabitants, that of be- 
ing proprietor or having the ssufru@ 
of a property valued at a revenue 
auat to the lecal value of two hun- 


dred days’ labour; or being lesseey. 


either of a habitation valued at a 
revenue equal to the value of one 


= idred and fifty days’ labour, or 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


make no eléc.. 


of a rural property, valued at ore 
hundred and fifty days’ labour, Isr 
communes of less than 6000 inha- 
bitants, that of being proprietor 
or having the usxfrué of a property; 
valued at a fevenue equal, to the 
Jocal value of 1g0 days’ labour; 
or of being lessée, either of a habi- 
tation valued at a revenue equal to 
the value of roo days’ labour, or of 
arural property v valued at 100 days’ 
Kibour. And in the country, that 
of being proprietor or having the 
nsufru oF a property seh ata 
revenue equal to the local value 
of 150 days’ labour, or af being the 
renter (Fermier ou Moetay cr*, ) of 
property valued at 200 days’ labour # 
With respect to those who may be 
proprietags, or have the usufrud of 
one property, and be lessees or ren- 
ters of another, their means under 
both heads shall be taken cumula- 
tively, to make out the necessary 
qualification for being eligible. 
36. The ele€oral assembly of 
each department meets on the 2oth 
Germinal (April gth) of each year, 
and terminates in one single ses 
sion of ten days at most, and with- 
out the power of adjourning, all 
the elections to be made; after 
which it is dissolved of full right. 
37 The electoral assemblies can- 
not employ themselyes upon any 
object foreign to the election with 
which they 2 are charged; they can 
neither send nor receive any ade 
ress, any petition, any deputation, 
38. The eletoral assemblies cans. 
not correspond with one another. 
39- No citizen, having. been 2a 
member of an electoral assembly, 
ean take the title of elector, ot 


‘meet in this quality with those 


who have been members of the 
same assembly with him, The 


* Metoyer is a person who rents both a farm and the stock upon it. 


contray ention 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


echtravention of this dtticle is 
an infringement of the general 
safety 

40. Articles 18, 21, 23,.245 255 
29; 30, 31, and 32, of the preceding 
title on the primary assemblies; are 
common to the electoral assem- 
blies. 

41. The eletoral assemblies 
choose, as there may be occasion— 
1. The membets of the legislative 
body, viz. the members of the 


' council of elders; afterwards, the 


members of the council of five 
hundred, —z. ‘ The members of the 
tribunal of annvlment.—3. The 
high jurors.—4. The administra- 
tors of departmenut.—s.. The presi- 
dent, public accuser, and register 


of the criminal tribunal.—6. The 


judges of the civil tribunals. 

‘42. When a citizen is elected 
by the eleGtoral assemblies to re- 
place a funétionary who is dead, 
resigned, or removed, that citizen 
is eleéted only for the time that 
remained to the funétionary  re- 


_ placed.» 


43- The commissary of the ex. 
ecutive directory, at the administra- 
tion of each department, is bound, 
on pain of removal, to inform the 


direétory of the opening and the 


= 


‘tional act. 


closing of the electoral assemblies: 


this commissary can neither stop 


nor suspend the operations, ‘nor en- 
ter the place of sitting of the as- 
sembly ; but he has a right to de- 
mand communication of the mi- 
nutes Of each sitting within the 
twenty-four hours following; and 


he is bound: to denounce to the di- 


reftory infraétions of the constitu. 
In all cases the legis- 
lative body alone pronounces on 


the validity of the operations of 


the electoral assemblias, 
Vor, XXXVIiI. 


81 


Title V.— Legislative Power.—Ge- 
neral Lispositions. 

44. The legislative body is com- 
posed of a council of eldets, and a 
council of five hundred. 

45. The legislative body cannot, 
in any cases delegate to one or more 
of its members, or to any one whom. 
soever, any of the funétions attri- 
buted to it by the present constitu- 
tion, 

46. It.cannot exercise, by itself, 
or by delegates, the executive 
power, or the judicial authority. 

47. There is incompatibility be- 
tween the quality of member of the 
legislative body, and the exercise 
of any other public funétion, except 
that of archivist of the republic. 

48, The law determines the mode 
of the definitive or temporary re- 
placing public “fan@ionaries, who 
are eleCled members of the legisla- 
tive body. 

49. Each department cencurs, 
in proportion to its population only, 
in its nomination of membets of 
the council of elders, and of mem. 
bers» of the council of five hun. 
dred. | 

50. Every ten years of the legis- 
lative body; according to statements 
of population sent to it, determines 
the number of members of either 
council which each department 
ought to furnish. _ 

51. No change can be. made in 
this distribution duripg that intera. 
val. 

52. The members of the legisla. 
tive body are not representatives 
of the departments which nomi. 
nate them, but of the whole na- 
tion; and no instruction can be 
given them. ray 

53- Both councils are renewed 
annually by thirds, 

G 54. The 


‘of ‘the departments 


‘ 


82 


54. The meinbers going out, af- 
ter three years, may be immediately 
re-eleéted for the three years follow. 
ing, after which there must be an in. 
terval of two years to render them 
eligible again, 

55. No man, in any case, can be 
a member of the legislative body 
during more than six years follow. 
ing. 

56. If, by extraordinary circum- 
stances, one of the two councils 
finds itself reduced to less than two. 
thirds of*its members, it gives no- 
tice to the executive directory, 
whieh is bound to convoke, with- 
out delay, the primary assemblies 
which have 
members of the legislative body to 
replace, in consequence of circum- 
stances. The primary assemblies 
immediately nominate eleGors, who 
proceed to the necessary replacings. 

57- The members newly elected 
for either council, meet on the ist 
Prairial (May 20) of each year, in 
the commune pointed out by the 
legislative body preceding, or in 
the commune where it held its last 
sittings, if anotber be not pointed 
out. 

58. The two councils reside al- 


“Ways in the same commune. 


. 


59. The legislative body is per- 
manent: it may nevertheless ad- 
journ itself for stated terms. 

66.- In no case can the two coun- 
cilé meet in rhe same hall. 

61. ‘Lhe functions of president, 
and of secretaries, cannot exceed 
the duration of one month, either 
in the council of elders, or in that 
of five hurdred. 

6o. The two councils have re- 
spectively the right of police, in the 


‘place of their sittings, and its ex- 


ternal circuit such as they deter- 
eainetit. 


‘over; but the individual votes are 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


63. They have respettively the 
right of police over their members ; 
but they canfiot pronounce a sen- 
tence more severe than censure, 
arrest for eight days, and imprison~ 
ment’ for three, 

64. The sittings of both coun- 
cils are public: the persons who 
attend cannot exceed the number of 
the half of the respective members 
of each council. The minutes of 
their sittings are printed, 

65. Every vote 1s taken by sit- 
ting down and rising up: in case 
of doubt, their names are called 


then secret. 

66. On the demand of one hun- 
dred of its members, each council 
may form itself into a general and 
secret committee ; but only to dis. 
cuss, and not to vote. 

67. Neither council can create, 
in its own body, a permanent com- 
mittee. Only each council has the 
power, when a matter appears to 
it susceptible of a preparatory ex- 
amination, tO nominate, from a- 
mong its members, a special com- » 
mission, which confines itself sole- 
ly to the object of its formation. 
‘This commission is dissolved as 
soon as the council has decided 
upon the objeét with which it was 
charged, 

68. The members of the legisla. 
tive body receive an annual ins 
demnity : it is, in both councils, 
fixed at the value of gooo myrfias 
grammes of wheat (619 quintals 
32 pounds.) ; 

69. The executive directory cam 
riot cause to pass, or stop any body 
of troops, within the distance of 
six myriametres (19 mean leagues} 
of the commune where the legis- 
lative body holds its sittings, unles: 

* upo 


\_ _— i i - <i ~ gi. cis 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


tpon its requisition, or with its 
authority. 

qo. There is about the legisla- 
tive body a guard of citizens taken 
from the sedentaty national guard of 
all the departments, and chosen by 
their brothers in arms. This guard 
cannot be less than 1500 men in 
activity of service. 

41s The legislative body deter- 
mines the mode and duration of 
this service. 
_ 92. The legislative body attends 
no public ceremony, dnd sends thi. 
ther no deputation. 


ce rnd of Five Hundred. 


43. The council of five hundred 
is invariably fixed at this number. 

44. Yo be elected a member of 
the council of five hundred, aman 
must be thirty years of age com. 
plete, and have been domictliated 
upon the territory of the republic 
during the ten yeats which imme- 
diately preceded the election. The 
condition of being thirty years of 
age shall not be requirable before 
the seventh year of the republic; 
till that period, the age of twenty- 
five years shall be sufficient. 

75. Ehe council of five hundred 
catnot deliberate, if its sittings be 
pot composed of two hundred mem- 
bers at least.. 

76. The proposing of laws ap. 
pertains exclusively to the council 
of fivehundred,  ~ 

_. 77+ No proposition can be de- 
bated or resolved upon in the coun- 
cil of five hundred, without ob. 
sérving the following forms :—The 

" pfopositionis read three times; the 
interval between two of these 
teadings cannot be less than ten 
days, The discussion is opened af. 


ter ench readitig; and, neverthe.: 


§3 


less, after the first or the second 
teadingy the council of five huns 
dred may declare that there is 
ground for adjournment, or, that 
there is fot ground for deliberat- 
ing. Every proposition must be 
ptinted and distributed two days 
before the second teading. Aftet 
the third teading, the council of 
five hundred decides whether. of 
not there be ground for adjourn. 
raent, 

78. No ptoposition, which, bee 
ing submitted to discussion, has 
been definitively rejected after the 
third reading, cati be te-produced 
till after the revolution of a year. 

79. The propositions adopred by 
the council of fivé hundred dre 
called Seas thcahied 

80. The preamble of every reso. 
lution sets forth,—1. Fhe dates of 
the sittings in which the three 
readings of the proposition took 
place. —2. The at by which it was 
declared, after the third reading, 
that thefe was not ground for ad. 
journment. 

8+, Are exempted from the forms 
prescribed by article 77, Proposi« 
tions recognized as urgent, by a 
previous declaration of the council 
of five hundred. This declaration 
sets forth the motives of urgency, 
and mention is made of it in the 
preamble of the resolution. 


Council of Elders. 


82. The council of eldersis com: 
posed of two hundred and -fifty 
members. 

83. No man can be elefted a 
member of the council of elders— 
If he be not forty years of age com. 
plete; if he be not married, or a 
widower ; and, if he has not been 
domiciliated on the territory of the 

Gz republic, 


84 


republic, during the: fifteen years 
which immediately preceded the 
elections | 

84. Lhe condition of domicilia- 
tion required by this article, and 
that prescribed by article 74, do 
not concern the citizens who are 
gone out of the territory of the re- 
public with mission from govern- 
ment. 

85. The council of elders cannot 

deliberate, if the sitting be not com~ 
posed of one hundred and .twenty- 
six members at least. 
_ 86. It appertains, exclusively to 
the council of elders, to approve or 
rejeét the resolutions of the council 
of five hundred. 

87. As soon as a resolution of the 
council of five hundred comes to 
the council of elders, the president 
reads vhe preamble. 

88. The council of elders refuses 
to approve the resolutions of the 
council of ftve hundred, which 
have not been come to according 
to the forms prescribed by the con- 
stitution. a Satis 

. 89. If the proposition has been 
declared urgent by the council of 
five hundred, the council of elders 
deliberates upon approving or re- 
jecting the aét of urgency. 

go. If the council of elders re- 
ject-the aét of urgency, it does not 
deliberate upon the principle of the 
resolution. 

gr. If the resolution be not pre- 
ceded by an act of urgency, it is 
read three. times ; the interval be. 
tween two of these readings cannot 
be less than five days. The dis- 
cussion/is,opened after each read. 
ing. Every resolution is printed 


and distributed, two days at least: 


before the second reading. 
gz. Vbe resolutions of the coun- 


+7 
wad 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


cil of five hundred, adopted by the 
council of elders, are called laws. 

93. The preamble to laws sets 
forth the dates of the sittings of 
the, council of elders, in which the 
three readings took place, 

94. The decree by which the 
council of elders recognizes the 
urgency of a law is mentioned, 
with reasons assigned for it, in the 
preamble to that law. 

95. The proposition of a law 
made by the council of five hun- 
dred, is understood of all the arti- 
cles of one plan; the council of 
elders must reje¢t them all, or ap- 
prove the whole. 

96. The approbation of the 
council of elders is expressed on 
each proposition of law by this 
formula, signed by the president and 
secretaries : the council of elders ap-~ 
Pravese 

97. The refusal to adopt, on 
ccount of omission. of the forms 
pointed out in article 77 of this 
ticle, is expressed by this formula, 
signed by the president and secre- 
taries : the constitutian annuls. 

98. The refusal to approve the 
principle of a law proposed is ex. 
pressed by this f.rm/a, signed. by 
the president and Secretaries : the 
cvuncil of elders cannot adopt. . 

99. In the case of the present 
article, the plan of the law reject. 
ed cannot be again presented by 
the council. of five hundred, till 
after the revolution of a year. 

100. Lbe council of five hun- 
dred may, nevertheless, present, at 
any period whatever, a plan of a. 
law which contains articles that 
made part of a plan which has been 
rejected. + 

ror. The council of elders sends 
the laws it has adopted, within the 


day, 


- 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


day, both to the council of five hun- 
dred, and to the executive directory. 

102. The council of elders may 
change the residence of the legis- 
lative body: it points out, in this 
case, a new place, and the period 
at which the two councils are 
bound to repair to ir. he decree 
of the council of elders upon this 
subject is irrevocable. 

‘103. On and after the day of 
this decree, neither of the councils 
can deliberate any more in the 
commune where they had till then 
resided. ‘The members who shall 
there continue their fun¢tions shall 
render themselves guilty of an of- 
fence against the safety of the re- 
public. 

104. The members of the execu- 
tive direftory who shall retard, or 
refuse to seal, promulgate, and dis- 
patch, the decree of the transiation 
of the legislative body, shall be 
guilty of the same crime. 

105. Lf, within twenty days after 
that fixed by the council of elders, 
the majority of each of the two 
councils has not made known. to 
the republic its arrival at the new 
place pointed out, or its meeting 
in some other place, the adminis- 
_trators of department, or, in their 
default, the civil tribunals of de- 
partment, convoke the primary as- 
semblies to nominate electors, who 
proceed immediately to the forma- 
tion of a new legislative body, by 
the election of 250 deputies for the 
council of elders, and of five hun- 
dred for the other council. 

106. The administrators of de- 
partment who, in the case of the 
preceding article, fail to convoke 
the primary assemblies, render 
themselves guilty of high treason, 
and of an offence against the safety 
of the republic, = 
+e 


: 


85% 


1o7. Are declared guilty of the 
same crime, all citizens who oppose 
any obstacle to the convocation of 
the primary and eleCtoral assem. 
blics in the case of article 106. 

108. The members of the new 
legislative body, assemble in the 
place to which the council of elders. 
had transferred the sittings: © If 
they canrot meet in that place, in 
whatever place the majority is, 
there is the legislative body. 

10g. Except in the case of article 
To2, no proposition of law can ori, 
ginate in the council of elders. 


Of the Guarantee of the Members of 
the Legislative Bidy. 


110. The citizens who are, or 
who have been, members of the le- 
gisiative body, cannot be examined, 
accused, or tried at any time, for 
what they have said or written in 
the exercise of their fun¢tions. 

' 111. The members of the legis- 
lative body, from the moment of 
their nomination to the thirtieth 
day after the expiration of their 
functions, cannot be brought to 
trial, bat according to the forms 
prescribed by the following articles. 

112. They may, for criminal 
atts, be seized in fagrante delicto ; 
but notice is given of it, without 
delay, to the legislative body ; and 
the prosecution cannot be continued 
till after the council of five hun- 
dred has proposed the bringing to 
trial, and the council of elders has 
decreed it. 

113. Except in the case of ffa- 
gras delium, the members of the 
legislative body cannot be. carried 
before the officers of police, or put 
in a state of arrest, before the coun- 
cil of five hundred has proposed 
the bringing to trial, and the coun- 
cil of elders has decseediit. £9 

G3 114, In 


86 


114, In the case of the two pre- 
ceding articles, a member of the 
legislative body cannot be carried 
before any tribunal but the high 
court of justice. 

11g. They are carried before the 
same court for atts of treason, di- 
Japidation, manceuyres to overturn 
the constitution, and offences against 
the.internal security of the republic. 

116. No denunciation against 
a member of the legislative body 
can give room for a prosecution, 
if it be not drawn up in writing, 
signed and addressed to-the coun. 
cil of five hundred. 

117. If after having there been 
deliberated upon in-the form pre- 
setibed by article seventy-seven, 
the eouncil of five hundred admit 
the denunciation, it declares it in 
these terms: 

The denunciation against 
for the att of 
the » signed by 
is admitted, 

118. The person ineulpated is 
then cited ; he has for his appear- 
‘ance a delay of three free days ; 
andewhen he appears he is heard in 
the interior of the place of sitting 
ef the couneil of &ve hundred. 

119, Whether the person incul- 
pated be present or not, the council 
of five hundred declares, after this 
delay, if there be, or be not, room 
for an examination of his eanduct. 

120. If it be declared by the 
council of five hundred that there 
is room for an examination, the 
person under charge is cited hy 
the council of elders: he has for 
his appearanee a delay of two free 
days; and if he appear, he is 
heard in the interior of the place 
ef sitting of the council ef elders. 

121. Whether the person under 
charge be present or not, the coun. 


dated 


‘ 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 17065. 


cil of elders, after this delay; and 
after having deliberated, according 
to the forms prescribed by article 
ninety-one, pronounces the acca- 
sation, if there be room for it, and 
ends the person accused before the 
high court of justice, which is 
bound t@ proceed to trial without 
any delay. 

122, Every discussion, in either 
council, relative to charging or 
accusing a member of the legisla- 
tive body, is had in general coun- 
cil (perhaps general committee), 
Every vote upon the same subject 
is taken by calling over the names, 
and secret ballot. 

123. The accusation pronounced 
against a member of the legisla. 
tive body carries with it suspension, 
If he be acquitted by the judgment 
of the high court of justice, he re- 
sumes his functions. 


Relation of the tava Councils with one 
axither, P 

124, When the two councils are 
definitively constituted, they give 
mutuai notice by a messenger of 
state, ‘ 

12¢, Each council nominates 
four messengers of state for its ser. 
vice. 

126, They carry to each of the 
councils and to the exccutive direc. 
tory, the laws and aéts of the legis- 
lative body; they have entrance 
to this effect into the place of sit- 
ting of the executive directory, 
They march preceded by twa 
ushers. 

127. One of the councils cannot 
adjourn itself beyond five days 
without the consent of the other. 


Promulzation of Laws. 

128. The executive directory 
causes to seal and publish the laws 
and other aéts of the legislative’ 

body, 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


body, within two days after their 
reception. 

. 129. It ‘causes to seal and pro- 
mulgate within the day, the laws 
and atts of the legislative body, 
which are preceded by a decree of 
urgency. 

130. The publication of the laws 
and atts of the legislative body is 
ordained in the following form: 
“* Inthe name of the French re- 
*€ public (law) or (act) of the Jegis- 
** lative body.—Whe directory or- 
*€ dains that the above law or act 
of the legislative body shall be 
' * published, executed, and the 
** seal of the republic shall be af- 
‘* fixed to it.’’- 

131. Laws of which the pream- 
ble does not attest the observance 
of the forms prescribed by articles 
. Seventy-seven and ninety-one, can- 
not be promulgated by the execu- 
tive directory, and its responsibility 
in this respe¢t lasts for six years. 
Ate excepted, the laws for which 
the act of urgency has been approv- 
ed by the council of elders. 


Title VI.—Executive Piwer. 


132. The executive power is 
delegated to a directory of five 
_ members, nominated by the legisla- 

tive body, performing the functions 
of an ele¢toral assembly in the name 
of the nation. 

133. The council of five hun. 
dred forms, by secret ballot, a list 
ten times the number of the mem- 
bers of the directory to be nomi- 
mated, and presents it to the coun- 
cil of elders, who choose by secret 
ballot also, out of this list, 

'~ 134. The members of the direc- 
tory must be forty years of age at 
least. ‘ 

135. They cannot be taken but 
from among the citizens whe have 


87 


been members of the legislative 
body or ministers, The disposition 
of this article shall not be observed 
till the commencement of the ninth 
year of the republic. 

136. From the first day of the 
ninth year of the republic, the 
members of the legislative body 
cannot be eleéted members of the 
directory, or ministers, either dur. 
ing the-conrinuance of their legis. 
lative functions, or during the first 
year after the expiration of those’ 
funtions. ; 

137. The dire€tory is partially 
renewed by the eleétion of a new 
member every year. -Lot shall de. 
cide, during the first four years, 
upon the successive going out of 
those nominated the first time. 

138. None of the members going 
out can be re-elected till after an 
interval of five years. 

139. The ascendantiand the de- 
scendant, in direét line; the bro- 
ther, the uncle, and the nephew, 
cousins in the first degree, and con, 
nexions by marriage in the same dez 
grees, cannot be members of the 
directory at the same time, nor 
succeed one another in it, till after 
an interval of five years, 

140. Inthe case of vacancy, the 
death, or otherwise, ‘of amember of- 
the directory, his su¢cessor is elects 
ed by the legislative body within 
ten days at most. The council of 
five hundred is bound to propose 
the candidates within the first five 
days, and the council of elders 
must complete the ele¢tion within 
the last five days. The new mem- 
ber is not elected but for the ree 
maining period of the person he 
succeeds, If, however, this does 
not exceed six months, he who is 
ele¢ted shall continue in office for 
five years and a half, 

G4 341. Each | 


38 


141. Each membcr of the direc- 
tory is president ‘of it in turn, 
for three months only. The pre- 

‘ sident signs and keeps the scals. 
The laws and the a¢ts of the legis. 
lative body are addressed to the di- 
rectory in the person of its presi- 
dent. 

142. The executive directory 
cannot deliberate if there be not 
three members present at least. 

143. Asecretary is chosen, not 
one -of its members, who counter 
signs dispatches, and draws up the 
deliberation on register, in’ which 
each member has the right of en- 
tering his opinion, with his reasons 
for it. The direftory may, when 
it thinks proper, deliberate with- 
out the attendance of its secretary : 
in this case the deliberations ‘are 
drawn upon a particular register, 
by one of the members of the direc. 
tory, f 

144. ThedireCtory provides, ac- 
cording to the laws, for the exter- 
nal or internal security of the repub- 
lic: it may make proclamations 
conformable to the laws, and for the 
execution of the laws. » It disposes 
of the armed force, without in any 
‘ease the direCtory colleGtively, or 
any of its members, being capable 
of commanding it either during 
the time of their fun@ions, or dur- 
ing the two years which immedi- 
ately follow the expiration of those 
fundtions. ; 

146. If the directory is inform. 
ed that any conspiracy is plotting 
against the external or internal 
safety of the state, it may issue 
warrants of summons, or warrants 
ef arrest, against the presumed au- 
thors, or accomplices ; it may in- 
terrogate them; but it is obliged, 
under the penalties against the 

ian’ s 


‘ 
~» 7 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


crime of arbitrary detention, to 
send them before the officer of po- 
lice, within tlie delay’of two days, 
to proceed according to the laws. 

146. The directory nominates 
the generals in chief, it cannot 
choose them among the relations or 
comnexions of its members within 
the degrees expressed by article one 
hundred and thirty-nine. 

147. It superintends and assures 
the execriion of laws in the aimi- 
nistrations and tribunals, by com- 
missari¢s of its nomination. 

148. It nominates, not of its own 
body, the ministers, and dismisses 
them when it thinks fir. Ir cannot 
choose them under the age of thirty 
years, nor from among the rela- 
tions or connexions of its members 
within the degrees set forth in 
article 139, 

4149. Lhe ministers correspond 
immediately with the. authorities 
subordinate to them. 

150. The legislative body deter, 
mines the attributiens, and the 
number of ministers... This number 
js six at least, or eight at most. 

151. The ministets do not form 
a council, 

152. The ministers are respec- 
tively responsible both for the non- 
execution of laws, and the non- 
execution of orders of the directory. 

153. The direfory nominates 
the receiver of direct taxes in each 
department. 

154. It nominates the superin- 
tendants in chief of indirect con- 


tributions, and of the administra. 


tion of national domains. 

155. All the public funétion- 
aries in the French colonies, except 
the departments of the Isles: of 
France and Re-union, shall be no- 
qinated by the directory till peace. 
156. The 


u - - 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


_ 156. The legislative body may 


authorize the directory to send into 
all the French colonies accord. 
ing to the exigency of the case, 
one or mere: particular agents no- 
minated by if for a limired time. 
Dhe particular agents shall exer. 
cise the same functions as the di- 
rectory, and shall be subordinate 
to it. 

157- No. member of the dirces 
tory can go out of the territory of 
the republic, till two years after 
the cessation.of his functions, 

158. He ts bound during that 
interval, to prove .his residence to 
the legislative body. Article 125 
and the following to article 123 
inclusively, relative to che guaran- 
tee of the legislative body, ure 
common to the shine of the di- 
rectory. 

159. In case of more than two 
members of the directory being 
brought to trial, the Icgislative 
body shall provide, in the ordinary 
forms, for replacing them provi- 
sionaily during the trial. 

160. Except in the case of arti, 
cles 11g and 120, neither the di- 
reCtory nor any of its: members can 
be cited either by the council of 
five hundred, or by the council of 
elders, 


161. The accounts and informa-» 


tion demanded. of the dire¢tory, 
by either council, are furnished in 
writing. : 
162. The dire€tory is bound 
every year to present to both coun- 
cils, in writing, an estimate of the 
expences, the situation of the 
finances, the state of existing pen. 
sions, and the plan of those which 
it thinks it expedient to establish 
recreate. It must point out the 
vabuses that bare: come wichin its 


knowledge, 


sy 
163. The directory may at all 


times invite the council of five 
hundred, in-writiag, to take a sub- 
ject into consideration j it may pros 
pose to it measures, but not glaus 
drawn up in the form.of laws, , 
i164. INo member of the direc. 
tory can absent him-elf more * than 
five days, or remove above four 
myriameters. (eight mean) icagues) 
from the place of the residence of 
the directory, without being autho. 
rized by the legislative body. 

165, The members of the dizec- 
tory cannot appear in the exercise 
of iheir functions, either svithout 
or within theirs houses, unless 
clothed in their‘appropriate dress. 

166. ‘Lhe directory has its con. 
stant guard, paid at. the expence 
of the republic, composed of 126 
infantry and 120 cavalry. 

167, The direCtory is. attended » 
by its guards in public ceremonies 
and processions, in’ which it has al- 
ways the first rank. 

168. Each member of she direc. 
tory is attended out of doors by twe 
guards. 

169. Every post of armed force 
owes to the directory, and to each 
of its members, the superior mili- 
tary honours, . 

170. The directory has four mes- 
sengers of state, whom it nomi- 
nates, and whom it. may remove, 
They carry to the two legislative 
bodies the letters and memorials 
of the directory ; _ they have en. 
trance to this effec into the place 


of sitting of the legislative coun- 


cils, They march preceded by 
two ushers. 

171. The dire¢tory resides in the 
same commune with, the legislative 
body. 

7. The, members of the direc. 


tory are lodged at the expence of 


the 


go 


the republic, and inthe same edi- 
om 
73- The salary of each of 
ees is fixed, for each year, at the 
value of 140,000 nyriagrammes of 
wheat (10,222 quintals.) 


Title VII .—Administvative and My. 
nicipal Bodies. 


274, In each department there 
ts a central administration, and in 
each canton one municipal admi- 
pistration at least. 

175. Every member of a depart- 
mental or municipal administration 

eught to be twenty-five years of 
age at least. 

176. The ascendant and descen- 
dist. in direét line, brothers, the 
uncle and nephew, and convexions 
by marriage in the sare degrces, 
cannot be members ef the same 
administration at the same time, 
or succeed one another in it till 
after an interval of two years. 

177. Each administration of de- 
partment is composed of five mem- 
bers ; it is renewed by a fifth every 
year. 

178. Every commune of which 
the population is from 5000 to 
10,000 inhabitants, has for it- 
self alone a municipal ee 
tion. ; 

179. In each commune, of which 
the population is less than sooo 


inhabitants, there is a municipal. 


agent and an assistant. 

180. The union of the monici- 
pal agents of each commune forms 
the municipality of the canton. 

181. There is, morcover, a pre- 
sident of munici ipal administration 
chosen out of the whole canton. . 

182. In communes, of which the 
population is from five to ten thou- 
sand inhabitants, there are five 
municipal officers; seven for from 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1703. 


ten thousand to fifty thousand ; 
nine for from fifty thousand to an 
hundred thousand. 

183. incommunes, of which the 
population exceeds one hundred 
thousand inhabitants, there are 
three municipal administrations: at 
least. In these communes the di- 
vision of municipalities is made in 
such manner that the population 
of the jurisdiction of each exceeds 
not fifty thousand individuals, and 
is not less than thirty thousand, 
The mon! icipality of each jurisdic. 
tion is composed of seven members. 

184. In communes divided into 
several municipalities, there is a 
central office for matters judged in. 
divisible by the legislative body. 
This office is composed of three 
members, cient by the admi. 
nistration of department, and con. 
firmed by the executive power, 

185. ‘the members of every. mu. 
nicipal administration are nomi- 
nated for two years, and renewed 
every yeat by one half, or by a part 
approximating the nearest to one. 
half, and alternately by the larger 
and smaller fraction. 

186. The administrators of de- 
partment, and the members of 
municipal administrations, may be 
re-elected once without an interval. 

187. Every citizen who has been 
eleGted_ twice following, admini- 
strator of department or member 
of a municipal administration, and 
who has discharged the funétions 
‘in virtue of both cle¢étions, cannot 
be eleéted again till after an inter- 
val of two years. 

188. In case of a departmental or 
municipal administration losing-one 
or several of its members by death, 
resignation, or otherwise, the re- 
maining administrators may add to 


their number temporary adgainistra- 
tors. 


\ 


e 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


tors to a@ in that quality till the 
next elections. 

189. The departmental and mu- 
nicipal administrations cannot mo- 
dify the atts of the legislative body, 
or those of the executive direétory, 
or suspend the execution of them. 
They cannot interfere in mtters 
depending on the judicial order. 

190, The administrators are es. 
sentially charged with the assess- 
ment of direct taxes, and the super- 
intendance of money arising from 
the public revenues in their terri- 
tory. The legislative body deter- 
mines the rules, and the mode of 
their functions, both upon these 
gbjects and the other parts of the 
interior administration. 

igi. The executive directory no- 
Minates tq cach departmental and 
municipal administration a com- 
missary, whom it recals when it 
thinks expedient. This commis- 
S§ary superintends and requires the 
execution of the laws. 

192. [hecommissary toeach local 
administration mast be taken from 
among the citizens domiciliated 
for a year in the department where 
that administration is established. 
He must be twenty-five years of 


_ age at least. 


193. The municipal administra. 
tions are subordinate to the admi- 
" nistrations of department, and the 
latter to the ministers. In conse, 
quence, the ministers (each in his 
department) may annul the acts 
of administrations of department, 
and the latter, the aéts of munici. 
pal administrations, when those acts 
are contrary to the laws or to the 
orders of superior authorities. 

194. The ministers may also sus, 


pend the administrators of depart, 


ments who have contravened the 
faws, or the orders of superior au. 


gi 


thorities; and the administrations 
of department have the same right 
with respect to the members of 
municipal administrations. 

195. No suspension or annul. 
ment is definitive without the for. 
mal confirmation of the executive 
direftory. 

196. The dire€tory may also an. 
nul immediately the acts of depart. 
mental or municipal administra. 
tion. It may also suspend or ree 
move immediately, when it thinks 
necessary, the administrators either 
of department or canton, and 
send them before the tribunals of 
department when there is ground 
for it. 

197. Every order importing ane. 
nulment of ats, suspension, or re- 
moval of administrators, must have 
reasons assigned for it. 

198, When the five members of 
a departmental administration are 
removed, the executive direftory 
provides for replacing them rill the 
following eleétion; but it cannot 
choose their provisional successors, 
but amoug the ancient administra- 
tors of the same department. 

199. The administrations, either 
of department or of canton, cannot 
correspond with one another, but 
upon the affairs which are attri. 
buted to them by the law, and not 
upon the general interests of the 
republic. 

200. Every administration must 
give an annual account of its mae 
nagement. The accounts rendered 
by the departmental administra. 
tions are printed. 

zor. All the aéts of the admini. 
strative bodies are rendered public 
by a register in which they are en~ 
tered, and which is open to all 
persons under their administration, 
This register is closed every six 

months, 


Q2 


months, and is not deposited for 
inspection till the day on which it 
is closed. The legislative body 
may prolong, according to circum. 
stances, the delay fixed for this de- 
posit. 


Siete Wit Faicia! Pre. 
General Dispositions. 


202. The judicial fun@ions can. 
not be exercised either by the le. 
gislative body or by the executive 

wer. 

203. The judges cannot interfere 
in the ekercise “of the legislative 
power, or make any regulation. 
They cannot stop or suspend the 
exccution of any Jaw, or summon 
before them administrators on ac. 
eount of their tunétions. 

zo4. No man can be withdrawn 
from the judges, whom the law 
assigns him, by any commission, or 
by any other attributions than those 
which are determined by an ante- 
rior law. 

205. Justice is administered gra. 
tvitously. 

206. The judges cannot bs : re. 
moved, but by forfeiture legally 
pronounced ; or suspended, but by 
an admitted accusation. . 

207, The ascendant > and de. 
scendant in dire line, brothers, 
uncle or nephew, cousins in the 
first degree, and connexions by al- 
Hance in these several degrees, 
cannot be’ members of the same 
tribunal at the same time. 

208. The sittings of the tribunals 
are public; the judges deliberate 
in secret; judgments are pro. 
nounced with a loud voice: reasons 
for them are assigned, and the terms 
of the law applied set forth. j 

209. No citizen, if he be not 
thirty years of ‘age compicte, can 
be elected judgeofa tribunal of de. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1705. 


partment, or justice of peace, or 
assessor to a justice of peace, or 
judge of a tribunal of commerce, 
or memberof the tribunal of an- 
nilment, or juror, or commissary 
of the-executive direclory with the 
tribunals of-civil justice. 

210. There can be no infringe. 
ment of the right to cause differ- 
ences to be pronosineed upon by 
arbitrators of the chee of the oe 
ties. 

ay 144 The deckivg of these arbi. 
trators is without appeal, and with. 
out recourse to annulment, if the 
parties have not made an express 
reserve, 

212. There is in each distri 
determined by the law, a justice of 
peace and his assessors: they are 
all elected for) two years, and may 
be immediately and ‘indefinitely 
re-elected. 

213. The law determines the ob- 
jects of which justices of peace and 
their assessors take cognizance in 
dernier resort. It ateributes to 
them other matters of which they 
judge, subject to appeal, 

214. There are particular tribu- 
nals for commerce by land and sea : 
the law determines the places 
where it is useful to establish them. 
Their power of judging in dernier 
resort cannot be extended beyond 
the value ef 500 myriagrammes of 
wheat (102 quintals 22 pounds). 

215. The affairs, of which judg- 
ment belongs not to justices of 
peace, or tribunals of commerce, 
either in dernier resort, or subject 
to appeal, are carried immediately 
before the justice of peace and his 
assessors, to be conciliated. If the 
justice of peace’ cannot conciliate | 
them, he sends them before the cis 
vil tribunal. 

-ar6. There isa rel tribunal for 

every 


J 


v 


every department. Each civil tri- 
bunal is “composed of 20 judges at 
least, of a commissary, and a sub- 
stitute, nominated and removeable 
by the executive directory, and of 
a register. very five years the 
eleétion of all the members of the 
tribunal is proceeded to. ‘The 
judges may be always re-elected. 

217. At the time of electing the 
judges, five supplemns are nomi. 
nated, of whom three are taken 
from among the citizens resident in 
the commune where the tribunal 
sits, 

218. The civi{ tribunal pro- 
nounces in dernier resort, in all 
cases determined by the law, on ap. 
peals from justices of peace, arbi- 
trators, or tribunals of commerce. 

219. The appeal from judgments 
pronounced by the civil tribunal is 
carried before the civil tribunal of 
one of the three nearest depart. 
ments, as is determined by the law. 
. 2z0. The civil Soren divided 
into sections—a _ section cannot 
judge under the number of five 
judges. 

_ 221. Thewhole of the judges of 

ch tribunal nominate among 
ae by secret ballot, the 
presideat of each section. 


Of correBisnal and criminal Fustice. 


222. No man can be seized, but 


Jobe earried before the officer of . 


police; and .no man can be put 
under arrest or detained, but by 
Virtue of a warrant ron the offi- 
cers of police, or of the executive 
race! in the case of article 145, 

order of caption from a 


‘ n 
tb a of the director of a jury 


of accusation, of a decree of accu. 
sation by the legislative body, in 
the ¢ case in which it belongs to it to 
pronounce such a decree, or of a 


, eat sa 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


98 


sentence of condemnation to prison, 
or correctional detention. 

223. 1n order, that. the aft which 
ordains arrest may be! executed, ir 
is. requisite ; first, that it express 
formally the metive of arrest, and 
the law in conformity to which it 
is ordered.; secondly, that it has 
been notified to him» who is the 
objet of it, and a copy of it left 
with him. 

224. Eyery person’ seized and 
conduéted before the cfficers of po- 
lice. shall. be examined immedi« 
ately, or, at farthest, within the 
day. 

225. If it result from the exa- 
mination, that there is no ground 
of crimination against him, he 
shall immediately be set at liberty ; 
or, if there be ground to send him 
to the house of arrest, he shall be 
conduéted thither in as short a 
space of time as possible, which, in 
no case, can exceed three days. 

226. No person arrested can be 
detained, if he give sufficient bail, 
in every case where the law ad. 
mits the remaining at liberty upon 
bail. 

227. No person, in cases where 
his detention is authorized by law, 
can;be conduéted to, or eaniied 
in, any places but thosé legally and 
publicly appointed, as houses of 
arrest, houses of justice or of de- 
tention, - 

228. No keeper or gaoler can 
receive or detain any person, ex- 
cept by virtue of a warrant of 
arrest, acconling to the forms pre- 
scribed by articles 222 and 223, an 
order of caption, a decree of accu- 


Sation, or a sentence of condemna- 


tion to prison, or correctional de- 
tention, which shall be transcribed 

upon his register. 
229. Every keeper or. gaoler is 
bound 


9A 


bound, without any order being 
eypable of dispensing with his so 
doing, to present the person of the 
prisoner to the civil officer, having 
the police of the house of deten- 
ton, as often as shall be required 
by that civil officer. 

230. The prodution of the per. 
son confined cannot be refused to 
his relations and friends, who have 
an Order of the civil officer, which 
ke shall be bound to grant, except 
the keeper or gaoler present a di- 
rcétion from the judge, transcribed 
upon his register, to detain the 
person arrested im secret custody. 

z3r. Every man, whatever be 
his place or employment, except 
those to whom the Jaw gives the 
right of arrest, who shall give, sign, 
execute, or cause to be executed, 
an order to arrest an individual; 
er whoever, even in the case of 
arrest authorized by the law, shall 
conduét, receive, or detain an indi- 
vidual, or in a place of detention 
mot publicly and legally appointed ; 
and all keepers and gaolers, who 
shall contravene the regulations 
of the above articles, shall be guilry 
of the crime of arbitrary deien~ 
tion. 

232. All rigours employed in 
arrests, detentions, or executions, 


other than those prescribed by the 


liv, are crimes. 

233. There are in each deparr. 
ment for.the trial of offences, the 
punishment of which is neither 
corporal nor infamous, three cor. 
reCtional tribunals at least, or six at 
most. ‘Lhese tribunals cannot pro- 
nounce heavier punistiments than 
imprisonment for two years. The 


cognizance of offences, the punish. 


ment of which exceeds not the va» 
Ise of three days’ labour, or impri- 
sonmetit. for three days, is dele. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. | 


gated.to the justice of peace, who 
pronounces in dernier resort. 

234. Each correétional tribunal 
is composed of a president, two 
justices of peace, or assessors to a 
justice of peace of the commune 
in which it-is established, of acom- 
missdry of the executive power, 
nominated and removable by_ the 
executive dire€tory, and of a re- 
gister, 

235. The president of each cor- 
reGtional tribunal is taken every 
six months, and by turn, front 
among the members of the se€tions 
of the civil tribunal of department, 
the presidents excepted, 

236. There is an appeal from 
the judgments of the correctional 
tribunal to the criminal tribunal of 
department, 

237. In matter of offences sub. 
je& to corporal or infamous pu- 
nishment, no person can be tried but 
upon an accusation admitted by the 
jurors, or decreed by the legislative 
body, in the case in which it be- 
longs to it to decree accusation. 

238. A first jury declares if the. 
accusation ought to be admitted 
or rejected ; the fact is tried by a 
second jury, and the punishmene 
determined by the law is applic 
by the criminal tribunal. 

239. The juries vote only by se- 
cret ballot. . GK + 3 

o¢o. There are in eaclr depart- 
Ment as many juries of accusatior 
as corteCtional tribunals. The pre« 
sident of the correétional tribunale 
are the directors of the juries, eact 
im his distri@, In communes of 
iforé than ¢o,600 souls, there may 
be established by law, besides the 
president of the corre@tional tribu- 
nal, as many dire@tors of juries of 
accusation as the dispatch of trials 
may require. cay 
eae 241. The 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


241. The fun&ions of commis- 
sary of executive power, and of re- 
gister to the jury of accusation, are 
discharged by the commissary, and 
the register of the correctional tri- 

_ bunal. 

242. Each director of a jury of 
accusation has the immediate su- 
perintendance of all the officers of 
police of his district. 

243. The direftor of the jury 
prosecutes immediately, as officer 
of police, upon the denunciations 
made to him by the public accuser, 
either officially, or by order of the 
execitive directory :—1. Offences 
against the liberty or individual 
security of citizens. —2. These com- 
mitted against the right of persons. 
— 3. Resistance to the execution of 
judgments and of all executive acts 
issuing from the constituted autho- 

-Fities.—4. Troubles occasioned, and 

axts of violence committed, to im- 
pedg the colleétion of contribu- 
tions, the free circulation of pro- 
visions, and other objects of coms 
Merce, 

244. There is.acriminal tribunal 
for each department. 

245. The criminal tribunal is 
composed of a president, a public 
accuser, four judges, taken from 
among those of the civil tribunal, 
the commissary of the executive 
power of the same tribunal, or his 
substitute, and a register, There 
are in the criminal tribunal of the 
department of the Seine, a vice. 
president, and a substitute of the 
public accuser; this tribunal is di- 
vided into two  se¢tions: eight 
members of the civil tribunal ex- 
ercise in it the fun@ions of 
judges. 

_246. The presidents of sections 
of the civil tribunals cannot dis- 


05 


charge the funétions of judges in 
the criminal tribunal. 

247. Lhe other judges do their 
duty in it, each in turn, for six 
months, ia the order of their no- 
mination, and cannot during thac 


period exercise any funétion-in the . 


civil tribunal. 

248. The public ‘accuser is 
charged :+-1. With prosecating-of- 
fences or atts of. accusation admit. 
ted by the first juries.—z. Wirth 
transmitting to the officers of police 
denunciations addressed to him di- 
rectly.— 3, Withsuperintending the 
ofiicers of police of the department, 
and acting against them according 
to the jaw, in case of negligence or 
more grave offences. 

249. The commissary of the exe. 
cative power is charged:—+1. With 
requiring, in the course of process, 
the regularity of forms, and, before 
judgment, the application of the 
law.—-z. With following up the 
execution of judgments passed by 
the tribunal. 

250. The judges cannot propose 
any complex question to the jury. 

251. Lhe jury to try, consists of 
twelve jurogs at least; the person 
accused may challenge, witl-out as- 
signing any reason, a number de. 
termined by the law. . 

252. The process before the jury 
to try is public, and persons ac- 
cused cannot be refused the aid of 
counsel, whom they may choose, or 
who are nominated officially. 

253- No person acquitted by a 
legal jury, can be apprehended or 


accused again upon account of the 
same fact. 


Of the Tribunal of Annulment. 


254. There is for the whole re. 
public, one tribunal of annulment ; 
it 


. 


\ 


06 ANNUAL REGISTER, ‘1795. 


it pronounces :—r.On demands of 
annulment against decisions in the 
hast resort given by the tribunals.— 
2. On demands of reference from 
one tribunal to another, on grounds 
of lawful suspicion, or public secu- 
rity.—3. On the regulations of the 
judges, and exceptions taken to a 
whole tribunal. 

255-2 The tribunal of annulment 
can never investigate the merits of 
the case, but it annuls sentences 
passed.on trials, in which the form 
have been violated, or which have 
been attended with any deviation 
from the express terms ‘of the law, 
and refers the merits of the process 
to the tribunal which ought to take 
cognizance of them. 

256. When, after one .annul- 
ment, the second judgment on the 
merits is attacked by the same 
means as the first, the question can 
be no longer agitated in the tribu- 
nak of annulment without having 
heen submitted to the legislative 
body, which passes a law to which 
the tribunal of annulment is: bound 
to conforia. 

257. Every year the tribunal of 
annulment is bound to send to each 
at the sections of the legislative 
body a deputation, ‘to-present to it 
a statement of the sentences passed, 
with a notice on the margin, and 

‘¢ texc of the Jaw, which deter- 
mined the sentence. 

293. The number of the judges 
af the tribunal of annulment: cana 
sotexceed two-thirds of: the num. 
ber of departments. 

23g. One. fifth of this tribunak 
as renewed every year. The elec. 
toral assemblies of departments no-' 
minate successively and alternately 
che judges whoare ‘to succeed: those 
‘he go out af the tribunal of ane 


nulment. The judges of this tri. 
bunal may be always re-eleéted. 
260. Each judge of the tribunak 


of annulment has:a supplean, elected. 


by the same eleftoral assembly. 
261. There are with the tribunal! 
of annulment a commissary, and 
substitutes, nominated and remove: 
able by the executive dire@ory. 


262. The executive directory des; 


nounces to the tribunal of annul- 
ment, through ‘the national coms, 
missary, and without prejudice to 
the right of parties interested, the 
atts by:which the judges have ex. 
ceeded their power. heryy 
263.’ The tribunal annuls these 
acts; and if they afford a ground 
of crimination, the act is denounced 
to the legislative body, who pass a 
decree of accusation, after having 
heard or cited the parties under 
charge. et 
264., The legislative body can. 
not annol the judgments of the 
tribunal of amendment, but may 
prosecute, personally, the judges 
who have incurred. prosecution. 


High Court of Fustice. 


265. There isia high court of 
justice to try accusations admitted 
by the legislative body, , either 
against its own members, or those 
of the executiveidirettory. 


266. The high court of justice 


is: composed. of :five judges, and 
two national accusers, taken from 
the tribunal of annulment, and of 
high jurors; nominated by the elec- 
toral assemblies of departments. 


267.. The highocourt of justice 


is not formed till after a proclama- 
tion of the legislative body, drawn 
up and published by the council 
of five hundred. 


9268. It is formed and holds its . 


sittings 


eat tte 


~ 


Se eee ee eee Se ee ee 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


bittings in the place appointed by 
the proclamation of the council of 
five hundred. This place cannot 
be nearer than twelve myriameters 
to that where the legislative body 
resides. 

. 269; When the législative body 
has proclaimed the formation. of 
the high court of’ justice, the tri- 
bunal of annulment draws by ict 
fifteen of its members in a public 
Sitting ; it afterwards, in the same 
Sitting, ncminatcs five of these fif. 
teen by a secret ballot; the five 
judges thus nominated are the 
judges of the high court of justice; 
they choose among them a_ presi: 
dent. 

270. The tribunal of annulment 
nominates, in the same sitting, by 
ballot, with the absolute majority, 
two of its members to exercise, in 
the high court of justice, the func. 
__tions of national accusers; 

271. The atts of accusation are 
_ prepared and drawn up by the 
council of five hundred. 

272. The elecioral assemblies of 
each department nominate every 
year a juror for the high court of 
justice. 

-273. The executive directory 
causes to be printed and published, 
a month afier the date of the 
election, a list of the jurors nomi« 
nated for the high court of justice. 


Title IX.—Of the Public Force. 


274. The public force is insti. 
tuted to defend the state against 
enemies abroad, and to secure at 
home the maintenance of order, 
and the execution of the laws. 

275. The public force is essen- 
tially obedient; no armed body 
can deliberate. 

276. It is divided into national 
pare sedetsary, afd national guard 

) activity. 

Vor. XXXVII, 


07 
Of the National Guard, Sedentary. 

277. The national guard, se- 
dentary, is composed of all the 
citizens, and sons of citizens; ca- 
pable of bearing arms. Bie 

278. Its organization and disci- 
pline are the same for al! the re- 
public ; they are determined by the 
law. 

279. No Frenchman can exer- 
cise the rights of a citizen, if he is 
not inscribed on the roll of the 
national guard sedentary. 

280. The distinétion of ranks 
and subordination; subsist only 
with relation to the service, and 
for the period of its duration. 

281. Lhe officers of the national 
guard sedentary are chosen for a 
time by the citizens who compose 
it, and cannot be re-elected till 
after an interval. 

282: The command of the na. 
tional guard of a whole department 
cannot be habitually entrusted to 
one citizen. 

283. If it be judged necessary to 
assemble all the national guard of a 
department, the executive direCtory 
may nominate a.temporary com. 
mandant, 

284. The command of the na- 
tional guard sedentaty in cities of 
an hundred thousand souls and 
upwards, cannot be habitually en- 
trusted to one man. 


Of the National .Guard in AGivitys 


285. The republic maintains in 
its pay, even in time of peace, 
under the name of national guards 
inactivity, an army by land and sea. 

286. The army is formed by vo- 
untary enrolment, and in case of 
necessity, by the mode which the 
law determines. nia 

287..No foreigner, who has not 
acquired the rights of French ci- 
tizen, can be admitted into the 

H French 


08 


French armies, unless he has made 
one or more campaigns for the esta- 
blishment of the republic. 

288 Lhe commanders in chief, 
land and sea, are only nominated 
in case of war; they receive com- 
missions revokeable at pleasure from 
the executive power. The dura- 
tion of these commissions is limited 
to one campaign, but they may be 
renewed. 

289. The general command of 
the armies of the republic cannot 
be confined to a single man. 

299. Lhe army by land and sea 
is subject to particular laws, with 
respect to its discipline, the form 
of sentences, and the nature of 
punishments, 

z91. No part of the national 
guard sedentary, or of the national 
guard in activity, can act for the 
service of the interior of the re. 
public, except on the requisition, 
in writing, ofthe civilaurhority, ac- 
cording to forms prescribed by law. 

292. The public force cannot be 
called out by the civil authorities, 
except in the extent of their juris. 
diction. It cannot be removed from 
one canton to another, without 
being authorized by the adminis- 
tration of department, or from one 
department to another, without the 
orders of the executive directory, 

293. The legislative body neyer- 
theless, determines the means of se- 

- euring by the public force the exe- 
cution of sentences, and the prose- 
cution of accused persons, through. 
out all the French territory. 

294. In case of imminent dan- 
ger, the municipal administration 
of one canton may call out the 
national guard of the neighbouring 
cantons ; in that case the adminis. 
tration which has so called out, 
and the chiefs of the national 
guard called out, are equally_bound 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


to render an accoun*, at the same 
moment, to the departmental ad. 
ministration. 

295. No foreign troops can be 
introduced upon the French terri- 
tory, without the previous consent 
ot the legislative body. 


Title X.—Public Instruion. 

296. There are in the republic 
primary schools, where the pupils 
learn to read, to write, the ele- 
ments of arithmetic, and those of 
morality. The republic. provides 
only for the expence of the lodging 
of the instru€tors appointed for 
these schools. 

297. There are, indifferent parts 
of the republic, schools superior to 
the primary schools, and to such a 
number, that there shall be at least 
one for every two departments. 

298. There is for the whole 
republic, a national institution 
charged to collect discoveries, and 
to improve the arts and_ sciences. 

299. Vhe different establishments 
of public instru€tion have not, 
with respect to each other, any 
connexion of subordination, or 
administrative correspondence. 

300. Citizens have a right to 
form particular establishments of 
education and instruction, as well 
as free societies, to promote the 
progress of the sciences, of letters, 
and of arts. 

301. There shall be established - 
national festivals, to keep alive fra- 
ternity among the citizens, and to 
attach them to the constitution, to 
their country, and to the laws. 


Title X1.—Fixeances—Coxtribu~ 

tions. 

302. The public contributions 
are discussed and fixed every year 
by the legislative bedy. To. it 
alone belongs to establish them ; 
they cannot subsist beyond that | 

period, 


; 
i 


administration of his 


APPENDIX tothe CHRONICLE. —-_09 


period, if they are not expressly 
renewed, 

303. The legislative body may 
create such kind of cdntributions 
as is shall judge necessary ; but it 
must establish, every year, an im- 
position upon Jand, and a personal 
imposition. 

304. Every individual, who not 
coming within articles twelve and 
thirteen of the constitution, is not 
included in the roll of direét con- 
tributions, has the right of pre- 
senting himsélf to the municipal 
commune, 
and to inscribe himself for a per- 
sonal cdéntribution, equal to the 
local value of three days agricul- 
tural labour. 

305, The inscription mentioned 
in the preceding article cannot be 
made but during the month of 
Messidor every year. 

306. Contributions of every de- 
scription are assessed upon those 
who contribute in proportion to 
their means. 

307. The executive directory 
orders and superintends the receipt 
and the paying in of contributions, 
and gives all the necessary orders 
for that purpose. 

308. The detailed account of the 
expences of ministers, signed and 
certified by them, are made public 
at the commencement of each year. 
The same shall be done with all 
the statements of the receipt of dif- 
ferent contributions, and of all the 
public revenues. 

309. The statement of these ex- 
pences and receipts are distin. 
guished according to their nature; 
they express the sums received and 
expended, year by year, in each 
part of the general administration. 

310- There are also published, 
accounts of the expences particular 
to the departments, and relative 


to the tribunals, to the administra- 
tions, to the promotion of the sci- 
ences, and to all public works and 
establishments: 

311. The administrations of de- 
partment, and the municipalities, 
cannot make any assessment be- 
yond the sums fixed by the legis- 
lative body, nor discuss, nor per- 
mit, without being authorized by 
it; any local loan at the charge of 
the citizens of the department, of 
the commune cr of the canton; 

312. To the legislative body 
alone belongs the right of regu- 
lating the coining, and issuing of all 
kinds of money, fixing the value, 
the weight, and the impression. 

313. The dire€tory superintends 
the coining of money, and nomi- 
nates the officers charged imme- 
diately with the inspection of it. 

314. The legislative body de- 
termines the contributions of the 
colonies, and their commercial con- 
nexions with the mother country. 


National Treasury and Account. 


315.! There are five commissar!©S 
of the national treasury chosen by 
the council of elders from a treble 
list presented by that of five hun- 
dred. 

316. The duration of their func. 
tions is for five years, and one of 
them is renewed every year, and 
may be re-eleéted indefinitely with«. 
out interval, 

317. The commissaries of the 
treasury are charged-to superintend 
the receipt of all the national 
money. ‘To order the movements 
of funds, and the payment of all 
public expences consented to by: 
the legislative body. To keep ats 
open account of receipt and ex- 
pence with the receiver of direét 
contributions for each department ; 
with the different national boards, 

Hz and 


iGo 
and with the payers established in 
the departments. To maintain 
with the said receivers and payers 
with the boards and administra- 
tions, the correspondence necessary 
for assuring the exaét and regular 
paying in of money. 

318. They can pay nothing 
under penalty of forfeiture, but by 
virtue,—-1. Of a decree of the le- 
gislative body, and to the amount 
of the sum decreed by it for each 
objeét.—z. Of adecision of the di- 
rectory.—3. OF the signature of 
the minister who direéts the ex. 
petice; 

319. They cannot, under pe- 
nalty of forfeiture, approve of pay. 
mént, if the mandate signed by the 
minister, who direcis the expence, 
do not set forth the date, the de 
tision of the executive direftory, 
and the decrees of the legislative 
body, which authorize the payment. 

320. The receivers of dire& con. 
tributions in each department, the 
different national boards, and the 
peyers in the departments, give 
in to the national treasury their re- 
spective accounts ; the treasury au- 
dits and passes them. 

221, There are five commis- 
saries of national accounts, elected 
by the legislative body at the same 
periods, and according to the same 
farms. and conditions. as the com. 
missaries of the treasury. 

322, The general account of re. 
ceipe and expenditure of the re. 
public, with the particular ac. 
courts and documents, is presented 
hy the commissaries:of the treasury 
to the commissaries of accounts, 
who audit and pass them. 

(393. The commissarits of ac. 
counts give notice to the legislative 
body of abuses, malversations, and 
‘all cases of résponsibility, which 
they discover in the course of their 


— 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 17935. 


- 


operations ; they propose medsures; 
suitable to the interests of the re. 
public. 

324. The result of the accounts: 


passed by the commissaries of acs, 


counts, is printed and made publics 

325. The commissaries of the 
national treasury and accounts. 
cannot be suspended or removed 
but by the legislative body. . But 
during the adjournment of the le. 
gislative body, the executive direc. 


‘tory may suspend and replace pro- 


visionally the commissaries of the 
national treasury, to the number of 
two at most, but are bound to refer 
them to both councils of the legis. 
lative body, as soon as they have 
resumed their sittings. -' 


Title XII.—Exvernal Relations. 


326. War cannot be decided 
upon but by a decree of the legis. 
lative body, upon the formal and 
necessary proposition of the exe. 
cutive dire¢ctary. 

327. The two legislative coun... 
cils concur according to the ordi- 
nary forms in the decree, by 
which war is decided upon. 

328. In case of hostilities, im. 
minert, or actually commenced, 
of menaces, or preparations for 
war against the French republic, 
the executive directory is bound to. 
employ, for the defence of the state, 
the meuns at its disposal, charged, 
however, with communicating them 
without delay to the legislative 
body. It may even, in that case, 
point out the augmentation of 
force, and.the new legislative re- 
gulations, | which — circumstances 
"aay require. 

329. The direGtory alone can. 
maintain political relations abroad, 
conduét negotiations, distribute 
the land and naval forces as. it: 

judges 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


judges necessary, and regulate their 
directions in case ot war. 

330. It is authorized 10 make pre- 
liminary stipuiations, such as ar- 
mistices, treaties of neutrality ; it 
may likewise agree upon secret con- 
ventions. 

331. The executive direftory 
agrees to, signs, or causes to be 
signed, with foreign powers, all 
treaties of peace, alliance, truce, 
neutrality, commerce, and other 
conyentions, which it may judge 
to be necessary for the interest. of 
the state. These treaties and con- 
ventions are negotiated in the 
name of the French republic, by 
diplomatic agents, nominated by 
the executive directory, andcharged 
with its instructions, 

332. In the case of a treaty con- 
taining secret articles, the regula- 
tions of those articles cannot be 
subversive of the open articles, or 
contain any alienation of the terri- 
tory of the republic. 

333- ‘Treaties are not binding 
till after having been examined 
and ratified by the legislative body ; 
nevertheless, the secret conditions 
provisionally receive their execu- 
tion from the moment they shall 
have been agreed upon by the exe- 
cutive directory. 

334. Neither of the legislative 
councils deliberate upon war or 
peace, but in general commit- 
tee. 

335- Foreigners, whether esta- 
blished in France or not, succeed 
to their foreign or French rela- 
tions ;- they may contract for, ac. 
quire and receive property situ- 
ated in France, and dispose of it 
in the same manner as French ci- 
tizens, by all the means authorized 


by the laws, 


101 


Title XIID.—=Rewision of the. Con. 
stitution. : 

336. If experience shew the ins 
conveniences of» some articles ‘of 
the constitution, the council of 
elders proposes th revision sit 
them. 

337- The proposition of the! 
council of elders is, in that. case, 
submitted to the ratification of the# 
council of five hundred, . 

338. When, in a period of nine 
years, the proposition of the coun." 
cil of elders, ratified by the council ’ 
of five hundred, has‘been made at 
three intervals, of at least two years ' 
each, an assembly of revision is 
convened. 

330. This assembly is formed of 
two members by department,’ all 
chosen-in the same manner as mem.” 
bers of the legislative body, and” 
possessing the same qualifications as > 
those required for*the council» of 
elders. 

340. The council of elders points 
out, for the meeting of the assem.’ 
bly of revision, “a place distant 20 
myriameiers at least from that where - 
the legislative bedy sits. ; 

341. The assembly of revision 
has a right to change the place of’ 
its residence, observing the distarice’ 
prescribed by the preceding ar- 
ticle. 

342. The assembly of revision” 
exercises no function of legislation 
or government; it confines itself 
to the revision of the constitutional 
articles pointed out to it by the le- 
gislative body. - 

343- All the attieles of the con- 
stitution, without exception, con- 
tinue to be in vigour as long as 
the changes proposed by the as- 
sembly of revision are not ac- 
cepted by the people. 

H3 344. The 


102 


344. The members of the as- 
sembly of division deliberate in 
common. 

345. The citizens who are mem- 
bers of the legislative body, at the 
time of convoking an assembly of 
revision, cannot be elected mem- 
bers of that assembly. 

346. The assembly of revision 
addresses immediately to the pri- 
mary assemblies the plan of reform 
it has agreed upon. It is dissolved 
the moment the plan is addressed 
to them. . 

347. The duration of the as- 
sembly of revision can in no: case 
exceed three months. 

348. The members of the as- 
sembly of revision cannot be exa- 
mined, accused, or tried at any 
time for what they have said or 
written in the exercise of their 
funGtions. During the continu. 
ance of those funétions they cannot 
be put upon trial, except by a deci- 
sjon of the members of the as- 
sembly of revision. 

349. The assembly of ‘revision 
attends ng public ceremony; its 
members receive the same indem- 
nity as the members of the legisla- 
tive body. 

350. The assembly of revision 
has the right of exercising, or 
causing to be exercised, the police 
of the.,commune in which It re- 
sides, 


Title X1V.—General Dispositions, 


363. There exists among the 
citizens no superiority but that of 
public fun¢tionaries, and relative 
to the exercise of their funétions. 

352. The law acknowledges 
neither religious vows, nor any 
other engagement, contrary to the 
natural rights of man. 

7 \ 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


353. No man can be hindered 
from speaking, writing, printing, 
and publishing his thoughts. Writ- 
ings cannot be subject to any censure 
before their publication. No man 
canbe responsible for what he has 
written or published, but in cases 
provided for by the law. 

354. No man can he hindered 
from exercising the form of wor. 
ship he has chosen, while he con- 
forms to the laws. No man can 
be forced to contribute to the ex. 
pences of any form of worship, 
The republic pays for none. 

355. There is’ neither privilege 
nor right of companies, nor cor. 
poration, nor limitation to the 
freedom of the press, of commerce, 
and to the exercise of industry and 
arts of every kind, Every prohi- 
bitory law of this sort, when cir- 
cumstances render it necessary, is 
essentially provisional, and has no 
effect beyond a year at most, unless 
it be formally renewed. 

356. The law watches particu. 
larly the professions which interest 
public morals, the safety and the 
health of citizens; but admission 
to the exercise of these professions 
cannot be made to depend upon 
any pecuniary security, 

357. The law ought to provide 
for the recompense of inventors, 
or for the maintenance of the ex. 
clusive property of their discoveries 
or productions. 

358. The constitution guarantees 
the inyiolability of all property, of 
a just indemnity for that of which 
public necessity legally proved may 
require the sacrifice, 

359. The house of every citizen 
is an inviolable asylum ; during the 
night no one has a right to enter 
if, except in case of fire, inunda- 

ticn, 


\ 


‘APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


tion, or a call from within the 
house. During the day, the orders 
of the constituted authorities may 
beexecuted in it. No domiciliary 


visit can be made but in virtue of 


alaw, and for the person or object 
expressly stated in the att which 
orders the visit. 

360. No corporation or associa- 
tion contrary to public order can be 
formed. 

361. Noassembly of citizens can 
call itself a popular society. 

362. No particular society em- 
ploying itself upon political ques- 
tions, can correspond with any 
other, or affiliate with it, or hold 
public sittings, composed of mem- 
bers and auditors, distinguished 
from one another, or impose con- 
ditions of admission and eligibility, 
or arrogate rights of exclusion, or 
make its members wear any exter- 
nal mark of their association. 

363. The citizens cannot exer. 
cise their political rights, but in 
the primary or communal as- 
semblies, 

364. All the citizens are free to 
address petitions to the public au- 
thorities, but the petitions must be 
individual; no association can pre- 
sent collective petitions, except the 
constituted authorities, and that 
only upon subje¢ts appertaining to 
their funétions. ‘Lhe petitioners 
must never forget the respect due 
to the constituted authorities, 

365. Every armed assemblage 
is an offence against the con. 
stitution ; it ought to be instantly 
dispersed ‘by force. 

~366. Every assemblage, not 
armed, ought also to be dispersed, 
at first by means of verbal com. 
mand, and, if necessary, by the 
display of armed force. 

367. Several constituted autho. 


1C3 


rities cannot meet to deliberate 
together; no act issuing from such 
a meeting can be execated, 

8. Nomancan wear distinctive 
marks which call ta mind funétions 
formerly exercised, or services 
performed. 

349. Whe members of the legis- 
lative body, and all the public 
funftionaries, wear, in the exer- 
cise ef their fun¢tions, the dress or 
sign of the authority with which 
they are invested; the law deter- 
mines the form of it, 

307- No citizen can renounce, 
in whole or in part, the indemnity 
or salary allowed him by the law 
on account of public funétions. 

371. There is uniformity of 
weights and measures in the re- 
public. 

372. The French zra commences 
on the 22d of September 1792, the 
day of the foundation of the re- 
public. 

373- The French nation declares, 
that in no case will it suffer the 
return of the French, who having 
abandoned their country since the 
15th of July, 178g, are not com. 
prehended in the exceptions made 
to the laws against emigrants; and 
the nation interditts the legislative 
body from creating new exceptions 
upon this point. The property of 
emigrants is irrevocably confiscated 
to the benefit of the republic, 

374. The French nation pro- 
claims also as a guarantee of the 
public faith, that after an adjudi- 
cation legally completed of na- 
tional property, whatever may have 
been its origin, the legitimate 
holder cannot be dispossessed of it, 
but a person reclaiming it may, sif 
there be reason, be indemnified by 
the national treasury, 

375. None of the powers insti- 

H4 tuted 


104 


tuted by the constitution, has the 
right to change it, in whole or in 
part, saving the reforms that may 
be made init, by means of revision, 
conformably to the dispositions of 
title thirteen. 

“376. The citizens shall call to 
mind incessantly, that it is upon 
the wisdom of choice in the pri- 
mary electoral assemblies, the du- 
ration, preservation and prosperity 
of the republic principally depend. 

377- Lhe French people com- 
mit the deposit of the present con- 
stitution to the fidelity of the legis- 
lative body, of the executive di- 
rectory, of the administrators and 
judges; to the vigilance of fathers 
of families; to wives and to mo- 
thers; to the affection of the young 
citizens, and to the courage of all 
the French. 

"Inspected by the representatives 
of the people, inspe¢tors of the mi- 
nutes. 

(Signed) Lewautt, Enjupautr. 

Collated with the original, by us, 
president and secretaries of the 
national convention. At Paris, 
the sth Frudtidor (August eo, 

1795), third year of the French 


republic. 
- (Signed) M, J, Cuenrer, Pre. 
3" ' ‘sident; Derrasry, 
Soutrcnac, Ber- 


NIER, LAURENCE- 
ot, Dentzer, Qui- 
ROT, Secretaries. 


An Account of the different Sums of 

Money that have been paid by Great 

“ty Britain tathe Emperor, or the Com- 

wanders of bis Impericl Majesty’s 

Forces at different times during the 
present War. 


1494, September 18 £.50,000° 
_ Ottober 30 0,000 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


November 1g $0,050 

_ December 18 100,006 
1795. February 6 50,000 
— 21 50,000 

————— 22 100,000 

May 9 100,000. 
£550,000 


Whitehall, Treasury Chambers, 
22d May, 1795. , 
Cuar.es Lone. 


Accurate List of the, Dalal: Navy be= 
longing to the Admiralty of tha 
Maese or Rotterdam. 


Guns, 
Prins Willem den Ersten 74 
De Staaton Generaal 74. 
Admiral Cortenar 64. 
Admiral Wassenaer 64. 
Prins Frederick —_ 64 
Herculus — “64 
Dortrecht — 64. 
Rotterdam —_ 64, 
Braakel _ 54 
Delft _ 54 
Admiral Tromp —_ 54 
Centaurus me 40 
Pollux = 40 
Castor f — 40 
Frederiea Louisa Wilhelmina 36 
Jason _ i 36 
Ceres _ 36 
Bellona = 24 
De Arend — m4 
Scipio _ 24. 
De Leeuw —_ 16 
Kemphaan — 14 
Wesp ~ 16 
Panther _ 16 
Braak- — 16 
Sperwer = 16, 
Five smaller vessels of 12 
Two ditto 6 


Belonging 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


Belonging to the Admiralty of Zeeland. 


[ Guns. 
Zuid Beyerland — 64 
Zeeland — 64 
Goes — 56 
Thoolen . — 40 
Bronswyk oo 36 
Wilhelmina _- 36 
Walcharen — 24 
Minerva , — 24 
Meermin — 24 
Diana — 10 
Flora —_ 8 
Two small. vessels of 6 
Belonging ta the Admiralty of Amster- 

dam. 
Jupiter — 74 
Vryheid — 74 
Prins Mawritz — 74 
Neptunus — "74 
Haarlem — 64 
Cerberix —_ 64 
Overyssel —_ 64 
Utrecht _— 64 
Gelderland — 64 
Leyden _ 64 
Frederica Wilhelmina 64 
Princess Louisa _ 54 
Admiral Peit Hein 54 
Batavier —— 54 
Heétor 44 
Media | — 40 
Amazone — 36 
Zephier — 36 
Meerman — 36 
Aliantie — 36 
Argo _— 36 
Erfprins Van Brunswyk 36 
Venus —.- 24 
Waaksaamheid _— 24 
Valk — 24 
Allarm — 24. 
Dolphin _ 24 
Het Zeepard — 24 
Triton —_ 24 
Havick — 18 
Komeet a 18 


105 
Guus. 
Echo —_ 18 
ercur — 16 
Three small vessels of | 12 
Four ditto ~ — gx 
Belonging to the Admiralty of North 
Holland, 
De 7 Provincien 74 
Noord Holland — 64 
Westfriezland _ 64 
Hertsteller — 64 
Verwagting — 64 
Hoop or 64 
Pluto = 64 
Bechermer — 56 
Alkmaar _ 54 
Monnikkendum 40 
Medenblik — 36 
Enkhuizen — 24 
Expeditie —_ Iz 
Belanging tothe Admiralty ofV riesland, 
Vriesland _ 14 
Groningen _ 14 
Admiral de Vries 64 
Zevenwouden —_ 64 
Westergoo — 64 
Oostergoo — 64 
Pallas — 40 
Karlingen _ 36 
Ensgezindhei —_— 36 
Sirene _ 24 
Snelheid — Iz 
SS SEE SOC ST I 
Petition of the Lord Mayor, ec. of 
London, 23d Fanuary, 1795. 
To the Honourable the Commons 
of Great Britain, in Parliament 
assembled, the humble Petition, 
&c. sheweth, 
B Ret your petitioners deplore 
the evil consequences of war 
in general, but more particularly 


the disastrous effeéts of the present 
war, on the trade, manufa¢tures, 


an¢ 


106 


and commerce of the British em- 
pire. : 

Your petitioners conceive that 
none of the ends proposed by the 
presegt war either have been, or 
appear likely to. be obtained, al. 
though it has been carried on at 
an unprecedented expence to this 
couniry, and has already produced 
an alarming increase of the na- 
tional debt, augmented by subsi- 
, flies paid to allies, who have no- 
toriously violated their solemn en- 
Zagements, and rendered no ade- 
quate service for large sums attu- 
ally received by them, and wrung 
from the credulity of the generous 
and industrious inhabitants of this 
island. ° 

Your petitioners, from their pre- 
sent view of public measures, pre- 
sume humbly, but firmly, to ex- 
press to this honourable house their 
decided conviction, that the prin- 
ciple upon which the war . appears 
now to be carried on, neither is ar 
can be essential to the property, the 
liberty, or the glory of the British 
empire. 

Your petitioners, therefore, ham. 
bly pray, that this honourable 
house, disclaiming all right of 
interfering in the internal concerns 
of France, will be pleased to take 
such measures as they, in their 
wisdom, shall think proper, for 
she purpose of promoting a speedy 
peace between Great Britain and 
the power with whom we are at war, 


Southwark Petition, 


To the Honourable the House of 
Commons of Great Britain in 
Parliament assembled, 


The humble Petition of the Inha. 
bitants of the Town and Borough 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


of Southwark, convened by pub. 
lic Advertisement of the High 
' Bailiff of the said Borough, 


Sheweth, 


That your petitioners, sincerely 
and awfully affected by a due sense 
of the trying and momentous cir. 
cumstances, under which they now 
appeal to the wisdom and to the 
feelings of their constitutional re- 
presentatives, the commons of 
Great Britain, in parliament as- 
sembicd, find it their bounden 
duty to give their opinion upon 
the present alarming state of pub- 
lic affairs, with ali the frankness 
and explicitness which the crisis 
demands. 

And, first, your petitioners freely 
and zeaiou:., declare their true and 
urshaken atcachment to the mo. 
narch on the throne, and to his 
royal family ; and their firm. de~ 
termination to support the genuine 
principles of this most excellent 
constitution, should any attempt, 
from whatever quarter, whether 
foreign or domestic, be made ta 
subvert it. 

In revolving, however, theevents 
of the present war with France, 
your petitioners, with the deepest 
concern, have observed that the 
uniform bravery manifested by the 
British fleets and armies, has, in 
no respect, advanced the presumed 
object of the war, and now, less 
than ever, .appears likely to at. 
tain it. y 

The consideration of the diss 
asters and defeats which have lately 
attended the unsupported efforts 
of the British arms on the conti- 


‘nent, is, in the minds of your pe- 


titioners, bitterly aggravated by 
the refleGtion that those allies, 
whose councils and resentments 

first 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


first engaged us in the. contest, 
have wrung, from the credulity and 
confidence of the generous and 
industrious people of Great Britain, 
large sums of money, for which, 
in violation of all faith,’ no ade- 
quaie service appears to have been 
performed, or attempted. 

In the events of a campaign, so 
unparalleled i in calamity, your pes 
titioners, among other fatal conse- 
quences, perceive a large addition 
to the existing national debt, the 
speedy diminution of which has 
been long held forth to your peti- 
tioners, and to the country, asa 
measure indispensably. necessary to 
the maintenance of the constitu- 


_tion, as well as to the credit of 


Great Britain. 

Under the increasing pressure of 
such burthens, your petitioners are 
convinced, however highly they 
are disposed to estimate the forti- 
tude and loyalty of all descriptions 
of their countrymen, and how. 
ever readily they admit the tem- 
porary advantages which both the 
general commerce and the public 
funds of this country may have 
derived from the terrors and ca- 
lamities of other nations, that the 
consequences of -persevering in the 

resent destru¢tive war must tend 

rapidly to depress and ruin the 
occupations of useful labour, and 
profitable industry; and ultimately 
to destroy the only true sources of 
the nation’s power, our trade, our 
commerce, and our manufactures, 

Under this impression, your pe- 
titioners are compelled to turn 
their thoughts most seriously, and 
eagerly, to the only real remedy 
for the evils they apprehend, 
peace ;—for in the tranquillity, the 
civilized i intercourse, and the com- 
mercial prosperjty of the surround. 


toy 
ing nations of Europe, your peti- 
tioners conceive the commercial 
interests of Great Britain can alone 
find their interest and support. 
In the pursuits-of vengeance or 
ambition, in wars and camps, in 
desolation and blood-shed, even 
were the contest attended with 
temporary success, the result to a 
country, circumstanced as this is, 
must be national bankruptcy, and 
ultimate ruin. 

On these grounds your petition. 
ers humbly, bur distin¢tly, pray, 
that your honourable house, dis- 
claiming every pretence of right 
on the part of Great Britain, to 
create or correct a government 
for France, and disregarding what. 
ever is or may be the title or con, 
struction of the ruling power, 
which either does, or may exist in 
that country, will earnestly adopt 
the most effectual means for re- 
commending an immediate nego. 
tiation for peace, on terms con. 
sistent with the honour and secu- 
rity of the British empire. And 
your petitioners further assure your 
honourable house, that if, contrary 
to the hopes of your petitioners, 
motives of inordinate ambition,- 
or of implacable resentment, how- 
ever rashly and improvidently ex- 
cited, in the mind of the enemy, 
should render it impossible to ob, 
tain a termination of hostilities 
upon safe and honourable terms, 
your petitioners will be found 
among the readiest of his ma- 
jesty’s loyal subje&s, to stand for. 
ward to the last means of ex. 
ertion, in defence of their country, 
or to perish with its fall, 

And your petitioners will ever 
Pray s 

[Variety of other petitions to the 


fame purposes, which were echoes of 
the 


108 


the above were presented. Avery few 
counter petitions were 4lsalaid onthe 


table. 


Copy of a Circular Letter written by 
Mr. Dundas, on the Subje& of 
Manning the Navy. : 


-Horse-Guards, Fan. 173 1795+ 


SrRy ae 
H* majesty’s ministers being 
desirous of submitting to par- 
Jiament the most speedy and effect- 
tual means ‘of procuring an addi. 


tional supply of men for his ma. 


jesty’s naval service; and being 
desirous, for that purpose, to receive 
the best information on that. sub- 
ject. from the principal . ports in 
the kingdom, I have thought, it 
right to apprise you of it, in order 
. that you may communicate this in- 
tention to the merchants and tra- 
ders of: Hull; and in hopes. that 
they will send up some persons 
enabled to. state whatever may oc- 
cur to them with a view to the 
general service, as well as to the 
particular interest of that port, 
I am Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 

(Signed), Hengy Dunnas, 

The Mayor of Hull. 


Answer fram the Mayar of Yarmouth, 


Ps Sir, 

IN consequence of your letter of 
the 17th instant, there have. been 
two public.-meetings of the mers 


chants and. ship-owners © of this’ 
port, whose opinion, on the subject 


‘ 


ANNUALAREGISTER, 1795. 


of it, I, am requested to communi! 
cate ‘0 you, f 

With. respeét to any particular 
persons being deputed hy Yarmouth! 
to wait on dis taapesty’s ministers)’ 
it was thought, that as various 
plans for procuring supplies for the 
naval service have, at different. 
times, been suggested. by many, 
who had the best opportunities for 
ascertaining the most effectual 
means for that purpose, very little’ 
additional, information could be 


» communicated on this subjeé. 


The putting of the navy upon 
the most respeétable footing, how- 
ever, being in the present situation 
of affairs highly important, ‘still 
Jarger bounties and an increase of 
wages, together with a more speedy 
and regular ~payment, by way of 
support to the families of seamen, 
were conceived to be measures in- 
dispensably requisite, 

The establishment of an equitable 
peace appeared, at the same time, 
to be the object deserving of prin. 
q@pal | attention; for the speedy 
negotiation of which, it is respeét- 
fully recommended to government 
that every just and proper mode 
may be adopted. After this, should 
the ambition of “the enemy render 
a continuance of the war necessary, | 
persons of every description, it was 
the unanimous opinion, would 
cheerfully unite in whatever might 
contribute to a vigorous prosecu. 
tion of it. 

I have the honour to remain, © 

Sir, your most obedient, 
And very humble servant. — 

Yarmouth, Witir1am Taytor, 

Fan. 28th, 17950 ‘ 


de. 


: L  ) Bstintate 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. » 109: 


Estimate of the Charge of Foreign Troops ia the Servite of Great Britain, for 
the Year 1795, laid before Parliament on Fan. v4th. 


Charge for 
P ; ; Numbers. 365 days, 
Hanoverians. 18,000 he 
Pay — — — — ~— = + ~— ~—— 388,172 
Recruiting, artillery, and contingent charges 107,483 
495,655 
Troops belonging tothe Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, 12,000 
Pay — — — = — — — — — 223,099 
Subsidy —* — —- — — — —' — 84,210 
| Additional Corp sof two Brigades of Hessian Artillery, 531 
gy 
Subsidy — — — ~ — — — —— 16,072 
; Tin ep 52 
Troops belonging to the Landgraveof Hesse Darm- } Sane 
stadt, 
Re lhc a Nata Milam colleen erties C19 / 
Subsidy — — — — — — — = 20,302 
76,096 
_ Troops belonging to the Duke of Brunswick, 2,289 
tle il acre ed ae mee aaa er oc ter lin £1: | 
la ae ee res eee tT — 15,565 
intial se aliptsaamhliter = Aetrex lem tle eR 2 yc 
~ Charges of marching’ and equipping of officers — 13,096 
92,242 
Total 35,820 | § £.997,226 
War Offee, 13th Fanuaryy 1795« W. Winpuam. 


An Account of the Troops employed by for by the maritime powers, wab 
the King of Prussia in pursuanceof to consist of fifty-two battalions 
the Treaty signed at the Hague in and sixty squadrons, which, toge~ 
April, 1794, a5 far as the same can ther with the artillery, &e. formed 

be ascertained, laid before Parlia~ an army of 62,407 men, viz. 
ment in February. ; Bearing arms - - 61,442 
. Not bearing arms - 10,966 
PyY the table annexed to the —§ By the statement made in the 
B Prussian treaty it appears, beginning of June to Lord Malmes. 
that the force therein stipulated bury, by count Haugwitz, the 
Prussian 


310! 


Prussian minister, and also by an 
Austrian officer of. rank; who was 
then just arrived from the Prussian 
army, it appeared that the army 
immediately under marshal Mol- 
lendorf was complete to 62,400 
effective men; but in the state; 
ment of the latter it was added 
that the corps under general Kal- 
kreuth, which was to furnish the 
contingent of 20,000 men to the 
emperor, was not complete. 

By a dispatch from marquis 
Cornwallis, dated Mayence, zrst 
June, it appears that marshal Mol: 
jendorf then fepresented to. his 
lordship; that the corps stipulated 
in the treaty was complete at the 
time of the signature to 51,000 
fighting men; but that they were 
since reduced by casualties to 
39,000 fighting men, and that the 
whole force under marshal Mol- 
lendérf’s command, including men 
of all descriptions, amounted at 
that time to 84,00. 

By an abstradt, taken from an 
inclosure in a dispatch from lord 
Malmesbury to iord Gernville; it 
appears that the return of the Prus- 
sian army employed on the Rhine 
on the 6th of August was, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Under Batt. \ Squadrr 
General Kalkreuth 19 — jo 
‘Prince Hohenloe 19 — 35 
General Ruchel g — 15 
Marshal Mollendorf 30 — 20 

100 


aE 


Tn the return of the Prussian 
force transmitted by leuwtenant- 
calonel Don, dated,z6th of O&obers 
1794, it appears that at that period 
it consisted of 70,000 men, 

In another feturn of the Prussian 
force transmitted by the same offi- 
cer, dated November, 1794, in 
which the names of the corps are 
specified, a list is given of 77 bat. 
talions and 100 squadrons. This 
list includes the names of all the 
battalions and squadrons enumer- 
ated in the table annexed to the 
treaty. 

_N. B. Besides the foree which 
the king of Prussia was to furnish, 
under the treaty with the maritime 
powers, he was bound to furnish 
his contingent as a member of the 
empire, and the contingeht stipu- 
lated for under his treaty with the 
emperor was 20,000 men. 


Account of the Number of Foreign Troops a&ially in British Pays as faras the 
same can be ascertained by the latest Returns received at the Secretary of 


State’s Office laid b-fore the House of Commons on the 13th of February, 1795+ 


Returns Cavalry. Infant. 
Hanoverians - Nov. 1, 1794 = 2440 8972 
Hesse Cassel - Ditto = “ 175 4353 
Hesse Darmstadt. - Ditto - ae ee 1145 
La Chartre’s Loy. Emg. Dec. 1 < . — 732 
British Hulang OGober 1 4 “ g2t 
Salm’s Hussars Ditto « = 798 — 
Sfompesch’s Hussars Ditto - - 616 —= 
Rohan’s Hussars Ditto - - - 858 — 
Chaiscul’s Hussars Ditto - - - 883 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. M11: 

Returns, Cavalry. Infant. 
York Hussars = Ditto - - - 5649 -—— 
Ditto Rangers ~ - Ditto - - - —- 46r 
Hompesch’s Chasseurs Ditto - “ al — 89 
Rohan’s Light Infantry Ditto - - e: -—— 828 
Salm’s Light Infantry — --— 
Power’s Chasseurs pe returns received Total 888: 1680 
Perigord’sLight Infan. oh) a ee 
Ceremony of the Acquittal of Warren 1. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 


Hastings, Esq. (late Governor Ge- 
neral of Bengal) befire the High 
Court of Parliament, fir High 


Crimes and Misdemeanors. 


N Thursday, April 23, this 
celebrated trial, which began 

on the 12th of February 1788, came 
to a decision. The hall was as 


-™Much crowded as on the first day. 


The splendour of the assembly, 
from the number of ladies, it is 
impossible to describe. Mr. Fox 
and the rest of the managers came 
into their box at twelve o’clock. 
The peers entered the hall half an 
hour afterwards. 

Proclamation being made in the 
usual way, Warren Hastings, esq. 
with his bail, came into the court, 
and was directed to withdraw. 

The lord chancellor then stood 


-up, and said, that the lords had 


upon Friday last resolved, that judg- 
ment should be given this day on 
the charges of high crimes and 
misdemeanors brought by tke house 
of commons against Warren Hast- 
ings, esq. 

The following ave the -resolu- 
tions which they entered into, and 
the questions to be put to the lords 
severally : 

Resolved by the Jords spiritual and 
temporal, in parliament assem- 
bled, that the following ques- 
tions be put to the lords in West- 

_minster hall, viz. 


guilty, ornot guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the first 
article of charge ? 

2. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the second 
article of charge? 

3. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the sixth 
article of charge, inso far as relates 
to the said Warren Hastings hav— 
ing in the years 1772, 1773, and 
1774, corruptly taken the several 
sums of money charged to have 
been taken by him in the said years, 
from the several persons .in the 
said article particularly mentioned ? 

4. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of highcrimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the sixth 
article of charge, inso far as relates 
to his having, on or before the 26th 
of June 1780, corruptly received 
and taken from Sadanund, the 
Buxey of the Rajah Cheit Sing, the 
sum of two lacks of rupees as a 
present or a gift? 

5. Is Warren Hastings, esq, 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the sixth 
article of charge, in so far as 
relates to his having, in O&tober 

‘ 1780, 


112) 


1780, taken and received from 
Kelleram, on behalf of himself and 
a certain person called Cullian Sing, 
a sum of money amounting to four 
lacks of rupees, in consideration of 
letting to them certain lands in the 
province of Bahar in perpetuity, 
contrary to his duty, and to the in- 
jury of the East India company ? 

6. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him bythe commons in the sixth 
article of charge, in so far as re. 
lates to his having, in the year 
1781, received and taken as a 
present from Nundoclol, the sum 
of fifty-eight thousand rupees ? > 

7. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, ornot guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him *by the commons in the sixth 
article of charge, in so far as re- 
tates to his having, on or about 
the month of September,’ 1781, at 
Chunar, in the province of Oude, 
contrary to his duty, taken and re- 
ceived as a present from the vi- 
zier the sum of ten lacks of ru- 
pees? ; 

8. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the sixth 
article of charge, in so far as re. 
lates to his having first fraudu- 
lently solicited as a Joan, and of his 
having afterwards corruptly and 
illegally taken and retained as a 
present or gift, from rajah Nob. 
kissen, a sum of money amounting 
to 34,0001. sterling; and of his 
having, without any aliowance 
from the directors, or any person, 
authorized to grant such allowance, 
applied the same to his own use, 
under pretence cf discharging cer- 
tain expences said to be incurred 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


by the said Warren Hastings 
public capacity Po 

g. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, cf high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the fourth 
article of charge, in so far as relates 
to his having, in, the year 1781, 
granted a contract for the provision 
of opium for four years, to Stephen 
Sullivan, esq. without advertising 
for the same, and upon terms 
glaringly extravagant and wantonly 
profuse, for the purpose of creat. 
ing an instant fortune to the said . 
Stephen Sullivan ? : 

10. Is Warren. Hastings, esq. 
guilty, ornot guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the fourth 
article of charge, inso far as relates 
to his having borrowed money at 
a large interest, for the purpose of 
advancing. the same to the con- 
tractor for opium; and engaging 
the East India company in a smug- 
gling adventure to China ? 

11. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and misdeameanors, charged_ upon 
him by the cemmons in the fourth 
article of charge, in so far as relates 
to the contract for bullocks granted 
to Charles Croft, esq. 

12. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes’ 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the fourth 
article of charge, in so far as relates 
to his having granted the provision 
of bullocks to sir Charles Biunt by 
the mode of agency 

13. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of highcrimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon + 
him by the commons in the fourth 
arcicle of charge, in so far as relates 
to the several allowances charged 

to 


in his 


. APPENDIX .to the CHRONICLE. 


to have been made to sir Fyre 

Coote, and direéted to be paid by 
the vizier for the use of the. said sir 

Eyre Coote? 

14. 1s Warren Hastings, esq. 
guiicy, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and, misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the fourth 
article of charge, in so far as relates 
to the appointment of James Peter 
Auriol, esq. to be agent for the 
perchase of supplies for the relief 
of the presidency of Madras, and 
all the other presidencies in India, 
with a commission of fifteen per 
cent. ? 

ts. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of high crimes 
and misdemeanors, charged upon 
him by the commons in the fourth 
article of charge, in so far as relates 
to the appointment of John Belli, 
€sq. to be agent for the supply of 
stores and provisions for the garri. 
son of Fort William in Bengal, with 
a commission of thirty per cent. ? 

16. Is Warren Hastings, esq. 
guilty, or not guilty, of the residue 
of the high crimes and misde- 
meanors, or any of them, charged 
upon him by the impeachment of 
the commons? 

Resolved, by the lords spiritual and 
temporal, in parliament assem. 
bled, that the said questions shall 

_be severally put in Westminster- 
hall to each of the lords, beginning 
with the junior baron; and that 
the only answer shall be given 

_ by each lord in these words :— 

«Guilty, upon my honour ;’’ 

or, ‘* Not guilty, upon my ho- 

*« nour;”’ laying his right hand 

on his’ breast, 

The lord chancellor held in his 
hand a list of the peers present, 
and who had taken their seats in 

Vor. XXXVII. 


113 


their robes before the throne. 
Those, peers who did not mean to 
vote retired behind the throne. 

The noble lord then began with 
the junior peer present, in the fol. 
lowing manner: 

George lord Douglas, is Warren 
Hastings, esq. guilty, or not guilty, 
of the high crimes and misde- 
meanors charged upon him by the 
commons in the first article of 
ehatce? _ Lord Douglas stood up, 
took off his hat, and laying his right 
hand on his heart, pronounced— 
Not guilty, upon my honour. 

James lord Fife, how say you? 
—Not guilty, upon my honour, 

Charies lord Somers, how say 
you?—Not guilty, upon my _ho- 
nour. 

Francis lord Rawdon, how say 
you ?--Not guilty, upon my ho. 
nour. ; 
Thomas lord Walsingham, how 
say you?—Nor guilty, upon my ho- 
nour. 

Fdward lord Thurlow, how 
say you?—Not guilty, upon my 
honour. 

Martin lord Hawke, how say 
you?—Not guilty, upon my_ho- 
nour. 

Frederic lord Boston, how. say 
you?—Not guilty, upon my ‘ho- 
nour, 

Edwin lord Sandys, how say 
you?—Not guilty, upon my ho. 
nonr. 

Henry lord Middleton, how say 
you?—Not guilty, upon my ho. 
nour, 

Samuel lord bishop of Rochester, 
how say you?—Not guilty, upon 
my honour. 

John lord bishop of Bangor, how 
say you'—-Not guilty, upon my 
honour. : 

I _ Thomas 


“VA 


Thomas lord viscount Sidney, 
how say you?—Not guilty, upon 
my honour. 

George lord viscount‘Falmouth, 
how say you?—Not guilty, upon 
my honour. 

Henry.earl of Caernarvon, how 
say you ?—Guilty, upon my honour. 

Joseph earl of Dorchester, how 
say you fas guilty, upon my ho- 
nour. 

_ Algernon earl of Beverley, how 
say you?—Not guilty, upon my ho- 
nour. 

Jacob earl of Radnor, how say 
you?—Guilty, upon my honour. 

William earl Fitzwilliam, how 
say you?—Guilty, upon my ho- 
nour. 

George earl of Warwick, how 
say you?—Not guilty, upon my 
honour. ~ 

George, William earl of Coven: 
try, how say you?—Not guilty, 
upon my honour. 

John earl of Suffolk, how say 
you?—Guilty, upon my honour. 

George marquis Townshend, how 
say you?—Not guilty, upon my 
honour. 

Francis duke. of _Bridgewater, 
how says your grace ?—Not guilty, 
upon my honour. 

Francis duke of Leeds, how says 
your grace?—Not guilty, upon my 
honour. a 

Charles duke of Norfolk, how 
says your grace ?——Guilty, upon my 
honour. 

David earl of Mansfield, how 
say you?—Not guilty, upon my 
honour, 

William lord archbishop of York, 
how says your grace ?——Not guilty, 
upon my honour. 

- Alexander lord Loughborough, 
the lord chancellor pronounced— 
Guilty, upon my honour. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Thus on the first question; twen- 
ty-three peers pronounced» Mr. 
Hastings not guilty. Six pro- 
nounced. him guilty. 

On the ed question the numbers 
were the same. 

On the 3d question he was una- 
nimously declared not guilty. The’ 
duke of Norfolk then retired be- 
hind the throne and did not vote 
any more, 

On the fourth question, four 
peers pronounced him guilty—the 
earl of Caernarvon, earl Fitzwilliam, 
earl of Suffolk, and the lord chan- 
cellor ; all the rest not guilty,— 
Lord Suffolk then withdrew. 

On the 5th, 6th, and 7th, lord 
Caernarvon, lord Fitzwilliam, and 
the lord chancellor, guilty—all the 
rest not guilty. 

On the 8th, lord Quethartionj 
lord Fitzwilliam, lord Mansfield, 
and the lord chancellor, guilty—all 
the rest not guilty. 

On the gth, ra Walsingham; 
lord Caernarvon, lord Radnor, lord 
Fitzwilliam, and the lord chancel- 
lor, guilty—all the rest not guilty. 

On the roth he was unanimously 
acquitted. 

On the rith and reth lord 
Caernarvon, lord Fitzwilliam, and 
the chancellor, guilty—all the rest 
not guilty. : 

On the 13th. and 1qth, lord 
Caernarvon, Jord Radnor, lord Fitz. 
william, and the chancellor, guilty 
—all the rest not guilty. 

On the 15th and 17th, lord Caer- 
narvon, lord Fitzwilliam, and the 
Jord chancellor, ce io the rest 
not guilty. 

The following will shew “the 
whole in one point of view. 

The figures answer to ‘the 16 - 
questions. N. G. 
guilty, G. stands for guilty. 

Lord 


stands for not_ . 


415 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE, 


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116 


As'soon as they had gone through 
all the 16 questions, 

The lord chancellor said, it ap- 
pears that there is a great majority 
for the acquittal of’ the prisoner on 
each of the articles; J am, there- 
fore pursuant to your. lordships’ 
dire¢tions, to declare that Warren 
Hastings, esq. is acquitted of all the 
charges of impeachment brought 
against him by the commons, and 
of all the matter contained therein. 

Mr. Hastings was then called to 
come into court: he came into his 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


box, and knelt in the usual way ; 
the chancellor desired hin to rise, 
and addressed him in these words ; 

‘© Warren Hastings, you are ac- 
quitted of all the charges of im 
peachment brought against you by 
the commons, and of? all the -mat- 
ter contained therein; you and your 
bail, therefore, are discharged.”’ 

Mr. Hastings bowed to the 
house. 

The lord chancellor moved that 
their lordships do adjourn to the 
chamber of parliament. 


SUPPLIES granted by Parliament for the Service 
of the Year 1795. 


NAVY. 
Jan. 8. 
f.: Bh e 
FOR 100,000 men, including 15,000 marines $200,000 0 o 
Fes. 17. 
Ordinary of the navy 5 Z : 589,683 3 9 
Extra navy 2 S - §25,840 0 0 
£ 653155523 3 9 
ARMY. 
JAN. 22. 
For 119,380: men, as s guards and garrisons 2777.534 19° 1 
Forces in the plantations -e 691,307 15 7 
Difference between British and Irish Pay - 40,096 9 9g 
Troops in the East Indies - 8323 17 10% 
Recruiting land-forces, contingencies, &e. - 385,000 0 o 
Levy money, &c. for augmentation to the forces 480,000 0 o 
General and staff-officers, &c. - - 115,820 0 3 
Full pay to supernumerary officers - - 79:978 4 4 
Allowances to the paymaster-general, &c. - © 110,820 18 3 
Reduced officers of land-forces and marines . - 128,864 3 g 
Reduced horse-guards - of 139 si 3 
- Officers late in the service of the States General 1900 ) 
Reduced ; 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 117 


Lia. sete 
Reduced officers of British American forces 60,009 °o-O 
Widows’ pensions z . - 10,387 13 3 
Scotch roads and bridges - - 4500 -0 oO 
Embodied militia and fencible infantry - 930,047 12 3 
Contingencies, &c. for ditto : : 219,000 9 9 
Clothing for militia 2 3 2 1073137 Il 6 
Fencible cavalry = - = 280,048 8. 3 
Bread and necessaries for ditto 5 ae 80,000 © o 
Hanoverian troops Ray - - 4953655 © oO. 
Troops of Hesse Cassel 2 - 3335253 9 oO 
Troops of Hesse Darmstadt 2 | 76,076 9 o 
Brunswick troops - ~ e. 925242 9 0 

Fes. 23. 
Extraordinaries < = 3,063,968 12 4 
Regiments and corps to be raised - 427,269 6. 
Fes. 26. 
Subsidy to the king of Sardinia E - 200,000 40. Oo 
APRIL 27. 
Augmentations to the militia - 23,806 11 5 
Corps transferred from the Irish to the ‘British estae 
blishment - - - 246,877.15 © 
Chelsea pensioners - - - 149,856 15 1 


£.11,610,008 5 Si 


ORDN'ANCE. 


Jan. 22. 
Vand service, not provided for in 1793 345155 2 
Sea service, ditto - F - 259357 14 
Land service, ditto, in 1794 . - 1,045,305 19 8 
Sea service, ditto = g * 39387 0 3 
Ordnance for 1795 - - - 1,176,804 17 <9, 


f-29323,C10.13 10 


MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES, 


Jan. 6. 
To ercharge exchequer bills “ £.6,c00,000 © Oo 
Fes. 19. 
Civil establishment of Upper Canada - W198... 0: 0 
Ditto, Nova Scotia . - “ 4415 © © 
Ditto, New Brunswick » seer - 4550 0 0 
Ditto, St. John’s Island - - - 1900 © 0 
Ditto, Cape Breton - - \. 1800 0 © 


13 Ditto, 


118 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


Ditto, Newfoundland 4 - «: uregz 
Ditto, Bahama Islands 3 = - 4050 
Salary of the chief-justice of the Bermuda Islands 580 
Dittoof Dominica -- - - 600 
Civil establishment of New South Wales “ _ 5 2qi 
Extraordinary expence of the Mint, from Jan. 1, to 
5682 
July 275 1794 
Ditto, from July 28, to Dec. 31, 1794 1386 
8 Fes. 23. 
Address money - - 1 473649 
- American and East Florida sufferers - 259,641 
Expences of Mr, Hastings’s prosecution ‘ 4794 
For sending articles to; New South Wales Ee 6958 
Conviéts on the Thames ‘ ° 115463 
Ditto at Langstone and Portsmouth : 155440 
Allowances for the relief of American civil officers, 
sufferers } 449599. 
Frencht proprietors of St. Domingo . 1059 
Relief of the suffering clergy and laity of France 98,410 
His majesty’s service abroad - - 245335 
To discharge fees on escheats and forfeitures in 68 
Nova Scotia + 4 
For business arising out of the Alien A& . 1089 
For: perfeéting the index to the journals of the house 3 
of lords seer 
For business done relative to penitentiary houses ~ 2823 
For the Board of Agriculture = = : 3000 
Fes. 26. 
For the reduGtion of the national debt 4 200,000 
Marcu 3. 
African forts 2 20,000 


Landgrave of Hessse-Cassel for extraordinaries incur- 
red during the late war in America, by the Hes- 68,850 
sian troops in his majesty’s service 

To the representatives of Richard Oswald, esq. 
as contraGtor for bread, forage, &c. for the allied 


army in Germany, between the years 1758 and Ate 
1763 
APREE 22s. 
To Mr. Mash, for money advanced by him for the 
first five payments towards the lottery for 1794, 
and forfeited by omitting to make the future pay- se llieh 
ments 
May 14. 
For forming an establishment in Africa” i. 4069 
For the suffering clergy and laity of France - 37500 
JuNe ro. ; 
Veterinary college - - . 1500 


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APPENDIX to the nib ate 


/119 


June 15. 


Preparations for the prince of Wales’s marriage ? 
Completing the works at Carlton House — *- 


DEFICIENCIES. 


* APRIL 20. 


. Deficieney of grants in 1794 
dated fund - - 


To complete money granted out of the consoli- i 


= 


Navy, = - 
Army, = £ 
Ordnance, “ 


27,500 O Oo 
25,000 +0. 0 


x 


4-794675750 12 2 


T44,057 LL, a 
848,915 4 2% 


“£+195925972 15. 3¢ 


——— 


6,315,523 3 0 
11,610,008 5 8% 
25321,010 


13 Io 


Miscellaneous servicgs, 794675750, 12 25 


Deficiencies, z 


195922972 15 3¢ 


£ -2933075265 10 92 


Ways and Mgans for raising the Supplies for 1795. 


Jan. 3. 

Land and malt-tax, = x as 35 2,750,000 © .0 
Fee. 24. 

Annuities, a3 : = is = 18,000,000 0 o 

Mar. 9, , 

Exchequer bills, é = +) = 5. 1395003000. 0 0 
: “Mar. 26. 

Profit of a lottery, 55,000 tickets, at £.13 15s. 107, 258,541.13. 4 
Mar. 31. 

Exchequer bills, = - > 2 asics oO 
APRIL 23. 


Surplus of consolidated fund, 


Principal Public A&s passed in the 
Fifth Session of the Seventeenth 
Parliament of Great Britain. 

Fanuary 21. 
Land and malt-tax bills, 
February 5. 

~ An a& to continue, for a limit. 

ed time, an a&t made in the last ses- 

sion of parliament, intituled, ‘¢ An 
aét to empower his majesty to secure 


‘ 


Arte ar ° Oo 


£-29;903,541 13 4 


and detain such persons as his ma- 

jesty shall suspect are conspiring 

against his person and government, 
March 5, 

An act for raising a certain num. 
ber of men, in the several counties 
of England, for, the service of the 
navy. 

The mutiny bill. 

The marine mutiny bill. 


14 April 


°120 


April 16. 

An aét for procuring a supply of 
men, from the several ports of this 
kingdom, for the service of thenavy. 

April 28. 

An at further to continue the 
a& respecting aliens. 

The American intercourse bill. 

An aét to enable petty officers in 
the navy, and sesmen, non-com. 
missioned officers of marines, &c. 
to allot part of their pay, for the 
maintenanee of thcir wives and 
families.’ 

An 2a& to enable magistrates, in 
the several counties of Great Bri- 
tain, to raise and levy such able- 
bodied and idle persons as shall be 
found in the said counties, to serve 
in the navy. 

An att for making allowances, 
in certain cases, to subaltern of- 
ficers of the militia, in time of 
peace. 

An a& for raising a certainnum. 
ber of nen, in the several counties, 
&c. of Scotland, to serve in the 
navy. 

Moy 19. 

An 2& for mi tking part of cer 
tain principal sums, or stock and 
annuities, creaied by the parlia- 
ment of the kingdom ef Ircland, 
&c. transferable ard the div-dends 
payabie, at the bank of England, 

An act for increasing the rates 
of subsistence to be paid ro inn. 
keepers, &c. on quartering soldiers, 
for a limited time. 

An att to render more eff c- 
tual an a@ 1 James J. against bi. 


gamy. 
Fune 22. 

An a@ for guaraniceing the pay- 
ment of the dividends on a loan of 
four millions six hundred thousand 
pounds to the emperor of Ger- 
many. 

An aét for establishing a more 
easy and expeditious method for 
the punctual and frequent payment 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


of the Nels 3: of certain officers be. 
leaging z to the NAV Ye 

/ An 4a for ehabing beatswains, 
aed , andcarpeuters in the navy, 
to allot part or their pay for the 
m intenance of their families. 

An att for the further relief of 

persons imprisoned for wunt of 
bail, in certain eases relating to the 
revenue. 
. An aét for the more effectual pre- 
vention of the use of defective 
weights, and of faise and unequal 
balances. . 
Fune 26. 

An act to prevent the accumu. 
lation of debts by any future heir- 
apparent of the crown; and for 
regulatige the mode of expenditure. 
from the time when as -eparate estas 
blishment shall be made nis such 
future hetr-apparent. 

An att te enable his majesty 
to erect independent burghs of baro. 
ny, &c. in Scotland. 

An act for the more easy and ex. 
peditious recovery of small debts in 
Scotland. 

An act for more effetually car. 
rying into execution an att, 33 
Geo. IIT. for the encouragement. 
and relief of friendly societies. 

An act for enabling woo!combers 
to exercise trades in any town of 
Great Britain. 

Aun att for widening and impror- 
ing the entrance into the city of 
London by ‘Lemple Bar and Snow 
Fill, &c. 

Fulv 27. 

An aé for enabling his majesty 
to settle an annuity on the prince 
of Wales; for m«king provision, 
out of his revenues, for the pay- 
ment of debtsdue from his royal 
highness ; for preventing the accu- 
mulation. of debts in future; and 
for regulating the mode of expen. 


‘diture of the said revenues. 


An at for making provision for 4 
jointure for the princess of Wales. 


121 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


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‘122 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Prices of the Produds of Live Stock, paid by the Vi&ualling-Offce. 
: From 1740 to 1795. 7 


Beef. Pork. 
Date,} cwt. lb cwt. Ib 
er ihe d. ee Gawbnele 
1740/23. 73| 255:/31> oz}sz 34 
41124 92] 2279136 92/33.62 
42/24 4 | 2248 132 9 |g2 4 
43119 22) 22% |97 9g |g3 72 
44118 31] 1324 ]92 52/172. 
45119 gt} O84 191 9 |2r 3s 
46/21 331 2222, 104 gilares 
47/19 4tf 933, [oa oLjoz se 
67]25 5] Qrt92 
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69|22 9 |. 2284138 0 [324% 
70492. 22). 225814) 5214584, 
@1192..g_| 9272143 3,142 82. 
72196 3 | 2328 [52 6 [525% 
73124 OL} 243,7-149° 11 15,54 
74198 $82! 334 138 3 1444 
“75130 41) 32,2 144° 7E/4d ts 
76la8 7 | $23, [42 112/424 
: 77128 BEY 3422, [43 112/42 94, 
, 78125 Stas ~ 443° O- | 42s 
79133 2 | 3% 38 6 [455 
80}31 2] 342%|40 9 [43225 
81196 3 | 2823-1397) 6 |4<%> 
82126 8 2345 4b. 0 qTTs : 
83130 ..0 + 3.25, 
$4|— x 
85}25 6 | 2t194 145 0. /433%, i 
86/28 6 | 324 
871/26 5 | 233% —— 
88)29:. 1 ft Skt [47 11 take 
s9|29 2 | 34% 143 11 402% 
90/28 9 | 832% |43 2 14558 
; » 91198 6 | 324, [46 5 [43492 
92/28 7 | 328, |46 5 144,75 
93/30 4 | 3% [46 5 )4g328 
94/31 10 | 32423,|47, 7 [54% 
95133 11 | 34°29 ]51 3 55735 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 129 


It-has keen thought by many persons that the carcass butchers, at 
London, mzke a very unfair profit. If it is considered that during the 
year 0795, the price of beef, to the.consumer, was nearly, if not quite, 
the double of what is here noted, it will furnish abundant matter for. 
speculation, to those who are curious to analyze such questions, : 


Prices of the Praduéis of Live Stock, paid by the ViGualling-Office, * ~ 
From 1781 to 1795. Aer 


, Butter. Cheese. 
Dorn) cwt.4 Ib. | owt] Ih 


Se d. Sous a 


1781 Se 35 
a 6 34 
; MRO | ecsidae 
34|— 63 4 
85|———73 z i 
86 46 53 42533 a7 ‘- Aaae 
ess BIE [tp 0 fee 
89/45 Oll4ésrz [39 9 [axis 
99157 5 (6za2 |4I It 4i72 
orls7. 6:[6vie, 44 6 latte ; 
9 Ly 92! 4412 44. ° 42472 Ms, 
pales lores (46 3 leases 
3 4 #142 4 3 44742 
g5i7t 3 758% 146 6 143308 


Account of the total net Produce of Duties arising fromthe Stamp Revenue, 


that have amounted to One Thousand Pounds or more in the-Four Quarters, 


_ ending Ofober 10, 1795. 


Be Leroy 
- Consolidated duties - . - a 745,064 11 § 
Insurance - - - = ‘ x fe 129,389 II © 
Burials, &c. - ‘ ith paki Nest “ 3068 15° 6 
Eon) hele tg Me th 6168°13 § 
Plate - - - i = "25,286 12 5 
Bre ote duty, &c. ™ a * 3 ¥; 1933586 6 2 
icine Np is ‘ . f 11,820 8 4 
Game _—i- - - - - - - 40,425 42 3 
tto Lies E % ~ - ‘A 2g 25,039 19 2 
wnbrokers - . “ F “ = " 3892 16 11 


Perfumery 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


124 1795. 

a Ze os a, 
Perfumery Seite Sn - - 2714.9 0 
Scotch judges - - - 1517 10 9 
Additional game, 1791 - “ 16,023 9 2 
Bills of exchange : - - 124,151 2 Io 
Receipts, 1791 - - - 42,758 6 0 
Attornies, 1794 — 2 5 e 16,195 13 6 
Hair powder certificates, 1795 - 187,085 15 0 
Additional stamps, 1795 - = 8713 15 8 
Receipts, 1795 - tae - 4204. 0 O 
Sea policies, 1795 - - - 16,059 Ig © 
Apprentice duty - - : 6140 0 3 


£-1,609,906 19 3 


Rospert Tuompson, Compt. 
Siamp-ofice, 5th Now. 1795- 


v 


INCIDENTS. 
Letter money, per week = - 156,000 9 o 
Salt ery sre a u - 388,361 13 0 
Seizures 7 “ < : 30,817 3 OF 
Letter money, 1760 : 2 x 269,029 18 1 
Sixpence deduction on pensions s - 41,626 © o 
. One shilling ditto on salaries - - 313990 17'S 
Houses and windows, 1766 - 3315505 15 6% 
Inhabited houses, 1779 - « 4 144,202 19 4¢ 
Hawkers and pedlars i - ~ 2749 18 10 
Hackney coaches and chairs - - 11,000 0 O 
Ditto, 1784 s - x - 12,800 0 0 
Male servants, 1785 - - - 87,618 17 of 
Ten pounds per cent, - - - 94.415 § 24 
First fruits 4 - . . 4305.14 I$ 
Tenths : - - : 9959 3 14 
Horses 9 - . - 110,860 1 11¢ 
Four-wheeled carriages 148,021 12 14 
Two-wheeled ditto : - - 36,455 Oo 8 
Alienation duty - - 1924: 8 8 
15913,645 6 If 


The produce of duties under roool. within the same 


period, amounts to - - 2,510 14 QF 


1,916,156 © 10% 

Money paid by T. Lumley, for money over received 
by him on an annuity granted in 1746 Ps sy 26 0 Oo. 

. Money — 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 125 


_ Money paid by C. Long, esq. for interest on 187,000l. 
' for annuities - - « 
Ditto by J. Charlton, late agent to a corps of invalids 271 0 © 
Ditto by Messrs. Fludyer and company, on account 

of clothing sold for use of the public ~ 7000 0 O 
Ditto ditto - '. - - 5706 o 6 
Ditto by C. Goddard, esq. agent for Upper Canada, to 


December 31, 1793 - - 2553 16 o 
Ditto by W. B. Clinton, on account of an annuity 
_ granted in 1746 30 0 9 


Imprest money repaid by sir G. Eliot, late treasurer of 
the navy - “ = - 226 2 7% 
Ditto by J. Dally, esq. secretary to commissioners ap- 
pointed to inquire into emoluments of officers of the 


customs - r ~ 4 12 0. $F 
Ditto by A. D’Abaunt, esq. late chief engineer in 
North America 2 - é 297 18 112 
: £+15940,331 13. of 
Exchequer, 6th November, 1795. GRENVILLE. 
GENERAL TOTAL. 
Customs * ae 35412,255 6 8% 
Excise - eg 8,739,013 It 9% 
Stamp duties - - 1,609,906 19 3 
Incidents - ape 1,940,331 13. OF 


£.15,701,507 10 10 


“Mem.—To the above sum of 3,412,255]. 6s. 8d. the produce of the 
duties of customs, should be added, 112,918]. 18s. 4d. the amount of the 
payments in the several ports for bounties for raising seamen, pursuant to 
a¢ts of the 35th of the king. In the sum of 1,940,331]. 13s. ogd. stated 
as the amount of incidents, is included 24,1751. 12s. 2d. being the amount 
of imprests and other monies paid within the period, 

Gsorce Ross. 


‘Account 


7 


26 ANNUAL REGISTER; i798. 


y ates of the total net Produce of the Duties of Customs ix England and Scots 
land, distinguishing the Produce of every separate Article, the Dutieson which 
shall have amounted ta One Thousand Pounds, or more, inthe Four Quarters; 


eading OGfober 105 1795+ 


CHARGE. 
| Net produce, subject to 
SPECIES OF GOODS the payment of bounties” 
and management. 
Ashes, pearl and pot a -— ~~ — 813 9 © 
Barilla —_—_- — — — _- — 22,897 9 1 
Bristles, undressed —- — — — Rag fp (apt a'9- 
Bugle, great oa _ — ~ _ SAA ONH ez 
Carpets, Turkey = eS Ee ee ‘S509 TI 4° 
China ware — — — — — rigor. 9°07 
Copper, unwrought» — —— — — 1744 13.0 
Cork _ —_ — i —- — 4336 17 84 
Corn, oats — - — — _ 1903 3 «112 
wheat — — — —_— — 1063 12 85 
Drugs.—Almonds, ‘bitter _ — — 1089 17 7% 
Aloes succotrina — — — eee sD 
Benjamin a —_— _ _ 36312 6 
Borax, refined — — os 3591 9 8 
Cassia lignea —_ — — icy 6. 5 
Cortex peru — _ _ 8279 8 1} 
_ Cream of Tartar — — — 1140 17) 45 
Ginsang — -_- —_ — W143" 3 4% 
Juniper berries _-_ — _ 731 6 4 
Lead, black — —_ — — 160 1 3% 
Manna — -_ _— I9gg° 2 10 
Oil, perfumed — — — ean 0) ee 
Opium — _- — _— 4312. 3 
Quicksilver -_ — — — 5686 12. 7 
Rhubarb — — —- _ 2945 S.IE 
Saccharum saturni _—_ — -— cy he bay gS 
\ Senna — —_ — — 1199 12° 6 
Succus liguoritie —- —- = 3719, 12 “6% 
Bye Stuffs, smalts — — — — 10,699 5 16 
Elephant’s teeth — ae — — 2208 8 
Feathers for beds ~ — —- —_> — 6909 12 “of 
Fish, anchovies — —_- — — G27 he. 3 
Fruit, lemons and oranges -- —_— — 7828 17. 24 
- nuts, small — —_— _ — 2425 6 4% 
Glass plates -- — i — — 5412 4. 3k 
Grocery.—Almonds, Jordan — — — 4777 13 9 
not Jordan —_ _ 1308 oO 5 
Aniseed — — _ ~ 583 ty 10 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 


£- 

Be Sain = _ —- 1799 

Coffee — — — 33,725 

Currants —_ — — g1y040 

' Figs ca a = 5125 

42° _ Ginger _ _ —_ 427 4. 

— Mace - — _— _ —_ 267 

Nutmegs — — a 651 

Pepper -aey ant eS 28,143 

Pimento — —_ — 2261 

Prunes — — _ 1201 

Raisins, Denia os -- 225387 

Lexia — — 18,981 

Lipari —— — _ 4417 

—+— Smyrna —_ nr 11,943 

Solis — —_ Tr 255271 

Rice —_ — = —  i27ny 

Sago — — a “1270 

‘Sugar, brown “\ -— a 12195586 

Tea — — — 142,222 

Hair, horse — —_— —_ 446 

human — — —- L147 

Hats, chip =, — — _ _ 1699 

- straw —_ — _ —_ 267 

Hemp, rough a — — 85,204 

Hides, losh _ — _ — 6397 

ox or cow —- _ _ 1457 

- Incle, wrought A a — 1869 

‘Tron, bar — — a 105,684 

——-~ Cast a == Et Ming = “730 

Kelp. _— a —_ oa 420 

Linen.—Cambrics ~= — -— 854 
Canvas, Hessens — — — 18,994 | 

x — Spruce — - — 11,375 

Damask tableing, Silesia _— — 1175 

Diaper napkin, ditto a — 317 

Drilling — — — . 3391 
Germany, narrow — 295544. 

2 Lawn, Silesia, not Holland, Feel — 606 

_ Russia broad, above 224 — — 21,552 

ditto, above 318 _ _ 2065 

== ditto, above 36 — _ 6793 

narrow — _ — 4996 

: — towelling and napkining _ 1139 

‘Manofactured sito of India — a 2896 

Mats, Russia — — — —_ 1161 

—_ 133717 


Oil, ordinary _ — 


Pel 


127 
Se% de 
1. 2¢ 
7st 
19 z 
IO 5% 
T 9% 
6 6 
1 $§ 
I 9 
19 5 
11 °6 
411g 
19 2d 
Te 8. 
1g 3" 
13° 4 
Gini2 
19 
18 1 
17. 4 
17 7 
4 0 
O04 9: 
13-1 
5 6 
5 Io 
1 8 
4.5 
14 1Z 
3° 7% 
13°11, 
12-4 
13 Tol 
bei 
Ir 5z 
THz 
17 of 
13 11% 
16 2 
19 5% 
ees 
16 12 
17 9f 
18 8% 
rez 
3 I 
Bi Pe 

Oil, 


128 ANNUAL ‘REGISTER, 


Oil, salad ae ee ‘ie 
i—— train — —_— —~ 
Paper — => — 
Pidtures . — — 
India sa goods. S Chimes —_ 
Muslins — 
Nankins — 
Prohibited sd 

Salt-petre — —e 

Seeds, clover = _— 

Silk. —Raw - — pee 
Bengal, raw a 
China, raw — 

, Thrown : _ — 

Skins. —Bear, black —_ — 

Beaver — os 
Calf, undressed — nes 

tanned — a— 

Deer, in hair A = 

Fox, ordinary -- — 

Goat, tanned = dias 

Kid, undressed — 


Snuff. = oe = 
Spirits, brandy — —_ 
Geneva — ates 


rom — 
Stones, blocks of marble — 
Tar — — 
Thread, sisters ~— ae 
Tobacco —_ — — 
Tow _ —_ — 
Turpentine _ _ 
Wax, bees — 
Wine —Canary —_ 
French — 
Madeira — 
Portugal — 
Rhenish —- — 
Spanish —_ 
Wood.—Balks — pals 
Battens bi aoe ae 
Boards, paling _ 


LERETESEEIL SERIE GLE Ea PERERA IIT 


1795. 
f. s da 
2409 15 5 
796 13 OF 
2250 16 24 
1348 8 4 
33,689 19 8F 
Gays9 + Sz 
5723 13 7% 
16,421 10 11} 
883 18 9 
1029 7 10% 
22,456 18 © 
798tt 15 2 
14,312 0 10 
101,988 13 0 
gorz 5 © 
923 9 OF 
2135 15 © 
312, 2 OF 
3872 1 0 
41P 14) 33 
622 15 0 
2370 15 OF 
273 16° 0% 
92 10 74 
321 1g 0 
7342-3 
392 14 10 
13,868 11° Og 
14,278 o 94 
31,612 oO 10% 
596 3 8 
5858 5 st 
793 12 Oo 
242,494 3 9 
2334 3 9 
goo8 3 Int 
74°57 Of 
1326 § 5 
r1,107 6 4t 
10,208 18 8 
429,936 8 73 
1259 6 3 
875539 6 25 
» 3500 19. Se 
9789" 9 85 
By 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. _—i29 


= 
: 
* 


W¥oed.—Boards, scale —_ pes 980 7 9 
——— wainscot — — 212 8 8 
Deals — — — 638,123 6 2% 
ends — == ~~ 4203 10 10% 
e Lath wood —_ — _ 2665 8 3 
Masts = — cae 6113. 3 OF 
Plank, oak — --- — 4574 0 OF 
Staves — -— —_— 8 10Z 
Timber, fir -- — _ Pte 18 z 
oak; —_ -—— 867 17 $= 
Ufers — _ — TG17 , 91-15 
Wainscot logs — _ 1873.14 6% 
Yarn, mohair _ — _ 1326, 3 8 
Subsidies. —Allum _— —_ — 1944 12 9 
Coals —_ _ — 92,902 I Oo 
Indigo —_ _ _ 6861 15 8% 
Lead — — — 30,014 oO 8% 
Sale rock as aie _ 43e0. 16> 6 
Skins, beaver —_ -- 2806 6 o 
Tin — — ate 4965 19 7% 
Other subsidies — — — 6584 18 7% 
Carried coasiways.—Coals — — 616,811 8 g 
Corn — — 2770 16° 2 
Stones and slates — 16,278 11 6 
Wine a -- 872 18 oF 
Remitted from the plantations “= ~- 22,056 3-104 
from the inspector of corn returns — Bo4: 2° 9 
from Mr. Needham, receiver of fines and 
forfeitures -- _ 145§ 6 10} 
from Mr. Williams, for wines sold by the 
excise _ _— 2114 4 § 
Received from the receivers general of the counties, 
on account of window money _ _ 206,324 8 2 
Produce of condemned tobacco = — 1267 13 3 
Sundry small articles _ —  ~ + 1605226 4 ') 9% 
Total — — £. 4749464 13° 8 
DISCHARGE. 
Bounties _ _ _ 693,286 1 8% 
Re-payment on over entries, &c. &c. _ 51,508 12 7 
Charges of management — — —_ 448,334 11 of 
Payments per order of the barons of exchequer in 
Scotland, applicable to the civil list —_ _3t,t6r ° 26% 


Vout, XXXVII. K Payments 


- 


130 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 
= z Se 
Payments into the exchequer < 4412255 


Cask paid in the several ports of the kingdom, in 
bounties for raising seamen, by ats of 35th of the 


king 2 2 a % 


ns 


Total a 


Tuomas IrvING, 
Inspector-general of the 
Impo orts and exports of Great Britain. 


Account of the total net Produce of the Duties of Excise iz England and Scot. 
land, distinguishing the Produce on every separate Article, the Duties ox 
which shall have amounted to One Thousand Pounds, or more, in the Four 


Quarters, ending Odober, 10, 1795+ 


Ox the Part of England. 
2A 


AuGions ~- 84,802 
Beer - ~ 1955,135 
Bricks and tiles a 89,125 
Candles = = - = 208,609 
Coaches built for sale - - - 1666 
Cocoa nuts and coffee - 2 & 38,610 
Cyder, perry, and verjuice - - 19,456 
Glass “ - 119,157 
Hides, skin, vellum, and ‘parchment lh . 243,576 
Hops - - - 192,331 
Malt, Berpetual - - - 629,072 
Metheglin, or mead, and vinegar. - - 20,628 
Paper. See below 
Printed goods - 202,192 
Soap - 359,811 
Spirits, British - 711,338 
foreign r 5325133 
Starch = - 92,849 
Sweets - ~ 12,224 
Tea i - - - - $31,298 
Tobacco and snuff ~ - - - 353,004 
Verjuice is with cyder and perry. 
Vinegar i is with metheglin. rae 
Wine. - - - = - 318,535 
“ire - - 4466 
Kicences te audtioneers are with 143 ions. ‘ 


Se Nae” 


68s Y 


112,918 18 4 


“e 
£ -4749464 13 8 


se &h 
o- (© 
oO 
o's 
(oe | 
0 © 
0. © 
sre 
oO: ’''6 
So Oo 
oo 
OO 
Oe =O: 
(o eo | 
OD. 
Ce ae oY 
Oe 
oa 
0... Oo: 
3. 9% 
°o 9 
°° 
°° 


Licences 


~ APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 131 


Licences #6 ebachmakers are with caches. 
-—+— = dealers in coffee, chocolate, and tea = 
~—— makers and stllers of wax and spermaceté 
candles are with candles. 
: makers of and dealers in exciseable com- 


modities — ae 
———— retailers of spirituous liquors —_ 
= — fittd of wine 8 ‘ais 
=—+—— sellets of gold and silver =, ae 


— manufa@urers of and dealers in tobacco 
and snuff are with tobacco, &c. 
Duties commenced ] British spirits _ _ 


§ Jan. 1791. Foreign ditto — — 
“24 Feb. 1794. British ditto — — 
—— Foreign — — 

28 March, r794._— Bricks — -- = 
6 April, 1794. Paper —_ = 
18 April, 1794. Glass — -— 
24 Feb. 1795. British spirits — _ 
—_— Foreign ditto —_ _ 
——— ine —_ _ 
—— Cocoa nuts and coffee — 
——- Sweets — -— 
17 March, 1795. Tea —_ —_ = 
rr 
Total of duties, except malt, annual — 
Annual malt, mum, cyder, and perry _ 
Total of England _ 


Ox the Part of Scotland. 


Auétions a ne ups Seay 


Beer — — ES. pas 
Bricks and tiles — — —_ 
Glass | — _ Roe an 
Malt, perpetual — -- = 
aper — sks ie Be 
Printed goods — _ _ 
British spirits — es dea 
Ditto, quarterly remittance = — 
Foreign spirits a _ _ 
Starch ~~ ts mF aes 
Tobacco — = 
Wine — —_— — ane 
Licences. —Tea = —_— cake 


Bisiicc Sa the 


14,210 9 O 


42,748 9 @ 
160,593 © © 
32,234 0 0 

8373 9 a 
119,043 © Oo 
107,1$t © O 
120,209 © O 
106,733 0 0 
535279 © O 
122,996 0 © 
42,592 0 Oo 
633777 (o eee} 
28,076 0 o 
591:976 0 oO 

9486 0 oO 

4416 0 oO 
81,744 9 0 
copre we (ate eee 


8433054 3 9% 
574799 9 © 


naeticiaansaadl 


9007,853 3 9% 


5000 0 Oo 
2000 0 oO 
14,000 0 O 
23,959 8 o 
15,000 0 O 
45,000 90 Oo 
27,;00@ o Oo 
42,600. 0,0 
36,c00 0 © 
13,000 0 oO 
1000 0 Oo 
36,000 0 oO 
18,000 0 O 
190009 O Oo 
Licences 


132 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


“arsenite 
Liceuces.—General] ~~ _ — 2000 0 9 
————  Spirituous liquors _ — 19,000 0 o 
Bricks and tiles .— © — — — 1000 0 O 
Foreign spirits, 1794 — _— g000 0 O 
Total of duties, except malt, annual _ 305,959 8 


ie} 
12,040 12 @& 


oe 


Annual malt, mum, cyder, and perry 


Total of Scotland — 318,000 o o 


Perpetual duties.—England — — 8,433,054 3 9g 
. Scotland — —  305:959 8 0 


a 


Total of perpetual duties — 8,739,013 11 9% 


Annual duties.—England —_ —  $74799 © Oo 
— ine! SCOtland a — 12,040 12 9 
Total of annual duties — 586,839 12 0 


Total of England and Scotland 9,325,853 3 ot 


Excise Office, London, James WEBB, 
27th O&. 8795+ : Accomptant-general, 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 133 


An Account of the Quantity of Coals Imported into the Port of London, for 
the last Fifty Years. 


Years. Coals. Years. | Coals. 


1744] 467,625 | 1772 710,914 
45] 471,453 73} 645,434 
46| 487,375 74 614,981" 
47} 469,398 75| 663,728 
484 449,341 76] 689,920 
49] 504,213 77| 685,489 

1750] 458,376 78} 640,473 
51} 538,906 79| 588,624 
52} 508,485 {1780}| 656,175 
53} 508,230 $i}! 650,691 
541 526,708 82| 660,846 
55) 479,137 83! 695,329 
56} 550,322 84) 724,658 
57} 502,866 85| 732,737 
581 451,799 
59] 551,708 86 730,187 

1760] 498,707 87| 653,446 
61] 504,693 88} 771,429 
62| 529,596 89} 810;931 
63} 603,004 }1790] 753,013 
64] 397,155 91} 821,872 
65| 587,754 92} 849,942 
66 | 638,135 93} 801,223 
67| 599,218 94| 782,716 
68} 613,842 954 912,236 
69) 642,042 |, —_—_—— 

17701] 613,494 7,886,994 
71| 677,869 kandi eteiD 

Average 10 years, 788,699 
N. 8, The last is from the roth of ORober, 1794, to the roth of 
Oober, 1795. Taspe@oreGeneral’s Office, Custom-house, Landon. 


Average Prices of Wheat and Barley during th Year 1795, on tepeneral 
Average of Englind ard Wales, 


Wheat. Barley. Wheat. _— Barley. 

; So he fas Hae E $.. a. 
January - 7 © — 4 4, July - 10 6 =~ § 4 
February - 7 3 — 4 3) August 3 13 6 — 6 2 
March - 7 5 — 4 4|September - gg 10 — 4 9 
April - 7 9 — 4 6} Oktober - 9 6— 41 
May - 8 1 —— 4 8! November - 10° 5 — 4 4 
June - 8 9 — 410 | December 1010 — 4 § 
K 3 STATE 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


134 


Fosor}] 814) — — , 06°66 ere le ty cee oo 


Se see oe 


6‘9r Os os qJaquia29qq 


e460 | FOS | 12 eg | L6‘6a | r'6e |6e'0e | S‘Zs +S 
‘locee | ‘oz | +9 | 06. | 48°6c | F6%87 | Ss‘Oe | PSs 6p er.| 46 gs | s9qtaAo0 
Gece | ZsL| +9 Z8 | g90‘6@ | 91‘G% |81‘0E | 9°79 6¢ g°o¢ FF £9 1aqoy 
iso'o | £69.| 19 | FS [80.0 |¥O6c ore | B'Zo | s‘E0 ‘Zico | oF t9'2ZZ | szaquiaydag 
ossit | c'69 | Zs 1s |26'6c | co'6c | 108 | +49 ¥9 erg. | eS BZ jsnsny} 
oor T 89 | 8s os | 26°6% | FS°6% |gz‘OE | S°cO 6s 3‘6¢ 1g fF 92 Ayn 
ees 12 | os 06 !os6z |os'6z |Pr'Og | T'L9 99 @LS Ir 94 oun 
oizo | vig | Ze | 62 Be el'6c \6r'0s | 119 | 2¢ g‘s¢ | sp | v8 eqn 
Z6r‘0 | 4°69 | ¥S os (6262 | ¥8'6e | 2c'0s | S'4¢ eg 8F ¢ |s'8¢ Judy 
FeZit | g'%2 | OF Ss |08'6¢ | c06e | ¢s‘OE | Z'tS LY MIP SG | S'S youeyl 
SSe'T #9 | 16 {o0‘6z.| 70°62 |so'0e | 4p | roe |} Sc} 1S Arwnigay 
OLF‘O 99 <6 | too¢ | 916% | Ze08 per os eX 8 OF Aseauer 
‘syouy ff “Sag | “Seq | “oq t ssoyour *saupIUy | soyouy Say | ‘Saq. | ‘S93 | saq Baq | ‘30d 
systoy | “IPsey_} “IYFOY | yao aqsoy | ayspy ayBiou| wien ayy | -iyaieq | 148194 “ys iay | 
uvey | 1se9'T qsaIe21D | uveyy | yseary Asoqworgyy uvspy | 3see'T uray ‘ iseaT. |Iseivets 
z ————— mes | > SGLT 
‘NIVul “WaLAWOUSAH | “MALANOUY & SOTEL TAS “uLOrpy tek 
VALANOWYAHE | WHLANOW TELL 


ea a EL TE ELT 


a e N 


- 


APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.  _— 235 


A 


GENERA LAIBIL bk 


CHRISTENINGS anv BURIALS, 


From December 9, 1794, to December 8, 1795. 


| 


Chriscned trem eink 18,361, Purjeq § Males 10,778 


Females 9017 2 Females 10,401 se hig 
Increased in the Burials this Year, 1933. 
Died under two years 6466|Between 20 and $0 1443'Retween 70 and 80 1321 
etween two and five 1982,—thirty and’forty 1901'— eighty and ninety . 579 
— five and ten 768|— fifty and sixty 2920|—- ninety anda hundred 65 
—tenandtwenty 764\—sixiyandseventy 1816}Hundred, &c. - 1 
DISEASES. Dropsy = 979:Measles - 328, CASUALTIES; 
A Bortive and stitt-l¥vil - 2|M iscarriage 6|Bit by amaddog 1 
born 738|Fever, malignant fe- tNentiGestion 262|Broken limbs 3 
Abscess = 38, ver, scarlet fever, |Palpitationof heart 1|Bruised - 2 
Aged - 1637] spotted fever, and |Palsy - 76|Burnt = 15 
Ague - 10] purples 1947! Pleurisy - 11)By a corn - 1 
Apoplexy 100; Fistula Fe 5!Quinsey = 2iChoaked s i 
Asthma and Phthi- /Flux - 12|Rheumatism 3|/Dropped down 
sic -  936jFrench pox 22. Rising of thelights 9} dead - 3 
Bedridden 15,;Gout | = 116/Rickets - 2!Drowned - 99 
Bleeding = - 17\Gravel, stranguary, |Scutvy - Excessive drinking 5 
Bursten and rup- and stone 26) Small-pox 1040/Executed* 6 
ture - 16'Grief - 6 Sore throat 23)Found dead 4 
Cancer - 78\Head-ach - LiSores avid ulcers . 5|fractured 4 
Canker - 1}Head mould-shot, {Spas - 6! F righted = 1 
Chicken-pox 1) horse-shoe-head, St. Anthony’s fire 1 Killed by falls and 
Childbed 1421 andwaterinthe |Stoppage in the | other accidents 60 . 
Cold - 561 head ft 81] stomach 14|Killed by fighting 1 
Cholic,gripes,twist- | Jaundice -  56,Suddenly 120) Killed themselves 16 
ingofthe guts 8: Jaw-locked -1|Surfeit - 1)Murdered relat | 
Consumption 5733!Imposthume 4 Swine-pox 1Sealded : 5 
- Convulsions 4758:'Inflammation 466,Tceth - 495|Shott - ) 
Coughand hoop- _|Leprosy - 1)Thrush . - GljStrangled - |. 2 
ing-cough 311) Lethargy - 2 Worms, - 18lSuffucated = 3 
Croup - 17 Liver-grown 3 ~ SE 
Diabetes - ~ iLunatic - ou! | Total - 245 


* There have been executed in Middlesex and Surry, 29; of which number, six 
have only been reported to be buried (as such) withia the Bills of Mortality. 


K 4 STATE 


136 


STATE PAPERS. 


Message from the King to the House of 
Commons, Feb. 4, 1795- 


Georce Rex. 

H* majesty thinks it proper to 
acquaint the house, that he 

has received from the emperor 
strong assurances of a disposition to 
make the greatest exertions for the 
common cause in the courre of the 
next campaign. But it is repre- 
sented on the part of his Imperial 
majesty, thar these efforts cannot 
be made without the assistance of 
aloan, which his Imperial majesty 
is desirous of raising cn the credit 
of the revenues of his hereditary 
dominions, under the guarantee of 
his majesty, with the concurrence 
of parliament, to the extent of 
four millions; and it is stated that 
_ such loan, in addition to his other 
resources, would enable his Impe- 
rial majesty to employ against the 
common enemy the force of 203,000 
efleGive men. His majesty is of 
opinion that, on these grounds, 
such an arrangement would be 
beneficial to the common cause, 
but thinks that it would be still 
more advantageous, if, by the means 
of a similar loan toa larger extent, 
the emperor should be enabled to 
employ a force still more consider. 
able ; and his majesty has desired his 
minister at Vienna to express his 
readiness to recommend to his par- 
liament an arrangement founded 


| 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


) 


on that principle. Some tempo- 
rary advance which his majesty 
was induced to make for the imme- 
diate supply of the Austrian army, 
under the pressure of unforeseen 
circumstances in the latter part of 
the Jast campaign, will be included 
in any arrangement of this nature ; 
as soon as the negotiation is con. 
cluded, his majesty will not fail to 
communicate the result to parlia- 
ment; but as any measure of this 
sort is necessarily conneéted with 
the consideration of the provision 
to be made for the current service 
of the year, his majesty has thought 
it right not to delay making this 
communication; and he relies on 
the zeal and public spirit of his 
faithful commons, for taking such 
measures; as, on full consideration 
of all the circumstances, they may 
think most conducive to the imme- 
diate interests of this country, at 
the present conjuncture, and to 
the great object of re-establishing 
on secure and honourable grounds, 
the peace and tranquillity of these 
kingdoms and ef Europe. 


} 


Message from his Majesty tathe House 
of Commons, April 27, 1795s. 


George Rex. v 
HIS majesty relies on the li era- 
lity and affection of his faithful 
commons, and on the cordial in. 
“terest 


S THATS PA PE RS.) 


terest which. they have manifested 
en the happy event of the prince’s 
marriage, that they wiil be ready 
to concur in such a provision as 
shall be deemed necessary to settle 
an establishment on the prince and 
princess of Wales, suitable to their 
sank and dignity. On an occasion 
so satisfactory in all other respects, 
his majesty feels the deepest regret 
in communicating to the house, 
that the benefit of any settlement 
that may be made must fail in its 
most desirable effect, if means be 
not provided to extricate his royal 
highness from the incumbrances 
uoder which he labours, to a great 
amount. 

Anxious as his majesty must be 
to relieve the prince of Wales, his 
majesty entertains no idea of pro- 
posing the payment of his royal 
highness’s debts in any other man- 
ner than by appropriating a part of 
his income, and the revenues of 
the duchy of Cornwall, to the pay- 
ment of such debts : and his majes- 
ty will be ready to co-operate inany 


» plan which the wisdom of the house 


may devise, for establishing a ready 
and punctual order of payment, 
and for guarding against the pos- 
sibility of the prince’s being again 
involved in any similar embarrass- 
ments, 


His Majes'y's Speech fram the Throne 
on ed simy the Session, Fune 27. 
My Jords aid gentlemen, 

THE zealous and uniform rte- 
gard which you have shewn to the 
general interests of my people, and 
particularly the prudent, firm, and 
spirited support which you have 
continued to afford me in the pro- 
secution of the great contest in 
which we are still unavoidably en- 


‘gaged, demand my warmest ac- 


337 


knowledgments. The encourarze- 
ment which my allies must de. 
rive from the knowledge of your 
sentiments, and the extraordinary 
exertions which you have enabled 
me to make in supporting and aug. 
menting my naval and military 
forces, afford the means most likely 
to conduce to the restoration of 
peace to these kingdoms, and to 
the re-establishment of general tram. 
quillity on a secure, an honourable, 
and a lasting foundation. 


Gentlemen of ihe House of Com- 
mons, 


I have to rctura you my hearty 
thanks for the iiberal and ample 
supplies which the resources of the 
country have enabled you to pro. 
vide, beyond all former example, 


‘for the various exigencies of the 
- public service. 


I have also to acknowledge, with 
peculiar sensibility, the recent proof 
which you have given me of your 
attachment to my person and fa- 
mily, in the provision which you 
have made for set:ling the establish- 
ment of the prince and princess of 
Wales, and forext ricatiny the prince 
from the incumbrances in which he 
was involved, 


My lords and g-ntizmop, 


Tt is impossible to contemplate 
the internal situation of the enemy 
with whom we are contending with. 
cut indulging ap hope, that the 
present circumstances of Francemay 
in their effects hasten the retutn of 
such a state of order and regular 
government as may be capable of 
maintaining the accustomed rela- 
tions of amity and peace with other 
powers. 

The issue, however, of these ex. 
traordinary transactions is out of 
the reach of human foresight. 


Till 


338 


Till that desirable period arrives, 
when my subjects can be restored to 
the secure enjoyment ef the bless- 
ings of+ peace, I shall not. fail to 
make the most effectual use of the 
force which you have put into my 
hands. It is with the utmost sa- 
tisfaétion that I have recently re- 
eeived the advices of an important 
and brilliant success obtained over 
the enemy by a detachment of my 
fleet, under the able conduf&t of 
lord Bridport; and I have every 
reason to rely on the continuance 
of the distinguished bravery and 
condutt of my fleets and armies, as 
well as of the zeal, spirit, and per- 
severance of my people, which 
have been uniformly manifested 
through the whole course of this 
just and necessary war, ° 


His Majesty’s Speech from the Throne 
on opening the Session, Oober 29, 


1795+ 


My lords and gentlemen, 

IT is a great satisfaétion to me 
to refle&, that notwithstanding 
many events unfavourable ro the 
eommon cause, the prospect re- 
sulting from the general situation 
of affairs has, in many tmportant 
sespects, been materially improved 
in the course of the present year. 

In Italy, the threatened invasion 
of the French has been prevented ; 
and they have been driven back 
from a coysiderable part of the line 
of coast which they had occupied : 
there is also reason to hope that the 
yecent operations of the Austrian 
army have checked the progress 
which they had made on the side of 
Germany, and frustrated the of- 
fensive projets which they were 
pursuing in that quarter. 

The successes which have at. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tended the military operations in 
other parts of the campaign, and 
the advantages which they have 
derived from the conclusion of se- 
parate treaties with some of the 
powers who were engaged in the 
war, are far from compensating 
the evils which they experience 
from its continuance. The destrue- 
tion of their commerce, the dimi- 
nution of their maritime power, 
and the unparalleled embarrassment 
and distress of their internal situa- 
tion, have produced the impres- 
sion which was naturally to be ex- 
pected ;. and a general sense ap- 
pears to prevail throughout France, 
that the only relief from the in- 
creasing pressure of these difficul- 
ties must arise from the restoration 
of peace, and the establishment 
of some settled system of gavern- 
ment. 
The distra@tion and anarchywhich 
have so long prevailed in that coun. 
try, have led to acrisis, of which it 
is at yet impossible to fotesee the 
issue, but which must, in all human 
probability, produce consequences 
highly important to the interests of 
Europe. Should this crisis termi- 
nate in any order of things compa- 
tible with the tranquillity of other 
countries, and affording a reason- 
able expectation of security and 
permanence in any treaty which 
might be concluded, the appear- 
ance of a disposition to negotiate 
for a general peace on just and suit-~ 
able terms, will not fail to be met, 
on my part, with an earnest desire 
to give it the fyllest and speediest 
2 ig But I am persuaded you 
will agree with me, that nothing 
is so likely to ensure and accelerate 
this desirable end, as to shew that 
we are prepared for either alterna- 
tive, and are determined to prose. 
cute the war with the utmost ener. 


gy 


STATE PAPERS. 


gy and vigour untilwe have the 
means of concluding, in conjunc. 
tion with our allies, such a peace 
‘as the justice of our cause and the 
situation of the enemy may entitle 
us to expect. 

_ With this view I am continuing 
to make the greatest exertions for 
Maintaining and improving our 
naval superiority, and for carrying 
on aftive and vigorous operations 
in the West Indies, in order to se- 
cure and extend the advantages 
which we have gained in that 
quarter, and which are so nearly 
conneéted with our commercial re- 
sources and maritime strength. 

Trely with full confidence on 
the continuance of your firm and 
zealous support, on the uniférm 
bravery of my fleets and armies, 
and on the fortitude, perseverance, 
and public spirit of all ranks of my 
people. 

The aéts of hostility committed 
by the United Provinces, under the 
influence and controul of France, 
have obliged me to treat them 
as in a state of war with this 
country. 

The fleet which I have employed 
an the North Seas has-received the 
most cordial and a€tive assistance 
from the naval forve furnished by 
the empress of Russiz, and has 
been evabled effectually to check 
the operations of the enemy in that 
quarter. | 

I have concluded engagements 
of - defensive alliance with the 
two Imperial courts; and the ra. 
tifications of the treaty of com. 
merce with the United States of 
America, which I announced to 
you last year, have now been ex- 
changed. I have direfted copies 
of these treaties to be laid before 
you. 


139 


Gentlemen of the 

mons, 

It is matter of deep concern to 
me, that the. exigencies of the 
public service will require further 
additions to the beavy burdens 
which have been unavoidably im- 
posed on my peopie. I trust that 
their pressure will, in soine degree, 
be alleviated by the flourishing’ 
state of our commerce and manu 
factures; and that our expences, 
though necessarily great in their 
amount, will, under the actual 
Circumstances of the war, admit 
of considerable diminutton in com. 
parison with those of present 
year. 


house of com. 


My lords and gentlemen, 


I have observed, for some time 
past, with the greatest anxiety, the 
very high price e of grain, and that 
anxiety is increased by the appre. 
hension that the produce of the 
wheat harvest in the present year 
may not have been such as effze__ 
tually to relieye my people from 
the difficulties with which they 
have had to contend. The spirit 
of order and submission to the laws 
which, with a very iew exveptions, 
has manifested itself under this 
severe pressure, will, I am sure, 
be felt by you as an additional in. 
centive to apply yourselves with 
the utmost diligence to the con. 
sideration of such measures as 
may tend to alleviate the present 
distress, and to prevent, as far as 
possible, the renewal of similap 
embarrassments in future. No. 
thing has been omitte] on my 
part, that appeared likely to con. 
tribute to thisend; and you may 
be assured of my hearty concur. 
yence in whatever regulations the 
wisdom of parliament may adopt, 


wu 


140 


ona subject so peculiarly interest- 
ing to my people, whose’ welfare 
will ever be the object nearest my 
heart. 


ST EE ER 
Message from the King, Dec. 71795+ 


George Rex. 

HIS majesty thinks proper to 
inform his faithful commons, that 
a considerable sum is likely to arise 
from the sale of prizes taken from 
the united provinces of Holland, 
and that he has ordered the amount 
to be ascertained, and the overplus, 
after the claims of the ¢aptors had 
been discharged, to be applied to 
the public service. 


Message fromthe King, Dec.8,1795. 


George Rex. 

HIS majesty relying on the as- 
surances which he has ‘received 
from his faithful commons, of their 
determination to support his ma- 
jesty in those exertions which are 
necessary under the present circum- 
stances, recommends it to this 
house to consider of making pro. 
vision towards enabling his majesty 
to defray any extraordinery ex- 
pences which may be incurred for 
the service of the ensuing year, 
and to take such measures as the 
exigencies of affairs may require, 
His majesty, on this occasion, 
thinks proper ta acquaint the house, 
that the crisis\which was depend- 
ing at the commencement of the 
present session, has led to such 
an order of things i in France, as will 
induce his majesty, conformably to 
the sentiments which he has al- 
ready declared, to meet any dispo- 
sition for negotiation on the part 
of the enemy, and with an earnest 
desire to give it the fullest and 
speediest effect, and to conclude a 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


treaty for a general peace, when- 
ever it can be effected on just and 
suitable terms for himself aud his 
allies. 

It is his majesty’s earnest wish, 
that the spirit and determination 
manifested by parliament, added 
to the recent and important suc- 
cesses of the Austrian armies, and 
to the continued and growing em- 
barrassments of the enemy, may 
speedily conduce to the attainment 
of this object, on such grounds as 
the justice of the cause in which 
this country is engaged, and the 
situation of affairs, may entitle his 
mazjesty to expect. 


Message from his Majesty to both 
Houses, Dec. 85 1795+ 


‘George Rex. 

HIS majesty thinks proper to 
acquaint the house of commons, 
that a considerable division of 
ships, having on board foreign 


~ 


troops in the service of Great Bri- | 


tain, having been dispersed and 
damaged while on their passage 
from the rivers Elbe and Weser to 
Spithead, the place of rendezvous 
appointed for the convoy under 
which it was intended they should 
be sent on foreign distant service, 
his majesty has found it unavoid- 
ably necessary to order the said 
troops to be disembarked, and to 
be stationed in barracks near South+ 
ampton, and in the isle of Wight ; 
and at the same time has given di- 
rections, that they shall be re-em- 
barked, and sent to the place of 
their desetnancton, as soon as the 
transports necessary for their ac- 
commodation and conveyance shall 
be in readiness to receive them, 
the necessary orders for that pur- 
pose having, by his majesty’s com- 
mand, been already given. 

Protest 


STATE PAPERS. 


Protest of Lord Stanhope against our 
interfering in the internal Affairs 
of France, Fan. 6, 1795- 
1st, BECAUSE the motion made 

for the house to adjourn, was 

professedly intended to get rid 
of the following resolution, viz. 

“* Resolved, that this country ought 

not, and will not, interfere in the 

internal affairs of France; and that 
it is expedient explicitly to declare 
the same.”’ _ 

2dly, Because I hold that ir is 
contrary both to equity and policy 
for any foreign country to interfere 
in the internal affairs or constitu- 
tion of the French republic, or of 
any other independent nation. 

3dly, Because the government of 

Great Britain (not having been 

elected by the citizens of France) 

can have no more right to give 
to France a monarchical, or other 
form of government whatever, than 
the crowned despots of Prussia and 
of Russia had to overturn the free 
constitution of now unhappy Poland. 

4thly, Because I heartily disap- 
prove and reprobate the doétrine 
advanced by ministers in the 
debate; namely, that to restore 
the ancient and hereditary mo- 
narchy of France, no expence 
should be spared. And I reprobate 
that pernicious and uncivic doc- 
trine the more strongly, from it 
not having been suddenly, hastily 
or inconsiderately started ; but from 


its having been taken up (as it was 


solemnly declared) upon the utmost 
deliberation. 

sthly, Because I deem it to be 
an injustice committed by ministers 
towards my fellow-citizens, to 


_adopt a principle which shall ren- 


der it necessary for the government 
of Great Britain to lay farther 
heavy burdens upon the people, 


14] 


and to tax their houses, their 
windows, their beds, their candles, 
their shoes, and many other con- 
veniences, and the necessaries of 
life, in order to provide a fund to 
attempt the accomplishment of 
such a wicked purpose as afore- 
said. 

6thly, Because the proposed re- 
solution above stated was intended 
by me as a solemn pledge that the 
government of this nation would 
not interfere in the internal af- 
fairs of France; but the refusal 
of the house to give such a pledge, 
tends to shut the door to peace, 
and consequently tends to ensure 
the ruin of this manufacturing, 
commercial, and once happy coun- 
try; particularly considering the 
increased, and rapidly increasing, 
strength of the navy of the French 
republic, independently of the pros- 
pect there is of their having the 
navies of Holland and Spain under 
their immediate influence. 

ythly, Because the public funds, 
the paper currency, and the public 
and private credit of this country, 
will probably be unequal to stand 
against the tremendous shock to 
which ministers will now expose 
them. 

Sthly, Because I think that 
frankness, fairness, humanity, and 
the principles of honesty, and of 
justice, are always in the end, the 
best policy ; and I believe it to be 
true, in regard to nations (as well 
as with respe¢t to individuals), that 
“€ nothing that is not just can be 
wise, or likely to be ultimately 
prosperous.”’ 

gthly, Because I lament the 
more, that the house: should refuse 
to disclaim the interfering in the 
internal constitution of France, in. 
asmuch as by the new pomeeeaticn. 

0 


142 


of the French republic, one and 
indivisible, adopted by the present 
national convention, on the 23d of 
June, 1793, and under the title of 
*€the relation of the French re- 
public with foreign nations,’’ and 
by the articles 118 and 119 of 
that constitution, it is declared and 
enacted, that 

*¢ The French people is the 
é® friend and natural ally of every 
** free nation. It does not inter- 
*« fere with the government of 
*€ other nations ; it does not suffer 
“€ that other nations should inter- 
‘© fere withits own.’’ 

So frank, so fair, and so explicit 
2 declaration on their part, did, in 
my opinion, entitle them to a bet- 
‘ter species of return. 

tothly, Pecause I conceive that 
a true republican form of govern- 
ment, being firmly established in 
France, is much more safe for the 
liberties of the people of Great 
Britain, than the tyrannical, capri. 
cious, perfidious, secret, intriguing, 
and restless ancient monachy of 
France; of than any other mo- 
narchy they could there establish : 
but even if I were of a direct op- 
posite way of thinking, I would not 
be guilty of the gross injustice of 
attempting to force a monarchy 
upon them contrary to their incli- 
nation. 

1tthly, Because I think that no 
war ought to be continued, that 
can, by a proper fine of modera- 
tion, be avoided; and the more 
especially with respeét to the 
French people, who, by their re- 
publican exertions, republican en. 
thusiasm, and republican courage, 
have made victory the almost con. 
Stant ‘* order of the day.’’ 

r2thly, Because. the continuing 
of such a bloody contest, without 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


necessity, appears to me td be 2 
profane tempting of Divine Pro- 
vidence, in whose benign and al- 
mighty hands the fate of battles 
and of ‘empires is placed. 

13thly, Because I wish to wash 
my hands entirely of all the in- 
nocent blood that may be shed in 
this war with France, of all the 
carnage which may take place, and 
of all the destru€tion, confusion, 
and devastation (perhaps in Great, 
Britain itself) which may ensue. 

r4thly, Because it was my obje& 
to preclude the government of 
Great Britain from attempting to 
stir up, or excite insurre€tions in 
La Vendée, or any other depart- 
ment of the French republic ; and 
the resolution I moved was well 
caleulated for that purpose. 

And, rsthly, Because the maxim 
of ** do not to others that which 
you would not wish done to your- 
self,’’ is an unerring rule founded 
upon the clear principle of justice, 
that is to say, of equality of rights. 
It is upon that strong and solid 
ground that { make my stand; and 
all public men, in order to merit” 
the confidence of the British peo- 


‘ple, must shew their determination 


to At with frankness, and with un. 
equivocal good faith and justice, 

towards the French republic. 
Having upon this most import. 
ant and momentous subject, fre- 
quently stood alone, and having 
also been, upon this last occasion, 
totally unsupported in the division, 
if I should therefore cease, at pre- 
sent, to attend this house (where 
I have been placed by the mere 
accident of birth), such of my 
fellow-citizens as are friends to 
freedom, and who may chance to 
read this my solemn protest, will find 
that I have not altered my senti- 
ments 


STATE PAPERS. 


ments or opinions, and that I have 
not changed any of my principles ; 
for my principles never can be 
changed. 

And those fellow-citizens will 
also find, that I hereby pledge my- 
self to my country, that [ shall 
continue, what I ever have been, 
a zealous and unshaken friend to 
peace, to justice, and to liberty, 
political, civil, and religious ; and 
that I am determined to die (as I 
have lived) a firm and steady sup- 
porter of the unalienable rights and 
of the happiness of all mankind. 


STANHOPE. 


Protest against the A& far further 
suspending the Habeas Corpus Aa, 


Feb. 3, 1795. 


1st, BECAUSE, whatever pre- 
tence there may have existed in 
the last session of parliament for 
suspending the habeas corpus act, 
that pretence is now removed; 
the partial ex parte examination of 
the committees of parliament hay- 
ing been refuted by the verdi€ts of 
juries, who, with laboar unexam- 
pled in legal annals in this coun- 
try, after duly weighing the evi- 
dence on both sides, acquitted the 
“persons indicted for a ene 
conspiracy. 
- adly, Because intentions hostile 
to the constitution being enter- 
tained by persons, few in ‘number, 
and devoid of weight and conse. 
quence in the country, do not jus- 
tify the depriving all the people of 
Great Britain of that security which 
our laws so anxiously provide for 
personal liberty. 
3dly, Because we find, that as 
soon as these plots and conspira- 
cies (which have heretofore caused 


143 


the suspension of the people’s right 
to their habeas corpus) had been 
dealt with according to law, and 
that the conspirators had been con- 
victed and punished, the danger 
being over, the suspension had 
dropped. In the same manner, 
when the proved innocence of the 
accused have negatived the sup- 
posed conspiracy, and when it is 
not even pretended that any new 
or other plot exists, to continue to 
suspend this great and essential 
safeguard of our kingdom, is equal- 
ly contrary to the example set us 
by our ancestors, and inconsistent 
with that protection which, as le. 
gislators, we are bound to afford to 
the personal security of all our fel- 
low-subjects. 

4thly, Because we consider that 
the national spirit of English free- 
dom, to which was owing the high 
place that we once held amid” sure 
rounding nations, is either check= 
ed or deadened by causeless atts of 
despotism; or that the disgust -ne~ 
cessarily generated by such a con- 
duct is likely (if any thing can pro. 
duce such an effect upoy this’ free 
and enlightened nation), to raise a 
spirit of disaffection even to the 


-constitution itself. 


sthly, Because when we trace 
the history of the habeas corpus 
aét, we find, among other securi- 
ties from oppression, it was chiefly 
meant to ensure to the subject a 
speedy trial, when accused of trea- 
son or treasonable practices, and to 
avert the tyranny of tedious impri. 
sonment for those crimes. Wecon. 
ceive, theretore, that if the legis. 
lature is, upon all occasions of 
suspicion of traiterous acts, to sus- 
pend the operation of that most 
important and invaluable statute, 
security to the subject must be re- 
moved 


144 


moved at the very crisis, and in 
the very case when it was meant 
by the wise and enlightened fra- 
mers of that law most to shield and 
proteét him. 
GuILpFrorD, 
Beprorp, 
Norroik, E., M. 
LAUDERDALE. 


Protest against the Rejection of the 
Motion for treating with France, 
Feb. 12, 1795- 


BECAUSE we conceive the re- 
peated declarations made in the 
name of the king, and the resolu- 
tions come to by this house, are, 
as they now stand, an effectual bar 
to all negotiation with the present 
government of France, which can 
alone be removed by a resolution 
of a similar nature to that avoided 
by the previous question, and which 
is become the more necessary, from 
the declaration of his majesty’s mi- 
nisters in debate—that the govern. 
ment of France is of such a cha- 
rafter as to preclude the possibility 
of treating, so long as they shall 
continue to a@ on their present 
ptinciples : a declaration which we 
conceive to convey little less than 
a determination to carry on the 
war upon such principles that it 
can alone be terminated by the de- 
struction of one or both of the na- 
tions, 

Brororp, 
LAUDERDALE, 
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, 
GuILDFoRD, 


Protest against the Rejcfion of the 
Mor fon for inc estigating the Cause 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


of Lord Fitzwilliam’ s Racele May 
8, 1795- 


1st, BECAUSE the removal, in 
the mee of a session of parliament, 
of such an officer of the crown as a 
lord-lieutenant of Iseland, the im- 
mediate and sole representative of 
majesty in that kingdom, under the 
circumstances, is singular, perhaps 
unprecedented, The effects of that 


bold and unusual measure, espe- 


cially in the present critical state of 
affairs, cannot be indifferent. It 
is a fact notorious, and not contra- 
difted, that the house of lords and 
the house of commons in that king. 
dom, did, at the moment of his re- 
cal, directly and explicitly, in a 
solemn vote and resolution of each 
house, declare their confidence in 
the lord-lieutenant. It is a fa& 
equally notorious, and equally un- 
contradi¢ted, that these votes of 
confidence from both houses of the 
Irish parliament were in perfect 
conformity te the opinions and. 
wishes of all descriptions of the 
people of that nation. 
zdly, Because a strong charge of 
malyersation in office, supported by 
clear proof or strong presumption, 
ought to be produced, to weigh 
against those solemn testimonies of 
a parliament, and those declared 
opinions of a people, and to justify 
a proceeding, the inevitable tenden_ 
cy of which is to produce dissatis- 
faction and discord amongst his 
majesty’s subjeéts in that kingdom. 
That the proceeding itself is with- 
in the prerogative there is no doubt ; 
but there is no doubt also that this 
house is competent to an inquiry 
into all advice given to the crown, 
with regard to the use of that pre- 
rogative: and that it is its duty to 
toake such inquiry in any event by 
which 


STATE PAPERS. 


which his majesty’s honour or in- 
terest, or the tranquillity, concord, 
and union of his empire, and its 
common effort against its common 
enemy, may be eff-éted. 
3diy, Because as the peers are 
bound for their own honour, to 
examine with a more strict scrutiny 
into the conduét, and to animad- 
vert with great severity on the 
misdemeanors of those of their 
own body, so they owe a peculiar 
protection to such peers, as on in- 
quiry they shall find, in the exer- 
cise of the high prerogatives of the 
crown, to have demeaned themn- 
seives uncorruptly, to the satisiac- 
tion of the people, with a diligent 
attention to the functions, of their 
charge, and with duty, zeal, and 
fidelity to their sovereign. 
4thly, Because earl Fitzwilliam, 
the lord-lieutenant removed in so 
unprecedented a manner, did vo- 
luntarily solicit in this house the 
production of all such documents 
as might furnish matter for a fuil 
and impartial inquiry into his con. 
duét ; that as the case might ap- 
pear, he might subject himself jo 
the animadversion, or entitle him- 
self to the protection of this house. 
No valid reasons for secrecy have 
been alleged. Delinquency is no 
proper object of secrecy, on the 
one sideor the other ; nor can any 
depending measure of government 
be affected by a disclosure of that 
delinquency. The aét is executed. 
If these vague general allegations 
of secrecy may be urged to prevent 
inquiry, peers may be affected with 
suspicions utterly ruinous to their 
reputation with regard to the mat. 
ters of highest trust, without any 
possibility of ciearing themselves. 
gthly, Because it appeared in the 
course of the debate, without any 
Vor. XXXYVII. 


145 


attempt to contradi¢t it, that the 
earl atoresaid did a¢tively and ef- 
fectively promote the service of the 
crown, and the public interest in 
Ireland, by encouraging through 
ali fitting means, and discouraging 
by none, the zeai and affection to 
his majesty of his parliament of 
Ireland , by obtaining without de- 
lay, and with great unanimity, a 
vote of more than forty thousand 
men, by which the internal force 
of that kingdom was more than 
doubled ; and by obtaining also a 
vote of two hundred thousand 
pounds, for the better manning 
the navy of Great Britain—the 
first vote of the kind in the pre- 
set war, and double to the sole 
example of the supply of the same 
kind, voted in the Irish parliament 
inthe year 1782, as an acknow- 
ledgment of the vast and important 
concessions in legislation, _com- 
merce, and judicature, then made 
by the parliament of Great Britain; 
both these supplies for the service 
of Great Britain were moved by 
Mr, Grattan, confidence in whom 
has been imputed as blame to earl 
Fitzwilliam ; though in the debate 
nothing was alleged to shew that 
this distinguished person, called to 
his confidence and councils, had 
ever, during lord Fitzwilliam’s go- 
vernment, made any other use of 
the estimation in which -he is heid 
in his country, than to perform this 
and other similar services to his 
majesty’s government, and to re. 
concile the minds of his fellow 
subje¢ts of that kingdom to bear 
the burdens brought on by these 
services with cheerfulness, and to 
co-operate with alacrity and una. 
nimity in every means of giving 
them their full effect. 

6thly, Because it does not ap- 


pear 


146 


pear that the earl in question, 
during his administration in Ire- 
land, did, in any degree, or in any 
manner, sabeerts impair, or weaken 
any one cf the legal prerogatives 
of the crown, or abuse them to the 
prejudice of the subject, in any in- 
stance whatsoever. ‘That in the 
arrangements proposed with re- 
gard to office, either in removals 
Or appointments, it does not appear 
that the efficacy of his majesty’s 


“government, or the popularity of 


his majesty’s measures, were at all 
impaired, or the unanimity and 
harmony of the nation disturbed ; 
or the confidence in his majesty’s 
government, as administered by 
him, in any degree whatsoever 
lessened. To the great objects of 
government all official arrange- 
ments ought to be subservient ; 
and by their effect on those ob- 
jects, it is to be determined whe- 
ther the discretionary powers with 
regard to official arrangements ine- 
cessarily invested in his majesty’s 
ministers, have been in any in- 
stance properly or improperly em- 
ployed. 

ythly, Because the unanimity 
and zeal in his majesty’s service, 
which appeared throughout that 
kingdom, was owing to the-hope 
held out that such arrangements 
as the late lord-lieutenant proposed 
would take place, namely, such as 
ended to demonstrate that those 
n whom the nation reposed much 
confidence, had obtained the con- 
fidence of his majesty’s chicf go- 
vernor, and that those who had 
the misfortune not to obtain the 
public confidence, or at least not 
to obtain it in the same degree, 
were not to be predominant in the 
efficient offices in the kingdom, 


Sthly, That it did not appear in’ 


“ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


the debate, that incapable or ob- 
noxious men, or men of no lead or 
importance in their country, sand 
therefore unqualified for rendering 
effectual service. to his majesty, 
were the objects of choice in those 
arrangements. 

gthty, Because it did not appear 
in’ the debate, that any harsh or 
vindictive spirit was manifested in 
any proposed removals: as the most 
large and libera! consideration was 
observed to the dignity, the feel- 
ings, and the interests of the par- 
ties concerned. 

rothly, Because it did not ap- 
pear in the debate, that this provi- 
sion was considered in the light ot 
a corrupt and prodigal bargain ; 
but that the people at large re- 
garded it ina contrary hight. It 
appears that the estimation of that 
government was rather increased 
than impaired by the whole of 
those intended measures; and it is 
asserted and supported by abun. 
dant proof, that thedefeat of those 


‘arrangements, with all their con- 


sequences, has excited a conside- 
rable discontent among the people 

of Ireland. 
trthly, Because the persons who, 
on account of their general estima. 
tion in their country, were taken 
into the confidence of the late lord- 
lieutenant, had previously to his 
government, given the most strik. 
ing and unequivocal proofs of their 
attachment to Great Britain, of 
their power of subduing all their 
own private feelings; and of sacri- 
ficing to his majesty’s service ‘no 
small part even of their known 
animosities upon public ° differ- 
ences, by supporting, out of office, 
and out of conhaates ‘in the 
then rulers, the calseof the British 
‘govern 


3 


STATE 


government in a very marked and 
distinguished manner. 
rathly, Because it appeared in the 
- debate, that one of the matters 
of discussion between his majesty’s 
confidential servants in England 
and. the said iord-lieutenant, had 
arisen on occasion of a bill intend- 
ed to be introduced into the par- 
Jiament of Ireland by Mr. Grattan, 
“ for the farther relief of his majes- 
ty’s catholic subjects in that king- 
dom.’’ Of subjeéts.to be agirated 
in the parliament of that kingdom, 
this house can take no cognizance ; 
but they may take cognizance of 
the conduc of a British peer, mem- 
ber of this house, and representing 
his majesty, for his conduct in his 
majesty’s service, in any part ot his 
dominiens. If the late lord-liea- 
tenant gave countenance tO any” 
Measure tepugnant to that service, 
and in defiance to that authority, 
and positive instructions given by 
his majesty’s ininisters here, it 
“ms a matter of constitutional 
discussion in this house. Upon 
that point earl Fitzwilliam has ai- 
leged that he is ready to put him- 
self upon the judgment of this 
house; for he contends that the 
motion for leave to bring in such 


a bill (which he admits to have 


been made at his express desire), 
did not afford cause of alarm or 
“ apprehension in any manner what. 
ever. He contends that the prin. 
ciple of such a bill was highly 
conformabie to other former pro- 
ceedings known to be countenanced 
by his majesty’s ministers ; nor does 
it appear by any thing alleyed in 
the debate, chat the countenance 
ynderstood to be given by the late 
lord-lieutenant of Ireland for a far- 
ther relief, could be a just ground 
Sor his removai; when a recom. 
™ 


PAP E:IRA; 1A7 


mendation from the throne itself, 
by his predecessor the earl of West- 
morland, in the year 1793, forad. 
vantages of infinitely greater ex. 
tent, that is to say, a general ca- 
pacity for all offices and franchises 
(about thirty oifices and seats in 
parliament only excepted), has 
been made matter of merit. 
13thly, Because it appears for 
several years past to have been the 
policy of his majesty’s British coun. 
cils with regard to Ireland, and of 
the parliament of that kingdom, 
to remove the several civil re- 
straints which had been made in 
consequence of religious differences ; 
for all offices had been opened to 
protestant dissenters, without any 
limitation whatever, by the repeal 
of the test in that kingdom, in the 
ear 1779, 1gth and zoth of his 
Wisi ten, vi. From those dis. 
senters no test whatever was ex- 
afted, in lieu of that from which 
they were exonerated. But for the 
catholics, by an act of the 13th or 
14th of his present majesty, chap, 
XXXiV..a test oath was proposed for 
ascertaining the allegiance and 
fidelity of catholics, assuch. About 
four years after, that is, in the year 
1777-8; 17th and 18th of Geo. III. 


chap. xlix. 10 consequence of this 


oath, a strong legislative declaras 
tion was Ale in which the prin. 
ciple, which had been gradually 
followed up by subsequent acts, is 
strongly and decidedly affirmed 5. 
for the ‘preamble of that aét, after 
stating certain penalties and inca. 
pacities under which the catholics 
did then labour,. thus proceeds: 
‘© Whereas, from their uniform 
peaceable behaviour for a long se- 
ries of ycars, it appears reasonable 
and expedient to reiax the same ; 
and it must tend not only to the 
L2 cultivation 


148 


cultivation and. improvement of 
this kingdom, but to the prosperity 
and strength of all his majesty’s 
dominions, that his subjeéts of all 
denominations should enjoy the be- 
nefits of our free constitution, and 
should be bound to each other by 
mutual interest and mutual affec- 
.tion.’? Soon after, that is, in the 
gist and 22d of his present majes- 
ty, chap. xxiv. it was again de. 
clared that catholics, on taking 
‘the test oath aforesai & ‘ought to 
be considered as good and loyal 
subjeGts to his majesty, his crown, 
and government; and that the con- 
tinuance of the laws formerly en- 
acted, and then in force against 
persons of the popish religion, are 
therefore unnecessary, in respect 
to those who have taken, or shall 
take, the said oath, and is injurio 

to the real welfare and Seen 
of the kingdom of Ireland.’* No- 
thing can be more clearly laid 


down than the principle upon. 


which the several acts of relief 
from the first year of relaxation, 
virtually beginning so early as the 
year 1773, twenty years before the 
passing the large capacitating act 
of the year 1793 was grounded, 


namely, the recognized allegiance, 


and reciprocal right to proteétion, * 


held out upon taking this and 
other testoaths. It was plain that 
the policy of the legislature was to 
affirm the principle as largely as 
possible, and to make the capaci- 
ties follow (as they have pratti- 
cally followed) gradually, accord. 
ing as favourable occasions should 
ofier. These a€ts have alw ays been 
understood to have emanated ori- 
ginally from his majesty’s gracious 
disposition, and to have preezeded 
to the government of  [freland, 
through the British cabinet. If 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


these tests could not be deemed’ a 
security in the reserved cases, it is 
impossible to assign a reason why 
they were deemed a security in the | 
hundreds of others, to which a ca. 
pacity was opened by the aét of 
1793. ‘he incapacitating reserves 
in the aét of 1793, like those of 
the former atts, proceeding (though 
more slowly} upon the same de. 
clared policy, evidently were not 
made upon their own declared 
principle. ‘They were made in the 
regular progress of a system of en. 
largement, in order to compromise 
with the spirit of monopoly. But 
it is asserted by earl Fitzwilliam, 
and nothing without inquiry can 
effeclually contradi@ the assertion, 
that whilst in reality the restric- 
tions gave satisfaction to none, they 
caused discontent in many. The 
protestants regarded these excep- 
tions with total indifference. The 
catholics looked on them as signs 
of suspicion and degradation: they 
considered them as marks (con. 
trary to the declared policy of the 
a¢is) contrived to be set upon them 
by their enemies, to distinguish 
them as had subjects and bad citi- 
zens. ‘The proceedings of their 
enemies leave in their minds no 
doubt that these tokens of repro- 
bation are kept as pretexts for af- 
fronts, contumelies, and injuries of 
all kinds: and for practically de- 
priving them of most of the bene- 
fits of those capacities which the 
law seemed to hold out to them. 
14th, Because it is alleged that 
a bill for farther relief was public- 
ly known, as likely to be in agita- 
tion betore the departure of the 
lord-lieutenant from England ; that 
he had no instruction whatever di- 
rectly to oppose it, though an opi- 
nion was capressed that it had bet. 
ter 
\ 


STATE PAPERS. 


ter be delayed fora time of greater 
tranquillity; but the expediency of 
giving support to it was a matter 
left to his discretion, as, in the na- 
ture of things, it necessarily would 
be, on any subjeét, the principle of 
which was admitted, the fitness of 
the time being the only point of 
doubt, and which could only be 
decided by existing circumstances. 

1sth, Because it is offered in 
proof, that the late lord-lieutenant 
was diligent in the search, and 
prompt .in the communication to 
ministers, of every information on 
the subject. That he soon found, 
that all hopes of putting of the 
question was impracticable; that 
he had reason to think the present 
time for carrying the principles of 
the acts of 1792 and 1793 to their 
full object, to be, of all others, most 
favourable; that he found the 
relief to be ardently desired. by 
the catholics ; to be asked for by 
very many protestants, and to be 
cheerfully acquiesced in by almost 
all ; that this circumstance removed 
the difficulties, on which the post- 
poning the question could alone 
be desired; that he found the 
delays had created much suspicion 
and uneasiness amongst the catho- 
lic petitioners, who were numer- 
ous almost beyond all example ; 
that he found a bill on those peti- 
tions would infaliibly and speedily 
be brought into parliament, and 
that many members were desirous 
to introduce it; and if. this were 
the case, the measure might come 
into hands with which neither he 
nor the king’s ministers had any 
connexion, which would leave 


with governmert only the disagree-, 


able part ofaltering or of modifying, 
if any alteration or modification 
had beew thought necessary by the 


149 


British government, depriving his 
majesty thereby of the whole grace. 
and effect of what was done: that. 
in this unpleasant situation he sent 


‘for Mr. Grattan, and desired him 


as a person in his confidence, and 
who would aé& on the occasion ac- 
cording to what he and the minis- 
ters, in their prudence, might sug- 
gest. That Mr. Grattan did con- 
sent, and did, at his desire, move 
for leave to bring in a bill for the 
further relief of the Roman catho- 
lics. That the motion for leave 
was received with little discussion, 
and without any division. That 
no bill on the subject was in fact 
brought in—and that ministry were 
informed, that none would be 
brought in without their know- 
ledge; nor untilof late, and after 
Jord Fitzwilliam’s departure, was 
such a thing attempted. That’ the 
then lord lieutenant communicated 
largely all his ideas on the subject.’ 
That whilst the proposed bill was 
not yet introduced into the house 
of commons, and whilst he was 
obeying their instructions with re- 
gard to informations and opinions, 
he was suddeniy removed, with the 
strongest marks of displeasure and 
disgrace, That on this state of 
things, no sufficient reason appears 
to exist iu this measure, any more 
than in ‘the business of arrange. 
ments, for the unusual and alarm. 


ing step of disgracing a lord-lieu- 


tenant in the middle of a session of 
arliament, in which the business 
of his majesty, andof the whole em, 
pire (as far as that kingdom could 
operate in it), was carried on with 
unusual unanimity and success, and 
with a very great concurrence with- 
out doors ofall orders and descrip- 
tions of men. It is a step ’for 
which, on the debate, nothing was 
L 3 said 


150 ANNUAL RE 
said to make it appear justifiable, 
and to render an injury concerning 
it annecessary. 
Ponsonsy, 
Wentworta FirzwiLiiaM. 
And the said ear! Fitzwilliam, 
moreover protesting for himself, 
and on his own part, declares that 
this house refusing such necessary 
investigation, he doth conceive and 
feel himself injured and oppressed, 


as a British subject, as a peer of 


Great Britain, and as a person who 
has exercised an high and very 
responsible trust under his majesty. 
That he is not content merely to 
prove his innocence; that he was, 
and is ready to make it appear to 
. the house, and to his country, that 
in that trust he has a¢ted faithfully, 
zezlously, affectionately, dutifully, 
and diligently towards his sovereign; 
that he has a¢ted. with attention and 
practicability towards his colleagues 
in office; that he has aéted with 
an enlightened regard to the true 
interests of the nation, which, un- 
der , his majesty’s sauthority, he was 
appointed to govern. That he 
stands upon the merit of his mea- 
sures; a the prudence of his ar- 
rangements; that by them confi- 
dence was recovered to govern- 
ment. That he stands, for the 
justice and the policy of ‘removing 
the few feeble, miserable, ineffica- 
cious, but invidious restrictions, 
that remain on the catholics of Ire- 
iand, as wholly useless for any good 
purpose, but powerful in causing 
discontent, both with regard to 
government and to parliament, as 
furnishing handles of oppression to 
the malevolent, and as supplying 
pretexts for disorders to the turbu- 
Jent and seditious. That he should 
have shewn a degree of incapacity 
wholly to unfit him for-his arduous 


GISTER,. 1795. 
trust, if he had ated on anidea 
that the politics of thts time, or 
that the present or probable futare 
interests of states, do at all de. 
pend upon questions, whether of 
do&trine or discipline, either as 
agitated between catholics and 
protestants, or as agitated by pro. 
testants amongst thetr several sub. 
divisions. ‘The charch and’ state 
have enemies very different, and 
infinitely more formidable than 
any which have their origin in any 
religious parties. He has for some 
time been persuaded, but most 
clearly so since he went to Ireland, 
that by good management the dan. 
gerous principles and tempers of 
the times, which have another and 
more recent origin, may be kept 
from taking root, either in the 
church of Ireland, there happily 
established, or in the presbyterian 
church, in communion with that 
of Séétland or in the church of 
the old natives of Ireland, commu- 
nicating with that of Rome; or in 
any other religious se€t whatever ; 
but that through intemperate, vex. 
atious, corrupt, Or oppressive con- 
duct, every one of these descriptions 
may be infeéted with this evil, iff 
greater or lesser degree and extent 
or malignity, according to the de. 
gree of oppression or indiscretion 
with which they are severaily treat. 
ed. He was, and is convinced, 
that the best mode-of resisting this 
reigning danger, either from with. 
in or from without, is not to be 
found in a plan for reviving, by, 
art or influence, prejudices and 
heart-burnings expired, or ready 
to expire, or of sowing the seeds 
of eternal discord and division 
between the people. During nf 
government he had vathite 
complain.of the disposition o ny 
religiéus 


4 


STATE OP APE B's. 


veligious description as such; and 
his principles of government. led 
him to cultivate the uvion which 
he plainly saw of itself commenc 

ing between them. It was his 
constant endeavour, by every means, 
to conibine the minds of every sort 
of men, churchmen, presbyterians, 
and catholics, of every the least pro- 
portion of education, talent, influ- 
ence, or property, in affection to 
bier comimon: sovereign ; to com- 
bine them in one bond of common 
interest, and inone common-effort 
against our common enemies, the 
known enemies of all religion, aul 
law, all order, and ali property. 
He has had the happiness of seeing 
ali this completely accomplished. 
An unexdmpled concord amongst 
the people, an unexampled zeal for 
the support of the crown had taken 
place; but he is not responsible 
for the effets of a system which 
proceeds in a contrary direétion 
to that which he pursued; he is 
not responsible for the effects of a 
system which 
whom the public has little confi- 
dence, contumeliously rejeéts the 
service of those who have ovrained 
the good opinicn of their country ; 
a system which endeavours to sup- 
ply a comparative defect ef ability 
by an unmeasured increase of influ- 
ence ; a system which rejects the 
Opinion and information of persons 
in high and responsible situations, 
and listens co the interested repre- 
sentations of subordinate’ office; 
asystem which, inverting the whole 
order of things, introduces anarchy 
into the very seat of government, 
by publicly and avowedly support- 
ing the instruments against the 
agent-; a system which, finding 
the body of the people disposed to 
look to the crown as their security 


supports men in, 


151 


against oppression from domestic 
factions, employs all its influence, 
power, and auvhority to support 
those very factions against the peo- 
ple, who Ay tor refuge to thecrown. 
For the opposite system he. has 
suffered the unparalleled mark of 
displeasure which has been shewn 
to him. He is willing to suffer 
more, rather than abandon it. He. 
will remember with a warm. and 
lasting gratitude,, and a cordial 
attachment, the weighty persons 
in parliament, and all the respec. 
table bodies and individuals by 
whom he was generously encou- 
raged and honourably supported 
in a diferent plan of government 
from that which derives its support 
from the corruption of one part 
of the people, and the depression 
of the other. 
FirzwILLiaM. 


Protest against the A@ fir transfere 
ring the Militia, May 28th. 


1st, ‘Because the honourable 
footing upon which the militia was 
established, and has hitherto sub- 
sisted, is, as far as relates to the 
augmenting the artillery, under- 
mined by this bill, inasmuch as it 
makes the militia a fund for. the 
supply, and a drill for the accommo. 
dation of auother corps, inasmuch 
as it reduces the constitutional force 
below the numbers covenanted by 
the country to be always kept com. 
plete, and inasmuch as it supplies 
the deficiencies it creates, not in 
the regular and creditable manner 
by which the militia is constitu. 
tionally to be supplied, and sup. 
plied to a certainty; but by the 


_means, uncertain. in their opera. 


tion, by which it is constitutionally 
L4 provided 


152 


rovided in express terms that it 
shall not be supplied. 
2dly, Because upon the allega- 
tion of the present comjunture, it 
establishes this measure without any 
express period to its duration, and 
without any clause against the pre- 
cedent. 

_ 3dly, Because at a moment when 
the temper of the times, and our 
personal knowledge ot late events 
in some corps, seem particularly to 
recommend a vigilance in the pre- 
servation of discipline and subor- 
dination, this bill in a most extra- 
ordinary and unprecedented man- 
ner, relaxes the authority of the 
commanding officers over the ob- 
jects of it, by suggesting to the 
Jatter a method which at any time, 
&c. on any motive, ‘‘entitles them 
to their discharge.’’ 

4thly, Because the several cir- 
cumstances of disappointment as 
to the strength of their regiments, 


and of degradation by the involun- | 


tary removal of their seleted and 
most instructed men, by the replac- 
ing of them ina less certain and 
less creditable manner, and by con- 
verting the regiments intoa recruit- 
ing fund for another corps, from 
an impolitic and undeserved return 
to such militia officers (and it has 
been admitted in the debates on 
this bill that there are many such) 
as have merit with the public.— And 

I conceive it the more necessary 
to mark my disapprobation, and 
express my apprehensions of the 
consequences of this innovation, as 
T know the militia contains a fund 
for recruiting not only the artillery, 
but every other corps in his ma- 
jesty’s service, much too good not 
to be ardently coveted, and (how- 
ever the intention be disclaimed at 
present) I fear resorted to (as I 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


am sure it may be upon the same 
reasoning), when parliament shall 
have once notified the principle 
of making the militia subservient 
to the efficiency of other corps. 
RapDNoR, 


Protest agaiust the passing of the New 
Treason Bill, 


1st, Because we conceive this 
bill is founded on a false pretence : 
it recites a daring outrage on his 
majesty’s person (which we feel 
with the utmost horror), and pur- 
ports to provide farther remedies 
against such pra¢tices, whilst, in 
reality, it affords no additional se- 
curity whatever to his majesty’s 
person, and leaves us to regret 2 
deep and irreparable injury to the 
Jaws and constitution of our coun- 
try, by making the compassing, 
imagining, inventing and devising 
the levying war a substantive trea- 
son; thereby departing in a most 
dangerous and unjustifiable manner 
from the statute of the twenty-fifth 
of Edward the Third: the salutary 
provisions of which we cannot be 
tempted to abandon, by the exam- 
ple of temporary statues, whose 
deubtful pelicy stands in opposition 
toa law, in which the wisdom of 
our ancestors has been so repeatedly 
recognized by the legisleture, and | 
so strongly confirmed by the per- 

manent experience of its benefits. 
2dly, Because the free discussion 
of the administration of govern- 
ment in all its branches, by writs 
ing, speaking, and meeting for the 
purpose of representing grievances 
to any of the three branches of the 
legislature, has afforded the best 
protection to the liberties of the 
people, and is the undoubted inhe- 
rent 


SiTA TE: PUAIP.E R S. 


rent right of Englishmen. Yet 
this bili ere€ts into a high misde- 
meanor the exercise of this most va- 
luable privilege, and inflicts, in cer- 
tain cases, the pains and penalties 
ef transportation for the offences 
which it creates, a punishment in 
the case of misdemeanors, thus ge- 
nerally constituted, as unprecedent- 
ed in the history of our laws, as it 
is unnecessary and unconstitutional. 
3dly, Because the extension of 
the treason laws, and the creating 
new misdemeanors, is an alarming 
encroachment on the security of 
the subject, and affords no addi. 
tional prote@tion to his majesty’s 
person and government; for the 
state of every king, ruler, and go- 
vernor of any realm, dominion, or 
commonalty, standeth and consist- 
eth more assured by the love and 
favour of the subjects towards their 
sovereign, ruler, and governor, 
than in the dread and fear of those 
laws with rigorous pains and ex- 
treme punishments, which have at 
all times disgraced our code, His- 
tory, however, shews us, that by 
succeeding legislatures, our sfatute 
book has, with every mark of ge- 
nerous indignation, been uniformly 
cleared of these temporary and un- 
constitutional excrescences, a cir- 
eumstance which we now regard 
as a solemn warning against cre- 
ating new and unheard of misde- 
meanors, or altering the treason 
laws of our country. 
Beprorp, Dexsy, LAUDERDALE, 


Protest against the Sedition Bill, 


BECAUSE, to present petitions 
to the throne and the two houses 
of parliament, has at all times been 
the undoubted right of the subjects 


153 


of this realm; the free and ‘unli- 
mited enjoyment of which was ° 
one of the many blessings restored 
by the revolution, and invariably 
continued in its fullest extent, as 
well during time of internal com- 
moticn as of external danger; we 
therefore cannot consent to a bill 
which thus fetters the rights of 
the people, and imposes restrzints 
on that freedom of speech, te the 
existence of which the preserva- 
tion of all our liberties may be 
ascribed, and from the full, free 
and continued exercise of which 
is derived the manly charaéter 
that distinguishes a free people. 
Norrouix, E. M. Ponsonsy, 


Dersy, Lanspowne, 
LaupERDALE, ALBEMARLE, 
SUFFOLK, BEDFORD. 
CHEDWORTH, 


_ 1st, Because, though we cor. 
dially agree in the above ground 
of protest, yet we think it tarther 
necessary to state that, although 
the bill industriously displays the 
acknowledged right of English. 
men, a right essential toa free cone 
stitution, of deliberating on griev- 
ances, in church or state, and of 
preferring to the king and each 
house of parliament, petitions, come 
plaints, remonstrances, and decla. 
rations thereapon, yet it proceeds 
to lay the whole exercise of that 
important and sacred privilege 
under a restraint and discoynte- 
nance, which direétly and abso- 
lutely annihilates the right. 

The very proposition of any 
matter which shal! tend to incite 
or stir ap the people to hatred or 
contempt of the government and 
constitution of this realm, as by 
law established, makes the assembly 
liable to be dispersed by any one 
justice of peace, under the pain of 

felony, 


154 


felony, without benefit of clergy, 
if any twelve remain together an 
kour after proclamation, even 
though they should not proceed on 
prohibited business. Nay, if any 
one justice should think fit to arrest 
any person holding any discourse 
to’ the above effect, to se dealt 
with according to law, and shall 
meet with obstru€tion, whether 
the orator and obstructor be su- 
borned or not, the whole assembly 
ts liable to be treated in this harsh 
and unprecedented manner. 

Now the case to which these 
terrible consequences -are attach- 
ed, .is unavoidable, being a ne- 
cessary incident to the exercise of 
the right; for no grievance can 
be made the subjeét of deliberation, 
much less of complaint and remon- 
strance, without drawing down up- 
on it that odium, which its injuri- 
ous tendency, or that contempt 
which its absurd incongruity may 
seem to merit; that is, without 
representing it as a grievance. So 
that an occasion, even without 
straining, can never be wanting to 
suppress the exercise of this fran. 
chise. ; 

edly, Because ‘the severe provis 
sions of this bill not only apply 
to all assemblies convened by the 
exertions of private subjects, in the 
manner expressly clainted for Eng- 


lishmen by the bill of rights, but ” 


to all the other assemblies mention- 
ed in the a@, as appears from a 
consideration of the following 
words—‘* Such meeting or assem- 
bly, as is herein before mentioned, 
to which every justice of the peace 


is authorized and empowered to re- - 


sort with any number of constables, 
or other officers of thepeace, and to 
do, or-order to be done, all such 
aéts, matters, and things, as the case 
may fequire.’? Now although it 


ANNUAL REGISTER, '1795. 


be not expressly provided, that de- 
liberating on any grievance in 
church or state shall be deemed a 
crime, except in assemblies con- 
vened by private subjeéts, yet the 
above-mentioned authority, to ar- 
rest men holding discourse to such 
effect, to be dealt with according 
to law, do so flagrantly imply it, 
that the zeal of any justice of the 
peace, who should so understand the 
phrase, may regard this as afford- 
Ing ample countenance to his ef- 
forts. Happily, in the class of ma- 
gistrates in this country, are men 
whose worth and honour render 
them respectable; but we cannot 
forget that many are not only ap- 
pointed by the minister during his 
pleasure, but are in a state of appa- 
rent subjection to his caprice, and 
some even paid by him for the ex- 
ercise of their office, have their de- 
pendence on that caprice for their 
daily bread. It is therefore but 
too easy to foresee how such an oc. 
casion will be applied. 

3dly, Because the provisions in 
the conclusion of this bill form a 
worthy sequel to the foregoing 
measures, differing not in  prin.- 
ciple, but only in extent and appli. 
cation. ‘The prohibition of unlicenss 
ed discoursing upon-law, constitu- 
tion, government, and policy, at 
meetings not sanCtioned by the sa- 
cred occasions of a free people ap- 
plying to their legislature, inter- 
rupts private instruction, and the 
freedom of private‘discourse. The 
perusal of books, recommended by 
universal esteem, and the authority 
of names the most venerable, is an 
indulgence, however, that still re- 
mains. We are only forbidden to 
talk of what they contain. 

We therefore think it our boun. 
den duty, thus solemnly to mark the 
ignominious difference between 

7 


STATE PAPERS... 


this impaired state of English liber- 
ty, and that which was so nobly 
demanded and so honourably con- 
ceded, at the auspicious zra of 
our happy and gloricus revolution. 
It is invain that, by the rapidity 
with which this bill has proceeded, 
the petitions, complaints, remon- 
strances, and other addresses of an 
irritated people, have been evaded. 
It is in vain to hone, that the length 
of time for which it is to endure 
will lay the public anxiety to sleep. 
The people cannot cease to regard 
this invasion of their rights with 
grief anddismay. They feel with 
us, that even indifference would 
extinguish this fundamental fran- 
chise, this safeguard of all our liber- 
ties, for ever. 
BEDFORD, LAUDERDALE, 
ALBEMARLE, DerBy. 


Speech of His Excellency the Viceroy of 
Corsica, delivered ts the Chamberof 
Parliament at the opening of the 
Session, the 9th Day of Feb. 1795. 


Gentlemen, 

If is with unfeigned pleasure 
that 1 meet you this day in parlia- 
ment, both because your constitu- 
tion, on which the-fuzure happi- 
ness of Corsica depends, is hereby 
consummated, and because the full 
energy of your wisdom and autho- 
rity is required at a period render- 
ed doubly interesting by the esta- 
blishment of a new government, 
and by the continuance of the war. 

You are charged not only with 
important, but arduous duties, since 
you must on the one -hand secure 
your freedom as an independent 
mation, by a vigorous and coura- 
geous exertion in the war,- and on’ 
the other, you must make provi. 
sion for internal happiness and 


155 


liberty, by deliberations which are 
better suited to times of tranquillity 
and peace. 

For the discharge of this great 
trust, I rely with perfect confidence ° 
on the wisdom and public spirit of 
parliament, supported by the-zealous 
and hearty anion of all good Corsi. - 
cans, whether in public or private 
stations ; for you will, no doubt, 
participate with me in the pleasing 
refleGtion, that the present period 
affords the happy opportunity of 
composing past animositiesy and-ob- 
literating divisions no longer sup. 
ported by any subsisting motive; 
and which, being always at vari- 
ance’ with the general good, are 
peculiarly prejudicial to it in mo. 
ments like the present, : 

His majesty, on his part, evet 
just and ever firm to his engage- 
ments, has already taken those steps 
which the constitution pointed out, 
for completing the new system of 
your government. He has been 
pleased to ratify in person the con. 
stitutional aét which he had previ. 
ously authorized me to accept in 
his name. 

Ihave ordered the gracious an- 
swer made by his majesty to the* 
address of the late general council, 
presented to him by deputies from~ 
that assembly, tobe laid before you. 
I have aiso ordered to be Jaid be- 
fore you a’‘copy of the commission 
by which his majesty has been 
pleased to confer on me the exalted 
honour of representing him in this 
kingdom under the title of viceroy, 
agreeable to the provisions of the 
constitutional a€&. By the choice 
of a person whose best qualifica. 
tion for that distinguished station 
is a warm and steady affection for 
Corsica, you will pereeive that the 
same sentiment prevailed on that 
occasion on his majesty’s mind. 

I am 


156 


Tam enabled with equal satis- 
faftion to acquaint you, that his 
majesty is not less attentive to your 
protection against the hostiledesigns 
of the enemy: and you may de- 
pend on his powerful and vigorous 
support during the war. He con- 
fides at the same time in the zeal 
and courage of his Corsican subjets 
for repelling the enemy, and de- 
fending, in the independence of 
their country, and the security of 
their lives, fortunes, and honour, 
all that can be dear to men. In 
these views a considerable body of 
Corsican infantry has been raised, 
and an immediate augmentation to 
that national corps is intended. 

Measures have been taken for 
enabling his majesty to assemble the 
militia, and employ them against 
the common enemy in case of need. 
It will be for the parliament in its 
wisdom to frame adequate regula- 
tions for the perfection of sucha 
system as may give to Corsica, in 
moments of danger, the full benefit 
of the courage and patriotism: of 
all her subjects: for it must not be 
forgotten, that the independence 
and liberty of your country must 
not depend on the prote¢tion of re- 
gular troops alone, however formi- 
dable the force employed may be ; 
but, under the providence of Gop, 
must still rest principally on the 
hearts and arms of a people who 
love their country and their free. 
dom. 

Many important objects will re- 
quire your immediate attention. 
The most urgent of these, is to pro- 
vide sufficient funds for the public 
service. 

In the present circumstances of 
Corsica, his majesty is pleased to 
take upon himself the whole charges 
of the military establishment ; you 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


have also the benefit of a great 
naval force, without any expence.; 
you have no public debt, and cor- 
sequently no interest to pay on that 
account. 

Reflecting on these peculiar ad- 
vantages, enjoyed, perhaps, exclu- 
sively by this nation, I am persuad- 
ed that you will cheerfully furnish 
the remaining and unavoidable 
expences of the public service ; 
and it is with much comfort that 
I consider the impossibility of an 
ample and adequate provision for 
the civil charges of government 
being burthensome to the people 
of Corsica, even in the present state 
of her resources. 

A settlement of your religious 
establishment has been reserved for 
the chamber of parliament, in con- 
cert with his holiness the pope. 

To this important point you will 
naturally direét your early and seri- 
ous attention ; and I havenodoubt, 
that the wisdom and piety. which 


-will preside in your councils, will 


lead you to the means of reconciling 
the civil interests and temporal 
prosperity of your constituents, 
with the holy duties of religion, the 
reverence due to its ministers, and 
the sacred rights of property. 

The definition and Jimits of the 
several powers and jurisdiéticns to 
be exercised by the different tri- 
buna's in the administration of jus- 
tice, as well as.a declaration of the 
law itself, are other points of seri- 
ous and urgent importance. A 
faithful and judicious administra- 
tion of the national property, par- 
ticularly of the woods and forests, 
the improvement of agriculture, 
manufactures and commerce, » the 
encouragement of industry in all 
its branches, the government and 
discipline of the military, the en- 

couragement. 


‘internal communication ;— 


STATE PAPERS. 157 


couragement and navigation, and 
regulations which may bring forth 


‘the naval resources of the island, 


whether in mariners or stores, in 
its own defence, and in the general 
service of the empire; the repair 
of highways, and improvement of 
i institu- 
tions for public instruction; esta- 
blishments of health, both for the 
security of the inhabitants, and the 
convenience of their commerce ; 
all these are objects worthy of your 
early delierations, and for which 
your wisdom and diligence will not 
fail to provide. 

Ihave the greatest satisfaction 
in announcing to you the conclu- 
sion Of a treaty for the marriage of 
his royal highness the prince of 
Wales with the princess Caroline, 
daughter of the duke of Bruns- 
wick. Jam persuaded that your 
affection for the person and family 
of his majesty will make you par- 
ticipate in the general joy diffused 
through every part of his domi- 
nions, by an event so interesting to 
the happiness of his majesty and 
that illustrious prince. 

Gentlemen, 

Impressed with the momentous 
mature of the present period, and 
of the duties which it imposes on 
us, 1 am nevertheless confident in 
your patriotism, talents, and appli. 
cation; and I pray God so to bless 
and enlighten our councils, and so 
to endue us with wisdom and vir- 
tue, as to render this first parlia- 
ment of Corsica an example to all 
succeeding ones, as well as to your 
constituents of the present day, of 
disinterested, zealous, and, above 
all, united exertion for the public 
good. 

It is by these means, and by the 
blessing of God, that I trust your 


country will -triumph over its 
foreign and domestic enemies, and 
attain under the mild and equita- 
ble government of his majesty, the 
summit of national prosperity and 
happiness. 


Earl Fitz-william’s Speech to both 
Houses of the Irish Parliament, on 
Opening the Session 22d Fan. 1795- 


My lords and gentlemen, 

IN obedience to his majesty’s 
command, I resort to your coun- 
cils, at a period which, ina peculiar 
manner, calls for the wisdom and 
energy of parliament. 

His majesty’s determination is 
fixed; as long as he is supported 
by his faithful subjeéts, he never 
will be wanting to them or to him. 
self; his majesty has no interest 
but that of his people; no views 
but for their happiness; no object 
but their general safety. 

The uniform tenor of your con. 
du€&t has demonstrated, that you 
will not only be desirous, but zea. 


lous, to second and emulate* the 


magnanimity of a sovereign, form- 
ed to lead a nation that has ever 
been as firm to assert its liberties, 
as affectionately devoted to a go- 
vernment which maintains its own 
authority, for the sole purpose of 
supporting those liberties. As you 
are thus cordially attached to that 
sovereign, and to the constitution 
which it is his glory to protect, I 
have to announce to you, with 
true satisfa@tion, that you will hear 
with equal pleasure, the intended 
marriage of his royal highness the 
prince of Wales with the princess 
Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of his most illustrious highness 
the duke of Brunswick and Lunen. 
burgh; a princess of that illus. 

trious 


158 


trious house, to whose mild and 
constitutional sway these kingdoms 
are highly indebted for the bless- 
ings theyenjoy; this marriage pro- 
mises the perpetuation of the same 
blessings ‘inder the same house. 

I have it also in command to in- 
‘form you, that his majesty has con- 
cluded a treaty of amity, commerce, 
and navigation, with the United 
States of America, in which it 
has been his majesty’s obje¢t €o re- 
move, as far as possible, ali grounds 
ef jealousy and misunderstanding, 
and to improve an intercourse be- 
neficial to both states. As soon as 
the ratification of this treaty shall 
have been exchanged, and I shall 
have received a copy of it, I will 
direct it to be laid before you, in 
erder that you may consider if it 
will be necessary to make any pro- 
visions for carrying into effect a 
treaty, in which the commerce of 
this kingdom is so materially and 
extensively interested. 

Gentlemen of the house of com- 

mons, | 

T have directed the estimates for 
the public service, and the state of 
the public accounts, to be laid be- 
fore you. / 

His majesty has that assured con- 
fidence, grounded on a, long and 
uniform experience of your loyalty, 

-and your geal for his service, and 
the good of your country, that I 
think it unnecessary to press you, in 
any particular manner, to make a 
provision adequate to the present 
awful situation of affairs. 

It is with pleasure I acquaint 
you, that the provision will, in 
some degree, be facilitated by the 
circumstance, that, during the ex- 
istence af such a war as the pre- 
sent, the public revenue, together 
with the commerce of the king- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


dom, has kept up, and has even 
been augmented: advantages which 
are due to the care and vigilance of 
our sovereign, in the general pro. 
tection provided by him for all his~ 
subjects, 

My lords and gentlemen, 

T earnestly recommend to you a 
continuance of the laudable pains 
you have constantly taken to cul- 
tivate all your domestic advantages 
in commerce, in manufaéture, and 
in such public works, as have ap. 
peared direéted to promote those 
important objects. These are the 
true foundations of all public re- 
venue and public strength. Your 
endeavours have had their fruit. 
The great staple manufacture of 
this kingdom has increased beyond 
the most sanguine expeCtation—an 
advantage principally owing to the 
constant superintendance and wise 
provisions of the parliament of Ire- 
land; and next to those, to the 
assured, liberal, and most merited 
encouragement, which it receives 
in the rich and extensive market 
of Great Britain—a circumstance 
tending to cement the union, and 
to perfeét the harmony, which 
happily subsists, and I trust will 
subsist for ever, between the two 
kingdom. 

Attached as you are to the ge- 
neral cause of religion, learning, 
and civilization, I have to recom- 
mend to your consideration the 
state of education in this king- 


dom, which in some parts will ad- 


mit of improvement, in others may 
require some new arrangement. 
Cansiderahle advantages. have been 
already derived under the wise re- 
gulations of parliament, from the 
protestant charter-schools, andthese 
will, as usual, claim your atten. 
tion; but as these advantages have 

been 


STATE PAPERS. 


been but partial, and as circum. 
stances have made other considera- 
tions, conne¢ted with this important 
subjett, highly necessary, it is hoped 
that your wisdom will order every 
thing relating to it, in the manner 
most beneficial,'end the best adapt- 
ed to the occasions of the several 
descriptions of men, which com- 
pose his majesty’s faithful subjects 
of Ireland. 

We are engaged in an arduous 
contest. ‘The time calls not only 
for great fortitude, and an unusual 
share of public spirit, but for much 
constancy and perseverance. You 
are engaged with a power which, 
under the ancient forms of its in- 
ternal arrangement, was always 
highly formidable to the neigh- 
bouring nations. Lately this power 
has assumed a new shape; but 
with the same ambition, with 
much more extensive and systema- 
tic designs, far more effective, 
and without comparison, more 
dreadful in the certain consequences 
of its eventual success, it threatens 
nothing less than the entire sub- 
version of the liberty and inde, 
pendence of every state in Europe. 
An enemy to them all, it is a¢tu- 
ated with a peculiar animosity 
against these kingdoms, not only 
as the natural prote¢tion of the ba- 
lance of power in Europe, but 
also, because, by the profession of 
a legal, humane, and rational free. 
dom, we seem to reproach that 
false and-spurious liberty, which, 
in reality, is anignominious ser- 
vitude, tending to extinguish all 

od arts, to generate nothing but 
dmpiety, crime, disorder, and fe- 
‘rocious manners, and to end in 
wretchedness, and general .deso- 
Jation. 


159 


. To guard his people from the 
enterprises of this dangerous and 
malignant power, and for the pro- 
tection of all civilized society 
against the inroad of anarchy, his 
majesty has availed himself of 
every rational aid foreign and do- 
mestic: he has called upon the 
skill, courage, and experience of 
all his subjects, wheresoever dis. 
persed, and you must be duly sen. 
sible in such acrifis as the pre. 
sent, which rarely occurs in the 
course of human affairs, of the ad- 
vantage of his majesty’s thus en- 
deavouring to profit of the united 
strength and zeal of every descrip. 
tion of his subjects. 

J have to assure you of his ma. 
jesty’s most cheerful concurrence in 
every measure, which your wisdom 
and comprehensive patriotism shall 
point out for this salutary pur. 
pose. 

On my part, you shall find me, 
from principle and’ from inelina. 
tion, thoroughly disposed to con. 
cur with “his miajesty’s paternal 
wishes, and with the wise measures 
of his parliament. On a cordial 
affection to the whole of Ireland, 
and 6n“4 condu& suitable to that 


-sentialénty I wish to found my own 


persénalestimation, and my repu. 
tation in the execution of the great 
trust committed, by the most bene- 
ficent of sovereigns, to my care. 
SRE TE RE 


Earl Camden’s Speech on proroguing 
the Trish Parliament, 5th June. 


My lords and gentlemen, 

I AM direéted by his majesty to 
convey to you his ful! approbation 
of your services in the present sés- 
sion, and to relieve you from ‘fur. 

ther 


160 


ther attendance in parliament. It 
has afforded me infinite satisfaction 
to observe, since my arrival in this 
kingdom, the temper and wisdom 
with which your proceedings have 
been uniformly condutted, 

Gentlemen of the house of com- 

mons, 

¥ am particularly to express his 
majesty’s acknowledgments for the 
liberal supplies which you have 
contributed for the service of the 
empire and the defence of the king- 
dom, with such unanimity and 
cheerfulness, The extent of your 
grants is a convincing proof how 
warmly you feel yourselves inte- 
rested in the vigorous prosecution 
of a war rendered necessary by the 
wanton and unprovoked attack of 
France, and involving in it the ae 
neral cause of social order, mo- 
rality, and religion, in all civilized 
countries. On my part, you may 
‘be assured they shail be faithfully 
applied to the great purposes for 
which they were granted. 

My lords and gentlemen, 

His majesty observes with the 
highest satisfaction, that during the 
present crisis you have not failed 
to cherish and to maintain the va- 
rious sources of your interagl pros- 
perity. You have also ‘completed 
the intention so benevolently en- 
tertained, of entirely relieving the 
poorer classes from the tax of hearth- 
money. Awisefoundation hasbeen 
laid for educating at home the Ro- 
man Catholic clergy. A satisfac- 
tory arrangement of the treasury 
has been confirmed by law; and 
an alteration of duties has been in- 
troduced, with a view toprevent the 
immoderate use of spirituous li- 
guors, and inthe hope of introducing 
a more general habit of sobriety 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


amongst the lower orders of the 
people. In the execution of these 
measures, you may depend upon 
my sincere and earnest endeavours 
to pursue that .wise and prudent 
policy by which, they were dic- 


tated, e 
ns , . 
On repairing to your respective 
counties, which I cannot too 


strongly and too earnestly re- 
commend, it is specially incum- 
bent upon you to make those ex- 
ertions which the times demand, 
and to inculcate the necessity of 
an exat submission to the laws.—— 
By contrasting the blessings which 
result from a well-regulated liberty 
and peaceable subordination, with 
the mischiefs which necessarily 
spring from licentiousness and 
anarchy, you will increase the at- 
tachment of the people to our free 
and happy constitution. To pre- 
serve the constitution inviolate is 
the great object of his majesty in 
the present contest, and he cannot 
but look to its fortunate issue when 
he refleAs on the loyalty, spirit, 
and power of his people, and on 
their just sense of the invaluable 
inheritance for which they con- 
tend. 

It will be the constant objeét of 
my administration, in which his 
majesty’s commands and my own 
personal wishes are most intimately 
combined, to forward, with unre- 
mitting vigilance, the welfare and 
the happiness of thitscountry. These 
objects I cannot so effectually pro- 
mote, as by attending to, and act- 
ing upon, those established princi. 
ples which form the connexion be- 
tween Great Britain and Ireland, 
on which the security, the free- 
dom, and the prosperity of both 
kingdoms most essentially depend. 


Convention 


ST AT’ ¢P’A ‘PERS. 


Convention betaveen his Britannic 
Majesty and the Emperor of Germa- 
ny, signed at Vienna 4th May, 1795. 


THE emperor and the king of 
Great Britain, being equally con- 
vinced of the necessity of ating 
with vigour and energy against the 
common enemy, in order to pro- 
cure to their respective dominions 
a safe and honourable peace, and 
to preserve Europe from the danger 
with which it is threatened, their 
Imperial and Britannic majesties 
have thought proper to concert to- 
gether upon the measures to be 
adopted for the next campaign, and 
to agree, for this purpose, on such 
stipulations as may best conduce 
to the salutary object of their in- 
tentions already mentioned. With 
this view, their majesties have ap- 
pointed their respective plenipo- 
tentiaries ; that is to say, his Im- 
perial majesty, his privy counsellor 
actual, and minister for foreign af- 
fairs, baron de Thugut, comman- 
der of the order of Sr. Stephen ; 
and his Britannic majesty, sir Mor- 
ton Eden, knight of the bath, one 
of his majesty’s most honourable 
privy council, and his envoy extra- 
ordinary and minister plenipoten- 
tiary at the court of Vienna; who, 
after having communicated to cach 
other their respedtiye full powers, 
have agreed upon the following: ar- 
ticles : 

Art. 1. In order to assist the ef. 
forts which his Imperial majesty is 
desirous of making, and to facili- 
tate to him:the means of ‘bringing 
forward. the resources of his domi- 
nions, in the defence of the com- 
mon cause, his Britannic majesty 
engages to propose to his parlia- 
Went to guarantee the regular pay. 
ment of the haif-yearly dividends, 

Vor, XXXVIL. 


. 


161 


on the sum of four millions six 
hundred thousand pounds sterling, 
which is, oris tobe raised, on ac- 
count of his Imperial majesty, on 
the terms and in the manner 
specified in the two engagements 
or o¢trois, the tenor of which is 
annexed to this convention; his - 
Imperial majesty solemnly engag- 
ing to his Britannic majesty, that 
he will make due provision for the 
regular discharge of the payments 
which shall become due in conse- 
quence of the said loans, so as that. 
those payments shall never fall as a 
burthen on the finances of Great. 
Britain. 

2. In return for the stipulation 
contained in the preceding: article, 
and by the means of the said loan 
of four millions six hundred thou-' 
sand pounds sterling, assured. by 


eae guarantee of Great Britain, his’ 


Imperial majesty shall employ in. 
his different armies, in the ensuing 
campaign, a number of troops, 
which shall not only amount at” 
least to two hundred thousand -ef- 
fective men, but which his Impe- 
ria! majesty will exert himself, as 
much as possible, to augment even 
above that number; which troops 
shall a&t against the common ene- 
my, according to the disp%sitions 
agreed upon by a secret article, 
forming a part of this convention. 
3- The emperor will see with 
pleasure, the appointment of general 
officers, or other persons of con- 


‘fidence, to bz present with his ar- 


mies on the part of his Britannic 
majesty, to whom all the necessary 
communication ‘and information 
will be furnished, with respect to 
the state and strength of the ar- 
mies, and the number of troops of 
which they may consist; and if, 
in order to facilitate and promote 


M the 


162 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1709. 


the correspondence and communi. part of the dividends. due. on the 


cation between the armies of the 
two courts, his Imperial majesty, 
shall think proper to send an offi- 
cer, or other person, on his part, 
to. the English armies, they shail, 
in like manner, receive from the 
generals of his Britannic majesty, 
all_such marks of confidence as are 
most analogous to the intimate 
union so happily subsisting between 
the two courts. 

4. It is expressly agreed, that 
the said loan is to rest on the secu. 
rity of all the revenues of zl the 
different hereditary dominions of 
his Imperial majesty. -All the ne- 
cessary measures shall be taken 
on the part of his Imperial majesty, 
jn each of the said dominions’ re- 
spectively, to give full and legal 
effeét.and validity to the said loan, 
and to the éngagements for the re- 

wlar payment of the balf-yearly 
dividends which shall fall due in 
consequence thereof; so that if 
at any time there should happen, 
from whatever cause, to be any 
delay in any of the payments, after 
the period of their falling due, the 
holders of the securities granted, 
or to be granted, on the part of his 
Jinperial majesty, for the said loan, 
may sue the receivers or treasurers 
of his Imperial majesty’s revenues, 
in any of the said dominions re 
spectively, at the option of such 
holders, and may recover from them, 
or any of them, by due course of 
law, the full amount of such pay. 


ments having so fallen due, in the, 


same manner as any private indivi- 
duals are admitted in the said do- 
minions respectively to prosecute 
and recover their just rights against 
other private persons, 

5. Ifit should ever happen that, 
contrary to all expectation, any 


said loans should, in consequence of 
the failure of the payments stipu. 
lated to Ge made by his Imperial 
majesty, be paid by the. British 
government, 3t is agreed that such 
payments shall be made at the 
Bank of England, ard only on the 
delivery of the tallies or certificates 
of the dividends so respectively 
paid; and every such tally or cer- 
tificate so delivered up shall be a 
valid aad legal security, so.as to 
enable the holder thereof to. sue 
any of the receivers or treasurers 
of his Imperial majesty’s revenues, . 
in any ot his dominions aforesaid, 
at the option of such holder, and 
to recover from them, or any of 
them, the full amount of the sum 
expressed in such tally orcertificate, 
with interest thereon, at the rate 
of five per cent. per annum, to be 
reckoned from the date of the pay- 
ment.made by the British govern. 
ment. And whereas it is pro- 
vided, in the terms agreed upon 
for raising the said loans, that, as 
a collateral security for the said 
loans, there shall be deposited in 
the Bank of England mortgage ac- 
tions of the Bank of Vienna, for 
a sum, in the proportion of four to. 
three of the loan to be so raised; it. 
is further agreed, that the governor 
and company of the said Bank shall, 
in case of any such payment as 
aforesaid being made by the British 
government, be authorized to.wath- 
draw from the said deposit such a 
quantity of the said. attions, as - 
shall be required to make up at 
least the proportion of four pounds 
for every-three which shall be so 
paid by the British government, to 
be by the said government either 
used as a security or claim upon the 
Bank of Vienna, until te-payment 
iy of 


STATE PAPERS. 


of the said sum, and of the interest 
due thereon, or negotiated at the 
time to such extent as may be ne» 
cessary in order to effeét such re- 
imbursement, according as to the 
said government may s¢em most 
eligible; and that the quantity of 
actions so withdrawn shall be de. 
dutted from or set off against any 
quantity, which, according to the 
terms ot the said loan, might there. 
after be to be withdrawn from the 
said deposit, in proportion to the 
gradual redemption of the bonds, 
and the payment of the annuities, 
as is specified in the conditions of 
the said loan, 

6. And whereas certain ad. 
vances have been made by the Bri- 
tish government to his Imperial 
majesty, on account and by way of 
loan; it is agreed that the same 
shall be repaid at London, in the 
course of the present year, in ex. 
change for the receipts given by 
the generals commanding in chief 
the Imperial army, and conform. 
ably to the sums contained in the 
said receipts. Lhe said advances 
shall be reimbursed, at lat€st, in 
two equal parts, in the months of 
November and December, so that 
the total shal] be reimbursed before 
the expiration of the present year. 

7. ‘The present convention 
shall be ratified on each side with. 
out any delay, and the exchange 
of the ratifications, expedited in 


due form, shall be made within the’ 


space of one month at latest. 

In witness whereof, we the uh- 
dersigned, being furnished with 
the full powers of their Imperial 
and British majesties, have, in their 


1€3 


names, signed the present a&, and 
have thereto set the seal of our 
arms. 
Done at Vienna, the 4th day of 
May, 1795. 
(L.S.) Le Bx. pe Tuucvur, 
Morton Epen. 


Articles of Agreement for raising 
French Corps for the service of 
Great Britain, gth March, t795. 


Art. 1. THE French corps shall 

be raised under the authority with 
which his majesty is invested by 
an at of the present session of par- 
liament, intiruled, ** An 2é& to 
enable subje€ts of France to enlist 
as soldiers in regiments to serve on 
the continent of Europe, and in 
certain other places; and to enable 
his majesty to grant commissions to 
subjeéts of France, to serve and re- 
ceive pay as officers in such regi.’ 
ments, or as engineers, under cer. 
tain restriétions.’’ é; 
_ 2. Each regiment shall consist 
of two battalions, comprising the 
number of officers, soldiers, &c. 
stated in the plan, No. II*. 

3. The recruits shall be taken 
from among the peasants, deserters, 
and soldiers, of the troops of the 
lines No man shall be enlisted 
who is not five feet five inches, .or 
who has not been examined by a 
surgeon, who will vouch that he 
has no infirmity which can prevent 
him from serving. © 

4- For each man delivered at 
the depdts or places of rendezvous 
that shall have been fixed upon, 
the colonel shall be paid levy mo. 


* The numbers referred to were long lists and accounts laid on the table of 
the house of commons, but which wehkayestot room to insert. 


2 ney, 


164 -ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ney, at the rate of 31. 10s. which 
sum of 3]. tos. is to be in lieu of 
all charges respeCting the said re- 
ctuits, for enlisting, for travelling, 
and all other expences whatsoever, 
until delivered at the place of ren- 
dezvous general assigned for each 
corps by the colonel, and approved 
by government. 

5- Besides the fixed bounty of 
3l. 10s. a man, the government shall 
furnish for cach recruit, the articles 
specified in the list No. V. 

6. The funds necessary for the 
levy of 1551 men, of which each 
regiment shall consist, the staff 
officers being deduéted, shall be 
furnished at the rate of 3]. 10s. a 
man, as fixed by the 5th article 
of these regulations, and shall be 
paid into the hands of the co- 
lonels; that is to say, one third, or 
180g]. 10s. immediately after the 
delivery of the letters of service, 
and the two other thirds, on the 
demand of the colonels, who shall 
provisionally give proofs of the 
progress of their exertions for com- 
pleting their corps. 

94, The colonels shall nominate 
their officers, subject to the ap. 
probation of his majesty ; but no 
officer shall be named to any rank 
who does not possess at this mo- 
ment, in the service of France, the 
rank immediately superior, or at 
least equal to it; thus the lieute- 
nant-colonels shall be chosen among 
the colonels, the captains among 


the officers superior to captains,” 


the licutenants among the captains 
or lieutenants, the sub-lieutenants 
among the liettenants or sub-lieu- 
tenants, of non-commissioned of- 
ficers.., us 

8. The officets, at the forming 
ef obe regiments, shall rake rank 
in the degree to which they shall 


have been named in their respective 
corps, according to the superiority 
of the commissions which they 
held in France on the rst of July, 
1789; and, in case of equal de- 
gree at that period, according to 
the date of the commissions of the 
rank which they held before. 
Such officers as shall subsequently 
obtain promotion, shall take rank 
from the dates of their new com- 
‘missions in the British service. 
When two or more officers of the 
same degree, and of different regi- 
ments of emigrants, either raised, 
raising, or to be hereafter raised, 
in the service of Great Britain, 
shall do duty together, either on 
courts-martial, detachments, or 
any other military service, they 
shall take precedence, according to 
the superiority of the commissions 
which they held in France on the 
1st of July, 1789; and in case of 
equal degree at that period, ac- 
cording to the dates of the com- 
missions which’ they held before. 
When officers of the emigrant re- 
giments shall do duty with British 
officers, they shall take rank ac- 
cording to the dates of their com- 
Missions in the service of Great 
Britain; but in cases where two 
or more French’ officers of equal 
rank shall be on detachment with 
a British officer, if the British of- 
ficer is senior to the French officer, ° 
who, in conformity to what has 
been ‘above stated, would have the 
command over his countrymen, 
the British officer shalt take the 
command of the whole, even al- 
though any of the’ said French 
officers should be senior to him in 

the British service. : 
g. The rank of the officers, 
being once settled, shall never 
vat. ‘heir promotion shall take 
place 


& THAr tT ty.5P A PE tR;S: 


place according to seniority.— 
‘Lhe first lieutenant shall advance 
to the first vacant company ; the 
first sub-Heutenant to the first lieu- 
yenantey ; but the nomination of 
the staff officers, and the seleétion 
of oifcers for the grenadiers, shall 
always be left to the colonel ; sub- 
ject, however, to the approbation 
or non-approbation ef his majesty. 

10. The commissioned officers 
shall enjoy the pay allotted to their 
rank, to commence from the dates 
of their letters of service, and the 
uon-commissioned oflicers and pri- 


vates, &c. to commence from the. 


days of their arrival at the depot. 
The amount of subsistence for the 
respeétive appointmen:s shall be 
vemitted to the colcnel every two 
months, and in advance. 

11. The pay of the officers shall 
be as stated: in the table, No. ITI. 
that of the non-commissioned of- 
ficers, privates, &c. as in the state- 
ment, No. IV. 

1z. The surplus of the full pay 
above the subsistence, shall always 
be paid tor the complete estab‘ish- 
ment, agreeably to the statement, 
No. IV. annexed to these reguie- 
tions; consequently, there shail .e 
remitted every two months, into 
‘the chest of each regiment, in ad- 
vance, the sum of- 21,705 livres, 
6 sols, 8 deniers, being the sixth 
part of the sam of 130,232 livres, 
destined to defray all expences not 
at the charge of the soldier. 

13. By means of the deduction 
from the full pay, which is in ficu 
of what is called in France ‘* masse 
generale, masse de campement, and 
masse d’hipital,’’ the commanders 
of regiments shall be obliged to 
defray ail expences relative to the 
maintenance of all parts of the 
dress, arms, and equipment, of al! 


‘ 


165 


the men of their regiments, and. to 
provide for repairs of every kind. 

14. At the end of every year an 
account shall be given in of all 
disbursements out of the monies 
arising trom the said deduétion, 
in order that the saving, if there 
should be any, may be accounted 
for, and remitted into the pay- 
office, at the end of every year. 
All expences shall be properly sup- 
ported by vouchers, without which 
they must remain at the charge of 
the commandant of the corps whe 
shall have ordered them, 

15. Subsistence shall be paid 
only for the effectives, and accord- 
ing to the numbers at the inspec- 
tion of the commissary, who shall 
verify, the strength of the regiment, 
and what is due for subsistence. 
Vhe subsistence for such recruits 
as shall join the corps in the in. 

sryal between inspections, shall be 


‘ascertained at the first inspection 


ef the commissary, and a separate 
statement of the amount thereof 
shail he made up, in order that the 
saine miy be rermbursed to the re- 
giment, ‘immediately after the said 
inspeclion, 

16. Out of the subsistence which 
shall b= pud to each man, as 
staied in the paper, “No. IV, he 
shail be obliged to detray all per. 
sonal expences, and to provide for 
his nouwcisament, washing and all 
charges of ‘mainienance, repairs of 
lincn and shoes, and all expences 
which were supplied in France, 
by what were calied, ‘¢ /es masses de 
linge et ci BES ES de compagnie et de 
b, sang ric.’’ ‘Vhe same deductions 
shall be made from his pay as from 
that of the troops of his Britannic 


maj sty, for articles furnished 
to, him in kind, whether bread, 
Meat, &c, 


M 3 The 


166 


17. The sums valued in French 
money, in the different statements 
and articles of the regulations, 
shall always be paid to. the regi- 
ment at the rate of one pound ster- 
ling, for twenty-four livres French 
money. 

18. The colonels shall engage 
to complete their regiments in the 
space of four months from the date 
of the day on which they shall re- 
ceive their letters of service ; and 
to deliver the number of men fixed 
at the depots, or places of rendez- 
vous, which shall be appointed for 
each regiment. 

19. His Britannic majesty will 
appoint commissaries, or other of- 
ficers, who shall be stationed at 
the depdts, to receive the recruits 
of each regiment as they arrive, 
and to make the final arrangement 
of the different corps, as soon as 
they shall have been completed, 

20. The colonels shall be respon- 
sible for the men who shall desert 
from the depot before:the final in- 
spection, which shall take place as 
soon as’ their regiments shall be 
complete. 

21. In case that any regiment 
should not have been completed 
at the expiration of the period 
limited by the 18th article, the 
colonel, and all the officers of the 
said regiment, shall be deprived of 
their appointments, and the non- 
commissioned officers, soldiers, &c, 
shall be incorporated into such 
other regiments as government 
shall think proper to assign, and 
which may be more advancéd in 
their recruitings, 

22. The uniform shall be red, 
lined with white, white waistcoat 
and breeches, with no other or- 
nament than the distinguishing 


" 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


marks of rank. The cockade shall 
be white, the colours white, with 
three gold fleur de lis; the eight 
regiments to be raised at present 
shall be distinguished by the fol- 
lowing colours ; 

D’Autichamp’s light blue, 

De Viosmenil’s. white, 

De Bethisy’s bright yellow, 

De Mortemart’s black, 

De Castrie’s bright green, 

Da Dresnay’s ~ deep green, 

D’Hervilly’s buff, 

23. The English government 
will endeavour to obtain every ne- 
cessary faeiliry, that the recruiting 
parties of the different corps may 
enlist such deserters from the troops 


of the line, or peasants, who are © 


willing to serve in the different 
regiments, whether in Brabant, 
the Palatinate, the ele€torate of 


Treves, or in the whole extent of - 


the French frontiers; and should 
any difficulty arise, the English 
commissary shall institute an in- 
quiry to ascertain whether the re- 
cruiting parties were in fault, or 
whether they were impeded by 


obstacles not depending upon them- ~ 


selves, — 

24. Quarters shall be provided 
at the expence of government, by 
the commissaries established by his 
Britannic majesty, at the places of 
rendezvous or de, Gts fixed upon as- 
sembling the regiments, and every 
charge which respects the convey- 
ing of the said regiments, and of 
the articles to be furnished to them 
in kind, shall be defrayed by go- 
vernment, 

25. The corps, as soon as they 
shall be formed, shali be subject 
to the military regulations and 
articles of war established by his 
majesty, -in virtue of the powers 

with 


STATE 


with which he is invested by the 
4th article of the at of parliament 
mentioned above. 

26. ‘the corps are to serve dur- 
_ ing the continuance of the war, 
and a year after the cessation of 
hostilities, unless his majesty should 
think proper to di:pznse sooner 
with the service to which they are 
bound by the present capitulation. 

27. The art'cles of dress and 
arms of the men lost on service 
shall be 1e-placed at the expence 
of goverament; as well as the 
men killed in a€tion, or who may 
die of their wounds, or of disorders, 
in the hospitals, or at the -regi- 
ment ; which shall he ascertained 
by the English commissary, by a 
-certificate of their deaths, signed 
‘by himself, and the staff of the re- 
giment. But the colonels shall be 
bound to replace such men as are 
lost through desertion, as well as 
the effeéts which they may carry 
with them. 

28. In unforeseen cases, and in 
whatever may not be particularly 
specified by the present regula- 
tions, the corps on British pay shall 
conform to the orders or regula. 
tions of his Britannic majesty re- 
specting his troops, and shall be 
upon the same footing with them, 
Approved, Le Duc pr Harcourt, 


GRENVILLE, 
W, WinpuaM. 


petarihtaitniepnenttartinagetaccae 
Proclamatiin respefing Dutch Bills 
of Exchange, February 6th, 1795. 


WHEREAS it has been repre- 
sented to his majesty, at this board, 
that, in consequence of the pro. 
gress of the French arms in ‘the 
United Provinces, the payment of 
bills of exchange, drawn or nego- 


PAP E'R S. 


tiated in the said provinces, may 
be deemed unlawful, -by virtue of 
the provisions contained in an a&, 
passed in the last-session df parlia- 
ment, intituled, ‘* An ad for pre- 
venting money or effects, in the 
hands of his majesty’s subjeQs, be- 
longing to or disposable by persons 
resident in France, being applied 
to ghe use of the persons exercising 
the powers of government in 
France, and for preserving the 
property thereof for the benefit of 
the individual owners thereof;’* 
and in an att passed in thesame ses. 
sion, intituled, ** An act for’more 
effeftually preserving money or 
effects, in the hands of his majesty’s 
subjects, belonging to or disposable 
by persons resident in France, for 
the benefit of the individual own. 
ers thereof,’’ unless his majesty 
shall license the payment of such 


167 


‘bills, in pursuance of the powers 


given by the said several ats ; his 
majesty, taking the same into his 
royal consideration, is pleased, by 
and with the advice of his privy 
council, to order, and it is hereby 
ordered, that it shall be lawful for 
any person, residing or being in 
Great Britain, to pay any bill, 
drawn or indorsed in any part of 
the said United Provinces, and sent 
from the said provinces on or be- 
fore the 16th day of January last ; 
provided such bill shall have been 
made payable at no greater distance 
of time than three months from 
the date thereof, or three months 
from sight thereof; provided also, 
that all and every person and per- 
sons, who shall take the benefit of 


‘such licence hereby granted, shall 


so tuke the same, upon condition, 


‘that in case of any proceedings, 


criminal or civil, under the pro. 
visions of the said act of parlia- 
M 4 ment, 


108 


ment, or either of them for any 
thing alleged to have been done 
contrary thereto, any question shall 
arise, whether the thing so done 
was authorized by the licence 
hereby \given; the proof of such 
thing was done, under the parti- 
cular circumstances, and according 
to the special terms and condi. 
tions requ.red by this order, ghall 
lie on the persons claiming thé be- 
nefit of such licence, 
? W. Fawkener. 


© Additional Instru&ion to the Com- 
manders of our Ships of War and 

Privateers, that have cr may have 

Letters of Marque against France, 

given at our Court of St. Fames’s, 

the oth Day of February, 1795, in 
the Thirty-ffthYear of our Reign. 
George R. 

1. THAT they shall bring into 
the ports of this kingdom all Dutch 
vessels, bound to or troin any ports 
of Holland, in order that they, to- 
gether with their cargoes, being 
Dutch property, may be detained 
provisionally ; aud that speedy re- 
stitution shall be made oi all such 
cargos, or parts of cargoes (or the 
-valug thereof} found on board the 
same, as shail appear to belong to 
proprietors, being the subjects of 
allied cr neutral powers. 

2. That they shal] bring into the 
ports of this kingdom all ships, to 
whatever country they may belong, 
which shall be found laden: with 
naval or military stores, and boun 
‘to any port in Holland, in. order 
thet the said cargoes may be de. 
tained provisionally ; a tull indem. 
a-fiation being given by our go. 

vernment to the. owners and masters 
fall such vessels belonging, to the 


a 
e 


278 | 


OT 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


subjeéts of the allied or neutral 
powers, as may be brought in, in 
consequence hereof, and likewise to 
the proprietors of such cargoes, 
being subjeéts of allied or neutral 

powers. \ 

By his majesty’s command, 
.PorTLaND. 


PROCLAMATION. \ 

(L.S.) 

By his Excellency Fames Seaton, Esq. 
Captain-General and Governor ix 
Chiefin and over his Britannic Ma- 

sesty’s Island of St. Vincent, Sequia, 

and such others of the Islands, cam- 
monty calked the Grenadines, as lie 
to the noirthward of Cuviacous 

Chancellor, Ordinary, and Vice- 

adiiral of the same, Fe. 

IN order that the measures which 
the present critical situation of af- 
fairs obliges me to adopt may be 
understood by the peaceable French 
inhabitants of the island, by the 
society at large, by our country, 
and by our open and avowed ene. 
my, Ihave thought fit, by and with 
the advice of his miajesty’s privy 
council, to make the following de- 
claration ; 

‘Vhat a most cruel and unpro- 
voked attack. has been made upon 
the country, aggravated by every 
circumstance of savage barbarity, 
by a numerous body of armed Cha- 
raibs, aided and assisted by a consi- 
derable number of the inhabitants - 
of the island, of French extraétion, 
who had taken the oaths of alle. 
giance and fidelity to his majesty, 
acting under the direction of Cha- 
toye, a Charaib chief, acknow- 
ledged by them as general and com- 
mander of the whole, at the very 
moment when they were: professing 


an 


STATE PAPERS, 


an affectionate attachment to the 
society by whom they have been 
fostered, and to the laws under 
_which they have been protected. 
‘That this attack is therefore con. 
sidered as the aggression of the Cha- 
raibs, aided by the lawless banditti 
’ of French inhabitants, traitors to 
their king and country, actuated 
by motives of rapine and murder, 
whose proceedings must be dis- 
avowed by all civilised nations, for 
the following substantial reasons: | 
Because no armed force has been 
Janded im the island by any persons 


ating under the authority of our © 


open enemy. 

Because the Charaib chief, Cha- 
toye, has been acknowledged as the 
general and commander of all the 
forces who have made this unnatu- 

_ral war against us. 

Because the proceedings of the 
‘armed forces were conducted with 
every species of cruelty, by fire, 
murder, and unnecessary devasta- 
tion through every part of the 
windward country, for the succes- 

_sion of many days, when no resist- 
arice was made in that quarter. 

Because many unarmed and vn- 
resisting slaves, without any tip- 
parent provocation, were murdered 
along the different roads through 
the island. 

Because the unfortunate English 
prisoners, taken at Chareau-Bellair, 
about Monday the oth of this 
month, were massacred on the Sa- 


Dorsetshire-hili, in the most barba- 
rous and crucl manner. 


Actuated by these motives, Iam . 


bound to consider the present at- 
tack as a treasonable plot, not con- 
ducted for the fair and avowed ob- 
je€t of conquest, but for the pur- 
pore of exterminating the English 
inhabitants in the country, 


© 169 


_ To such an enemy I cannat ap- 

ply the laws of war. They have 
begun the violation of them;. and 
profess to hold them in contempt. 

To those who may come against 
us as an open and avowed enemy, 
and who may by the fortune of war 
fall into our hands, I propose the 
sanie treatment which our coun- 
trymen, who are prisoners, receive 
from them. : 

To those subjeQs of French ex- 
traction, who are faithful to the 
oaths which they have taken, I 
promise protection, and hereby res 
quire all his majesty’s subjects to 
use their utmost endeavours that 
no insult or injury may.be offered 
them. 

As I am still ready and anxious 
to make allowances for those who 
have been seduced from their duty, 
or who may have been relu@antly 
compelled to join a desperate and 
crue] enemy, 1 promise mercy to 
such as may surrender themselves 
on or before the twenry-titth day 
of the present month, provided they 
have not been concerned in any of 
the murders committed, or have 
not been principals in. the present 
unnatural rebellion. f 

Given under my hand and sea! 
of arms, at Fort Charlotte, this 
twentieth day of March, in the 
thirty-fitth year of his majesty’s 
reign, and in the year of our lord 
one thousand seven hundred and 


. ninety-five. 
turday morning following, upon : 


James Seaton. | 
By bis excellency’s command, 
GrorGe SEATON. 
God save the king. 


Orders by General the Duke of 
Richmond. 
Brighton, April 20, 1995. 
THE king haying beet pleased 


10 


170 


“dn consequence of ‘the present high 
price of bread, to dire& that his 
forces, as well in quarters’as in bar- 
racks, shall, from the 18th day of 
April, 1795, receive their bread at 
the same rate as it will be furnished 
to them in camp, the usual camp 
stoppage of five-pence ‘per loaf is 
to be made from each non-com- 
missioned officer and private sol- 
dier; for which a loaf of | six 
pounds wejght, and as nearly as 
-. possible of the same quality as 
those delivered im camp, is to be 
furnished every four days, -and the 
difference between five-pence and 
whatever the market price of bread 
may be for six pounds of bread of 
the above-mentioned quality, is to 
be paid to the bakers by the pay. 
master of the corps, and charged 
in his public accounts, 

In places where it is not usual, 
or it may not be convenient to bake 
loaves of six pounds'weight, the com. 
manding officer may order loaves of 
other sizes to be purchased, taking 
care to observe the proportion 
above-mentioned, and that each 
non-commissioned officer and pri- 
vate saidicr receives in. kind one 
pound and ahalf of bread per day, 
and pays no more for it than at the 
rate of five-pence for six pounds. 

The commanding officer will 
also, if not already done, divide all 
his men, except those who are mar- 
ried, into regular messes, from six 
to ten or twelve, as may be conve. 


nient, and see that so much of" the . 


pay as is direéted by his majesty’s 
régulations to be lajd out. in food. 
for the soldiers, be stri@tly so ap. 
plied. 
The officers are frequently to 
yisit the messes, to see that they 
are properly conducted, . 

His majesty has also been further 
pleased to signify his pleasure, that 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


in consequence of the present high 
price of provisions, contracts should 
be immediately entered into by the 
commanding officers of regiments, 
for the supply of meat for their 
corps, under certain regulations to 
be transmitted from the sccretary 
at war, so as that the expence of 
meat to the soldier shall not excecd 
four.pence halfpenny per pound, 
The commanding officers will there- 
fore proceed toenter into contracts 
accordingly, and the regulations 
fromthe secretary at war will be 
transmitted to them as soon as re~ 
ceived, 

The duke of Richmond trusts the 


‘soldiers will sée, that, whileevery 


attempt at disorderly proceedings 
will be resisted with vigour, and 
punished with severity, every at. 
tention is paid to their real wants, 
when properly and regularly repre- 
sented through their officers ; and 
he is confident that these repeated 
proofs of his majesty’s gracious at- 
tention to their situation will ani- 
mate them with fresh zeal for the 
cause of their king and country, 
in which they are: engaged ; and 
that each militia corps in particu. 
Jar, jealous of its own honour, and 
Jamenting the disgrace which one 
has brought on itself, will sce the 
necessity of maintaining the most 
strit discipline, on which the ef- 
ficacy and credit of any army must 
so much depend. 
Jj. Happiy, 
Brigade Major-General, 
Southern District. 


ij 


Copy of a Letter and Instructions from 
Sir William Scott and Dr. Fabn 
Nicholl, of the Commons, prepared 
at the instance of Mr. Fay, the 

, American Minister. 


tu 


To 


STATE PAPERS. 


To his Excellency Jy. Jax, Esq.&c. 
STR, 

IHAVE the honour of sending 
the paper drawn up by Mr. Nichoil 
and myself; it is longer and more 
particular thin perhaps you meant ; 
but it appeared to be an ‘error on 
the better side, rather to be too mi- 
nute, than to be too reserved in the 
information. we had to give; and 
it will be in yourexcellency’s power 
either to apply the whole or such 
parts as May 2ppear more imme. 
diately pertinent to the objects of 
your inquiry. 

I take the liberty of adding, that 
I shall, at all times, think myself 
much honoured by any communi- 
cationsfrom you, either during your 
stay here or after your return, on 
any subje@t in which you may sup- 
pose that my situation can give me 
the power of being at all uscful to 
the joint interests ot both countries ; 
if they should ever turn upon points 
in which the duties of my official 
station appear to me to impose upon 
me an obligation of reserve, I shall 
have no hesitation in saying, that I 
feel them tobe such: on any other 
points, on which you may wish to 
have an opinion of mine, you may 
depend on receiving one that is 
formed with as much care as I can 
use, and delivered with all possible 
frankness and sincerity, 

I have the honour to be, 
With great respect, &c. &c. 
Wo. Scorr, 
‘Doors Commons, London, 
10th Sept. 1794. 


[ Paperinclosed in the foregoing letter. ] 


~ Sur, ; 

WE have the honour of trans- 
mitting, agreeably to your excel- 
lency’s request, a ‘statement of the 
general principles of proceedings in 


471 


prize causes, in British courts of 
admiralty, and of the measures pro- 
per to be taken when a ship and _ 
cargo are brought in as prize wathm 
their jurisdi@ions. : 

The general principles of pro- 
ceeding cannot, in our judgment, 
be stated more correttly, than we 
find them laid down in the follow- 
ing extra@t from a report made to 
his Jate majesty in the yeat 1753, 
by Sir George Lee, then judge of 
the prerogative court, Dr. Paul, 
his majesiy’s advocate general, Sir 
Dudley Rider, hismajesty’s attor- 
ney general, and Mr. Murray (afcer- 
wards Lord Mansfield) his majesty’s 
solicitor general. 

“© When two powers are at war, 
they have a right to make prizes ot 
the ships, goods, and effetts of each 
other, upon the high seas :—what- 
ever is the property of the enemy, 
may be acquired by capture at sea; 
but the property of a friend can- 
not be taken, provided he observes 
his neutrality. 

“« Hence the aw of nations has 
established, 

‘« That the goods of an enemy, 
on board the ship of a friend, may 
be taken. } t 1S Hf 

“That the lawful goods of a 
friend, on board the ship of an 
enemy, ought to be restored. _ 

‘¢ That contraband goods, going 
to the enemy, though the property 
of a friend, may be takenas prizes ; 
because supplying the enemy with 
what enables him better to carry 
on the war, is a departure from 
neutrality. } 

‘« By the maritime law of nations, 
universally and immemorially re. - 
ceived, there is an established me- 
thod of determination, whether the 
capture be, or be not, lawful prize. 

© Before the ship, or goods, can 

be 


172 


be disposed of by the captor, there 
must be a regular judicial proceed- 
ing, wherein both parties may be 
heard; and condemnation there- 
upon as prize, in a court of admi- 
ralty, judging by the law of na- 
tions and treaties. | 

“© The proper and’ regular court, 
fer these condemnations, is the 
court of that state to whom the cap- 
tor belongs. : 

“« The evidence to acquit or con- 
demn, with or without costs or da- 
mages, must, in the first instance, 
come merely from the ship taken, 
viz. the papers on board, and the 
examination on oath of the master, 
-and other principal officers; for 
which purpose there are officers of 
admiralty in all the considerable 
sea-ports of every maritime power 
| at war, to examine the captains, 
and other principal officers of every 
ship brought in as a prize, upon 
general and impartial interrogato. 
ries: if there does not appear from 
thence ground to condemn, as ene- 
my’s property, orcontraband goods 
going to the enemy, there must be 
an acquittal, unless from the afore- 
said evidence the property shall ap- 
pear so doubtful, that it is reason. 
able to gointo further proof thereof. 

“¢ A claim of ship, or goods, 
must be supported by the oath of 
somebody, at least as to belief. 

‘© The law of nations requires 
good faith: therefore every ship 
must be provided with complete and 
genuine papers; and the master, 
at least, should be privy to the 
truth of the transaction. 

_ © Toenforce these rules, if there 
be false or colourable papers; if 
any papers be thrown .overboard ; 
if the master and officers examined 
19 preparation grossly prevaricate ; 


, 


oh 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


if proper ships papers are not on 
board : or if the master and crew 
cannot say, whether the ship or - 
cargo be the property of a friend 
or enemy, the Jaw of nations al- 
lows, according to the different de- 
grees of misbehaviour, or suspicion, 
arising from the fault of the ship 
taken, and other circumstances of 
the case, costs to be paid, or not to 
be received by the claimant, in 
case of acquittal and , restitution : 
on the other hand, if a seizure is 
made without probable cause, the 
captor is adjudged to pay costs and 
damages; for which purpose all 
privateers are obliged to give secu- 
rity for their good behaviour ; and 
this.is referred. to, and expressly 
stipulated by many treaties. 
_ © Though from the ship’s papers, 
and the preparatory examinations, 
the property does not sufficiently 
appear to be neutral, the claimant 
is often indulged with time to send 
over affidavits, to supply that de- 
feet ; if he will not shew the pro- 
perty by sufficient affidavits, to be 
neutral, it is presumed to belong to 
the enemy.—Where the property 
appears from evidence not on board 
the ship, the captor is justified in 
bringing her in, and excused pay- 
ing costs, because he is not in fault : 
er, according to the circumstances 
of the case, may be justly entitled 
to receive his costs. , 

© JT£ the sentence of the court 
of admiralty is thought to be erro- 
neous, there is in every maritime 
country a superior court of review, | 
consisting ot the most considerable 
persons, to which the parties who 
think themselves aggrieved may 
appeal; and this superior court 
judges by the same rule which go- 
yerns the court of admiralty, _ 

t 


STATE PAPERS.’ * 


the law of nations, and the treaties 


subsisting with that neutral power, 


whose subjeét is a party before 
them. 

© If no appeal is offered, it is an 
acknowledgment of the justice of 
the sentence by the parties them. 
selves, and conclusive. 

‘© This manner of trial and ad- 
judication is supported, alluded to, 
and enforced, by many treaties. 

‘© In this method, all captures 
at sea were tried, during the last 
war, by Great Britain, France, and 
Spain, and submitted to by the 
neutral powers. In this method, 
by courts of admiralty acting ac- 
cording to the law of nations and 
particular treaties, all captures at 
sea have immemorially been judged 
of, in every country of Europe. 
Any other method of trial would 
be manifestly unjust, absurd and 
#mpra¢ticable.’’ 

Such are the principles which 
govern the proceedings of the prize 
courts. 

The following are the measures 
which ought to be taken by the 
captor, and by the neutral claim. 
ant, upon a ship and cargo being 
brought in as a prize: 

The captor immediately, upon 
bringing his prize into port, sends’ 
up, ot delivers upon oath, to the 
registry of the court of admiralty, 
all papers found on board the cap- 
tured ship. In the course of a 

few days the preparatory exami. 
nations of the captain and some 
of the crew of the captured ship 
are tuken, upon a set of standing 
ipterrogatories, before the commis- 
sioners of the port to which the 
prize is brought, and which are 
also forwarded to the registry of 
the admiralty as soon as taken. A 
mMonition is extra&ied by the captor 


173. 


from the registry, and served upon’, * 
the’ Royal Exchange, notifying the: ~ 
capture, and calling upon all pers: - 
sons intefested to appear and -shew 
cause, why the ship and goods 
should not be condemned. At the 
expiration of twenty days, the mow 
nition is returned into the registry, 
with a certificate of its service, 
and if any claim has been given, 
the cause is then ready for hearing, 


upon the evidence arising out of 


the ship’s papers, and preparatory 
examinaticns. 

The measures taken on the part 
of the neutral master or proprietor 
of the cargo, are as follows : 

Upon being brought into port, 
the master usuaily makes a protest, 
which he forwards to Londen, as 
instructions (or with such further 
dire¢tions, as he thinks proper) 
either to the correspondent of his 
owners, or to the consul! of his na- 
tion, in order to claim the ship, 
and such parts of the’ cargo as be- 
long to his owners, of with which 
he was particularly entrusted : or 
the master himself, as soon as he 
has undergone his examination, 
goes to London to take the neces- 
Sary steps. ew 

The master, correspondent, or 
consul, applics to a proctor, who 


“prepares a'claim supported by an 


affidavit of the claimant, stating” 
briefly to whom, as he -believes, 
the ship and goods claimed belong, 
and that no enemy has any right 
or interest in them; security must. 
be given to the amount of sixty 
pounds to answer costs, if the case 
should appear so grossly fraudulent 
on the part of the claimant as to 
subje& him to be condemned 
therein. If the captor hzs neg- 
leGted in the mean time to take the 
usual steps (but which seldom hap- 


pens, 


1% 


pens, ashe is stri€tly enjoined both 
by his instructions, and by the prize 
act, to proceed immediately to. ad- 
judieation). a protess issues against 
him on the application of the claim- 
ant’s proctor, to bring in the ship’s 
papers and preparatory examina. 
tions, and to proceed tn the usual 
way. 

As soon as*the claim is given 
copies of the ship’s papers and ex. 
aminations are procured from the 
registry, and upon the retetn of 
the mionition the cause may be 
heard. It however seldoii hap- 
pens (owing to the great pressure 
of business, especially at the com. 
mencement of 4 war) that causes 
can possibly be prepared for hear- 
ing immediately upon the expira. 
tion of the time for thé return of 
the monition; in that case, each 
¢ilise must necessarily take its re. 
gular turn : correspondent measures 
must be taken by the reatral mas- 
ter, if carried within the jurisdic. 
tisn of a vice-admiralty court, by 
giving a, claim supported by his 
affidavit, and offering a security 
for costs, if the claim should be 
pronounced grossly fraudulent, 

If the claimant be dissatisfied 
with the sentence, his pro€tor en. 
ters an appeal in the registry of the 
court where the sentence was given, 
or before a notary public (which 
regularly should be entered within 
fourteen days after the sentence) 
and he afterwards applies at the 
registry of the lords of appeal in 
prize causes, which is held at the 
same place as the registry of the 
high court of admiralty, for an in- 
strument called. an inhibition, and 
which should be taken out within 
three months, if the sentence be in 
the high court of admiralty, and 
avithin nine months, if within a 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


vice-admiralty court; but may be 
taken out at later periods, if a rea. 
sonable cause can be alleged for 
the delay that has intervened. This 
instrument dire€ts the judge whose 
sentence is appealed from to pro- 
ceed no further in the cause; it 
direéts the register to transmit 4 
copy of all the proceedings of the 
inferior courts ; and it direéts the 
party who has obtained the sen. 
tence to appear before the superior 
tribunal to answer to the appeal. 
On applyiag for this inhibition, 
security is given on the part of the 
appellant to the amount of two 


hundred pounds to answer costs, - 


in case it should appear to the 
court of appeals, that the appeal 
is merely vexatious, The inhibi- 
tion is to be served upon the judge, 
the register, and the adverse party 
and his proétor, by shewing the 
instfument under seal, and deliver. 
ing a note of copy of the contents. 
If the party cannot be found, and the 
proctor will not accept the service, 
the instrument is to be served wiis 
et modiey that isy by affixing it to 
the door of the last place of resi- 
dence, or by hanging it on the 
pillars of the Royal Exchange. 

That part of the process above 
described, which is to be executed 
abroad, may be performed by any 
person to whom it is committed, 
and the formal part at home, is 
executed by the officer of the court. 
A certificate of the service is in, 
dorsed upon the back of the instru- 
ment, sworn before a surrogate of 
the superior court, or before a 
notary public, if the service is 
abroad. 

If the cause be adjudged in the 
vice-admiralty court, it is usual, 
upon entering an appeal there, to 
procure a copy of the proceedings, 


which 


‘lading, 


STATE PAPERS. 


which the appellant sends over to 
his correspondent, in England, who 
carries it toa proctor, and the same 
steps are taken to procure and serve 
the inhibition as where the cause 
has been adjudged in the high 
court of admiralty. But if a copy 
ef the proceedings cannot be pro. 
cured in due time, an inhibition 
may be obtained by sending over a 
copy of the instrument of appeal, 
or by writing to the correspondent 
an account only of the time end 
substance of the sentence. 

Upon an appeal, fresh evidence 
may be introduced ; if upon, hear- 
ing the cause the lords of appeal 
shall be of opinion, that the case is 
of such doubt, as that further proof 
ought to have been ordered by the 
courtbelow. 

Further proof usually consists of 
affidavits made by the asserted pro- 
prietors of the goods, in which they 
are sometimes joined by their clerks 
and others acquainted with the 
transaétion, and with the real pra- 
perty of the goods claimed: In 
corroboration of these, ’ affidavits 


spondence, duplicates of bills of 
invoices, extraéts from 
books, &c. These pavers must be 
proved by the affidavits of persons 
who can speak of their authen- 
ticity: and if copies or extratts, 
they should be collated and certi- 
fied hy public notaries. The affi- 
davits are sworn before the magis- 
trates, or others competent to ad. 


- thinister oaths in the country where 


they are made, and authenticated 
by a certificate from the British 
consul. 

The -degree of proof to be re- 
quired depends upon the degree 
of suspicion and doubt that belongs 
tothe case. In cases of heavy sus- 
picion and great importance, the- 


173 


court may order what is called 
‘* plea and proof,’’ that is, instead 
of admitting affidavits and docu- 
ments introduced by the claimant 
only, each party is at liberty ta 
allege in regular pleadings, such 
circumstances as may tend to ac- 
quit er ta condemn the capture, 
and te examine witnesses in sup- 
port of the allegations, to whom 
the adverse party may administer 
interrogatories. The depositions of 
the witnesses are taken in writing ; 
if the witnesses are to be examined 
abroad, a commission issues for that 
purpose; but in no case is it ne- 
cessary for them to come to Eng. 
land. ‘These solemn progeedings 
are not Often resorted to. 

Standing commissions may be~ 
sent to America, for the general 
purpose of receiving examinations 
of witnesses in all cases whete the 
court may find it necessary, for the 
purposes of justice, to decree an. 
inquiry to be conducted in that 
manner. 

With respeét to captures and 
condemnations at Martinico, which 


may be annexed, original corre. ~are the subjects of another inquiry 


contained in your note, we can only 
answer in general, that we are not 
informed of the particulars of such 
captures and condemnations; but 
as we know of no legal court of 
admiraity-established at,Martinico, 
we are clearly of opinion that the 
legality of any prizes taken there 
must be tried in the high court of 
admiralty of England, upon claims 
given in the manner above de- 
scribed, by such: persons ‘as ‘may 
think themselves aggrieved by the 
said capture. 
We have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) Ww. Scorr. 
Joun Nicwo tt, 
Commons, Sept. 10, 1794. 


e parte 


176 
Department of States, America, 
| Nov. 22, 1794. 


Thereby certify, that the fore- 
going are true copies of an original 


communication from Mr. Jay, to. 


the secretary of state. 
Gro. Tar tor, jun. chief clerk. 


See EP ee 
Proclamation issued by his Majesty, re- 
latiwe to Seditious Assemblies. 


. George R. 

WHEREAS it hath been repre- 
sented to us, that, immediately be- 
fore the opening of the present 
session of parliament, a great num- 
ber of persons were collected in 
fields in the neighbourhood of the 
metropolis, by advertisements and 
hand-bills; and that divers inflam- 
matory discourses were delivered 
to the persons so colleéied, and 
divers proceedings were had, tend- 
“ing to create groundless jealousy 
and. discontent, and to endanger 
the public peace, and the quiet and 
safety of our faithful subjects: and 
whereas it hath been also repre- 
sented to us, that divers seditious 
and treasonable papers have been 
lately distributed, tending to excite 
evil disposed persons to atts en. 
dangering our royal person: and 
whereas such proceedings have 
been followed, on the day on which 
the present session of parliament 
commenced, by aéts of tumult and 
violence, and by daring and highly’ 
criminal outrages, in direct vio- 
lation of the public peace, to the 
immediate danger of our royal per- 
son, and to the interruption of our 
passage to and from ovr parlia- 
ment: and whereas great uneasi- 
ness and anxiety hath been pro- 
duced in the minds of our faithful 
subje&s, by rumours And appre- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


hensions that seditious and unlaw- 


ful ‘assemblies are intended to be 


held by evil disposed persons, and 
that such other criminal practices 
as aforesaid are intended to be re- 
peated: we therefore have thought 
fit, by and with the advice of our 
privy council, to enjoin and re- 
quire, and we do hereby enjoin 
and require, all justices of the peace, 
sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, constables, 
and all other our loving subjects 
throughout our kingdom, to use 
the utmost diligence to discourage, 
prevent, and suppress, all seditious 
and unlawful assemblies: and we 
do specially enjoin and command 
all our loving subjects, who shall 
have cause to suspect that any such 
assemblies are intended to be held 
in any part of our kingdom, to 
give the earliest information there- 
of to the magistrates of the several 
distri@s within which it shall be 
suspeGted that the same are intend- 
ed to be held; and if such asserm_ 
blies shall, nevertheless, in any case, 
be actually held, to be aiding and 
assisting, on being: required there- 
to by the civil magistrate, in caus- 
ing persons delivering inflamma- 
tory discourses in such assemblics, 
and other principal a¢tors therein, 
to be forthwith apprehended, in 
order that they may be dealt with 
according to law. And we have 
also thought fit, by and with the 
advice aforesaid, to enjoin and re- 
quire, and we do hereby enjoin and 
require all justices of the peace, 
sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, constables, 
and all ether our loving subjects 
throughout our kingdom, to be in 
like manner aiding and assisting in 
bringing to justice all persons dis- 
tributing such seditious and trea- 

sonable papers as aforesaid. 
Given at ourcourt at St. James’s, 
one the fourth day of November, 
one. 


SRE BP AS PEGS, 


dne thousand seven hundred 
and ninety-five, in the thirty- 
sixth year of our reign. 

God save the king. 


| 


Reece 


‘Treaty of Peace signed by Charette, 
on the par: of the insurgent Inha- 
bitants of La Vendee; and the 
Cofumissioners of the Caivention, 
on the part cf the F. rench Republicy 
March 7, 1795. 


Art. i: THE representatives of 
the people promise, in the name of 
the convention, that the sum of 
eighty millions shall be granted to 
the inhabitants cf La’ Vendee, to 
indemnify them for thelosses, burn- 
ings, and devastatioris they have 
suffered. F 

2. Forty millions, on account 
of that sum shal! be iminediately 
paid, to be distributed. 

3. All the contracts by the 
generals of the inhabitants of La 
Vendee shall be discharged by the 
French republic. 

4. The sum of ten millions shall 
bé deposited for that purpose. 

g- The inhabitants of La Ven- 
dee acknowledge the French re- 
public. ~ , 

6. General Charette shall have 
the command of a body of zooo 
mien, in the pay of the repablie. 

7. That ‘force shall consist of 
three bartalions ; the one to he stq- 
tioned at Machecoul, the second at 
Chalons, and the third at another 
place, to be detetmined afterwards. 

8. A list’ shall be made of 
such pefsdns as dre to be banistied 
from La Vendee ; that list to ‘be 
dtawn and presented by general 
Charette, 

9. The free exercise of the ca- 
tholic wotship shall be permitted, 

Wor, XXXVII, 


177 


A place may be purchased for the 
building of a church, but there 
shall be no bells, nor any exterior 
ceremonies. 

10, The banished nonjuring priests 
may return to La Vendee, but can 
only be restoted to their pattimo- 
nial estates. 

11; There shall be in La Vendee 
no distriéts nor municipalities, but 
only a national agent in every pros 
vince. 

12. There shall bé no requisi- 
tions in La Vendee for the space of 
five years. 


Treaty of Peace beteween the Chiefs of 
that part of the Insurgents in Brits 
tany, known by the Name of Choue 
ans, and the French Conventions 


Art. t. THE representatives of 
the people charge the constituted 
authorities ahd commanders of the 
armed force immediately to exe- 
cute the laws which give the free. 
dom of feligious worship. 

2. The Chouans, who have nei- 
ther profession nor estate, shall be 
received into the armies of the re. 
public. < 

3. The inhabitants of the in- 
surgent departments shall have the 
power of organizing and keeping 
on foot a body of chasseurs, which 
shall not exceed 2400 men; 250 of 
these sha!l be stationed im each in. 
surgent department, and shall not 
be employed elsewhere. 

4. The youths of the first requi- 
sition shall remain at home in 
their communes, for the purpose 
of restoring agriculture and com. 
merce. 

5. The contraéts entered into 
by the chiefs of the Chouans, for 
the purpose of defraying the ex- 

pences 


178 . 


pences of the war, shall be paid 
by the convention, to the amount 
of 1,500,000 livres. 

6. The past conduct of the 
Chouans is buried in oblivion. 

“7. Succours shall be given to 
those among the Chouans who have 
Jost all their property by the war. 

8. The leases of farms, situ- 
ated in Anjou and Upper Poitou, 
granted to insurgent Vendeans, are 
annulled. 

g. ‘The crops of these farms 
shall be divided, one half to the 
proprietor, and the other to’ the 
*armer. 

aso. The farmers shall be indem- 
nified for the losses they have suf- 
fered by the war. 

t1. The Chouans shall be re. 
stored to all their property, move- 
able and immoveable, on submit. 
ting to the laws of the republic: the 
sequestration put upon their estates 
shall be taken off, even though 
they may have been enrolled in 
the list of emigrants; and tlre se- 
questration shall also be taken off 
from the estates of the widows and 
children of those who may have 
been condemned. 


Freaty of Peace between France and 
Prussia. 


THE French republic and his 
majesty the king of Prussia, equal. 
ly animated witlr the desire of 
putting an end to the war which 
divides them, by a solid peace be- 
tween the two nations, have no- 
minated for their plenipotentiaries, 
viz. the French republic, the citi. 
zén Francois Barthelemy, itsambas- 
sador in Switzerland ; and the king 


of Prussia, his minister of state, of , 


war, and the cabinet, Charles-Au- 


_ Prussia, situated on the Jeft bank of 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


guste, baron de Hardenberg, knight 
of the order of the red eagle, of the 
white eagle, and of St. Stanislaus ; 
who, after exchanging their full 
powers, agreed upon the following 
articles : 

1. There shall be peace, amity, 
and good understanding, between 
the French republic. and the king 
of Prussia, considered both as such, 
and as elector of Brandenbourg, and 
co-essate of the Gernian empire. 

2. In consequence, all hestili- 
ties’ between the two contracting 
powers shall cease, from the day 
of the ratification of the present 
treaty, and neither of them, from 
the same period, shall furnish 
against the other, in any quality, 
or under any title whatsoever, 
any suceours or contingent, in men, 
horses, provisions, money, warlike 
stores, or otherwise. ‘ 

3. Neither of the contracting 
powers shall grant a passage through 
its territory to the troops of the 
enemies of the other. 

4- The troops of the French re- 
public shall evacuate, within fifteers 
days wfter the ratification of the 
present treaty, the parts of the 
Prussian states they may occupy on 
the right bank ef the Rhine. The 
contributions, deliveries, supplies, 
and services of war, shall cease en- 
tirely within fifteen days after the” 
signatore of this treaty. All ars 
rearages due at that period, as well 
as billets and promises given or 
made im that réspeét, shall be null. 
Whatever shall be taken or recciv- 
ed after the period aforesaid, shalf 
be restored gratuitously, or paid for 
in ready money. 

y. The troops of the French res 
public shall continue to occupy the’ 
parts of the states of the king of 


ue 


STATE PAPER 8, 


the Rhine. All definitive afrange- 
ment with respect to these provin- 
ces, shall be deferred till the gene- 
ral pacification with the German 
empire. 

6. Until a treaty of comiherce 
between the two contracting powers 
shall be made, all the comimereial 
communications and relations be: 
tween France and the Prussian 
states; shall be re-established on the 
footing upon which they were bez 
fore the present wa. 

a. As the dispositions of article 
6, cahnot have their full efe@, but 
in proportion as liberty of com. 
merce shall be re-established for alk 
the north of Germafiy, the two 
contracting powers shall take mea- 
sures for removing from it the the- 
atre of wari 

8. To iovlividuals of the two na- 
tions respetively shall be granted 
the restoration of all effects, reve- 
hues, or property of what kind so- 
ever, detained, seized, or confiscated 
on account of the war betwee 
France and Prussia, as well as 
prompt justice with respect to all 
debts due ffi the states of either of 
the two centracting powers to the 
subjects of the other. 

g. All prisoners taken respec- 
tively since the commencement of 
the war, without regard to the 
difference of number. or .rank, in- 
eluding Prussian marines and sai- 
Jors, taken cither in Prussian sh'ps 
or ships of other nations, as well 
as in geheral all those detained on 
either side on account of the war, 
shall be restored within the space 
of two months at the latest after 
the exchange of the ratification of 
the present treaty; on paying the 
private debts they may have con- 
tracted during their captivity. ‘The 
same shall be done with respeét to 


179 
the sick and wounded immediately 
after theit. getting well. Com. 
missioners Shall be immediately ap- 
pointed on both sides for executing 
this article. 

10. The prisonets of the Saxon, 
Mentz, Palatine and Hessian corps, 
with thosé ‘6f* Hesse Cassel and 
Darmstadt, who kave served in the 
army of the king of Prussia, shalt 
be included in the exchange aboves 
enna j 

The French republic will 
aciept of the good offices of his 
majesty the King of Prussia in fa. 
vour of the princes and states of the 
German empire who shall desire 
to ehiter dire@ly into negotiation 
with it, and who to that end have 
already requested, or shall request; 
the interposition of the king, 

The Frerich republic, to give to 
the king of Prussia a first proof of 
its desire to concur in the re-esta- 
blishment of the ancient bonds of 
amity wliich have subsisted between 
the two nations, consents not to 
treat as an enemy’s country, during 
the space of three months after 
the ratification of the present trea 
ty, the territories of those princes 
and states of the empire aforesaid, 
situated on the left bank of the 
Rhine, in whose favour the king 
shall interést himself, 

12, The present treaty shall 
have no effect till <after being ra- 
tiffed by the contracting parties 5 
and the ratifications shall be éx. 
changed in this city of Basle with. 
in one month from this aates or 
sooner if possible. 

In testimony of which we the 
undersigned ministets plenipotenti. 
ary of the French republic, and 
his majesty the king of Prussia, by 
virtue of our full powers, have 
signed the ptesent sreaty of peace 

Na and 


- 


330 ANNUAL RE 


and amity, and have affixed to it 
our respective seals, MR 
Done at Basle the 16th Germinal, 
the third year of the French 
republic, April 5, 1795. 
(Signed). Franco1s Barts 
LEMY, ' 
CHARLES-AUGUSTE, 
Baron de Harpgn- 
BERG. 


E- 


Second Treaty betaern the Republic of 
Francé and the King of Prussias 


THE republic of France and 
his majesty the king of Prussia 
having stipulated in the treaty of 
\ peace, and amity concluded be- 
tween them the 16th of last Ger- 
minal (sth of April, 1795),. re- 
specting some secret clauses alluded 
to in ihe 7th article of the said 
treaty, which establish a line cf 
demarcation and neutrality for the 
purpose of removing the theatre 
of war from the North ot Germany, 
have thought proper to explain and 
definitively decree the conditions 
by an express convention. For 
‘this purpose the respeétive pleni- 
potentiaries of the two high con- 
tracting powers, viz. on the part of 
the French republic, citizen Fran- 
cis Barthelemy, its ambassador in 
Switzerland, and on the part of the 
King of Prussia his minister of stare, 
of war, and of the cabinet, Charles 
Augustus, baron de Hardenberg, 
knight of the order of the red eagle, 
of the white eagle, and of St. Sta- 
nislaus, &c, have agreed to the 
following articles: —- 

Art. 1. In order to. remove the 
theatre of war from the frontiers of 
the states of his majesty the king of 
Prussia, to preserve the tranquillity 
of the North of Germany, and to re. 


GESTER, 1795. 


establish the entire freedom of com- 
merce between that part of the 
empire and France, in the same 
manner as before the war, the 
French republic consents not to 
push the eperations of war, nor to 
send troops either by land or sea 
into the states situated beyond the 
following line of demarcation. 

‘This line shall comprehend East 
Friesland, and descend along the 
Ems, and the Aa, or Alpha, to 
Munster, taking afterwards its di- 
rection towards Coesfeld, Borken, 
Bockholt, to the frontier of the 
duchy ot Cleves, near Issenbourgh, 
following this line of frontier to 
Magenporst; wpon the new Issel, 
and ascending the Rhine to Duys- 
bourgh; from thence extending, 
along the frontier of the county of 
Marck, to Werden, Gemarke, and 
along the Wipper to Hombourgh, 
Altenkirchen, Limbourg upon the 
Lahn; along that river, and from 
that which stretches from Idstein to 
that city, Epstein, end Hochst upon 
the Mien; trom thence to Rauen- 
heim, along the Langraben to 
Darnheim, thence following the 
brook which crosses that distri@ to 
the frontiers of the Pulatinate; 
thence along the frontiers. of the 
country of Darmstadt and the cir=- 
cle of Franconia, which the line 
willentirely enclose, to Ebersbach 
upon the Necker, continuing the 
course of that_river to Wimien, 2 
free town of the empire, and taking 
thenee a course to Lcewenstein, 
Murhard, Hoenstadt, Noerdlingen, 
a free town of the empire, and 
Holzkirch upon the Wernitz ; im- 
closing the county of Pappenheim 
and the whole circle of Franconia 
and Upper Saxony, along Bavaria, 
the Upper Palatinate,and Bohemia, 
to the frontiers of Silesia. 

Aye ee te 


STATE PTA PeEPR’S. 


The French republic consi- 
ders as neutral country, and as neu- 
tral states, all those which are situ- 
ated behind this line, on condition 
that they observe on their part the 
most striG@ neutrality, the first point 
to which shall be to recall their 
contingents, and not make any 
new contract, which can authorize 
them to furnish troops to-- the 
powers at war with France. 

Those who shall not comply 
with these conditions, shall be'ex- 
cluded from the beneitt of the neu- 
trality. 

3. His majesty the king of Prus- 
sia engages to cause the most strict 
observance of this neutrality by all 
the states situated upon the right 
bank of the Mien, and comprised 
in the line of demarcation aboye- 
menticned. 

The king charges himself with 
guaranteeing, that no troops the 
enemies of France, shall pass that 
part of the line, or go out of the 
countrics therein comprised, in 
order to oppose the French arms; 
and to this efrect the two contraét- 
ing parties are bound to keep, upon 
the most essential points afterwards 
to be agreed upon between them, 
corps of observation sufficient to 
make this neutrality respected. 

. ‘Ihe passage for troops, whe- 
ther those of the French republic, 
those of the empire, or those of Au- 
stria, shall remain entirely free 
through the roads leading to the 
right bank of the Mien, by Frank fort. 

ist, From Konigstein and Lim. 
bourg, to Cologne. 

ad, From Friedberg, Wetzlar, 
and Siegen, to Cologne. — 

3d, From Hadersheim, Wisba- 
den, and Nassau, to Cobientz. 

4thandlastly, From Hadersheim, 
to Mayence, and vice versa ; as well 


“181 


as through all the countries situated 
on the left bank of this river, and 
throughout the whole circle of 
Francon nia, without doing the least 
prejudice to the neutrality of all 
the states and countries included 
in the line of demarcation. * 

5. Lhe country of Sayn Alten 
Kirchen on the Westerwald, *¢om- 
prising there‘n the little distri of 
Bendorf below Coblentz, being in 
the possession of his majesty the king 
of Prussia, shall enjoy the ‘same 
benefits. and advantages of~ rhe 
other states, situated on the! left 
bank of the Rhine. 

6. ‘ihe present convention shal] 
be ratified by the two contraéting’ 
parties, and the ratifications shall 
be exchanged in this city of Basle,’ 
within the term of one month, or 
sooner, if possible, reckoning frit 
this day. In testimony of which, 
we, the undersigned plenipotenti- 


aries of the French republie and his- 


majesty the king of Prussia, have 
by virtue of our full powers, signed 
the present convention, and have 
aflixed, thereto our respective seals. 


Done at Basle, the 28th Floreal,” 


the third year of the French 
republic, (17th May, 1795.) 
(Signed) Francis Bartne- 
LEMY, 
CHARLES- Aucusrus, 
Baron de Harpen- 
BERG. . 


Substance of a Tréaty, dated Brusseli, 
March 26th, and Heidzlberg, 
April oth, 1795, made betawcen the 


Imperial and Royal Commission of 


Ransom, and that of France, rela- 
tive to the Individuals nat taken 
in Arms. 


—] 


1. THE individuals not taken 
N 3 in 


s 


192 


“in arms shall not be considered as 
prisoners of war, and shall be re- 
turned. without being exchanged. 

2. According to this principle, 
the respective armies shall recipro- 
cally deliver to the first advanced 
posts all the persons pot taken in 
arms, and made prisoners previous 
to hostilities. 

3». :Lhis principle shal!, in fu- 

ture, be scrupulously dhiemied, in 
such amanner, that the persous so 
taken shall be delivered as. soon 
as possible to the adyanced; pests, 
when. it shall be proved by their 
dress, or other testimony, that they 
were not in the number of com. 
batants. 
4. A copy of the present agree- 
gaent shall be sent, to the chiets of 
the respective armies, that they 
may ‘give orders for its strict and 
speedy. execution. 

- This agreement. shall be pub- 
lished i in all places where there are 
prisoners, in order that these who 
have not been taken in arms may 

make the necessary declaration, 

To these five articies is subjoined 
an exact description of the persons 
to whom they refer. 

Signed on the part of his Impe 
sial_ majesty, by 

WackenBoursc, Li ut. Col. 

And on that of the French re- 
public, by” 

Avex. Lavour, Adjutant 'Ge- 
neral and Chief f Brigade. 


; 


Se OL a ee ne 
Treaty of Alliance, Offensive and De. 


Sersives concluded * taveen the Re- 
public f France and the Repudbic 
of the Seven United gc 


“Art. 1. THE republic of France 
acknowledges and guarantecs the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1793. 


independence of the republic of the 
United Provinces, and the abolis 
tion of the stadth .aldership. 

2.’ There shall be a lating peaces 
amity, and good understanding, be- 
twee: 1 the two republi Cae , 

3. There shall also be analliance; 
offensive and defensive, against alk 
the enemies of tl ne respective res 
publics, d during the present war, 
4: ‘There shit } be an alliance, ‘of. 
fensiye and defensive, against Great 
Britain, fer ever. 

5: No treaty shall be entered 
into with Great Be itain without 
the consent of a two republics. 

6, The Fre repuf fic shal] 
make no peace eich any power 
whatever, without comprising in 
it the republic of the United Pro. 
vinces. 

7. The repyblic of the. United 
Provinces shail furnish for the pre- 
Seuit campaigo, twelve ships pr 
liue, and e eighteen frigates, for the 
Moet tSea andthe Baltic. | 

8. The republic of the, United) 
Provinces shalJ furnish for the pre+ 
sent campaign half the number of 
the troows which the republic shall 
have on foot. ‘ 

z. All the forces employed. in 
actual service shall be under the 
command of French generale The 
arrangements. for cdmpaign 
shall be made in concert 3. the States 
General may send a deputy, wha 
shall sit. and. have a deliberative 
voice in the committee. of publie 
safety at Paris. 

10. All arsenals indi ammuni- 
tion belonging to the republic of 
the, United Provinces shail be re- 
stored. 

11. From the ratification of the 
present treaty, restitution shall be 
made. of all the countries and 

3 places 


the 


mo ce ys! May pati er: Ui: oe a who 


places belonging to the United Pro. 
vinces, with the exceptions con- 
tained in the following article ; 

12. Dutch Flanders, and the 
sight side of the Hondt, Maestricht, 
Venlo, and their dependencies, shall 
be reserved by the French republic 
as indemuitics. 

13. A French garrison shall be 
admitted, in peace and war, into 
the town of Flushing, until other 
arrangements shall have been de- 
cided. 

14. The port of Flushing shall 
be open to the two republics, con- 
formably te the rules laid down in 
the separate articles attached to this 
treaty. 

“15. In case of hostilities on the 
side of the Rhine, or of Zealand, 
French garrisons shall be admitted 
into Breda, Bois-le-Duc, and Ber- 
gen-op- Zoom. 

16. At the epoch of a general 
rete cession shall be made to the 
United Provinces of portions of ter- 
ritory, equivalent in extent to the 
cessfon contained in the 12th arti- 
cle, and ina position most conve- 


nient to the republic of the United 


Provinces. 

_ 17. Until the general peace, such 
anumber of troops shall be stati- 
oitied in the necessary places as shall 
be deemed adequate to the defence 
of them. 

18. The navigation of the Scheldt 
and the Hondt shall be.open to the 
two republics;-French and Dutch 
vessels shall be indiscriminately ad- 
mitted under the same conditions. 

19. The French republic gives 
up tothe republic of the United 
Provinces, all the immoveablecffeéts 
belorging to the house of Orange, 
and all the moveable property not 
already disposed of, 


183 


e 

20. As an indemnification for 
the expences of the war, the re- 
public of the. United Provinces 
shall pay to the republic of France, 
cue hundred miliions of livres, 
either in specie or in bills upon fo- 
reign powers, as shall be agreed 
upon. 

z1. The French republic shalf 
use their good offices with foreign 
powers, in favour of the United 
Provinces, in order that they may. 
obtain the payment of the sums 
due to them before the war. 

22. No asylum shall be given 
by the republic of the United Pro. 
vinces to the French emigrants, 
and no asylum shall be given by the 
republic of France to the Orange 
emigrants. 

23. The present treaty shall be 
ratified within two decades, or 
sooner, if possible. : 


Separate Articles, relative to the 
Port of Flushing. 


Att. 1. The two nations shall 
indiscriminately make use of the 
pert and the docks. 

2. Each nation shall have timber, 
yards, &c, a 

3. From the ratification of the 
present treaty, the republic of the 
United Provinces shall relinquish 
the building for the West India 
Company, and the ground adjacent 
to it, and also one of the docks. 

4. All new acquisitions for the 
construction of fresh arsenals and 
all acquisitions of ground, shall be 
made at the expence of the French 
republic. 

5. The expences of the repairs of 
the bason and the quay, shall be de- 
frayed by the/two republics, but 
the dire¢tion of the remainder shall 
belong to the republic of the United 

N4q. Provinces. 


164 


Provinces. The French republic, 
however, shall be informed of every 
operation, and the proces verbaux 
shall be sent to the French govern- 
ment, who will defray | half the ex- 
pence. 

6. No admiral’s ship, nor guard. 
ship belonging to either of the two 
republics, shall be in the port of 
Flushing. 

If any'dispute should ‘arise 


- geletive to the: foreign reguia- 


tions, which shall not be amicabiv 
adjusted, they shal! be decided by 

five arbitrators, two of whoar <hall 
be French, and two Datch; and 
for the fifth, each republic shall 
choose one, and i it shall be decided 
by lot. 

8. These regulations shall he 
carried into execution, as part of 
the treaty of alliance, offensive and 
defensive, between the republic of 
France and the republic of the 
United Provinces. 

Concluded at the Hague, on the 
rsth of May, at noon, 1795, and 
aiterwards ratified by both of the 
contracting pane 


ies 


Prociamation of Vidor Huguss at 
Guadaloupe. 


LIBERTY, LAW, EQUALITY. 

VICTOR HUGUES, delegated 
commissary of the national conven- 
tion to the Windward Islands, 

Whereas the crimes committed 
by the British officers, as well in 
the capture as. in the defence of th 


conquered islands, exhibited a cha. 


rafter of so consummate and odious 
a villany, as not to be paralleled i in 
history. ‘ 

' And whereas, the ‘Hghts of_hu- 
pianity;, of war, and ‘Of nations, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 179. 


have been violated -by » Charles 
Grey, general; John Jarvis, 4d- 
miral; Thomas Dundas, majqr- 
general and governor, of Gua de 
loupe ; Charles Gordon, a gengra} 
officer ; and other subaltern officers 
whe imitated them. 
And whereas also the robberies, 
Geri assassinations, and other 
crimes committed by them, ought 
to be tra emitted to posterity; if 
is resolved, that the bedy of 
Thomas. Dundas, interred in Gua- 
aslqures 3a June, (slave style) shall 
é takén up, and given a prey to 
the birds of the dir; ; that. upon the 
same spot there shall be erected, 
at the expence of the republic, : 
monument, bearing on. one side 
this decree, and on the other, 
the following inscription; ‘* This 
ground, restored to liberty by rhe 
bravery of republicans, was po! 
luted by the body ef Thomas 
~ Dupdas, major-geperal and gover. 
nor of Guadaloupe, for the ¥ © 
George the Third. In recollecting 
his crimes, the public indigaation 
caused bain to be taken up, and has 


ordered this monument to be erected 


to hand them down to posterity.’’ 
Given at the port of Liberty, (20th 
Primaire) December 11, 1794. . 
in the third year of the French 
republic, one and indivisible. 
Victor liucues, 
Vigt, Secretary. 


’ a “ ore 


Proclamation of General Vaughan. 


Martinico, Fan, 20, 1795. 

HIS excellency sir Charles Grey, 

having found it necessary to order 
all the inhabitants of this colony, 

living in the towns as well as the 
courstry, 


STATE PAPERS. 


country, to take up arms in de- 
fence of their property, against the 
common enemy, and sgme indi- 
viduals belonging to the parish of 
Mouillage having presented to us 
a petition, praying to be relieved 
from ali military service, contrary 
to the obligations imposed on tliem 
by the oath of allegiance they had 
taken, sentiments of compassion 
led us to look with indulgence on 
their.prayer, and, in the place of 
military service, to substitute a 
contribution of soool. current mo- 
ney of the islands, to be applied to 
the discharging of the rent of such 
houses as are occupied by his Bri- 
tannic majesty’s troops. 

But the said individuals, little 
sensible of the value of so parti- 
cular indulgence, having since 
convinced ys, as well by the terms 
of a deliberation which indicates 
nothing less than an open revolt, 
as by sundry other proceedings, 
tending to disorganise the militia 
established in the other parts of 
the island, and to excite rebellion 
and commotions, that the motives 
assigned in their petition were 
nothing else than a specious pre- 
tence to decline all concurrence 
and ee ee for the public 
welfare and safety of the colony, 

_and to spur at the authority of 
government; informed also of the 
indecent expressions of joy which 
several of them have dared to 
make use of, on learning the ar- 
rival of a reinforcement at Gua- 
daloupe, we are in justicé and in 
duty bound to declare them by 
these presents, unworthy to enjoy 
the mild and beneficial dispositions 
contained in our’ proclamation of 
the 11th instant. We therefore do 
teby ordain as follows: 
Article 1. All those who have 


. 


185 


signed the aforesaid. petition and 
deliberation, as well as other indi. 
viduals belonging to the above 
parish, able to carry arms, who, 
conformably to the orders of sir 
Charles Grey, did not present 
themselves to be enlisted in the mi- 
litia, cannot any more be admitted 
to take the oath, and carry arms _ 
in defence of the colony ; but shail 
be obliged to quit this island before 
the first day of February next. 

z. None .of them shall, how- 
ever, be allowed to withdraw, 
without having given sufficient se= 
curity for the fulfilment of all their 
Jawful engagements, which secu- 
rity is to be received by the procu.. 
rator of the king. 

3. All such individuals, as in 
pursuance of this proclamation, 
quit the island, shall be allowed 
to empower any person they choose 
to administer their property and 
transact. their business in the co- 
lony. 

4. Whoever dees not quit this 
island within the terms prescribed 
by these presents, shall be taken 
into custody, and transported at his 
own expence. 

5. All those individuals, whom 
for the safety of the cclony it shail 
be necessary to remove from the 
island, cannot remain there, under 
pain of being prosecuted and dealt 
with as spies, unless his majesty 
shall be pleased to dispense other- 
wise in their favour, 


Declaration of the Commissioners dele- 
gated by the National Convention of 
France, to the Windward Islands, 
to all the Neutral Nations irading 
with the said Islands. 
EIGHT hundred republicans 
and two Frenclr frigates have con. 
quered. 


186 


quered the island of Guadaloupe, 
Bight thousand chosen troops, six 
fine of battle ships, and ‘twelve 
frigates, must yield to that cou- 
Fage, virtue, and iove of liberty, 
that animaté a republican breast. 

‘With so inconsiderable a force, 
But entircly devoted to the tri- 
umph of liberty and equality, we 
have overcome all obstacles, and 
finally driven from this fertile 
and now free country, the re- 
mainder of the English pilfering 
horde. The vile” satellites of 
George, those infamous promoters 
and supporters of all kinds of rob- 
bery, ‘ashamed of their defeats, 
and unable to resist a generous 
enemy, endeavour to satisty their 
insatiaté avidity by plundering, 
onder’ ftivolous pretexts, neutral 
vessels. Nay, they exhaust all 
the resourees of craft and perfidy’ 
in order to rob them with impu- 
nity, and they are treading in 
the footsteps of Charles Gordon, 
commander of St. Lucie. John 
Vaughan, of glorious memory, in 
St. Eustatia, and Benjamin Cald- 

well, pretend to colour this their 
plunder by an insignificant pro- 
clamation, which “declares the 
island of Guadaloupe to be in a 
state of blockade, as if it was 
possible to block up such an exten- 
sive coast. 

What a moment do they choose 
for such an extravagant proclama- 
tion! Have not our sloops of 
war and other armed vesse!s, within 
these few months, taken, sunk, 
and burnt’ eighty. -eight of their 
vessels?——-which may be easily 
proved by the sentences. passed in 
the court of commerce of this 
island, and the registers and other 
papers belonging to the said vessels. 
Are we not ready to attack their 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


own colonies, and there convince 
them of the impossibility of such a 
blockade ? 

But rob they must; that is the 
great principle of the ‘Bnglish mi- 
litary service. In such a corrupt 
government no preferment can be 

obtained but for money, and mo. 
ney must be, had, no matter by 
what means; if hey cannot get 
it from their enemies, they are base 
enorgh to turn pirates and ransack 
neutral vessels, which are not adle 
to defend themselyés. 

From this sketch of the sordid’ 
intentions of the English, the dig-. 
nity and independence of neutral, 
powers require “that they should be 
upon their guard, and provide 
against the perfidious vexation 
which this Peiena blockade pre. 
pares to their trade E ye: 

We do, therefore, on our sides 
declare, that we shall never deviate 


ftom the principles of equity and, 


benevolence, which haye direéted. 
all our operations during and after. 
the retaking of this island, and that 

all neutral vessels shall here be well” 
received and protected, as far as, 
lies inour power. We assure them, , 
that the Englich rhodomontades in- 
spire us only, with perfect contempt, 
and that our enemies shall soon 
have reason to repent of their rash. 
ness and insolence. 

"This our present declaration shall 
be officially sent to the respective 
governments of the islands of St, 

Bartholemew, St. Croix, and St. 

Thomas ; and further, to the con- 
gress and legislatures. of the difs 

ferent States of America, through | 
the means of the French minister 

at Philadelphia. 

Port of Liberty, the 3d day of 
Ventose (21st February, style 
of slaves) in the 3d year of 

. the 


~ 


- STATE PAPERS, 


the French Republic, one and 

indivisible. 
(Signed) Vicror Hueurs, 
Goyraup, Lesas. 


Piéliration of - Commissioners ue 
* pated by the National Convention of 
France, tothe Commanders in Chicf 

of the British Forces, Vaughan, 
Caldwell, Themson, Stewart, and 
» 4 ROi1s0n, 2 
Lindsay. 


TIME, and the defeat of the 
English forces at Guadaloupe, had 
weaker ied the remembrance of the 
heinous crimes by which the vile 
satellites of George had sullicd the 
Windward Islands. 

It might reasonably have been 
expected, that the sudden recall of 
the infamous Grey and Jervis, 
should have put their successors 
upon their guard against such cruel- 
ties, and induced them to observe 
a conduct entirely the reverse—but 
we have been mistaken. 

They prove to be as barbarous 
as those above-mentioned canni- 
bals: they have lately ordered to 
be put to death some soldiers of the 
republic, their gees <6 Were La 
Lucia. Cruelties like these call 
forcibly upon us to avenge our 
brothers, and make use of reprisals. 
In consequence of which, we do 
hereby give solemn notice to the 
commanders i in chief of the British 
forces in the Windward Islands, 
that from and after the date of this 
our official declaration, the assassi- 
nation of such and every individual 
republican, of whatever colour he 
is, and in whatever island it may 
happen, shall be’ expiated by the 
death of two English officers, our 
prisoners, The guillotine shall at 
the first notice ” thereof perform 
this act of justice, 


187 


We do further declare, that any 
Frenchman, who at the moment 
of the landing of an army of the 
republic commanded by one of us 
or by any of our substitutes, shall 
not join against our common ene- 
my, is outlawed, and his property 
forfeited to the republic! 

All those Frenchmen’ are de, 
clared traitors to their country, 
who have accepted of any employ- 
ment under the English govern- 
ment, the law having declared 
against them: those ‘who’ emi- 
grated before the capture of the 
céhonies; as well as against the 
wretches who delivered them up, 
and who are in the same predi- 
cament with those who sold Tou- 
lon and the island of Corsica, 
where the punic faith of the Eng- 
lish shone in its fall lustre; and 
this law, which infli€ts the pain of 
death, shall here continue in fall ” 
force. 

We do farther signify to all com. 
manders and agents of the British 
government, that citizen Marinier, 
commander at St. Lucia, is an‘ 
officer jn the French service; and 
that citizens Massades, lieutenant 
in the navy, and Lombard, are-our 
delegates in that island, and in. 
vested with our power. 

We have ordered’ this our pre- 
sent declaration to be sent by a flag’ 
of truce to the above-mentioned’ 
commissioners of the British forces, 
and to be translated into English, 
and distributed in aJl the colonies. 


Port of Liberty, 3d day of Ven- 
tose, (the 21st of February, 
style. of slaves) in the third 
year of the French republic, 
one and. indivisible. 


(Signed) Victor Hucuss, 
Gorxaup, Lrpas, 


Address 


183 


Addyess to the Army of the North, on 
Whe Anniversary of the Death of 
. the King of Franée, 21st of Fan. 
795* 
Soldiers of the. French Republic ! 


TO.DAY) is the festival of re- 
publicans ; it- was on this day, that 
for the example of ali people, and 
the terror of kings, Capet expiated 
his crimes on the scaffold: in 
ing this vigerous resolution, the 
convention were not ignorant of 
the danger: holland, England, 
Spain, ‘disposed themselves to jai: 
the coalition of Prussia, .armed 
against France, and seconded by 
counter revelutionists in the inte- 
rior ; but strong in its own energy, 
and in the confidence of the French 
people, the convention was certain 
of punishing them for their auda- 
city: they .ceunted also, soldiers, 
wpon your courage, your hatred ot 
tyranny, your hope of liberty: they 
eoncenved «great, hopes—you have 
realized them all: strong places 
have been no obstacle to your burn. 
ang ardour; the eonque “red hordes 
of the enemy have been annihi- 
fated; their ammunition, their ar- 
tWery, haye falleninto your power: 
you have turned’ to the profits of 
mney the rigour of the season con- 

cated by nature to repose. It is 
Bo the most lively satisfaction, 
that the representatives of the peo. 
ple bear solemn witness this day 
to your constancy ; they rejoice to 
felicitate you on the theatre of your 
gtery. May your victory be heard 
rom this point in all parts of the 
globe, to make known to alf people 
their rights: these ports, these 
ships, have been conquered at the 
expence of your sweat, and of your 
blood: hear the grateful accents of 
the acinowledgment of your bro- 


take 


+ \ 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


thers delivered from their oppres- 
sors! » Soldiers, complete your tri- 
uinphs, ete giving an example of 
respect f for property, and of submis. 
sion to the laws; you have broken 
down your enemies in arms, con- 

founded also their calumnies, by 
continuing to shew yourselves wor- 
thy of the cause you defend—na- 
tions will proclaim you as their 
deliverers—to ‘punish tyrants is 
your glory! your recompense shall 


be ithe blessings ef your contem «ae “i 


raries and. of poster IEY 
In conformity to the decree of 
the national assembly, there willbe 
a festival in the armies) for thé/an-. 
niversary of the death of the tyrant, 
(Signed). Grenet, La Coste, 
Jounert, 
BELLEGARDE, 
Portier (de l’Oise}, 


CE ETA EIT CITI LOCC TE EY CS PEED 


* 


Speech of Brissy d? Anglas, on the 
policy of the French Republic, with 
respe to Foreign Nations, adopted 
hy the Gonwentiax, as a Declares’ 


tian of the Principles of the French. 
Peapl:, January 30, 1795. 


IN a former discourse I recapt- ' 
tulated the principles of justice and ~ 
candour upon which the govere- 
ment of France. now rests.o* I 
shewed. in what manner that go. 
vernment, at once republican and 
revolutionary, had laid among as. 
the foundation of a real public 
credit, and created in the face of 
all Europe a power im some sort 
new. " : 4 

I shewed in what manner the 
French people, ’ starting from the 
sleep of slavery, had resumed their 
place among nations, from the — 
number of which it was attempted 
to blot them out; had begun ta » 

repair 


ess were possible, 


5 BA TOR “PAPER'S, 


tepair their immense losses, and 
had prepared all the seeds of their 
future prosperity. 

I am now going to take a view 
of the external situation of this 
vast empire—of the relations of 


France with other hations, and of, 


their interests with are? to her. 
I will tell you how the happiness 
of the world must necessarily result 


from the establishment of the li-- 


berty of France, and the peace of 
the universe, from the peace you 
are going to negotiate with your 


neighbours. 


T will advertise the greater part 
of those who make war upon us, 
of the dangers to which they ex- 
pose themselves by declaring against 
us; which dangers are of such a 
nature, that success itcelf, if suc- 
would serve 
only to render them more immi- 
nent. I will repel the atrocious 


‘calumnies of those orators in the 


ay of tyrants, who, having no 
ae any hope of enslaving us by 
arms, would still excite against us 
as many enemies as there are go- 
vernaients in Europe, and deprive 
us of that national credit. which 
accrues to a great nation, from its 
respect for other nations and its 
public morality. 
It is time that the formulas of an 


“ancient and ill- advised policy give 


place to the frank and sincere ex- 
pressions of freemen ; it is time 
that truth, in the tribune of the 
legislator, resume that influence 
which, she ought never to have lost. 
The language I shall hold, will 
form a TINE contrast to the 
insidious words with which the 
sittings | of another s.i-disaut repre- 
sentative assembly resound at this 
moment ; an assembly which, in 
its counterfeit debates, i its quixotic 


7 


189 


rhodomontades, and fawning ad- 
dresses, denies your successes, dis. 
sembles your victories,. outrages 
your principles, and dares still to 
threaten a liberty which three years 
of fruitless attack ought at length 
to compel the worid to respect. 

When the most exasperate pas- 
sions are every where forging arms 
to divide us, to destroy or enslave 
us, animated by the most noble 
passions, inflamed by the love of 
liberty and our country, we must 
oppose imperturbable justice to 
their violent fury, and republican 
constancy to their rash impetuc~ 
Silty. 

Almost all the thrones of. the: 
earth have put themselves in mo. 
tion to fall upon us; their mi- 
nisters have leagued together; their 
armies have conglomérated; their 
thunders have flashed to. destroy 
our infant. liberty. But their ra. 
vaging cohorts, overthrowa by our 
patriot battalions, have been dis- 
sipated like those thick clouds 
which seem to announce a tempest, 
and which a salutary wind dis- 
perses and annihilates. 

While we had to combat only 
the hatred of coalesced kings, and 
the fury of their soldiers, the burn- 
ing valour of the French, | their 
inexhaustible courage, the constasr 
sacrifices of all the citizens, sufficed 
to prove to the universe, how 
worthy we are of liberty, and how 
chimerical the hope of thoie whe 
would wrest it from us. But now, 
citizens, that our triumpas have 
carried disinay into the bosam of 
the countries which pre‘ended to 
give chains to Fravte, we have 
another kind of attack to gustaia, 
and other efforts of repulse. They 
cannot conquer the French-—-they 
endeayour to calumniate them. «. 


All 


190 
Allthe nations of the world ad- 
mire our courage; they all lament 
seeing their blood and their trea- 
sures exhausted to tear from us our 
liberty. Attempts are made .to 
destroy us in their cpinion, ‘and to 
impute to us alone the innumerable 
calamities which this long and 
terrible war has poured out upon 
them.—Ncither the fury of the 
coalesced kings, nor the efforts of 
their soldiers have we any cause to 
dread, but we will always respect 
the opinion of the people of other 
states, whatever may be their go- 
wernment, their force, their weak- 
ness, their good or ill-fortune. 

We will not seek, as we have 
been often charged with doing, to 
trouble their internal organization, 
and to make them adopt our laws ; 
but we will not suffer our prin- 
ciples to be poisoned in their eyes, 
their esteem to be taken from us; 
and the ambitious authors of a 
ruinous war to charge us with the 
melancholy fruits of their own va- 
‘nity, crimes, and ambition. 

For three years, humanity has 
groaned and suffered,—for three 
years, Europe has been inundated 
with blood, and the people weighed 
down with taxes. ‘This insensate 
desire to partition or enslave France 
is evidently the cause or the pre- 
text of all these evils ; and when a 
part of our enemies, discouraged 
by our success, or enlightened by 
experience, seem willing to let the 
earth respire—when the people, 
indignant at the calamities with 
which they are overwhelmed, seem 
every where commanding their 
governments to put anend to the 
horrors of war, some cruel and 
crafty politicians would persuade 
them, that we alone are insensible 
to these cries of suffering” huma. 


ANNUAL REGISTER; i795. 


nity, that we alone thirst for theif 
blood ; that no peace with us can 
be safe or honourable; that the 
continuation of the war is advan. 
tageous to them ; and, finally, this 
absurd contradi¢tion, that on the 
one hand, our pride and our am. 
bition are too formidable for us to 
be treated with, and on the other, 
that our efforts have too much ex- 
hausted us not to afford hopes of 
certain success, by continuing the 
contest. ’ 

We ought, citizens, out of re. 
spect to humanity, to expose these 
contraditions, reply to these ca-— 
lumnies, hold up the light to every 
eye, and unmask those Machiave.. 
lian governments which, sporting 
with the blood of men and the for- 
tune of the people, aim at rearing 
a colossal greatness on the ruin of 
the principal powers in Europe. 

We ought to convince all vir. 
tuous men that we detest war with« 
out fearing it, that we are always 
ready fo put a stop to its horrors, 
when a peace shall be offered to 
us consistent with our dignity, and 


capable of guaranteeing our safety. 


We ought at the same time, to 
advertise the people of all nations 
that, ready to negotiate with frank- 
ness, we will not suffer our arms_ 
to be paralized, or our triumphs 
to be suspended by negotiations, 
false or futile. 

Our armies, who brave the sea 
Sons, master the elements, and 
turn to their advantage all the ob- 
stacles which nature and art seem 
to oppose to them; our armies who, 
rushing over the frozen inunda- 
tions of Holland, have completed 
the conquest of it in less time than 
was formerly necessary to make the 
tour, will charge themselves with 
demonstrating to our enemies ad 

at 


ST. A:T E: PiAiPE ® &. 


far from being exhausted by three 
years of war, we have only aug- 
mented our resources, and added 
to the experience of our generals, 
to the discipline of our soldiers, to 
that republican ardour which has 
never ceased to inflame their souls. 
But we ought, above all, to prove 
to the universe that the ambition 
of the English government, the 
interested policy of the house of 
Austria, and the pride of Russia, 
are the sole causes of the mistor- 
tunes of the world. 

Powers of Europe! open your 
eyes, contemplate your true dan- 
gers; distinguish at last your true 
enemies; consider with affright the 
abyss into which they are dragging 
you, by sometimes making France 
a bugbear to terrify, and sometimes 
Tepresenting it as a prey easy to be 
divided. Suffering people! deluded 
monarchs, envied republics, follow 
with me the courts of Vienna, of 
Petersburg, and, above all, of 
London, through the dark laby- 
rinth of their crafty policy! the 
torch of evidence will condu& you, 
and you will then see what are the 
projects you ought to fear, the ene. 
mies you ought to combat, the 
friends you ought to embrace. 

The politics of the cabinet of 
Vienna have been long unveiled. 
Constant in their ambitious pro-‘ 
jects, princes have succeeded one 


another on that throne for several 


ages, preserving always the same 


Spirit, pursuing incessantly the 
same system. ‘The object is al- 


Ways inyariable; but the means 


of accomplishing it continually 
changing. The house of “Austria, 
for its aggrandizement, has, by 
turns, employed treaties, ruptures, 
Mafriages, intrigues, and arms. 
Before Russia had civilized herself, 


ig! 


and Prussia had become a power, 
France, ‘Turkey, and Swedea, 
formed alone the rampart to pro. 
tect the empire against the em. 
perors. Since the rivals of the 
court of Vienna increased in aum. 
ber aud in force, that court has 
negotiated so dexterously, that 
it has been very near destroying, 
by artifice, the counterpoise which 
balanced its power. It weakened 
the Turks by sacrificing them to 
the Russians ;-it seduced France ta 
such a degree, that Prussia once 
saw itself on the brink of complere 
destruction, in spite of the genixs 
of Frederic and the discipline of 
his soldiers. 

Twice since that period it has 
been on the point of possessing Ba. 
varia; first by force of arms, and 
next by an exchange: finally, 
secing that, notwithstanding its 
connexions with France, the 
French did not second its views, it 
wished perfidiously to destroy its 
ally ; and profiting of the shocks 
of our revolution, it favoured our 
internal enemies, formed plots in 
the very bosom of our government 
and leagued all Europe against ws, 
under the haughty pretext of 
maintaining the cause of kings, but 
with the real design of taking from 
us Alsace, Lorrain, and a part of 
Flanders ; and of ridding itself for 
ever of the observation of a people 
whose glory always excited its 
envy, and whose force always re. 
pressed its audacity. ‘The event 
has deceived its expe€tation. It has 
already lost the Pays Bas, its for. 
tresses, its cannon, its treasures 5 
its armies have disappeared be. 
fore our’s, the reputation of its 
generals is vanished, and every 
thing announces that upon ‘the 
cabinet of Vienna the day of 

justice 


192 


justiceds arrived. It how exhibits 
nothing but the spectacle of dis- 
appointed ambition and impotent 
wrath. It fears peace, but it cannot 
continue the war; and there is not 
a power of Europe which does not 
see that its policy is to engage other 
powers to ruin themselves to fight 
for its interests, and to recover for 
it what it has lost. ‘ 
Prussia must now know on what 
side was artifice, and on what side 
sincerity. Every thing must make 
Frederic William regret having 
listened to the councils of his na- 
tural enemy, in preference to the 


cific envoys of a free nation, 
> 


which shewed him the truth, and 
ofrered him a useful amity; he 
must regret having been the duve 
of some crowned intriguers, of 
some dexterous negotiators, ~vho 
led him into the only course that 
could ruin him. Spain, the Em- 
pire, Sardinia, must experience the 
same regret. hese powers must 
shudder at seeing the abyss into 
which it has been attempted to 
plunge them. ‘They have only the 
melancholy prospect of sharing the 
fate of Holland, or of being anni. 
hilated under the yoke of the two 
courts that have seduced them. 
Ah! what we ought above all to 
shew to these deluded powers, for 
the interest of Europe, is the 
danger which they are menaced 
by with two Colossusses they sup- 
port, which will conclude by sub- 
jugating them, if our sacr#fices and 
our courage do not stop them in 
theirprogress. Englandand Russia, 
these are the two enemies we ought 
to denounce to the universe; 
these are the tyrants we ought to 
denounce to the world; these are 
the wide-wasting torrents whose 
irruption wemust stop, Moredex- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


terous, better situated, less unfors 
tunate than Austria, they alone 
have hitherto profited of the ge- 
neral calamities and errors of the 
coalition. 

Rouse fronz your sleep, states of 
the empire, king of Prussia, and 
all ye maritime powers !—your 
fleets, your forces, your cultivators, 
your finances, your blood, all you 
have been made to sacrifice, to 
give to Russia the empire of the 
land, and that of the seas to proud 
Albion. Do you forget that the 
inhabitants of. the north destroyed 
the Roman empire, more united, 
more formidable than you? Must 
you be reminded of those irruptions 
of the Goths and Vandals, inun- 
dating all Europe, to destroy all 
the empires of it? Must you be 
reminded. that for 60 years Russia, 
introducing a. gross civilization 
among her barbarous people, pre- 
serving a savage force, even while 
enriching herself with arts and 
modern tactics, has already humbled 
the Chinese, and planted colonies 
on the coast of America; that she 
has passed the Caucasus, subjected 
Georgia, imposed laws upon a part 
of Persia, sabjugated the Cossacks, 
destroyed the ‘Tartars, conquered 
the Crimea, partitioned Poland, 
dismayed the Ottoman empire, 
raised insurrection in Greece, and 
menaced Constantinople ? 

Must we open wounds not yet 
entirely healed, and mention the 
numerous battalions entering Ber. 
lin itself, which, but for the un- 
foreseen caprice of Peter III. would 
have annihilated the very name: of 
the Prussian power? Do you not 
see that the ambitious Catharine, 
by holding out vain promises to 
the emigrants, by inflaming the 
rage of the German princes against’ 

French 


: 


STATE PAPERS, 


French liberty, .has contriyed to 
entangle her rivals in a’war which 
exhausts them, in order to make 
herself mistress of Poland, and so 
open to her the gates of Germany ? 
I know it may be said, with some 
foundation, that the Russian em. 
pire is a Colossus with feet of clay-; 
that in it corruption has preceded 
maturity ; that the slavery which 
exists in it deprives its force of all 
solidity, and its resources of all 
energy ; that its extent is immense, 
but partly desert ; that it is proud 
but poor; that it is already too 
vast to be governed; that by ex- 
tending itself it accelerates its own 
dissolution; and thatevery conquest 
it makes is a step toward its ruin. 
I admit these truths; but this 
giant, before he perishes, will crush 
you; it is upon your ruins that he 
must fall ; he will not dismember 
himself till after you are ravaged, 
dispersed, and annihilated. Danes, 
Swedes, Germans, Prussians, Ot- 
tomans, think of this! time flies, 
the thunder rattles; Wienna be- 
trays you; the Muscovite torrent 
is augmenting; Attila is once 
more advancing, and if you do 
Not unite in time to arrest this 
destructive scourge, you are un- 
done. . 

You are taught to fear France. 
What a strange error: if your 


" government be wise, and founded 


on true principles, why envy us? 
if-from its nature it be as dis- 
astrous, as you are told, why dread 
a people that carries in its own bo- 
som a source of weakness or of 
agitation, that must prevent it from 
meddling with you?—the con- 
stancy of our efforts, the duration 
of our sacrifices, the permanence 
of our victories, do they not de- 
monstrate beforehand the stability 
Vor, XXXVII, 


193 


of treatics that may be made with 
us ?—Are not changes of system, 
by a great nation, necessarily more 
rare than the changes and caprices 
of ministers, of mistresses, and of 
favourites? ah! our interests are 
commen, What signifies it, that 
we have outstript you in the careet 
of liberty ! what signify our con. 
stitution and our laws, our prin. 
ciples and our opinions! policy 
commands you to unite with us, 
and to march with equal pace 
against the enemies that threaten 
us. When it is dinned in your 
ears, that it is neither safe nor ho- 
nourable to treat with us, trans- 
late’ this language into its true 
meaning, and learn that Austria 
says—* fight, that I may regain 
my provinces ;"* and now that 
England does not urge you to fight, 
but in the hope you will prevent 
us from opposing her maritime 
conquests ; finally listen to Russia, 
mark her very words: ‘¢ fight, ex- 
haust yourselves, lavish all your 
blood, and all your treasures, that 
I may, without obstacle, quit my 
deserts, and spread my warlike 
population over your fertile terri. 
tories.’” , 

Oh, ye politicians of Europe, 
who boast of wisdom so exalted, of 
penetration so profound, how is it 
possible, that you have not yet 
lifted up the veil which hides from 
your eyes the Machiavelian politics 
of the English goyernment!—How 
is it ye do not see to what degree 
it abuses you, and what a game it 
makes of all-it professes to respett ! 
That government accuses us of im- 
morality ; and when, by an armed 
neutrality, the robbery of neytral 
commerce was to be repressed, it 
was the only civilized government 
which unblushingly, opposed the 

oO measure 


194 


measure. It accuses us of having 
broken the peace, and violated the 
right of nations, and. it insulted 
our ambassador. Jc. professes to 
hate intolerant papacy, and it takes 
up arms to defend thie superstitions 
of Rome. It pretends to cherish 
liberty, and it is in allianee with 
the oppressors of Poland. | It reo 
proaches us with cruelties of which 
we .excerate and punish the au. 
thors; and it has filled Xsia with 
pillage and dead bodies, has hired 
savages to enslave the Americans, 
and ‘purchased men of a German 
princes fixing beforehand the price 
of each wound, of cach mutilation ; 
ina word, settling the tarif of every 
drop of biood of those miserable 
slaves. Jt charges us with ambi- 
tion, and foolishly strives to render: 
‘sab roaate rof all the colonies. It 
has the audacity to say, that we 
meke war without humanity; and 
it has attempted to avenge its dis. 
asters, by exposing twenty-four 
millions of men to a famine from 
which chance and our valour have 
protected us, It clamoars every 
where that we want to attack the 
independence of other states ; and 
it attempted to compel Genva, Ve- 
nice, Sweden and Denmark, to 
renounce the most respectable and 
the most sacred of all rights, that of 
remaining neuter amid the horrors 
of war. Finally, it has the assu- 
rance’ to declare, that it is not safe 
to treat, with us; that government 
does so, which, when in alliance 
with Russia, excited the. Furks to 
make war upon her, and afterwards 
abandoned them ;. that. govern. 
ment, which encouraged the Poles 
in their revolution, and, left them 
withoursupport ; that government, 
which: armed Sweden against the 
Russians,.and betray edit that go. 


; 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


vernment, which forced . Holland 
to fight against us, and afte# lend. 
ing it a feeble aid, confined its ef- 
forts to diminishing the account of 
its losses ; that government, in fine, 
which, after having seduced the 
unfortunate inhabitants of La Ven- 
dee and Toulon, tranguilly enjoyed 
the spe¢tacle of their ruin, 

Irresolute Spaniards, what do 
you expect ? if chance should dis- 
appoint our courage, if, persisting 
in your unaccountable coalition, 
you should paralize our efforts 
against your implacable enemy, and 
if that enemy, establishing herselt 
in our colenies, should destroy the 
aliment of our marine ? do you not 
see her already laying hold of your 
galleons, digging your mines, wrest- 
ing from you the empire of Mexico, 
that of Peru, Porto-Rico, Cuba ; 
driving you from all the seas, and 
from the heights of Gibraltar, in- 
sulting your, misfortunes, and en. 
joying your misery? In 1790, 
had she not already drawn the 
sword against you, because she 
thought you in no condition to de- 
fend y ourselves? Did not we turn 
it aside at the moment when, rec- 
koning on our troubles, she hoped 
to strike you with impunity 2? Do 
not her attempt upon Corsica an- 
nounce that she wishes to expel 
you fromr the Mediterranean, as 
she aspires at chasing you from the 
ocean ? 

Awake, then, at the call of 
truth; appreciate at their just Vax 
luc the calumnies spread against 
us ; see in the speeches with which 
the parliament of London resounds, 
nothing but the fear of peace, but 
the language of ambition unmasks 
ed, and let us take upon ourselves 
she care of our vengeance and of 
our safety, It is not only safe, it 

ix 


STATE 


is honourable, to treat with us: 
but the measure is become indis- 
pensable to your satety ; we have 
made known to you the necessity 
of it, learn the meaus; we are too 
grand, too powerful, to have any 
thing to disguise. 

Our past dangers, the necessity 
of rendering the return of them 
impossible, the example of the me- 
nacing league which wanted to 
Over-run us, and at one time car- 
ried desolation into the heart of 
France ; the sincere desire of ren- 
dering peace solid and durable, 
obliges us to extend our frontiers, 
to take for our limits great rivers, 
mountains, -and the ocean, and 
thus, beforehand, and for a long 
series of ages, to secure ourselves 
from all invasion and from all at- 
tack. At this price the powers 
of Europe may depend upon an 
inviolable peace, and upon cou- 
rageous allies, capable of disengag- 
ing them from the weight of the 
two rash Colossusses that, in their 
guilty delirium, want to arrogate 
at once the empire of the land and 
of the seas. 

Such, citizens, are the grand 
truths which every thing now com- 
mands us to develope before the 
eyes of Europe. 

In vain is it attempted to mislead 
the people of other nations, by 
telling them that our government 
being only provisional, no tie, no 
treaty, -can have any gnarantec. 
Our government is the pieniporen- 
tiary nominated by the totality of 
the Freneh people to terminate in 
their name the revolution and the 
war; and I doubt if ever ambas- 
sador was seen invested with power 
thore ample, ot a charaéter more 
augutt, 


PAPERS. 195° 

What signify the combinations 
of which governments are formed, 
when treaties are formed with the 
people to whom those governments 
belong! the peace which you will 
soon solicit, will be much more 
solid from being given ‘to you by 
the assent of the whole people. 
Our government is the will of the 
nation ; our forms are justice; our 
principles are humanity; your 
guarantee is the sincerity and the 
courage of a nation which has 
willed to be free: 

Appreciate our actual governs 
ment by the spectacle which it of- 
fers to the world; it has repressed 
intestine troubles ; annihilated re- 
bel factions ; broken down the scat- 
folds ; opened the prisons; aveng~ 
ed innocent blood; devoted to 
death and infamy the ministers of 
terror; it has restored liberty to 
commerce; tranquillity to agricul - 
ture: in the interior it has made 
justice the order of the day, and 
victory on the frontiers. 

Ah! all enlightened nations will , 
listen with the smile of contempt 


and of pity, to the absurd or per- 


fidious politicians who call in ques- 
tion, whether a nation that can 
conguer has the power of nego- 
tiating ; who dare still to maintain 
that peace is impossible, at the mo- 
ment when every thing demon- 
strates that obstinacy is insensate 
and resistance vain? 

Adopt, citizens, the ideas I have 
traced; speak with that noble 
frankness which befits the majesty 
of the French people, and you will 
soon see the diplomatic subtleties 
of your enemies confounded by the 
wisdom of your councils, as you 
have seen their temerity punished 
by the conrage of your warriozs. 

wea Proclamation 


196 


Proclamation of the Royalists of Anjou 
and Upper Poitou, in Answer to 
the pacificatory Proclamation of the 
Representatives of the People. 


IN THE NAME OF THE KING, 


The Military Council of Anjor and 
Upper Poitou to the Kepublicaus. 


Deluded Frenchmen, 

YOU announce to us words of 
peace—this is the wish of our 
hearts; but by what right do you 
offer us a pardon which it is only 
vour lotto beg? Stained with the 
blood of our kings, stained by the 
murder of a million of victims, by 
the conflagration and devastation 
ef our property, what are your 
titles to ai ge us with confidence 
and security? Js it the punish- 
ment of Robespicrre and Carrier? 
but indignant nature was raised 
against those bloody monsters! ‘The 
eries of public vengeance devoted 
them to death—In prescribing you 
did nothing more than yield to ne- 
cessity. Amongst you, one faétion 
supersedes another, and soon per- 
haps, the same fate awaits that 
‘which at present reigns. Is it your 
pretended viétories? But we are 
not ignorant that falsehood>was al- 
ways presiding over your public 
press, and that, in experiencing 
the most severe defeats, you arro- 
gantly assumed the haughty. lan- 
Guage of the conquerors-ot Europe, 
to impose on the credulity of your 
slaves! Is it the release of our 
brethren who were prisoners? Was 
not that liberty due to them which 
tyranny only could have taken from 
them? And when. you detain 
them amongst you, unarmed and 
defenceless, have not *we cause to 
ear that this temporary release is 
an ambush craftily prepared to 
blend us all in the same misfor. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1705. 


tunes? Alas! were we to believe 
them, our murdered relations and 
friends would rise from their graves 
to tell us, ‘* Take care of the po?- 
son concealed under those appear- 
ances; it was in proclaiming: to us 
life and safety, we were immo. 
lated—the same fate undoubtedly 
awaits you—the faction that was 
then domineering is still reigning ; 
its spirit is the same; it aims at 
the same end; means and agents 
only are changed.’’ 

If, however, your wishes are sin- 
cere—if your hearts, softened and 
changed, are bent towards peace, 
we must tell you, Restore the heir 
of your king his sceptre and crown; 
to religion its worship and minis- 
ters; tothe aobility its rights and 
estates ; to the whole kingdom its 
ancient and respectable constitu. 
tion, free fram the abuses intro. 
duced init by unfortunate events— 
then, forgetting all your wrongs 
and enormities, we my. fly into 
your arms, and mingle with yours, 
our hearts, feelings, and wishes. 
But, without the previous adoption 
of these measures, we despise an 
amnesty that crime should never 
have dared to offer to virtue—we 
despise your efforts and threats ; 
supported by our brave and gene. 
rous warriors, we will fight tll 
death, and you shall reign but on 
the tomb of the last of us. 

Resolved unanimously at Mau. 
levriere, the 28th January, the 
year of grace 1795, and the third 
of the reign of Louis XVII. 

(Signed) Srorriet, gene- 
ral in chief,. 
TRoTrevin, 
Mounier, 
Martin, 
Corpe, and i 
GUIBERT, secre- , 
tary-gencral. 
We 


- 


We require the above procla- 
mation to be printed, read, and 
published, though all the parishes 
composing the distriéts of Anjou 
and Upper Poitou. 

(Signed) Bexnirr, Curé de St. 
Lo d’ Angers, commissary - 
general. 

Printed at the royal printing-of- 
fice at Maulevriere, by Chambon, 
printer. 


The Declrratisn of the Chirfs of La 
Vendee in the Armies of the Centre 
and Pay Bas. 


UNPRECEDENTED attempts 
against our liberty, the most cruel 
itolerance, despotism, | injustice, 
and horrid vexations which we 
“have experienced, have assembled 
us with arms in our hands. We 
have seen with horror our unfor- 
tunate country .delivered over to 
the ambitious, who, under the ap- 
pearances of the purest patriotism, 


and the seductive mask of popu-_ 


larity, aspired to a perpetual dic- 
tatorship. Discerning their pro- 
jeéts through the veil in which 
they enveloped themselves—could 
we do otherwise than try our Jast 
efforts to replace the authority in 
hands which our principles made 
legitimate? 
_ Whilst an oppressive government 
deprived our fellow -citizens of their 


most precious rights, we have de.-_ 


fended our’s with constancy and 
firmness, We have had recourse 
in our misfortunes to new powers. 
Despair even lent us its frightful 
succour, and rendering us insensi- 
ble to those considerations which 
soften the most ferocious hearts, 
engraved on our’s the resolution 


STATE PAPERS. 


197 


rather to’ die than to live under 
such tyranny.+ 
But now the government of blood 
has disappeared. The leaders of 
that impious faction which covered 
France with cypress and mourning, 
have paid with their heads the for. 
feit of their criminal designs. The 
representative Ruelle, the friend of 
the laws and of humanity, is come 
to bear among us the words of peace. 
That confidence which had- been 
so lowered by the a¢ts of barbarity, 
which have preceded his mission, 
begins now to revive. On his ap- 
pearance we feel no disinclination 
to such approa aches as may tend to 
remove the calamitous effects of 
the divisions that afflict us. New 
representatives, worthy of our es- 
teem and our praise, have been 
joined to the first; we have jn- 
formed them of our intentions, and 
our desire of a sincere pacification, 
guaranteed by honour. In our 
conferences we have made them 
understand what interested the hap- 
iness of our country, and what it’ 
slansed to their prudence and 
wisdom to grant, for the purpose 
of obtaining the desirable end -of ° 
peace. United -in the ‘same tent - 
with the representatives of the peo. 
ple, we felt more strongly, if pos~ 
sible, that we were still Frenchmen, 
and should be animated only by 
the general good of our country. 
It is with these sentiments tha¢ 
we declare to the national conver. 
tion and to France, our submission 
to the French republic, one and 
indivisible, and our acknowledg. 
ment of its laws; and that we 
make a formal engagement not to 
make any attempt against them. 
We promise to surrender, as soon 
as possible, all the artillery and 
O 3 houses 


308 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


houses in our possession, and we 
make a solemn promise never. to 
‘bear arms against the republic, 

Done under the tent, the egth 
-Pluviose (new style) the 3d year of 
the republic. 

(Signed) Cuarette, Frevurror, 

Covuetres, SAYINAUD, 
Comartin, Deserves, 
GUERIN AINE, CAILLAuUD, 
DesatGNaRD, GoGueEt, 
Lrrinoy, SAUYAGET, 
Baupry, GyeERiu JEUNE, 
SonriLHac, Bryarry, 

Desrue jeune, PRUDHOMME, 
REJEAU, DELALORIE, 
RowsskEau, 
RossaRD LE. JEUNE, 
AUVINET FILS AINE. 

A similar declaration was made 
by the officers; composing the mi- 
litary council of the army of Anjou. 
(Signed) Norouin, DeLaviILuo, 

Dergaucs, Ronou, Mar- 

TIN AINE, MARTIN LE 

yeune, Hrrtan, Mar- 
In, ET GrBerr. 

A third declaration, on the part 
of the Chouans,. was made on the 
28th Ventose. 

(Signed) Comartin, SOLILLHAC, 
pe Scereaux, Drenstiz, 
Courter, et Menarp. 


Aiddpeis of CHARETT ge, and the other 
Leaders, to the Inhabitants of La 
Vendee, laid before the Convention 
on the ‘igth March, 1795- 


BRAVE inhabitants! Vile se- 
ducers, infamous intriguers, ambi- 
tious and perverse men, who build 
their happiness and their enjoy- 
ments on the ruins of the public 
fortune, and who sacrifice, without 
remorse, to the success of their guil- 


ty designs, the lives and property of 


their fellow men, scek naw to mis- 
lead you. They impute to our mea- 
sures dishonourable motives; they 
pervert our beneyolent intentions ; 
and they give to the treaty which 
we have cancluded, false and perfi- 
dious .colours ; with unparalleled 
impudence they circulate reports 
calculated to infuse into every bo- 
som mistrust, terror, and dis- 
cord. 

To watch over your interests, ta 
forget our own, to labour for your 
good, without any personal con- 
sidergtions-—sugh 1s the glorious 
task which we proposed to qur- 
selyes ; we think that we have not 
wandered. from this hanourable line 
of conduct. 

Since, however, the. malevolent 
dare yet to raise doubts, and inju- 
rious sus ple ions respecting our con. 
duct, itisourduty todissipate t them, 
and to undeceive and instruct you ; 
we shall now fylfi that duty. 

We aré not ignorant, brave in- 
habitants, of the powerful reasons 
which provoked you to insurrec, 
tion, and which put arms in your 


- hands. 


‘The mast deadly blows were 
aimed at the freedom of your reli- 
gious opinions. New pontiffs and 
a new worship had been established 
upan the ruins of your own. In 
tolerance hunted every where for 
the guilty, and delighted i in seizing 
vidims. ‘The insolent despotism 
of the authorities established for 
your protection—the corwées of all 
kinds, and vexation of every spe- 
cies aggravated the afflifting pic- 
ture. When the principle of a dan- 
gerous evil is entirely destroyed, 
the disagreeable consequences that 
flow from it ought to exist no 
longer. The necessity of putting 
an end to the melancholy conse- 

quences, 


STATE 


guencés, at the same time with the 
source of them, is one of your most 
urgent necessities, and one of your 
most sacred duties, 

The peaceful exercise of your 
religion is granted to yor. You 
may securely make use of this im- 
prescriptible right, which could 
not be taken from you withour a 
total disregard of your rights. From 
this nioment you are irce to offer 
to the Supreme Being your homage 
and your gratitude, according zo 
your ancient usages. 

__ Your unhappy country has been 
Jaid waste; fire has consumed your 
habitations, and unbridied soldiery 
has exercised on your persons and 
property the most horrible rob- 
beries. But the national conven- 
tion has solemnly promised to in- 
demnify you for your losses, and 
torepair, as far as possible, all the 
evils occasioned by a system of pro. 
scription and injustice. 

Succours are granted to you to 
rebuild your cottages. Carle will 
be given you to revive agriculture 
and to procure you the comforts of 
life, You will not long regret 
the want of your instruments of 
labour. You will not hear of taxes, 
till the period arrives in which 
your recovered happiness shall af- 
ford you the means of contribut- 
ing to the wants of the state. 

Let not the disconsolate widow 
and the infirm father trembie for 
the fate of their children whom the 
laws may cal] to the defence of the 
republic. No; misfortune and 
old age will not be deprived of 
their support.—What, could the 
republic resolve to deprive misfor- 
tune of its support, and respeéta- 
ble old age of its prop? no; the 
pation dispenses with your going 
. $0 protest the frontiers, and only 


PAPERS. 199 


imposes upon you the easy task of 
labouring in your fields to assist in 
the nourishing her defenders. 

You have furnished, for the sub- 
sistence of armies, the fruit of the 
sweat of your brow, and your eco- 
nomy. We have given you re- 
ceipts for it; the national conven- 
tion will pay the amount. 

What remains for you to desire? 
what disquiets can sitll agitate 
hearts so long torn, it is true, by 
resentment and misfortune? will 
you fear being oppressed anew by 
authorities unworthy of your con- 
fidence? 

Dismiss your fears, brave inhabi- 
tants; let security re-enter your 
minds, and drive thence horrible 
despair. Lhe men whose odidus 
yoke you dread with reason; the 
men who are as much the enemics 
of their country as your enemies, 
will no more be the depositories of 
power which they abused so cruelly. 

The representatives of the peo- 
ple will consult us on the choice of 
men to replace them; we will 
point out to them persons known 
to you; persons who have acquired 
your esteem and our’s; persons who, 
to sweeten your existence, are rea. 
dy to sacrifice their pleasures, their 
fortunes. 

Could you then think, brave io. 
habitants, that we are capable of 
basely. betraying your interests? 
after having supported thern with 
so much ardour, ought you to fear 
for a moment that we are capab'e 
of giving the lie.to the conduct 
we have constantly held ? 

Ah, if these injurious ‘sentiments 
proceed from. your hearts; if we 
were to impute them to jealousy 
and malevolence, how must our 
hearts be for ever affi@ed! how 
should we support the shocking 

O4 ideas 


200 


idea, thgt in wishing to make men 
happy, we had only made them un- 
grateful. eS 
But what, are not your interests 
our interests? are not our friends, 
our wives, our children among 
you? do not our possessions join 
your fields? yes, undoubtedly ; and 
however precious may be these con- 
nexions, think not that they have 
furnished the motives which have 
determined our conduct. We have 
thought only of you, we have sacri- 
ficed every thing for your happiness ; 
and-in establishing it on a sure and 
durable foundation, we have re- 
served only to ourselves the inesti- 
mable advantage of being the wit- 
nesses of it. 
{Signed) CHarerre, 
Freurior, SAPINAUD, 
Coverus, Depruc. 


. 


Extra from the Register of the States 
General of the United Provinces, 
Fan. 18th. 


WE have heard the report of 
Messrs. de Grotenray, and other 
deputies for military affgirs; we 
have also examined a letter from 
his highness, dated from the Hague 
this day, and stating, ‘‘ that, as 
from the situation of the republic, 
his highness foresees the fate that 
awaits the country, in case the 
enemy penetsate further, gnd as he 
is unwilling to be an obstacle ta 
the making of peace, he has taken 
the resolution to retire for a time 
put of the country ; he hopes that 
their high mightinesses will not 
disapprove of this step, and he 
rays that the Supreme being will 
baad his blessings upon the pro- 
vinces, and restore them to their 
former. prosperity, 


.tg received from the said princes. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


** His highness protests that he 
has done every thing in his power 
for the good of his country. He 
expresses his regret that he has 
not been able to do more for the 
general good; and he asserts, that 
if circumstances permit him to be 
again useful to his country, their 
high mightinesses shall always find 
him ready to exert his utmost en- 
deavours. He concludes by in- 
forming the States General, that his 
two sons, who have received per- 
Mission to resign their military 
commands, will leave the country 
with him.” 

‘the States General having taken 
the above circumstances into their 
consideration, and having consi- 
dered that the existing circum- 
stances require immediate measures, 
and that the ordinary forms of dis. 
cussion and deliberation cannot be 
followed, decree previously, that 
what shall be done and resolved up- 
on, in the present posture of affairs, 
is not tobe considered as aprecedent ; 
without any prejudice, therefore, 
to any ulterior deliberation, it is 
determined, that information shall 
be communicated to the command- 
ers of regiments and corps in ‘the 
service, as well as to all governors 
and commanders of towns and 


places occupied by the troops of 


the state, that the prince of Orange 
and Nassau has absented himself for 
some time, and that the princes of 
Orange, his sons, have been dis- 
charged from the command of the 
army. All colonels, or command- 
ing officers, as well as governors 
and commanders, are therefore to 
address themselves provisionally to 
the council of state of the United 
Low Countries, on the subjects of 
thase orders which they have hither- 


Tr 


STATE .PAPERS. 


¥t is also decreed, that the private 
secretary of his highness, Larrey, 
shall be written to, to send imme- 
diately to the council all letters ad- 
dressed to his highness on military 
affairs. 


Extra fram the Records of the Deli. 
berations of the States General of 
Monday, Fan. 19, 1795+ 


THE counsellor pensionary Van- 
den Spiegel has communicated to 
their high mightinesses a letter 
which he received from the stadt- 
holder, written on board the pink 
Johanna Hogenraat, off the road 
of Schevelling, dated January the 
18th, with the note annexed there. 
to, worded as follows: 


(Keir, 

*¢ T was informed, by Mr. D’Eu- 
ghuyza, of the answer received from 
Paris. Since his departure, I dis- 
coursed with the officers of the 
marine, and the pilot of the pink :.I 
subjoin you their replies ; by which 
you will see that it is impossible to 
land any where else but in England ; 
and, as there exists no armistice, 
it cannot be required of me, that 
I should be wandering on the seas, 
in expeétation of the success of the 
deputies of the assembly of the 
States of Holland,’ sent to the 
French general, who, in my opi- 
nion, will not prevent the arrival 
of the French at the Hague: I will 
make then one of the ports of Eng- 
Jand; and as soon as I can possibly 
do it, I will go on board of one 
or other ship of the States, which I 
suppose are at Plymouth. 

*« hope, sir, to write to youfrom 
thence, in order to inform you of 
she place I landed at, and the pro. 


/ 


201 


vince I shall withdraw to, Excuse 
my bad writing, for I write this 
lying in the cabin. 
I am, with esteem, sir, 
Your devoted servant, 
(Signed) W. Prince or ORance.”® 


«<P, S. I hope, if circumstances 
will permit, to return to one or 
other of the’provinces, or even to 
the Hague, and to receive some in- 
telligence concerning the success of 
the deputies sent this day,’’ 


Questions put by the Prince of Orange, 
William the 5th, Stadtholder, Cap- 
tain and Hereditary Admiral Genes 
ral of the United Pravinces, to the 
underwritten, on the 18th of Fa- 
muary, 1795, ia the evening. 


Quest. 1, WILL it be possible 
at this moment to.make one of the 
ports of the republic? 

Answ. There is not the leas¢ 
possibility ; the wind is east, the 
passages are obstructed by the ice, 
and the pink not strong enough ta 
be exposed in the icicles. 

Quest. 2, Is there any possibility 
of landing any where else, but in 
England ? 

Answ. No; thesame impossibility 
exists for all other ports, on account 
of the ice; the Elbe, the Weser, as 
well as the Eastern and Western. 
Ems, are so much encumbered with 
ice, that none of their ports can be 
entered. 

Quest. 3. Will it be prudent te 
remain here at anchor? and by 
taking this resolution, is there no 
danger to be foreseen? 

Answ. The weather is now fa- 
vourable, but if the wind should 
shift about to the west, which is 
often the case at the turn of the 

tide, 


202 


tide, and if the weather grows 
tempestuous, there would most pro- 
bably be some danger if it was re- 
solved to go ashore again; besides, 
we should be exposed to the attacks 
ofthe enemy, if they should come 
from the road side with armed 
vessels, 
(Signed) J.O. VAILLANT, ship’s 
captain. 
G.Van. Heinen, lieu- 
tenant of the navy. 
(Lower) The mark of Jan 
Roos, pilot of the 
pink called Johan- 
na Hogenraat. 


Gen. Daengels’ Proclamation to the 
Dutch, inviting them to surrender. 


Head Quarters at Leerdam, the 
28th Nivose (17th Jan. 1795), 
Third Year of the Republic. 
THE representatives of the 
French people require of the Dutch 
nation that it shall set itself free: 
they do not wish it to submit to 
the conquerors; they do not wish 
to compel the acceptance of assig- 
nats, but only to ally themselves 
with it as a free people: that Dor- 
drecht, Haerlem, Leyden, and Am- 
sterdam; that all the province of 
Holland make in this manner the 
revolution, and inform the repre- 
sentatives of it by their deputies at 
Bois le Duc. 
‘Yhe General of Division. 
(Signed) Dagnpvenss 


Proclamation of the Revolutionary 
Cimmittee of Amsterdam, 


Brave ¢citize Pe 
WE G. Pruys, S. Wiselens, J. 
J. Ae Goges, J. Thoen, D. Von 


‘ 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Laer, J. Ondoup, E, Vandeisluis, 
P. Duereult, J. Van Hassen, P. J. 
B. P. Vander Aa, forming your 
revolutionary committee, hail you 
with vows of health and frater. 
nity. 

By the mighty aid of the French 
republic, and by your own energy, 
you have cast off the tyranny which 
oppressed you. You are once more 
in possession of your rights, 

YOU ARE FREE, YOU ARE EQUAL! 

Your tyrants have fled from their 
posts. 

Vellow-citizens, you may follow 
with confidence and security your 
usual avocations. Your persons, 
your properties, shall be protected, 

We propose to you to name as 
your provisional representatives the 
following burghers. Be assured 
that they will watch over and pro- 
tect. vour rights, interests, and 
your liberties. 

The citizens whom we propose 
are—N, Van Staphoerst, J. Van 
Bieterse, A. P. Leyden, G. Titsing, 
J. Van Eys, W. Vander Vuurst, 
J. Tensset Junia, J. W. Van 
Dam, S. Bos, G. H. de Wilde, H. 
T. Kate,, Karel d’Amoer, H. Van 
Castrop, R. 1. Schimmelpenninck, 
N. Breukelaar, G. Wander Zoo, D. 
Vanaken, J. L. Hendras, M. Van 
Maurick, J. Galdberg, J. Van 
Lang. 

Chuse, fellow-citizens, these pa- 
triots as your representatives, that 
in the name of the people of Am. 
sterdam, they may forthwith enter 
upon the administration of your 
affairs. 

We once more hail you, worthy 
fellow-citizens. By your own pa- 
triotism, with the aid and under. 
the guidance of such representa- 
tives, order, tranquillity, and hap- 
piness, will reign in this city. The 

French. 


STATE PAPERS. 


Frenchmen who are among us con- 
duét themselves, indeed, ‘like bre- 
thren. Every idea of plunder, of 
rapine, or of injustice of any kind, 
is unknown to them. Fraternity 
with them, as with us, is the sole 
order of the day. 
In the name of the reyolutionary 
committec, 
RP. J. B. C. Vanper Aa, 
Amsterdam, "Fan. IQ) 1795, aud 
the 18t day of Dutch freedom, 


Priclamation of the Representatives of 
the French Nation to the People of 
Batavia. Amsterdam, 1st of Plu- 
wirse (Fan. 20, 1995) ix the third 
Year of the French Republic, one 


and indivisible, 


The Representatives of the French 
Nation with the Armies of the 
North, the Sambre, and the 
Meuse, to the People of Batavia. 


THE tyrants who have com- 
bined against the freedom of na- 
tions declared war against us, and 
threatened to conquer and subju- 
gate us. 

The treacherous stadtholder, hav- 
ing reduced your government un. 
der his power, entered into the 
base confederacy formed by the ty- 
rants, to force a great people to 
submit to the yoke of slavery. 

Your blood, your treasures, were’ 
lavished for this vile purpose; but 
the success of our arms has made 
manifest the justice of our cause, 
and our all-conquering armies have 
entered into your country. 

Batavians! we knew you too well 
to imagine you could be accomplices 
of so abominable a conspiracy. Our 
enemies arealso yours. The blood 


of she founders of the republic of 


203 


the United Netherlands still flows 
in your veins; and in the midst of 
the confusion of war we consider 
you as qgur friends and allies. It 
is under this name that we enter 
yourcountry, We seek not toter. 
rify, but to inspire you with con, 
fidence. Itisbuta few years since 
a tyrannic conqueror prescribed you 
laws ; we have abolished them, and 
restore you to freedom. 

We come not to make youslaves; 
the French nation shall preserve to 
you your independence. 

The armies of the republic shall 
observe the strictest military disci- 
pline, 

All crimes, and civil offences of 
citizens against citizens, shall be 
punished with the most rigid jus- 
tice. 

Personal safety shall be secured, 
and property protected, 

‘Lhe freedom of religious worship 
shall suffer no restraint. 

Lhe laws and customs of the 
country shall be, provisionally, 
maintained. 

The people of Batavia, exer. 
cising that sovereignty which is 
their right, shall, alone, possess 
the power to alter or modify the 
form of their government. 

Griiet, BeLLEcARDE, J. B, 
Lacoste, Joubert, Por. 
TIEZ DE L’O!se, 


Proclamation of the Provisional Repres 
sentatives of the People of Amsterdam. 


LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY, 


THE provisional representatives 
of the people of Amsterdam, for 
avoiding all confusion, and on 
purpose to preserve to the burghers 
as much as possible their affairs in 
full security, having judged it ne. 

cessary 


204 


cessary, that no members of the 
old police or the judicial admini- 
stration, their agents, or officers, 
whether they yet possess functions, 
or are forbidden to exercise them 
any more, shall hereatter leave the 
city, or continue to live out of it, 
without the previous knowledge 
and consent of the general com- 
mittee of superintendance; think 
proper to decree and ordain, and 
jt is decreed and ordained by these 
presents, that no one of them shall 
hereafter leave the city without 
having first addressed the committee 
of superintendance, and obtained a 
card of permission, on shewing 
which, the passports at present in 
uce shall be delivered by the com- 
mittee appointed to issue them ; on 
ain of being deemed suspected 
persons, and having their goods se- 
_qnestered. It is further ordained, 
that all the said persons already re- 
siding without the city, shall return 
within amonth from the date here- 
of, on pain of being deemed as 
tabove, leaving notwithstanding, to 
these last, the power (if they think 
themselves absent on any lawful 
cause} to inform the committee of 
supcrintendance thereof, which is 
enabled to dispense with their re- 
turn, if it thinks the exigence of 
the case requires it. It is further 
declared, that every person, of 
whatever description, convicted of 
having fraudulently required pass- 
ports under false names, will be 
penished according to the nature 
of the offence: the committee of 
general superintendance will sit 
from ten o’clock in the morning 
till ene, to deliver the aforesaid 
cards of permission. 
Decreed “and published the 3cth 
of January, 1795, first year of 
Batavian liberty, 


- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


By order of the said representa: 
fives, 
(Signed) G, Brenper, 
A. Brawots, Secretary. 


Second Proclamation. 


LIBERTY, FQUALITY, FRATERNITY, 


THE provisional representatives 
of the people of Amsterdam having 
taken into their consideration, that 
the commissions of many colleges 
and officers are on the point of ex- 
piring, and informed that several 
officers and persons employed in 
this city are embarrassed by their 
continuance in their places and 
employments, authorize and require 
by these presents, that all citizens, 
who have been established, or who 
have been engaged in any public 
employment or office in this city, 
such as all commissioners, as well 
those of the different chambers as 
others, all colleges, corporations, 
and in general, all officers and per- 
sons employed in thjs city, without 
distinétion, who have not been ext 
pressly discharged from their posts, 
shall remain in their offices, em- 
ployments, and funétions, till it 
shall be~ otherwise ordered, and 
thus provisionally shall continue 
respectively to discharge the du. 
ties thereof, in the most advantage- 
ous manner for the citizens, with. 
out being permitted to excuse 
themselves, en any pretext, or for 
any reason whatever, to withdraw 
themselves from the commissions, 
offices, or employments with which 
they have been charged, under 
pain of being considered and treat- 
ed as disaffe&ed and evil-minded 
persons. The aforesaid represen. 
tatives expeét -and exhort each of 
them to use His ytmost efforts for 

dis. 


STATE: PAPERS. 


discharging the duties of his station 
with all possible zeal and diligence, 
and to contribute all in his power 
to endeavour to promote good 
order in the administration ot the 
affairs of this city. 
Decreed, &c. 30th Jan. 1795. 
(Signed) G. Brenper, 
A. Branpis, Secretary. 


Public Instrument cf the new Order 
of Things solemnly published at the 
Hague. 


Declaration of the Rights of Man 
and of a Citizen. 


LIRERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY. 
THE provisional representatives 


of the people of Holland, believing 
that they owe to their fellow- 
citizens a solemn declaration of the 
principles upon which their pro- 
ceedings and actions depend, to 
all those to whom these presents 
shall come, or who shall hear them 
read, health, they make known, 
That we are fectly con- 
vinced the power, which has been 
confided to us, repeses only on the 
free choice of our fellow-citizens, 
and that it is from this choice alone 
we have received it; that no su- 
preme power resides in us;~ but 
that the proper sovereignty rests in 
the people, and this in such a 
manner, that the people can conter 
the exercise of it on their repre. 
sentatives, but can never alienate 
it from themselves: that we are 
assured the evils which this day 
bear so heavily on this country, and 
the other provinces, owe their 
origin principally to the perverse 
ideas which have been distilled into 
the people by artifice and violence: 
and therefore it is the duty of the 
‘Pepresentatives of the people, who 


205 


desire to be faithful to their duty, 
to lay down certain and evident 
principles, and to fix them as the 
rule of their condu&; for. though 
we thought the final settlement of 
these rights éught to be the first 
work of a national convocation of 
the representatives of the people 
named to decree and fix a form of 


. government, we nevertheless owe 


to the confidence which our fellow- 
citizens have placed in us, to. make 
a public 4nd solemn recognition of 
the rights of man, and of a citizen, 
in declaring, as we recognize and 
declare by these presents, 

That all men are born with 
equal rights, and that these natural 
rights cannot be taken from them. 

That these rights are equality, 
liberty, safety, property, and re- 
sistance to oppression. 

That liberty is the faculty which 
belongs to every man, to be able to 
do that which does not affect the 
rights of other men; therefore its 
natural limitation is found in this 
principle, ‘* Do not to another that 
«€ which thou would not wish him 
*¢ todo unto thee.’* 

That therefore it is permitted to 
all and to each to make Known to 
others his thoughts and sentiments, 
be it by the way of the press, or by 
any other means. 

That each man has the right to 
serve God in such manner as he 
pleases, without being in this 
respect any way restrained. 

‘That safety consists in the ces. 
tainty of not being troubled by 
another in the exercise of his 
rights, nor in the peaceable pos- 
session of property legally acquired- 

! Yiiat each man has the right of 
sufftage in the legislative assembly, 
of the entire society, eather per~ 


‘ sonally 


206 


sionally or by representation, in the 
choice of which he has concurred. 

That the end of all civil societies 
ought to be to assure to men the 
peaceable enjoyment of their na- 
tural rights. 

That therefore the natural li- 
berty of being able to do every 
thing, which does not hurt the 
rights of others, ought never to 
suffer any infringement, except 
when the end of civil society re- 
quires it. 

That such bounds to natural 
liberty cannot be imposed, burt by 
the people or their representa- 
tives. 

That consequently no person can 
be obliged to cede, or sacrifice any 
part of his particular property to 
the general commonwealth, unless 
this shall be expressly regulated by 
the will of the people, or their re- 
presentatives, and according to a 
previous indemnity. 

That the law is the free and so- 
Iemnexpression of the general will ; 
that it is equal for all, either to 
punish or to reward. 

That no person can be accused, 
arrested, of put in prison, but in 
such case and according to such 
formalities as shall be previously 
fixed by the law itself. 

That in case it shall be judged 
necessary to hold any person pri- 
soner, no one ought to be treated 
more rigarously than is absolutely 
necessary for confining his person. 

That all men being equal, all are 
eligible to all posts or employments, 
without any other motives of pre- 
ference than those of virtue and of 
capacity. ut 

That evety one has the right to 
concur in requiring, ftom -each 
functionary of public administra. 


‘: 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tion, an account and’ justificaticft 
of his conduct. 

That there never can be laid the 
smallest restri¢tion on the right of 
each citizen, to represent, that 
which is his interest, to those in 
whom the public authority is en- 
trusted. 

That the sovereignty resides in 
the entire people, and that ‘there- 
fore no portion of the people can 
arrogate it to themselves. 

That the people have at alf times 
a right tochange their form of go- 
vernment, to corre¢tit, or to choose 
another. . 

That such are the principles upon 
which we have believed it to be 
our duty to found our a¢tions and 
our proceedings ; and being desi- 
rous of applying them to the order 
of things, which had heretofore 
taken place, we forthwith disco- 
vered that the form cf government, 
which was confirmed in 1787 by 
means of the invasion of the Prus~ 
sian army, and consequently by 
force only, was in every respect 
contrary thereto. 

That the persons who heretofore 
composed the assembly of the selfs 
named States of Holland and West 
Friesland, were never elected by 
their fellow-citizens to be represen 
tatives, and that therefore this go- 
vernment could not exist, as being 
absolutely contrary to the rights of 
man and of a citizen: that we also 
presently perceived that all here- 
ditary dignities, such as that of 
hereditary stadtholder, captain ge 
neral and admiral of this province, 
and of the equestrian order, as 
well as all hereditary nobility, are 
repugnant to the rights of man, 
and that they ought to be held 
and. declared abolished, as they are 

declared 


- STATE PAPERS. 


declared to be abolished by these 
presents. if 
That we assure ourselves, by this 


declaration, all the extorted and’ 


illegitimate oaths on the soi-disant 
ancient constitution, prescribed in 
1787 and 1788, become in fact of 
no value, inasmuch as such an 
oath ought to have been previously 
binding ; but to tranquillise all and 
each, we declare besides, in the 
name of the people of Holland, as 
it is well and-expressly declared by 
these presents, that all citizens who 
may have taken the above oath are 
hereby discharged therefrom. 

That in the same manner the 
college (as the ci-devant deputy 
ceunsellors of the Southern and 
Northern Quarter were called), the 
division ot the economical admi- 
nistration in regard to finances, &c. 
and the chamber of accounts, are 
entirely incompatible with these 
principles, as they all resulted from 
the old detective form of govern. 
ment, in which there was no real 
representation whatever, and con. 
sequently we have judged it to be 
our duty to suppress and abolish 
them all; and we now suppress 
and abolish them accordingly by 
these presents, and establish and 
appoint a committee of public 
safety, a military committee, a 
committee of finance, and a com- 
mittee of accounts, the whole pro- 
visionally, and only until definitive 
arrangements shall be made on 
these subjects by an assembly of 
representatives, chosen by all the 
people, who shall be convoked for 
that purpose as speedily as possible ; 
that besides, we have not thought 
it fit to attach any ‘other title to 
our present assembly than that of 
provisional representatives of the 
poople of Holland, without adding 


207 


to it the name of West Friesland, 
having judged that it would be 
better to comprehend the entire pro- 
vince of Holland under that deno- 
mination. ‘ 

We will and ordain expressly 
the courts of justice in this pro. 
vince, as well as the regency of 
the cities and blessed places situ- 
ated in it, that our present publi- 
cation shall be. made known to all 
the citizens of this province by 
the sounding of trumpets and ring- 
ing of bells, and such other so- 
lemn manner as shall be judged the 
most convenient in each city or 
place, and that it shall be posted 
up according to custom, and that 
each one shall conform himself to it 
precisely. 

Done at the Hague under, the 
small seal of the country, the 31st 
of January, 1795, the first year of 
Batavian liberty. 

(Signed) P. Pautus, Vt. 
D.J.ve Lancs Van WinGAERD2- 


Proclamation of the French Commis- 
siners at the Hague, issued ou the 


27th of Fanuary, 1995. 
EGALITE, 


UNITE, INDIVISIBILITE, 


LIBERTE, 


FRATERNITE, 


Hague, the 7th Pluviose, the 3d year 
of the French Republic, one and 
indivisible. 

THE representatives of the peo. 
ple belonging to the armies of the 
North, of the’Sambre,-and of the 
Meuse, taking into their consider- 
ation, the wants of the army of the 
republic, and the necessity of sup- 


plying 


208 


plying it with the objects of sub- 
sistence,. supplies of provision and 
clothing, of which it has occasion 
in the countries where it is esta- 
blished ; wishing to avoid the 
means of particular requisitions, 
and the intervention of subaltern 
agents, they think it most agree- 
able to address themselves to the 
States General, and formally invite 
them to supply them in the space 
of one month with thé following 
quantities, viz. 

200,000 quintals of wheat avoir- 

dupoise weight. 
§ millions of rations of 
hay. 

200,006 rations of straw. 

§ millions bushels of corn. 

150,000 pairs of shoes. 

20,000 pairs of boots. 
20,000 coats and waistcoats. 
40,000 pairs of breeches. 
150,000 pairs of pantaloons. 
200,000 shirts. 
50,000 hats. 
To be delivered further, within two 
months, 12,000 oxen. 

These different objects are to be 
delivered at Thiel, Nimeguen, and 
Bois le Duc, at three different 
times. , 

The representatives of the peo- 
ple anxiously expect, that the States 
General will comply with the above 
request, and do every thing in their 
power to prevent their fellow-citi- 
zens from being troubled with the 
forms of a requisition, always per- 
plexing to the inhabitants; and 
that they will use every exertion to 
complete their contingent. They 
hope that the slow form of ordt. 
nary administration, and the doubts 
of the competence of their autho- 
rity, which may put some stoppage 
to this opefation, will be carefully 
set aside, They have a tight to 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


flatter themselves, that all the citi- 
zens of the United States, and all 
the constituted authorities, will use 
the same zeal to second their views 
and amicable intentions. Every 
necessary measure shall be taken to 
settle for the payment of the above 
articles. 
(Signed) N. Haussman, 
Joper, ALGUIER, 
Gi.Liet, RoBERSOR, 
J. B. Lacoste, 


Proclamation, signed at the Haguey 
27th Fan. 1795. 
THE States General of the Unit- 


ed Provinces, toall who shall see or 
hear these presents greeting, give 
to know, that the representatives of 
the French nation now in this coun. 
try have intimated to us, that it is 
necessary that speedy provision 
should be made of several articles 
appertaining to the subsistence and 
clothing of the ie troops, 
namely, the following : 
20,000 quintals of corn, 
5 millions of rations of 
hay, at rslb. each. 
5 millions measure Of oats, 
at 1olb. each, heavy 
weight. 
200,000 rations of straw, at 
1olb, each. 
150,000 pairs of shoes. 
20,000 pairs of boots. 
20,000 cloth coats and waist. 
coats. 
40,000 pairs of stocking bree» 
ches, 
1$0,c00 pairs of trowsers, of 
coarse linen, 
200,000 shirts. 
50,000 hats. 
All which ate to be delivered at 
Nimeguen, Thiel, and Bois le Duc, 
within 


within the spice of a month, in 
three instalments——and besides, 
12,C00 oxen within two months. 
The above-mentioned represen- 
tatives have also added, that instead 
of following the pra¢tice introduced 
in other countries which their 
troops haveentered, namely, that the 
requisitions of similar articles have 
been made, published, and carried 
into execution by themselves, they 
have chosen-io treat this republic in 
another manner, and thereby prove 
the inclination of the French’ na- 
tion, to consider it in the light of 
an approaching ally ; and, of con- 
sequence, have begged of us to ef- 
fettuate the delivery of the above- 
mentioned necessaries in the speci- 
fied quantities, and at the appointed 
times and places, adding, at the 
Same time, that the payment shall 
€ regulated according to arrange. 
ents which shall afterwards be 
ade with the government. 
Convinced of the necessity’ of 
taking the most effe@ua! measures 
or complying with the said requi- 
itions we have judged that the 
est and least burthensome method 
of accomplishing this object, will 
for the government to contraét 
or the articles in question, and for 
he respective provinces to furnish 
he necessary funds. 
We doubt not that the inhabi- 
ants will be convinced of the ab- 
olute necessity of enabling their 
rovincial sovereigns to furnish 
hese necessary funds without the 
mallest delay; but we think it 


rastination ; 
ae of the serious intention 
oL, XXXVII, 


STATE PAPERS, 


209 


of the above-mentioned representa. 
tives of the French nation, that 
these requisitions shall be complied 
with, at the appointed time, and 
must therefore warn all in the most 
impressive manner, that they will 
have themselves to blame if meas 
sures of force and violence must be 
employed to obtain what we wish 
to see accomplished with the great, 
est possible order and regularity. 

With this view, ir will be neces. 
sary that those persons who have 
any provision of the required ar. 
ticles, should not refuse to allow 
the same to be judicially valued at 
a reasonable price, to sell and deli- 
ver thern to the persons entrusted 
with the execution of this work, 
and manifest every possible readi. 
hess to co-operate for the proper 
conveyance of the goods to the ap. 
pointed places: and that in ordet 
not only to prevent the consequences 
with which non-compliance with 
the requisition of the above-men- 
tioned yepresentatives will ne. 
cessarily be attended, but also on 
pain of being rigorously punished 
for disobedience or unwillingness, 
according to the exigency of the 
case. 

And that no person may pretend 
ignorance, we cail upon and desire 
the lords, the states, their deputies 
in the respective provinces, and all 
justiciaries and officers of the same, 


to pablish immediately, affix, and 


make known this our proclamation 
in all places where it may be ne. 
cessary, and is usual to post up such 
publications, ; 

Resolved and concluded in the 
assembly of their high mighti- 
nesses the States General of the 
United Provinces, at the 
Hague, the 27th of January, 
1795+ 

ig (Signed) 


210 


G..L. Rouse, 
B. P. Van LELtyveE.Lp. 
Undersigned, by reason of the 
absence of the. greflier. 


(Signed) 


Prcelamation at the Hague, 1th 
Pluviose, 30 Fanuary, 1795, the 
third Year of the French Republic, 


one ana indivisible, 


THE representatives of the 
French people, with the armies of 
the North, the Sambre, and the 
Meuse, decree as follows :— 

Art. 1. All goods, both move- 
able and immoveable, ships, mer. 
chandize, claims, and property of 
any kind whatever, belonging to 
governments at war with the French 
republic, or of French emigrants ; 
likewise those of priests, monks, 
members of churches, or spiritual 
corporations, having emigrated 
from the conquered provinces be- 
tween the Rhine and the sea; also 
all goods whatever given in trust by 
members of churches and corpora- 
tions, are seized and confiscated 
for the benefit of the French repub- 
tie, 

eA 


All such persons as are 


debtors, concealers, or detainers of - 


what is mentioned in the above 
article, are to give inventories of 
the same to the magistrates of their 
circuits, within eight days after 
the publication of these presents, ° 

All such as negle¢t to conforin 
themselves to it, are to pay a fine of 
double the value of the article of 
which they have not given in any 
account as above stated. 

The fourth part of the fine, and 
likewise one-fourth of the value of 
the goods not declared, shall belong 
to the discoverers and informers. 

3. An agent-general shall be ap. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


pointed for all the United Provinces, 
who is to colleét all the above in- 
ventories, and dispose of the things 
mentioned therein, according to 
the instructions he shall receive 
from the representatives cf the peo- 
ple. 

The magistrates are to deliver to 
him all the declarations made to 
them. 

4. It is forbidden to accept of 
any notes or bills of exchange, or 
to make any negotiations or loans 
for or on account of governments 
at war with the French republic, 
upon pain of confiscation of the 
whole value of such objects. 

The transgressors of this shall be 
considered and dealt with as enc- 
mies of the French republic. 

5. It is forbidden to all civil and 
militay agents of the French re- 
public, to seize upon any treasure 
belonging to towns, communes, or 
to the government of the United 
Netherlands, upon pain of arrest. 

6. What has been decreed by 
these presents shall be addressed to 
the States General, desiring them to 
send it to the respeétive states of 
the United Provinces, in ordet to be} 
printed in both languages, and to be 
sent to, and posted up, without 
delay, in all the towns, communes, 
and ports of the United Provinces. 

Signed upon the original, 

- Ns. HaussMAnn, 
Jousert, and Roperjor. 
Conformable to the original, 
(Signed) Ns. Haussmann. 


a ES 


Proclamation of the Provisional Repre- 
sentatives of the People of Ams 


sterdam. ‘ 


LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY 

Citizens, 
WHEN, on the rgth of Jeg 
, ast, 


/ 


fast, you established us your pro- 
visional representatives, at the in. 
stance of *the revolutionary com- 
ittee, and when you called us to 
Ri town-house to take on us the 
rovisional government of this city, 
we résolved that no difficulty what- 
ever should deter us from accepting 
that awful trust in a moment so im- 
portant, 
_ The apprchension of the terrible 
consequences which misht be 
drawn on by anarchy were of but 
Short duration: for of the lively 
gense we entertained of the dis- 
order, confusion, and despair, which 
would infallibly result from it, we 
drew ‘so strong and melancholy a 
picture, that all opposition, even the 
most well founded, vanished before 
it, The just fear of our faculties 
being perhaps unequal to a task 
so difficult; the sacrifice of our ce- 
pations, of our repose, and of 
uur domestic enjoyments; all these 
gave way to this single decisive 
sonsideration, that your interests, 
d your security, required an im- 
mediate administration: and that 
if we desired to withdraw from that 
with which ycu charged us provisi- 
mally, we really would render our- 
elves responsible for all the horrers 
“that anarchy might bring upon us, 
™\ Citizens, such have been our 
motives, such have been our vicws. 
t is in them we confide, in the 
writy of our intentions, in a cause 
he most sacred, the most just, 
€ most sublime of al! cau'es, that 
liberty ; it is in these we trust, 
id above all, in the assistance of 
e Almighty, whom we adore 
thout superstition, and in the 
spectful hope of his approbation, 
have courageously undertaken 
e arduous task which you have 
posed on us. 


“STATE PAPERS. 


211 


Our first work, citizens, has been 
to declare solemnly, and with a 
lively emotion, that the sacred 
principles of justice and of equity 
should be the sole guide of our 
ations: that no base motive of 
vengeance, that no consideration 
different from those _ principles 
should influence our conduét; and 
that the preservation of order in 
a city so populous, that the security 
of persons and of property against 
all atrack, under whatever pretext 
or colour, should be with us the 
order of the day during our provi. 
sional administration. 

How flattering and consolatory 
must it be to us, dear citizens! to 
have been able to accomplish this 
great obje@t of our appointment ! 
Tow happy is it for you, and all 
of us, that the sublime cause of 
liberty has not been sullied by any 
irregularity! How honourable for 
hamanity, that at the dawn of 
liberty this town has been the 
theatre of the most pure sentiments 
of joy and fraternity, and not of those 
of animosity, of hatred, and of 
vengeance! What sweet emotions 
does noi the true patriot and the 
friend of humanity feel in being 
able to say, that ina city so populous 
as Amsterdam, we have, in the 
moment of the restoration of li- 
berty, scen tears of joy How, but 
not one drop of the biood of our 
fellow citizens! What an admi- 
table example for our Batavian 
brethren in the other cities of the 
republic! ‘The Batavians shew 
themselves generous in the midst 
of their victories: they forger, 
they despise the injuries that have 
been done to them; they cordially 
hold out the hand of fraternity 
to all those who have erred; they 
seek not vengeance nor pillage, 

FP 2 buc 


212 


but liberty: they are generous in 
respect to the past, but they will 
punish the more severely the fu- 
ture offences against the cause of 
teedom. 

Such, cifizens, are our. prin- 
ciples: you have shewn by your 
steady and tranquil conduc that 
they are also your’s: it is to them 
that you owe the quiet of this 
city; and the great end of our 
provisional administration is ful- 
filled. 

It is time then, citizens, as we 
think, to terminate our adminis- 
tration; and cordially thanking 
you all for the confidence you 
have testified in us, we return 
into theclass of our fellow-citizens, 
and remit into their hands the 
powers you have given us: let” 
ambitious tyrants, let cowards in 
posts, into which they have in. 
truded themselves, endeavour to 
support their usurped authority by 
a thousand secret plots; the true 
patriot knows no post more noble, 
nor no place more elevated, than” 
the state of a citizen, and he remits 
with satisfaction his powers into 
the bosom of those from whom he 
received them, 

But though every thing goes on 
with order at present, previous to 
resigning our administration there 
must be made, in a regular man. 
ner, and in a proper place for that 
object, an appeal to all the citi- 
zens and inhabitants of this city, 
on purpose that they may choose 
for their supreme administration 
a proper \ number of representa- 
tives who may be able to replace 
us, under the name of a munici- 
pality, or under any other name 
whatever; and who chosen by 
your voice, freely given, to be the 
sepresentatives of the people of 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


Amsterdam, may take care of your 
interests, and constitute all the 
subdivisions of the administrations 
of this city, and its differagt 
branches, in such manner as the 
nature of things shall require. In 
the mean time, the different com. 
mittees shall remain in their func 
tions till the assembly which will 
replace us shall have. made in that 
respect the proper arrangements. 
For these reasons, and to the end 
that the appeal to the citizens, 
and the manner of voting for the 
eleGtion of mew representatives 
may be conduéted in a manner, 
the least subje€ to corruption, to 
confusion, or to illicit influence, 
we have thought it our duty, as 
your provisional representatives, 
and for accomplishing this de- 
sirable end, to make use of the 
understanding of all the patriots, 
and to summon them by the love 
they have for their country to send 


us, in the space of fifteen days after . 


this publication, detailed plans on 
the manner of calling the citizens 
together, and of taking their suf- 
frages ; subjoining to them that 
which relates to the age and the 
other qualifications required for 
exercising the right of voting ; 
the number of members, of which 
the assembly of the representatives 
of this city ought to be composed, 
and the name most becoming for 
it to bear, on purpose that the pro- 
visional representatives, after ma- 
ture deliberation, and after taking 
the advice of the different com- 
mittees on the plan best calculated 
for attaining the end we have pro- 
posed to you, and after having 
agreed on one, may put it in exe- 
cution. 

Proclaimed and published at Am- 


sterdam, February, 3) 1795). 


the 


STATE *PAPERBS. 


the first year of Batavian li- 
berty. 
By order of the provisional repre- 
sentatives of Amsterdam, 
R. W. Tanpama, Sec. 


Second Proclamation by the same. 


LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY. 


Citizens, 

THE assembly of provisional re- 
presentatives of the commune of 
Amsterdam having received, from 
time to time, and on the part of 
different citizens, demands, tend- 
ing to the embracing of measures 
which would put into a state of 
arrest in general the former mem- 
bers of the now-abolished govern- 
ment, and other suspected per- 
sons; the assembly has not only 
been constantly of opinion that it 
ought not to embrace such mea- 
sures, but it also thinks itself 
obliged to explain to all its com- 
patriots in general, and to the in- 
habitants of Amsterdam in parti- 
eular, whom it repzesents, what is 
its manner of thinking on a subject 
of this importance, and what are 
the principles on which its opinion 


is founded. ; 


We shall set out, citizens, with 
@eclaring, that we neither could 
nor would, for a single moment, 
suppose that the repeated instances 
of a part of our fellow-citizens 
to make us take rigorous measures, 
could proceed from any motive of- 
hatred or revenge. She Dutch, 
from the very moment when they 
first broke their chains, gave to 
astonished Eutope too grand an 
example of generosity and huma- 
nity, to let us believe that they 
would sully that glory in the mo- 
ments of tranquillity, by aveng- 
ing themselves on a set of humbled 


213 


despots, deprived of all strength. 
He deserves not to triumph who 
basely abuses his viétory. He 
alone can promise himself the con. 
stant and agreeable fruits of vitory, 
who makes his vanquished foes 
blush by his justice and generosity, 
and convinces them that they are 
the persons who have chosen the 
worst side of the cause to defend. 
Citizens, generosity and justice 
carry with them irresistible force. 
Nothing can save the cause of our 
country but a constant adherence 
to these virtues. The exercise of 
revenge may afford a transitory 
pleasure in the moments of pas- 
sion and delirium, but its conse- 
quences are commonly, sad and 
fatal, while the exercise of equity 
and of generosity leaves nothing 
but agreeable sensations. 

Such, citizens, are our senti. 
ments; such ought to be your’s. 
Real guardians of freedom and 
equality, you are capable of per- 
ceiving their value and their force; 
and woe betide the country if this 
doétrine shall not become the uni- 
versal dotrine of the nation. 

Since then, citizens, we cannot 
differ on these principles, it will 
be easy to convince the virtuous 
patriot, that the system which we 
have adopted in our assembly, is 
in effec the only one that agrees 
with the real interests of the 
country. 

Let us begin by presenting to 
your view the great end that every 
honest man, and above all, every 
citizen entrusted with any public 
authority, ought to propose to him~ 
self, ‘this end ought to be, to 
settle this revolution upon the most 
immoveable foundations, to the 
end that all the inhabitants of the 
land may feel the permanent bene. 

PZ fits 


214 


fits of the social life urder the ad- 
ministration founded on the: prin- 
ciples of freedom and equality.— 
See here, citizens, the great end 
that a good man ought perpetually 
to have before his eyes; and he, 
who has other views, whether he 
be placed in the senate, whether he 
labour in anothersphere, or whether 
he be in a private situation (the 
most enviable, doubtless, of a!l siru- 
ations} plays, under the mask of pa- 
triotism, the part of an hypocrite, 
and a deceiver of the peopie. 

But how to attain this end! No 
method more likely than to shew 
on the one hand, grandeur and ge- 
nerosity with respect to the past; 
on the other, to be severe and in- 
exorable to all attempts against 
freedom and the supremacy of the 
people. Citizens, philosophers of 
ail nations and ages have invariably 
judged, that when civil dissentions 
are over, the conquering party has 
always been guilty of injastice, 
when it has thought worthy of 
punishment actions which the chiefs 
“of the conquered party have done 
to maintain their cause, ‘and has, 
in consequence of these principles, 
set on foot a general persecution,— 
Actors, wich are at all times cri- 
minal; ations, which are morally 
bad, ind pendently of all polit:. 
cal reiations, and consequently al- 
ways punishable, are then the ently 
ones that can, * according to the 
principles of justice, be taken into 
consideration. ‘These are also the 
only, actions which a- righteous 
judge, whose judgment ought not 
to be’ directed by any influence of 
political passions, will esteem cri- 
minal and worthy of punishment ; 
and not those aétions which we at 
pretent most justly consider as high 
Ty pemicious, but which haye been 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795s 


committed under the eyes, and with 
the plenary approbation of the pre- 
ceding government. ? 

If we. reject these principles, 
thers is no longer security for any 
human a¢fion; and Jet it not be 
dissembled, that he who preaches 
a contrary doétrine, proclaims in 
eff-& the sight of the strongest; 
andconsequently the favouriteright 
of tyrants. 

Let none imagine, citizens, that 
the true interest of the nation can, 
either im this point of veiw, or in 
any other, differ [rom the rules of 
justice, Neverdothe truz interests 
of a nation exact the slightest de. 
viation from the rules of justice 
and good faith, under whatsoever 

retext. Our country will support 
itsclf or be crushed, as it shall” 
adopt or reject these truths. The 
system of terror, already quite ba- 
nished from the French republic, 
cannot be tolerated a single instant 
in that spot of the earth where we 
live; it would sink us- in ruin for 
ever, Our political constitution, 
our local situation, our commercial 
relations, are all circumstances toa 
delicate to support repeated scenes 
of violence and political shocks, 

Cast your eyes, citizens, upon 
the. state of the finaaces of your 
country, of yourcity. Willitnot 
require all the zcal, all the elasticity 
of 4 commefetal nation, to fill your 
exhausted coffers ? But are this zeal 
and this elasticity compatible with 
a system of terror? Doubtless not: 
in bringing to perfection this revo. 
lution, one sort of terror only ought 
to be tolerated: terror to those who 
have the hardiness and malice to 
undertake any thing against the re. 
volution. ‘The mast severe penal. 
ties against such men will be so 
much the more equitable, as our 

condict 


STATE PAPERS. 


coriducét with respeét to the past 
shall be noble and generous. 

It isa great mistake, citizens, to 
compare the circumstances of France 
in the course of her revolution, with 
our’s. It was not in France a spi- 
rit of revenge for the crimes com- 
mitted under the old government 
which occasioned these repeated 
scenes of terror; but the violent 
Opposition to the revolution itself 
which occasioned the necessity of a 
proportionable vigilance to crush all 
conspiracies. But whatopposition, 
citizens, have we to expect? if a 
Wise and just 2dministration com- 
pletes this revolution, is not the 
doétrine of freedom and equality 
so amiable in itself, so deeply graven 
in our nature, that it will soon pe- 
netrate all hearts with irresistible 
energy? Will not all who have 
been misled by court artifices re. 
turnfrom theirerror? Letus shew 
by fats, that a democratical go. 
vernment, well ordered, is not only 
possible, but that it is the sole form 
of government that accords with 
the dignity of man; and soon will 
this order of things be established 
by universal consent upon the surest 
foundations. Let us prove the 

falsehood of all the rumours that 
have been spread among the mul. 
titude, whether they proceed (O 
shame!) from the chair, or from 
the bosom of the councils, and soon 
will the multitude itself despise its 
seducers. Slander painted the doc- 
trine of freedom and equality, as 
the immediate source of confusion, 
_and the grave of religion. Bur, 
citizens, where will slander now 
hide her head, when every citizen 
is protected in his person, in his 
property ; and when the gates of 


the temples are open to every one,’ 


that he may adore our common 


’ 


215 


father in the manner to which he 
is prompted by the feelings of his 
heart ? 

These are the lively effects of a 
wise and philosophic policy, which 
can and ought happily to accom. 
plish thé revolution. All the po- 
litical dissentions, all the revolu- 
tions that have taken place in this 
state since its origin, vanish before 
so interesting a revolution as the 
present. ‘I'hey were only disputes 
between party and party; trials of 
skill for the most part between 
knaves and knaves; in which the 
people had no part to play but the 
part of thedupe. To-day it is the 
cause of the people itself in whieh 
we labour, in which you all ought 
tolabour. ‘To-day it is not a fac. 
tion, but the nation herself, who 
is victorious. We must dire& our 
views, not to the welfare of a few 
despots, but to the happiness of the 
whole nation. 

Let us then always, citizens, con- 
sider our revolution under this im- 
portant regard. Let us endeavour 
to give it such a direction that it 
shall be in vain to seek to foment 
new political dissentions; let the 
example of our deposed despots be 
to us a lesson to avoid the base as 
well as fhe impotitic faults they 
havecommitted. Have theirsense- 
less persecutions made the prisons 
of this country cry for vengeance, 
and the complaints of the Dutch 
become fugitives in all parts of the 
world, call forth curses upon their 
administration? Let us make it our 
gory to convince Europe, that it 
is the Dutch nation, and not a fac- 
tion, that now triumphs; that it 
is the cause of freedom and equa. 
lity, not the spirit of revenge ana 
destruction; in short, that sound 
policy now reigns on one side to 

Jae make 


216 


make a cordial offer of the right 


hand of fellowship to her. stray bre-- 


thren, and not to drive them to 
despair ; on the other, to hold high 
the.sword of punishment, in order 
to strike the first traitor that hence- 


forth shall’ presume to oppose the 


freedom and supremacy of the peo- 
ple. For though the first part of 
this alternative be the true end of 
the real friend of humanity, the 
other ought no less to fix the atten- 
tion of the severe republican, that 
those who lie in ambush against 
freedom, may see even from afar, 
that theiractions are carefully watch. 
ed, and that the nation which so 
generously pardons, is ready to in- 
fliét exemplary punishment on cri- 
minals the moment her freedom is 
attacked, 

Such, citizens, are the motives 
of the condu& we have pursued ; 
such is the rule of ouractions. We 
believe that a firm adherence to this 
system is the only method of com- 
pleting the revolution, and of fix- 
ing the universal national happi- 
ness on the soil of Batavia. 

Decreed the ixth of February, 

1795, the first year of Dutch 
liberty. 

Published the 13th of February 

following. 

By order of the above-mentioned 

representatives, 
G. Brenper. 
A. Branpis, Sceretary. 


Proclamation of the Couxcil of State in 
the Regency of Neufchatel, a Prus- 
sian Principality in Switzerland, 


THE council of state having 
lately taken into consideration the 
case of French emigrants hitherto 
Aolerated in this country from sen- 


ANNUAL; REGISTER, 1795. 


timents of humanity, and perceiving 
with some inquietude the increasing 
searcity of provisions, and that 


‘the conduét of some among the 


emigrants is very censurable and 
directly in defiance of our public 
orders, by keeping up upon the 
frontiers of France secret intelli- 
gence, and by committing atts of 
violence, which tend to disturb the 
present tranquillity of the state and 
good neighbourhood. __ 

‘Phe council having given atten. 
tion to the duty it owes to the Hel- 
Vetic association of this sovereignty, 
from which results its present happy 
neutrality, it is judged indispen- 
sable for the good of the state, 
which ought to be the first obje@ 
of our solicitude, to order the ge. 
neral expulsion of the above-named 
emigrants before the 1st of Apsil 
next. 

In pursuance of which, the pro- 
per stad are dire€ted in the first 
instance, to make out immediately 
anew list of French emigrants who 
reside in their respeétive jurisdic. 
tions, particularizing the age, sex, 
and vocation of each, and likewise 
the name of the person at whose 
house they live, and to send this 
list with as much dispatch as pos- 
sible to the council of'state. » In the 
second place, they are direfted to 
have this edict publicly read at the 
conclusion of divine service next 
Sunday, in each place of publie 
worship, in order that such emi- 
grants may prepare themselves to 
obey it, and that those at whose 
houses they reside may not here- 
after pretend ignorance; and if 
any emigrants shall be found in 
this country after the period fixed, 
they shall be expelled by an es- 
cort, as dangerous and suspicious 
people. ‘Lhe council also apprises 

those 


r STATE, PAPERS. 


these who harbour emigrants, that 
if any such person. shall be found 
under their protection, after the 
time fixed for their departure, 
every person giving that protection, 
will be regarded as connivers in 
the disobedience to this edi&, and 
will be prosecuted with the utmost 
rigour of the law, as enemies to the 
public welfare. 

Finally, the council declares, 
that if such emigrants, before their 
departure, dare to commit any act 
of violence on the territory of 
France, they shall be apprehended 
and given up to the French, 

Given in council held under our 
presidence in the castle of 
Neufchatel, the 27th of Ja- 
nuary, 1795. 


(Signed) Marvat. 


Declaration of the Prince of Orange. 


THE prince of Orange has hi- 
therto thought it unnecessary to pub- 
lish the motives which induced 
him to absent himself for some 
time from his country, being con- 
vinced that no person could, with 
any shadow of justice, accuse him 
of the smallest crime in having 
quitted the territories cf the pro-’ 
vinces of Holland, after the states 
of that province had thought proper 
to send deputies to the commanders 
of the enemy’s forces to capitulate, 
or rather to submit to them; but 
the resolution taken by the pre- 
tended States General the 24th of 
February last, on the motion made 
in that assembly the 31st of January 
by the deputies of the pretended 
provisional representatives of the 
people of Holland, having come 
to his knowledge, in which they 


thought proper to abolish the office 


‘Ole 


of stadtholder, captain general and 
hereditary admiral, with which this 
prince was invested, alleging, as 
a motive for this resolution, that 
he himself had abdicated them, he 
feels it incumbent on himself to be 
no longer silent, and to repel this 
calumny by a simple and exact 
statement of the fa¢ts which pre- 
ceded and rendered necessary his 
departure from the territories of the 
United States. 

The inundations formed for the 
defence of the republic, and in 
particular for that of the province 
of Holland (as well as the rivers in 
that country), being frozen in De- 
cember last, there no longer re- 
mained any means of defending 
the provinces of Utrecht and Hol. 
land, after the retreat of the army 
commanded by general count Wal. 
moden from the borders of the 
Waal and of the Rhine; the troops 
of the state, which might. have 
been ‘employed in the defence of 
these two provinces, being reduced 
(as well by hardships which the 
army sustained during the last cam- 
paign, as by sickness) to too small 
a number to garrison sufficiently 
those posts which it was nécessary 
should be occupied in order to pre- 
vent the enemy from penetrating. 

It must here be observed, that a 
great part of the troops which were 
in these two provinces could not 
be employed aguinst the enemy, 
in virtue of the capitulations which 
many places had made, and in 
which it was stipulated thaz. sheir 
garrisons should be sent into the 
interior of the republic, after hav- 
ing sworn not to serve against the 
armies of France during the war 
until they were exchanged. 

The states of Utrecht therefore, 
thought it right to capitulate on 


Friday 


218 


Friday the 16th of January, after 
having some ‘days before informed 
the States General of their inten- 
tion, and found themselves obliged 
to submit to those conditions which 
the conqueror thought fit to grant: 
it will suffice to state, that the 
states of that province having re- 
quested that their constitution and 
form of government might be pre- 
served, would only provisionally 
agree to it, which afforded no secu- 
tity for the future. 

The prince of Orange being in- 
formed, that the states of the pro- 
vinces of Holland were about to 
adopt the same resolution on the 
same day, found himself under the 
necessity of sending away the 
princesses his wife and daughter-in- 
law, with the prince bis grandson, 
on board a fishing-boat, on Sunday 
morning the 18th of January, and 
was himself obliged to follow them 
on the same day (with the two 
princes his sons), which however 
he did not do till he had acquainted 
the States General, as also the states 
of the Seven Provinces, and of 
the country of Dronthe, with his 
intended départure; writing to 
them, ‘* That he easily foresaw, 
from the present situation of the 
republic, what lot he must expect 
if the enemy should penetrate fur- 
ther into the country ; and, not 
wishing to be any obstacle to peace, 
he had resolved to absent himself 
and his farnily for a time from the 
territories of the states, and hoped 
that their high mightinesses would 
approve of this step.” 

It should here be remarked, that 
the prince did not depart till after 
his letter had been read, as well in 
the assembly of the States General 
as in that of the state of Holland; 
that his departure fram the Hague 
and his embarkation were fully 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


known to both assemblies, who 
did not take any step to oppose the 
measure; and that his departure 
did not take place till the states of 
Holland had resolved to capitulate, 
and had required it in their name, 
from the prince of Orange, as 
captain-general of that province, 
an ofhcer and a trumpet to an- 
nounce the commission from the 
states of Holland, who were to re- 
pair to the gencral of the enemy to 
ascertain what articles should form 
a capitulation for that province. 
The prince kpew their deputies 
were commissioned not to make 
any difficulties, but to yield to every 
article. » The same day after the 
prince had notified his intention of 
quitting the Dutch territories, four 
members of the college of coun- 
sellors, deputed by Holland, de- 
manded an audience of the prince, 
and begged he would hasten his 
departure ; that they could give no 
reply to any thing; and that even 
if it was insisted upon in the 
French general’s answer that the 
prince and his family should not be 
permitted to quit the country, they 
would be under the necctsity of 
taking measures to prevent their 
departure, especiaily in case the 
French general, or the commis- 
sioners of the national conven- 
tion, should require that the col- 
lege of the deputed counsellors 
should be mide responsible, if the 
prince absented himself before the 
arrival of the French troops. After 
such a declaration the prince of 
Orange thought it no longer safe 
to remain at the Hague, and em- 
barked at Scheveling on board a 
fishing-Loat. Having consulted the 
marine officers asd pilot who were 
on board the vessel what course he 
should steer, they were unanimously 
of opinion that the best plan would 


1 
. OFH@ 


STA E oP A PERS 


be to make for an English port. 
The prince, before he quitted the 
road of Scheveling, wrote to M. 
Van Spiegel, counsellor pensionary 
of the province of Holland, with 
the opinion of the marine officers 
and pilot of the above-mentioned 
vessel, signed by them. The coun- 
sellor pensionary having commu- 
nicated the same to their high 
mightinesses, they, by their reso- 
lution of the rgth of January, ap- 
proved of the prince of Orange’s de- 
parture, as a measure of absolute 
necessity ; declaring, moreover, that 
they were desirous of hearing of 
that prince’s safe arrival in one of 
the ports of the kingdom of Great 
Britain on board a ship of war be- 
longing to the states, and that he 
might shortly be able to return to 
the republic, in order to continue 
assisting them with his counsel and 
presence for the maintenance of the 
independence and constitution of the 
republic, The prince’s intention, 
of which he had already informed 
M. Van de Spiegel, pensionary 


counsellor, in his letter, was to in- 


form himself, during his stay in’ 


England, of the sirvaticn of affairs, 
as well in the provinces of Zeeland 
as in the provinces of Friezland 
and Greningen, and to embark on 
board a ship of war of the states for 
either of those provinces in which 
it should appear his presence might 
be most useful. It 1s right to ob- 
serve, that all correspondence be- 
tween those provinces and the 
Hague was at that time intercepted, 
not only by the enemy but by the 
frost. 

As soon as the states of Holland 
had resolved to admit forces ini- 
mical to the republic of the United 
Provinces into the place where the 
States General were assembled, and 
had given orders to their different 


¥ 


219 


garrisons no longer to oppose the 
progress of the French, the prince 
of Orange was desirous that the 
States General, to whom this reso- 
lution had been communicated, 
should determine to dissolve their 
assembly, and to call it together 
again in oneof the provinces which 
had not submitted to the yoke of 
the conqueror, 

The States General thought pro- 
per to remain assembled in a place 
where, the eremy’s troops, joined 
by a number of malcontents, de- 
prived them of the liberty of de- 
liberating and doing what the 
public good required. 

The French troops having ar- 
rived at the Hague, the States 
General were compelled to do every 
thing that was exa¢ted from them. 
The deputies lawfully named by 
the provinces of Holland were 
obliged to quit that assembly, and 
have been replaced by deputies 
named by those who havs- taken 
upon themselves the supreme power 
of that province, under the name 
of provisional representatives of the 
people. These latter being ad- 
mitted into the assembly of the 
States General, that assembly ceases 
to be legal, and the resolutions 
taken since that time cannot be 
considered as resolutions diated 
by the real States General. 

The prince of Orange’s design 
was, as has already been observed, 
to go into Zeeland, as soon as he 
should have received information 
relative to the situation of affairs 
in that province, hopirg that his 
presence there might be useful. 
But the States General having given 
orders soon after the prince’s de. 
parture, and nearly at.the time of 
the arrival of the French troops at 
the Hague, to the commanding 
officers of Bergen-op. Zoom, — 

ill 


220 


Wilthemstadt and Steenburgen, for- 
tresses which still held out, to ca- 
pitulate, likewise to the troops 
who were in those provinces: which 
had not yet submitted to the 
French, as also to the ships of the 
state, not to defend themselves 
against the French, the states of 
Zeeland were under the necessity 
of following the example of those 
of Holland and Utretcht, in capi- 
tulating for their province, or ra- 
ther in submitting to the con- 
queror. 

The prince of Orange being in. 
formed of this resolution, and per- 
ceiving that his presence could no 
longer be of any service there, was 
obliged to give up his intention of 
going into Zeeland, and the ice 
Raving for a long while prevented 
all communication between the 
provinces of Friezland and Gro- 
Aingen with England, during that 
time the prince could not reccive 
any intelligence from those pro- 
vinces, and the first he received 
was, that they had submitted in 
the same manner as the others had 
done, which frustrated his plan of 
going into either of those provinces. 

The prince of Orange waits 
with confidence the judgment 
which every impartial person will 
pass on his conduct, and cannot 
think it was cxpeéted he should 
temain in a country which had 
submitted to the French arms, 
whilst the French national con- 
vention had declared war against 
him personally, and deliver himself 
into the hands of his enemies, with. 
out being able thereby to surrender 
the least service to his country. 

He leaves it to the impartial 
public to judge if it is with reason 
that the pretended States General 
could declare, on the proposal of 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


the self-named provisional repre- 
sentatives of the Dutch people, 
that the stadtholdership was aho. 
lished, because the stadtholder, 
Captain and admiral general, had 
thought proper to quit his post 
whilst the said provisional repre- 
sentatives of the people of Holland 
judged it right, in the same assem- 
bly where they have changed the 
form of government, and usurped 
the supreme power, to abolish 
those charges for the province of 
Holland, without assigning any 
other motive than that the nobility 
and hereditary offices were incom- 
patible with equality. 

The prince of Orange const- 
ders himself authorized to appeal 
to the whole universe from a re- 
solution so unjust, and declares 
that he will not acknowledge as 
lawful, any resolution taken by 
those who now call themselves 
the States General, or States of the 
Provinces, as long as the republic 
shall be occupied by the French 
troops. He flatters himself, that 
if’ more fortunate circumstances 
should deliver his unhappy country 
from a foreign yoke, the nation, 
restored to itself, and enjoying, as 
it has done for these two cen- 
turies, a true liberty founded upon 
law, will do him justice by not 
delaying to call him’ to the exer- 
cise of the hereditary charges which 
he possesses in that republic, and 
which have been granted to his 
house, by the will of the nation, 
with the view of contributing to 
the. maintenance of the religion, 
good order, independence , and 
prosperity of the state, and of the 
true liberty and well being of its 
inhabitants. 

W. PR. OF ORANGE. 
Hampton Court Palace,” 

May 28, 1795.)  * 

Deowee 


STATE PAPERS. 


Decree af the King of Spain, dated 
February 1795. 


THE expences of the present 
war being so great, and being ever 
desirous of easing my beloved sub- 
jects from imposts, taxes, and con- 
tributions which are necessary for 
supporting the present war with 
vigour, which, in many respects, 
is of so much importance to the 
mation, amongst whom our holy 


religion occupies the first place, 


I have represented to his holiness 
the Pope, by my minister the ple- 
nipotentiary in Rome, the indis- 
pensable necessity of causing the 
estates of the military orders tocon- 
tribute towards the said expences, 
as likewise- the religious order of 
St. John, in my dominions, by 
taxing them at the rate of twelve 
per cent. in kind or produce, or 
eight per cent. in money, per an- 


num, and that the pensions of the ‘ 


Spanish order of Charles the 
Third should be included in this 
regulation. 
His holiness being convinced of 
the just and urgent motives which 
render this impost necessary, had 
agreed, that it shall be levied, 
on condition that it is only to last 
two years after the expiration of the 
present war, ‘This dispensation, 
dated the sth of November last, 
has been sent to the council of the 
order, and in consequence, there- 
fore, it shall commence from the 
beginning of this year, through 
the medium of the general ofhce 
for the imposition and levying of 
the respective twelve or eight per 
cent. upon the estates of the four 
military orders, as the contribution 
shall be either in produce or money, 
taking special care, by all means 
and precautions, that the “same 
i 


223 


may be levied justly and faith. 
fully. 

Respecting the religious order of 
St. John and the royal Spanish 
order of Charles IIf. I have given 
the necessary orders for the col- 
le&tion of this -ten#poral impost,>~ 
consequently, there only remains 
under the said council, the exaGtion 
of the military orders on which it 
is to have immediate jurisdidtion, 
putting the produce annually in 
the disposition and power of my 
secretary of state and the office of 
finances, by which means all doubts 
or dificuities which may arise in 
the execution of this, upon which 
head I give particular charge, 
will be heard in the council, and 
after justly examining, order that 
the fulfilling shali be pan&tually 
complied with. 

In Aranjuez, 4th Feb. ry95. 

(Signed) Tue Duxe or Heyar. 


Edict of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. 


HIS royal highness having, sinte 
the very beginning of the present 
war, been of opinion, that 1t was 
neither just nor convenient for 
Tuscany to take any attive part in’ 
the transactions which at this pre- 
sent time cenvulse Kurope; that 
the welfare’ and safery ‘of this 
country should not be entrusted to 
the preponderance of any of the 
belligerent powers, but to the sa, 


‘cred right of nations, and to the 


inviolable faith of those. treaties 
which guarantee the immunities, 
and of course the neutrality of the 
port of Leghorn; and lastly, that 
the natural and political situation 
of his dominions demard the most 
impartial line of conduét, has re. 


222 


solved, with the strictest imparti- 

_ality, to observe the edict of neu. 
trality, published by his august ta- 
ther, under date the first of August, 
1778, asa fundamental law of the 
duchy. 

The beneficial consequences of 
this resolution rendered it highly 
agreeable to his beloved subjects, 
who, profiting by the trade and 
commerce of other nations, with. 
out hurting any of them, found 
themselves relieved from those 
alarms and troubles which are oc- 
casioned by the fearof war. Whilst 
his royal highness enjoyed the sa- 
tisfaction of seeing that Tuscany, 
superior, as it were, to the occur- 
rences of the times, rested peaceful 
and quiet on that neutrality which 
was. constantly respected by the 
French republic, he found himself 
involved in those unpleasant tran- 
sa¢tions, which are already known 
to all Europe. Although his royal 
highness was unable to resist them, 
yet he consented to nothing but the 
removal.of the French minister re- 
siding at his court, the only act 
which the imperious circumstances 
of that period could extort from 
him, and which can never be quoted 
as an act derogatory to the consti- 
tutional neutrality of Tuscany. 

The sincere explanation of these 
faéts, which admit neither discus- 
sion nor refutation, and the impar. 
tial line of a¢ting observed after- 
ward towards the French republic, 
as well as towards individuals of 
that nation, have restored Tuscany 
to the enjoyment of all the bles- 
sings which had been taken from 
her. His royal highness having 
concluded with the national con- 
vention of France a treaty, calcu- 
lated to re-establish his former 
neutrality for the benefit of his 


. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


subjects, without encroaching upon 
the rights and interests of the bel- 
ligerent powers, with respect to 
whom he had never taken upon 
himself any particular obligation, 
has thought proper to publish the 
terms of that treaty. 

His royal highness therefore 
wills, that in all his dominions, the 
edict of neutrality of the first of 
August, 1778, confirmed by the 
ordinance of the 22d of March, 
1790, and published at Leghorn 
on the 28th of April, 1792, be 
scrupulously observed; for which 
purpose, a sufficient number of: co. 
pies of this edict shall be sent to. 
the consuls of foreign nations re- 
siding at Leghorn, and to the Tus- 
can consuls residing in foreign 
ports. 

Given on the rst of March, 1795. 
FERDINAND, 
V. A. SERRISTORI, 
Ernest pi GILkENs. 


wn 


Imperial Decree of Commission from the 
Emperor to the Diet at Ratishon, 
respecting the Proposition Sar negi- 
tiating a Peace with France. - 


The Preambl: to this Decree contains 
@ hyief Stutement of the Causes and 
Progressaf the War, and the Pr-= 
ceedings of the Diet, till its last re. 

‘solution relative to peace after which 
it proceeds to the follwing purport : 


THAT the restoration of tran- 
quillity to the empire, by a speedy 
peace, is an event to be desired, 
and cannot admit of a doubt in 
the mind of any one, who shall, 
for a moment, compare the heavy 
calamities occasioned by the pre- 
sent war, unexampled tor the vio- 
lence with which it has been con- 

duated, 


STATE PAPERS. 


dufted, with the blessings of peace. 
Whoever, also, shall duly consider 
the strenuous exertions made by 
his Imperial majesty, during the 
last three years, the armies he has 
brought into the field, the treasure 
he has expended, furnished prin- 
cipally by his hereditary dominions, 
cannot entertain a doubt of his pa- 
ternal care and anxiety for the 
welfare of the empire, and that all 
his wishes tend to a conclusion of 
the miseries of war by a speedy re- 
éstablishment of peace. But when 
we proceed to consider by what 
means, and on what terms, this 
peace, in itself so desirable, is to 
be obtained, numerous and unex- 
petted difficulties will be found to 
present themselves, which have 
been rather overlooked than ex- 
amined suitably to their great im- 
portance. Nothing, at least, could 
have given greater pleasare to his 
Imperial majesty, than that the 
diet showld have precisely stated 
the terms on which a just, honour- 
able and durable peace, might be 
established ; especially, since the 
eleétors, princes, and states of the 
empire, have thought it consistent 
with the present situation of affairs, 
with the present position of Ger- 
many, and with the general wel- 
fare, to discuss the subject in a 
public debate, and to declare their 
wish for peace. 

His Imperial majesty, however, 
is far from intending to represent 
the wishes of the diet as unattain- 
able, or in any manner very diffi- 
cult: nor does he wish to prolong 
the execution of the subjeét in the 
¢onclusum, until the general opi- 
nion of the diet has pointed out 
the manner in which it is to be ef- 
fected ; but, on the contrary, his 
Majesty is determined to take every 


223 


opportunity to second the views of 
the diet, and the states in general, 

With respe&t to the cessation of 
arms, mentioned in the same de- 
cree of the diet, his Imperial ma- 
jesty, ever attentive with unremit- 
ting paternal care to the good and 
happiness of his subje€ts, certainly 
agrees with the diet that it would 
be for the general benefit of the 
German empire, were it to be of 
such a kind as to lead to a safe, 
honourable, and lasting peace; and 
whenever there may be reason to 
believe that it may have so desi- 
rable a consequence, he will ua. 
doubtedly employ every means in 
his power, as head of the empire, 
for its procurement. 

But since, in consequence of the 
extraordinary success of our ene- 
mies in the late campaign, it is 
not a little doubtful, whether they 
will be so willing as many may 
hope, and believe, to accept of 
such terms as shall not be disho. 
nourable to us; how much soever 
a peace may be desirable for the 
sake’ of suffering humanity, and 
how much soever it may be the 
wish of his Imperial majesty, it 

vill be incumbent on the empire 
to make the most ardent and unre. 
mitting preparations for the pro. 
secution of the next campaign, 
should an invincivle fate, or the 
obstinacy or extravagant demands 
of France render abortive all our 
hopes ,and wishes. : His Imperial 
majesty thinks this intimation the 
more necessary, since, according to 
resolutions taken by the diet of 
Oétober 28, it was determined that 
the first of February should be the 
last term in which the increase of 
forces and armaments were to be 
furnished. to the commander gene- 
ral of the united army of the em. 


, 


pite 


324 


pire for the opening cf the next 
campaign; and particulatly as the 
proteedings in the diet relative to 
peace appear to have cooled the 
zeal of several of the states of the 
empire, a consequence far from the 
inténtion of the ecleGtor of Mentz, 
at whose motion the subjeé& was 
fisst discussed in that assembly. 
His Imperial majesty, therefore, 
éOnjures all the states of the Ger- 
tnanic body, jointly and singly, by 
their love for their country, not to 
suffer themselves to be lulled into 
ineautious security by hopes, as 
yet, much too uncertain; but 
faithfully and assiduously to dis- 
¢eharge those duties which the con- 
stitution and Jaws of the empire, 
and the preservation of every thing 
that should be dear to them, ren- 
der indispensable ; and conformably 
to the Imperial ordinance of the 
14th of June last respe€ting the 
arming the vassals in the different 
villages, and the forming of mi- 
litias in every distri or town, to 
give such strength to their military 
force, as may render vigorous and 
Successful a war, the continuance 


of which may, perhaps, be una-_ 


voidable. That the patriotic princes 
6f the empire, whose dominions 
are situated within the circles most 
exposed to the enemy, should be 
supported and assisted by the princes 
whose territories lie farther in the 
interior parts of Germany, and be 
énabled, for the defence of the 
whole empire, and of each state, 
to raise fortifications; and that 
they should be furnished with ar- 
tillery, ammunition, small arms, 
and other necessaries of war. 

His Imperial majesty most ear- 
nestly conjures.all the states in the 
empire never.to lose sight of the 
wdeniable principle, that extra- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ordinary circumstances require ex. 
traordinary measures; and that by 
such measures alone, in cases of 
imminent danger, a state can pre- 
serve its security, and frequently 
éven its existence: he entreats 
them to remember, that the re- 
sources of the empire are yet far 
from exhausted ; that it is not by 
relaxing in our efforts, that the 
enemy can be arrested in his pro. 
gress, and induced to accept just 
and honourable terms; and that, 
at all events, it 1s preferable to en. 
counter any adverse fortune, than 
to sign the shame of Germany, and 
the overthrow of the Germanic 
constitution, in a treaty of peace, 
(Signed) CHAries, Prince. oF 
THurn ano Taxis. 


Ratisbor, Feb. 10, 1795. 


Proclamation addressed to the Bata. 
vian Army by the States General. 


Brave soldiers! 

YOU who have given so many 
proofs of worth and courage, and 
who have revived the ancient glory 
of the Batavian heroes; you, like 


all your fellow-citizens, are equal - 


and free. Your blood shall no 


longer flow to increase tyrannical ; 


power, or to give triumph to pride 
or ambition. No, brothers, you 
are discharged from the oath or 
promise that you have made to the 
late captain general. You will 
fight hereafter under the colours of 
liberty, for your country, for your 
homes, for your wives, for your 
children ; for you shall -be enabled 
freely to choose your wives, with. 
out being obliged to obtain per- 
mission from your commanders for 
that purpose. You shall be ena- 


bled to bear the respeétable names - 


of 


STATE PAPERS. 
of husband and father: the proud; 


the cruel, shall no longer treat you 
as slaves; you shall no longer feel 
the blows of the cudgel which 
was only made for ruling brutes, 
and not for governing free’ men ; 
the old warrior, who has grown 
grey. in arms, or who bears the 
scars of his wounds, those marks 
of his bravery, shall no longer be 
- subordinate to the orders of young 
fools, who, by the title of an ima- 
ginary prerogative of birth, or of 
riches given by chance, have ob- 
tained the right to command as 
officers, 

No: brave defenders of your 
country ; virtue, capacity, or me- 
rit shall create hereafter to the rank 
of your officers. Any one of you 
shall be capable of attaining the 
highest military posts, who shall 
render himself worthy of them by 
his virtue, the knowledge he may 
have acquired, by his courage, by 
his obedience to the military laws, 
and by his’ attention to discipline 
so indispensable. Go then, bro« 
thers, acquit yourselves of your 
duty like brave men; serve the 
time of the engagements you have 
agreed upon. You shall not be 
compelled to remain an instant be- 
yond the period for which you have 
enlisted, and no cunning artifice, 
no seduétion, shall be employed 
again to subject you ; but your free 
will, alone, shall oblige you, and 
your new companions in arms, to 
embrace the service of your coun. 
try. ' 

As soon as the army shall have 
been reformed and put upon a bet. 
ter footing, you shall be better 
clothed, better fed; and in mak- 
ing that reform we shall endeavour 
to convince you by our first actions, 
that what we now declare, relative 


_Vot.XXXVIL. 


225 


to your promotion, is. not words 
only, nor vain sounds. 

Brave Batavian soldiers, swear 
then, by a solemn oath, and in 
presence of the all-seeing Power, 
that you will be true and faithful 
to the country and to the sovereign 
Batavian people, of whom you 
yourselves are members. Embrace 
your French brethren who have 
delivered you from the yoke of sla- 
very, and if it is necessary, fight 
like intrepid heroes by their side, 
for the liberty of mankind. 

- Done and decreed in the assem- 
bly of the States General of the 
United Provinces of the Low Coun- 
tries at the Hague, the 27th of Feb. 
1796, first year of Batavian liberty. 

(Signed) W. QUARLEs. 


: ) 


Proclamation to the Dutch Peoples 
, from the Prowistonal Representa 


tives of Holland, dated 26th March, 
1795+ 


WHEREAS we gave to the in- 
habitants of Holland, in our pub- 
lication of the 4th of March, a 
true description of the melancholy 
situation of the finances of the 
country: every one must easily 
have-been convinced of the neces- 
sity of restoring them, in order to 
extricate the country from the dis. 
tress in which it is plunged, and 
to defend it vigorously against the 
threatened attack on the part of a 
nation which seemed formerly to 
be the friends of the Batavians, 
but which has already done great 
damage to them, and is now taking 
the necessary measures to attack 
them, as an avowed enemy, by 
force of arms, and to destroy them 
entirely, if possible. But whereas 
it is impossible to resist the ops 

i 


226 


if we do not put our army and 
navy on a respectable footing, and 
whereas this cannot be done with- 
out some considerable sums of mo- 
ney, &c. &c, 

Every inhabitant is therefore or- 
dered to furnish, in the space of 
one month, all the uncoined gold 
and silver. or plate which he 
possesses. Spoons and forks are 
excepted, as well as medals and 
personal ornaments, provided these 
last do not exceed: in value 300 
fiorins. The receipts shall be de- 
duG&ted from the sums which each 
individual will be bound to fur- 
nish for the grand Operation of 
finance which is in meditation. 


Proclamation from the Committee of 
Public Safety of the French Conven- 
tion, to the Inhabitants of the Pro- 
wince of Guipustoay in Spain. 


THE French people, forced to 
- wage war by the coalition of the 
powers of Europe against their li- 
berty and independence, after hav- 
ing driven them out of their terri. 
tories, were obliged to follow them 
into their’s, for their own security, 
aid in order to obtain indemnities 
from: them, to which the French 
people are‘entitled. But in con- 
queriné a territory formerly inha- 
hited by their enemies, they have 
not forgot the -principles’ of ‘huma-- 
nity and justice; which a generous 
and free people ought to bring with. 
them where they come. This was 
the reason ‘of the national. conven. 
tion having hastened to disown the 
herrors* committed by the armies 
of the republic in the conquered’ 


countrics in Spain, and particularly’ 


in thé “province of Guipuscoa. 
The agents of the tyranny which 


ANNUAL REGISTER; 1795. 


has almost destroyed France, have 
been the cause that the name of 
the French has been tarnished in 
some places, These were blood- 
thirsty men, who carried desolation 
into foreign countries, after they 
had done the same in their own 
country. 

The revolutions of the gth.Ther- 
midor, and the 12th Germinal, have 
annihilated the guilty hopes. of 
those perfidious men, and. justice 
to all will, in future, be the con. 
stant order of the day. The com- 
mittee of public safety is anxious 
to let the inhabitants of Guipuscoa 
know the decree of the national 
convention, with respeét to the in- 


. justice done by our former govern- 


ments. They think it their duty 
to proclaim, in the most solemn 
manner, the principles which guide 
the operations of the present go- 
vernment of France. 

All the treaties, capitulations, 
and conventions, concluded be- 
tween the agents of that govern- 
ment and those of the conquered 
countries, ought to be most religi- 
ously observed. All private pro- 
perty is sacred : he who violates it 
isa robber, and must be punished 
as such. ‘Lhe inhabitants of the 
conquered, country must be govérn- 
ed according to their own laws and 
customs, and no innovation is per. 
mitted to be introduced. 

The French people having: pro- 
claimed public worship,-do not dis- 
turb that established in the con- 


~quered countries; the French peo- 


ple wish that public and religious 
opinions be respected. The French’ 
people revere old age, protect in- 
fancy, respe@ conjugal fidelity and 
modesty, and punish ‘with severity: 
those who. violate: them, If these’ 
principles have been violated ina 

~\ conquered 


ST ATH PAPERS. 


Conquered country, ‘the inhabitants’ 
are invited to find out and accuse 
the guilty to the representatives of 
the people with the armies, and 
they may be assured that justice 
shall be done to them. 

‘Given at Paris, at the national 
palace, the rst Floreal, 2oth 
April, 1795, third year of the 
Republic, one-and indivisible. 

(Signed) Cameacerés, President, 

Merutn, TALLtIEN, 

Lesac#, Roux, 

F, Avsry, J.P. Lacomsey 

Mareg, Laporte. 


> 


Declaration of the King of Prussia, ta 
his Most High Colleagues, Co- 
States of the German Empire, and 
Members of the Germanic League, 
with respe@ to the treaty of Peace 
concluded between him and the re- 
public of France, on the sth of 
April, 1795. 


HIS majesty the king of Prussia, 
&c. finds. himself now in the happy 
Situation of being able to an- 
nounce to his most high co-states 
of the high and mighty German 
empire, an event, the agreéable and 
happy consequences of which so 
nearly concern the whole of Ger- 
many. The uncertain and dan- 
gerous war, which but too long for 
suffering humanity has spread - to 
such an extent death and destruc. 
tion around us, is now terminated 
on the part of his majesty. A 
happy treaty of peace between his 
majesty and the republic of France 
has been signed, on the sth of 
April, 1795, at Basle, and has after. 
wards been ratified by the respec- 
tive contracting parties. This 
treaty grants to the Prussiaw states’ 
a restoration of tranquillity and 
welfare, opens an easy road for the 


227 


states of the empire to attain the 
same beneficial and happy object ; 
and already gives-to a great part 
of Germany proteétion and security 
against all the misfortunes and the 
ravages of the war. His majesty, 
in expecting with the most just con. 
fidence, the consent and approbation 
of the whole of the empire, does not 
delay a moment to develope, .with 
the utmost candour, his motives,’ 
his’ sentiments,: and his wishes in 
concluding this peace. 

His majesty flatters himself with 
the consciousness, that although 
his conduét, in this measure, has 
been forced, in some degree, by 
the imperious circumstances of the 
times, it has been as pure, and his 
views as liberal and disinterested as 
they have been hitherto, with re- 
spect to the great concerns which 
have employed the efforts of all 
Europe. His majesty is able, with 
conscious satisfation, to submit 
his conduét to the judgment of his 
observing contemporaries, and to 
that of scrutinizing posterity ; his 
interest in the whole of this war 
has never been his’ individual in. 
terest ; he has taken a part, not 
from views to his own advantage 
or benefit, but wholly front pure 
motives of zeal for the general wel- 
fare, and from patriotic wishes for 
the security and defence of our at. 
tacked and oppressed mother coun- 
try of Germany. 

His majesty in these liberal views, 
and in the general concern of Ger. 
many, has not only faithfully and 
perfectly fulfilled his obligations as 
a member of the Germanic league, 
and as a state of the empire, but 
has far exceeded his power, by 
making extraordinary sacrifices : 
by the utmost unexampled exertions, 
by straining every nerve of the 

Q2z powerful 


‘ 


228 


powerful body of the Prussian states, 
His majesty has carried on a bloody 
‘war for three long years with a 
great and choice army, at a dis. 
tance from the Prussian states, in a 
foreign and almost exhausted ter- 
ritory, amidst the most extraor- 
dinary dearth of all necessaries— 
amidst the greatest possible obsta- 
cles of every kind, and subject to 
ai immense exportation of specie 
from his pwn dominions, in a con- 
test against an enemy, powerful on 
account of its forces and its suc- 
cesses in the war. 

-His majesty has employed every 
means, and exhausted every effort, 
in order to remove trom the Ger- 
man territories the devastating tor- 
rents, and the enierprizes of this 
dreadful enemy ; and at all times 
has direéted his efforts so as to de- 
serve to be considered as the proteétor 
and saviour of Germany. Posterity 
will undoubtedly shew itself thank. 
ful to the Prussian armies, for hav- 
ing saved the German empire, in 
the beginning of this war, from the 
first powerful and rapid invasion 
made by general Custine, before 
any declaration of war had been 
issued by the empire, or any hos- 
tile preparation had been made ; 
when, after that powerful enemy 
had rushed and. penetrated almost 
into the very heart of Germany, 

he courageous Prussian armies, 
with their wonted discipline and 
military skill, succeeded in driving 
them from the territories of the 
empire, in  re-conquering from 
them the fortress of Mentz and the 
opulent town of Frankfort, and in 
re- uniting and securing the German 
empire, which had.already been 
torn asunder. 

Posterity will be thankful to those 
troops, who, during three cam. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 17935. 


paigns, in which the armies of the 
allies, on the banks of the Rhine, 
on the right as well as on the left, 
met with the greatest misfortunes, 
have always persisted in defending 
the banks of that river, and have 
proved themselves the unshaken 
rampart of the heart of Germany, 
which they defended with the 
greatest courage and perseverance ; 
and who, when perverse fortune 
had lost to the allies the United 
Netherlands, and when the unde. 
fended north of Germany stood 
Open to the entrance of the vito. 
rious enemy, hastened to the places 
where danger threatened in the 
most formidable shape ; ; and at last 
succeeded in saving and securing, 
together with the Westphalian do- 
minions of his majesty, all the 
neighbouring circles, as well as in 
defending the countries of the em- 
pire, situated behind that new the- 
atre of the war. 

In this service of the common 
cause of all Germany, the Prussian 
blood was spilt in great abundance, 
and the states of Prussia totally 
drained of specie, even at a time 
when he king was partly involved 
in another war, and when the pro- 
vinces of the other extremities of 
his monarchy ‘were obliged to de- 
fend themselves against the insur- 
rections and incursions of the neigh- 
boaring Peles, in which defence 
his majesty was afterwards forced 
to employ the remainder of his 
armed torces. 

Every observer, well acquainted 
with the real power of the Prussian 
states and their resources, must, 
from the strained bravery of the 
troops in the hostilities. carried on, 
on both sides, in this depopulating, 
destruétive, and fatal war, princi- 
pally at such a distance from the 

Prussian 


STATE 


Prossian states, have concluded that 
at last the very nerves of the body 
of the Prussian monarchy would 
become weakened, and the con- 
tinvation of a foreign and distant 
war must at last become entirely 
impossible. 

His majesty has often commu- 
nicated these circumstances for the 
information of his high colleagues, 
the members of the Germanic 
Jeague, and his co-states of the 
German empire. This was parti- 
cularly done in the beginning of 
last year, when his majesty was 
obliged openly. to declare to the 
German empire, that it was be- 
come entirely impossible for him 
singly, and without assistance, to 
continue to bear the heavy bur- 
then of this war; and that if the 
empire would not undertake to 
supply his troops with every thing 
necessary, he would find himself 
forced to withdraw his troops from 
the campaign, and to abandon the 
empire to its fate’ 
mands, in this respect, were every 
where received with coolness, dis- 
approbation, and even contempt. 
This ill success of the just and well. 
founded claims ofhis majesty tend- 
ed to disgust his liberal mind, and 
he began to meditate on the means 
of extricating his dominions from 
the dangerous situation in which 
they were involved. 

At that period proposals of subsi- 
dies were fortunately made ta his 
majesty from the court of Great 
Britain, which satisfied the claims 
of his majesty, and which furnished 
him with the means of continuing 
the war. His partaking in this 
war hitherto had always been the 
disinterested result of a true atten. 
tion to all his connexions, and 
wnion with the other states of Ger. 


But his just de. © 


PAPERS. 


many, and particularly of his zeal 
to oppose the destruction that was 
likely to be spread by the fa€tion 
which at that time was raging in 
France, and to counteraét the hor- 
rors which the latter carried to the 
utmost pitch; evidently proving his 
majesty to have ated merely ,from 
a pure patriotic attachment to his 
mother-country of Germany, and 
from a profound sensibility, which 
induced him to endeavour to 
strengthen its shaken foundation, 
and with all his energy to recover 
its declining preponderance. His 
majesty then embraced the propo. 
sitions of Great Britain, and the 
distressed empire continued .to en- 
joy the protection of the Prussian 
arms. 

The subsidies, however, were but 
a very limited relief to the efforts 
of his majesty in the continuance 
of the war; they did not continue 
long enough; at last they disconti. 
nued entirely, and the whole bur- 
den of the war fell again upon his 
majesty alone, and upon his means 
of carrying it on. 

Had his majesty at that time 
abandoned the empire, according 
to his previous declarations, to its 
own teeble defensive force, its 
fatal destiny would soon have been 
decided, particularly at that period 
when no dawn of peace had yet 
made its appearance; when every 
where on the German frontiers, and 
in the advanced countries of Ger- 
many, nothing but misfortune was 
raging ; when every where a sor- 
rowful conjecture preditted the fate 
undergone by all the states of the 
empire beyond the Rhine, and that 
the greatest part of unprotected 
Germany would become subject to 
the same fate with the Imperial 
Netherlands, uotwithstanding their 


O03 * having 


229 


230 


having been defended with the 
most extreme and energetic exer- 
tions; and that the United. Ne- 
therlands, which at that time were 
threatened in the most dangerous 
manner, would also fall into the 
hands of the conquerors. 

The king, however, at that very 
crisis, persevered as the active de- 
fender of the German empire ; his 
army marched at one time to the 
most threatened parts, at another 
to that of the open parts of the 
north of Germany, which latter 
they secured against the supernu- 
merary forces and the victorious 
armies of the advancing enemy. 

But these continued sacrifices, 
the march of a numerous army of 
his majesty to Westphalia, and the 
difficulties.of providing that army 
with the scarce necessaries, and 
particularly with corn, in territories 
but little fertile, and totally ex- 
hausted, formed the last effort of 
the Preiia state in favour of the 
war. After a continual and immense 
draining of finances from the Prus- 
sian territories, which lasted for 
three years ; after an uninterrupted 
warfare, weakening and diminish- 
ing the troops; after the Prussian 
territories on the other bank of the 
Rhine had fallen into the hands of 
the enemy; the sensible influence 
of these events upon the population, 
the provisions and welfare of the 
other provinces, rendered the con- 
tinuance of this war entirely im- 
possible for his majesty ; if it was 
to be supported merely by means 
of his own capacity, and the re. 
sources of his dominions. 

And what other remedies were 
at that time offered to his majesty ; 
when the empire itself even refused 
to furnish provisions for the Prus- 
sian troops who were combating 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1793. 


for its defence and security? And 
even at present, when the troops in 
exhausted Westphalia ran the risk 
of fighting against the most formi- 
dable enemy, under the disadvan- 
tage of an insufficiency of provi- 
sions, and when the neighbouring 
and opulent states, who eagerly 
wished for defence, far from grant- 
ing them provisions to fill their ma- 
gazines, even refused permission 
to export provisions from their ter- 
ritories. The extraordinary and 
monstrous expences of his majesty, 
in consequence of the re-conquest 
of Mentz, and of other extraordie 
nary undertakings, in which the 
Prussian army alone executed that 
which was the duty of an army of 
the empire, have remained unliqui- 
dated, although the treasure for 
the operations of the war of the 
empire is destined particularly for 
such objects, and to which consi- 
derable contributions of the Roman 
months (so called) have been fur- 


*nished by the several states of the 


empire, and which even upon re- 
peated claims of his Prussian ma- 
jesty, deduéting what is due to the 
same contributions from his own 
dominions, have yet remained un. 
satisfied. 

What assistance in this warfare 
could his majesty expect for the 


future from any other power of 


the allies? Particularly as by the 
reduction of the United Nether- 
lands, the number of the powers 
combating against the enemy of the 
empire were so extremely dimi- 
nished, and that, by this means, 
the weakest side of Germany had 
been opened to them, through 
which they easily could: penetrate 
into its very heart. Every where 
traces were seen of the continual 
miscarriage of the arms of the al. 

lies, 


S$ TAT ED PIA PER S$. 


lies, which even left no hopes for 
a future possible success. Every 
where the most total’ exhaustion 
was discovered, as the natural con- 


sequence of extraordinary © exer- 


tions, 
Even his Imperial majesty, upon 
whom depended the most power- 


ful exertions of the war, having in- 


it such a manifold pressing and im- 
mediate interest, who could ma 
more easy manner, furnish strong 
forces, in the middle of last year, 
made no secret in declaring to_ the 
German states, that he was unable 
any longer to save that empire, 
without a particular assistance in 
men and money, What resources 
then remained to the empire, 
which could expect only to be 
abandoned to itself, and to the 
weakness of its diminishing power 
of defence? This defence, it . is 
true, was increased by a quintuple 
armament ; but it could’expect no 
greater effect from this measure, 
than from the triple contribution, 
particularly since so ‘many coun- 
tries of the empire had been con- 
quered by the superiority of the 
French arms, of whose assistance 
the empire is now deprived, and 
since the principal states of the 
empire are at present exhausted by 
the misfortunes and the expences 
of the war, and some others are 
too impotent, and in no state of 
defence ; in this: war, as well as 
in preceding ones, the experience 
is confirmed, that the formation of 
the measures for a war of the em- 
pire must always be deficient and 
weak, on account of its being com- 
posed of such a number of divided 
parts, in order to form the whole, 
that it can never have aétivity suf- 
ficient without the assistance of 
other powers. 


231 


To these consideratious, and to 


others particularly in consequence 


of the concluslon of last. campaign, 
where on one side the desperate 
crisis seemed to threaten the most-. 
dreadful events,’ was added theim-: » 
portant event on. the part of France,-:# 
where, upon the rdins of the: de... 
stroyed: system: of terror, a:mild - 
and moderate government was seate 
ed upon the throne of power, who - 
first displayed their wise sentiments: 
on the necessity -of peace for their , 
country; this in Germany could. 
produce but one: wish, and: could: 
awaken but one desire. aes 
When, therefore, after threedread, ' 
ful years of death and destruction 
have entirely exhausted the war 
resources, and have made ali-fur~ 
ther hopes of success vanish; when. 
it appears clear and unquestionable 
that the powerful ‘Hand. of Provi, 
dence has given’to the mighty 
stream Of enterprizes, hostile tous, 
so decided a superiority, and ren- 
dered aik future attempts against it 
fruitless; and when at the same 
time we see the enemy not ‘disinclined 
to peace ;-and when all hopes pre- 
di& to us that we certainly should \ 
obtain more by means of the latter 
than by an obstinate continuation 
of a destructive war; what choice 
is left to us?. Would a wise and 
humane monarch, after this pro- 
spect, « ever proceed in ‘and con- 
tinue the horrors of a war without 
any object of success or prosperity ? 
Have not there been provinces 


enough, unpeopled, and filled with 


misery and mourning? Has. not 
suffering humanity been yet ren» 
dered sufficiently miserable? 

The king of Prussia; therefore, 


declares his sincere wish that rest 


and tranquillity may soon be re- 
stored to the Prussian states, and if 


04 * possible 


“ 


\for a peace. 


232 


possible to the whole of the Ger- 
man empire. ‘The latter has even 
expressed. the same general wish, 
having already opened a formal 
deliberation of the diet of the em- 
pire. Whole cireles, and several 
of the most distinguished princes 
of the empire, have even applied 
to his majesty to make a common 
cause with them, and to negotiate 
By means cf the pa- 
triotic zeal of a number of states 
for their own as well as for the ge- 
neral interest of the empire, en- 
sued the celebrated conclusum of 
the diet of Ratisbon, by which the 
empire, with dignity and modera- 
tion, expresses its wish for a peace, 
requesting the interference, for that 
purpose, of the principal head of 
the empire ; and applying, second- 
ly, to his majesty of Prussia, in or- 
der to invite him to co-operate in 
this important enterprize. 

This co-operation of his Imperial 
‘majesty, in which his majesty the 
king of Prussia was only to be the 
secondary, has beendelayed ; and, 
on the contrary, all steps have been 
taken in order to enforce the con- 
tributions of the states to the ar- 
mament for this campaign, how- 
ever weak and hopeless they may 
be; and it seemed to hate taken 
the turn, that notwithstanding the 
solemn declaration of the states of 
the empire in favour of a negotia- 
tion’ for peace, it is condemned to 
continue involved in this unfor- 
tunate war. ; 

His majesty the king of Prussia, 
however, in a war of three years, 
had made*the greatest exertions in 
the defence of the empire, and the 
greatest sacrifices, in order to pro- 
cure its welfare and security, but 


has, after this continued expert. 


ence, found all his efforts fruitless. 


ANNUAL REGISTER; 1793. 


It is impossible for his majesty ta 
sacrifice his existence, or to expose 
his collective states ta destruétion, 
in order to partake of experimen. 
tal and delusive operations in war, 
the best possible result of which 
cannot be equally beneficial with 
a present negotiation for peace ; 
and especially when all that re- 
gards his external and internal in, 
terests, all the sacred obligations 
which his majesty owes to the wel- 
fare of his provinces, who, wishing 
for peace and tranquillity, demand 
pressingly of his majesty for the 
present to renounce a war, the pro- 
gress of which can only produce 
irreparable destruction. 

His majesty, therefore, did not 
suffer the opportunity to pass away of 
commencing a negotiation for peace. 
to be carried on at Basle, between 
his and a French plenipotentiary ; 
his good intentions have been bless. 
ed with a happy success, and his 
majesty is now able to enjoy the 
pleasure of a sovereign—a father 
to his subjeéts; that by this treaty 
of peace he has restored to his 
states tranquillity and undisturbed 
welfare. 

To the German empire also his 
majesty has, in this important) oc- 
currence, displayed his patriotic at- 
tention and particular care. His 
Majesty is not in the immediate 
power of procuring a formal and 
real peace to the empire, for to this 
would be required the principal 
head of that empire, and a dire&t 
authority an the part of all the 
states, to give sufficient legitimacy 
in the eyes of the French govern. 
ment, and particular instruétions 
for the articles of the negotiation. 
In the mean time his majesty, from 
his own humane sentiments, Tre. 
specting the deplorable situation “4 

the 


STATE PAPERS. 


the empire, and in consequence of 
‘repeated applications made to him 
by several of the most distinguished 
states, has done all that lay in his 
power, in order to open a road by 
which the whole empire, as well as 
all the separate states, might ar- 
rive at the pinnacle of their wishes. 

For this purpose an article “has 
been expressly inserted in the treaty 
of peace that his majesty has con- 
er with the French republic, 
which allows, within three months 
time, any state of the empire to 
enter into a negotiation for peace 
with the republic of France, 
through the mediation of his ma- 
jesty. A peculiar agreement has 
also been entered into between the 
two contra€ting powers, which 
establishes a line of separation and 
neutrality, tending to stop the pro- 
gress of hostilities against all the 
provinces situated behind that line, 
whether under the dominion of his 
majesty or others, to which security” 
and tranquillity is insured, on con- 
dition of their abstaining from all 
direct and indireé hostilities. His 
majesty has also obtained the sur- 
render, on the part of the French. 
‘republic, of all the prisoners-made 
of the troops of any of the states 
of the empire, who had been taken, 
in co-operating with his majesty’s 
troops in the different campaigns, 

These are the advantages which 
his majesty is enabled to offer, for 
the present, to the states of the 
German empire: his majesty, there- 
fore, flatters himself that they will 
all be struck with the ideas of their 
most important interests ; and when 
once a hand is reached to them for 
peace and reconciliation, will there 
be any body inclined to reject these 
pntried ? 


His majesty herewith makes the 


233 


most solemn promise to all those 
who shall immediately apply to 
France for a negotiation of peace, 
and at the same time may be in 
want of his mediation, that his en- 
deavours shall be employed to the 
utmost of his power, in order to 
procure the most agreeable nego. 
tiation in their favour from the 
French government. 

His majesty will think himself 
happy, his wishes completely ful. 
filled, and his sacrifices made hi. 
therto for the welfare of the Ger. 
man empire, compensated, if he 
succeeds in these endeavours to 
spread the blessings of peace still 
farther, and soon to see the terrors. 
and destruétions of this dreadful 
war removed from the territories of 
the, German empire, that its citi. 
zens may once more be restored to 
tranquillity and security, and to 
the happy exercise of their peace. 
able duties. 

Whatever course these events 
may take, and if even the empire 
is doomed toa continuance of this 
war, itis his majesty’s duty to de« 
clare, that by his treaty of peace 
he his obliged no longer to take any 
part in the contest, and never to 
co-operate in it. by any means, 
whether to send his contingent, or 
to pay the so-called Roman months, 
which he is obliged fully to re. 
nounce, and enly to conduct him- 
self in the most punétual and strié 
neutrality, particularly as, during 
the three campaigns, his majesty 
has completely fulfilled his duty of 
a state of the empire, and even 
done infinitely more than could be 
required for many future years: so 
that his majesty cannot even re- 
proach himself with any irregula. 
rity of conduct on his side. 

His majesty has the satisfactory 

conviction 


234 


conviction to have contributed to 
the welfare of the German coun- 
try, the security of its constitution, 
and its tranguillity.; first, by an 
energeticexertion of a war of three 
campaigns, which seemed almost to 
surpass all physical possibility ; ; and 
of having at last, by his patriotic 
care, opened a road for peace.— 
His majesty leaves to the enlighten- 
ed opinion of his co-states of the 
empire to obtain, by this road, 
the object of their long-continued 
contest, namely, tranquillity and 
security ; and hope that they may, 
for this purpose, take advantage of 
the proffered mediation of his ma. 
jesty, and of the principles of mo- 
deration and justice at present 
adopted by the French republic. 
(Signed, Freperrc WILiiAM. 
Berlin, May 15 1795. 


Proclamation fram the National Can- 
vention to the Citizens of oat 


May 24) 1795+ 


Citizens, 

THE national convention, whose 
most ardent wish is to provide for 
the wants of the people, and who 
would long since have accomplish - 
ed that wish, if the operations 
of the government had not been 
checked by the enemies of the pub- 
lic weal, think it their duty, at the 
moment of trouble and agitation, 
to point cut to the good citizens 
the condu& whick they ought to 
adopt, and the duties which they 
ought to fulfil, 

Men, notorious for the infamous 
parts which they have played 
under the dreadful reign of the 
date anarchy, have organized a re- 
volt under the name of insurrec. 
tion. The other demands which 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


they conneét with the demands for 
provisions, afford room to doubt 
whether their r object is to complain 
of our melancholy situation in that 
respect, or to profit of it. 

Disposed to arm those in want 
whom they irritate by the fears 
which they affe& to entertain, and 
by the rejection of confidence, they 
pretend to be astonished at the un- 
productive nature of our commerce} 
Such, citizens, are the men whom 
‘you ought to distrust, and whosé 
perfidious insinuations and seditious - 
provocations you ought to repel ; 
they offer to your view’ the dis- 
honourable signal of roe which 
deads to slavery. 9%" ¢ 

Your courage,: and your i tive 
for the republic, your attive zeal 
for the security of persons and pro 
perty, are a guarantee to the nai 
tional representation, that you will 
not acknowledge any other standard 
than that which has so often been | 
honoured ‘by viClory, ‘atid which 
your children, brethiren, and friends, 
love to see at the head of ‘your 
phalanxes; that tri-coloured stan. 
dard which, in remote countries, 
conquered by their intrepidity, pre. 
sent to their animated looks the 
precious and encouraging image of 
the country. 

Citizens, the’ instigators of the 
troubles take good care not to dis. 
close their secrets to you; they ab. 
hor peace because it will re-esta- 
blish abundance and vivify indus-~ 
try. A treaty of peace was to be 
signed at Basle on the 16th of last 
Germinal. On the 12th they ex- 
cited revolt. Negotiations entered 
into with attivity and prudence, 
open to the government a pleasing 
perspective, and promise the most 
satisfactory result: these same dis. 
turbers of the public peace endea- 

your 


STATE PAPERS. 


wour to stifle, at its birth, the germ 
of your prosperity, and to break 
the thread of the ‘political opera- 
tions of those who govern, 

Citizens, this’ is the moment in 
which you are going to gather the 
fruit of so many painful sacrifices ; 
this is the moment in which a de- 
finitive government, the only re- 
medy for the present evils, is on 
the point of being given to France, 
fixed on the bases of ‘liberty and 
equality; in this moment, when 
you are entering the port, your in- 
ternal and external enemies ex- 
cite commotions and tempests, and 
throw this city and France against 
the rocks still blood-stained by 
anarchy, 

Whatever perfidy may attempt, 
or anarchy undertake, the national 
convention, who by their courage 
will always be worthy of their post, 
will open neither the hall of the 
jacobins nor the temple. The ge- 
nius of liberty animates them; 
strong in the confidence of all good 
citizens, they will’ know how to 
fulfil their funétions, and to make 
an honourable termination of their 
career... Itispainful tous, citizens, 
to direct your attention in this mo- 
ment to any other objet than that 
of subsistence. Your multiplied 
and pressing wants affect our sen- 
sibility, and have long occupied 
our zeal; but can we speak of the 
Miseries of scarcity, without refer- 
ring to adisorganization which was 
the cause of it? Can we talk of 
ills, without referring to those who 
wished to increase them ? 

The convention, on their side, 
by redoubling, as much as possible 
their diligence and care to provide 
for your wants, hope to be second- 
ed by the attive patriotism of all 
good citizens who are the friends 


235 


of the laws, of liberty, and of peace, + 
and who are attached by principle 
to the maintenance of property. 

This well-founded hope, doub. 
ling its force, prepares success to 
the new measures of government 
relative to provisions, and will give 
you abundant resources in the pre- 
sent crisis; it will give to your ene 
mies the opprobrium of a defeat, 
and. to the republic the ec/at and 
utility,of a triumph. 


Substance of the Emperor's Decree of 
Commission, dated Vienna, May 195 
relative tothe preparatory Measures 

for a Pacification, presented to the 
Assembly of the Diet of the Empire, 
at Ratisbon, on the 23d of May, 


1795+: 


IT is well known, that on the 
sth ult. a separate treaty of peace 
and friendship has been concluded 
at Basle, between the French na- 
tion and his majesty the king of 
Prussia, eleGtor of Brandenburg, 
and co-state of the. empire; and 
that it has since been ratified by. 
both of the contra¢ting parties. 

The present urgent period ap- 
pears to :his, Imperial majesty te 
require of him to express his opi, 
nion with frankness and candour, 
to the electors, princes and. states 
of the empire, and to the German 
nation at large, in order tojdissipate, 
certain doubts and fears, which 
from ignorance of the real state of 
circumstances, from misunderstand. 
ing, or from other causes, which 
have originated in- the minds and 
hearts/of mankind, have been spread 
and inculcated, either by, chance or 
design, with respeét to the pure and 
sincere views of his Imperial ma, 
jesty ; in order also from his Patera 

na 


236 


nal affection towards the empire, 
to unite the electors, princes, and 
states; and,-with an entire confi. 
dence in their patriotism, to con- 
cur with them in a constitutional 
manner, upon measures to be taken 
in this important conjunéture, which 
may agree with the fundamental 
tights of the constitution of the 
empire, with the system of the in- 
dependence of the states, and with 
the dignity and integrity of the 
Germanic body. His Imperial ma- 
jesty does not think it necessary to 
detail the instances of his conduct 
which prove his close adherence to 
the German constitution, and his 
zeal for its support, his constant 
care and energetic endeavours to 
preserve and increase the general 
welfare of the country ; since the 
whole of his majesty’s reign, from 
his ascending the Imperial throne 
to this moment, has been distin- 
guished by his paternal care and 
. love for the German empire, and 
by the immense sacrifices made by 
the house of Austria for its de- 
fence, and for the support of its 
constitution, His Imperial ma- 
jesty continued to shew his consti- 
tutional intentions, and the sincere 
interest he took in the affairs of 
the empire, in his quality of its su- 
preme chief, by approving of the 
principles laid down in the conelu- 
sum of the diet of the 22d of De- 
cember last, in order to open a 
yoad for a just and Jasting peace, 
when his Imperial majesty declared, 
that he was disposed to enter into 
preparatory considerations how to 
obtain this desirable object ; observ- 
ing at the same time, that it was 
necessary to invite his majesty the 
king of Prussia to co-operate in 
concert with his Imperial majesty, 
in accomplishing this wished-for 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


measure, in the manner in which 
it was proposed in the conclusum 
of the diet : and lastly, by the con- 
stitutional regard which his Impe- 
rial majesty has always paid to that 
commitial decree. 

He has given an assurance in his 
quality as chief of the empire, not 
only that he will in time give a 
Special information to the general 
diet of the empire, of the success 
with which the preliminary dispo~ 
Sitions. shall meet; but also ex- 
pressly invited the diet itself to co. 
Operate ultimately in this obje&, 
in order to partake of the heavy 
burthen which his paternal cares 
for the empire are imposing upon 
his Imperial majesty: that he 
might, by this ulterior co-operation, 
receive a more efficacious assist- 
ance, in the same degree as his 
paternal condu@t exerted itself ia 
the present difficult political state 
of Germany, which shall always 
be sincere and ative for the wel. 
fare of the empire. 

In consequence of this disposi. 
tion, which his Imperial majesty 
manifested, of seriously endeavour- 
ing to establish the means which 
tend to procare peace, he did not 
fail to take the first step in this 
salutary measure. On the 14th 
of February, in the present year, 
(the day when the decree of com- 
mission respecting the war of the 
empire, and the proposal of peace, 
was presented to the dictature in 
the diet of Ratisbon), his Imperial 
majesty gave orders to his minis- 
ters at the court of Berlin, to com. 
municate the annexed note to the 
Prussian ministry. 

This note, if considered through 
the whole extent of its contents, 
as well as with regard to the ob- 
jects to which they relate, and 

particularly 


STATE. -PAPERS. 


particularly the paper which. fol- 
lows it, will evidently prove, that 
his Imperial majesty has been dis- 
posed to open in concert the pre- 
liminaries of such a negotiation 
as has been «reed upon by a de- 
cision of the diet; the basis of 
which his Imperial majesty had in 
some measure already paternally 
approved. His Imperia: majesty 
there expressed the most pressing 
request, that he might obtain the 
assistance of his Prussian majesty, 
in order that, together with the 
authority given by the conclusum 
of the empire, the foundation 
might be laid for a negotiation, in 
which all the electors, princes, and 
States might co-operate for a 
speedy treaty of peace for the em- 
pire, according to the principles of 
the treaty of Westphalia; that all 
the states might send their deputies 
with full powers, and with in- 
structions on the materiale pacis, as 
well as on the modum tradtandi, in 
order to prevent all kind of con- 
test according to the principles 
contained in the ancient acts of the 
empire. This end might have 
been obtained, if his majesty thé 
king of Prussia had declared to the 
assembly of the empire, that he 
would employ every means to pro. 
cure to the empire the peace and 
tranquillity which it so ardently 
wished ; particularly whilst, ac. 
cording to the general rumors at 
that time, preparatory dispositions 
had already been made on his part, 
in order to enter into negotiations 
for peace. 

The answer of the Prussian mi- 
nister to the above declaration of 
his Imperial majesty’s minister, 
dated February 26th,* arrived on 


* The two papers here alluded to immediately follow this memorial. 


237 
the 24th of, March at the Impe. 


rial court. If on one hand, in 
this answer, the expression inserted 
in the conclusum of the diet, ap- 
proved by the supreme chief of the 
empire, namely, ‘* that the ge. 
neral wish of the states of the em. 
pire was to obtain a peace, con- 
formable to the fundamental con. 
stitution of the empire,’’ repre. 
sented only a general wish for any 
peace whatsoever; on the other 
hand, ,his Imperial majesty cannot 
discover, in this answer, that dis. 
position of co-operation, or that 
solicitude for the welfare of the 
empire, which he so _ ardently 
wished and expected for facilitating 
and ‘accomplishing the great end 
of pacification. Besides, M. Har- 
denberg, the Prussian minister of 
state, set out from Berlin, on his 
way to Basle, a few days after the 
official note from the court of 
Prussia had been signed, with the 
character of minister plenipoten. 
tiary and with new powers, dated 
February 28th, in order to conti- 
nue and bring to a conclusion the 
negotiations commenced between 
count Goltz and the plenipoten. 
tiary from the French government, 
by means of powers given to the 
count, dated the 8th of December, 
Li04> 

The state of things have now 
taken a different aspe¢t on account 
of this separate peace. His Im. 
perial majesty thinks, in his pa. 
ternal solicitude, and judges it 
necessary, that the ele¢tors, princes, 
and states, in order to accelerate a 
peace for the empire so generally 
wished, should, by the right of co- 
operation granted to them by the 
treaty of the peace of Westphalia, 


and 


938 


tion, set asidé all’ private contest, 
and, witha patriotic unanimity, 
open a delibetitioh in the diet, 
for the putpose of appointing a 
deputation of the empire, com- 
posed of as small a number of 
deputies as possible, to be sent to 


the first. congress which may be 


appointed for obtaining a peace, 
These deputies should have full 
powers ‘as deputies from the em- 
pire. The deliberations ought to 
extend upon these peculiar ‘powers, 
to be conferred upon their sub- 
delegates, and lastly upon the in- 
_struétions to be drawn up for the 
conduct of the deputies, respeCing 
the materiale pacis and the modum 
traG@andiy and afterwards a con- 
clusum should be presented’ to his 
Imperial majesty, on all these ob- 
jects: precedents to’ which may also 
be found’ in the ancient atts of the 
diet of the empire. ; 

His Imperial majesty waits with 
the utmost solicitude and impa- 
tience for this conclusum of the 
diét. However, in virtue of the 
éleGion capitulation enaéted in 
the year 1790, under the reign of 
Leopold, the eleétors, princes, and 
states of the empire, have a right, 
independent of their faculty of 
appointing deputies. to the congress 
of the peace of the empire, to send 
to the congress their own ambassa-_ 
dors for their private affairs and in-| 
dividual interest, which relate to 
the negotiation of peace ; whilst, at 
the’same time, they are’ warned by 
his Imperial majesty and’ by the 
empire, that, in the powers and 
in the instru€tions given to these 
peculiar ambassadors, the attach- 
ment to, and’ the union’ and -har- 
mony with his Imperial majesty 
and the empire, should’ always 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


and the capitulation of the’ elec.’ 


be fully "expressed ; for, uport 
these alone, the true supremacy and 
the safety of the empire must rest. 

The importance and the power 
of Germany are founded upon the 
happy concord of the general will 
of the states, loyally united to their 
chief; as well as its permanent 
welfare is founded upon the invio- 
lability of the principles, and of 
the decisions of the diet of the 
empire. His Imperial majesty _ 
himself is ‘subjeéted to the laws of 
the empire ; but in ‘his faculty of 
presiding as chief, in order to 
maintain them, he hopes that the 
éeleétors, princes, and states, in 
this interesting business of the 
peace of the empire, will deviate 
in nothing from article VII. of 
the Westphalian treaty, and that 
they will regulate their conduct 
according to the decision of the 
dict of Aptil 30, and in the mean 
timé, that they will continue to 
fultil the diffetent obligations im- 
posed upon’, them by the decisions 
of the diet respecting the war of 
the empire, which is still conti- 
nued, until a convenient, accept= 
able, just, and equitable peace, shall 
be concluded, in a most constitu- 
tional form. 


The following are the two pa- 
pers alluded to in the preceding 
decree. 

Copy of the Note delivered from thé 
Emperor to the Prussian Ministry, 
at Berlin, by Prince Von Reusss 
the. Imperial Ministery dated Feb. 
215 1795- “rf Wee} 
THE contents of thé most hum= 

ble advice of the empire, addréssed to 


‘his Imperial majesty by the general 
‘assembly of the diet, in which is 


* commu. 


‘$:T AiR Ee) PAP ERIS. 


-eémmunicated its most anxious 
wishes to the chief of the empire, 
for an equitable, just, decent, and 
acceptable peace, cannot have ré- 
mained unknown to the ministry of 
his Prussian majesty. 

His Imperial majesty is of opi- 
nion that he cannot manifest, in a 


more candid and confidential man- . 


ner, the constant paternal care 
for the security and welfare of the 
Germanic empire, which he has 
displayed ever since the commence- 
ment of his reign in the most in- 
defatigable manner, and supported 
by the most extraordinary sacri- 
fices of the-resources of the arch- 
ducal house,. and which have been 
acknowledged; in the most grate- 
ful terms, by the electors, princes, 
and istates, as likewise his - perse- 
vering attention with regard to 
the present critical situation of 
the Germanic empire, than it has 
been done in the most gracious 
decree of commission lately issued 
to the ele€tors, princes, and states, 
a copy of which is here enclosed, 
and from which his Prussian ma- 
jesty will.farther be pleased to re- 
-cognize the sentiments of the chief 
of the empire upon this most mo- 
mentous concern of Germany, ad- 
' dressed by. the general assembly of 
the diet of the empire. 
Notwithstanding the sincerity of 


the Imperial paternal inclination. 


of his Imperial majesty, to effect 
the preliminary introduction to 
obtain a peace congenial to the 
Wishes of the empire, his Prussian 
Majesty cannot but perceive the 
various great difficulties which at- 
tend, in ‘the present critical junc. 
ture of affairs, the accomplishment 
of the peace so fervently desired. 
The more urgent. is they care of 


239° 


his Imperial majesty to obtain, by 
the concert to be opened with his 
Prussian majesty, on the prelimi- 
nary. introdu¢tion of pacificatory 
means; mentioned in the said ad 
vice of the empire and the Im. 
perial decree of commission, that 
succouring assistance and Imperial 
paternal indulgence, which can fur. 
ther this pacific end by: the basis 
of peace, established in the said 
advice of the empire, and most 


graciously ratified by his Imperial, 


majesty:; especially since his Prus- 
sian majesty has already previously 
declared:to the general assembly of 
the Germanic diet, ‘* that he will 
use every endeavour to procure 
to the empire that peace and-tran- 
quillity. so fervently wished for ;’* 
and since, according to universal 
rumours, his Prussian majesty is 
reported to have already made 
some overtures for an attempt to 
negotiate a peace, the more in- 


timate knowledge of which might: 
perhaps facilitate the good: offices : 


of the chief of the empire. 

While» the undersigned, accre. 
dited Imperial: minister at this 
court, has the honour to make this 


communication to the royal Prus-_ 


_sian ministry, by the supreme com. 


mand of his Imperial majesty, he 
recommends ‘himself, -&c. &c.., 


(Signed) Von Reuss, 


Answer of the Prussian Cabinet. 


WE testify our gratitude to prince 
Reuss, the Imperial royal ambassa. 
dor extraordinary and minister ple. 


nipotentiary at this court, for the, 


friendly communication made to us 
on theerst-inst. of the Imperial de. 


cree of ratification, which ensued: 


- 


upon the late advice of the empire, 


respecting 


240 


respecting the opening of the ne- 


gotiations of peace. His majesty, 
our most gracious lord the king, to 
whom we communicated the con. 
tents, perceived in it, with pleasure, 
the fresh proof of Imperial pater. 
nal care, which is to be revered 
with gratitude by the whole empire, 
since his Imperial majesty gives his 
assent and approbation, as chief of 
the empire, to the expression of the 
general longing desire of the states 
of the empire for a speedy armistice 
and a tolerable peace; and since 
his Imperial majesty declares most 
graciously his readiness to make 
the preliminary introduétion to the 
salutary end, which becomes even 
more, and, in all respects, the only 
and surest remedy to save the Ger- 
manic country, after the result of 
a war, as equally just as it has been 
‘unequally and most unsuccessfully 
waged. 

Upon the question put in the 
said communication by his high. 
ness, the above-mentioned Imperial 
minister, we shall not omit to reply, 
that his majesty charged major-ge- 
neral count Von Goltz, when his 
majesty sent him some time ago to 
Basle, concerning the exchange 
of prisoners, to sound at the same 
time the gentiments of the French 
nation, with regard toa peace and 
the means of obtaining it.—The 
illness and subsequent death’ of the 
said count have, however, prevent- 
ed all farther intimations. But no- 
thing has’ been done in this respect, 


relative to the Germanic empire, © 


nor could any thing be done, as the 


king’s majesty had to wait in this - 
respect the above-mentioned Impe- | 


rial ratification, the advice of the 
empire containing propositions of 
peace, and the turther overtures 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


from the pleasure of his Imperial 


majesty. 
(Signed) Finxenstern, 
ALVENSLEBEN, 
Havuewitz. 


erliny Feb. 26, 1795. 


The Members of the General Adminis« 
tration of East-Flanders, sitting at 
Ghent, to the National Convention 
of France, 3d February, 1795. 


LEGISLATORS, amid the 
united voices that express the ges 
neral satisfa¢tion produced by your 
inviolable attachment to the prin- 
ciples of liberty, equality, jus. 
tice, and probity, the administfa- 
tors of East-Flanders present the 
homage of their attachment, and 
express their eagerness to see ef: 
fected the incorporation of this 
interesting part of “Belgium with 
the French republic. Yes, legisla« 
tors, the inhabitants of this fine 
country are worthy of being French 
citizens. The love of liberty, that 
sacred ‘fire which burns in your 
hearts, burns also in theirs. Frank 
in their charaéter, energetic in their 
sentiments, they daily express their 
joy at the recital of the new tri- 
umphs, which, in the most rigos 
rous season, procured to France 
the conquest of all Holland. A 
great number of their countrymen 
have long since given other proofs 
of their attachment to the republic. 
In your armies they haveshed their 
blood for liberty, because they felt 
its worth, and abhorred every spe= 
cies of tyranny. They declares 
that by releasing them from despo-~ 
tism, you have restored to them 
their country, which they will ches 
rish forever; and they feelin their. 

hearts 


“S TATHOPA PERS: 


hearts ‘the principles and laws you 
have proclaimed. They would be 
at the height of their wishes if 
these salutary laws were executed 
in Belgium. Can you, legislators, 
refuse them the advantage of par- 
ticipating in the war and the pros- 
perity of the French, 


4 2 
Letter from the Representatives of the 
People with the Armies of the North, 
and Sambre and Meuse, to the 
National Convention. 


Brussels, Feb. 15. 


Citizen Colleagues, , 


THE central: administrators of 
Belgium request us to transmit’ to 
you an.address, in which they ex- 
press in the most formal and pre- 
cise terms, their wish for a»speedy 
incorporation of their country with 
the French republic. In. doing’ 
this, they observe, that they are 
only the organs of a majority of 
the people, who are eager to bear 
the name of Frenchmen, and to be 
associated in the glory of which 
that name calls up the idea. We 
teceived at the same time an ad- 
dress to the same effect from the 
commune of Mons. All the com- 
munes of Belgium express the same 
eagerness on this head; they all 
ardently desire that you would put 
an end to the state of uncertainty, 
in which their civil and political 
existence has flu€tuated, since you 
for the second time rescued them 
from the yoke of tyranny. We 
invite you to consider in your wis- 
dom their demand, and to pro- 
nounce a union, which we have 
promised in your name, and of 
which we think them worthy to 
« Vor. XXXVII, 


QAIl 
receive the benefif. Health and 
fraternity. 

q : Peres. 
HausMann,. 


The Members of the Central Adminis- 
tration of Belgium to the National 
Convention. 


Legislators, 

CALLED by the authority of 
your colleagues, under circumstan. 
ces of difficulty, to the important 
and delicate functions of the admi. 
nistration of Belgium, we were to 
keep two points in view; the glory, 
the prosperity of the republic, and 
the happiness of the inhabitants of 
these provinces. Such were the 
views of the Belgians who sat 
among us, such the views of the 
French who share our labours. 
Public confidence reposes upon us, 
and it shall not be deceived. The 
sound and enlightened part of the 
people of Belgium have long as. 
pired to a real incorporation with 
the French republic. They have 
demanded it more than once, and 
the reception you gave their de- 
mand two years ago, nourished the 
hope of their seeing the happy day 
in which they might say with en- 
thusiasm, ** We are Frenchmen.’’ 
Your colleagues, by their procla. 
mations, have already given to 
merited contempt divers agents 
denounced by public opinion, 
agents whose self-sufficiency and 
conduét formed so singular a con. 
trast torepublican manners. These 
proclamations tend to assure.to the 
Belgians subsistence, and whatever 
is necessary for the preservation of 
their trade and sicncihanieess They 
have put a stop, in a great measure, 
to the evil of requisitions, and re- 

moved 


242 


moved the impediments to ¢om- 


merce. _Hasten, legislators, to 
complete our regeneration. Bel- 
Biv: has suffered enough, Too 


jong has it vegetated with half its 
liberty ; “it is time that it should 
recover the whole, and resume its 
ancient station among the Gauls. 
Pronounce the unidn, and you will 
destroy the ramifications of liber- 
ticide faétions ; you will silence the 
calumniators who insinuate td an 
hoyest and industrious people, that 
Juniviices have been required of 
them only to seplunge them into 
slavery : you will defeat the hopes 
of those, who, for the reign of vir- 
tue, of justice, and the laws, would 
substitute a justly abhorred system 
of terror. if the Belgians have 
sometimes suffered themselves to 
be misled by hypoerites, they are 
not less deservang ef your esteem 
upon that account, for what peo. 
ple! is there whose energy has not 
been paralized at some time or ano. 
ther by ambitious men or pretend- 
ed yatriots? To yeu, legislators, i it 
was reserved to le ey the onperish. 
able foundations of a republic, in 
which the love of principles wil] 
be the sole guide of the citizens. 
Recollect, however, that the Bel- 
gians; destitute of all means, and 
Strong only in their courage, piel 
away their despat while France 
veasostill groaning: under her’s, 
While Batavia) was receiving 
chains from an ambitious woman, 
did nut Belgium give the frst sig- 
nal of the glorious revolution which 
you ‘have accomplished? Did not 
Belgium, in 1787; give the first 
commotion to the conductor, whose 
parts éleGtrified 25 millions of men 
who. now enjoy hberty ? Did. not 
go batialions of Belgians and Lie- 
gois share the perils of the heroes 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


of the republic? No, legislators, 
you will not suffer this people to 
be longer without a civil existence. 
You will not suffer us to be any 
longer an objeét of trafic for the 
tyrants of London, of Vienna, and 
Beriin. The French people will 
not make slaves. That generous 
people, which merits the admira- 
tion of the universey-is~formed to 
love the Belgians, and to fraternize 
with them, Why defer proclaim. 
ing this union? it is then that the 
people of these countries will see 
their co begin to heal, and 
that their numerous sacrifices 
will seem hight +because they will 


be sure of reaping. the benefit of 


them. ~“Hasten ‘then, legislators, 
when our inhabitants shall go to 
learn of your Areopagus hatred of 
tyrants and Jove of virtue; when 
our youth, trained up. in orepub- 
lican principles, willearly accustom 
themselves to fight in defence of 
liberty and equality. The wish of 
honest men is to see our destinies 
united to those of Frances This 
is our dearest hope, the only safety 
of Belgium. Vive la Convention! 
Vive la Republique ! 
Done at Brussels, in the sitting of 
the 23d Pluviose (Feb. 11), 
third republican year. 


Letter from the Representatives of the 
iventh  Pesple with the Armies of 

- the: North, to the National Conven« 
tion, dated Brussels, the 8th Ven- 
tose | (26th February), 1795+ 


Citizen Colleagues, 

I SEND you the wish of the 
city of Antwerp for its union with 
the republic. his desire is uttered 
throughout Belgium, in proportion 
as we draw near to the opening of 

ithe 


STATE, PAPERS, 


the campaign, and this ought to 
assure you of its sincerity. -Men 
will not brave tyrants, at the mo- 
ment they present themselves to 
impose new chains upon them: 
they will not defy them, as it were, 
to their face; without an ardent 
love for liberty, and without a firm 
resolution to perish in its defence. 
Therefore the national convéntion 
has only to declare itself, and 
40,000 Belgians are ready to unite 
themselves with the triumphant 
armies of the republic, to give the 
last blow to the impious coalition 
which dares to misrepresent it. 
Health and Fraternity. 
PERES, 


The Representatives of the People 
with the Army of the North, and 
Sambre and Meuse, in a Letter 
Jrom Brussels of March 7th; 1795; 
ewrate tu the Committee of Public 
Safety as follows : 


BRUSSELS is tranquil, peace 
and content reign throughout Bel- 
gium. If any cties are heard, they 
are those of immediate union with 
the republic, I do not think it 
necessary to punish as seditious, 
the-authors of sich sentimentss 

The Belgians, at first alatmed 
by the military contributions which 
Were required and the various re. 
quisitions which were made, now 
confess that the law of conquest 
was mildly exercised. In short, 
the salutary fegulations of the 
committee of public safety, which 
had facilitated the payment of 
the contributions, which have re- 
stored the hostages to their families, 
which have broken the fetters of 
commerce, which have ereéted for 
the first time, in this despotic coun. 


243 


try, the noble institution of trial 
by jury; all these benefits united 
tend to conciliate the affection of 
all persons; by convincing them 
that the French republic is as gene~ 
reus as it is powerful; and as bene- 
volent towdrds the people as terri. 
ble towards despots. Such are the 
Belgians, and when they are repre- 
sented to you in an unfavourable 
light, it is only to induce you to 
maintain that barrier which has 
existéd betweett you and them; 
bat soon shall you overthrow it, 
and the people of both countries 
shall join heart and hand to com- 
bat tyranny and defend liberty. 
Health and Fraternity. 
(Signed) PERES. 


_ » 2 ew) L 


Address of the Magistrates of Antwerp 
tothe NationalConvention of France, 
read on the 2d of March, 1795. 


REPRESENTATIVES, 

AT length all our sufferings 
will be ended. The benevolent 
decree of the committee of public 
safety; dated the 22d Pluviose, 
tranquillizes all hearts; Disposers 
of cur destiny, you manifest un- 
equivocal intentions to ascertain it 
for ever; All the inhabitants’ of 
Gur commune present you the just 
tribute of their gratitude. From 
all parts of our provinces the people, 
rejoiced at the sight of your ex. 
ploits, admire the happy change 
you have just effected. 

Yes, citizens, all Europe, plunged 
in the horrors of fanaticism, hy- 
pocrisy pervading all hearts, despo- 
tism seated upon thrones, govern- 
ing with an iron rod in his hand, 
made of all Europe one unhappy 
family, enslaved by the arbitrary 
will of a species of individuals, 

R2 whose 


244 


whose birth and distinguished ori- 
gin seemed to entitle them'to give 
laws to their equals, Nothing less 
than a magnanimous nation could 
subdue and disappoint the numer- 
ous plots which the declared ene- 
mies of the public good incessantly 
foment against her—who may at 
length uproot the ancient tree of 
feudality, of despotism and tyran- 
ny, and cause the tree.of liberty to 
flourish in its place. ° 

We begin to breathe: a happy 
fraternity, a beneficent liberty, a 
perfe& equality will be the immu- 
table basis of our future felicity. 
Delighted with her happiness, 
which we presagé from this auspi- 
cious fraternity, we can form no 
other wishes but to consolidate them 
by a happy union of our provinces, 
already reviving at the prospect 
of prosperity with thatnation which 
alone was able to effect their feli- 
city. It is this union alone which 
can give a durable happiness, 
which you have thus procured us ; 
it is by means of this union, and 
under its auspices, we shall see 
plenty revive amongst us; itis this 
only that can make commerce flou- 
rish, which formerly was the inhe- 
ritance of the inhabitants of our 
provinces ; and the free navigation 
of the Schelde will restore to our 
citizens that abundance which was 
only banished from us by our ina. 
bility to draw it from its source. 

You have broken our chains; 
complete our happiness by uniting 
us to you. Being become your 
brothers, and forming but one fa. 
mily with the glorious nation you 
represent, we shall for ever bless 
your exploits ; and, safe under the 
shield of your victories, we shall 
no longer fear the despotism of 
those tyrants, under whose terrible 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


yoke we have groaned; and the 
nation, freed by’ your: invincible 
troops, sharing with you the fruits 
of liberty, will become a nation of 
brothers and friends. —Long live 
the French republic over the face 
of the whole globe! ; 

This was referred to the come 
mittee of public safety. 


Letter from the Magistrates of Brus. 


sels, read in the Convention on the 


gih of March, 1795. 


Representatives of the French People, 


THEcity and distri@ of Brussels, 
represented according to the ‘an- 
cient forms, by us, the great coun- 
cil, and by the nine nations con 
sisting of the corporations of this 
commune, have freely declared by 
acclamation, their unanimous wish 
to be united with the French‘re- 
public. \ Our deputies carried it to 
the committee of public safety. on 
the zd August last: persuaded that 
it will be found in the records of 
that committee, we request you to 
attend to it. If we are desirous of 
forming part of the French rez 
public, it is because we think our. 
selyes worthy of participatipg her 
glory and her happiness. Give la 
Republique 1 Vive la Convention ! 

A similar letter wits ‘reall Srom 


Liege. . 
* HDB 


§ re of aRevceiee of the Kapia 
dated Vienna, 22d April, 1795, 
and presented by the Imperial Mi- 
nister to the Minister of the States 
of the Germanic Empire, at Ra- 
tisbon, on the 4th of Map, 1795. 
THE ministers of his Imperial 

majesty are charged to declare, fe 

. the 


“STATE: RAP ERS. 


the-name of his majesty the emperor 
and king, to the envoys. repre- 
senting the several princes and 
states of the holy Roman empire, 
that his majesty is ready to enter 
into negotiations with the French 
republic. His majesty, without 
being too mindful of his own in- 
terest, will consult thereby the real 
welfare of the empire, and make 
it his sole care to procure to the 
empire an acceptable, solid, and 
permanent peace. But his Im- 
perial majesty has also, at the same 
time, the just confidence in all his 
co-states of the empire, that they 
will co-operate, with all their 
power, to accomplish this desirable 
end, and not enter into separate 
negotiations with the French re- 
public. His Imperial majesty ex. 
pects, however, the speediest de- 
claration on this subject, and the 
Imperial, co-commissioner . will 
soon present a declaration from 


_the emperor and. king, . explana- 


tory of the sentiments of his Im- 
perial majesty. In other respects,’ 
his, Imperial majesty cannot con- 
ceal,: that the separate treaty of 


peace concluded-on the part-of his. 


Prussian majesty, even in his qua- 
lity of a prince and‘co-state of the 
empire, has’ been most unexpected 
to him. 


: 


Substance of a Declaration made May 
the 12th, 1795, to the Ministers 
of the States of the Empire, in the 
Name of the Emperor, by Baron 

 Huegel, his Ambassador and Com. 
missaty at Ratisbon. 


ALTHOUGH his Imperial ma- 
jesty has been disappointed with 
fespec&t to the conduét of the king 
of Prussia, who sent his minister, 


245 


Hardenberg, to Basle, where the 
well-known separate peace with 
France was concluded, without the 
concurrence of the states of the 


empire, his majesty the emperor, . 


in order to comply with the wishes 
of the empire, is busily employed 
in taking measurés in order to ob- 
tain the accomplishment of that 
obje& also; and notwithstanding 
the present, disturbances in France, 
and the crisis to which the affairs 
in that country are come at present, 
seem to warn us not to be too 
hasty in a negotiation for peace ; 
his majesty assures the states, that 
he constantly has this important 
objet in view, and that he conti- 


nues his endeavours, in order to. 


comply with the general wishes of 
the states of the empire. 

His Imperial majesty, however, 
reposes so much confidence in the 
states of the empire, as to hope 


_ that with respe& to a peace, their 
, conduét will be direéted according 


to the eighth article of the treaty 
of peace of Westphalia, and to the 
resolution of the, empire of the 
3oth of April, 1793; that they 
will remain united according to the 
constitutional laws of the empire, 
so as not to separate from the Ger- 
manic league, and zealously to con- 
tinue the armaments for the defence 
of the empire, without which nei- 
ther a reasonable nor a solid peace 
can be expected. 


Substance of the Emperor’ s second Re. 
script. to the Diet of Ratisbon, repre= 
sented in the middle of May, 1795- 


HIS Imperial majesty, as a state- 


and member of the empire, ar- 
dently desires to, concur in pro- 
curing a peace for Germany. How- 

R 3 eyer 


‘ 


246 


ever much at the same time he 
wishes to effect this, the Germanic 
body should unite with its chief to 
treat under his auspices, conform- 
able to the constitution; for, as a 
sovereign, he cannot but regard 
truces or partial treaties as danger- 
ous measures: his Imperial ma- 
jesty, in advertising the co-govern- 
ments of this danger, has only in 
view the support of the German 
constitution, and the forming of a 
bulwark of the force and co-ope- 
ration it is his wish to preserve— 
he invites his co-sovereigns to 
declare, either in a body or indi- 
vidually, what measures they pro- 
pose to adopt, in case of a detached 
pacification being preferred, re- 
gardless of the consequenees of the 
inevitable anarchy that must en- 
sue: his Imperial majesty, however 
desirous to support his allies, must 
in that case concentre his strength 
in his own dominions, 


Substance of the Address which accome 
panied the Medal which the Danish 
Nation sent to their beloved Mini. 
ster of State, Count Bernstorff. 


TO the man of the king and the 
country, the noble Bernstorff, who 
taught Europe that true state po- 
licy constituted in justice, and 
peace maintained with a courage. 
ous constancy, are the greatest ho- 
nours of a government; this mark 
of gratitude is sent by his grateful 


fellow-citizens for-the great bless.° 


ings which, for the benefit of man- 
kind and the state, have been pro- 
moted for some years past. ‘This 
day, so dear‘and important to both 
the kingdoms, was fixed upon by 
their faithful sons, in “Order to 


a 
= ‘a 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


render deserved thanks to the mos¢ 
worthy of citizens. 
‘On the part of the Danes and 
Norwegians who are attached 
to their king and country, 


January, 1795. 


Substance of theTreaty between Great- 
Britain and the Dey of Algiers, con- 
cluded at the close of the year 1795- 


THE Algerines shall be permitted 
to carry their prizes to Corsica, and 
to sell them publicly there. 

There shall be sent monthly 
from Corsica a vessel, which shal] 
fetch from Algiers private letters 
or commercial advices. 

The English shall not, under 
any pretext, obtain possession of 
what shall be found on board an 
Algerine ship, In case the pro. 
perty of the ship become the object 
of dispute, it shall be referred to 
the Dey to decide. 

The Algerines grant freedom to 
al!’ the Corsican slaves, and per- 
mission to fish in the environs of 
the coast. Jn consequence of this 
arrangement the Dey is allowed 
to draw a draft upon the viceroy 
of Corsica, for the sum of 179,000 
piastres of. Algiers, independently 
of another sum of 24,000 piastres, 
for the payment of a cargo of grain 
taken by the English, which was 
Algerine property ynder Swedish 
colours. ©. 


Proclamation to the People of France, 
upon the Completion of the Consti- 
2uli2it» 

Men of France, | VRSy 
AFTER long storms you are 
Lasts | ~ about. 


STATE PAPERS, 


about to decide upon your fate, by 
pronouncing upon your constitu- 
tion. Long has the country loudly 
called for a free government, the 
_wisdom of whose principles should 
be the guarantee of its duration. 

Have your repfesentatives at- 
tained this end? They think they 
have—they have at least desired to 
attain it. Citizens, who lave order 
and tranquillity, accept the pledge 
of it: it consists in the government 
that is offered to you; that alone, 
by giving us peace, can restore 
prosperity and plenty. 

Men of France, citizens of ail 
professions, of all opinions, rally 
for the interest of the country. 
Above all, do not make retrograde 
ateps to the point from which you 
set out. Ages have passed within 
six years: and though the people 
may be tired of revolution, they 
are not tired of liberty. You suf- 
fer, it is true, but it is not by 
making fresh revolutions—it is by 
completing that which is begun 
that you will terminate your mise- 
ries, 

No, you will not impute ¢o the 

lic which hitherto has not 

organized, the ills which 
cannot be re-prodyced urider a go. 
vernment fige without licentious. 
ness and strong without despo. 
tism. = 

Sovereign peopl hear the voice 

your representatives. The pro- 
je&@ of the social compact which 
they offer to you was diated by 
the desire of your happiness ; it is 
for you to attach your destiny to 
it. Consult your interest and your 
glory, and che country is saved. 


Tasty concluded at Basle, on the 11th 
\ Frudider, | Aug. 8th), betwuren the 


QATZ 


Republic of France and the Land- 
grave of Hesse Cassel. 


THE French republic having 
accepted of the good offices of the 
king of. Prussia ip favour of his 
most serene highness the landgrave 
of Hesse Cassel, and being animated’ 
with the same sentiments as the 
landgrave, to make a solid and 
peymanent peace succeed to a 
war which had disunited them, in 
consequence of which the contra¢t- 
ing powers have appointed as fol- 
lows : 

The French republic, on her part, 
Citizen Francis Barthelemi, her 
ambassador in Switzerland, and the 
landgrave of Hesse Cassel, his’ 
privy counsellor Frederick Sigis- 
mond baron! of Waitz d’Eschen, 

Which ministers, after having 
exchanged their respective powers, 
agreed. upon the following articles : 

Art. 1. There shall be peace, 
friendship, and good understanding 
between the French republic and 
the landgrave of Hesse Cassel. 

2. In consequence of which all 
hestilities between the two parties 
shall cease from: the ratifications of 
the present treaty, and none of the 
two powers shall after that period 
furnish against each gther, under 
whatever quality or condition it 
may be, succours or contingent, 
either in men, horses, provisions, 


money, ammunition, or other 
things, 
3- As long as the war shall be 


continued between the French fe- 
public and England, the land: 
grave shall neither prolong it or 
renew the twosubsidiary treaties ex. 
er between him and England. 
This disposition will: begin to 
have its effect from thé date of the 
present treaty, py NAR, 3289 
R4 4. With 


248° 


of any troops whatever through 
his states, the landgrave shall con- 
form himself to the dispositions 
stipulated in the convention con- 
cluded at Basle, on the 17th of 
May, 1795, between the French 
republic and the king of Prussia. 

5. The French republic will con- 
tinue to occupy the fortress of 
Rheinfelds.. The town of St. Goor, 
and the part of the county of Kat- 
zenellenbegen, situated on the left 
bank of the Rhine ; the definitive 
arrangements with respect to these 
countries remain suspended, until 
a general pacification between the 
French republic, and the parts of 
Germany which are yet at war 
with the republic. 

6. All commercial communica- 

tions and relations shall be re- 
established between France and the 
states of the landgrave of Hesse 
Cassel, on the footing on which 
_ they were previous to the war. 
'* 7. Both the respective govern. 
ments, and the individuals of the 
two nations, shall grant to each 
other a restoration of all goods or 
property of any kind whatever, 
detained, seized, or confiscated, on 
account of the war which has taken 
place between France and Hesse 
Cassel, as also speedy justice, with 
respeét to debts existing in the 
states of the respective. contracting 
parties. 

8. All the prisoners made re- 
spectively since the beginning of 
the war, without consideration of 
the number or rank, shall be de- 
livered up-to each other within 
two months, at the latest, after the 
exchange of the ratifications of the 
present treaty, without any recla- 
mation of expences: paying, how- 
ever any debts of the privates, 


ANNUAL REGISTER; 1795. 
4. With respect to the passing * 


which, might have been contracted 
during their captivity. The same 
shall be observed with respect to. 
the sick and wounded, immediate. 
ly after their recovery. 

Commissioners shall be appoint. 
ed, on both parts, to proceed to the 
execution of this article: the dis- 
positions of which shall be applied 
to the Hessian troops ‘in the-service 
of England, and who have been 
made prisoners of war. 

g. The present treaty to have 
no effect until it is ratified by the 
contracting parties, and the¢ratifi- 
cations to be exchanged, i in this 
town of Basle, ,within .a month 
from this day,”.or sooner if pos. 
sible. 

We, the undersigned ; plenipo- 

tentiaries of the. French re. 
; public, and of his. most .serene 
highness , the landgrave.. of 
Hesse Cassel, in virtue of our 
respective powers, have sign+ 
ed this present treaty of peace, 
and have sealed it with our 
respective seals, | + 
Done at Basle, the eleventh; of 
the month Fruétidor, of the 
third republican year, and the 
28th of August, 17956 | 4 
(Signed) Francis BARTHELEMI, 
Frepertc SIGISMOND, 

Baron of Waitz d’Es. 

chen. 


ds em 


: 
$435 


Decree for incorporating the Auithian 
_ Netherlands, Ge. ag the French 
Republic. 


_ Art. 1. THE decrees ofthe na. 
tional convention of the 2d and:q4th 
of March, and of the 8th of May, 
17935 which annexed the countries 
of Liege, Stavelot, Logue, and Mal- 
midy, to the French territory;. wy 


S&S TAT# oP & PRE RS." 


be executed according to their form 
and tenor. 

2; The decrees of the national 
convention of 1, 2, 6, 8,9, 11, 19, 
and 23° of March, which annexed 
to the French territory Hainault, 
Tournaisis, the country of Namur, 
and the majority of the communes 
of Flanders and Brabant, shall be 
in like manner executed. 

3. The national convention ac- 
cepts the wishes expressed in 1793, 
by the communes of Ypres Gram- 

mont, and other communes of 
Flanders, of Brabant, and that part 
of Austrian Gueldres not comprised 
in the said decrees, for their union 
with the French territory. 
. 4. All, the other countries, on 
this-.sJe,the-Rhine, which were, 
before the present war, under the 
dominion of Austria, and those 
which, have been resefved to the 
French Republic by the treaty con- 
cluded at the Hague, the 27th of 
last Floreal, between, their. pleni- 
_potentiaries and those of the re- 
public of the United Provinces, to 

_ which none of the dispositions of 
the present decree attach, shall be 
also united to the French territory. 

5- The inhabitants of the coun- 
tries of Liege, Stavelot, Logue, 
Malmidy, and those of the com- 
munes of Belgium, comprised in 
articles two and three of this de- 
cree, shall enjoy from the present 
moment all the rights of French 
citizens, provided they possess in 
other respects the qualifications re. 
guired by the constitution. 

6. With respect to the com- 
munes comprised in the fourth ar- 
ticle, the inhabitants, shall enjoy, 
until it shall be otherwise provided, 
allethe rights guaranteed by the 
‘constitution to’ Strangers who re. 


$< 


2AQ 


side in’ France, or pawost property 
there. 

Patyd he countries. mentioned in 
the first four articles. of the present 
decree, shall be divided into nine 
departments, viz. the Dyle (Brus- 
sels, chief place); the Scheldt, 
(Ghent, chief place); Gemappes, 
(Mons, chief place); Des Forets, 
(Luxembourg, chief place); the 
Sambre and Meuse, (Namur, chief 
place) ; De Lourthe, (Liege, chief 
place) ; La Meuse Inferieure, (Maes. 
tricht, chief place); Des Deux 
Nettes, (Antwerp, chief place) : 
La Lys, (Bruges, chief place). 

8. The representatives of the 
people sent to Belgium, are charged 
with fixing the different boundaries 
of these departments, and todivide 
them ‘into cantons like other parts 
of the republic, 

. They shall nominate provi- 
sionally, the funétionaries who shall 


‘compose the administrations of the 


departments, those of the cantons, 
and the tribunals of the countries 
of Limbourg, Luxembourg, Maes- 
tricht, Venloo, and their’ depen- 
dencies, with Dutch Flanders. 

10. The legislative body shall 
determine, the number of repre. 
sentatives of the people each of 
the departments formed, according 
to article 7; shall nominate, con- 
formably to the constitution, at the 
epoch of its renewal, which shall 
take place the fifth year of the re- 
public, 

11. The representatives of the 
people, sent to Belgium, shall take 
care that the extraordinary contri- 
butions levied on these countries, 
and forming their contingent of 
the expences of the war and liberty, 
be levied and paid. 

12, The custom-houses now ex- 

isting, 


250 


isting, whether between France 
and the countries mentioned in 
the first four articles of the present 
decree, or between the different 
parts of the same countries, shall 
be suppressed. Those which are 
established between these same 
countries, the United Provinces, 
and the countries not annexed be. 
tween the Meuse and the Rhine, 
shall remain as before, 


Proclamation to the French People, 
Odtcber 7. 


Frenchmen, 

ONE of the most extensive con- 
spiracies to be recorded in the 
annals of the French revolution, 
was on the point of breaking out. 
For a Jong time the royalists had 
been arranging their plot: incen- 
’ diary ltbels, corrupt manceuvres, 
all the means of stock-jobbing, and 
artificial scarcity, had been em- 
ployed. They hoped to subdue 
the defenders of the national con- 
vention, and of the country. Not 
content with sowing amongst the 
citizens the seeds of war, they at- 
tempted to introduce division among 
the representatives of the people. 
They chose the period of the pri- 
mary assemblies for the accomplish- 
ment of their purpose. The nation 
already know how far they had 
usurped the rights, how far they 
had ‘tried the patience of the peo- 
ple and their representatives. They 
could not, however, succeed in 
‘wearying them out. The national 
convention, calumniated, torn’ in 
pieces, proscribed by some sections ; 
superior to personal outrages, but 
too indulgent, perhaps, to crimes 
directed against the rights of all, 


the precipice. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1495. 


by their decree of the r1th Ven- 
demaire, granted to some seétions 
four days to terminate their elec- 
tions. It even promised to the 
agitators pardon for their disobe. 
dience to laws previously proclaim. 
ed—they despised its clemency— 
they provoked its justice. The 
time granted them fee repentance, 
they employed to fill up the mea- 
sure of their crimes. On the day 
of the 12th, they were incessantly 
engaged in publishing horrible pro- 
clamations. They loudly called for 
civil war-—they took up arms in 
order to carry it on, and even fixed 
the hour at which they intended to 
commence it. Summoned to lay 
down their arms and to obey the 
laws, they resisted. A central com- 
mission was established under their 
bayonets, and, as if infatuation had 
seized the wretches, they thought 
themselves sufficiently strong to 
bring forward, for their electorate, 
and for the presidency of their com. 
mission, one of the most audacious 
writers in favour of royalty. They 
created an army, named. generals, 
and prepared to renew the dreadful 
day of the 31st of May. ‘Their 
parricidal bands were seen to ap- 
proach in six different seétions. 
Some atrocious intriguers, as on 
the 2d of June, were employed to 
deceive a credulous multitude. 
They marched almost 30,000 strong 
—they came from all quarters to 
surround the representatives of the 
people at the place of their sittings, 
A hope was yet cherished, that 
they would stop on the brink of 
The defenders of 
the convention had express orders 
to disregard all commotions, and 
by all means to-avoid, at' whatever 
price, any effusion of the blood of 
the citizens; but perfidious fo. 

reigners 


ar 


STATE PAPERS. 


reigners and ferocious emigrants, 
with their worthless accomplices, 
were desirous to complete their 
crimes. They commenced with 
the basest treason. The perfidiogs 
troops approached, they lowered 
their muskets, lifted their hats, 
presented the colours of their bat. 
talion, and uttered expressions of 
fraternity ; and at the moment 
when the chief of the se€tion was 
proceeding to embrace the com. 
mandant of the post of the insur. 

ents, made two discharges ef mus. 
ya on the soldiers of liberty, and 
killed twenty-three warriors. An 
engagement immediately took place 
in several quarters. 

Frenchmen! Between the con. 


‘querors of Fleurus, of the 14th of 


uly, and of the roth of August, 
on one side, and the satellites of 
Lovis XVIII. on the other, the 
engagement could not be long; 
and the avenging cannon, whose 
noise still vibrates, will teach the 
brother of the Jast of our tyrants, 
stationed near the abbey of Bourg. 
neuf, that he in vain expeéts any 
effets from those movements so 
long prepared, and that the only 
age, which, in his vain hope, 
saw open to the gates of the 
convention, is now shut for ever. 
Frenchmen, the. national con- 
vention has been contending for 
that constitution, which hypocrites 
embraced, only in order to destroy 
it; and, as there is no calumny so 
absurd, which the fury of the sec- 
tions does not attempt to propagate, 
they accused us of wishing to con. 
tinue in our funétions at the mo- 
ment when we-were within ten 
days of the period of the convoca- 
tion of thelegislative body,— While 
we were proclaiming the pardon of 
injuries, and the oblivion of er. 


251 


rors, they brought forward the 
charge, that we were desirous to 
restore the scaffolds of terror. No, 
never, never shall the dreadful 
government of Roberspierre again 
weigh down our country. Who 
could have more interest to oppose 
its restoration than we, who our- 
selves were so long its victims, and 
who at last were its conquerors? 
But it is time that a salutary fear 
should take possession of the hearts 
of the ruffians who had dug under 
our feet the tomb of the republic, 
and who were preparing the de- 
struction of all the friends of liberty 
persecuted under different pretexts, 
They shall be punished —those who 
adopt their projects shall be re- 
pressed. Notwithstanding their 
efforts, we will here maintain the 
security of persons and property ; 
we will once more rescue this great 
commune from the consequences of 
its own fury, and we will compel 
the enemies of its peace to acknow. 
Jedge, that between all parts of the 
republic the most perfect equality 
ought to reign. 

Frenchmen! the national con. 
vention will preserve for you the 
precious deposit of your new laws ; 
it is watching over your dearest in- 
terests ; it recommends to you obli- 
vion of animosities, but vigilance 
with respect to the malevolent ; it 
invites you to tranquillity and 
union, t 


Proclamation from the Executive Di-- 
reGory tothe French People, dated 
Dec, 31. | 


THE legislative body, and the 
executive directory, animated with 
the same spirit, have sought with 
perseverance the means of re-esta- 

blishing 


252 


lishmg the national credit,’ and 
there is reason to hope, that by 


means of the resources now at» the’ 
disposal of the government, we ap- : 
proach to the end of our evils,” 


The executive directory will em- 
ploy all its efforts to second them, 
and: give them efficacy. Abuses 
shall’ be extirpated ; the most rigid 
reform shall be made in every part 
of the administration: the consti- 


tution shall be maintained with ° 


firmness; the enemy shall be pur- 
sued without ceasing; anarchy 
shall be crushed, and all faétions 
shall be destroyed with equal vi- 
gour. 


information, shall in all parts of the 
republic” actively execute the laws 
and the measures of government ; 
and, if in the multitude, which 
the executive direCtory has at once 
been obliged tochoose, it has named 
intriguers or evil-disposed per- 
sons, it will be anxious to reform 
its errors when they have been de- 
monstrated by experience. 

It is with this vigilance that the 
state will be enabled to supply all 
its wants; that the price of goods 
will be brought within the power 
of the consumer; that we shall be 
enabled to provide every thing’ ne- 
- eessary for those brave armies, who 
have shewn an heroic perseverance 
in the midst of the most pressing 
wants, and have invariably forgot 
their own sufferings in their anxi- 


ety for the safety and glory of the. 
_ will redouble your energy and your 


sepublic. 

_ We find it our duty, however, 
to advise you, that expiring royalty 
and stock-jobbing unite all their 
efforts against a plan, of which the 
success will’ be their ruin: we are 


assured, that England has poured: 
in her treasures to raise the price’ 


Patriotic agents, of probity and 


ANNUAL°REGISTER, “1795. 


of money ; that the stock-jobbers 
have made great sacrifices to obtain 
that end, and’ to prevent the suc- 
cess of the measures: about to be 
adoptéd*by the legislative body ; 
but itis easy to perceive that this 
undue lowering of the assignats, if 
it takes place, can only prolong 
itself till the term of the first pay~ 
ment of the forced loan ; for then 
the guineas of England, already 
exhausted, will fail in opposing the 
genius of liberty! and the ruin of 
those atrocious men, whose avarice 
devours us, will be the consequence 
of their own manceuvres. 
‘Frenchmen! instruéted by six 
years of revolution, you will not 
abandon to avarice’ the fruit that 
you’ ought to gather yourselves! 
you shall not be reduced bythe. 
tricks of stock-jobbing, which, to” 
lower, the publie credit, and to” 
raise the “price of goods on which® 
it speculates, one-time makes ane 
insidious safe ‘of-mioney; and anos” 
ther cireulates the nvost alarming” 
news by the mouths of ‘the*false, 
and by theirperfidfous journals one 
time it is ‘Tepbrred 5 that the exe.” 
cutive diretoty ‘refuses all propos 
sitions of peace, Wheti,‘on thecons, 
trary, it is “tHe object of alle its® 
wishes, and that our enemies only” 
keep péacé at’ a distance, in the 
chimerical’ ‘hope “ of - 'destroying® 
France, and ‘reducing it to thé fate’ 
of Poland. «~ (aan Cee 
A generous indignation against. 
so many base and criminal projects’ 


courage : all-of you should unite’ 
yourselves "to give- success to the 
measures which can alone’secure to” 
the indigent his bread, and to the- 
opulent :his life and fortune. 8 
As-for us! who, always guided: 
by the desire of saving the republic, - 
we 


STATE PAPERS, 


we think only on the means which 
ought most powerfully to unite 
all..parties, to restore confidence, 
and bring back abundance and 
peace ; we will second the wishes 
of the true citizens, in causing the 
laws to be executed with the great- 
est firmness and activity. 
Rewsect, president. 


Letter from Louis XV TLL. tothe Arch. 
bishop of Paris, residing in Swit. 
zerland. 


My cousin, 

I HAVE received the free which 
in conjunction with the bishops of 
Langres, Nismes, and St. Malo, 
you have written me in the name 
of the faithful part of my clergy 
residing at Constance, I prea 
acknowledge the concern you take 
in my grief, on account of the de. 
cease of the king, my nephew; ' 
and the attachment you profess for 
my person. I accept with sub. 
mission the burthen which Provi- 
dence has been pleased to charge 
me with ; and I should even ac- 
cept it with joy, if I might hope 
to become the instrument of its 
mercy, for restoring to the Chris. 
tian kingdom its religion, so cruelly 
persecuted by those who usurp my 
throne. 

I charge you to return my thanks 
‘to the three bishops, as well.as to 
all the clergy who have expressed 
their kindness towards me through 
you ; and tell them, in my name, 
to offer up the most ardent prayers 
to that God, through whom mo- 
narchs reign, that he may con- 
descend to restore to my love my’ 
subjects, and to my subjects, by my 
intervention, those laws which 
have so long maintained my king- 


253 


dom in a flourishing condition ; but 
above all, to restore to them the 
‘precious gift of faith. 

Wherewith, I pray to God, my 
cousin, to hold you in his holy 
and worthy keeping, 

At Verona, the rgth of June, 


1795. 
Louts. 


(Signed) 


Lettagipen Louis XVIII. to the Popes 
Verona, 24th Fune. 


IT is with the most lively sorrow 
I inform your holiness of the death 
of king Louis XVII. my honoured 
lord and nephew, who on the 8th 
of this month sunk under the pres. 
sure of the rigorous treatment 
which he incessantly experienced 
from the assassins of his august fa- 
ther. Become by- his death most 
Christian king, I am sensible of 
the obligations which such a title: 
imposes upon me; and the first of 
my: cares will be,. tomake the Ro: 
man. Catholic religion flourish: in 
my kingdom. ~ Your holiness ‘has 
long. been acquainted » with ‘my 
sentiments of veneratio for pti 
person, and attachimétit 't6 ty the she 
see, You” will glways* find 
in the aldest” _son’, of the. church, 
who implores } your apostolic berié,. 
dition. ." I san, most ely Fathes; 
your holiness’s very. zealous. son, . 


(Signed) Lous 


Aiswer of the “Pope. to the. Letter of 
itis Louis Petia 

Pius VI. to our ‘very dear ‘son in 
Jesus Christ, Louis XVIII. of 
France and Navarre, the most 


Christian king. 
My 


254 


_ My very dear son; 

IT was} with real regret that we 
Jearned the premature death of 
your illustrious and unfortunate 
nephew, with the melancholy cit- 
cumstances attending it. We have 
not teased to invoke Divine Pro- 
vidence that he may deign to for. 
tify and encourage your majesty, 
that you may. be enabled in these 
times of calamity to support the 
burthen of the crown of your an- 
cestorss 

The misfortunes and adversities 
that have incessantly pressed upon 
you since your departure from 
France, have been intimately felt 
by every one. But to these mise 
fortunes there is an end . 
Confide then in the infinite mercy 
of the Almighty; he alone will 
decide between you and the French 
people, whether they ought to 
be republicans, or whether they 
shall be subject to a king. His 
will, which shall be freely made 
known by the people in the new 
national organization, shall un. 
dotibtedly decide upon that heroic 
sacrifice which is worthy to be 
made by a soul like yours in favour 
wf the of human kind. 
‘The “anequivocal ‘principles _ of 
equity which have superseded the 
“Darbarous system of terror under 
which France has.groaned, give ti 
the reason to hope that pacific re- 
solutions will be the fulfilment of 
the designs of the Almighty. 

Very dear. son, whatever these 
may be, constantly depend upon 
our ‘paternal solicitude,- 4nd the 
tender interest we shall not cease 
to take in the concerns of the eldest 
son of the church, 

We give your majesty our apos- 
tolical benediflion, and pray to 


eoserveoee 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


God that he will proteét your law- 
ful rights. 


(Signed) Pius VI 


PROCLAMATION OF LOUIS 
XVIII, 


LOUIS, BY THE GRACE OF GOD; 
KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE, 


To all ouy subje&s, greeting. 

In depriving you of a king, 
whose whole reign was passed in 
captivity, but whose infancy even 
afforded sufficient grounds for be- 
lieving that he would: prove 4 
worthy successor to the best of 
kings, the impenetrable decrees of 
Providence, at the same time that 
they have transmitted his crown to 
us, have imposed on us the necessity 
of tearing it from the hands of 
revolt, and the duty of saving the 


country, reduced, by 4 disastrous _ 


revolution, to the brink of ruin. 
The fatal conformity which sub- 
sists between the corhmencement 
of our reign and the commencement 
of the reign of the fourth Henry, 
operates as an additional induce- 
ment with us to take that monatch 
for our model, and imitating, in. 
the first instance, his noble can- 
dour, we shall row lay open our 
whole soul ‘before you. Long, too 
long have we had to deplore those 
fatal circumstances which impe- 
riously prescribed tle fiecessity of 
silence; but now that we are al- 
lowed to exert our voice, attend to 
it. Or love for you is the only 
sentiment by which we are attu- 
ated; Our heart obeys with de- 
light the ditates of clemericy ; and 
since it has pledsed Heaven to re- 
serve us, like Hetiry the Great, to 
re-establish in our empire the eh 


STATE PAPERS. 25 


of order and the laws, like him we 
will execute this divine task, with 
the assistance of our faithful sub- 
jets, by uniting kindness with 
justice. 

Your minds have, by dreadful 
experience, been sufficiently in- 
formed of the extent and origin of 
your misfortunes, Impious and 
fa&tious men, after having seduced 
you by lying declamations, and by 


deceitful promises, hurried you into 


irreligion and revolt. Since that 
time a torrent of calamities has 
rushed in upon you from every side. 
You proved faithless to the God of 
your forefathers; and that God, 
justly offended, has made you feel 
the weight of his anger; you re- 
belled against the authority which 
he had established, and a sanguin- 
ary despotism, and an anarchy no 
~dess fatal, have alternately continued 
to harass you with incessant rage. 
Consider an instant the origin 
and progress of the evils with which 
you are overwhelmed, You first 
~ consigned your interests to faithless 
wepresentatives, who, betraying 
the confidence which you had re- 
posed in them, and violating the 
oaths which they had taken, paved 
the way for their rebellion against 
their king, by treachery and per- 
jury towards you: and they ren- 
dered you the instraments of their 
passions, and of your own ruin. 
- You next submitted to the despotic 
sway of gloomy and austere tyrants, 
who contested with each other, 
while the contest was marked by 
mutual massacres, the right of op. 
pressing the nation; and they im- 
posed upon you an iron yoke. You 
afterwards permitted their blood. 
stained sceptre to pass into the 
hands of a rival faétion, which, in 
order to secure their power, and to 


reap the fruits bf their crimes, 

assumed the mask of moderation, 

whith “sometimes it lifts up, but 

which it dares not yet venture 

wholly to throw aside; and you 

have changed sanguinary despots, 

whom you abhorred, for hypocriticat 

despots whom you despise; They 

conceal their weakness beneath am 

appearance of mildness, bat they 

are a€tuated by the same ambition 

which influenced the conduét of 

their predecessors. The reign of 
terror has suspended its ravages, | 
but they have been replaced by the 

disorders of anarchy. Less blood is 

shed in France, but greater misery 

prevails. In short, your slavery 

only changed its form, and your 

disasters have been aggravated. 

You have Jent a favourable ear to 

the calumnious reports that have 

been propagated against that an. 

cient race which, during so long a 

period, reigned as much in your 
hearts as over France: and your 

blind credulity has increased the 

weight of your chains, and pros 

longed the term of your misfor- 

tunes. In a word, your tyrants , 
have overthrown the altars of your 

God and the throne of your king, 
and have completed the sum of. 
your wretchedness. — 

Thus impiety and révolt have 
been the cause of all the torments 
you experience: in order to stap 
their progress you must dry up 
their source. You must renounce’ 
the dominion of those treacherous 
and cruel usurpets who promhised 
you.happiness, but who have given 
you only famine and death: we 
wish to relieve you from their ty- 
ranny, which has go much injured 
you, to inspire you with the re- 
solution of shaking it off. You - 
must teturn to that holy religion 

which 


256 


which had showered down upon 
France the blessings .of Heaven. 
We wish to restore its altars; by 
prescribing justice to sovereigns 
and fidelity to subjets, it maintains 
good order, ensures the triumph 
of the laws, and produces the te- 
licity of empires. You must restore 
that government which, for fourteen 
centuries, constituted the glory of 
France and the delight of her in- 
habitants ; which rendered our 
country the most flourishing of 
states, and yourselves the happiest 
of people : it is our wish to restore 
it. Have not the various revolu- 
tions which have occurred aug- 
mented your distress, since the 
period of its destruction, and con. 
vinced you that it is the only go- 
vernment that is fit for you? 

Give no credit to those rapacious 
and ambitious men, who, in order 
to violate your property and to 
engross all power, have told you 
that France had no constitution, or, 
at least, that its constitution was 
despotic. Its existence is as an- 
cient.as the monarchy of the Franks ; 
it is the produce of genius, the 
master-piece of wisdom, and the 
fruit of experience. 

_ In composing the body of the 
French people of three distinét 
orders,.it traced with precision that 
scale of subordination, without 
which .society cannot exist, But 
it. gives-tg neither of the three 


orders any political right which is 


not common to all. It leaves all, 
employments open to Frenchmen. 


of every class; it affords equal 
proteétion to ;all persons and. to all 
property ; and by this means,’ in 
the eye of the, law, and -In_ the 
temple. of justice, all those, ine. 
qualities of rank and fortune dis. 
appear, which civil order necessarily 


de “* “es ae 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


introduces among the inhabitants 
of the same empire. 

These are great advantages ; but 
there are others still more essential. 
It subjeéts the laws to certain spe- 
cific forms prescribed by itself; and 
the sovereign himself is equally 
bound “to the observance of the 
laws, in order to guard the wisdom - 
of the legislature against the snares 
of seduétion, and to defend the lis 
berty of the subjeét against the 
abuse of authority. © It prescribes 
conditions to the éstablishment of 
imposts, in order to satisfy. the 
people that the tributes which 
they pay are necessary for the pres 
servation of the state ; it confides 
to the first body of the magistracy 
the care of enforcing the execution 
of the Jaws, and of -undeceiving 
the monarchy: 4f'-he should chance 
to be ‘imposed upon; it places the 
fundamental laws. under; the: pros 
tection of the:ktuig and’of the three 
orders, for the ‘purpose. of: pres 
venting revolutions, which are the 
greatest. calamities. that the people 
can possibly sustain ; it has adopted 
a multiplicity of .*pretautégns -in 
order to secure to yoa thetadvan- 
tages of a monarchical government, 
and to.screen you from ‘its dangers’. 
Do not your unexampled misfor~ 
tunes, as much as its venerable air. 
tiquity, bear testimony ‘of its wis= 
dom? Did your ancestors ever: ex- 
perience the evils which you have 
borne, since the hands of ignorant 
and obstinate innovators have dver- 
thrown’ their constitution? It was 
thecommon support of the cottage: 
of thé poor, and the palace of the 
rich of* personal freedom, and. of 
public safety, ;* of the rights of :the 
throne, and. of the prosperity of the 
states The moment it was-oVer- 
thrown, property; safety, freedom, 

5 Lane all 


. 


‘ 


- 2¢8 DABS 


ali ceased to exist. No sooner 
did the throne become a prey to 
usurpers, than your fortunes were 
seized by plunderers : the instant 
the shield of royal authority ceased 
to protect you, you were oppressed 
by despotism, and sunk into slavery. 

To that ancient and wise consti- 
tution, whose fall has proved your 
ruin, we wished to restore all its pu- 
rity which time had corrupted ; 
all its vigour which time had im- 
paired :- but it has itself fortunately 
deprived us of the ability to change 
it. It is our holy ark; we are 
forbidden to lay rash hands upon 
it; it is your happiness and our 
glory ; it is the wish of all true 
Frenchmen; and the knowledge 
we have acquired in the school of 
misfortune, all tend to confirm in 
our mind the necessity of restoring 
it entire. It is because France .is 
dear to us, that we are anxious to 
replace her under the: beneficent 
protection of a government, the 
excellence’ of which has been 
proved by so long a continuance of 
prosperity. It is because we feel 
it to be our duty to quell that 
spirit of system making, that rage 
for innovation which has been the 


cause of your ruin, that we are. 


anxious to renovate and confirni 
those salutary laws which are alone 
capable of promoting a general 
unity of sentiment; of fixing the 
general opinion, and of opposing 


an insurmountable barrier to the 


revolutionary rage, which every 
plan of a change in the constitution 
of our kingdom would again let 
loose upon the public. 

But while the hand of time gives 
the stamp of wisdom to the insti- 
tutions of man, his passions are 
studious to degrade them ; and they 
place either their own work on the 


Vor. XXXVII. 


PA P/E-RS. 


side of the laws, with a view to 
weaken their effet, or make it 
usurp the place of the Jaws, in 
order to render them useless. In 
those empires which have attained 
the highest pitch of glory and 
prosperity, abuses most generally 
prevail ; because in such states they 
are the least likely to attract the ats 
tention of those who govern. Some 
abuses had therefore crept into the 
government of France, which were 


257° 


‘not only felt by: the lower class of 


people, but by every order of the 
state. The deceased monarch, 
our brother and sovereign lord and 
master, had< perceived ayd ‘was - 
anxious to remove them; in his 
last moments he charged his suc- 
cessor to execute the plans which 
he had in his wisdom conceived, 
for promoting the happiness of that 
very people who suffered him to 
perish on the scaffold. On quitting 
the throne, from which crime and . 
impiety had hurled him, to ascend 
that which Heaven had reserved « 
for his virtues, he pointed out to 
us our duties in that immortal 
will, the inexhaustible source of 
admiration and regret. The king! 
that martyr! submissive to the 
God who had made him a king, 
followed his: example without a 
murmur, in rendering the instru. 
ment of his punishment a trophy 
of his glory, and in attending to 
the welfare of his people at the ° 
very time when they were com. 
pleting the sum of his misfortunes ! 
What Louis XVI. could not effect, 
we will accomplish! ; 
But though plans of reform may~- 
be conceived in the midst of con. 
fusion, they can only be executed 
in the bosom of' tranquillity. To 
replace upon its ancient basis the 
constitution @f the kingdom, to 
$ give 


258 
Give it its primitive impulse, to 
put all its parts in motion, to cor- 
rect the vices which had crept 
into the administration of public 
affairs, ts the work of peace. Re- 
ligious worship must be re-esta- 
blished, the hydra of anarchy de- 
stroyed, the regal authority be 
restored to ail its rights, before we 
can execute our intentions of op- 
‘posing abuses of all kinds with in- 
vincible firmness; of secking them 
with diligence, and of proscribing 
them with decision, 

The implacable tyrants who hald 
you in subjection alone retard that 
happy moment. ‘They do not 
attempt to deny that the time of 
illusion is past; and that you feel 
all the weight of their ignorance, 
their crimes, and their depreda- 
tions. But those fraudulent pro- 
mises, of which you are no longer 
the dupes, are succeeded ‘by the 
dread of punishment, which they 
alone have deserved. After having 
robbed, you of your property, they 
represent, us tp you as an enraged 


avenger, who means to deprive: 


you of life, the only good that you 
now have left. Dismayed by the 
reproaches of their conscience, they 
wish to make youw partake of their 
fate, that they may profit by your 
despair ; they endeavour to inspire 
you with false alarms, that they 
may be able to quiet their own 
apprehensions. But, know the 
heart of your sovereign, and leave 
to him the task of preserving you 
from the machinations of your 
enemies. 

We shall not only forbear to 
magnify errors into crimes, but 
crimes themselves which have ori- 
ginated in error we shall be ever 
ready to pardon, All Frenchmen 
who, abjuring pernicious opinions, 
shall throw themselves at the feet 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


of the throne, will be received : 
all Frenchmen, who have only 
become criminal in consequence 
of being misled, far from finding 
in us an inflexible judge, will dis- 
cover a compassionate father. 
Those who, inthe midst of revolt, 
have preserved their fidelity ; those 
who by an heroic sacrifice have be- 
come the companions of our exile 
and our associates in misfortune ; 
thse who have already shaken off 
the bondage of illusion, and the 
yoke of revolt; those who, being 
still retained by a cruel perse- 
verance, shall hasten to return to 
reason and to duty, shall all be 
treated as our children, If one 
part of these have preserved their 
character and their rights by un- 
shaken fidelity, the other part have 
recovered ghem by a salutary re- 
pentance ; and they shall all share in» 
our affection. We are Frenchmen 
—a title, which the crimes of a few 
individuals can no more degrade, 
than the enormities of the duke 
of Orleans can pollute the blood 
of Henry the Fourth. This title, 
which was ever dear tous, will also 
render us dear to those who bear it. 
‘We pity those men who are still 
retained in the paths of error, from 
weakness of mind, or by*the arts 
of seduction; we water with our 
tears the ashes of those brave men 
who have fallen victims to their 
fidelity; we lament the fate of 
those who have perished in support 
of rebellion and schism, and whose 
restoration to the bosom of the 
church and the monarchy, would 
have given us the most #leasing 
satisfa¢tion.—The evils which you 
experience constitute our only suf. 
fering ; and to cure those evils 
is the only felicity which we can 
henceforth hope to enjoy. 
The 


STATE PAPERS. 


The excesses of which the people 
have been guilty, are cértainly 
dreadful; but we cannot forget 
that sedu€tion and violence have 
had greater influence over them 
than opinion and inclination; and 
we know, that even while they 
favoured the revolutionary schemes, 
their hearts remained faithful, and 
secretly disayowed the condu& 
which terror direfted. That peo- 
ple, alternately deccived and sub- 
dued, but always more deserving 
of pity than of censure; that people, 
who have been sufficiently, nay 
too severely punished by six years 
of slavery and oppression; by that 
multitude of calamities which they 
have drawn down upon their own 
heads; that people, who were 
always dearly beloved by the kings 
our predecessors, will make us 
amends for the cruel torments we 
have suffered, by affording us an 
opportunity of loading them with 
our benefa¢tions. 

Who would have ventured to be- 
lieve, that perfidy and rebellion 
could ever have infected that army 
which was the support of the 
throne, and at ail times devoted to 
honour and to their sovereign !— 
Their successes have proved that 


courage is never to be extinguished © 


in the heart of a Frenchman, But 
how maiy tears ought you to shed 
over those fatal successes! They 
have been the principle of the ge. 
feral oppression ; they have consti- 
tuted the support, and increased 
the audacity of yout execrable ty- 
rants; they are the instruments 
employed by the hand of God for 
the chastisement of France. What 
soldier is there, who will not, when 
he returns to his home, find the 
still bloody traces of those calami- 
ties which his victories have occa- 


259 
sioned? But the French army can- 
not long remain the enemy of. its 
king. Since it has preserved its 
ancient valour, it will resume ite 
primitive virtues; since honour is 
not extinguished in its bosom, it 
will follow. her ditates; it will 
listen to her voice. Soon, we doubt 
hot, the ery of wive de roi, will re. 
place the clamours of sedition ; soon 
will the army return, submissiveand 
faithful, to re-establish our throne ; 
to éxpiate at our feet even its own 
glory ; and to read in our looks 
oblivion of past errors, and pardon 
of past crimes. 

We might let justice take her 
course against the criminal authors 
of the people’s errors, against the 
chiefs and instigators of the revolt ; 
and perhaps we ought so to do; 
though how could we palliate the 
irreparable injury which they have’ 
done to France? But those whom 
Divine justice has not yet over. 
taken, we will leave to their own 
conscience; that will be punish- 
ment enough. May they; overa 
powered by this excess of indul. 
gence, and remaining submissively 
attached to their duty, justify usin 
our own mind for the unexpected 
pardon which we shall have granted 
them ! 

But there are crimes (why can 
they not be effaced from our recol- 
letion, and from the memiory of 
man !)—there are crimes, the atro. 
city of which exceeds the bounds 
of royal clemency. In that horrid 
sitting, in which subjects had the 
audacity to bring theirking to trial, 
all the members who sat as judges 
were accomplices in the crime.— 
But we are still willing to believe, 
that those whose votes were calcu. 
lated to save his sacred head from 
the parricidal axe, were only in- 

$2 duced 


~_ 


260 


duced to mix with his assassins by 
their desire to preserve his life ; 
and that motive may suffice to en- 
sure their pardon, But those mis- 
creants, whose sacrilegious tongues 
dared to pronounce the fatal sen- 
tence, all those who co-operated in 
and were the direct and irmmedi- 
ate instruments of his death; the 
members of that tribunal of blood, 
which, after having given the ca- 
pital the signal, and set it the ex- 
ample of judicial massacres, crown- 
ed their atrocious deeds by send- 
ing their queen to the scaffold; a 
queen still more exalted in her pri- 
son than upon her throne ; a prin- 
cess, whom heaven had formed to 
be the finished model of every vir- 
tne! all these monsters, whom pos- 


7 “, * . 
terity will never name without hore: 


ror, are devoted by the general 
wish of the French to the punish. 
ment which their crimes deserve, 

That sentiment which leads us 
to confine the vengeance of the 
law within such narrow bounds, 
ds acertain pledge to you that we 
avill never tolerate any atts of pri- 
vate revenge. Therefore, dismiss 
every apprehension which the idea 
of being exposed to such revenge 
anay have excited. 

‘The faithful princes of our house 
have the same principles, the same 
affetions, and the same views with 
ourself: you areas dear to them as 
tous: like us, they are only anxious 
to see the end of your sufferings. 
The only object of their labours, 
as well as of ours, is your deliver- 
ance; and if, in. these days of 
mourning and of <crimes,  Provi- 
-dence should have doomed us to 
perish successively by rebellious 
hands, you would see the sceptre 
pass from one to the other, with- 
out ‘perceiving the smallest altera- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 179s. 


tion in the exercise of the royal 
authority. 

Those Frenchmen who have re- 
mained among their countrymen 
to set them an example of unshaken 
fidelity, will only pity those who 
have not had the resolution to imi- 
tate their conduct; and that un- 
changeable virtue which they have 
opposed to the torrent ef corrup- 
tion, will not be debased by crimi- 
nalanimosity. “Those ministers of 
a God of peace who have only fled 
from the violence of persecution 
to preserve your religious faith, 
filled with the zeal that enlightens, 
with the charity that forgives, wilk 
teach, as well by their prattice as 
their precepts, oblivion of injuries 
and the love of their enemies,— 
Could you possibly fear that they 
would tarnish the immortal splens 
dour which their generous condutt, 
and the blood of so many martyrs, 
have reflected on. the Gallican 
church? Our magistrates, who have 
ever been distinguished for their in- 
tegrity in the administration of jus- 
tice, will set an example of obe- 
dience to the laws, whose ministers 
they are. Inaccessible to the pas- 
sions which it is their duty to re- 
press, they will, by a due exertion 
of impartial firmness, give effect to 
those sentiments with which cle. 
mency inspires us. The nobility, 
who have only left their country 
thé better to defend it; who have 
only drawn their swords in the firm 
persuasion that they were fighting 
for France, and not against it; who 
offer you assistance even at the time 
when duty compells them to fight 
you ; who oppose to the attacks of 
calumny their firmness in adversity, 
intrepidity in battle, humanity in 
the moment) of vittory, and their 
invincible attachment to the prin- 

ciples 


§ TATE 


ciptes of honour—those nobles, 
against whom every effort is made 
to excite your hatred, will not for- 
get that they are destined. to en- 
lighten, to assist, to support the 
people; they will place their glory 
in their magnanimity; they will 
énnoble the numerous sacrifices 
they have made by the sacrifice of 
their resentment ; and that class of 
emigrants who are their inferiors 
in birth, though their equals in 
virtue; those worthy Frenchmen, 
whose fidelity is the more deserv- 
ing of praise from. the additional 
temptations they had to resist, 
would, if it were necessary, offer 
themselves to you as pledges for 
the sincerity of those generous sen- 
timents which they have so often 
witnessed. Whowoulddaretoinflict 
vengeance when the king forgives ? 

But the mercy which will signa- 
lize the first days of our reign, will 
be invariably united with firmness : 
that love of our subjects which 
Jeads us to be indulgent, teaches 
tobe just. We shall forgive, with- 
out regret, those men, criminal as 
they are, who haye led the people 
astray ; but we shall treat with in- 
exorable rigour all those who may 
hereafter endeavour to seduce them 
trom their duty,, We will open 
our arms to those rebels who may 
be induced by repentance to return 
to us; but if any of them should 
persist in rebellion, they will find 
that our indulgence will stop at the 
limits which justice prescribes, and 
that force, will reduce those whom 
{cindness has proved inadequate to 
attach, 

That throne, which the revolu- 
tion has twice deprived of its law- 
ful sovereign, is not to me an ob- 
ject of ambition or enjoyment !— 


PAPERS. 


Alas! still smoking with the blood 
of our family, and encompassed 
with ruins, it can promise us ng~ 
thing but sorrowful recolleétions, 
labours, and pains. But Providence 


261 


orders us to ascend it; and it is our 


duty to obey. We are called thi- 
ther by our rights, and we know 
how to defend them,. We may 
there be able to promote the hap- 
piness of France, and that motive 
gives us courage to proceed. If 
we should be reduced to the neces- 
sity of conquering our country, 
confiding in the justice of our cause, 
and in the zeal of true Frenchmen, 
we will advance to the conquest 
with . indefatigable perseverance, 
and with undaunted courage ; 
we will advance to the conquest, 
should it be necessary, through the 
cohorts of rebels, and the poniards 
of assassins. The GodofSt, Louis, 
that God whom we call to witness 
the purity of our intentions, will 
be our guide and our support. 

But no—we shal! not be reduced 
tothe necessity of using arms against 
deluded subjects. No! to them- 
selves alone, to their regret, to their 
love, shall we be indebted for the 
re-establishment of our throne; and 
the mercy of heaven, moved by 
their tears, will make religion once 
more flourish in the empire of the 
most christian kings. 

This pleasing hope revives our 
heart. Misfortune has removed 
the veil which was placed before 
your eyes; the harsh lessons of ex- 
perience have taught you fo regret 
the advantages which you have lost. 
Already do the sentiments of reli. 

ion, which shew themselves with 
eclat in all the provinces of the king- 
dom, present to our sight the image 
of the glorious ages of the church! 

33 


262 


already does the impulse of your 
hearts, which brings you back 
to your king, declare that you feel 
the want of being governed by a 
father. : 

But it is not enough to form bar- 
ren wishes; decisive resolutions 
must be adopted. It is not enough 
to groan beneath the yoke of your 
oppressors ; you must be assisted in 
shaking it off. Show the world 
how the French, restored to their 
senses, can obliterate faults, in the 
commission of which their hearts 
were not coricerned; prove that as 
Henry the Great has transmitted 
to us with his blood his love of the 
people, so are you also the descen- 
dants of that people, one part of 
whom, always faithful to his cause, 


sought to restore him to his throne; - 


and the other part, abjuring a mo- 
mentary error, bathed his feet with 
the tears of repentance. Remem- 
ber that you are the grandsons of 
the conquerors of Ivry and Fontain 
Francaise. 

And you, invincible heroes, whom 
God has appointed to restore the 
altar and the throne, and whose 
mission has been attested by a mul- 
titude of prodigies: you whose 
pure and triumphant hands have, 
in the heart of France, kept alive. 
the torch of faith and honour’s sa- 
ered fire: you who have been the 
constant objects of our affection, 
and in whose labours we have’ been 
incessantly anxious to share; who 
were always our consolation and 
our hope: illustrious catholic and 
royal armies, worthy models for all 
Frenchmen to tmitate, receive this 
testimony of your sovereign’s satis- 
faction. Never will he forget your 
services, your courage, the inte- 
grity of your principles, and your 
gnshaken fidelity, ¢ 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


Given in the month of July, in 
the year of Grace, one thou. 
sand seven hundred and nine- 
ty-five, and the first of our 
reign. 

Louis. 


Edie, published et Hanover, Sept.2g- 


GEORGE the Third, King of 
Great Britain.and Ireland, Elector 
of Hanover, &c, &c. 

Whereas the depots of the French 
emigrants, and other free corps 
which have served with our army, 
were only for a certain time, and 
until they could be removed to 
other parts of our German domi- 
nions ; their longer stay producing 
disorders, and becoming oppres- 
sive and burthensome to our sub- 
jects; and, moreover, having al- 
ready caused it tobe declared, that 
we acquiesce in the treaty of peace, 
concluded on the 5th of April be- 
tween his Prussian majesty and 
France, and especially to the addi- 
tional’convention of the said treaty ; 
we do hereby enact and will, that 
all and every emigrant, as well as 
other foreign corps, shall be imme- 
diately embarked and removed from 
our German dominions, and no 
such corps, under any form what- 
ever, shall any longer be suffered 
there. We notify this our pleasure 
to all our subjeéts, and enjoin all 
our civil officers, magistrates, &c. 
in all our German dominions, not 
to allow any such corps or troops, 
after the embarkation, which is 
immediately to be effected, to re. 
main in the country, and still less 
to permit any dep6t, detachment, 
or division of the corps embarked, 
to be left behind, nor to suffer any 
transports of recruits for the same 

; ta 


STATS 


to enter and pass our said German 
dominions; but on the contrary 
immediately to stop, order back, 
take up, and remove from our do- 
minions, or deliver them to the 
next garrison, for their removal be- 
yond the frontiers, and in case of 
need, to request the assistance of 
the military for that purpose; to 
which all our civil officers are most 
carefully to attend, as all those 
who shall be guilty of any neglect 
shall be called to a severe account 
for the same. 


Pro Memoria, or Note, delivered by 
the Prussian Dire@orial Envoy to 
the States of the Circle.of Franco- 

‘nia, assembled at Nuremberg. 
THE epoch has appeared, in 
which his majesty the king of Prus- 
sia can publicly denote the value 
which his majesty sets upon that 
confidence, which his co-states in 
the circle of Franconia have testi- 
fied by the letter of the 13th of 
May, of the present year. Imme- 
diately after the conclusion of peace 
at Basle, his majesty apprised the 
circle of Franconia of the measures 
which he was also about to take for 
the welfare and safety of this circle, 
though that justice has not been 
done to his Watue- which his 
majesty could claim: though the 
undersigned envoys have not yet 
received the definitive declaration 
demanded -in their notes of the 2d 
and gth of May, his majesty has 
nevertheless weighed the various 
coincident considerations, and is 
resolved to devote farther his care 
and attention to the welfare of the 
circle, regardless of all other mat- 
ters, and thereby to convince it of 
the generous extent which his ma- 


PAPERS. 263-. 


jesty is still inclined to give to his 
relations and duties, as director of 
the circle, or convocating prince, 
and as co-state. The sacrifices of 
the king, and his continual efforts 
for the welfare of Germany, for 
the preservation of its constitution, 
and the return of peace, are pub- 
licly manifest, and universally ac- 
knowiedged by the Germanic em- 
pire. The most recent occurren- 
ces, after the passage of the Rhire 
by the French army, have, pro- 
bably, by this time, justified the 
advantages, and the value of those 
endeavours, with the states of the 
empire, as likewise their motives : 
they have, nodoubt, convinced all 
Germany, with what ardour his 
majesty strove to make his co-states 
feel, as much as it depended on 
him, and in moments of the most 
imminent danger, the effects of his 
zeal for the welfare, the tranquil. 
lity, and safety of Germany. In 
consequence of those patriotic sen- 
timents, and steady principles, his 
Majesty, notwithstanding the silence 
of the states, and relinquishing all 
other considerations, has procured 
respect to the line of demarcation, 
stipulated in the additional conven- 
tion of the 17th of May. In con. 
sequence of these sentiments, his 
majesty has hitherto generously 
granted the solicited protection to 
all his co-states, and their depen. 
dants, who sought refuge in his 
territories, ; 

But now the time is ‘come, in 
which general and uniform mea- 
sures ought to be taken, in which 
the king must positively know, 
how far it is intended to make use 
of his patriotic sentiments, how 
far he may unfold his partiality to 
his co-states in this circle, and his 
care for their safety, The even. 

S 4 : tual 


264° ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tual declaration of his serene high- 
ness the hereditary. prince of Ho- 
henlohe, commander i 
his majesty’s troops, destined to 
observe the line of demarcation, 
proves, that his majesty is inclined 
to set no other bounds to his noble 
endeavours, but such as the senti- 
ments of his co-states shall please 
to trace out. His highness, the 
commander in chief, is ready to 
draw that cordon on the line of de- 
marcation; and for its safety, re- 
specting which the annexed sup- 
plement contains a full explana- 
tion, The undersigned envoy of 
his majesty is now come to the 
point of requiring a definitive de- 
claration of the circle of Franco- 
nia ; whether or not it be intended, 
on the part of the circle, to make 
use of the king’s generous offers ? 
To provide afterwards farther for 
the said cordon for the troops of 
which, who will find their’ own 
rovisions, nothing but quarters 
will be required, though the safety 
of the territories of the states be 
nheir sole destination. ‘The open, 
enerous, and magnanimous, plain, 


‘and disinterested manner, if which ° 


his majesty marks his conduét, even 
‘ gn this case, will surely be every 
where answered by the sentiment 
of its full value and by thankful. 
ness, as it is in other respects su- 
perior to each and all equivocation. 
"The experience which the circle 
has hitherto had of the king’s pa- 
triotism, of his attachment to the 
constitution of the empire and the 
circle, of his care for the tranquil- 
lity of his co-states and their ter- 
ritories, the dangers which threaten 
these in the vicissitudes of the oc- 
currences of the war, and the du- 
ties for the safety of their posses- 
sions and, subjects, may now dictate 


in- chief. of + 


to the circle and its states their de. 
cision. ‘Lhe urgent ‘relations of 
the time, and the measures which 
depend on it, render it unavoid- 
able, to expect peremptorily, and 
once for all, the said definitive de- 
claration inclusively till the 7th 
instant. His, mgjesty is far from 
forcing the effet of his efforts for 
the welfare of Germany, and his 
protection upon the circle ; but 
his majesty owes it to the sacri. 
fices and lubours, which he till now 
continued, for the prosperity of 
Germany-—his majesty owes it to 
his dignity, to make himself in a 
moment sure of the sentiments of 
the circle. Should the circle of 
Franconia, contrary to the sense of 
its letter of the 13th of May,, ad- 
dressed to his majesty, not deem it 
proper to make use, in the social 
union, to which his majesty him- 
self belongs, of the measures pro- 
posed for its safety, or to declare 


itself positively upon it within the ~ 


said period, his majesty must re- 
nounce,. with regret, 


for his own territories, and to that 
protection which his majesty has 
hitherto granted to those states 
who cluimed it by name, and not 
deny it to those who may yet claim 
it, till the expiration of the above- 
mentioned period. Then it will 
no longer depend, upon his majesty 
to alter any of the measures taken 
for that purpose; his majesty will 
see its cordial interest, if the circle 
of Franconia, against all events, 
will find means in another manner 
to provide for its own tranquillity 
and safety, and fgr that of its de- 
pendants. 2's 9) salle use 
But his majesty could then no 
farther, singly or whoily, take any 
| Ke 


the execu-. 
tion of his patriotic intentions, and 
confine-himself to measures of safety 


oe if 


STATE: PAPERS. 


share in it, and would be obliged 
to leave it entirely to those of his 
co-states, who shall not have made 
any use of his majesty’s- offer, how 
they shall effectually secure them- 
selves, their subjects and property, 
against all danger; his majesty 
will zealously continue his good 
offices for the restoration of the 
general tranquillity of Germany ; 
and tranguillize himself in the con- 
sciousness of his pure intentions 
for all the fatal consequences of a 
too great and supposed safety, or 
of the non-acknowledgment of 
the purity of the said intentions ; 
and while his majesty in the face 
of all Germany, gives, by-this de- 
claration, a fresh and unequivocal 
proof of his Germanic patriotism ; 
his majesty may also expect from 
all Germany, and from the circle 
of Franconia in particular, the 
justice to have done all that de- 
pended on him, to avert from his 
co-states and their subje¢ts the un- 
happy consequences of the war, 
and to have fulfilled, in the most 
generous and disinterested manner, 
all the duties incumbent upon him 
in all his relations as a state of the 
empire. 

(Signed) Juztius Count SopeEn. 

\ 0 L.F. Cur. Scumip. 

Nuremberg, October 5, 1795+ 


Imperial Decree of Ratification con- 

' cerning the Opening of Negotiations 
Sit a Peace between the Empire and 
France, published 21st of August 
in the usual Form. Dated, 6 Vi- 
enna, the 29th Fuly.”” 


This memorable decree first states 
the different points set forth in 
the advice given by the Empire 


265 


of the 3d of July, and then con- 

tinues to observe as follows : 
HIS Imperial majesty, above 
all, returns his warmest acknow. 
ledgments to the electors, princes, 
and states, for the grateful senti- 
ments they have expressed towards 
his majesty for his sincere and zea- 
lous endeavours to promote the 
welfare of the empire. As chief 
of the Germanic body, he feels pe- 
culiar satisfaétion to find, that in 
the second seétion of the advice of 
the empire, it has been declared to 
be the constant wish and firm reéso- 
lution of all its members to obtain 
a general peace for the empire, in 
an unimpaired and unalterable junc. 
tion of all the states of the empire 
with its supreme chief, as soon as 
possible, in a solid and constitu- 
tional manner. It is moreover 
declared, that the full restitution 
of its territory, and security of 
the Germanic constitution, -shall 
form the basis of a treaty of peace, 
according to the fundamental prin. 
ciples laid down in the advice of 
the empire of the 22d December 
last year, and approved of by his 
majesty, with respect to the at- 
tainment of a reasonable, just, and 
honourable peace. ‘This desire and 
resolution (for according to the 
fundamental laws of the German 
constitution, in all matters concern. 
ing a peace or war of the empire, 
its supreme chief can neither be 
separated from its members, nor 
the latter from the former) is the 
true and ‘praiseworthy expression 
of constitutional, generous, and 
patriotic sentiments, and the con- 
stitution of Germany may still sub. 
sist for a long series of years, if the 
electors, princes, and states, sen- 
sible of their duty, and animated 
by patriotism and public spirit, 
remain 


266 


remain faithful to the sentiments 
thus solemnly declared. His ma- 
jesty having frequently proved, and 
but very lately declared in: the 
court decree of the roth of May, 
his inviolable attachment to the 
German constitution, and his ar- 
dent zeal for the preservation of all 
its parts, tights, and members, it 
would be in open contradiction 
with his own declarations and 
aGtions, if he did not readily and 
fully approve and ratify the afore. 
said second se€tion, which so per- 
fe€ily agrees with his paternal sen- 
timents and duties, as chief of the 
empire. 

His Imperial majesty farther 
declares, that he is ready to take 
upon himself the required first in- 
troduction of pacificatory, negoti- 
ations, which, as far as it relates 
to the place where the congress is 
‘to be held, has been entirely left to 
his Imperial majesty’s own judg- 
ment and discretion. In arder as 
much as possible to accelerate the 
conclusion of a peace to the em- 
pire, pursuant to the wish of the 
dict, his Imperial majesty, in his 
quality of chief of the Germanic 
body, has for this purpose already. 
‘tuken the necessary steps, of» the 
result of which he will not fail in 
due time to inform the diet, as well 
as the place where the negotiations 
‘for peace are to be carried on, 
The question, whether, without 
‘any prejudice to the future negoti- 
ations of peace, it will be possible 
to obtain an armistice, can hardly 
be decided, before the said negoti- 
ations are actually set on foot; 
and in pursuance of the Imperial 
decree concerning the advice of the 
empire of the 22d of December, 
a probable prospeét opens to ob- 
tain a reasonable, just, and ho- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


nourable peace; whence, and in. 
deed in every possible case, there 
arises the crue! necessity, that the 


electors, princes, and states, con- 


formably to their duty and own 
declarations, do not negleét, but 
persist in their united ard consti- 
tutional means of defence, until 
Germany has obtained the bless- 
ings of a general peace for the 
empire. Meanwhile, the diet may 
rest assured, that if his Imperial 
majesty should be able, on behalf 
of suffering humanity, to obtain 
from the present rulers of France, 
who seem to have adopted more 
moderate sentiments, a modifica- 
tion or temporary pause of hostile 
requisitions and devastatipns, he 
will not fail to make, for that pur- 
pose, the necessary proposals. 

As to the rest, his Imperial 
majesty is of opinion, that hitherto 
no political relations exist, which 
urge the necessity of accepting a 
mediator, although clothed with 
all the necessary requisites in point 
of skill, prudence, sincerity, and 
impartiality ; nor does his majesty 
see the necessity of accepting the 
mediation of a third person. If 
the German empire, the first in 
point of rank, and mighty and 
powerful in its chicts and its mem~ 
bers, is with true German spirit 
united for a grand and momentous 
purpose, there isno doubt» but it 
possesses sufficient authority and 
power to obtain a reasonable, just, 
and honourable peace. But as the 
diet, according to the plurality of 
votes, finds a peculiar satisfattion 
in seeing his majesty the king of 
Prussia co-operate for that purpose, 
his Imperial majesty, provided, 
however, that it does not tend to 
the prejudice either of the immedi- 
ate negotiations for peace between 

the 


STATE? PAPERS: 


the supreme chief of the enspire, 
the depuied- states, and -the de- 
puties of France, or of the consti- 
tutional proceedings in all other 
wespe€is, readily complies with the 
States of the empire, and under 
this proviso consents that his Prus- 
sian majesty, according to his own 
repeated voluntary offers, may on 
his part employ his good offices 
with France to obtain on the basis 
agreed and determined upon, a 
peace for the empire, which re- 
stores its integrity and secures its 
constitution. 

Lastly, his majesty repeats once 
more the declaration set forth in 
the Imperial court decree of the 
roth of May, and which cannot be 
too often repeated, viz. that the 
political importance of Germany 
rests on the close and happy union 
between the supreme chief of the 
empire and the electors, princes, 
and states; and its welfare depends 
on the inviolability of its funda. 
mental laws. These ought to guide 
the chief’as well as the members. 
His majesty, who, not only in vir- 
tue of his Imperial office, but also 
by a solemn compa¢t between him 
and the eleftors, is charged with 
the administration of justice, is 
therefore obliged, by open and 
lawful means, to proteét the con- 
stitution against all unconstitutional 
proceedings; lest the like prece- 
dents might in future times be 
supposed to contain a tacit abro- 
gation of laws which are of the 
greatest importance for the safety 
and welfare of the German empire. 


Imperial Court Decree, concerning the 
separate Treaty of Peace, concluded 
between the Landgrave of Hesse 
Cassel and the French Republic ; 


267 


published at Ratisbox, September 
iat Ma 


THE diet of the empire declared 
but very lately in the second part 
of the advice of the 3d July, occa- 
sioned by the Imperial court de- 
cree of the 19th of May, before all 
Germany and Europe, in the most 
solemn and positive manner. 

That it still remained the con- 
stant wish and firm determination 
of the empire, in undissolved and 
unalterable junétion of all the 
members of the empire, with its 
chief, by constitutional means, to 
obtain a general peace for the em- 
pire, and through it the resto. 
ration of the integrity of its do. 
minions. 

The political relations of the 
Germanic empire, and the pressing 
urgencies of the present posture of 
affairs, seemed to require that his 
majesty should answer this truly 
patriotic declaration with the same 
clearness dnd undisguised frank- 
ness which becomes the father of 
the empire. His majesty, there. 
fore, declared in the court decree 
of the 29th July, ‘© That the afore- 
said constant wish and resolve did 
not only afford him peculiar sa- 
tisfaction in his quality as supreme 
chief of the empire, but that also 
(as according to the fundamentai 
laws of the German institution in 
all matters concerning both the 
conclusion of a peace and the de. 
termination on a war of the em. 
pire, neither the supreme chief 
could be separated from the mem-~ 
bers, nor the latter from the 
former.)’? The said declaration 
was the genuine and glorious ex- 
pression of constitutional and pa- 
triotic sentiments; and that the 
Germanic constitution might still 

. flourish 


26s 


flourish for a long serics of years, 
if the eleGors, princes, and states, 
sensible of their moral and legal 
obligations, and- animated by 4 
becoming public spirit, would re- 
main faithful to their solemn pro- 
fessions. That, therefore, his Im- 
perial majesty, having so often 
_and so lately testified his zealous 
attachment to the Germanic con- 
stitution, and the preservation of 
all tts parts, members, and righis, 
would act in open: contradittion 
with his own.actions and declara- 
tions, if he did not readily sanétion 
the whole tenor of the aforesaid 
second part, which so _ perfectly 
agreed both withyhis paternal af- 
deétion for the empire, and his duty 
as chief of it. 

Pursuant to: these sentiments, 
thus solemnly declared by thie 
diet, and sanctioned by his Im- 
perial majesty, the former > conti- 
nued to deliberate on the Imperial 
court decree of the 19th of May, 
especially concerning .the concur- 
rence of the states of the empire 
in the future negotiations for peace 
with France, vand proposed for 
that purpose. an extraordinary de- 
putation, consisting ef ten mem- 
hers. of the Germanic bode His 
teary rial _majesty, in order to pro- 

ote. the said negotiations, was 
“ead most graciously to sanction 
this advice of the empire with his 
concurrence, trusting that the de- 

uted states would remain faith- 
ful to the grand fundamental law 
of the unity of the empire and its 
legal inseparability from its chief, 
vend by co-operating with patri- 
otic German perseverance in the 
important business of a peace of 
the empire, would, constitutionally 
endeayour to support and promote 
the cogmon interest and welfare 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


eunited under 
_endeay oured, and still endeayoers, 


1795. 


of the German.empire. Since. the 
7th instant, the diet has again 


-been constantly employed in deli- 
berating on the remaining objects 


pointed out by the said court de- 
cree, aud. especially on the import- 
ant instructions which ought fully 
and clearly to prescribe not only 
the terms of peace, but also the 
manner of treating. 

Whilst | the. Germanic empire, 
its supreme chief, 


by constitutional means, to obtain 
a general peace Of the empire, »pri- 
vate negotiations for a separate 
peace were carried on by his serene 
highness the landgrave of Hesse- 
Cassel, with a French deputy, the 
result af which appears by the ad- 
joined prin ted copy of a treaty of 
peace and amity, concluded on the 
28th of August, the ratification of 
which is to be exehanged within a 
month’s time, or sooner. 

His Imperial saa) osty will yet 
suppress his. just feelings, roused 
by an event, which, on account 
of the 
declaration of the diet of the em- 
pire, of the 3d. of July, he had 
so little reason to expect. This 
event, li same. reports are to be 
credited, may be followed by trans- 
actions of asingilar nature, whereby 
the defence of Germany, and the 
attainment of the 
the integrity of the empire, and 


safety-oi its constitution, by means | ° + 


of a just, reasonable, solid, and ho- 
nourabie peace, w onld be rejdered 
more difficult, if single states have 

it in their power, at their own 
pleasure, thus to withdraw from the 
confederacy of the\German empire, 
-by separate . treaties of peace and 
secret’ articles, to separate their, in. 


terest from the general interest of 
the 


above- aaa solemn — 


restoration of 


9 TiAIT El PA PIERS. 


the empire, and to dissolve’ the lat- 
ter into mere separate concerns. 
His Imperial majesty finds a con- 
sclation in proposing these very se- 
rious considerations and consequen- 
ces, together with several others of 
the highest importance for the 
Germanic constitution, to the pa- 


triotic deliberation of the diet, and ' 


he places in the elettors, princes, 
and states, the fullest paternal con- 
fidence, that. they will -take the 
said occurrence into that serious 
consideration which its importance 
demands, and supply him not only 
with full and satisfactory advice, 
concerning the light in which this 
treaty. of amity and peace ought to 
be considered, but, also recommend 
to him the measures which it will 
be most. advisable to pursue, in 
order to maintain:the German con- 
stitution, and to assert the unity, 
dignity, and independence of the 
Germanic body. 

The diet cannot but be sensible 
that the deputation appointed by 
the late conclusum of the empire, 
together with the instru€tions to be 
drawn up for the deputed states, 
would be altogether nugatory and 
useless, and’ be at best only the 
honour of signing the future treaty 
of peace, if the existing doubts 
were not previously removed by 
means of the demanded advice ; 
and if even other states, who expe- 
rience the disasters of war, should 
follow the examples already ex- 
isting (in the fifth article of the 
Hessian treaty of peace, the general 
peace to be concluded between 
France and the German empire is 
-no longer called a general peace of 
the empire, but a peace to be set- 
tled by the other parties as yet con- 
cerned in the war with France.) 
For this reason it becomes the more 


209 


urgent, that the advice of the em- 
pire, demanded by his Imperial 
majesty in his quality as. chief of 
the empire, should be delivered’ 
with all possible speed. 
(Signed) | Prince or Corio. 
Repo MANNSFELS. — 
Vienna, September 18, 1795. 


Treaty of Defensive Alliance betzveen 
his Britannic’ Majesty and the 
Emperor of Germany, signed at 
Vienna, May 29, 1795. 


HIS majesty the emperor, and 
his majesty the king of Great Bri- 
tain, being desirous to renew and 
to cement’ the ancient. relations of 
friendship and intimacy between 
their crowns and their respective 
dominions, as well as to provide in 
a solid and permanent manner for 
their future safety, and for the 
general tranquillity of Europe, 
have determined in consequence 
of these salutary views, to proceed 
to the conclusion of a new treaty 
of alliance: and they have nomi- 
nated for that purpose, viz.. his 
majesty the emperor, his actual 
privy counsellor and minister for 
foreign affairs, baron de Thugut, 
and his majesty the king of Great 
Britain, sir Morton Eden, one of his 
majesty’s privy counsellors, knight 
of the bath, envoy extraordinary, 
and minister plenipotentiary of his 
said majesty, at the court of Vi- 
enna ; who, after having commu. 
nicated to each other their respec- 
tive full powers, have agreed upon 
the following articles; 

Art. 1. here shall be between 
his Imperial majesty and his Bri- 
tannic majesty, their heirs and suc. 
cessors, and between all the respec. 


_ tive dominions, provinces, and sub- 


jects, 


270 
jects of their said majesties, a per- 
fect and sincere good understand. 
ing, friendship and defensive alli. 
ance. The high contracting par- 
ties shall use all their endeavours 
for the maintenance of their com- 
mon interests, and shall employ all 
the means in their power to defend 
and guarantee each other mutually 
against every hostile aggression. 
2. The high contraéting parties 
shall aét in perfect concert in every 
thing which relates to the re-esta. 
blishment and to the maintenance 
of genvral peace; and they shall 
employ ail their efforts to prevent, 
by the means of friendly negotia. 
tion, the attacks with which they 
may be threatened, either sepa- 
rately or conjointly. 
“ 3. In case either of the high 
contracting parties should be at- 
tacked, molested, or disturbed in 
the possession of its dominions, ter- 
ritories, or cities whatsoever, or in 
the exercise of its rights, liberties, 
or franchises wheresoever, and 
without any exception, the other 
will exert all its endeavours to suc- 


cour its ally without delay, and in- 


the manner hereinafter mentioned. 
4. Their Imperial and Britannic 
majesties reciprocally guarantee to 
each other, and in the most ex- 
press manner, all their dominions, 
territories, cities, rights, liberties, 
and franchises whatsoever, such as 
they at present possess, and such 
as they shall possess, at the con- 
clusion of a general peace, made 
by their- common agreement and 
consent, in conformity to their 
mutual engagements in that re 
spe, in the convention of the zoth 
of August, 1793.—And the case of 
this defensive alliance shall exist 
from the moment’whenever either 
of the high contradting parties shall 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


be disturbed, molested, or disquieted 
in the peaceable enjoyment of its 
dominions, territories, cities, rightsy 
liberties, or franchises whatsoever, 
according to the state of actual pos- 
session, and according to the state 
of possession which shall exist at 
the above-mentioned epoch. 

s. The succours to be mutually _ 
furnished, in virtue of this treaty, 
shall Consist in 20,000 infantry; 
and 6000 cavalry, which shall} be 
furnished in the space of two months 
after requisition made by the party 
attacked, and shall continue to be 
at its disposition during the whole 
course of the war in which it shall 
be engaged. The succours shal? 
be paid and maintained by the 
power required, wherever its ally 
shall employ them; but the power 
requiring shall provide them witlt 
the necessary bread and forage, 
upon the same footing with its owa 
troops. 

If the party requiring prefers, it 
may demand the succours to be 
furnished in money ; and in that 
case the succours shall be computed. 
at the following rate, that is to 
say, 10,000 Dutch florins per month 
for every thousand infantry, and 
30,000 Dutch florins per month for 
évery thousand cavalry. And this 
money shall be paid monthly, in 
equal portions, throughout the 
whole year. 

If these succours should not suf- 
fice for the defence of the power 
requiring, the other party shall 
atigment them according as the oc- 
casion shall require, and shall event 
succour its ally with its whole forces, 
if the circumstances should render 
it hectessary. J 

6. It is agreed that; in consi- 
deration of the intimate alliance 
established by this ‘treaty sah rs 

: the 


STATE PAPERS. 


the two crowns, neither the one 
or the other of the high contraét- 
in® parties, shall permit the vessels 
ot’ merchandize belonging to its 
ally, or tothe people or subjects of 
its ally, and which shall have been 
taken at sea by any ships of war 
or privateers whatsoever, belong- 
ing to enemies or rebels, to be 
brought into its harbours; nor any 
ship of war or privateer to be there- 
in armed, in any case or under 
any pretext whatsoever, in order 
to cruize against the ships and pro. 
perty of such ally, or of his sub- 
ject: nor that there be conveyed 
by its subjects, or in their ships, 
to the enemies of its ally, any pro- 
visions, or military or naval stores, 
for these ends, as often as’it shall 
be required by either of the allies, 
the other shall be bound to renew 
express prohibitions, ordering all 
persons to conform themselves in 
this article, upon pain of exem- 
plary punishment, in addition to 
the full restitution and satisfaction 
to be made to the injured parties. 
7- 1f, notwithstanding the pro- 
hibitions and penalties above-men- 
tioned, any vessels of enemies or 
rebels, should bring into the ports of 
_ either of the high contra@ting par- 
ties any prizes taken from the other 
or from its subjects, the former 
shall oblige them to quit its ports 
in the space of twenty-four hours 
after their arrival, upon pain of 
seizure and confiscation; and the 
crews and passengers, or other pri- 
soners, subjetts of its ally, who 
shall have been brought into the 
said ports, shall immediately after 
their arrival be restored to their 
full liberty with their ship and 
merchandize, without any delay 
or exception. And if any vessel 
whatsoever, after’ having been 


27k 


armed or equipped, wholly or pars 
tially, in the ports of either of the. 
allies, should be employed in tak ~ 
ing prizes, or in committing hos« 
tilities against the subjects of the 
other, such vessels, in case of their 
returning into the said ports, shalt 
at the requisition of the injured 
parties, be seized and confiscated 
for their benefit. 

The high contraéting parties do 
not intend that the stipulations in 
these two articles should derogate 
from the execution of anterior trea- 
ties attually existing with other 
powers; the high contr.¢ting par- 
ties not being, however, at liberty 
to form new engagements hereaf- 
ter to the prejudice of the said sti. 
pulations. 

8. Their Imperial and Britannic 
majesties engage to ratify the pre. _ 
sent treaty of alliance, and the ra- 
tification thereof shall be exchanged 
in the space of six weeks, of. 
sooner if it can be done. 

In witness whereof, we the un. 
dersigned, being furnished with 
the full powers of their Imperial 
and Britannic majesties, have sign- 
ed the present treaty in their names, 
and have caused the seals of our 
arms to be affixed thereto. 

Done at Vienna, the zoth day 
of May, 1795." : 
(L.S.) Le Baron pt Tuucur, 
(L.S.) Morton Even, 


Separate Article. 


In case the establishment, in ge- 
nerai limited, of the land forces of 
Great Britain should not permit his 
Britannic majesty to furnish, with- 
in the term specified, the succour 
in men stipulated by the gth arti- 
cle of the present treaty of alli. 
ance, and ‘that consequently his 
Imperial majesty should be obliged 

te 


. 


272 


to supply that succour ‘by an equal 
number of other troops, to be ta- 
ken into his pay, the confidence 
which the emperor reposes in the 
“friendship and equity of the king 
of Great Britain leaves him no 
room to doubt but that his Britan- 
nic majesty will readily grant him 
an indemnification for the diffe- 
rence, which, according toa just 
valuation at the time, shall exist 
between the expences of the taking 
into pay and subsistence of those 
troops, and the estimate in-Dutch 
florins, which, in order to avoid 
every delay of discussion, has been 
adopted in the above-mentioned 
sth article, in conformity to the 
estimate contained in ancient trea- 
ties. 
- The separate article making, 
part of the treaty of alliance, sign- 
ed this day in the name of their 
Imperial and Britannic majesties, 
shall have the same force and vali- 
dity as if it were inserted word for 
word in the said treaty of alliance. 
In witness whereof,. we, the un- 
dersigned, being furnished with 
the full powers of their, Imperial 
and Britannic majesties, have in 
their names signed the present se- 
parate article, and have caused the 
seals of our arms to be affixed thereto. 
Done at Vienna, the 20th of 
May, 1795-.. } 
(L. S.) Morton Epen, 
{L.S.) Ler Baron pe THucur. 


Separate Article. 


Their Imperial and. Britannic 
majesties shall concert together 
upon the invitation to be given to 
her Imperial majesty ‘of all the 
Russias, in order to form, by the 
union of the three courts, in con- 
sequence of the intimate connec- 
sions which exist already between 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


them, a system of triple alliance, 
proper for the re-establishment and 
maintenance in future of peace and 
general tranquillity in Europe. 

This article shall have the same 
force as if it were inserted in the 
present treaty. ; 

In witness whereof, we the un. 
dersigned, being furnished with 
the full powers of their Imperiaf 
and Britannic majesties, have in 
their names. signed the present se- 
parate article, and have - caused 
the seals of our arms to be affixed 
thereto. 

Done at Vienna, the 2oth of 
May, 1795. | 
(L. S.) Morton Even, 

(L. S.) Le Baron pe Tuucut. 


Treaty of Defensive Alliance between 
his Britannic Majesty and the Em- , 
press of Russia. Signed at St. Pe- 
tersburgh, February 18, 1795- 


IN the name of the Most Holy 
Trinity. His Britannic majesty, 
and her majesty the empress of alk 
the Russias, animated with a desire 
equally sincere to strengthen more 
and more the ties of friendship and 
good understanding which so hap- 
pily subsist between them and their 
respective monarchies, have thought 
that nothing would more effec- 
tually contribute to this salutary 
end than the conclusion of a ‘treaty 
of defensive alliance, concerning 
which they should occupy them- . 
selves forthwith, and which should 


have for basis the stipulations of 


similar treaties which have already 
been heretofore concluded, and 
have made the obje¢ts of the most 
intimate union between the two 
empires, For this .purpose their 
said majesties have named for their 

plenipe. 


STATE PA PERS: 


‘plenipotentiaries, that is to say, 
his Britannic majesty, the sieur 
Charles Whitworth, his envoy ex- 
traordinary and minister plenipo- 
tentiary to her Imperial majesty of 
all the Russias, knight of the or- 
der of the Bath; and her Imperial 
majesty of all the Russias, the sieut 
John count Osterman, her vice- 
chancellor, a€tual privy counsellor, 
senator, and knight of the orders 
of St. Andrew, of St. Alexander 
~ Newsky, great cross of that of St. 
Viadimir of the first class and of 
St. Anne; the sieur Alexander count 
of Besborodko, her great master of 
the court, a¢tual privy-counsellor, 
diretor-general of the posts, and 
knight of the orders of St. An- 
drew, of St. Alexander Newsky, 
and great cross of that of St. Vla- 
dimir of the first class; and the 
sieer Arcadi de Marcoff, privy- 
counsellor, member of the col- 
lege of foreign affairs, knight of 
the order of St. Alexander New- 
sky, and great cross of that of St. 
Vladimir of the first class : who, 
after having mutually exchanged 
their full powers, found to be in 
good and due form, have agreed 
upon the following articles : 
_ Art. 1. There shall be a sincere 
and constant friendship between his 
Britannic majesty and her majesty 
the empress of all the Russias, their 
heirs and successors ; and, in con- 
sequence of this intimate union, 
the high contratting parties shall 
have nothing more strongly at heart 
than to promote by all possible 
means their mutual interests, to 
avert from each other whatever 
might cause them any injury, da- 
mage, or prejudice, and to main- 
tain themselves reciprocally in the 
undisturbed possession of their do- 
VoL, XXXVII, 


273 


minions, rights, commerce, and 
prerogatives whatsoever, by gua. 
ranteeing reciprocally for this pur- 
pose all their countries, dominions, 
and possessions, as well such as 
they actually possess, as those which 
they may acquire by treaty. | 

2. If, notwithstanding the ef- 
forts which they shall employ by 
common consent, in order to ob- 
tain this end, it should nevertheless 
happen that one of them should be 
attacked by sea or land, the other 
shall furnish him, immediately on 
the requisition being made, the 
succours stipulated by the follow~ 
ing articles of this treaty, 

3. His Britannic majesty and 
her Imperial majesty of all the 
Russias declare, however, that in 
contracting the present alliance, 
their intention is by no means to 
give offence thereby, or to injure 
any one, but that their sole inten- 
tion is to provide by these engage- 
ments for their reciprocal advan- 
tage and security, as well as for. 
the re-establishment of peace, and 


_for the maintenance of the general 


tranquillity of Europe, and above 
all, that of the North. 

4. As the two high contracting 
parties profess the same desire to 
render each other their mutual suc- 
cours as advantageous as possible, 
and as the natural force of Russia 
consists in land troaps, whilst Great 
Britain can principally furnish ships 
of war, it is agreed upon, that if 
his Britannic majesty should be at- 
tacked or disturbed by any other 
power, and in whatever manner it 
might be, in the possession of his 
dominions and provinces, so that 
he should think it necessary to re- 
quire the assistance of his ally, her 
Imperial majesty of all the Russias 

a shall 


874 


shall send him immediately 10,000 
infantry and 2000 horse. If, on 
the other hand, her Imperial ma. 
jesty of all the Russias should find 
herself attacked or disturbed by 
any other power, and in whatever 
manner it may be, in the possession 
of her dominions and provinces, 
so that she should think it neces- 
sary to require the assistance of her 
ally, his Britannic majesty shall 
send her forthwith a squadron of 
twelve ships of war and of the 
line, carrying 708 guns, according 
to the following list :—-two ships of 
74 guns, making together 148 
guns, and the crews g60 men; six 
ships of 60 guns, making 360 guns, 
and the crews 2,400 men; four 
ships of 50 guns, making 200 guns, 
and the crews 1z0oo men. In the 
whole 12 ships, 708 guns, and the 
crews 4560 men. This squadron 
shall be properly equipped and 
armed for war. ‘These succours 
shall be respectively sent to the 
places which shall be specified by 
the requiring party, and shall re- 
main at his free disposal as long as 
hostilities shall last. 

5. But if the nature of the at- 
tack were such, as that the party 
attacked should not find it to his 
interest to demand the effective suc. 
cours, such as they have been sti- 


-pulated for in the preceding arti-’ 


cle, in that case the two high con- 
tracting powers have resolved to 

change “ft said succour into a pe- 

euniary subsidy ; ; that is to say, if 
his Britannic majesty should be at- 
tacked, and should prefer pecu- 
niary succours, her Imperial ima- 
jesty of all the Russias, after the 
requisition haying been previously 
made, shall pay to him the sum of 
coo,ooo rubles yearly, during the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


whole continuance of hostilities, 
to assist him to support the expences 
of the war; and if her Imperial 
majesty of all the Russias should 
be attacked, and should prefer pe. 
cuniary succours, his Britannic ma- 
jesty shall furnish hér with the 
same sum yearly, as long as hostili- 
ties shall last. 

6. If the party required, after 
having furnished the succour sti- 
pulated in the fourth article of 
this treaty, should be himself ar- 
tacked, so as to put him thereby 
under the necessity of recalling his 
troops for his own safety, he shall 
be at liberty to do so, after having 
informed the requiring party thereof 
two months beforehand. In like 
manner, if the party required were 
himself at war at the time of the 
requisition, so that he should be 
obliged to retain near himself, for 
his own proper security and de- 
fence, the forces which he is 
bound to furnish his ally in virtue 
of this treaty; in such case the 
party required shall be dispensed 
from furnishing the said succour, 
so long as the said nleteastty shaH 
last. 

‘fhe Russian auxiliary troops 
shall be provided with field artil- 
lery, animunition, and every thing 
ot which they may stand in need, 
in proportion to their number. 


They shall be paid and recruited | 


annually by the requiring court. 
With regard to the ordinary rations 
and portions of provisions and fo- 
rage, as well as quarters, they shail 
be then furnished to them by the 
requiring court, the whole on the 
footing upon which his own troops 
are or shall be maintained in the 

field or in quarters, 
8, Incase the said Russian auxi- 
liary 


STATE 


Vary troops required by his Britan- 
nic majesty should be obliged to 
_ march by land, and to traverse the 
dominions of any other powers, his 
Britannic majesty shall use his en- 
deavours jointly with her Imperial 
majesty of all the Russias to obtain 
for them a free passage, and shall 
supply them on their march with 
the necessary provisions and forage 
in the manner stipulated in the 
preceding article ; and when they 
shall have to cross the sea, his 
Britannic majesty shall take upon 
himself either to transport them in 
his own ships, or to defray the ex- 
pences of their passage; the same 
is also to be understood as well 
with regard to the recruits which 
her Imperial majesty will be obliged 
to send to her troops, as respecting 
their return to Russia, whenever 
they shall either be sent back by 
his Britannic majesty, or recalled 
by her Imperial majesty of all the 
Russias for her own defence, ac- 
carding to article 6 of this treaty. 
It is farther agreed upon, that, in 
case of recalling or sending back 
the said troops, an adequate convoy 
of ships of war shall escort them 
for their security. 

. The commanding officer, whe- 
ther of the auxiliary troops of her 
Imperial majesty of all the Russias, 
or of the squadron which his Bri- 
tannic majesty is to furnish Russia 
with, shall keep the command 
which has been entrusted to him; 
but the command in chief shall be- 
‘Tong most certainly to him whom 
‘the requiring party shall appoint 
for that purpose; under the re- 
striction, however, that nothing of 
importance shall be undertaken 
that shal] not have been before. 
hand regulated and determined 

upon in a council of war, in the 


P A PRE R: 8: 


presence of the general and com- 
manding officers of the party re- 
quired. ‘ 

1o. And, in order to prevent all 
disputes about rank, the requiring 
party shall give due notice of the 
officer to whom he will give the 
command in chief, whether of a 
fleet or of land forces; to the end 
that the party required may regu- 
late in consequence the rank of him 
who shall have to command the 
auxiliary troops or ships. 

11. Moreover, these auxiliary 
forces shall have their own chap- 
Jains, and the entire free exercise 
of their religion, and shall not be 
judged in whatever appertains to 
military service, otherwise than 
according to the laws and articles 
of war of their own sovereign. It 
shall likewise be permitted for the 
general and the rest of the auxiliary 
forces to keep up a free correspon- 
dence with their country, as well 
by letters as expresses. 

12. The auxiliary forces on both 
sides shall be kept together as much 
as possible ; and in order to avoid 
their being subjeéted to greater 
fatigues than the others, and to 
the end that there may be.in every 
expedition and operation a perfeét 
equality, the commander in chief 
shall be bound to observe on every 
Occasion a just proportion, accord- 
ing to the force of the whole fleet 
or army. 

13. The squadron which his 
Britannic majesty is to furnish by 
virtue of this alliance, shall be ad- 
mitted into all the ports of her Im. 
perial majesty of all the Russias, 
where it shall experience the most 
amicablé treatment, and shall be 
provided with every thing which 
it may stand in need of, on paying 
the same price as the ships of her 

2 Imperial 


275 


276 


Imperial majesty of all the Russias ; 
and the same squadron shall be al- 
lowed to return every year to the 
ports of Great Britain, as soon as 
the season will no longer permit it 
to keep the sea; but itis formally 
and from this time forward stipu- 
Jated, that this squadron shall re- 
turn every year to the Baltic sea 
about the beginning of the month 
of May, not to quit it again before 
the month of Ogtober, and that as 
often as the exigency of the treaty 
shall require it. 

r4, The requiring party, in 
claiming the succours stipulated by 
this treaty, shall point out at the 
same time to the required party, 
the place where he shall wish that 
"it may, in the first instance, repair; 
and the said requiring party shall 
be at liberty to make use of the 
said succour during the whole time 
3t shall be. continued to him, in 
such manner and at such places as 
he shall judge to be most suitable 
for his services against the ag- 
gressor. 

rg. The conditions of this treaty 
of alliance shall not be applicable to 
the wars which may arise between 
her Imperial majesty of all the 
Russias and the powers and people 
of Asia, respecting whom his Bri- 
tannic majesty shall be dispensed 
with from furnishing the succours 
stipulated by the present treaty ; 
excepting in the case of an attack 
made by any European power 
against the rights and possessions 
of her Imperial majesty, in what- 
ever part of “the world it may be. 
As also, on the other hand, her 
Imperial majesty of all the Russias 
shall not be bound to furnish the 
succours stipulated by this» same 
treaty in any case whatever, ex.. 
cepting that of an attack made by 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


any European. power against the 
rights and possessions of his Bri- 
tannic majesty, in whatever part 
of the world it may be. 

16. It has been in like manner 
agreed upon, that considering the 
great distance of places, the troops 
which her Imperial majesty of all 
the Russias will have to furnish by 
vittue of this alliance, for the de. 
fence of his Britannic majesty, 
shall not be sent to Spain, Portugal, 
or Italy, and still less out of 
Europe. 

17. If the succours stipulated 
in the fourth article of this treaty 
should not be sufficient, in that 
case the contra¢ting parties reserve 
to themselves to make a farther 
provision between themselves with 
respect to the additional succours 
which they should give to each 
other. 

18. The requiring party shall 
make neither peace nor truce with 
the common enemy, without in- 
cluding the required party, to the 
end that the latter may not suffer 
any injury in consequence of the 
succours le shall have given to his 
ally. 

19. The present defensive alli- 
ance shall in no way derogate from 
the treaties and alliances which the 
high contracting parties may have 
with other powers, inasmuch as the 
said treaties shall not be contrary, to 
this, nor to the friendship and good 
understanding ~which they are re- 
solved constantly to keep up be- 
tween them. 

20. If any other power would 
accede to this present alliance, their 
said majesties have agreed to con- 
cert together upon the admission of 
such power. 

21. The two high contractirg 
parties, desiring mutually and with 

eagerness 


=" 
r 


oe . — _ 
Mpa evar 


i; 
Fe 


ne tag 


STIATE PAPER'S? 


eagerness to strengthen and to con- 
solidate as much as possible the 
friendship and union already hap- 
pily subsisting between them, and 
to proteét and extend the commerce 
between their respective subjects, 
promise to proceed without delay 
to the forming of a definitive ar- 
rangement of commerce. 

- 22. As circumstances may make 


it necessary to make some change 


in the clauses of the present treaty, 
the high contra@ting parties have 
thought proper to fix the duration 
of it to eight vears, counting from 
the day of exchanging the ratifica- 
tions: but before the expiration 
of the eighth year it shall be re- 
newed according to existing circum- 
stances. 

23. The present treaty of alli- 
ance shall be ratified, and the ra- 
tifications exchanged here, in thé 
‘Space .of two months, or sooner if 
it can be done. 

In witness whereof the: above- 
mentioned ministers plenipotenti- 
ary on both sides have signed the 
present treaty, and have thereunio 
affixed the seals of their arms, 

Done at St. Petersburgh this 


¢ 5 


eighteenth day of February, 
ne thousand seven hundred 
and ninety-five. 


{1,.8.)  cHARLES WHITWORTH. 
(L.S.) cre: JEAN D’OSTERMAN. 
(L.S.) ALEXANDER CTE. DE 


J BESBORODKO. 
(L.S.)  aRcapiI DE MARCOFF. 


Manifesto on the Part of the Empress 
of Russia relative to the Affairs 
of Poland. 


I, Timothy Tutolmin,  liev- 
tenant-genera] of the armies of my 


277 


most gracious sovereign, the em- 
press of all the Russias, governor 
general of Minck, Izaslaw, and 
Bracklaw, knight of the Russian 
order of St. Alexander Newsky ,&c. 

In_executing the Supreme will 
of my most gracious sovereign, the 
empress of ali the Russias, be it 
known to all those whom it may 
concern, that her Imperial majesty, 
having repressed the troubles gene. 
rally prevailing in the provinces 
occupied by her troops, means to 
incorporate with her own estates 
for ever the provinces adjoining to 
the governments committed to my 
care. 

For the purpose of maintaining 
justice and good order, and pre. 
serving the limits of the ancient 
frontier between the Russian and 
Austrian possessions to the river 
Bog, the countries along the de. 
scent of that river, to the fron. 
tier of Lithuania, comprising the 
palatines of Wolhynia and Chelm, 
situate on the right side of the Bog ; 


“and all the jands, distriGs, and 


towns adjoining the palatinates of 
Beltz and Russia, shall, in future - 
and for ever, belong to the Rus. 
sian crown, and a perpetual subjec- 
tion is attached hencefarth to all 
the inhabitants of these provinces, 
and all the proprietors, of every 
age, sex, or rank whatever. 

For this purpose [ have received 
striGt orders from her majesty, the 
empress, to assure all her new sub. 
jects in her name and on her word, 
that they shall be admitted to al? 
her benefits and distin¢tions grant. 
ed by her Imperial manifesto of 
the 27th of March, 1793, as fol. 
lows : 

1. Her most gracious majesty 
not only confirms to all persons the 
full and free exercise of their reli. 


eis gion 


278 


gion, but also guarantees to all an 
equal participation of all the rights, 
immunities, and privileges, enjoyed 
by her ancient subjects, so that the 
citizens of the incorporated pro- 
vinces shall be entitled to all the 
advantages suitable to their condi- 
tions, through the whole extent of 
the empire of Russia. 

2. All the citizens in general of 
the newly annexed provinces, be- 
ginning with the dignitaries of the 
most distinguished nobility, and 
proceeding to the lowest proprie- 
tors, shall within the space of one 
month take solemn oaths of fidelity 
and subjection to her majesty the 
empress, and the grand dukes her 
successors, before the persons whom 
her Imperial majesty shall officially 
appoint to receive them. On the 
other hand, if any of the nobility 
or other persons, possessing im- 
moveable property, shall neglect 
to take such oath at the time ap- 
pointed, they are allowed within 
the space of three months, to dis- 
pose of such immoveable property, 
and remove from the country; 
but, after the expiration of three 
months, all the goods and pro- 
perty that remain “shall be seques- 
tered. 

3. All the clergy high and low, 
are charged not only to shew 
promptitude in taking thisoath, but 
also shall publicly offer up prayers 
every day for the preservation of 
the health of her Imperial majesty, 
and her son the grand duke Paul 
Petrovitch, and all the imperial 
family, according to the formule 
which shall be given to them. 

Until an order of government 
shall be introduced for the happi- 
ness of this country, conformably 
to the gracious regulations of her 
Imperial majesty, the existing tri. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


bunals in the countries, palatinates 
and distriéts annexed, shall exercise 
their functions at the usual periods, 
in the name and on the authority 
of her Imerial majesty, and in con- 
formity to the rules of justice and 
good order. 

I declare finally, that the troops 
stationed in these countries shall 
observe the strictest discipline, live, 
at the expence of the state, and 
offer no interruption whatever to 
agriculture, trade, or commerce. 

In order that this manifesto may 
be universally known, it is ordered 
to be read in all the churches on the 
28th of June, 1795, enregistered 
in all the courts, and posted up in 
such places as may be deemed ne. 
cessary. 

Done by the order of my most gra- 
cious sovereign the Empress, 
and signed with my own hand 
and arms, 18th of June, 1795, 

(L.S.) Timotry Tutotmin. 


Proclamation by Sir Gilbert Elliot, 
Viceroy of Corsica. 

In the name of the King. 
THE facts that have occurred 
in some districts, and the errors 
committed by a part of the inhabi- 
tants, seduced by turbulent minds, 
have indaced me to expose to the 
view of all Corsicans the grievous 
consequences of such conduét, in 
order to preserve them from ‘this 
bad example, to maintain them in 
the observance of the laws, and in 
just obedience to his majesty’s go- 
vernment. It is well known, that 
from certain circumstances and past 
events, Corsica was reduced to a 
Situation the most dangerous for 
uny nation to experience. It was 
this situation that moved the mag- 
nanimity 


STATE PAPERS. 


nanimity of his majesty to afford it 
assistance, and with the sovereign- 
ty, to accept the task of rendering 
it happy. It is not necessary to 
repeat the sacrifices that have been 
made, and how much English biood 
has been bravely and generously 


shed, for the purpose of effeGing 


that undertaking. In ‘the circum- 
stances in which it is incumbent 
on his majesty to supply the most 
considerable expences, he has not 
ceased to communicate, with the 
utmost liberality, in whatever he 
thought necessary for the defence 
of the island: the English troops 
have been employed to protect it; 
several. Corsican battalions raised 
and maintained by his majesty’s be- 
neficence, and an arsenal established 
at Ajaccio; navigation has been 
restored, and care has been taken 
to protect it from the enemy ; in- 
dustry has been compensated by 
riches, and the means of consump. 
tion increased by the station of the 
fleet and army ; the national credit 
has been respected by foreigners, 
and supported by all the political 
influence of his majesty; laws 
have been framed according to the 
constitution of the kingdom; the 
public authorities regulated and 
protected ; individual liberty pre- 
served inviolable, and every motive 
for intestine division suppressed ; 
the exercise of the religion of your 
ancestors has been re-established, 
and a happy conclusion to the ar- 
ticles presented by the parliament 
to his holiness the pope may soon 
be expe¢ted ; and, in fine, a rapid 
progress in every point towards a 
perfect organization of the system 
of government effected, with the 
applause and consent of the whole 
nation, But when we promised 
ourselves that the moral effects 


2790 
of these changes would have been 
sufficient for the maintenance of 
tranquillity’ and obedience to the 
laws, and to dire@t the national 
activity towards industry and every 
means of accelerating the general 
good, it was with much displeasure 
that, in some pirts, we perceived 
tumults formed, for the purpose of 
forcing the peaccable and well. 
behavad subjects to participate in 
aéts of turbulence and licentious. 
ness, viz. to burn the public maga- 
zines, to declare and resolve against 


‘the payment of the imposts, to 


search the houses of individuals by 
an. armed force, and threaten the 
lives of the citizens, with several 
other. inconveniences, manifested 
and executed with a spirit of insub. 
ordination to the government, and 
the dissolution of every good prin. 
ciple of society, chara¢terized by 
traits unworthy of persons who pas. 
sess any stimulus of respect for 
themselves, or attachment to their 
country: however, it has’ been 
some consolation to us in perceiving 
that these proceedings are held in 
abhorrence by the greatest part of 
the kingdom, and regretted by per. 
sons of credit and respectability, It 
is incumbent upon the Corsicans to 
consider the danger of the divisions 
to which this canduét must infalli. 
bly expose their nation: tamults 
are inevitably conneéted with vexa-. 
tions and atts of violence; arbitrary 
sway takes place of the law, and 
then neither life nor property is 
any longer secure. Neither should 
we forget an enraged and neigh. 
bouring enemy, who can only be 
kept at a distance by his majesty.’s 
arms, your Own unanimity, and the 
energy of the government. The 
pretence that a people may be go- 

T4 verned 


2s0 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


verned without taxes is folly in the 
extreme; this pretence has been 
subservient to the designs of the 
seditious of all nations, but has 
always been the ruin of those who 
have been so unhappy as to be de- 
ceived by it. Such an error as 
this ought to have less effect in 
Corsica than any other place, since 
the heaviest charges are defrayed 
by the liberality of the king, and 
where no duty is imposed with- 
out the law, and where the laws 
are framed by the representatives 
of the people. It has been our 
wish to enlighten the majority of 
the nation to whom we apply with 
confidence, in reminding them of 
the oath taken to his majesty and 
the country ; and that oath does 
not promise a bare homage, but a 


perfeét submission and obedience to_ 


the laws, and to the orders of the 
legitimate government, a deviation 
from which is not permitted to any 
true and Joyal subje¢t of his majesty, 
under any pretence whatever, A 
benign compassion, which inclines 
us in favour of those who have been 
deceived, and the affection we re- 
tain for a nation, in whose pros- 
perity we are interested, has de- 
termined us to prefer admonition 
to every other measure, which, we 
flatter ourselves, will be sufficient 
to persuade the Corsicans to an en- 
tire submission tothe laws, and obe- 
dience to the government. We 
pledge ourselves to answer every 
just demand ; but we likewise de. 
clare, that we will never adhere to 
any measure produced by violence 
against the course of the laws’; and 
that we will maintain the constitu- 
tional rights of the king and his 
government, in Corsica, with dig- 
nity, and unalterable firmness, as 


‘well as the exercise of the preroga- 


tive accorded by the constitution 
itself. 
Done at Bastia, Aug. 7, 1795- 


Note of Mr. Drake, the British Mi- 
nister, to the Genoese Republic. 


THE undersigned, &c. thinks it 
his duty to expose to the most se- 
rene government the following 
circumstances : ' 

The report having been cireu- 
Jated and credited, that on the 6th 
inst. two French privateers endea- 
voured to sail from this port, with- 
out having previously given the se. 
curities stipulated in the 6th article 
of the edict of neutrality, long ago 
published by the most serene go- 
vernment, and the most strict exe- 
cution of which was promised in 
the face of Europe ; an edict which, 
among other clauses, expressly 
states, that no vessel shall be mo. 
lested until zy hours after her sail- 
ing: that the officer commanding 
the battery of the Mole, endeavour- 
ing, conformably to the express or- 
ders he had received from the most 
serene government, to prevent the 
privateers from sailing, and thus 
obviate the manifest and insulting 
infraction of the formal laws of the 
country, ordered a gun to be fired 
without ball; but this measure 
having had no effect, that the offi- 
cer, respecting his duty and the 
express orders of the most serene 
government on such occasions, fired 
with ball, and by this means obliged 
the privateer to submit to the laws 
of the port: that, in consequence 
of this event, an agent of the con. 
vention having taken on him to 
make the strongest complaints a- 
gainst the conduét of the com. 

manding 


STATE PAPERS. 


manding officer, as if his exact- 
ness. in doing his duty could be 
considered a crime; and having 
added to his complaints the most in- 
sulting threats to an independent 
power, threats which become the 
more insulting because it is impos- 
sible for him to realize them: and 
that, lastly, the most serene go- 
vernment, -deliberating on these 
occurrences, has not only thought 
proper to allow itself to be inti- 
midated by its menaces, but has 
even made apologies to this agent 
of the convention ; has imprisoned 
the commanding officer of the port, 
and the gunners who 4red on the 
privateers, whose conduct is not- 
withstanding justified by the posi- 
tive orders of the most serene go- 
vernment to cause the neutrality 
to be respected : 

The undersigned, &c. informed 
of all these particulars, could in 
the first instance view them in no 
other light than as calumnious re- 
ports, circulated by malevolence 
and the enemies of the most serene 
government, not being able to per- 
suade himself that it could deviate 
in a way so open and so insulting 
to the formal laws of its neutrality. 
But these reports acquiring daily 
more and more consistency, the un- 
dersigned thinks it his absolute 
duty to pray the most serene go- 
vernment to give him by an explicit 
4teply, a knowledge of the degree 
of credit these reports may deserve ; 
for it is of much consequence to his 
court, as well as to all Europe, to 

now what reliance can be placed 
on the protestations so frequently 
and solemnly repeated by the most 
serene government, that the law of 
the neutrality of this port should 
be respected. 

The undersigned profits by this 


281i 


opportunity to inform the most se. 
rene government, that privateers 
are fitting out in this port, more 
especially one between the wooden 
bridge and the arsenal, notwith. 
standing this is in manifest and 
clear contradiction -of the 7th arti. 
cle of the editt of neutrality above 
cited. ; 


C5 EE ES 


Answer of the Genoese Republic to 
Mr. Drake’s Note. 


THE under-written secretary of 
the most serene republic of Genoz 
has the honour to answer to the 
note of Mr. Francis Drake, minister 
plenipotentiary for his Britannic 
majesty, dated the 1oth instant, 
that since many days it is noto. 
rious, that on the 8th instant the - 
New Mole fired with grape shot at 
the French privateer Sibilla, which 
had sailed from this port without 
the bill of clearance, though it 
was strictly ordered to the officer 
commanding that post to enforce 
the execution of the edi& of neu- 
trality communicated to all the 
foreign ministers and consuls at 
Genoa. However, he was not 
permitted to fire with. grape shot, 
which was never used on any 
occasion, and was not prescribed 
by the regulations and instructions 
given to the commandant of the 
battery. The government, on its 
being informed of this accident, 
even before the French minister 
had brought any complaint (which 
related only to the quality of the 
shot, and not to the fact itself), 
was effected with that surprize 
which it would have felt had it 
been the case- of any other flag, 
and caused the gunner, as well as 
the officer, to be arrested, in order 

that 


282 


that a trial might be instituted 
according to the law, and the 
French minister was then made 
acquainted with it. Such a conduct, 
by which the government is assured 
to have aéted in conformity with 
the system of neutrality, and with 
the edié& by which the mode of 
its execution is prescribed, could 
not be interpreted in an unfavour- 
able manner, but by some ill- 
disposed persons, and by thei in- 
sidiously exposed to the British 
Minister, in order to determine 
him to bring a complaint. The 
republic therefore has not altered 
in the least its condué&t, nor has it 
in the least deviated on this occa- 
sion from that regularity which is 
the leading charafter of justice. 
The ‘republic therefore cannot 
help remarking its surprize, in ob- 
serving, by the note of the British 
minister, that (independent of the 
instructions received from his court 
upon the new point which con- 
stitutes the substance of the said 
note) he has thought proper to in- 
sist upon an explicit answer, even 
in regard to the quality and obser- 
vance of the neutrality of Genoa. 

The adoption of the diplomatic 
measure (the importance of which 
cannot but be too well known to 
the British minister) in respeét to 
a free government, which never 
ceases to conform its operations to 
the stri€test impartiality, cannot 
reasonably shake the firmness by 
which it is directed. 

But as the unfavourable colour 
of the transa€tion, which involves 
the neutrality of the republic, must 
yield to the truth of the fatt, the 
said government rests assured, that 
it will not in future make any such 
unfavourable and injurious im- 
pressions on the mind of the British 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1705. 


minister as was expressed by him 
in terms that the king hissovereign, 
who respects the dignity of others 
in his own, would not permit to 
be inserted in the note presénted 
by his minister. 


Treaty between Anerica and Algicrs. 


Treaty of Peace and Amity, con- 
cluded this present Day, Lima 
Artasi, the Twenty-first of the 
Safer Year of the Hegira, r2to, 
corresponding with Saturday, 
the sth of September, 1795, 
between Hassan Bashaw, Dey of 
Algiers, his Divan and Subje¢ts, 
and George Washington, Pre- 
sident of the United States of 
North America, and the Citi- 
zens of the said United States. 


Art. 1. From the date of the 
present treaty there shall subsist a 
firm and sincere peace and amity 
between the president and citizens 
of the United States of North 
America, and Hassan Bashaw, 
dey of Algiers, his divan and sub. 
jects ; the vessels and subjects of 
both nations reciprocally treating 
each other with civility, honour, 
and respect. 

2. All vessels belonging to the 
citizens of the United States of 
North America shall be permitted 
to enter the different ports of the re. 
gency, totrade with our subjects, or 
any other persons residing within 
our jurisdiction, on paying the usual 
duties at our custom-house that are 
paid by all nations at peace with 
this regency ; observing, that all 
goods disembarked, and not sold 
here, shall be permitted to be re. 
embarked, without paying any 
duty whatever, either for disem-* 
barking or embarking. All naval 

and 


STATE PAPERS. 


and military stores, such as gun- 
powder, lead, iron, plank, sul- 
phur, timber for building, tar, 
pitch, rosin, turpentine, and any 
other goods denominated naval and 
military stores, shall be permitted 
tobe sold in this regency, without 
paying any duties whatever at the 
custom-house of this regency. 

3. The vessels of both nations 
shall pass each other without any 
impediment or molestation ; and all 
goods, monies, or passengers, of 
whatsoever nation, that may be on 
board of the vessels belonging to 
either party, shall be considered as 
inviolable, and shall be allowed to 
pass unmolested. 

4. All ships of war belonging 
to this regency, on meeting with 
merchant vessels belonging to ci- 
tizens of the United States, shall 
be allowed to visit them with two 
persons only besides the rowers; 
these two only permitted to go on 
board said vessel, without obtaining 
express leave of the commander of 
said vessel, who shall compare the 
passport, 
said vessel to proceed on her voyage 
unmolested. All ships of war be- 
longing to the said United States 
of North America, on meeting 
with an Algerine cruizer, and shall 
have seen her passport and certi- 
ficate from the consul of the 
United States of North America, 
resident in this regency, shall be 
permitted to proceed on her cruize 
unmolested; no passport to be 
issued to any ships but such as are 
absolutely the property of citizens 
of the United States; and eighteen 
months shall be the term allowed 
for furnishing the ships of the 
United States with passports. 

5. No commander of any cruizer 


and immediately permit, 


283 


belonging to this regency, shall be 
allowed to take any person, of 
whatever nation or denomination, 
out of any vessel belonging to the 
United States of North America, 
in order to examine them, or under 
pretence of making them confess 
any thing desired; neither shall 
they inflict any corporal punish. 
ment, or any way else molest them. 

6. If any vessels belonging to the 
United States of North America 
shall be stranded on the coast of 
this regency, they shall receive 
every possible assistance from the 
subjects of this regency ; all goods 
saved from the wreck shall be per- - 
mitted to be re-embarked on board 
of any other vessel, without pay. 
ing any duties at the custom-house. 

7. The Algerinesare not, on any 
pretence whatever, to give or sell 
any vessel of war to any nation at 
war with the United States of 
North America, or any vessel ca. 
pable of cruizing to the detriment 
of the commerce of the United 
States. 

8. Any citizens of the United 
States of North America havin 
bought any prize condemned b 
the Algerines, shall not be again 
captured by the cruizers of the ~ 
regency then at sea, although they 
have not a passport; a certificate 
from the consul resident, being 
deemed sufficient, until sach time 
as they can procure such passport. 

g. If any of the Barbary states 
at war with the United States of 
North America shall capture any 
American vessel, and bring her into 
any of the ports of this regency, 
they shall not be permitted to sell 
her, but shall depart the port on 
procuring the requisite supplies of 
provision. 


to. Any 


BAZ 


to. Any vessel belonging to the 
United States of North America, 
when at war with any other nation, 
shall be permitted to send their 
prizes into the ports of the regency, 
and have leave to dispose of them 
withont. paying any duties on sale 
thereof. All vessels wanting pro-_ 
visions and refreshments shall be 
permitted to buy them at market 
price. 

rt. All ships of war belonging 
to the United States of North 
America, on anchoring in the ports 
ot the regency, shall receive the 
usual presents of provisions and re- 
freshments, gratis. Should any of 
the subje&ts of this regency make 
their escape on board vessels, they 
shall be immediately returned. No 
excuse shall be made, that they 
have hid themselves amongst the 
people, and cannot be found, or 
any other equivocation. 

12. No citizen of the United 
States of North America shall be 
obliged to redeem any slave against 
his will, even should he be his 
brother; neither shall the owner 
of a slave be forced to sell him 
against his will : but all such agree- 
ments must be made by consent 
of parties. Should any American 
Citizens be taken on board an ene- 
my’s ship, by the cruizers of this 
regency, having fegular passports, 
specifying they are citizens of 
the United States, they shall be 
immediately set at -liberty. On 
the contrary, they having no pass- 
port, they and their property shall 
be considered lawful prizes; as this 
regency know their friends by 
their passport. : 

13. Should any of the citizens of 
the United States of North Ame- 
rica die within the limits of this 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


regency, the dey and his subjects 
shall not interfere with the property 
of the deceased; but it shall be 
under the immediate dire¢tion of 
the consul, unless otherwise dis. 
posed of by wiil. Should there be 
no consul, the efteéts shall be de- 
posited in the hands of some per- 
sons worthy of trust, until the 
party shall appear who has a right 
to demarid them, when they shall 
render an account of the property. 
Neither shall the dey or divan give 
hindrance in the execution of any 
will that may appear. 

14. No citizen of the United 
States of North America shall be 
obliged to purchase any goods 
against his will; but, on the con. 
trary, shall be allowed to purchase 
whateveritpleaseth him. The con. 
sul of the United States of North 
America, or any other citizen, shall 
not be amenable for debts contract. 
ed by any one of their own nation, 
unless previously they have given 
a written obligation so to do. 
Should the dey want to freight 
any American vessel that may be 
in the regency, or Turkey, said 
vessel not being engaged: in con 
sequence of the friendship subsist- 
ing between the two nations, he 
expects to have the preference given 
him, on his paying the same freight 
offered by any other nation. 

15. Avy disputes, or suits at 
law, that. may take piace between 
the subjects of the regeney and the 
citizens of the United States of 
North America, shall be decided 
by the dey in person, and no other. 
Any disputes that may arise be- 
tween the citizens of the United 
States, shall be decided by the con- 
sul; as they are in such cases not 
subject to the laws of this regency. 

16, Should 


STATE PAPERS. 


16. Should any citizen of the 
United States of North America, 
kill, wound or strike a subject of 
this regency, he shall be punished 
in the same manner as a Turk, and 
not with more severity. Should 
any citizen of the United States of 
North America, in the above pre- 
dicament, escape prison, the consul 
shall not become answerable for 
him. 

17. The consul of the United 
States of North America shall have 
every personal security given him 
and his household; he shall have 
liberty to exercise his religion in 
his own house. All slaves of the 
same religion shall not be impeded 
in going to said consul’s house at 
hours of prayer. The consul shall 
have liberty and personal security 
given him, to travel whenever he 
pleases, within the regency: he 
shall have free licences-to go on 
board any vessel lying in our roads, 
whenever he shall think fit. The 
consul shall have leave to ap- 
point his own dragoman and por- 
ter. : 

18. Should a war break out be- 
tween the two nations, the consul 
of the United States of North Ame- 
rica, and all citizens of the said 
state, shall have leave to embark 
themselves and property unmolest- 
ed, on board of whatever vessel or 
vessels they shall think proper. 

1g. Should the cruizers of Al- 
giers capture any vessel, with citi- 
zens of the United States of North 
America on board, they having 
papers to prove they are really so, 
they and their property shall be im- 
mediately discharged. And should 
the vessels of the United States 
capture any vessels of nations at 
war with them, haying ‘subjects of 


285 


this regency on board, they shall 
be treated in like manner. 

20. On a vessel of war belong. 
ing to the United States of North 
America anchoring in our ports, 
the consul is to inform the dey of 
her arrival; and she shall be sa. 
luted. with twenty.one guns ; 
which she is to return in the 
same quantity or number; and 
the dey will send fresh provi~ 
sions on board, as is customary, ' 
gratis. 

21. The consul of the United 
States of North America shall not 
be required to pay duty for any thing 
he brings from a foreign country, 
for the use of his house and family, 

2z. Should any disturbance take 
place between the citizens of the 
United States and-the subjeéts of 
this regency, or break an article of 
this treaty, war shall not be de- 
clared immediately ; but every thing 
shall be searched into regularly : 
the party injured shall be made re. 
paration. 

On the 21st of the moon of Sa. 
er, 1210, corresponding with the 
5th of September, 1795, Joseph 
Donaldson, junior, on the part of 
the United States of North Ame. 
rica, agreed with Hassan Bashaw, 
dey of Algiers, to keep the articles 
contained in this treaty sacred and 
inviolable ; which we, the dey and 
divan, promise to observe, on con- 
sideration of the United States pay- 
ing annually the value of twelve 
thousand Algerine sequins in ma- 
ritime stores, Should the United 
States forward a-.larger quantity, 
the overplus shall be paid for in 
money, by the dey and regency. 
Any vessel that may be captured 
from the date of this treaty of 
peace and amity, shall immediately 

be 


280 


be delivered up on her arrival in 
Algiers. 


(Signed) Vizier Hassan Basuaw, 
J. Donatpson, jun. 
Seal of Algiers stamped at the 
foot of the original treaty in 
Arabic, 


To all whom these presents shall come, 
or be made known. 


Whereas the under-written Da- 
vid Humphreys hath been duly ap- 
pointed commissioner plenipoten- 
tiary, by letters patent under the 
signature of the president, and seal 
of the United States of America, 
dated the 30th of March, 1795, for 
negotiating and concluding a treaty 
of peace with the dey and gover. 
nors of Algiers; whereas by in- 
structions given to him on part of 
the executive, dated 28th of March 
and 4th of April, 1795, he hath 
been further authorized to employ 
Joseph Donaldson, junior, on an 
agency in the said business ; where- 
as, by a writing under his hand and 
seal, dated the 21st of May, 1795, 
he did constitute and appoint Jo- 
seph Donaldson, jun. agent in the 
business aforesaid ; and the said 
Joseph Donaldson, jun. did, on the 
gth day of September, 1795, agree 
with Hassan Bashaw, dey of Al- 
giers, to keep the articles of the 
preceding treaty sacred and invio- 
lable. 

Now, know ye, that I David 
Humphreys, commissioner plenipo- 
tentiary aforesaid, do approve and 
conclude the said treaty, and every 
article and clause therein contain- 
ed; reserving the same neverthe- 
less, for the final ratification of the 
president of the United States of 
America, by and with the advice 


4 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


and consent of the senate of the 
said United States. 

In testimony whereof I have 
signed the same with my 
hand and seal, at the city 
of Lisbon, the 28th of No- 
vember, 1795. ; 

(Seal} Davip Humrwreys. 


Now be it known, that I, George 
Washington, president of the United 
States of America, having seen 
and considered the said treaty, 
do, by and. with the advice and 
consent of the senate, accept, ra- 
tify, and confirm the same, and 
every clause and article thereof. 
And to the end that the said treaty 
may be observed and performed 
with good faith on the part of the 
United States, I have ordered the 
premises to be made public; and 
I do hereby enjoin and require all 
persons bearing office, civil or mi- 
litary, within the United States, 
and all other citizens’ or inhabi- 
tants thereof, faithfully to observe 
and fulfil the said treaty, and every 
clause and article thereof, 

In testimony whereof, I have 
caused the seal of the United States 
of America to be affixed to these 
presents, and signed the same with 
my hand. 

Done at the city of Philadel-_ 
phia, the 7thday of March, 
1796, and of the indepen- 
dence of the United States 
of America, the zoth. 

(Seal) Geo. WASHINGTON. 

By the president, 

. Timor#y PICKERING, 

Secretary of state. 


Treaty between America ana Spain, 


Treaty concluded. between the 
United 


ST AT E 


United States of America and his 
Catholic majesty. 


HIS Catholic majesty and the 
United States of America, desirous 
toconsolidate, ona permanent basis, 
the friendship 2nd good correspon- 
dence which happily prevails be- 
tween the two parties, have deter. 
mined to establish by a convention, 
several points, the settlement where- 
of will be produétive of general 
advantage and reciprocal utility to 
both nations. 

With this intention his Catholic 
majesty has appointed the most ex. 
cellent lord Don Manuel de Goday, 
and Alvarez de Faria, Prince de 
Paz, duke de la Alcudia, grandee 
of Spain, of the first class, &c. 
And the president of the United 
States, with the advice and consent 
of their senate, has appointed Tho- 
mas Pinckney, a citizen of the 
Uuited States, and their envoy ex- 
traordinary to his Catholic majesty. 
And the said plenipotentiaries have 
agreed upon and concluded the 
following articles : 

Art. 1. There shall be a firm and 
inviolable peace, and sincere friend- 
ship, between his Catholic majesty, 
his successors and subjects, and the 
United States, and their citizens, 
without exception of persons or 
places. ; 

2. To prevent all dispute on the 
subjeét of the boundaries which se- 
parate the territories of the two high 
contracting parties, it is hereby 
declared and agreed as follows, to 
wit: the southern boundary of the 
United States, which divides their 
territory from the Spanish colonies 
of East and West Florida, shall be 
designated by a line, beginning on 
the river Mississippi, at the nor- 
thernmost part of the thirty-first 


PAPERS. 287 


degree of latitude, north of the 
equator, which from thence shall 
be drawn due east, to the middle 
of the river Apalachicola or Carah- 
suche, thence along the middle 
thereof to its junétion with the 
Flint; then straight to the head of 
St. Mary’sriver, and thence down 
the middle thereof to the Atlantic 
ocean. And it is agreed, that if 
there should be any troops, garri- 
sons, or settlements of either party 
on the territory of the other, ac. 


. cording to the above-mentioned 


boundaries, they shall be with- 
drawn from the said territory 
within the term of six months af- 
ter the ratification of this treaty, 
or sooner, if it be possible; and 
that they shall be permitted to 
take with them all the goods and 
effects which they possess. 

3. In order to carry the pre. 
ceding article into effect, one com. 
missioner and one surveyor shall be 
appointed by each of the contract. 
ing parties, who shall meet at 
Natches, on the left side of the 
Mississippi, before the expiration 
of six months from the ratification 
of this convention, and they shald 
proceed to run and make this 
boundary, according to the stipu- 
lations of the said article. ‘They 
shall make plans and keep jour. 
nals of their proceedings, which 
shall be considered as part of this 
convention, and shall have the same 
force as if this were inserted there- 
in. And, if on any account it 
should be found necessary that the 
said commissioners and surveyors 
should be accompanied by guards, 
they shall be furnished in equal 
proportion by the commanding of- 
ficer of his majesty’s troops in the 
two Floridas, and the commanding 
officer of the troops of the United 

States 


288 


States in the south-western terri- 
tory, who shall aé&t by common 
‘eonsent, and amicably, as well with 
respect to this point, as to the fur- 
nishing provisions and instruments, 
and making every other arrange- 
ment which may be necessary or 
useful for the execution of this 
article. 

4. It is likewise agreed that the 
western boundary of the United 
States, which separates them from 
the Spanish colony of Louisiana, 
is in the middle of the channel or 
bed of the river Mississippi, from 
the northern boundary of the said 
states to the completion of the 
thirty-first degree of latitude north 
of the equator. And his Catholic 
majesty has likewise agreed, that 
the navigation of the said fiver, 
from its source to the ocean, shall 
be free only to his subjeéts and the 
eitizens of the United States, un- 
less he should extend this privilege 
to the subje€ts of other powers by 
a special convention. 

5. The two high contracting 
parties shall, by all means in their 
power, maintain peace and har- 
mony amongst the several Indian 
nations who inhabit the country 
adjacent te the lines and rivers 
which, by the preceding article, 
form the boundaries of the two 
Floridas ; and the better to attain 
this effeét, both parties oblige 
themselves expressly to restrain by 
force, all hostilities on the part of 
the Indian nations living within 
their boundary ; so that Spain will 
not suffer their Indians inhabiting 
their territory, nor will the Unitéd 
States permit their last-mentioned 
Indians to commence _ hostilities 
against his Catholic majesty, or his 
Indians, in any manner whatso- 
ever, 


q 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. | 


And whereas several treaties of 
friendship exist between the two 
contracting parties and the said na- 
tions of Indians, it is hereby a- 
greed, “that in future no treaty of 
alliance, or other whatsoever (ex- 
cept treaties of peace) shall be made 
by either party with the Indians 
living within the boundary of the 
other ; but both parties will en- 
deavour to make the advantages of 
the Indian trade common and mus 
tually beneficial to their respective 
subje@ts and citizens, observing in 
all things the most complete reci- 
procity, so that both parties may | 
obtain the advantages arising from 
a good understanding with the said 
nations, without being subject to 
the expence which they have hi. 
therto occasioned. 

6. Each party shall endeavour, 
by. all means in their power, to 
protect and defend all vessels and 
other effects belonging to the citi- 
zens or subjects of the other, which 
shali be within the extent of their 
jurisdiction by sea, or by land, and 
shall use all their efforts to recover, 
and cause to be recovered, to their 
right owners, their vessels and ef- 
feéts which may have been taken 
from them within the extent of 
their said jurisdi€tion, whether they 
are at war or not with the subjects 
who have taken possession of the _ 
said effects. 

7. And it is agreed, that the 
subjeGts or citizens of each of the 
contra¢ting parties, their vessels or 
effecis, shall not be liable to any 
embargo or detention, on the part 
ef the other, for any military ex- 
pedition, or other public or private 
purpose whatsoever. And in all 
cases of seizure, detention, or ar- 
rest, for debts contracted: or of- 
fences committed by any citizen 

or 


@ 


STATE PAPERS. 


Gr subje&t of the one party within 
the jurisdiction of the other, the 
same shall be made. and prosecuted 
by order and authority of law only, 
and according to the regular course 
of proceedings usual in-such cases. 
The citizens and subjects of both 
parties shall be allowed such ad- 
vocates, solicitors, notaries, agents, 
and factors, as they judge proper 
in all their affairs, arid if all their 
trials at law, in which they may be 
concerned, before the tribunal of 
the other party, and stich agents 
shall have free access to be present 
at the proceédings in such causes, 
and at the taking of examinations 
and evidence which may be exhi- 
bited on the said trials. 

8. In case the subjects and in. 
habitants of either party, with 
their shipping, whether public and 
of war, or private, and of met- 
chants, be- forced, through stress 
of weather, pursuit of pirates or 
enemies, or any other urgent ne- 
cessity for taking shelter or har- 
bour, to retteat and enter into any 
of the rivers, bays, roads or ports 
belonging to the other party, they 
shal] be received and treated with 
- all humanity; and enjoy all favour, 
prote@tion and help; and_ they 
shall be permitted to provide them. 
selves, at reasonable rates, with 
vidtuals, and all things needful for 
the sustenance of their persons, or 
reparation of théir ships, and pro- 
Secution of their voyage ; and they 
shall no ways be hindered from 
returning out of the said ports or 
roads, but may remove and depart 
when and whither they please, 
without any let or hindrance. 

g- All ships and merchandize, 
of whatever nature soever, which 
shall be rescued out of the hands 
of any pirates or robbet's on the 

Vet, XXXVII, ‘ 


280 


high seas, shall be brought into 
some port of either state, and shall 
be delivered to the custody of the 
officers of that port, in order to 
be taken care of, and restored to 
tHe true proprietor, as soon as 
due and suffcieut proof shall be 
made concerning the property 
thereof. - : ech ( 
io. When any vessel of either 
party shall be wrecked, foundered, 
or otherwise damaged, on the 
coast, or within the dominions of 
the other, their respective subjects 
and citizens shall receive as well 
for themselves as for their vessels 
and effects, the same assistance 
which would be due to the inha- 
bitants of the country where the 
damage happens, and shall pay 
the same charges and duties only 
as the said inhabitants would be 
subje@ to pay in a like case: 
and if the operation of repairs 
would require the whole, ot 
any part of the cargo to be un- 
laden, they shall pay no duties, 
charges, or fees, on the part which 

they shall relade and carry away. 
11. The citizens and subjects of 
each. party shall have power to 
dispose of their personal goods, 
within the jurisdi€tion of the 
other, by testaments, donation, or 
otherwise; and their representa, 
tives, being subjects or citizens of 
the other party, shall succeed . to 
their said personal goods, whethér 
by testament or ad intestato,, and 
they may take possession thereof, 
either by themselves or others 
aGting for them, and dispose of 
the same at their will, paying sale 
duties only, as the inhabitants of 
the country where the same goods 
are shall be subjeét to pay in 
like cases; And in case of the ab. 
sence of the representative, such 
care 


290 


care shall be taken of the said 
goods as of a native in like case, 
until the lawful owner may take 
measures for receiving them. And 
if guestions should arise among 
several claimants, to whieh of 
them the goods belong, the same 
shall be decided by the laws and 
judges of the land wherein the 
said. goods are. And where on the 
death of any person holding a real 
esgate within the territories of the 
one party, such real estate would, 
by the law of the land, descend 
en a citizen or subjeé of the other, 
were he not disqualified by being 
an alien, such subject shall be al- 
lowed a reasonable time to sell the 
same, and to withdraw the pro- 
ceeds without molestation, and ex- 
empt from all right of detraGtion on 
the part of the government of the 
respective states. 

12. The merchant ships of either 
party which shall be making into 
ports, or into a port belonging to 
the enemy of the other party, and 
concerning whose voyage, and the 
species cf goods on board he;s, 
there shall be just grounds of sus- 
picion, shall be obliged to exhibit, 
as well upon the high seas as in 
the ports and havens, not only hér 
passport, but likewise certificates, 
expressly shewing that her goods 
are not of the number of those 
which have been prohibited as con- 
.traband. 

13. For the better promoting of 
commerce on both sides, it is 
agreed, that if a war shall break 
out between the two said nations, 
one year, after the proclamation 
“of war, shall be allowed to the 
merchants in the cities and towns 
where they shall ‘live, for collect. 
ing and transporting their goods 
and merchandizes; and if any 


» 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


thing be taken from them, or any 
injury be done them, within that 
term, to either party, or the peo- 
ple or subjects of either, full satis. 
faction shall be made by the go- 
vernment. 

14. No subje& of his Catholic 
majesty shall apply for, or take any 
commission or letters of marque, 
for arming any ship or ships to act 
as privateers against. the United 
States, or against the citizens, 
people, or inhabitants of the said 
United States, or against the pro- 
perty of any of the inhabitants of 
any of them, from any prince or 
state, with which the United 
States shall be at war. Nor shall 
any citizen, subjeé&, or inhabitant 
of the said United States, apply for, 
or take any commission or letiers 
of marque, for arming any ship or 
ships to aét as privateers against 
the subjects of his Catholic ma- 
jesty, or the property of any of 
them, from any prince or state 
with which the said king shall be 
at war, And if any person of 
either nation shall take such com. 
mission or letters of marque, he shall 
be punished as a pirate. 

1s. Itshall be lawful for all and 
singular subjects of his Catholic 
majesty, and the citizens, people, 
and inhabitants of the United 
States, to sail with their ships, 
with all manner of liberty and 
security, no  distinétion being 
made, who are the proprietors of 
the merchandizes laden therein, 
from any port to the places of those 
who now are, or hereafter shall 
be, at' enmity with his Catholic 
majesty or the United States. It 
shall be lawful likewise for the 
subjects and inhabitants aforesaid 
to sail with the ships and mer- 
chandizes afore-mentioned, /and to 

trade 


/ 


ST AME PAPER'S. 


ttade with the same liberty and se- 
curity from the places, ports, or 
havens of those who are enemies 
to both, or either party, without 
any opposition or disturbance what- 
soever, not only from the places 
ef the enemy afore-mentioned to 
neutral places, but also from one 
place, belonging to an enemy, 
whether they be under the juris- 
diction of the same prince, or 
under several; and it is hereby 
stipulated, that free ships shall 
also give freedom to goods, and 
that every thing shall be deemed 
free and exempt which shall. be 
found on board the ships belonging 
to the subjects of either of the con= 
tracting parties, although the whole 
lading, or any part thereof, should 
,appertain to the enemy of either; 
contraband goods being always 
excepted. It is also agreed, that 
the same liberty be granted to per- 
sons who are on board a free ship, 
so that although they may be ene- 
mies to either party, they shall not 
be made prisonets, or taken out of 
that free ship, unless they are sol. 
diers, and in aétual service of the 
enemies, 

16. This liberty of navigation 
and commerce shall extend to all 
kinds of merchandizes, excepting 
only those which are distinguished 
by the name of contraband; and 
under this name of contraband, or 
prohibited goods, shall be compre- 
hended arms, great guns, bombs, 
with their fusees, and the other 
things belonging to them, cannon. 
balls, gun.powder, match, pikes, 
swords, lances, spears, halberts, 
mortars, petards, grenades, salt- 
petre, muskets, musket-balls, buck. ’ 
lers, helmets, breast-plates, coats 
of mail, and the like kind of arms, 
proper forarming soldiers; musket- 


291 


rests, belts, horses with their furni- 
ture, and all other warlike instru- 
ments whatever. These merchan- 
dizes which follow, shall not be 
reckoned amongst contraband or 
probibited goods ; that is to say, 
all sorts of cloths, and all other 
manufactures woven of any wool, 
flax, silk, cotton, or any other 
materials whatever, all kinds of 
wearing apparel, together with all 
species whereof they are used to be 
made; gold and silver, as well 
coined as uncoined, tin, iron, lat- 
ten, brass, copper, coals; as also 
wheat, barley, and oats, and any 
other kind of corn and pulse; to- 
bacco, and likewise all manner of 
spices, salted and smoked flesh, 
salted fish, cheese and butter, beer, 
oils, wines, sugar, and all sorts of 
salt; and in general, all provisions 
which serve for the sustenance of 
life ; furthermore all kinds of cot. 
tony hemp, flax, tar, pitch, ropes, 
sails, sail-cloths, anchors, or any 
part of anchors, also ship-masts, 
planks and wood of all kinds, and 
all things proper either for building 
or repairing ships, and all other 
goods whatever which have not 
been worked into the form of any 
instrument prepared for war by land 
or by sea, shall not be reputed con- 
traband, much less such as have 
been already wrought and made up 
for any other use; all which shall 
be wholly reckoned amongst free 
goods; as likewise all other mer- 
chandizes and things which are 
not comprehended, and particularly 
mentioned in the foregoing enu. 
meration of contraband goods; so 
that they may be transported and 
carried in the freest manner by 
the subjects to both parties, even 
to places belonging to an enemy, 
such towns or places being only 

Uz excepted 


292 


excepted as are at that time besieg- 
ed, blocked up, or invested. And 
except the places in which any ship 
‘of war or squadron shall, in conse- 
quence of storms or other accidents 
at sea, be under the necessity of 
taking the cargo of any trading 
vessel or vessels, in which case they 
may stop the said. vessel or vessels, 
and furnish themselves with neces- 
saries, givinga receipt, in order that 
the power to whom the said ship 
of war belongs, may pay for the ar- 
ticle so taken, according to the 
price thereof, at the port to which 
they may appear to have been des- 
tined by the ship’s papers ; and the 
two contracting parties engage, 
that the vessels shall not be detain- 
ed longer than may be absolutely 
necessary for the said ships to sup- 
ply themselves with necessaries ; 
that they will immediately pay the 
value of the receipts, and indemnify 
the proprietor. tor all losses which 
he may have sustained in conse- 
quence of such transactions. 

17. Lo the end that all manner 
of dissentions and quarrels may be 
avoided and prevented on one side, 
and.on the other, it is agreed, that 
in case either of the parties hereto 
should. be engaged in a war, the 
ships and vessels belonging to sub- 
jets or people of the. other party, 
must be furnished with sea letters 
or passports expressing the name, 
property, afd bull of the ship, as 
also the name and place of habita- 
tion of the master or commander 
of the said ships, that it may appear 
thereby that the ships really and 
truly belong to subjeéts of one of 
the parties y which passport shall 
be made out and granted according 
to the form annexed to this treaty. 
‘They. shall likewise be recalled 
every year, that is, if the ship hap. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


pens to return home within the 
space of a year, 

It is likewise agreed that suclt 
ships being laden, are to be pro- 
vided not only with passports, as 
above-mentioned, but also with cer- 
tificates, containing the several par- 
ticulars of the cargo, the place 
whence the ship sailed, that so it 
may be known whether any for- 
bidden or contraband goods be on 
board the same; which certificates 
shall be made out by the officers of 
the place whence the ships sailed 
in the accustomed form; and if 
any one shall think it fit or advis- 
able to express in the said certi-+ 
ficates the person to whom the 
goods on board belong, he may do 
so; without which requisites they 
may he sent. to one of the ports of 
the other contraéting party, and 
adjudged by the competent tribu- 
nal, according to what is above 
set forth, that all the circumstances 
of this omission having been weil 
examined, they shall be adjudged 
to be legal prizes, unless they shall 
give legal satisfaction of their pro. 
perty by testimony equally equiva~ 
lent. 

18. ‘If the ships of the. said 
subje&ts, people or inhabitants of 
either of the parties, shall be met» 
with, either sailing along the coasts, 
or on the high seas, by any ships 
of war of the other, or by any pri. 
vateer, the said ship of war or pri- 
vateer, for avoiding any disorder, 
shall remain out of cannon shot, 
and may send their boats on board 
the merchant ship which they shalk 
so meet with, and may enter her 
to the number of two or three men: 
only, to whom the master_or com-, 
mander of such ship or vessel. shall 
exhibit his passports concerning the 
property of the, ship, made out 

’ aceording 


“STATE ghee al elit 


according to the form inserted in 
this present treaty ; and the ship, 
when she shall have shewn such 
pasport, shall be free and at liberty 
to pursue her voyage, so as it shall 
not be lawful to molest or give her 
chace in any manner, or force her 
to quit her intended course, 
- 1g. Consuls shall be reciprocally 
established, with the privileges and 
power which those of the most fa- 
voured nations enjoy in the ports 
where their consuls reside, or are 
permitted to be. 

zo. It is also agreed, that the 
inhabitants of the territories of 
each party shall respectively have 
free access to the courts of justice 
of the other; and they shall be 
permitted to prosecute suits for the 
recovery of their property, the pay- 
ment of their debts, and for ob- 
taining satisfaction for the damages 
which. they may have sustained, 
whether the persons whom they 
may sue, be subjects or citizens of 
the country in which they be found, 
or any other persons whatever who 
may have taken refuge therein ; 
and the proceedings and sentences 
of courts, shall be the same as if 
the contending parties had been. 
subjetts or citizens of the said 
country. 

21. In order to terminate all 
differences on account of the losses 
Sustained by the citizens of the 
United States, in consequence of 
their vessels and cargoes having 
been taken by the subjeéts of his 
Catholic majesty during the late 
war between Spain and France, it 
is agreed that all such cases shall 
be referred to the final decision of 
commissioners to be appointed in 
the following manner. His Catho- 
lic majesty shaJl appoint one com- 


* question, 


293 


niiesiviie; and the president of the 
United States, by and with the ad- 
vice and consent of the senate, shall 
appoint another ; and the said two 
commissioners shall agree on the 
choice ‘of a third, or if they can. 
not so agree, they shall each pro. 
pose one person, and of the two 
names so proposed, one shall be 
drawn by lot in the presence of the 
two original commissioners; and 
the person whose name shall be 
drawn shall be the third commis. 
sioner; and the three commis- 
sioners so appointed shall be sworn 
impartially to examine and decide 
the claims in question, according 
to the merit of the several cases, 
and to justice, equity, and the laws 
of nations. The said commissioners 
shall meet and sit at Philadelphia ; 
and in case of the death, sickness, 
or necessary absence of any such 
commissioner, his place shall be 
supplied in the same manner as he 
was first appointed, and the new 
commissioner shall take the same 
oaths, and do the same duties.— 
They shall receive all complaints 
and applications authorized by this 
article during eighteen months from 
the day on which they shall as- 
semble. They shall have power to 
examine all such persons as come 
before them, on oath or affirma. 
tion, touching the complaints in. 
and also to receive in 
evidence all written testimony, au. 
thenticated in such a manner as 
they shall think proper to require. 
or admit. The award of the said: 
commissioners, or any two of them, | 
shall be final and conclusive, both 
as to the justice of the claim, and-the 
amount of the sum to be paid to 
the claimants ; and his Chatholicma. 
jesty undertakes to cause the same 

U3 to 


294 


duction, at such time and places, 
and under such conditions, as 
shall be awarded by the same 
commissioners. 

22. The two high contracting 
parties, hoping that the good cor, 
respondence and friendship which 
happily reigns between them, will 
be further increased by this treaty, 
and that it will contribute to aug- 
ment their prosperity and opulence, 
will in future give to their mutual 
commerce all the extension and fa- 
vour which the advantages of both 
countries may require, 

And in consequence of the sti- 
pulations contained in the fourth 
article, his Catholic majesty will 
permit the citizens of the United 
States, for the space of three years 
from this time, to deposit their 
merchandizes and effects in the 
port of New Orleans, and to ex- 
port them from thence without 
paying any other duty than a fair 
price for the hire of the stores ; 
and his majesty promises, either to 
continue this permission, if he finds, 
during that time, that it is not pre- 
judicial to the interest of Spain, or 
if he should not agree to continue, 
he will assign to them, on another 
part of the banks of the Mississip- 
pi, an equivalent establishment, 

23. The present treaty shall not 
be in force until ratified by the 
contracting parties, and the ratifi- 
cations shall be exchanged in six 
months from that time, or sooner, 
if possible. 

In witness whereof, we the under- 
written plenipotentiaries of his Ca- 
tholic majesty and of the United 
States of America have signed this 
present treaty of friendship, limits, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


to be paid in specie, without de- 


and navigation, and have there. 
unto affixed our seals respettively. 
Done at San Lorenzo et Real, 
Oétober 297, 1795. 
(L.S.) Tuomas Pinckney. 
(L.S.) Prince pe LA,Paz. 


Abstra& of the Treaty between Great 
Britain and the United States of 


America. 


THIS Treaty consists of twenty- 
eight articles : 

The first article establishes peace 
and friendship between his Britan. 
nic majesty and the United States. 

In the second, his majesty con- 
sents to withdraw all his troops 


-and garrisons from all posts and 


places within the boundary lines 
assigned by the treaty of peace ta 
the United States. The evacuation 
is to take place onor before the rst 
of June, 1796. 

The third article allows to his 
majesty’s subjeéts and the citizens 
of the United States, and to the 
Indians dwelling on either side of 
the said boundary line, freely to, 
pass and repass by land or inland 
navigation into the respective ter- 
ritories of the two parties. The 
country within the limits of the 
Hudson’s Bay Company is excepted. 
Vessels belonging to the United 
States are not to be admitted into 
the ports of his majesty’s said ter- 
ritories, nor British vessels from 
the sea into the rivers of the 
United States beyond the highest 
ports of entry for foreign vessels 
from the sea. The navigation of 
Mississippi, however ts to beentirely 
free. Goods and merchandize 
shall be conveyed into the territories 


of 


STATE PAPERS. 


of his Britannic majesty by Ame- 
rican citizens, and into the ter- 
ritories of the United States by Bri- 
tish subjects, subje& to the regu- 
lations established by both parties. 

The fourth articte relates to the 
ascertaining of the extent of the 
Mississippi to the northward. 

The fifth article alludes to the 
doubts that have arisen relative to 
the river St. Croix, and agrees to 
refer these doubts to commis- 
sioners. 

The sixth article allows British 
subjeGs the power of recovering 
debts due to them by American 
citizens previously to the peace ; 
which debts have not béen reco. 
vered hitherto, on account of some 
legal impediments. ‘Ihe United 
States agree to make full and com- 
plete compensation to the creditors 
who have suffered by those impe- 
diments. The amount of the losses 
and damages is to be ascertained 
by five commissioners—-two to be 
appointed by Great Britian, two 
by the president of the United 
States, and eve by the other four. 

When the five commissioners 
thus appointed shail first meet, they 
shall, before they proceed to att, 
respectively take the following oath 
or affirmation, in the presence of 
each other,, which oath or affirma- 
tion being so taken, and duly 
attested, shall be entered- on the 
record of their preceedings, viz. 
J, A. B. one of the commissioners 
appointed in pursuance of the sixth 
article of the treaty of amity, com- 
merce, and navigation, between 
his Britannic majesty and the 
United States of America, do so- 
Jemnly swear, or affirm, that I 
will honestly, diligently, impar- 
tially, and carefully examine, and 
$9 the bestof my judgment, accord. 


205 


ing to justice and equity, decide 
all such complaints, as under the 
said article shall be referred to 
the said commissioners; and that I 
will forbear to aét as a commissioner 
in any case in which I may_be per- 
sonally interested. 

Three of the said commissioners 
shall constitute a board, and shall 
have power to do any att apper- 
taining to the said commission, 
provided that one of the com. 
missioners named on each side, 
and the fifth commissioner shall - 
be present, and all decisions shall 
be made by the majority of the 
voices of the commissioners then 
present; eightcen months from the 
day on which the said commis. 
sioners shall form a board, and be 
ready to proceed to business, are 
assigned for receiving complaints 
and applications ; but they are ne. 
veetbe tees authorized, in any par- 
ticular cases, in which it shall ap- 
pear to them to be reasonable and 
just, to extend the said term of 
eighteen months for any term not 
exceeding six months after the ex- 
piration thereof. The said com- 
missioners shall first meet at Phi- 
ladelphia, but they shall have 
power to adjourn from place to 
place as they shall see cause. 

The award of the said com- 
missioners, or any three of them 
as aforesaid, shall in all cases be - 
final and conclusive. 

The seventh article allows ins 
demnification, by the British go- 
vernment, to such of the citizens 
of the United States as have suf- 
fered, during the late war, by 
irregular and illegal captures. The 
United States also agree to indem- 
nify British subjefts for irregular 
illegal captures taken by Ameri- 
can ships during the war. 


U 4 For 


26 ANNUAL REGISTER, 


For the purpose of ascertaining 
the amount of any such losses and 
damages, five commissioners shall 
be appointed and authorized to act 
in London, exaétly in the manner 
direéted with respe€t to those men- 
tioned in the preceding article, 
and after having taken the same 
oath or affirmation (mutatis mu- 
Jandis) the same term of eighteen 
months is also assigned for the re- 
ception of ‘claims, and they are in 
like manner authorized to extend 
‘the sameinparticularplaces. They 
shall receive testimony, books, 
papers, and evidence in the same 
latitude, and exercise the like dis- 
cretion and powers respe¢ting that- 
subject ; and shall decide the claims 
in question according to the merits 
of the several cases, and to justice, 
equity, and the laws of nations. 
The award of the commissioners, or 
any such three of them as aforesaid, 
shall in all cases bé final and con- 
clusive, both as to the justice of 
the claim, and the amount of the 
sum to be paid to the claimant ; 
and his Britannic majesty un der. 
takes to cause the same to he paid 
to such claimants in specie, without 
any deduétion, at such place or 
places, and at such time or times, 
as shall be awarded. by the same 
commissioners, and on condition 
of such releases or assignments to 
be given by the claimants, as by 
the said commissioners may ‘be 
direfied. 

The eighth article refers to the 
two former, and settles the mode 
of paying the amount of the losses, 

The ninth article permits the 
subjeéts of each country to hold 
lands in either country, and to 
sell ares devise them in the same 
manner as if they were natives. 
in tthe tenth article it is agreed 


1795. 


that in case of a war, no money 
belonging to individuals shall be 
sequestered or confiscated. 

The eleventh article establishes 
a perfeét liberty of navigation and 
commerce between the two coun- 
tries. 

The twelfth article allows the ci- 
tizens of the United States to carry 
the produce of the United States to 
the ‘West Indics, in vessels of not 
more than seventy tons burthen. 
The citizens are also allowed to 
carry away the produce of the 
islands to the territories of the 
United States alone. —This article 
is to continue in force for two years 
after the present war, when farther 
regulations are to be made. 

In the thirteenth article his Bri- 
tannic majesty consents to admit 
Anterican vessels into the British 
ports in the East Indies. This con- 
sent, however, is not to extend 
to the carrying on of the coasting 
trade in the East Indies. 

The citizens of the United 
States are not to reside or go into 
the interior parts of the East India 
settlements. They are not to ex- 
port, in time of war, stores or 
rice from the East-Indies; they may 
touch at St. Helena for refresh. 
ment. ; 

The fourteenth article relates to 
liberty of commérce and navigation 
between the dominions of his ma- 
jesty in Europe, and the territories 
of the United States in America. 

The fifteenth article states, that 
no higher duties shall be paid by 
the ships or merchandize- of the 
one party in the ports of the other, 
than the duties paid by other na- 
tions. No higher duties. shall be 
paid upon importatiow or exporta- 
tion than the duties paid on the 
TEBORIAH OR or exportation of Me 

ar 


STP E PAPE RS. 


Jar articles the produce of other 
nations. 


The sixteenth article relates to” 


the appointment of consuls for the 
protection of trade. 

The seventeenth article relates 
to vessels being captured or de- 
tained, on suspicion of having ene- 
my’s property on board. © Such 
property alone is to be taken out ; 
such vessels are to be permitted to 
proceed to sea with the remainder 
of their cargo. 

The eighteenth article decides 
what articles the term contraband 
can be applied to. 

The nineteenth article provides 
for the security of the respe¢tive 
subjects and citizens, and tor the 
preventing of injuries by men of 
War. 

The twentieth article relates to 
the refusal of the respective parties 
to receive pirates into any harbours 
or towns, and to the: seizure of 
goods and merchandize taken by 
pirates, ' 

The twenty-first article provides, 
that the subjects and citizens of 
the two nations shall not do any 
acts of hostility against each’other, 
and shall not accept commissions 
from foreign states or princes, to 
commit hostilities. 

' The twenty-second article pre- 
vents acts of reprisal, without due 
notice. ~ 

' The twenty-third relates to the 
treatment of ships, officers, and 
crews, in the respeétive ports of 
‘the two powers. 

The twenty-fourth article pro- 
vides, that privateers of nations at 
enmity with either of the two 
‘powers, shall not arm their ships 
in the respeétive ports of the two 
powers, or sell what they have 
taken, Pim 


‘ 


207 


The twenty-fifth allows the ships 
of war belonging to the said par. 
ties, to carry the ships and goods 
taken from their enemies, whither- 
soever they please. 

In case of war between the two 
nations, the twenty-sixth article 
permits the merchants and others, 
of each of the two nations, to re- 
side in the dominions of the other, 
and to continue their trade. 

The twenty-seventh articleagrees 
that the two powers shall respec- 
tively deliver up persons charged 
with murder and forgery. 

The twenty-eighth, alluding to 
the preceding articles, states, that 
the first ten articles shall be perma. 
nent, and that the subsequent arti~ 
cles (the twelfth excepted) shall be 
limited in their duration to twelve 
years. The treaty is to be bind. 
ing and obligatory as soon as it is 
ratified. 

The treaty is signed 
GRENVILLE, 
Joun Jay. 


Official Copy of the Treaty between 
the King of Spain and the Res 
public of France. 


THE French republic and his 
majesty the king of Spain, equally 
animated with a desire to put a stop 
to the calamities of the war which 
now disunites them, strongly con- 
vinced that there exist between 
the two nations respective interests 
which demand a reciprocal return 
of friendship and good understand. 
ing, and wishing, by a solid and 
durable peace, to re-establish that 
desirable harmony which had for 
a long time been the constant basis 
of the relations subsisting between 
the two countries, they have 

charged 


998 


charged with this negotiation, viz. 
the French republie, citizen Fran- 
cis Barthelemi, their ambassador in 
Switzerland ; and his Catholic ma- 
jesty, his minister plenipotentiary 
and envoy extraordinary to the 
King and republic of Poland; Don 
Domingo d’Yriarte; who, after 
having exchanged their powers, 
have agreed to the following ar- 
ticles : 

Art. 1. There sha]l be peace, 

amity, and good understanding be- 
tween the French republic and the 
kingdom of Spain. 
2. In consequence, all the hosti- 
lities between the two contra@ting 
powers shall cease from the date of 
the exchange of the ratifications 
of the present treaty ; and none of 
them shall, from that period, fur- 
nish against the other, in any qua- 
lity, or under any title, any aid, 
or contingent, either in men, horses, 
provisions, money, warlike stores, 
ships, or other articles, 

3. Neither of the contracting 
powers shall grant a passage through 
their territories to any troops at 
war with the other. 

4. The French republic restores 
to the king of Spain all the con- 
quests which she has made from 
him in the course of the present 
war: the conquered places and 
territories shall be evacuated by the 
French troops within fifteen days 
after the exchange of the ratifica- 
tions of the present treaty. 

5. The fortified places, of which 
mention is made in the preceding 
article, shall be restored to Spain, 
with the cannons, warlike stores, 
and other articles belonging to those 
places, which shall have been in 
them at the moment of the signing 
of this treaty. 

6, All sorts of military contri- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


butions, requisitions and payments, 
shall entirely cease from the date’ 
of fifteen days after the signing of 
the present pacification: all the 
arrears due at that period, even 
bills and promissory notes, given 
for these objects, shall be of no 
effect : what shall have been taken 
or received*after the above-named 
period, shall be gratuitously restor- 
ed, or paid for to the amount of its 
value. / 

7. There shall immediately be 
named by both sides commission- 
ers, for the purpose of adjusting a 
treaty of limits between the two 
powers : they shall as much as pos. 


sible take as the basis of this treaty‘ 


with respect to the territories which 
were disputed before the present 
war, the tops of the mountains 
which are the sources of the rivers 
of France and Spain. 

8. Neither of the contratting 
powers .can, at the expiration of 


a month after the exchange of the | 


ratifications of the present treaty, 
maintain on their respeétive fron- 
tiers more than the number of 
troops they had usually been accus- 


tomed to have stationed there pre-' 


vious to the present war. 

- In exchange for -the places 
restored by the 4th article, the 
king of Spain, for himself and his 
successors, gives up and abandons 
to the French republic all right of 
property in the Spanish part of St. 
Domingo, one of the Antilles: 2 
month after the ratification of the 
present treaty shall be known in 
that island, the Spanish troops shall 
be in readiness to eyacuate the 
places, ports, and establishments 
which they at present occupy, in 
order to give them up to the troops 
of the French republic as soon as 


they shall arrive to take possession 
of 


STAT H OPA ME RS. 


ef them; the places, ports, and es- 
tablishments, of which mention is 
made above, shall be delivered up 
to the French republic, with the 
cannons, warlike stores, and arti- 
gles nec&sary for their defence, 
which shall be in them at the mo- 
ment when the present treaty shall 
be known at St. Domingo. The 
inhabitants of the Spanish part of 
St. Domingo, who, from induce- 
ments of hd or other motives, 
shall prefer removing with their 
property into the dominions of his 
Catholic majesty, shall be able to do 
so within the space of a year from 
the date of the treaty; the respec- 
tive generals and commanders of 
the two nations shall concert the 
measures necessary to be taken for 
the execution of the present aiti- 
cle. 

10. There shall be respectively 
granted to the individuals of the 
two nations restitution of the ef. 
fe&ts, revenues, and property of all 
forts, detained, seized, or confis- 
cated, on account of the war which 
has subsisted between the French 
republic and his Catholic majesty ; 
and likewise the most. speedy jus- 
tice with respect to the particular 
claims which these individuals may 
have in the states of the two con. 
tracting powers, . 

11. In the mean time, till there 
shall be a new treaty of commerce 
between the contracting parties, 
all correspondencies and commer- 
cial relations shall be re-established 
between France and Spain on the 
footing on which they stood before 
the present war. 

All French merchants shall be 
allowed to pass into Spain, there 
to resume their commercial esta- 
blishments. They shall make new 
ones according to their conveni. 


209 


ence, submitting, in common with 
all other individuals, to the laws 
and usages of the country. 

The Spanish merchants shall en. 
joy the same privileges, subject zo 
the same conditions, in France. 

12. , All the prisoners respec. 
tively made since the commence. 
ment of the war, without regard 
to the difference of number ang 
rank, comprehending the seamen 
and marines captured on board 
French or Spanish vessels, or those 
of other nations, as well as in ge. 
neral all those imprisoned on either 
side on account of the war, shall 
be delivered up within the space 
of two months at latest, after 
the exchange of the ratifications 
of the present treaty, without 
any appeal on either part, discharg_ 
ing, however, the private debts 
which the prisoners may have 
contracted during their captivity. 
The same mode shall be adopted 
with respect to the sick and 
wounded, immediately after thei 
recovery or cure. 

Commissioners on either side 
shall be immediately appointed to 
proceed to the execution of the pre- 
sent article. 

13. The Portuguese prisoners 
making a part of the troops of 
Portugal, who have served with 
the armies and on board the shi 
of his Catholic majesty, shall be 
in like manner comprehended in 
the above-mentioned exchange. It 
shall be the same with respect to 
the French troops taken by the 
Portuguese troops in question, 

14. The same peace, amity, and 
good understanding, stipulated by 
the present treaty between France 
and the king of Spain, shall take 
place between the king of Spain 
and the republic of the i 

T0~ 


300 


Provinces, allies of the French re-- 
public. 

15. The French republic, wish- 
ing to give a testimony of amity 
to his Catholic majesty, accepts 
his mediation in favour of the king. 
dom of Portugal, the king of Na- 
ples, the king of Sardinia, the in- 
fant duke of Parma, and the other 
states of Italy, for the re-establish- 
ment of peace between the French 
republic. and each of these princes 
and states. 

16. The French republic, sen- 
sible of the interest which his Ca- 
tholic majesty takes in the general 
pacification of Europe, consents 
likewise to accept of his good of- 
fices in favour of other belligerent 
powers, who shall apply to him, in 
order to enter into negotiation with 
the French government. 

17. The present treaty shall not 
have effect till after having been 
ratified by the contraéting parties ; 
and the ratifications shall be ex- 
changed within the space of a 
month, or sooner, from the date of 
this day. 

In witness whereof we the un- 
dersigned plenipotentiaries of the 
French republic, and of his ma- 
jesty the king of Spain, in virtue 
of our full powers, have signed 
this present treaty of peace and 

_amity, and have put to it our-re- 
spective seals. 

Done at Basle the 4th of the 


month of Thermidor, the third ° 


year of the French republic 

(224 July, 1795.) 
(Signed) Francois BARTHELEMT, 
. Dominco D’?YRrarrTE. 


The Speech of the President of the 
United States of America te both 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


Houses of Congress, December 8, 

1795+ 

Fellow citizens of the senate, and 
house of representatives, 


I trust Ido not decei¥e myself, 
while I indulge the persuasion, that 
I have never met you at any period, 
when, more than at the present, 
the situation of our public affairs 
has afforded just cause of matual 
congratulation, and for inviting 
you to join with me in profound 
gratitude to the Author of all good, 
for the numerous and extraordinary 
blessings we enjoy. 

The termination of the long, 
expensive, and distressing war in 
which we have been engaged with 
certain Indians north-west of the 


-Ohio, is placed in the option of the 
‘ United States, by a treaty which 


the commander of our army has — 
concluded provisionally, with the 
hostile tribes in that region. 

In the adjustment of the terms, 
the satisfaction of the Indians was 
deemed an object worthy no less of 
the policy than of the liberality 
of the United States, as the neces- 
sary basis of durable tranquillity. 
This object has been fully attained. 
The articles agreed upon will im. 
mediately be laid before the senate, 
for their consideration, 


The Creek and Cherokee In- 


dians, who alone of the southern 


tribes had annoyed our frontiers, 
have lately confirmed their pre- 
existing treaties with us, and were 
giving evidence of a sincere dispo- 
sition to carry them into effet, by 
the surrender of the prisoners and 
property they had taken; but we 
have to lament that the fair prospect 
in this quarter has been once more 
clouded by wanton murders, which 
some citizens of Georgia are repre- 

eva sented 


STAT eh UR A PE RS. 


sented to have recently perpetrated 
on hunting parties of the Creeks ; 
which have again subjected that 
frontier to disquietude and danger, 
which will be prodactive of fur- 
ther expence, and may occasion 
further effusion of blood. Mea- 
sures are pursuing to prevent or 
mitigate the usual consequences of 
such outrages ; and with the hope 
of their succeeding, at least to avert 
a general hostility. 

A letter from the emperor of 
Morocco announces to me his re. 
cognition of our treaty made with 
his father the late emperor ; “nd 
consequently the continuance of 
peace with that power. With pe- 
culiar satisfaction I add, that infor- 
mation has been received from an 
agent deputed on our part to Al- 
giers, importing, that the terms of 
the treaty with the dey and regency 
of that country had been adjusted 
in such a manner, as to authorize 
the expectation of a speedy peace, 
and the restoration of our unfortu. 
nate fellow citizens froma grievous 
captivity. 

The latest advices from our en- 
voy at the court of Madrid give, 
moreover, the pleasing informa. 
tion, that he had received assur- 
ances of a speedy and satisfac- 
tory conclusion of his negotiation. 
While the event, depending upon 
unadjusted particulars, cannot be 
regarded as ascertained, it is agree- 
able to cherish the expectation of 
an issue, which-securing amicably 
the very essential interests of the 
United States, will, at the same 
time; lay the foundation of lasting 
harmony with a power; whose 
friendship we have uniformly and 
sincerely desired to cultivate. 

Though not before officiaily dis- 
closed.to the house of representa. 


301 


tives, you, gentlemen, are ap- 
prized, that a treaty of amity, 
commerce, and-navigation, has been 
negotiated with Great Britain ; 
and that the senate have advised 
and consented to its ratification, 
upon a condition which excepts 
part of one article. Agreeably 
thereto, and to the best judgment 
I was able to form of the public 
interest, after full and mature de. 
liberation, I have added my sanc- 
tion. The result on the part of 
his Britannic majesty is unknown, 
When received, the subje@ will, 
without delay, be placed before 
congress. 

This interesting summary of our - 
affairs with regard to the foreion 
powers, between whom and the 
United States controversies have 
subsisted, and with regard also to 
those of our Indian neighbours 
with whom we have been ina state 
of enmity and misunderstanding, 
opens a wide field for consoling 
and gratifying reflections. If, by 
prudence and moderation’ on every. 
side, the extinguishment of all thé 
causes of external discord, which 
have heretofore menaced our tran- 
quillity, on terms compatible with 
our national rights and honour; 
shall be-the happy result, how firm 
and how: precious a foundation will 
have been laid for accelerating, 
maturing, and establishing the pros~ 
perity of our country | 

Contemplating the internal situa- 
tion, as well as the external rez 
lations; of the United States; we 
discover equal cause for content- 
ment and satisfa¢tion. While many - 
of the nations of Europe, with 
their American dependencies, have’ 
been involyed in a contest unusu« 
ally bloody; exhausting, and cala- 
mitous; in which the evils of fo. 


reign 


302% 


teign war have been aggravated by 
domestic convulsions and insur- 
rection ; in which many of the arts 
most useful to society have been 
exposed to discouragement and de- 
cay ; in which scarcity of subsist= 
ence has embittered other suffer- 
ings; while even the anticipations 
of a returmof the blessings of peace 
and repose are alloyed by the sense 
of heavy and accumulating bur- 
dens, which press upon all the de. 
partments of industry, and threaten 
to clog the future springs of gos 
vernment ;—our favoured country, 
happy in a striking contrast, has 
enjoyed general tranquillity—the 
more satisfactory, because main- 
tained at the expence of no duty. 
Waithful to ourselves, we have vio- 
lated no obligation to othets. Our 
agriculture, commerce, and ma- 
nufactures prosper beyond former 
example; the molestations of our 
trade (to prevent a continuance of 
which, however, very pointed re- 
monstrances have been made) be- 
ing over-balanced by the aggregate 
benefits which it derives from a 
neutral position. Our population 
advances with a celerity which, ex« 
ceeding the most sanguine expecta- 
tions, proportionally augments our 
strength and resources, and gua- 
rantees out future security. Every 
part of the union displays indicas 
tions of rapid and various improve.~ 
ment, and with burdens so light as 
scarcely to be perceived ; with re- 
sources fully adequate to our pres 
sent exigencies ; with governments 
founded on the genuine principles 
of rational liberty, and with mild 
and wholesome laws ; is it too much 
to say, that our country exhibits 
a spectacle of national happiness 
never surpassed, if ever before 
equalled ? Nae 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


Placed in a situation every way¥ 
SO auspicious, motives of command. 
ing force impel us, with sincere ac- 
knowledgment to heaven, and pure 
love to our country, to unite our 
efforts to preserve, prolong, and 
improve our immense advantages. 
To co-operate with you in this de- 
sirable work, is a fervent and fa- 
vourite wish of my heart. 

It is a valuable ingredient in the 
general estimate of our welfare, that 
the part of ovr countfy, which was 
lately the scene of disorder and in- 
surrection, now enjoys the blesss 
ings of quietand order. The mis- 
led have abandoned their errors; 
and pay the respect to our constitu- 
tion and lawsy which is due from 
good citizens to the public autho- 
rities of the society. These cirs 
cumstances have induced me toa 
pardon, generally, the offenders 
here referred to: and to extend 
forgiveness to those who have been 
adjudged, to capital punishment. 
For; although I shall always think 
it a sacred duty, to exercise with 
firmness and energy the constitu. 
tional powers with which I am_ 
vested ; yet it appeared to me no 
less consistent. with the public good, 
than it is with my personal feelings, 
to mingle in the operations of go- 
vernment every degree of modera- 
tion and tenderness, which the na- 
tional justice, dignity, and safety 
may permit. 


Gentlemen, . Bath 
Among the objeéts which will 
claim your attention in the course 
of the session, a review of our mi- 
litary establishment is not the least 
important. It is called for by the 
events which have changed, and 
may be expected still further to 
change, the relative situation of 
_ our 


- 


STATE PAPERS. 


our frontiers. In this review; you 
will doubtless allow due weight to 
the considerations, that the ques- 
tions between us and certain fo- 
reign powers, are not yet finally 
adjusted; that the war in Europe 
is not terminated; and that our 
western posts, when recovered, will 
demard provision, for garrisoning 
and securing them. A statement 
of our present military force will 
be laid before you by the depart- 
ment of war. 

With the review of our army 
establishment is naturally connected 
that of the militia. It will meric 
inquiry, what imperfections in 
the existing plan, further experi- 
ence may have, unfolded. The 
subject is of so much moment, in 
my estimation, as to excite a con- 
stant solicitude, that the considera- 
tion of it may be renewed until 


the greatest attainable perfection, 


shall be accomplished. Time is 
wearing away some advantages for 
forwarding the object, while none 
better deserves the persevering at. 
tention of the public councils. * 
While we indulge the satisfac- 
tion which the actual condition of 
our western borders so well autho- 
rizes, it is necessary that we should 
not lose sight of an important truth, 
which continually receives new 
confirmations; namely, that the 
provisions heretofore made, with a 
view to the protection of the In- 
dians from the violence of the law- 
less part of the frontier inhabitants, 
are insufficient. It is demonstrated, 
that these violences can now be 
perpetrated with impunity. And 
it can need no argument to prove, 
that unless the murdering of Indi. 
ans can be restrained by bringing 
the murderers to condign punish- 
ment, all the exertions of the go- 


303 


vernment to prevent destructive res 
taliations by the indians, will prove 
fruitless, and all our present agree. 
able prospects illusory. The fre., 
quent destru«tion of innocent woz 
men and childreny who are chiefly 


‘the vidtims of retaliation, must 


continve to shock humanity ; and 
an enormGus expence to drain. the 
treasury of the union. 

To enforce upon: the Indians 
the observance of justice, it is in. 
dispensable that there shall be.com. 
petent means of rendering justice to 
them. If these means can be de. 
vised by the wisdom of congress, 
and especially if there can be added 
an adequate provision for supply - 
ing the necessities of the Indians, 
on reasonable terms, (a measure, 
the mention of which I the more : 
readily repeat, as in all the con. 
ferences they urge it with solici. 
tude), I should not hesitate to 
entertain a strong hope ef render- 
ing our tranguillity permanent, f 
add, with pleasure, that the proba. 
bility-even of their civilization is 
not diminished by the experiments 
which have been thus far made | 
under the auspices of government. 
The accomplishment of this work, 
if practicable, will refle& undecay « 
ing lustre on our national charaer, 
and administer the most grateful 
consolations that virtuous minde 
can know. 


Gentlemen of the house of re. 
presentatives, 


The state of our revenue, with 
the sums that have been borrowed 
and reimbursed, pursuant to the 
different acts of congress, will be 
submitted from the proper depart. 
ments ; together with an estimate 
of the appropriations necessary to 

be 


$04 


be made for the service of the en. 
suing year. 

Whether measures may not be 
advisable to reinforce the provision 
for the redemption of the public 
debt, will naturally engage yout 
examination.— Congress have de- 
monstrated their sense to be, and it 
were superfluous to repeat mine, 
that whatsoever will tend to acce- 
lerate the honourable extin¢tion of 
our public debt, accords as much 
with the true interests of our coun- 
try, as with the general’ sense of 
our constituents. 


_ Gentlemen of the senate, and 
, house of reptesentatives, 


The statement which shall be laid 
before you, ‘relative to the mint, 
will shew the situation of that in- 
stitution, and the necessity of some 
farther legislative provisions for 
carrying the busiriess of it mote 
“completely into effect, and for 
checking abuses which appear to 
be arising in particular quarters, 


ANNUAL REGISTER; 


‘ 
} : ; . 
1798. 

The progress in providing mate- 
tials for the frigates, and in build 
ing them ; the state of the fortifica- 
tions of our harbours; the measures 
which have been pursued for ob- 

taining proper sites for arsenals, 
and for replenishing our magazines 
with military stores; and the steps 
which have been taken toward the 
execution of the law for opening a 
trade with the Indians, will like- 
wise be presented for the informa- 
tion of congress. 

Temperate discussion of the im- 
portant subjects which may arise 
in the coufse of the session; and 
mutual fotbearance; where there is 
a difference of opinion, are too ob 
vious and necessary for the’ peace, 
happiness; and welfate of our coun- 
try; to need any recommendation 
of mine. 


Grorce WASHINGTON. 


United States, 
Dec. 8, 179§: 


CHARACTERS, 


CHARA 


ccount of the Reign and Character 
of Maximilian II. Emperor .of 
Germany ; from Wraxall’s History 
of France, 


F Europe has ever seen the throne 
occupied by a sage and a phi- 
sopher, it was in the person of 
aximilian II. In benevolence 
id humanity his contemporaries 
mpared him with Titus; and in 
e simplicity of his manners, re- 
unciation of pleasure, and severe 
ischarge of every moral obliga- 
on, we are reminded of. Marcus 
atoninus. Formed for peace, he 


luable possession to all his sub- 
cts; and to allay, by his interpo- 
tion, or authority, the animosities 
Yroduced by difference of religious 
ief. Suspected of leaning to- 
ards the new opinions, he yet 
eadily ‘maintained, in his heredi- 
ry dominions, and in the empire, 
e purity of the Catholic faith ; 
r ever permitted the Protestants 
break down the barriers opposed 
their farther progress, by his pre- 
ecessors. THis mild and beneficent 
mper, illuminated by reflection, 
duced him to regard all violence, 
matters of conscience, as equally 
njust and impolitic. He stands, 
this particular, strikingly opposed 
his cousin, Philip If. king of 
pai; whose bigotry and intole- 
¥Yol, XXXVIT. 


deavoured to dispense that in- 


ira 


CT E RS. 


rance produced the revolt of the 
Netherlands, and pursued heresy, 
throughout Europe, with fire and 
sword. To render Maximilian one ~ 
of the most illustrious, as he indis- 
putably was one of the most amiable 
princes, whom Providence has rais~ 
ed up for the felicity of mankind, a 
more martial and enterprising dis- 
position was alone wanting. His 
exposed situation on the Hungarian 
frontiers, and the perpetual inroads 
of the Turkish sultans, during the, 
sixteenth century, demanded a so- 
vereign possessed of military talents, 
and personal activity in war, The 
operation of this defect, in his cha- 
racter, was, however, confined to 
Hungary ; while his virtues dispens- 
ed happiness and tranquillity over 
all the other people, subjected to his 
government. He was beloved by 
the Austrians, idolized by the Bo- 
hemians, and regarded, throughout 
Germany, by the : Catholics and Pro- 
testants, as the common parent and. 
protector of his subjects, of every 
denomination. 

The restless ambition and pre- 
tences of John Sigismund, prince 
of Transylvama, who had broken 
the truce, and invaded Upper Hun- 
gary, necessitated the emperor, at an 
early period of his reign, to con- 
voke a diet, and to demand supplies - 
of men and money. They were 
granted with an alacrity and cele- 


*Ad rity 


¥*Q] 


rity little customary in those assem- 
blies ; and which was not more the 
result of the apprehensions excited 
by the impending war, than due to 
the general respect and affection 
borne to Maximilian. Solyman, 
notwithstanding his age and infirmi- 
ties, appeared again in the field, as 
the ally of his Transylvanian vassal ; 
and, at the head of a vast army, 
laid siege to Sigeth. He expired, 
in the camp, before the capture of 
that city was effected; and the 
.count de Serini, to whith its de- 
fence had been entrusted, obtained 
an immortal reputation, by the des- 
perate valour with which he long 
repulsed the assailants. Reduced, 
at length, to the necessity of dying, 
or capitulating with an enemy who 
violated all compacts, he generously 
preterred the former alternative ; 
and, rushing on the Turks, with the 
small remains of his garrison, pe- 
rished by the scymitars of the Jari- 
zaries, The vizier sent his head to 
Maximilian, with a contemptuous 
and insulting message, reproaching 
him for pusillanimity, or inactivity, 
in not advancing to the relief of 
Serini. Since the memorable cam- 
paign of 1532, when Charles V. 
had, in person, opposed Solyman, 
Germany had not sent so numerous 
a body of forces to combat the 
Turks, as that which Maximilian 
commanded. But the 
or prudence, of his generals, who 
were still greatly inferior to the 
- Ottoman army, and the recollection 
of the many unfortunate battles 
which the Hungarian princes had 
fought against those invaders, in- 
duced the emperor to remain up- 
on the defensive. Selim II. the 
son and successor of Solyman, whose 
views of conquest were directed 
against the Venetians, consented, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


timidity, - 


1795. 


soon after his accession, to renew 
the truce between the two empires, 
upon terms favourable to the house 7 
of Austria. The Transylvanian — 
prince was not included in the 
treaty, and continued his hostilities, 
or depredations, for several years: — 
but they were at length terminated © 
by his renunciation of the title of © 
king of Hungary ; which article © 
formed the basis of an amicable — 
agreement, and restored tranquillity — 
to those desolated provinces. 

The benign influence of the qua- 
lities and virtues, by which Max- 
imilian waspeculiarly distinguished, 
was more sensibly felt in the em- 


pire, and in his hereditary German 9 


provinces, where he appeared, in © 
his proper and natural character, — 
as the father and legislator of his — 
people. f 
Germany suffered a temporary in- — 
terruption, from the inflexibility and — 
misguided adherence of John Fre-— 
derick IT. duke of Saxe Gotha, — 
to Grumbach, whose acts of vio- — 


lence had already excited universal | 


indignation, under the reign of — 


Ferdinand. } The duke, son to the 9 


magnanimoys and unfortunate elec- 
tor of Saxony, deposed by Charles — 
V. after the battle of Muhlberg, — 
persisted, in defiance of the imperial — 
mandate, to afford a retreat and _ 
protection to this invader of the © 
public peace. Moved by consi- — 
derations of compassion and friend- — 
ship, the emperor warned him of — 
his error, pointed out to him its — 
consequences, and exhorted him, to — 
avert the inevitable punishment, 
by de'ivering up Grumbach. But — 
Jobn Frederick, who, toa contract- — 
ed understanding joined the wildest — 
fanaticism, and the most unlimited — 
credulity, persisted to grant him 
an asylumin his palace and capital. ~ 

3 Maximilian © 


The internal repose of | 


CHARACTERS. 


Maximilian was, therefore, reluc- 
tantly necessitated to Jay bim under 
the ban of the empire; and Au- 
gustus; the reigning elector of Sax- 
ony, principally charged with its 
‘execution, besieged him in the city 
of Gothas He was reduced to a 
surrender, carried prisoner to Vien- 
na, and, after being exposed to 
the view of the populace, in a state 
of ignominy and degradation, he was 
finally detained in captivity till his. 
death. Grumbach suffered by the 
hand of the executioner, toget'* 
with several of his adherent: 
accomplices. Some slight ene 
ances, in the electorate f ies 
and in the dutchy of yecklen a 
were the oniy circunstancey 4 
sides, which invade: the py 08? 
. : ~ Germany under 
quiet enjoyed by © ) 
Maximilian. 
Encourage? by so” 
aspect of pablic affaiy’ 
ing to the benignity 
tion, he ventured 0 
places the superl 
sion of his min 
spicuous point 


f,ourable an 
and yield- 
his disposi- 
a step, which 
ty and expan- 
the most con- 
view. The. sti- 
; ed in his coruna- 
pylauions cor elected emperor, as 
tion-oath, Wicles constituting ** the 
wellasthe?. —,, hi ij ity 
Agion,” on which alone 

peace of / “and maintenance of 
lic faith depended,  fet- 
in hisimperial capacity, 
rmitted tim to make no in- | 
ment what:ver on those points. 
, as -archdike of Austria, he 
sessed a pwer of relaxing the 
everity of tle laws which denied 
liberty of coscience to his Protest- 
ant subjects. Notwithstanding the 
remonstranes of the Spanish em- 
bassador, i the name of his sove- 
reign, Phip II. and in defiance 
of the mnaces .of Pius V. who 
fled the papal chair, Maximilian, 


“But, 


os 


gave the first voluntary example of 
religious toleration te Europe, by 
permitting the nosility and eque- 
trian order, in A4sttia; to celebrate 
publicly the -eremonies of their 
worship, in Heit castles and houses, 
as well as 0M their estates. This 
indulgen® Was, however; strictly 
Hivnicatte the two classes above 
menoned ; and neither extended 
te the people at large; nor even 
o the ifihabitants of cities; who 
vainly endeavoured to shake the em- 
peror’s determination on the Subject, 
or to elude his vigilance. 

In the present century; when the 
minds of men, enlarged and hu- 
manized by philosophy; are become 
familiar with toleration; and when 
the most bigotted European nations 
admit some species of religious free- 
dom; a permission so circumscrib- 
ed in its operation, as that granted 
by Maximilian, may not appear to 
merit any extravagant eulogiums. 
the actions of men are not 
only to be appreciated by the eter- 
hal laws of rectitude and justice; 
they must be, in some measure, 
likewise, referable to the modes of 
thinking,! received by their cons 
temporaries, and generally adopted. 
On every side, Maximilian saw only 
the most intolerant bigotry. The 
Netherlands, and France, were de- 
solated by their respective soves - 
reigns, in order to extinguish he- 
resy, and to spread the unity of the 
Catholic faith. Even among the 
Protestants themselves, the most ran- 
corous and sanguinary animosities 
prevailed, to the subversion of. all 
mutual good offices. Servetus was 
committed to the flames at Geneva, 
by Calvin, for some speculative dif- 
ference of opinion on abstruse points 
of theology; and the Lutherans re- 
garded with horror the doctrines 

[*A 2] inculcated 


- 


*“4] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795.. 


inculcated by that reformer, and 
Zuinglius. Maximilian, in an age 
of persecutions. declared publicly 
his repugnance tO all religious vio- 
lence, and his unarerable opinion, 
tbat ‘to the suprem being alone, 
it belonged to judge the Gpscience,” 
Nor did he content bibself with 
only asserting this princip,. jj. 
active benevolence impelled hy 4, 
make every exertion, to stop 1, 
destructive influence of bigotry, in 
other countries. Touched with the 
cries and complaints of the Flem- 
ings, he dispatched his brother, the 
archduke Charles, to Philip If. with 
directions to remonstrate with bim 
on his violation of their privileges, 
civil and religious; though this bu- 
mane interposition was ineffectual. 
He did not conceal his detestation 
of the massacre of St. Bartholo- 
mew, for which Rome\and Madrid 
made public demonstrations of joy ; 
and when Henry III... king of 
France, passed through Vienna, in 
his flight from Poland to his own 
country, the emperor strongly ex- 
horted him to commence his reign, 
by maxims and principles of tolera~ 
tion. It would have been happy for 
Henry, and his people, if he had 
been capable of profiting by the 
advice. . i 


—— 


Account of the Convent of Nuns of 
‘ Clarisse, at Cologne; from Mrs. 
Radcligfe’s Journey through Hol- 
land and the Western Frontier of 


Germany. 
()yv® inn had formerly been a 
; onvent, an d was in apart of 
the town where such societies are 
more numerous than elsewhere. At 
five v’clock, on the Sunday after 
our arrival, the belis of churches 
and convents began to sound on all 


‘sides, and there was scarcely any 
entire intermission of them till even-. 
‘ing. 


The places of public amuse- 
ment, chiefly a sort of tea-gardens, 
were then set open, and, in many 
Streets, the sounds of music and 
dancing, were heard almost as 
plainly as that of the bells had been 
before ; a disgusting excess of licen- 
tiousness, which appeared in other 
instances, for we heard, at the same 


time, the voices of a choir on one 


“de of the street, and the neise of a 
thowd-table on the other, Near 
benouns this contrast was more ob- 
eh - While the Strains of 
aac ioe from an adjoining gar- 
al Wa ‘hich our windows open- 
bist S¢ Isthe music allowed us 
. 1 SOME yotes of the vesper 
phe performity ina convent of 
the orde, of Clariss., only three or 
four doorbeyond. Qf the severe 
rules of th society we had been 
told in the ™rning. . The members 
take @ VOW, of only to renounce 
the world, butyeir dearest friends 
and are never Ptyitted to see even 
their fathers OF rothers, though 


they may sometin, Converse with 
the latter from beg av captain 


And, lest some linge. : 
filial affection hols ‘e dieenuteoxe 
4 pt an un- 
happy nun to lift the °; bites 
ration between herself a. ‘ rr, 
ther, she is not ylowed | ew 
even with her, but\in the Moone 
of the abbess. AcCounts o} a 
horrible perversions »f human < 
son make the blood \hrill. TE. 
fathers they can neverspeak to, fo. 


no man is suffered to bin any part 


of the convent used b\ the sister- 
hood, nor, indeed, is amitted be- 
yond the gate, except v n there is 
a necessity for repairs, Wen all the 
votaries of the order are yeviously 
secluded. It is not easily tht a cau- 
tious mind becomes conv\ced of 


< 


~ 


CHARACTERS, 


- 


the existence of such severe orders; 
when it does, astonisiment at the 
artificial miseries, which the inge- 
nuity of human beings forms for 
themselves by seclusion, is as bound- 
less as at the other miseries, with 
which the most trivial vanity and 
envy so frequently pollute the inter- 
courses of social life. The poor 
nuns, thus nearly entombed during 
their lives, are, after death, tied 
upon a board, in the clothes they 
died in, and, with only their veils 
thrown over their face, are buried 
in the garden of the convent. 


Observations on the distinct Charac- 
ters of Modern Whigs and Tories ; 
from Belsham’s Memoirs of the 
Reign of George III. 


PE established appellations of 
whig and tory, as descriptive 
of the two grand political parties 
which, under these or equivalent 
terms of distinction, will doubtless 
subsist so long as the present consti- 
tution of government shall remain, 
though greatly changed from their 
original signification, it would ne- 
vertheless te fastidious to reject. 
The gradations of sentiment and 
principle which mark their progress 
it is however of indispensible im- 
portance occasionally to specify. 
‘Tae principles of whiggism may in- 
deed, in this respect, be said to have 
gained @ complete triumph over 
those of the ancient tories, inasmuch 
as the once favourite maxims of 
toryism—passive obedience, non- 


resistance. and the divine and inde-’ 


feasible right of monarchy—have 
fallen into general contempt. Nor 
can any doctrines bearing the most 
distant analogy to these monstrous 


- 


absurdities be now maintained, 
without the use of such artificial and 
ambiguous phraseology as, however 
magnificent in sound and show, shall 
vanish from the touch of reason as 
mists and vapours from the noon- 
day sun. 

Agreeably then to the vicissitu des 
which have, in a long series of 
eventful years, taken place in the 


_ views and sentiments of the opposing 


parties of the state, a whig must 
now be understood to mean a man 
who, in addition to the speculative 
princ'ples of liberty, civil and re- 
ligious, which have descended to 
him from his ancestors, entertains a 
lively and well-founded jealousy 
lest the prerogative of the crown 
should, in consequence of the pro- 
digious increase of its influence, ul- 
timately absorb the whole power 
and authority of the other branches 


‘of the government, and with them 


the liberties of the nation at large, 
in its vast and tremendous vortex. 
A modern whig acknowledges and 
deeply regrets the improvidence of 
his ancestors in contributing, by ' 
the facility of their compliances, 
to the accumulation of an immense 
public debt, and the establishment 
of a standing army, both of which 
are yet in a state alarmingly pro- 
gressive. ble can scarcely forgive 
those extravagant ebullitions of loy- 
alty which could sacrifice the most 
sacred principles of the constitution 
to the interest or ambition of the 
reigning family, in, prolonging, by 
a most unjustifiable stretch of power, 
the existence of parliaments to a 
term of dangerous duration, and in 
furnishing toa minister, litile scru- 
pulous of expedients, and regard. 
less of consequences, the means of 
universal and unbounded corruption. 
Whatever palliations of the fatal 
Pass system 


ps, 


system then adopted, the peculiarity 
of that minister’s situation, and the 
situation of the country at large, in 
a political view, might then afford, 
had, it was affirmed, been long 
since entirely at an end; but the 
same system is nevertheless resolute- 
ly and uninterruptedly pursued, re- 
covering, Antzus-like, from every 
apparent or accidental fall with re- 
newed and redoubled vigour. 

On the other hand, the modern 
tories, al,hough the descendants of 
those wh o long entertained a most 
inveterate enmity against the family 
upon the throne, and who, from 
motives not of the purest patriotism, 
vehemently op posed, in the former 
Teigns, the unconstitutional measures 
of the whigs, having at length en- 
tirely shaken off their old attacb- 
ments, and being taken into favour 
and invested with power under the 
marked and too partial protection of 
the court, suddenly became its open 
and zealous advocates—combining, 
as far as the spirit of the imes would 
admit, the speculative errors of one 
party with the practical errors of the 
other. The vecessity of strengthen- 

ing the prerogative of the mney «anoles 
and of supporting the dignity of the 
crown, was from this time the in- 
cessant theme of their argument 
and declamation. Concessions and 
jindulgencies were, in their estima- 
tion, things incompatible with the 
majesty of the regal character, 
The high, harsh, and peremptory 
tone of authority uniformly marked 
every act of government under the 
almost constant predominance df 
this dangerous faction during the 
present reign, from the commitment 
of aprinter, or the prosecution of 
a libeller, to those measures of pro- 
vocation and oppression, termi- 
nating in a war which rent jp twain 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


and had well nigh subverted the 
empire. 

‘This party, now grown strong 
and confident, by an unexpected res 
tarn of prosperity, assumed, with 
ostentatious audacity, the appella- 
tion of the king’s friends, in which 
novel capacity they hesitated not to 
give their eager and ardent support 
to those measures of court policy, 
which had been ever reprobated by 
the tories of elder days, as in the 
highest degree pern cious and un- 
constitutional. The standing army, 
so long the theme ot their inveétive 
and reproach, was now affirmed to 
be necessary jor the preservation of 
the national tranquillity; the public 
debt was pronounced a public be- 
nefit; the connection with Hanover 
wds honourable and useful; the ine 
fluence of the crown was the happy 
means of consolidating the harmony 
of the different branches of govern- 
ment; a loug parliament was said 
to be attended with no such incon- 
venient consequences as had been 
previously and erroneously appre- 
hended: and every attempt to res 
store that equality in the representa= 
tion, or rather to remove those 
giaring. inequalites so inconsistent 
with the spirit of the constitution 
and the practice of former ages, was 
opposed and rejected by them in 
terms of unbounded obloquy and 
detestation, as leading to nothing 
less than the absolute subversion of 
government. They professed, on 
all eccasions, their dread of innos 
vation and novelty—not adverting 
to the constant declaration of the 
ancient tories, that the things to 
which they objected were them- 
selves innovations wholly extrane- 
ous to the constitution— and that 
they who merely wished to restore 
were most anjustly accused of a 

fondness 


. 


CHARACTERS. 


. 


fondness forinnovation, or a dan- 
gerous propensity totamper with 
the constitution, by trying new and 
hazardous experiments. 

Although the high and preposte- 
rous notions once prevalent respect- 
ing the authority of the church had, 
in common with the old opinions 
relative to civil government, gra- 
dually fallen into disrepute, the to- 
ries of the present reign have been 
invariably characterized by the 
strength of their attachment to the 
ecclesiastical establishment, which 
they are delighted to applaud and 
extol as a model of purity and per- 
fection. Any suggestion of the ex- 
pediency of a reform in the church, 
whether in relation to the irregula- 
rities of its discipline, or the errors 
of its doctrine, as exhibited in a set 
of obsolete and unintelligible ar- 
ticles of faith, are received by this 
class of men with a sort ofhorror, as 
Jeading to foul suspicions of sectarian 
heresy, or atheistical profaneness ; 
while the dissenters of al] denomina- 
tions are; on the contrary, viewed 
by them with eyes of jealousy and 
hatred, and assiduously held up on 
all occasions as the inveterate ene- 
mies of at least one part of the con- 
stitution, and as the doubtful friends 
at best of the other : and every idea 
of enlarging the limits of the tolera- 
tion allowed them by law, and much 
more of extending to them the com- 
mon privileges of citizens, they 
have uniformly exclaimed aygaint 
with affected terror and real ma- 
lignity, 


Description of the several Merits of 


Albert Durer, Michael Angelo 
and Leonardo da Vinci, by Mr. 
Luseli ; from Seward’s Anecdotes. 


[*7 


ALBERT DURER. 

HE indiscriminate use of the 

4 words genius and ingenuity 
has, perhaps, no where caused 
more confusion than in the classifi- 
cation of artists, Albert Durer 
was a man of great ingenuity with- 
out being a genius. He studied, 
and, as far as his penetration 
reached, established certain propor- 
tions of the human frame, but he 
did not create astyle. He copied, 
rather than imitated, the forms that 
surroun ed him without remorse, 
and tacked deformity and meager- 
ness to fullness and beauty. He 
sometimes had a glimpse of the sub- 
lime, but it was only a glimpse, 
The expanded agony of Christ on 
the Mount of Olives, and the mystic 
mass of his figure of Melancholy, 
have much sublimity, though the 
expression of the last is weakened by 
the rubbish he had thrown about 
her. His Knight attended by Death 
and the Fiend is more capricious 
than terrible; and his Adam and 
Eve are two common models shut 
up in a rocky dungeon, Every 
work of hisisa proof that he want- 
ed the power of imitation, of con- 
cluding from what be saw to what 
he did not see. Copious without 
taste, anxiously precise in parts, and 
unmindful of the whole, he bas ras 
ther shown us what to avuid, than 
what we are to foliow, Though 
cailed the father of the German 
school, be neither reared scholais, 
nor was imitated by ihe German 
artists of his or the succeeding cen- , 
tury. That the importation of his 
works into Italy should have eff ct- 
ed a temporary change in the prin- 
ciples ,of some Tuscans, who had 
studied Michael Angelo, is a fact 
which proves, that minds at certain 
periods may be subject to epidemic 
[*A 4] influence 


¥8] 


influence as well as bodies. That 
M. Angelo, when a boy, copied 
with a pen Michael Wolgemuth’s 
print of the Temptation of St. An- 
tony, and bought fish in the market 
to colour the devils, may be believ- 
ed ; but it requires the credulity of 
Wagenseil to suppose that he could 
want any thing of Albert Durer, 
when he was a man. The legend 
contradicts itself ; for who ever be- 
fore heard of the bronzes of Albert 
Durer ?, 
MICHAEL ANGELO. 

M. Angelo, punctilious and 
haughty to princes, was gentle and 
even submissive to inferior artists. 
Gulielmo Bugiardini, a man of 


‘tiney talents and much conceit, bad: 


been applied to by Meffer Otta- 
viano de Medici to paint the por- 
trait of M. Angelo for him. Bugi- 
ardini; familiar with M. Angelo; 
obtained his consent. He sat to 
him: desired to rise after a sitting 
of two hours; and perceiving at 
the first glance the incorrectness of 
the outline, What the devil, said 
he, have you been doing? You 
have shoved one of the eyes into the 
temples ; pray look at it. Gulielmo, 
after repeatedly looking at the pic- 
ture and theoriginal, at last replied, 
with much gravity, I cannot see it ; 
but pray sit down and let us exa- 
mine again. M. Angelo, who knew 
where the cause of the blunder lay, 
sat down again, and patiently sub- 
mitting to a long second inspection, 
was at last peremptorily told that 
the copy was correct. If that be 
the case, said he, nature has com- 
mitted a mistake ; go you on, and 
follow the dictates of your art. 
There exists now at Holkham, 
among the pictures collected by the 
late lord Leicester, and in the pos- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


session of Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, 
the only copy ever made of the 
whole composition of the celebrated 
Cartoon of Pisa. It is a small cil- 
picture in chiaroscuro, and the per- 
formance of Bastiano de St. Gallo, 
surnamed Aristotile, from his learn- 
ed or verbose descants on that sur- 
prising work. It was painted at the 
desire of Vasari, and trasmitted to 
Francis I. by Bold Giovio, bishop 
of Nocera. How it could escape 
the eyes of the French and English 
connoisseurs or artists, who hud ace 
cess to the collections, of which it 
constituted the chief ornament, is a 
mystery, which, for the honour of 
the art, none can wish to une 
ravel, 

Nothing is trifling in the history , 
of gemius. The following strange 
incident, extracted from the life of 
M. Angelo, written by his pupil, 
or rather attendant, Ascanio Con- 
divi, deserves notice, because it is 
related from the month of M. An- 
gelo himself, 

Some time after the death of Lo- 
renzo de Medici, Cardiere, a young 
improvisatore, entertained by his son 
Piero, secretlyinformed M. Angelo, 
with whom he lived in habits of 
friendship, that Lorenzo de Medici 
had appeared to him in a ragged 
pall of black over his naked body, 
and commanded him to announce 
to his son, thatin a short time he 
should bedriven into exile and*re- 
turn no more. M. Angelo exbort- 
ed him to execute the commands of 
the vision; but Cardiere, aware of 
the haughty insolent temperof Piero, 
forbore to follow his advice. Some 
morning after this, whilst M. An- 


‘gelo was busy in the cortile of the 


palace, Cardiere, terrified and pale, 
comes again, and relates, that the 
night before, when yet awake, Lo- 
renzo 

cd 


CHARACTE RS. 


renzo, in the same garb, appeared 
to him again, and had enforced his 
orders with a violent blow on the 
cheek. M. Angelo now, with great 
earnestness, insisting on his imme- 
diate compliance with the com- 
mands of the vision, Cardiere set 
off directly for Careggi, a villa of 
the family, about three miles distance 
from Florence; but having scarcely 
got half way, met Piero with. his 
suite returning to town, and instant- 
ly acquainted him with what he had 
seen, heard, and suffered. He was 
laughed at by Piero, and ridiculed 
by his attendants, one of whom, 
Divizio, afierwards cardinal di Bi- 
biena, told him he was mad to 
fancy Lorenzo would charge a 
stranger wiih a message he might 
deliver himself to his son, Dis- 
missed in this manner, he returned 
to M. Angelo, and prevailed on 
him to quit Flerence and go to Bo- 
logna, where he had scarcely settled 
in the house of Gian Francesco Al- 
drovandi, before the predicted re- 
volution took place, and the expul- 
sion of the whole family of the 
Medici with all their party con- 
firmed the vision of Cardiere, 
whether * fancy-bred,’ or communi- 
cated by ‘ spirit blest or goblin 
damned.” 
LEONARDO DA VINCI. 

Leonardo da Vinci, made up of 
all the eiements, without the pre- 
ponderance of any one, gave uni- 
versal hints, and wasted life insatiate 
in experiment; now on the wing 
after beauty, then grovelling on the 
ground after deformity; now look- 


[*9 
ing full in the face of terror, then 
decking it with shards, * and shells, 
and masks: equally attracted by 
character and caricature, by style 
and common nature, he has drawn 
rudiments of all, but, like a stream 
lost in ramification, vanished with- 
out a trace. 

Want of perseverance alone could 
make him abandon his cartoon 


-of the celebrated group of horse 


men, destined for the great coun- 
cil chamber at Florence, withe 
out painting the picture. For to 
him who could organize the limbs 
of that composition, Michael Ane 
gelo himself gould be no object of 
fear. And that he was able to or- 
ganize it, we may be certain from 
the sketch that remains of it, how- 
ever pitiful in the © Etruria Pittricé,’ 
lately published, but still more from 
the admirable print of Edelinck, 
after a drawing of Rubens, who 
was his great admirer, and has said 
much to impress us with the beau- 
ties of his Last Supper at Milan, 
which he abandoned likewise with- 
out finishing the head of Christ, ex- 
hausted by a wild chace after models 
for the heads and hands of the 
apostles. Had he been able to con- 
ceive the centre, the radii must 
have followed of course. Whether 
he considered that magic of light. 
and shade, which he possessed in an 
unparalleled degree in his smaller 
pictures, as an inferior principle in 
a work of such dignity, or was un- 
able to diffuse it over numerous 
groups, cannot now be determined ; 
but he left his fresco flat, and with- 
out that solemnity of twilight, which 


* Shells of beetles. This requires some explanation: Leonardo was employed 


to paint a head of Medusa. 


A beautiful woman sat to him for the face. 


he 


adjuncts of horror he sought for in the fields, bringing home for them occasionally 
in his walks, nettles, thorns, beetles, spiders, toads, adders, &c. 


*10| 


js more than an equivalent for those 
contrasts of Chiaroscuro that Gior- 
gione is said to have learnt from 
him. The legend which makes 
Leonardo go to Rome with Juliano 
di Medici at the election of Leo X. 
to accept employment in the Vati- 
can, whether sufficiently authentic 
er not, furnishes a characteristic 
trait of the mas, The pope passing 
. through -the room allotted for the 
pictures, and instead of designs and 
cartoons, finding nothing but an ap- 
paratus of distillery of oils and var- 
nishes, exclaimed, § Ah me! he 
means to do nothing; for he thinks 
of the end before he has made 
a beginning.’ From’ a sonnet of 
Leonardo, preserved by Lomazzo, 
he appears to_have been sensible of 
the inconstancy of his own temper, 
and full of wishes at least to correct 
it. 

Much has been said of the honour 
he received, by expiring in the arms 
of Francis I. It was indeed an ho- 
nour, by which destiny in some de- 
gree atoned to Francis for his disaster 
at Pavia. 


Account of the Harem, or Apart- 
ments for the Ladies; from Rus- 
sell’s Natural History of Alepo. 


\ HEN the ladies visit one 

another in a forenoon, they 
do not immediately unveil on com- 
ing into the harem, lest some of the 
men should happen to be still at 
home, and might see them as they 
pass ; but, as soon as they enter the 
apartment of the lady to whom the 
visit is intended, either one of the 
young ladies, or a slave, assists in 
taking off the veil, which, being 
carefully folded up, is laid aside. Lt 
is a sign that the visitant intends 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


only a short stay, when instead of re- 
signing the veil, she only uncovers 
her head, permitting the veil to 
hang carelessly down on the shoul- 
ders. Tthis generally produces a 
friendly contest between the par- 
ties: one insisting upon taking the 
veil away, the other refusing to sur- 
render it. A like contest takes 
place at the close of the visit. When 
entreaty cannot prevail on the visite 
ant to stay longer, the veil is hidden, 
the slaves, instructed before hand, 
pretend to search for it every where 
in vain, and wheo she urges the 
absolute necessity of her gving, she 
is assured that the aga, or master of 
the house, is not-yet gone abroad, 
and is then jocusely dared to depart 
without it. 

In their manner of receiving one 
another, the ladies are less formal 
than the men; their complimental 
speeches, though in a high strain, 
are more rapidly and familiarly ex- 
pressed. 

The common salutation is per- 
formed by laying the right band on 
the left breast, and gently inclining 
the head. They sometimes salute by 
kissing the cheek; and the young 
ladies kiss the hands of their senior 
relations. They entertain with cof- 
fee and tobacco, but the sherbet and 
perfume are only produced on par- 
ticular occasions. 

The great men are attended in 
the harem, by the female slaves, in 
the same manner as, in the outer 
apartments, by the pages. They 
remain standing in the humble atti- 
tude of attendance, their hands 
crossed before them on their cincture, 
and their eyes fixed on the ground. 
The other ladies, as well as the 
daughters of the family, occasionally 
bring the pipe and coffee, but do 
not remain standing; they either 

are 


re desired to sit down, or they re- 
ire. This, however, is to be un- 
erstood of the grandees; for in or- 
inary life, both wives and daugh- 
ers minister servilely to the men: 
e two sexes never sitting at table 
together. 

Tr is seldom that all the ladies of 
a Harem are, by the great man, 
seen assembled, unless they happen, 
in the summer, to be surprised sit- 
ting in the divan, where they meet 
to enjoy the cool air. At his ap- 
proach, they all rise up, but, if de- 
sired, resume their places, (some of 
the slaves excepted) and return to 
their ~work. However loquacious 
they may have been before he en- 
tered, a respectful silence ensues the 
moment he appears< a restraint 
which they feel the less, from their 
being accustomed to it almost from 
their infancy. It is surprising how 
suddenly the clamour of children is 
hushed on the approach of the fa- 
ther; but the women often lament 
their want of power, in his absence, 
of quieting the children either by 
threats or soothing. 

Though the presence of the great 
man may impose silence on the 
younger ladies, he always finds 
some of the elderly matrons ready 
enough to entertain him, should he 
be disposed for conversation. In 
this manner he learns the domestic 
news of the town, which, though 


rarely a topic of discourse among: 


the men, being in great request at 
the public baths, is circulated by 
the female pedlars, and the Bidoween 
women attached to the harem. 
The former, who are chiefly Jewish 
or Christian women of a certain age, 
supply the ladies with gauzes, 
mushins, embroidery, and trinkets, 
and moreover have the art of col- 
Jecting and embellishing all kinds of 


CHARACTERS. 


r*11 


private history ; the latter are not 
less talkative, nor more secret, but 
possess also a licensed privilege of 
speaking freely to the men, which 
they perfectly know how to exercise. 
Their licence is derived from being 
often retained as nurses, by which 
they gain a permanent establishment 
in the family ; the foster sister re- 
maining atiached to the harem, and 
in time succeeding her mother. The 
grandees, in these indolent hours, 
converse also on their own domestic 
affairs, and amuse themselves with 
their children. When they wish to 
be more retired, they withdraw to 
another apartment, into which no 
person, except the lady to whom it 
belongs, presumes to enter uncalled. 

The Turks, in presence of their 
women, appear to affect a more 
haughty, reserved air, than usual, 
and in their manner of speaking to 
them, are less courteous, and more 
abrupt, than they are to one ano- 
ther, or evento men who are much 
their .inferiors. As this was fre- 
quently observed in persons remark- 


‘able for an affable deportment to 


men, it may be considered rather as 
their usual manner than ascribed to 
the accidental preference of an Euro- 
pean ; and is farther confirmed by 
the ordinary behaviour of the boys, 
who talk to the women in an impe- 
rious manner, which they could only 
have learned from exainple. The 
men perhaps judge it politic to as- 
sume this demeanour, in a situation 
where dominion may be supposed to 
be maintained with more difficulty, 
than among their male dependants ; 
and therefore venture only, in hours 
of retirement, to avow that gentle- 
ness, which, as 1f derogatory from 
their dignity, they think prudent, in 
their general conduct, to conceal, 
from persons whose obedience they 

; believe 


*12] 


believe can alone be secured, by an 
air of stern authority. 

The ladies, especially those of 
rank, appear reserved in regard to 
their husbands, while they shew an 
engaging, affectionate fondness for 
their brothers, though it is often re~ 
turned with little more than frigid 
complaisance: as if their tender en- 
dearmenis were a tribute due to 
male superiority. There are times, 
however, when natural affection gets 
the better of this cold indifference 
of the young men. ‘The sight of a 
sister in distress, or languishing in a 
fit of severe illness, often produces 
emotion, of which, judging from 
general appearances, they would 
seem to be insusceptible. The af- 
fectation of apathy, is a remarka- 
ble trait im the character of the 
Turks. They are led by it, under 
misfortunes, to assume an appear- 
ance oft ranquillity, more than they 
posses in reality; and, on other oc- 
casions, they strive to hide that sen- 
sibility which other nations think it 
honourable to indulge. . Their ex- 
terior manners are universally mark- 
ed by this affectation: their real 
‘feelings, influenced by the common 
sptings of humanity, are more re= 
mote from the eye of observation, 

Persons of destinction, who are in 
office, leave the harem early in the 
morning, and, two hours after noon 
excepted, pass most of their time in 
the outer apartments, But others, 
who have little business, and the 
luxurious young men of all denomi- 
nations, lounge many hours in their 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


harem. Some allowance, in thi 
respect, is made to youth, for some 
weeks after marriage; but an ef- 
feminate character, which is by no 
means respectable among the men, 
is far from being acceptable to the 
women. ‘The presence of the men, } 
at unusual hours in the day time, | 
lays the whole harem under re 
straint, and however some particus | 
lar favourite may be gratified by the 
particular attention of her Jord, the 
rest of the women are apt to la- 
ment the liberty they are deprived 
of, by his remaining too much at 
home. | 

The grandees, if slightly indis- 
posed, continue to see company in 
the outer apartments ; but when the 
disorder becomes serious, they re- 
treat into the harem, to be nursed by 
their women: and in this situation, 
besides their medical attendants, 
and very near relations, no person 
whatever can have access, except 
on very urgent business. They 
make choice of the females they 
wish to have. more immediately 
about their person, and one in par- 
ticular is appointed to give an ac- 
count to the physician, of what hap- 
pens in the intervals of his visits, to 
receive his directions, and to see 
them duly obeyed. 

Medical people, whether Euro- 
peans or natives, have access to the _ 
harem, at all times when their at- 
tendance is requisite. The phy- 
sician, after being announced, is 
obliged to wait,at the door till the 
way be cleared ;* that is, till his 


* When it is known that the physician is about to enter, the slave, who under- 
takes to clear the way, gives notice by calling Amel Dirb! Amel Dirb! make 
way, make way; and returning after some time, says, ¢i Dirb, the way is clear. 


patient 


CHARACTERS. 


patient, when a female, her com- 
pany, and attendants, and others 
who might happen to be in the 
courts through which he must pass, 
have either veiled, or retired out of 
sight. He is then conducted to the 
chamber of the sick lady by a slave, 
who continues, in a loud voice, tu 
give warning of his approach, by 
exclaiming, Dirb, Dirb, al Hakeem 
Gia-y. Way! Way! the doctor is 
coming: @ precaution which does 
not always prevent the unveiled 
Jadies, who have not been apprized, 
from accidentally crossing the court, 
in which case it becomes the well- 
bred physician to turn his eyes ano- 
ther way. 
Upon entering the chamber, he 
finds his patient covered with a 
“loose veil, and, it being a vulgar no- 
tion that the malady may be dis- 
covered from the pulse,* he is no 
sooner seated, than the naked wrist 
is presented for his examination. + 
She then describes her complaints, 
and, if it be necessary to look at the 


tongue, the veil is for that purpose. 


removed, while the assistants keep 
the rest of the face, and especially 
the crown of the head, carefully co- 
vered. The women do not hesi- 
‘tate to expose the neck, the bosom, 
or the stomach, when the case re- 
quires those parts to be inspected, 
but, never without extreme reluct- 
ance consent to uncover the head. 
Ladies whom I had known very 
young, and who, from long ac- 
quaintance, were careless in con- 


[*13 


cealing their face from me, never 
appeared without a hankerchief or 
some other slight covering thrown 
over the head. So far as I could 
judge, from general practice, it 
seemed to be considered, in point of 
decorum, of more consequence to 
veil the head, than the face. 

The physician is usually enter- 
tained with tobacco and coffee. 
which, being intended as a mark of 
respect, cannot in civility be de- 
clined, though the compliance leads 
to an intemperate use of both. Af- 
ter he has examined, and given di- 
rections concerning his patient, he 
requests leave to retire, but is sel- 
dom aliowed to escape without 
hearing the incurable complaints of 
as many valetudinary visitants, as 
happen to be present, who either sit 
ready veiled, or talk from behind a 
curtdin occasionally suspended in 
the chamber. These ladies always 
consider themselves entitled to ver- 
bal advice, or at least to an opinion 
of such remedies, as have been re- 
commended by others; and a prin- 
cipal part of the medical art, among 
the native practitioners, consists in 
being able to acquit themselves 
dexterously in such incidental con- 
sultatious. 

In families which the European 
physician has been accustomed to 
attend, and when bis patient is on 
the recovery, he is sometimes in 
duced to protract the visit, and to 
gratify the curiosity of the ladies, 
who ask numberless questions con- 


* The native practioners give a sanction to this foolish notion. “I followed, in 
that respect, the example of my brother, who, except in fevers, always insisted on 
the sick giving an account of their complaints, before he would feel the pulse. 

_~ + Lhave been offered, sometimes, the wrist covered with thin muslin, but the 
Aleppo ladies in general ridicule that punctilio, and I always refused compliance 
with a piece of prudery not sanctioned by custom. 

Tournefort found the practice different in the harems he visited. Voyage, tom. 


ik p. 17. 


cerning 


#14] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


cerning his country. They are 
particularly inquisitive about the 
Frank women, their dress, employ- 
ments, marriages, treatment uf chil- 
dren, and amusements. In return 
they are ingenuously communicative, 
and display talents, which, being 
little indebted to artificial cultiva- 
tion, appear, as it were, to expand 
naturally, undera clear sky, and the 
influence of a delicious climate. 
Their questions are generally perti- 
nent, and the remarks they occa- 
sionally make, on manners differing 
so widely from their own, are often 
sprightly and judicious. 

When the visit is at length con- 
cluded, notice being given to clear 
the way, the physician sets out, 
preceded as before by the slave. 
But it rarely happens that he is not 
more than once stopped, to give ad- 
vice to some of the domestics,* who 
wait his return ; for however slightly 
they may be indisposed, the temp- 
tation of telling their complaints to 
a doctor is irresistible. These dam- 
sels seldom have any other veil, than 
a handkerchief thrown over the 
head, one corner of which is held 
in the mouth ; but, in order to avoid 
even that trouble, they frequently 
place themselves behind a door, or 
a window shutter, half open, in 
which situation, thrusting out one 
arm, they insist on having the pulse 
examined. It sometimes happens, 
in the great harems, that another 
obstacle must be encountered be- 
fore regaining the gate. This arises 
from some of the younger ladies, 
or slaves, who are at work in the 
court, refusing peremptorily either 
to veil, or retire; which is done 
merely in sport, to vex the conduc- 
tress who is obliged of course to 
make a halt. In vain she bawls 
Dirb! and makes use by turns of 


entreaty, threat, and reproach ; till 
finding all in vain, she gives fair 
warning, and has recourse to a never 
failing stratagem. She marches on, 
and bids the doctor follow. A coms 
plete route ensues; the damsels 
scamper different ways, catch hold 
of what ever offers first by way of 
veil, or attempt to conceal themselves 
behind one another. Itis only when 
none of the men are in the harem, 
that this scene of romping can take 
place. When the physician is con- 
ducted by the aga himself, every 
thing passes in orderly silence, and, 
in the chamber of the sick, none be- 
sides the elderly or married rela= 
tions offer to join in the conversa- 
tion: but it is seldom that the aga 
‘himself takes the trouble, after the 
few first visits, except the doctor be 
a stranger to the family. 


Account of the Turkish Ladies ; from 
the same. 


HE women, in their persons 

are rather engaging than hand- 
some. It.was remarked before, 
that they were pretty in infancy, 
but changed for the worse as they 
grew up: yet they retain for ever 
the fine piercing eye, and many to 
the last possess their exquisite fea- 
tures, though not their complection. 
‘They do not wear stays, and are at 
little pains to preserve their shape. 
In general they are low in stature, 
and such as are tall, for the most 
part, stoop. The women of condi- 
tion affect a stately gait, but walk 
inelegantly, and the carriage of 
their body is devoid of that ease 
and air to which an European eye- 
has been accostomed. The dress in 
which they appear abroad is not 
calculated to set off the person ; ine 

vel 


CHARACTERS. 


veil shews their shape to disadvan- 
tage, the legs are awkwardly con- 
cealed by the boots, and evenwith- 
ou: them, their movement is not so 
elegantly easy as that of their arms: 
which may be the reason that they 
appear to most advantage when sit- 
ting on the divan. 

The transient manner in which 
the Turkish women can only be 
seen by a stranger renders it difficult, 
if not impossible, to speak decidedly 
of their beauty, in comparison 
with that of the women of other 
‘countries, who are seenwith more 
familiarity. Their dress and veil, 
which are so disadvantageous to 
their shape, may perhaps (the latter 
particularly) be of advantage to 
their looks. I have had occasion to 
see great numbers, and thought 
them, in general, handsomer than 
the Christian and Jewish ladies ; but 
I was sometimes inclined to doubt 
whether that opinion might not, in 
some degree, be ascribed to seeing 
- them partially, or when revealed in 
such a manner, as to give relief to 
their beauty : it is certain that many, 
whose faces I had at first thought 
exquisitely fiue from under a loose 
veil, lost considerably when more 
exposed. 


Account of the Republic of San Mu- 
rino. By Dr. Gillies, Author of 
the History of Greece ; from Se- 


r¥15 


ward’s Anecdotes of distinguished 
Persons, &c. 


T the distance of twelve miles 

from Rimini and the Adriatic 
Sea, we beheld a cloud-capt moun- 
lain, steep, rugged, and inhospita- 
ble, yet to Britons, whose affection 
for their own happy island cherished 
even the faintest image of congeni- 
al liberty, more attractive and more 
engaging than all the gay luxuriance 
of Tuscan* plains. A black ex- 
pansion of vapour partly concealed 
from our view, the territory of what 
theGreeks would have called a na- 
tion, seldom visited ‘by strangers, 
though, assuredly most deserving of 
that honour. Liberty brightens and 
fertilizes the craggy rocks of St. 
Marino; and instead of paradises 
inhabited by devils (for thus the re- 
collection or supposition of better 
times indignantly characterizes the 
countries through which we had © 
just travelled,) this little state, we 
were told, would exhibit rugged 
hills and savage precipices cultiva- 
ted and adorned by the stubborn in- 
dustry of free men, who labour with 
alacrity, because they, reap with se- 
curity. We panted at the thoughts 
of taking a nearer” survey of this 
political’ wonder, and were impa- 
tient to leave Rimini; but the coun- 
try adjacent to that city was deluged 
with rain; the rivers continued to 
overflow; horses could not safely 


* The epithet, Tuscan, is justified by the authority of Polybius, |. ii.c. 14, and 


CG. il. 


He describes that extensive plain bounded by the Alps, the Appenines, 


and the Adriatic, and also the plains about Mola and Capua, called the Phle- 
_ grean Fields, as anciently inhabited by the Tuscans. The territory of this people, 


he says, formed incomparably the finest portion of Europe. 


Before Polybius 


wrote his history, the dominion of the Tuscans had contracted to a narrow span; 
and, according to the saying of the modern Italians, while the Pope posseses the 
marrow, the great duke of Tuseany has only the bones of Italy. 


clamber 


7 


+16] 


clamber over rocks; and Rimini 
could not furnish us with mules, 
But they are delicate travellers 
whom such puny diffieulties could 
restrain from visiting this illustrious 
mountain, where Jiberty, herself a 
mountain-goddess, has upwards of 
fourteen centuries fixed her rural 
throne. Careless of mules, or horses, 
or carriages, to which last the re- 
public of St. Marino is at all times 
inaccessable, we adopted a mode of 
travelling, which, in a country 
where pomp is immoderately studi- 
ed, because wealth is too indiscri- 
minately prized, migit possibly have 
excluded unknown wanderers from 
the proud mansions of nobles and 
princes, the palaces of bishops, 
and the villas of cardinals, but 
which, we rightly conjectured, 
would recommend us as welcome 
guests to the citizens of St. Marino, 
whose own manliness of character 
must approve the congenial hardi- 


hood of humble pedestrians. 


The distance from Rimini to the 
Borgo, or suburbs of St. Marino, 
for the citta, or city, Stands halfa 
mile higher on the hill, is computed 
at only ten Italian miles, But the 
badness of the weather and of the 
roads would have increased the te- 
diousness of our fatiguing journey, 
had not our fancies been amused by 
the appearance and conversation of 
several persons whom we occasion- 
ally met or overtook, and who, not- 
withstanding that hardness of fea- 
tures, which characterizes moun- 
taineers, displayed in their words 
and looks a certain candourand sin- 
cerity, with an undiscribed mixture 
of humany and firmness, which we 
had rarely seen peurtrayed on the 
face of an lialian. Such virtues, 
perhaps, many Italians my possess ; 
such virtues, Rhaphael and Guido 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


probably discerned in their contem- 
poraries ; unless it be supposed that 
the antique not only ennobled and 
exalted, but originally inspired their 
conceptions. Yet whatever might 
be the pre-eminence of Roman 
beauty, during the splendour of the 
Cinque Cento, it must be confessed 
of the Italians of our days, that the 
expression indicating virtues of the 
mild or generous cast seldom breaks 
through the dark gloom and sullen 
cares which contract their brows 
and cloud their countenances. 

At the distance of five miles from 
Rimini, a small rivulet, decorated 
by a disproportionably large stone 
bridge, which at another season of 
the year would have exemplified 
the Spanish proverb of a bridge 
without water, separates the terri- 
tory of St. Marino from those of the 
pope. Proceeding forward, we 
found the road extremely narrow, 
much worn by the rain, alternately 
rough and slippery, and always so 
bad, that we congratulated each 
other on rejecting the use of the 
miserable rips that were offered to 
us at Rimini. In the midst of a 
heavy shower we clambered to the 
Borgo, situated on the side of the 
hill, and distant (as already said) 
halfa mile. from the citta, on its 
summit. The former is destined 
for the habitation of peasants, arti- 
zans, and strangers; the honour of 
inhabiting the latter is reserved for 
the nobles, the citizens, and those 
who, in the language of antiquity, 
would be styled the public guests of 
the comménwealth. In the whole 
territory there is but one inn, and 
that, of course, in the Borgo; for 
lone houses are rare in all parts of 
the continent; the British dominions 
alone, by their native strength, and 
the excellence of their government, 

being 


CHARACTERS, 


being happily exempted from the 
terror of banditti, in time of peace, 
and marauders in time of war. 
We discovered the inn at St. Mari- 
no, asis usual in Italy, by the crowd 
before the door. Having entered, 
we were civilly received by the 
landiord, seated by the fire-side in 
company with several other stran- 
gers, and speedily presented with a 
bottle of sparkling white wine, the 
best we had tasted in [taly, and re- 
sembling Champagne in the charac- 
teristic excellencies of that sprightly 
Nquor. 

\Ve had not remained long in this 
caravansera (for such is the proper 
name for the place of hospitality in 
which we were received) when the 
dress, manners, and conversation of 
our fellow-traveilers strongly exci- 
ed our attention, and afforded scope 
for boundless speculation. They 
were the most savage-locking men 
that I had ever beheld; covered 
with thick capottas * of coarse dark- 
brown woollen, lined with | black 
Sheepskin. Their hats, which 
they kept on their heads, were of 
an enormous size, swelling to the 
circumference of an ordinary um- 
brella. With their dress and ap- 
pearance, their words and gestures 
bore too faithful a correspondence. 
Schioppi and coltellate (gun-shots and 
dagger-thrusis) were frequently in 
their mouths. As the wine went 
briskly round, the conversation be- 
came still more animated, and took 
a turn more decidedly terrible. 
They yow talked of nothing but 
fierce encounters, hair-breadth es- 
capes, and hideous lurking places. 
From their whole behaviour, there 


* Great coats. 


— 


[*17 


was reason to apprehend that we 
had unwarily fallen into company 
with Rinaldo’s party: but a few 
hints that dropped from- him who 
was most intoxicated, finally unde- 
ceived us, and discovered, -to our 
satisfaction and shame, that, instead 
of a band of robbers, we had only 
met with a party of smugglers. 
Their massy capottas and broad- 
brimmed hats formed their defensive 
armour against custom-house officers 
and Sbirri; + and the narratives, 
which they heard or related with 
such ardour and delight, contained 
the acts of prowess by which they 
had repelled the bravery of the Ro- 
mans, and the arts of stratagem by 
which they had deceived the cun- . 
ning of the ‘Fuscans. From the 
intermediate situation of St. Marino 
between the dominions of Tuscan 

and those of the pope, its territory 
is continually infested by visits from 
those unlicensed trafickers, who, 
being enemies by trade to those 
who-administer the laws and collect 
the revenues of their country, na- 
turally degenerate into daring and 
disorderly ruffians, the terror of 
peaceful men, and both the disgrace 
and the bane of civilized society. 

. From the company of the smug- 
glers we longed to separate, the 
more because they eagerly solicited 
our stay, promising to conduct us 
safely across the mountains, and to 
defend our persons and properties 
against robbers and assassins; but 
we thought it a piece of good for. 
tune, that our most valuable pro- 
perty, as we shewed to them, con- 
sisted in our swords and_ pistols, 
Having called our St. Marino host, 


+ Those who execute the orders of civil magistrates. 


Vor. XXXVII, 


[* B) 


we 


. 


* 1S | 


we paid him for his wine and his 
sausage (prosciutti), and were pleas- 
ed to find, -that, contrary to our 
universal experience of Ttaliah land- 
lords, he was uncommonly thankful 
for a very moderate gratification ; 
a singularity, which,’ though it pro- 
bably proceeded from his being lit- 
tle conversant with English and 
other opulent travellers, we treasur- 
ed with delight, as a conspicuous 
proof of republican * ‘virtue that 
had escaped pure and unsullied from 
the contagion of thcse worthless 
guests with whom the nature of his 
trade condemned him often to asso- 
ciate. | 

About two 0’ clock in the afier- 
noon, we left the Borgo to climb up 
the Citta, carrying our swords in 
our right hands, a precaution which 
the company we had just left war- 
ranted in this modern republic, but 
which, as Thucydides informs us in 
his proem, would have exposed us to 
be branded with the appellation 
of barbarians in the republics of 
Ancient Greece. Before we had 
reached the summit of the hill, the 
cloud had dispersed, the sun shone 
bright, we had breathed a purer 
air, and the clear light, which dis- 
played the city and territory of St. 
Marino, was heightened by con- 
trast with the thick gloom which 
involved the circumjacent plains. 


| 
ANNUAL: REGISTER, 1795. 


Transported with the contempla- 
tion of a landscape which seemed 
so admirably to accord with the po- 
litical ‘state of the mountain, a 
bright gem of liberty amidst the 
darkness of Itahan servitude, we 
clambered cheerfully over the pre- 
cipices, never reflecting, that, as 
there was not any place of recep- 
tion for strangers in the Citta, we 
might possibly be exposed to the al- 
ternative of sleeping in the streets, 
or returning to the caravansera, 
crowded with smugglers, whose in- 
toxication might exasperate their 
natural ferocity. From all our past 
remarks, we had concluded, that 
the vice of drunkenness was abo- 
minated even by the lowest classes 
of the Italians. We dreaded their 
fury and their knives in this unusual 
state of mind; but amidst all our 
terrors could not forbear philosophis- 
ing + on what we had seen, and con- 
jecturing, from the tumultuous mer- 
riment and drunken debauchery of 
the smugglers, that the famed so- 
briety of the Italian nation is an 
artificial virtue arising from sitna- 
ation and accident, not depending on 
temperament, or resulting from cha- 
racter. Drinking is the vice of men 
whose lives are chequered by vicis+ 
situdes of toil and ease, of danger 
and security. It is the vice of so]- 
diers, mariners, and huntsmen3; of 


* The words, ‘ republican virtue’ must sound harsh to modern ears, so shamefally 


has a wild democracy abused and profaned the name of republic. 


Yet, according 


to Machiavelli and Montesquieu, and their master Aristotle, republics require more 
virtue than monarchies, because in republics the citizens make laws to govern them - 
selves, whereas, in monarchies, the subjects are compelled to obey the laws made 
by the prince. [In rextublican governments, therefore, the citizens oneht, in the 
words of Aristotle, and of a still higher authority, ‘ to be a law unto themselves.” How 
few nations, therefore, are qualified in modern times, for living happily under a re- 
public ; and least of all, that nation which has shewn itself the least virtuous of all, 

+ This word requires an apology; for the sacred name of philesophy has been 
as shamefully polluted in modern times, by sophists and sceptics, as the word re- 
public by madmen and levellers. ‘The present generation must pass away, before 
either of these terms can resume its pristine and native honouts, | ~ * * 


P 1 those 


‘those who exercise boisterous occu- 
pations, or pursue dangerous amuse- 
ments; and if the modern Italians 
are less addicted to excess in wine 
than the Greeks and Romans in an- 
cient, orthe English and Germans 
in modern times, their temperance 
may fairly be ascribed to the indo- 
lent monotony of their listless lives ; 
which, being never exhausted by 
fatigue, can never be gladdened by 
repose; and being never agitated 
by the terrors of danger, can never 
be transported by the joys of deli- 
verance. « 

From these airy speculations, by 
which we fancied that we stripped 
Italy of what some travellers have 
too hastily concluded to be the only 
virtue which she has left, we were 
awakened by the appearance of a 
venerable person, ina bag wig and 
sword, cautiously leading 4is Bour- 
rique* down the precipice. He 
returned our salute wich an air of 
courtesy bespeaking stch affability, 
that we quickly entered into con- 
versation with him, and discovered 
to our surprise md joy that we 
were in company with a very res- 
pectable personmige, and one, whom 
Mr. Addison 14s dignified with the 
appellation /f the “ fourth man in 
the state.”, The stipendiary physi- 
cian of St Marino (for this was the 
person ith whom we were con- 
yersing” told us, that we might be 
accopmodated with good lodging in 
the onvent of Capuchins; and as 
we Were strangers, that he would 
pturn, shew us the house, and pre- 
ent us to father Bonelli. ‘We ex- 


he hill; 
eply-wrinkled mountaineer made 


© Fa 


CHARACT ERS. 


[rig 


light, and we yielded to his propo= 
sal with only apparent reluctance ; 
since, to the indelicacy of introduc- 
ing ourselves, we preferred the in- 
troduction of a man whom we had 
even casually met with on the road. 
To the convent, we were admitted 
by a frate servente, or lay friar, and 
conducted to the Padre Maestro, the 
Prior Bonelli, a man sixty years old, 
and, as we we were told by the physi- 
cian, descended from one of the no= 
blest families in the commonwealth. 
Having received and returned such 
compliments as are held indispensi- 
ble in this ceremonious country, 
the prior conducted us above stairs, 
and shewed us two clean and com- 
fortable chambers, which, he said, 
we might command, while we 
deigned to honour the republic (such 
were his expressions) with the fa- 
vour of our residence. As to our 
entertainment, he said, we might, 
as best pleased us, either sup apart 
by ourselves, or in company with 
him and his monks. We told him 
our happiness would be complete, 
were we permitted to enjoy the ad- 
vantage. of his company and con- 
versation. My conversation! You 
shall soon enjoy better than mine ; 
since, within half an hour, T shall 
have the honour of conducting you 
to the house of a ‘charming young 
lady, sol must call her, though my 
own kinswoman, whose Coviver'sa- 
ztone assembles this evering. “Dur 
ing this dialogue @ servant arrived; 
bringing our portmanteau from Ri- 
mini, and thereby enabling us, with 
more deceticy of Appearance, to 
pay our respects to the lady, in 
company with ‘the’prior, her: uncle. 
The signora P——received ‘us ‘po- 
litely in an innér ‘Apartment, after 
[*B' a} LES GDI gi we 


ny ; 


Ass. 


*20] 


rooms, in each of which there was 
a servant in waiting. Above a do- 
zen gentlemen, well dressed and 
polite, after the fashion of Italy, 
with six other ladies, formed this 
agreeable party. Coffee and Sor- 
bettis being served, cards were in- 
troduced ; and, in quality of stran- 
gers, we had the honour of losing 
a few sequins at Ombre with the 
mistress of the house. The other 
ladies present took up, each of then, 
two gentlemen; for Ombre is the 
universal game, because, in Italian 
assemblies, the number of’ men 
commonly triples that of women: 
the latter, when unmarried, seldom 
going abroad; and when married, 
being ambitious of appearing to re- 
ceive company every evening at 
home. During the intervals of 
. play, we endeavoured to turn the 
conversation on the history and pre- 
sent state of St. Marino, but found 
this subject to be too grave for the 
company. In this little state, as 
well as in other parts of Italy, the 
social amusements of life, consisting 
chiefly in what are called Conversa- 
ztoni, have widely deviated from 
the Symposia of the Greeks, and the 
Convivia of the Romans. Instead 
of philosophic dialogues and epi- 
deiktic orations; and instead of 
those animatcd rehearsals of appro- 
ved works of history and poetry, 
which formed the entertainment and 
delight of antiquity, the modern 
Italian Conversaziones exhibit a very 
different scene: a scene, in which 
play is the business ; gallantry the 
amusement ; and of which avarice, 
vanity, and mere sensual pleasure, 
form the sole connecting principle 
and chief ultimate end. Such insi- 
pid and such mercenary assemblies 
are sometimes enlivencd by the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


we had passed through two outer jokes of the buffoon; the Improvi-- 


satore sometimes displays in them 
the powers of his memory rather 
than the elegance of his fancy ; and 
every entertainment in Italy, whe- 
ther gay or serious, is always season-, 
ed with music; but chiefly that 
soft voluptuous music which was ba- 
nished by Lycurgus, proscribed by 
Plato, and prohibited by other le- 
gislators, under severe penalties, 
as unfriendly to virtue and destruc- 
tive of manhood, The great amuse- 
ments of life are commonly nothing 
more than images of its necessary 


occupations ; and where the latter, 


therefore, are different, so also must 
be the former. Is it because the 
occupations of the ancients were 
less softened than those of the mo- 
derns, that women are found to 
have acted among different nations 
such difierent parts in society ? and 
thatthe centrast is so striking be- 
tween the wife of a citizen of St. 
Marino, surmunded with ber card- 
tables, her music, and her admirers, 
and the Roman Lucretia nocte scra 
deditam lane inte: lucubrantes. ancila 
lus, (Tit. liv. i. 47.) or the more 
copious description: of female mo- 
desty and industry yven by Ischo-~ 
machus in Xenophoms Treatise on 
domestic Economy ?, In modern 


Italy this contrast of myners dis-_ 


plays its greatest: force. Though 
less beautiful and less accoaplished 
than the English and Fren, the 
Italian women expect superhr at- 
tention, and exact greater assiyj- 
ties. To be well with the ladeg 
is the highest ambition of the met. 
Upon this principle their manners 
are formed ; by this their behaviour 
is regulated ; and the art of con- 
versation, in its utmost sprighliness 
and highest perfection, is reduced 
te that playful wantonness, which, 

touching 


a 


CHARACTERS. 


touching slightly on what is felt 
most sensibly, amuses with perpe- 
tual shadows of desired realities. 

To the honour of St. Marino, it 
must be observed, that neither the 
prior Bonelli, nor two counsellors 
who were present, took any con- 
siderable part in this too sportive 
conversation; and the gentlemen 
at the signora P——’s were chiefly 
Romans and Florentines ; men, we 
were told, whom sometimes mis- 
fortune, and sometimes inclination, 
but more frequently extravagance 
and necessity, drive from their re- 
spective countries, and who, having 
relations or friends in St. Marino, 
establish themselves in that cheap 
city, where they subsist on the 
wreck of their fortunes, and elude 
the pursuit of their creditors. 

Next morning, Bonelli having in- 
vited several of his fellow-citizens 
to drink chocolate, we learned, from 
them, that the morality and piety 
which had long distinguished Str. 
Marino, daily suffered decline 
through the contagious influence of 
those intruders, whom good policy 
ought never to have admitted within 
the territory, but whom the indul- 
gence of humanity could not be 
prevailed on to expel. 

- After breakfast, our good-natured 
landlord kindly proposed a walk, 
that his English guests might view 
the city and adjacent country. The 
main street is well paved, but nar. 
row and steep. The similarity of 
the houses indicates a happy me- 
diocrity of fortune. There is a 
fine cistern of pure water ; and we 
admired the coulness and dryness of 
the wine-cellars, ventilated by com- 
munications with caverns in the 
rock. To this circumstance, as 
much as tothe quality of the soil 
and careful culture of the grape, 


[*21 


the wine of St. Marino is indebted 
forits peculiar excellence. 

The whole territory of the re- 
public extends about thirty miles 
in Circumference. Itis of an ir. 
regular oval form, and its mean 
diameter may be estimated at six 
English miles. The soil naturally 
craggy and barren, and hardly fit. 
for goats, yet actually maintains 
(such are the attractions of liberty) 
upwards of seven thousand persons; 
and, being every where adorned by 
mulberry-trees, vines, and olives, 
supplies the materials of an advan- 
tageous trade, particularly in silk, 
with Rome, Florence, and other 
cities of Italy. 

In extent of territory, St. Marino, 
inconsiderable as it seems, equals 
many republics that have performed 
mighty achievements, and pur- 
chased immortal renown. The in- 
dependent states of Thespie and 
Platea were respectively less ex- 
tensive ; and the boundaries of the 
modern republic exceed those of 
fEgina and Megara ; the former of 
which was distinguished by its com- 
merce and its colonies, in Egypt and 
the East; and the latter, as Lysias 
and Xenophon inform us, could 
bring into the field, besides pro- 
portional bodies of Jight troops, 
3000 hardy pikemen, who, with 
the service of Mars, united that 
of Ceres and of Bacchus ; ex- 
tracting from bleak mills and rug 
ged mountains rich harvests and 
teeming vintages. 

‘The remembrance of our belov- 
ed republics of Greece, ennobled 


_by the inestimable gifts of unrivaled 


genius, endeared to us St. Marino 
even by its littleness. In this lite- 
rary enthusiesm, we could willingly 
have traversed every inch of its di- 
minutive territory ; but politeness 

{*B 3] 1equired 


*22] 


required that we should not subject 
Bonelli and his friends to such un- 
necessary fatigue ; and the change- 
ableness of the weather, a con- 
tinual varition of sun-shine and 
cloudiness, the solemnity of dark 
magnifying vapours, together with 
the velocity of drizzly or gleamy 
showers, produced such unusual ac- 
cidents of light and shade, in this 
mountain scene, as often suspended 
the motion ot our limbs, and fixed 
our eyes in astonishment. From 
the highest top of St. Marino we 
beheld the bright submit of another 
and far loftier mountain, towering 
above and beyond a dark cloud, 
which by contrast threw the conical 
top of the hill to such a distance, 
that it seemed to rise from another, 
world. The height of St. Marine 
(we were told) had been accurately 
measured by father Boscovich, and 
found to be nearly half a mileabove 
the level of the neighbouring sea. 
Almost immediately after return- 
ing from our walk, dinner was 
served at the convent ; forthe po- 
liteness of father Bonelli had pro- 
longed his stay abroad far beyond 
‘his usual hour of repast. Speedily 
after dinner we were conducted, by 
the good father, to the conversazione 
ef another lady, also his relation, 
where we had the honour of meet- 
ing the capitaneos, or consuls, the 
commissareo, or chief judge, and 
several distinguished members of the 
senate. Recommended only by our 
youth and curiosity, we spent. the 
evening most agreeably with those 
respectable magistrates, who were 
as communicative in answering as 
inquisitive in ashings questions, ‘The 
company continually increasing,and 
father Bonelli carefully addressing 
all new comers by the titles of their 
respective offices, we werg surprised, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


‘ 


towards the close of the evening, 
and the usual hour of retirement, 
that we had:not yet seen 2 signor 
dottore end-il pedagogo publico, the 
physician and sehoolmaster, whom 
Mr. Addison represents as two of 
the most distinguished dignitaries 
in the commonwealth. <A short 
acquamtance .is_ sufficient, to in- 
spire confidence between congenial 
minds. We frankly testified our 
surprise to the father, He laughed 
heartily at our simplicty, and 
thought the joke, too good not to 
be communicated to the company, 
When their vociferous mirth had 
subsided, an old gentleman, who 
had been repeatedly invested with 
the highest honours of his country, 
observed that he well knew Mr. 
Addison’s account of St. Marino, - 
which had been translated more 
than once into the French and 
Tralian languages. Remote and in- 
considerable as they were, his an- 
cestors were highly honoured by 
the notice of that illustrious travel- 
ler, who, he understood, was not 
oaly a classic author in English, but 
an author who had uniformly and 
most successfully employed his pen 
in the cause of virtue and liberty. 
Yet, as must often happen to travel- 
lers, Mr. Addison, he continued, 
has, in speaking of this little repub- 
lic, been deceived by first appear- 
ances. Neither our schoolmaster 
nor physician enjoy any pre-emi- 
nence in the state. They are main- 
tained indeed by public salaries, as 
in several other cities of Italy ; and, 
there is nothing peculiar in their 
condition here except that the 
schoolmaster has more, and the phy- 
sician less, to do than in most other 
places, because our diseases are few, 
and our children are many. ‘This 
sally having beén received with ap- 
probation 


CHARACTERS. [r99 


probation by the company, the ve- 
teran proceeded to explain the 
real distinction of ranks in St. Ma- 
Tino, consisting in the xobili, citta- 
dint, and stipendiate, nobles, citi- 
zens, and stipendiaries. The nos 
bles, he told us, exceeded not twenty 
families, of which several enjoyed 
estates, without the territury, worth 
from three to eight hundred pounds 
a year sterling: that, from respect 
to the holy see, under whose pro- 
tection the republic had long sub- 
sisted quietly and happily, many 
persons of distinction in the pope’s 
territories had been admitted cif- 
tadint honorati, honorary citizens 
of St. Marino, particularly several 
illustrious houses of Rimini, and the 
forty nob!e families of Bologna. 
Even of the Venetian nobles them- 
selves, ancient as they certainly 
were, and invested, as they siill con- 
tinued to be, with the whole so- 
yereignty of their country, many 
disdained not to be associaied to the 
diminutive honours of St. Marino, 
and to increase the numbers of its 
citizens; and that this aggregation 
of illustrious foreigners, far’ froin 
being considered as dangerous to 
public liberty, was deemed essential, 
in so smal! a commonwealth, to na- 
tional safety. 

Lest the conversation might take 
another turn, I drew from m 


pocket Mr. Addison’s account of 
St. Marino, which, being exceed- 
ingly. short, I begged leave to read, 
that his errors, if he had committed 
any, might be corrected, and the 
alierations noted which the country 
had undergone in the Space of se- 
venty years, from 1703 to 1773. 
The proposal being cbligingly ac- 
‘cepted, I read in Mr. Addison, 
‘6 They have, at St. Marino, five 
churches, and reckon above five 
thousand soulsir their community.” 
Instead of which, I was desired to 
say, ** They have, in St. Marino, 
ten parishes, ten churches, and 
reckon above seven thousand souls 
in their community.” Again, Mr. 
Addison says, ‘*The council of sixty, 
notwithstanding its name, consists 
but of forty persons.” That was 
the case, when this illustrious au- 
thor visited the republic; but the 
council has, since that time, been 
augmented by twenty members, 
and the number now agrees with 
the name. These circumstances 
are important: for from them it 
appears, that while the neighbour- 
ing territory of Rome is impo- 
verished and gloomed by the do- 
minion of ecclesiastics, of which, 
in the words of Dr. Robertson, 
** to squeeze and to amass, not to me- 
liorate, is the object ;” * and while 
the neighbouring cities of Tuscany 
[*B 4] are 


* Sce Nohertson’s Charles V. vol. I. sect. ili p. 157. The doctor adds, “the patri- 


mony of St. Peter was worse governed than any other part of Europe; and though a 
generous pontiff might suspend for a little, or counteract, the effect of those vices, 
which are peculiar to the government of ecclesiastics, the disease not only remained 
incurable, but has gone on increasing from age to age, and the decline of the state 
has kept pace with its progress.’* On reading over this ae a doubt arises whie- 
ther it ought not to be expunged, as unjustly severe. Considered in one view, the 
dominion of the popes was naturally prejudicial to society; but an evil becomes a 
good, which prevents evils greater than itself. The authority of popes restrained 
' thealternate tyranny of paramount kings, and feudal barons. Religion) 4n its least 
perfect form, was a check to headstrong passions and a restraint on ruffian violence: 
and should it be admitied, that the temporal government of ecclesiastics had tended 
te depress the industry aud populousness of their immediate dominions (a int 
which 


*04| 


are accused of shamefully abandon- 
ing their privileges and their wealth 
to the grand duke, who, parsimo- 
nious, in the extreme, as to his own 
person and government, is thought 
solicitous of seconding, by his heavy 
purse, the wild projects of his bro- 
ther. the emperor Joseph, the little 
republic of St. Marino, on the 
contrary, has been increasing its* 
populousness, confirming its strength, 
and extending the basis of its go- 
vernment. For these advantages it 
is indebted to its. mountainous  si- 
_ tuation, virtuous manners, and total 
want of ambition; which last-men- 
tioned qualities, as ancient history 
teaches us, are far from being cha- 
racteristic of republican govern- 
ment ; though a republic that is 
without them can neitker subsist 
happily itself, nor allow happiness 
to its neighbours. 

In the republics of Italy (St. Ma- 
tino alone excepted) the people, at 
large, are excluded, by the circum- 
Stance of their birth, from any princi- 
pal share in the sovereignty, Instead 
of one royal master, they are subjects 
of 600 * petty princes; and their 
condition is far less eligible than that 
of the subjects of monarchies ; be- 
cause the luttercannot be collective- 
ly degraded by the rank of a mo- 
narceby which excluding comparison, 
1S Superior to envy ; and are indivi- 
dually entitled to aspire, by their 
talents and merits, to the exercise of 
every magistracy, and to the enjoys 


ment of every preferment and every 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 

honour which their king and couns 
try can bestow. The republi¢é of 
St. Marino, on the other-hand, like 
several commonweaiths of antiquity, 
and like some lesser cantons of 
Switzerland, for the greater are 
universally moulded after the rigid 
Italian model, contains, what is 
fuund by experience to be, a due 
mixture of popular government 
among 30 simple a people, and in 
so small a statee The council of 
sixty is equally composed of mobilé 
and cittadini, patricians and ple- 
beians. This council, which may 
be called the senate, conduets the 
ordinary branches of public admi- 
nistration ; but the arengo, or as- 
sembly of the people, containing a 
representative from every house or 
family, is summoned for the purpose 
of elections and on other important 
emergencies: it has always ap- 
proved the decisions of the senate. 
In chusing senators and magistrates, 
the respect of the citizens for here- 
ditary worth commonly raises the 
son to the dignity before held by 
his father. Indeed most professions 
and employments descend in lineal 
succession among this simple people : 
a circumstance which explains a 
very extraordinary fact, mentioned 
by Mr. Addison, that in two pur- 
chases, made respectively in the 
years 1100 and -1170, the names 
of the commissioners or agents, on 
the part of the republic, should be 
the same in both transactions; though 
the deeds were executed at the 


a 
which would require a very complex and elaborate investigation to substantiate), 
yet this local depression would be compensated and overbalanced by the distingnish- 
ec merit of the popes, in the preservation, advancement, and diffusion, of learning, 
civility, and elegant airs ; to which Rome, in barbarous ages offered the only, er the 
safest, asylum ; and of which she still exhibits the most inestimable models, 

* In the shop of an eminent bookseller and publisher, of an ancient and cele- 
brated republic of Italy, I was explaining to a young patrician the natureof an En- 
glish circulating library. Why don't you, said he, turning to the bookseller, intro- 
duce such an institution? the ether replied, seno troppe principi —we have too many 


princes. 


distance 


CHARACTERS. 


distance of seventy years from each 
other. 

Notwithstanding the natural and 
proper influence of wealth, and 
birth, and merit, the liberties and 
properties of individuals ate incom- 
parably more safe in St. Marino than 
they can ever possibly be under the 
capricious tyranny of a levelling de- 
mocracy ; and the people, at large, 
have the firmest security, that their 
superiors will not abuse their just 
pre-eminence, since all the plebeians 
of full age are trained to arms, and 
commanded by a sort of military 
tribune of their own choosing, whose 
employment is inferior in dignity to 
that of the capitaneos, or consuls, vet 
altogether distinct from the juris- 
diction of those patrician magis~ 
trates. This important military 
officer is overlooked by Mr. Addison, 
who has also omitted to mention 
the treasurer of the republic. The 
business of the latter consists in col- 
lecting and administering the public 
contributions, and in paying the 
stipendiati, or pensionaries,~ whose 
salaries, as may be imagined, are 
extremely moderate ; that cf the 
commissareo, or chief judge,amount- 
ing only to sixty pounds a year, 
Ilis income is considerably aug. 

“mented by the sportul@, or fees, paid 

by the litigant parties; so that his 
whole appointments fall little short 
of one hundred pounds per annum ;* 
a sum, which, in this primitive com- 
monwealih, is found sufficient to 
support the dignity of a chief jus- 
tice. 

The laws of St. Marino are con- 
tained in a thin folie, printed at 
Rimini, entitled, “* Statuta Illustris. 
sime Reipublicew ;” and the whole 
history of this happy and truly illus- 
trious, because Virtuous and peace- 
able, community is comprised in 


[*25 


the account of war, in which the 
commonwealth assisted pope Pius 
II. against Malatesta, prince of Ri- 
mini; in the records of the pur- 
chase Of two castles, with their de- 
pendent districts, in the years 1100 
and 1170; and in the well-an- 
thenticated narrative of the founda- 
tion of the state above, fourteen 
hundred years ago by St. Marino, 
a Dalmatian architect, who, having 
finished, witb much honour, the re- 
pairs of Rimini, retired this 
solitary mountain, practised the aus- 
terities of a hermit, wrought mira- 
cles, and, with the assistance of a 
few admirers, built a-church, and 
founded a city, which his reputa. 
tion for sanctity speedily reared, ex- 
fended, and filled with inbabitants. 
In the principal church, which, as 
well as that of the Franciscans, con- 
tains some good pictures, the statue 
of this saint and law-giver is erect- 
ed near the high altar. He hotds 
a mountain in bis hand, and is 
crowned with three castles; em- 
blems whicb, from what has been 
above Said, appear fitly chosen for 
the arms of the republic. 

Mr: Addison observes, that the 
origin of St. Marino must be ac- 
knewledged to be far nobler than 
that of Rome, which was an asylum 
for robbers and murderers, whe: eas 
St. Marino was the resort of persons 
eminent for their piety and devo- 
tion. This observation appears to 
me to be erroneous in two respects, 
decorating with unfair honours the 
one republic, and heaping unmerit- 
ed disgrace on the other. If piety 
founded St. Marino, with this piety 
much superstition was intermixed ; 
a superstition unfriendly to the best 
principles of society, and hostile to 
the favourite ends of nature; preach- 
ing celibacy, and exacting mortifi- 

Cation 


to 


ANNUAL R 


cation, the hideous offspring of ig- 
norancé. and terror, detesting men 
as criminals, and trembling af God 
asatyrant. But Rome, according 
to the only historian* who bas 
eircumstantially and authentically 
described its early transactions, was 
an expansion of Alba Longa, itself 
a Grecian colony, which, according 
tothe immemorial and sacred cus- 
tom of its mother-country, diffused 
jnto new settlements the exuberance 
of a flourishing population, pro- 
duced by the wisest and most liberal 
institutions. According to the same 
admirable historian, the manly dis- 
cernment of Romulus offered an 
asylum not merely for robbers and 
murderers, but for those who were 
threatened with murder or robbery, 
who spurned subjection, or fled from 
oppression ; for, amidst the lawless 
turbulence of ancient Italy, the 
weak needed protectors against the 
strong, the few against the many ; 
and Rome, at her earliest age, al- 
ready systematically assisted the 
weakest party; thus adopting, in 
her infancy, that politic heroism 
that was destined, by firm and ma- 
jestic steps to conduct her manhood 
‘and maturity to the fair sovereignty 
of consenting nations. 
Both in their origin and in’ their 
progress, Rome and S:. Marino 
form the natural objects, not, indeed, 
of a comparison, but, of a striking 
contrast ; and compressed as is the 
latter republic between the domi- 
nions of the pope and those of the 
grand duke, to. whose subjects Sr. 
Marino is bound to, allow a free 
passage through its territory, its 
citizens*would deserve ridicule or 
pity did they affect the character, 
or imitate the maxims, of,those mag- 


*26] 


’ 


EGISTER, 1795. 


-nanimous senators, who, for .the 
space of more than two centuries, 
swayed the politics and. coutrolled 
the revolutions of the world. . Cone 
vinced that their independence re- 
sults from their insignificancy, the 
senators of St. Marino smiled, when 
we read in Mr. Addison, ‘‘ These 
republicans would sell their-liberties 
dear to any that attacked them.” 
We had not the indelicaey to de- 
sire them to iaterpret this smile ; or 
to make, ourselves, any comment 
upon it, being persuaded, that, pre- 
carious and shadowy as their liberty 
is, their rational knowledge and their 
virtues have enabled them to ex- 
tract from it both substantial and per- 
mMament enjoyment, and make them 
live happier here, amidst rocks aud 
snows, than are their Tuscan and 
Roman neighbours in rich plains and 
warm vallies. 

To the inhabitants of this little 
state, the arengo, the council, the 
different offices of magistracy, in- 
Nocent rural labours, avd military 
exercises, equally useful and. inno- 
cent, supply a continual succession 
of manly engagements. Hopes and 
fears respecting the safety of their 
country awaken curiosity and ex~ 
cite inquiry. They read the ga- 
zettes of Europe with interest ; they 
study history with improvement ; in 
conversation,their questions are pet- 
tinent and their answers satisfactory. 
Contrary to what has been observed 
by travellers of other Itahans, the 
citizens of St. Marino delight in 
literary conversation ; and Mr. Ad. 
dison remarks, that he hardly met 
with an unlettered man in their je- 
public. In speaking of Beccaria’s 
book on style, then recently pub- 
lished, one of the senaturs said,that 


* Dionysius of IHalicarnassus. 
Oa 


it was a treatise on style, iu a 
very bad style, abounding in 
false ornaments and epigrammatic 
gallicism. Another observed, he 
wished that fashionable writer, who 
had been commented on by Voltaire, 
an, author still more fashionable and 
Pernicious than himself, would con- 
fine himself to such barmless topics 
as rhetoric and style; for his book 
on Crimes and Punishments was 
calculated to do much serious mis- 
chief, at least to prevent much 
positive good: because in that po- 
pular work he had declaimed very 
persuasively against capital punish- 
ments, in a country long disgraced 
by capital crimes, which were 
scarcely ever capitally punished. 
The love of letters which distin- 
guishes the people of St. Marino 
makes them regret that they are sel- 
dom visited by literary travellers. 
Of our own countrymen, belonging 
to this description, they mentioned 
with much respect Mr. Addison 
and Ii Signor Giovanni Symonds, 
now professor of history in the 
university of Cambridge. We 
were proud of being classed with 
such men by the bonest simplicity of 
_ these virtuous mountaineers, whom 
we left with regret, most heartily 
wishing to them the continuance of 
their liberties, which, to men of 
their character, and theirs only, are 
real and solid blessings. 


Account of the celebrated Conspiracy 
| of the Pazz at Florence ; from 
Roscoe's Life of Lorenzo de’ Me- 

dict. 
A Transaction, in which a pope, 
a cardinal, an archbishop, and 
several other ecclesiastics, associ- 
ated themselves with a band of ruf- 
flans, to destroy two men who were 


CHARACTERS, _«ftar 


2 honour to their age and country; 
ad purposed to perpetrate their 
crime, at a season of hospitality, in 
the sanctuary of a Christian church, 
and at the very moment of the ele- 
vation of the host, when the audi- 
ence bowed down before it, and the 
assassins were presumed to be in the 

immediate presence of their God. 
At the bead of this conspiracy 
were Sixtus 1V. and his nephew 
Girolamo Riario. Raffaelle Riario, 
the nephew of this Girolamo, who, 
although a young man then pursuing 
his studies, had lately been raised to 
the dignity of cardinal, was rather 
ap instrument than an accomplice in 
the scheme. The enmity of Sixtus 
to Lorenzo had for some time been 
apparent, and if not occasioned by 
the assistance which Lorenzo had at- 
forded to Nicolo Vitelli, and other 
independent nobles, whose domini- 
ons Sixtus had either threatened or 
attacked, was certainly increased by 
it. The destruction of the Medici 
appeared therefore to Sixtus as the 
removal of an obstacle that thwarted 
all his views ; and by the accomplishe 
ment of which the small surrounding 
states would become an easy prey, 
There is, however, great reason jo 
believe that the pope did not con- 
fine his ambition to these subordi- 
pate governments, but that, if the 
conspiracy had succeeded to his 
wish, he meant to have grasped at 
the dominion of Florence itself. The 
alliance lately formed between the 
Florentines, the Venetians, and the 
duke of Milan, which was princi- 
pally effected by Lorenzo de’ Medi- 
ci, and by which the pope found 
himself prevented from disturbing 
the peace of Ltaly, was an additional 
and powerful motive of resentment. 
One of the first proofs of the displea- 
sure of the pope was his depriving 
Lorenze 


#98) 


Lorenzo of the office of treasurer of 
the papal see, which he gave to the- 
Pazzi, a Florentine family, who as 
well as the Medici had a public 
bank at Rome, and who afterwards 
became the coadjutors of Sixtus in 
the execution of his treacherous 
purpose. 

This family was one of the noblest 
and most respectable in Florence ; 
numerous in its members, and pos- 
sessed of great wealth and influence. 
Of three brothers, two of whom 
had filled the office of gonsaloniere, 
only one was then living — 

This conspiracy, of which Sixtus 
and his nephew were the real _insti- 
gators, was first agitated at Rome, 
where the intercourse between the 
count Girolamo /Riario and Fran- 
cesco de’ Pazzi, in consequence of 
the office held by the latter, afforded 
them an opportunity of communi- 
cating to each other their mutual 
jealousy of the power of the Medi- 
ci, and their desire of depriving 
them of their influence in Florence ; 
in which event, it is highly proba- 
ble, the Pazzi were to have exer- 
cised the chief authority in the city, 
under the patronage if not under the 
avowed dominion of the papal see. 
The principal agent engaged in the 
undertaking was Francesco Salviati, 
archbishop of Pisa, to which rank he 
had lately been promoted by Sixtus, 
in oppositivn to. the wishes of the 
Medici, who had for some time en- 
deavoured to prevent him from ex- 
ercising his episcopal functions. If 
it be allowed that the unfavourable 
character given of him by Politian is 
exaggerated, it is generally agreed 
that his qualities were the reverse 
of those which ought to have been 
the recommendations to such high 
preferment. The other conspira- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tors were Giacopo Salviati, brother 
of the archbishop, Giacopo Poggio, 
one of the sons of the celebrated 
Poggio Bracciolini, and who, like 
all the other sons of that eminent 
scholar, had obtained no small share 
of literary reputation; Bernardo 
Bandini, a daring libertine, render- 
ed desperate by the consequences of 
his excesses; Giovan Battista Mon- 
tesicco, who had distinguished him- 
self by his military talents as one of 
the Condotteiri of the armies of the 
pope; Antonio Maffei, a priest of 
Volterra; and Stefano da Bagnone, 
one of the Apostolic scribes ;. with 
several others of inferior note. 

In the arrangement of their plan, 
which appears to have been con- 
certed with great precaution and 
secresy, the conspirators soon dis- 
covered that the dangers, which 
they had to encounter were not so 
likely to arise from the difficulty of 
the attempt, as from the subsequent 
resentment of the Florentines, a 
great majority of whom were 
strongly attached to the Medici. 
Hence it became necessary to pro- 
vide a military force, the assistance 
of which might be equally requisite, 
whether the enterprize proved’ 
abortive or successful. By the in- 
fluence of the pope, the king of 
Naples, who was then in alliance 
with him, and on one of whose sons 
he had recently bestowed a cardi- 
nal’s hat, was also induced to coun- 
tenance the attempt. 

These preliminaries being adjust- 
ed, Girolamo wrote to his nephew 
cardinal ‘Riario, then at Pisa,. or- 
dering him to obey whatever di- 
rections he might’ receive from 
the archbishop. A body of two 
thousand men were destined to 
approach by different routes to- 

3 wards 


CHARACTERS, 


wards Florence, so as to be in _rea- 
diness at the time appointed for 
striking the blow. 

Shortly afterwards, the archbi- 
shop requested the presence of the 
cardinal at Florence, where he im- 
mediately repaired, and took up 
his residence at a seat of the Pazzi, 
about a mile from the city. It 
seems to have been the intention of 
the conspirators to have effected their 
purpose at Fiesole, where Lorenzo 
then had his country residence, to 
which they supposed he would in- 
vite the cardinal and. his attendants, 
Nor were they deceived in this 
conjecture, for Lorenzo prepared a 
magnificent entertainment on this 
occasion; but the absence of Giuli- 
ano, (the brother of Lorenzo,) on 
account of indisposition, obliged the 
conspirators to postpone the at- 
tempt. Disappointed 1n their hopes, 
another plan was now to beadopted ; 
and on farther deliberation it was re- 
solved, that the assassination should 
take place on the succeeding Sun- 
day, in the church of the Reparata, 
' since called Santa Maria del Fiore, 
and that the signal for execution 
should be the elevation of the host. 
at the same moment the archbishop, 
and others of the conspirators, were 
to sieze on the palace, or residence 
of the magistrates, whilst the office 
of Giacopo de’ Pazzi was to indea- 
vour, by the cry of liberty, to in- 
cite the citizens to revolt. The 
immediate assassination of Giuliano 
was committed to Francesco de’ 
Pazzi, and Bernardo Bandini, and 
that of Lorenzo had been entrusted 
to the sole hand of Montesicco. 
This office be had willingly under- 
taken while he understood that it 
_ was to be executed in a private 
dwelling, but he shrunk from the 
idea of polluting the house of God 


oe 


with so henious a crime. Two 
ecclesiastics were therefore selected 
for the commission of a deed, from 
which the soldier was deterred by 
conscientious motives. | There were 
Stefano da Bagnone, the apostolic 
scribe, and Antonio Maffei. 

The young cardinal having ex- 


‘pressed a desire to attend divine 


service in the church of the Repa- 
rata, on the ensuing Sunday, being 
the 26th day of April, 1478, Lo- 
Tenzo invited him and his suite to 
his house in Florence. He accord 
ingly came with a large retinue, 
supporting the united characters of 
cardinal and apostolic legate, and 
was received by Lorenzo with that 
splendour and _ hospitality, with 
which he was always accustomed to 
entertain men of high rank and con- 
sequence. Giuliano did not appear, 
a circumstance which alarmed the 
conspirators, whase arrangements 
would not admit of longer delay, 
They soon, however, learned that 
he intended to be present at the 
church. The service was alread 
begun, and the cardinal had taken 
his seat, when Francesco. de’ Pazzi 
and Bandini, observing that Giuli- 
ano was not yet arrived, left the 
church, and went to his house, in 
order to insure and hasten his at- 
tendance. Giuliano accompanied 
them, and, as he walked between 
them, they threw their arms round 
him with the familiarity of intimate 
friends, but in fact to discover whe- 
ther he had any armour under his 
dress; possibly conjecturing, from 
his long delay, that he had suspect- 
ed their purpose. At the same 
time, by their freedom and jocula- 
rity, they endeavoured to obviate 
any apprehensions which he might 
entertain from such a proceeding. 
The conspirators having taken their 
stations 


* 30] 


stations near their intended victims, 
waited with impatience for the ap- 
pointed signal. The bell rang— 
the priest raised the consecrated wa- 
ter—the people bowed before it— 
and at the same instant Bandini 
plunged a short dagger into the 
breast of Giuliano. On receiving 
the wound, he took a few hasty 
steps, and fell, when Francesco de’ 
Pazzi rushed on him with incredi- 
ble fury, and stabbed him in differ- 
ent parts of his body, continuing 
to repeat his strokes even after the 
was apparently dead. = Such was 
the violence of his rage, that he 
wounded himself deeply in the 
thigh. The priests, who bad un- 
dertaken the murder of Lorenzo, 
were ‘not equally successful. An 
ill-directed blow from Mafiei, which 
was aimed ‘at the throat, but took 
place behind the neck, rather roused 
him to his defence than disabled 
him. Tle immediately threw off 
his cloak, and holding it up asa 
shield in /his Jeft hand, with his right 
he drew his sword, and repelled his 
assailants. ‘Perceiving that their 
purpose was defeated, the two ec- 
clesiasti¢s, after having wounded 
one of Lorenzo’s attendants, who 
had énterpoved to defend him, en- 
deavoured to save themselves by 
flight. At the'same moment, Ban- 
dini, his dagyer streaming with the 
. blood of Giuliano, rushed towards 
Lorenzo ; ‘but meeting in his way 
with Francesco Nori, a person in 
the service of the Medici, and in 
whom they placed great confidence, 
he stabbed him with a wound in- 
stantaneously mortal. At the ap- 
proach of Bandini, the friends of 
Lorenzo encircled him, and hurfied 
him into the Sacristy, where Poli- 
tiano and others closed the ‘dvors, 
which were of brass. ~ Appréhen- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


sions being entertained that the 
weapon which had wounded him 


was poisoned, a young man, attach. 


ed to Lorenzo, sucked the wound. 
A general alarm and consternation 
took placein the church; and such 
was the tumult which ensued, that 
it was at first believed by the audi- 
ence, that the building was falling 
in; but no sooner was it understood 
that Lorenzo was in danger, than 
several of the vouth of Florence 
formed themselves into a body, and 
receivinghim into the midst of them, 
conducted him to his house, making 


@ circuitous turn’ from the church, 


lest he should meet with the dead 
‘body of his brother. 


Poelitical Character of Politiano; 
} from the same. 


F all these authors, though 
some possess a considerable 

share of merit, not one of them can 
contend, in point of poetical excel- 
lence, with Politiano, who, in his 
composition, approaches nearer to 
the standard of the ancients than 
any man of his time; yet whilst he 
emulates the dignity of Virgil, or 
reminds us of the elegance of Ho- 
race, he suggests not to our minds 
the idea of servile imitation. Of 
the character of his writings various 
opinions have indeed been enter- 
tained, which have been’ detailed 
at Jarge by Baillet, and still more 
copiously by Menckenias. It may 
therefore be sufficient, on this occa- 
sion, to caution the reader against 
an implicit acquiescence in the opi- 
nions of two eminent living authors, 
who have either obliquely censured, 
or too cautiously approved his poe- 
tical works. In the attempt made 
by Politianio, to restore a just tasie 
~ for 


bi 


CHARACTERS. 


for the literature of the ancients, itis 
not to be denied, that he had power- 
ful coadjutors in Pontano, and Sa- 
nazata, whose Jabours have given 
to the delichtfal vicinity of Naples 
new pretensions to the appellation 
of classic ground. Nor will jt di- 
minish his reputation, if we admit 
that the empire which he had found- 
ed, was in the next century extend- 
ed and secured by the exertions of 
Tracastoro, Vida, Naugerio, and 
Flaminio, * in whom the great poets 
‘of the Augustan age seem once 
more to be revived. 


_ Character of the celebrated Girolamo 
Savonarola ; from the same. 


LTHOUGH the citizens of 

Florence admired the talents, 
and respected the virtues of Ma- 
riano, their attention was much 
more forcibly excited by a preachér 
ofa very different character, who 
possessed bimselfof their confidence, 
and entitled himself to their homage, 


[*31 


by foretelling their destruction. This 
was the famous Girolamo Savona- 
rola, who afterwards acted so.con- 
spicuous @ part in the popular com- 
motions at Florence, and contri- 
buted so essentially to the accom- 
plishment of his own predictions. 
Savonarola was a native of Ferrara, 
but the reputation which he had’ 
acquired aS a preacher, induced 
Lorenzo de’ Medici to invite him 
to Florence, where he took up his 
residence in the year 1488, + and 
was appointed prior of the monaste+ 
ry of Si. Marco. By pretensions to 
superior sanctity, and by a fervid 
and over-powering elocution, he 
soon acquired an astonishing ascen- 
dancy over the minds of the people, 
and in proportion as his popularity 
increased, his disregard of his pa= 
tron became more apparent, and 
was soon converted into the most 
vindictive animosity. It had been 
the custom of those who had pre- 
ceded Savonarola in this office, to. 
pay particular respect to Lorenzo 
de’ Medici, as the supporter of the 


* IT cannot mention these names without reerctting the limits’to which I am 


ecessarily confined. The rivals of Virgil, of Ovid, and of Catullus, ought not, 
na work that touches on the rise of letters, to be commemorated at the foot of a 
page. The Syphilis of Fracastoro, sive de Morbo Gallico, thoagh an unpromising 
sabject, is beyond comparison the finest Latin poem that las appeared sinoe the 
times of the ancients... The writings of Vida are more generally known, and 
_ would be entitled to higher applause, if they did not frequently pasta to the 
classical reader, an imitation of the ancients that borders on servility. Naugerio 
asa noble Venetian, who died young on an embasgy from the republic. In his 
~ last woments he destroyed all his writings then ‘in his ‘possession, as not’ being 
_ Sufliciently correct for the public eye; but the few that had been previously. dit 
‘tribiited anvong his frieids, were collected and published by them after his death, 
and breathed the true spirit of poetry. In Flaminiv we haye the simplicity and 
tenderness of Catullus, without his licentiousness. To those who are acquainted 
with his writings, it will not be thought extravagant to assert, that many of them, 
iu the species of composition to which they are confined, were never excelled. 
ans question laddressed by him to a friend, respecting the writings of Catullus, 
“ Quando legsete—non vi sentite voi Jiquefare il cuore di-doleezza?” may, with 
confidence be repeated to all those who are conversant with his works. 
“4 ¢ In 1489, according to Viraboschi, Storia della Lett. Ital. v. vi. par. 2. p.377,, 
fet Savonarola himself, in his Trattato della Rivelatione della reformatione della. 
Chiesa. Ven. 1536, (if indeed the work be his,) assigns an earlier period. In this. 
_ work the fanatic assumes the credit of having toretold the death of Innocent VIII. 
of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the irruption of the French into Italy, &c. 


i 


institution 


#32} 


institution. Savonarola, however, 
not only rejected this ceremony, a3 
founded in adulation, but as often 
as Lorenzo frequented the gardens 
of the monastery, retired from his 
presence, pretending that his in- 
tercourse was with God, and not 
with man. At the same time, in 
his public discourses, he omitted no 
opportunity of attacking the repu- 
tation, and diminishing “the credit, 
ef Lorenzo, by prognosticating the 
speedy termination of his authority, 
and his banishment from his native 
place. The divine word, from the 
lips.of Savonarola, descended not 
amonpst his audience like the dews 
of heaven; it was the piercing hail, 
the destroying sword, the herald 
of destruction. The friends of 
Lorenzo . frequently remonstrated 
with him, on his suffering the 
monk to proceed to such an ex- 
treme of arrogance: but Loren- 
zo had either more indulgeuce, or 
more discretion than to adopt hostile 
measures against a man, who, 
though morose and insolent, he 
probably considered as sincere. On 
the contrary, he displayed his usual 
prudence and moderation, by de- 
claring that, whilst the preacher eX- 
erted himself to reform the citizens 
of Florence, he should readily ex- 
cuse his incivility to himself. This 
extraordinary degree of lenity, if 
it had no influence on the mind of 
the fanatic, prevented, in a great 


degree, the ill effeets of his ha-. 


rangues, and it was not fill after 
the death of Lorenzo, that Savo- 
narola excited those disturbances in 
Florence, which led to his own de- 
struction, and terminated in the 
ruin of the republic. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 
‘ Life of the late James Boswell, C8e 


1795. 


trom the Gentleman's Magazine, 


R. Boswell was born, in 1740, | 

of an ancient and oncuran 
able family. His father was then | 
at the Scotch bar, and was after. 
wards raised to the dignity of judge; | 
which station he filled with acknowe 
ledged learning, probity, and ho-— 
nour. His title was lord Auching | 
leck, taken from his family inheri- 
tance; and he died in 1782: on: 
which occasion Dr. Jchnson wrote | 
an elegant and instructive Ictier to | 
the subject of this memorial; of 
which article we will extract a pase 
sage that alludes to some slight dos 
mestic differences, which did not 
happen in vain, since they gave rise 


.to such salutary advice; 


‘2 Your father’s death had ever 
circumstance that could enable you 
to bear it. It was ata mature age, 
and it was expected; and, as his 
general life had been pious, his 
thoughts had, doubtless, for many 
years past, been turned upon eier- 
nity. That you did not find him 
sensible must doubtless grieve you; 
his disposition towards you was tn- 
doubtedly that of a kind, though 
not of a fond father. Kindness, at 
least actual, isin our own power, 
but fondness is not; and if by negli- 
gence or imprudence you had ex- 
tinguished his fondness, he could 
not at will rekindle it. Nothing 
then remained between you. but 
mutual forgiveness of each one’s 
faults, and mutual desire of each 
other’s happiness.” 

In 1763, Mr. Boswell came ‘ite 
Londen. In 1769 he published his 
account of Corsica, with the 
“¢ Journal of a Tour to that Island.” 
This. work gained him some. dis- 

sc pn 


CHARA CT ERS. 


tinction inthe world. Dr. Johnson 
says of it: 

‘* Your history is like all other 
histories, but your journal is in a 
very high degree curious and de- 
lightful. There is between the 
history and the journal that dif- 
ference which there will always be 
found between notions borrowed 
from without, and notions generated 
within. Your history was copied 
from books; your journal rose out 
of your own experience.and obser- 
vation. You express images which 
operated strongly upon yourself, and 
you have impressed them with great 
_ force upon your readers. I know 
not whether I could name any nar- 
rative by which curiosity is better 
excited or better pratified. 

In 1770, Mr. Boswell was mar- 
ried. The issue of his marriage are 
two sons and three daughters. 
Mrs. Boswell died a few years ago. 
At this time, likewise, he was in 
good practice at the Scotch bar, 
and, among others, took a very 
active part in the celebrated Douglas 
cause; concerning which we find 
a very interesting correspondence 
- betwixt him and Dr. Johnson, pub- 
lished in his Life of the latter. 

In 1784, he published a “‘ Letter 
to the people of Scotland, on the 
present state of the Nation,” against 
Mr. Fox’s India Bill. 
writes to him his approbation of it: 
“© T am very much of your opinion ; 
and, like you, feel great indignation 
at the indecency with which the 
king is every day treated. Your 
paper contains very considerable 
knowledge of the history and of the 
constituuon, very properly produced 
and applied.” 

In 1785, he quitted the Scotch 
bar, and came to reside entirely in 


Vou. XXXVI. 


Dr. Johnson * 


[*33 


London. The same year he pub- 
lished his ** Journal of a Tour to 
the Hebrides ;’ a work of which it 
might have been said, that it was 
one of the most entertaining in our 
language, if it had not been fol- 
lowed by his magnum opus, his 
6¢ Life eof Dr. Johnson,” * of which, 
however, it was a pleasing earnest. 

Soon after his return from a visit 
to Auchinleck, he was seized with a 
disorder, which proved fatal, on Tues- 
day, the 19th of May, in this year. 

Such are the brief chronological 
items of his life. 

Of his character it would be dif- 
ficult to say much more than he has 
said himself in his ** Journal to the 
Hebrides ;” and which may, with 
some propriety, be.copied here : 

“‘] have given a sketch of Dr. 
Johnson. My readers may wish 
to know a little of his fellow- 
traveller. Think, then, of a gentie- 
man of ancient blood; the pride of 
which was his predominant pas-ion, 
He was then in his 32d year, and 
had been about four years happily 
married. His inclination was to be 
a soldier; but his father, a respect- 
able judge, had pressed him into the 
profession of the law. He had 
travelled a good deal, and seen many 
varieties of human life. He had 
thought more than any body sup- 
posed, and had a pretty good stock 
of general learning and knowledge, 
He had all Dr. Johnson’s principles, . 
with some degree of relaxation. 
He had rather too little than too 
much prudence; and, his imagi- 
nation being lively, he often said 
things of which the effect was very 
different from the intention, He 
resembled, sometimes, 

¢ The best good man, with the worst 

natur’d muse.’ 


* For an account of which, see our Register for 1791. 


«Hr 


[*C] 


[*34 


“He cannot deny himself the 
vanity of finishing with the encomi- 
um of Dr. Johnson, whose friendly 
partiality to the companion of this 
tour represents him as one ‘ whose 
acuteness would help any inquiry, 
and whose gaiety of conversation, 
and civility of manners, are sufficient 
to counteract the inconveniences of 
travel, in countries less hospitable 
than we have passed.* : 

Few of Mr. Boswell’s friends can, 
I believe, add much to this honest 
and candid confession. His ene- 
mies are welcome, if they please, to 
dwell upon his failings. Of these 
he had not many, and they were in- 
jurious to no person. Good-nature 
was highly predominant in his cha- 
racter. He appeared to entertain 
sentiments of benevolence to all 
mankind; and ‘it does not seem 
that he ever did, or could, in- 
jure any human being iztentionally. 
His conversation-talents were al- 
ways pleasing, and often fascinating. 
But can we wonder at this in him 
who, with a capacity to learn, had 
been the companion of Jobnson for 
more than twenty years? He was a 
Johnsonian in every thing but the 
manner ; and there were few of Dr, 
Johnson's friends that were not very 
ready to dispense with that. His 
attachment to the doctor for so long 
a period was a meritorious perse- 
verance in the desire of knowledge. 
To it the world is indebted for the 
most finished picture of an eminent 
man that ever was executed. | 

Vanity has been imputed to our 
author. But let it be remembered 
that he enjoyed adyautages which 
rendered that conspicuous in him 
from which no man can claim an ex- 
emption. There is never a man who 
would not have been vain to possess 
so much of Dr. Johnson’s conversa- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tion, and proud to give it to the 
world, in hopes that he who vene- 
rated Johnson would not be unthank- 
ful to his biographer. 

From the doctor, however, he ap- 
pears to have imbibed a portion of 
constitutional melancholy, Of late 
years, he has often complained of 
this ; and he flew for relief where, 
perhaps, it is best to be found, to 
the society of the learned and the’ 
gay. Here, as he confesses, “* he 
bad rather too little than too much 
prudence;” and, with more attach- 
ment to the activity of rural life, he 
might, probably, have lengthened 
his days. But, as his * belief in 
Revelation was unshaken,’’ and his 
religious impressions deep and re- 
curring frequently, let us hope that 
he has now attained that state from 
which imperfection and calamity are 
alike excluded. 


The Life of Patrick Browne, M. D. 
Author of the History of Jamaica ; 
from the European Magazine. 


R. BROWNE was the fourth 
D son of Edward Browne, esq.’ 
a gentleman of respectable family 
and handsome estate. He was born 
at Woodstock, the paternal inheri- 
tance, in the parish of Crossboyne, 
and county of Mayo, about the 
year 1720. After receiving the 
best education that country could 
afford, he was sent to a near relation 
in the island of Antigua, in 1737; 
but the climate at that time dis- 
agreeing very much with his consti- 
tution, he returned in about a year 
to Europe, and landing in France, 
went directly to Paris, where he 
speedily recovered his health; and 
with the approbation of his parents, 

applied 


CHARACTERS. 


applied himself closely to the study 
of physic, and particularly to the 
science of botany, for which he al- 
ways had a particular predilec- 
tion. 

After five years spent at Paris he 
removed to Leyden, where he stu- 
died near two years more, and 
from that university obtained his 
degree of M. D.—Here he formed 
an intimacy with Gronovius’ and 
Muschenbroeck, and commenced a 
correspondence with Linneus and 
other eminent botanists and learned 
men. From Holland he proceeded 
to London, where he practised near: 
two years, most of which time he 
attended St, Thomas’s hospital, with 
the celebrated Doctor Letherland, 
physician formerly to queen Caro- 
line, bis warm and affectionate friend. 
From thence he went out again to 
the West Indies, and after spending 
some months in Antigua and some 
others of the sugar-islands, he pro- 
ceeded to Jamaica, where he spent 
his time in collecting and preserving 
specimens of the plants, birds, shells, 
&c. of those luxuriant soils, with a 
view to the improvement of natural 
history. 

Whilst in Jamaica, his residence 
was chiefly in Kingston, and it was 
he who first pointed out the absur- 
-dity of continuing Spanish town the 
port and capital, whilst reason 
plainly pointed out Kingston, or in 
his own words “ the defects of a port 
of clearance to leeward ;” and by 
his writings the governor and coun- 
cil represented the matter so strik- 
ingly to earl Granville, president of 
the council, 1756, that the measure 
was immediately adopted, and 
Kingston made the port of clearance, 
to the very great benefit of com- 
merce in general, as, before that, 
when ships were cleasing ‘out of 


[*35 


Kingston, and ready to weigh anchor, 
they were obliged to send near seven 
miles to Spanish-town, by which 
they often suffered great inconve- 
nience and delay. 

‘At thi¥ time also he collected 
materials and made the necessary 
Observations (being. a very good 
mathematician and astronomer) for 
a new map of Jamaica, which he 
published in London, in August, 
1755, engraved by Bailey, on two 
sheets, by which the doctor cleared 
four hundred guineas. 

Soon after this, (March, 1756) 
he published his Civil and Na- 
tural History of Jamaica, in 
folio, ornamented with forty-nine 
engravings of natural history, a 
whole sheet map of the island, and 
another of the harbour of Port- 
Royal, Kingston-town, &c. Of 
this work there were but two hun- 
dred and fifty copies printed by 
subscription, at the very low price 
of one guinea, but a few were sold 
at two pounds two shillings in sheets 
by the printer. Most unfortunately 
all the copper-plates, as well as the 
original drawings, were consumed by 
the great fire in Cornhill, Novem- 
ber 7, 1765. 

This alone prevented in his life- 
time a second edition of that work, 
for which he made considerable 
preparations, by many additional 
plants, and a few corrections in his 
several yoyages to these islands, for 
he was six different times in the West 
Indies ; in one of those trips he lived 
above twelve months in the island 
of Antigua: however, these obsers 
vations will, we trust, not b lost 
to the public, as he lately sent to 
sir Joseph Banks, P.R.S, ** A cata- 
logue of the plants growing in the 
sugar-islands,” &c. classed and de- 
scribed according to the Linnzan 

*C 2 systemy 


36% | 


system, in quarto, containing about 
eighty pages. 

Dr. Browne long and regularly 
kept up a correspondence with the 
celebrated’ Linnzus, which continu- 
ed to his death. \ 

In Exshaw’s Gentleman’s and 
London Magazine for June, 1774, 
he published ‘A Catalogue of the 
Birds of Ireland,” and in Exshaw’s 
August Magazine following, ‘* A 
Catalogue of its Fish.’ 

In 1788, he got ready for the 
press a very curious and useful 
Catalogue of the Plants of the north- 
West counties of Ireland, classed 
with great care and accuracy ac- 
cording to the Linnawan system, con- 
taining above seven hundred plants, 
mostly observed by himself, having 
trusted very few to the descriptions 
of others, This little tract, written 
in Latin with the English and Irish 
names, might be of considerable use 
in assisting to compile a Flora Hiber- 
nica, a work every botanist will allow 
to be much wanting. 

The doctor was a tall, comely 
man, of good address and gehtle 
manners, naturally cheerful, very 
temperate, and in general healthy; 
but of late years had violent peri- 
odical fits of the gout, by which ‘he 
suficred greatly; in the intervals of 
these unwelcome fits, ‘he formed the 
Catalogue of Plants, and was al- 
ways, when in health, doing some- 
thing in natural history, or mathe- 
matics. Ata very early period he 
marred in Antigua a native of that 
island, but hed no issue. His cir- 
cumstances were moderate but easy, 
aad the poor found ample benefit 
froin his liberality as well as pro- 
fessional skill. This worthy mem- 
ber of society paid the debt of na- 
tureat Rushbrook, coufty of Mayo, 
on Sunday, August 29, 1790, and 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


was interred in the family burial- 
place at Crossboyne. In his will 
he desired the following inscrip- 
tion to be placed on his monu- 
ment, viz. ' 
“* Hane opponi jussit Patri Matri 
Fratribusque Piissimis & sibi; 
Patricius Browne olim Medicus 
Jamaicensis, qui nune insita 
humiliter pro tum inter mor- 
tuos enumerandum deprecetur 
precis fidelium pro se illisque 
offerrt; ut cum Domino Dee 
Requiescant in pace. Amen.” 


His publications are, 

“The Civil and Natural History 
of Jamaica, containing, 1. An ace 
curate Description of that Island, 
its Situation and Soil; with a brief 
Account of its former and present 
State, Government, Revenues, Pro- 
duce, and Trade. © 2. A Istory 
of the Natural Productions, includ- 
ing the various Sorts of Native Fos- 
sils; Perfect and Imperfect Vege- 
tables; Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, 
Reptiles, and Insects; with their 
Properties and Uses in Mechanics, 
Diet, and Physic. 

“* By Patrick Browne, M. D. 

* Tllustrated with forty-nine copper- 
plates, in which the most curious 
productions are represented of their 
natural sizes, and delineated im- 
mediately from the ~ objects, by 
George Dionysius Ehret.” 

In this work, Dr. Browne ob- 
serves ‘* Sir Hans Sloane hath not» 
collected above 800 
plants in all his travels: in Jamaica 
alone I have examined and de~ 
scribed about 1200, besides fossils, 
Insects, and other productions, 
many of which he makes no men- 
ulon of. It must‘be owned, never- 
theless, to his praise, that bis works, 
inaccurate as they are, upon the 

whole, 


species of : 


5 CHARACTERS. 


_ whole, have done both theauthorand 

his country credit. : 

The doctor hints at three Disser- 
_ tations, and. one on Worm Fevers, 
intended to ‘be published (but they 
never were.) 

His next work was.a short Essay, 
 intitled—‘* A Catalogue of ihe 
Birds of Ireland, whether Natives, 
Casual Visitors, or Birds of Passage, 
- taken from Observation; ciassed 
_ and disposed according to Linnzus.” 
- This was published in* Exsbaw’s 
| Magazine, June, 1774. 
> “A Catalogue of Fishes, ob- 
' served on our Coasts, and in our 
Lakes and Rivers, classed and dis- 
ec according to Linnzus.”—In 
Exshaw’s Magazine for August, 


‘1774. 


His MSS. are, 
“ A Catalogue of the Plants 


the Linnzan System 5” sent to sir 


» Joseph Banks, 4to. about 80 pages 
_  ‘*Pasciculus Plantarum Hibernie: 
or, a Catalogue of such Irish Plants 
| as have been observed by the Au- 
| thor, chiefly those of the Counties of 
Mayo and Galway ; to which he 
| has added such as have been men- 


_ parts of the kingdom. 

By Patrick Browne, M. D. Author 

_ _ of the History of Jamaica.” 

This contains 110 pages 8vo. 
written in Latin, with the English 

and Irish names. 

‘ 


J 


Particulars of the Life and Character 
Of Adam Smith, LL. D. ; from the 
Third Volume of the Transactions 
of the Royal Society yf Edin- 
burgh. 


wae 


DAM Smith, author of the 

A Inquiry ivto the Nature and 
Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 
was the son of Adam Smith, comp- 
troller of the customs at Kirkaldy, 
and of Margaret Douglas, daugh- 
ter of Mr. Douglas, of Strathenry. 
He was the only child of the mar- 
riage, and was born at Kirkaldy on 
the 5th of June, 1723, a few months 
after the death of his father. 

His constitution during infancy 
was infirm and sickly, and required 
all the tender solicitude of his sur~ 
viving parent. She was blamed for 
treating him with an unlimited in- 
dulgence: but it produced no un- 
favourable effects on his temper or 
his dispositions; and he enjoyed 
the rare satisfaction of being able to 
repay her affection, by every atten- 
tion that filial gratitude could dic- 
tate, during the iong period of sixty 
years. 

An accident, which happened 
to him when he was about three 
years old, is of too interesting a na- 
ture to be omitted in the account of 
so valuable a life. He had been 
carried by his mother to Strathenry 
ona visit to his uncle, Mr. Douglas, 
and was one day amusing himself 
alone at the door of the house, when 
he was stolen by a party of that set 
of vagrants who are known in Scot- 
Jand by the name of tinkers. Luck- 
ily he wassoon missed by his uncle, 
who hearing that some vagrants had 
passed, pursued them, with what’ 
assistance he could find, till he over- 
took them in Leslie wood ; and was 
the happy instrument of preserving 
to the world a genius, which , was 
destined, not only to extend the 
boundaries of science, but to en= 
lighten and reform the commercial 
policy of Europe. 

The schocl of Kirkaldy, where 
Mr. Smith received the first rudi- 

[*C 3) maents 


#38] ANNUAL REGISTER, 


ments of his education, was then 
taught by Mr. David Miller, a 
teacher, in his day, of consider- 
able -reputation, and whose name 
deserves to be recorded, on account 
of the eminent men whom that very 
obscure seminary produced, while 
under his direction. Mr. Oswald, 


of Dunikeir, whose profound know-: 


ledge of finances raised him after- 
wards to important employments in 
the state, and to a distinguished rank 
as a parliamentary speaker ; his bro- 
ther, Dr. John Oswald, afterwards 
bishop of Raphce ; and Dr. John 
Drysdale, whose talents and worth 
are well known to this society, were 
among the number of Mr. Smith’s 
- contemporaries.—One of his school- 
fellows is still alive ; and to his 
kindness I am principally indebted 
for the scanty materials, which form 
the first part of this narrative. 
Among these companions of his 
earliest -years, Mr. Smith soon at- 
tracted notice, by his passion for 
books, and by the extraordinary 
powers of his memory. ‘The weak- 
ness of his bodily constitution pre- 
vented him from partaking in their 
more active amusements ; but he 
was much beloved by them on ace 
count of his temper, which, though 
warm, was to an uncommon de- 
gree friendly and generous. Even 
then he was remarkable for those 
habits which remained with him 


through life, of speaking to himself. 


when alone, and of absence in 
company. 

From the grammar-school of 
Kirkaldy he was sent, in 1737, to 
the university of Glasgow, where 
he remained till 1740, when he 
went to Baliol College, Oxford, as 
ah exhibitioner oh Snell’s foundae 
tion.’ 


Dr, Maclaine, of the Hague, who 


1795. 


was a fellow-student of Mr. Smith’s, 
at Glasgow, told me, some years 
ago, that his favourite pursuits, 


‘while at that university, were mathe- 


matics and natural philosophy; and 
I remember to have heard my fa- 
ther remind him of a geometrical 
problem of considerable difficulty, 
about which he was occupied at the 
time when their acquaintance com- 
menced, and which had been pro- 
posed to him as an exercise by the 
celebrated Dr. Simpson. 

These, however, were certainly 
not the sciences in which he was 
formed to excel; nor did they long 
divert him from pursuits more con 
genial to his mind. What lord Ba- 
con says of Plato may te justly ap- 
plied to him: ‘ Illum, licet ad 
rempublicam non accessisset, tamen 
natura et inclinatione omnino ad 
res cjviles propensum, vires eo 
precipue intendisse; neque de phi- 
losophia naturali admodum solli- 
citum esse ; nisi quatenus ad philo- ° 
sophia nomen et celibritatem tuen- 
dam, et ad majestatem quandam 
moralibus et civilibus doctrinis ad- 
dendam et aspergendam sufficeret.”” ” 
The study of human nature in 
all its branches, more particularly 
of the political history of mankind, 
opened a boundless ‘field to his cue 
riosity and ambition; and, while it 
afforded scope to all the various 
powers of his versatile and compre- 
hensive genius, gratified his ruling 
passion, of contributing to the hap- 
piness and the improvement of so- 
ciety. To this study, diversified 
at his leisure hours by the less see 
vere occupations of polite literature, 
he seems to have devoted himself 
almost entirely from the time of his 
removal to Oxford; but he still re- 
tained, and retained even in ad- 
vanced years, a recollection of his 

early 


CHARACTERS. 


early acquisitions, which not only 
added to the splendor of his con- 
Yersation, but enabled him to ex- 
emplify some of his favourite theo- 
ries concerning the natural progress 
of the mind in the investigation of 
truth, by the history of those scien- 
ces in which the connection and 
succession of discoveries may be 
traced with the greatest advantage. 
if I 4m not mistaken too, the in- 
fluence of his early taste for the 
Greek geometry may be remarked 
in the elementary clearness and ful- 
ness, bordering sometimes upon 
prolixity, with which he frequently 
states his political reasonings.—The 
lectures of the profound and elo- 
quent Dr. Hutcheson, which he 
had attended previous to his de- 
parture from Glasgow, and of which 
he always spoke in terms of the 
warmest admiration, had, it may be 
reasonably presumed, a consider- 
able effect in directing his talents 
to their proper objects. 

Lhave not been able to collect 
any information with respect to that 
part of his youth which was spent 
in England. I have heard him say, 
that he employed himself frequently 
in the practice of translation, (par- 
ticularly from the French), with a 
view to the improvement of his own 
style: and he used often to express 
a favourable opinion of the utility 
of such exercises, to all who culti- 
vate the art of composition. It is 
much to be regretted, that none of 
his juvenile attempts in this way 
have been preserved; as the few 
specimens, which his writings con- 
tain of bis skill as a translator, are 
sufficient to shew the eminence he 
had attained in a walk of literature, 
which, in our country, has been so 
little frequented by men of genius. 


‘ 


[*39 


It was probably also at this peri- 
od of his life, that he cultivated with 
the greatest care the study of lan- 
guages. The knowledge he possess- 
ed of these, both ancient and mo- 
dern, was uncommonly extensive 
and accurate; and, in him, was 
Subservient, not to a vain parade 
of tasteless: erudition, but to a fa- 
miliar acquaintance with every thing 
that could illustrate the institutions, 
the manners, and the ideas of differ- 
ent ages and nations. How inti« 
mately he had once been conversant 
with the more ornamental branches 
of learning; in particular, with the 
works of the Roman, Greek, French, 
and Italian poets, appeared suftici- 
ently from the hold which they 
kept of his memory, after all the dif- 
ferent occupations and enquiries in 
which his maturer faculties had 
been employed. In the English 
language, the variety of poetical 
passages which he was not only ac- 
customed to refer to occasionally, 
but which he was able to repeat 
with correctness, appeared surprise 
ing even to those, whose attention 
had never been directed to more 
important acquisitions. 

After a residence at Oxford of 
sever years, he returned to Kirkal- 
dy, and lived two years with his 
mother; engaged in study, but with- 
out any fixed plan for his future 
life. He had been originally des« 
tined for the Church of England, 
and with that view had been sent 
to Oxford ; but not finding the ec- 
clesiastical profession suitable to his 
taste, he chose to consult, in this 
instance, his own inclination, in 
preference to the wishes. of his 
friends; and abandoning at once 
all the schemes which their pru- 
dence had formed for him, he res 


solyed 
[C4] 


*40] 


solved to return to his own coun- 
try, and to limit his ambition to the 
uncertain prospect of obtaining,. in 
time, some one of those moderate 
preferments, to which literary ate 
tainments lead in Scotland. - 

In the year 1748, he fixed his 
residence at Edinburgh, and, during 
that and the following years, read 
lectures on rhetoric and belles Jet- 
tres, under the patronage of lord 
Kaimes. 
contracted a very intimate friend- 
ship, which continued, without -in- 
terruption, till his death, with Mr. 
Alexander Wedderburn, now lord 
Loughborough, and with Mr. Wil- 
liam Johnstone, now Mr. *Pulteney. 

At what particular period his 
acquaintance with Mr. David Hume 
commenced, does not appear from 
any information that I have receiv- 
ed ;Sbut fromso me papers, now in 
the possession of Mr. Hume’s ne- 
phew, and which he has been so 
obliging as to allow me to peruse, 
their acquaintance seems to have 
grown into friendship before the 
year 1752. It wasa friendship.on 
both sides founded on the admira- 
tion of genius, and the love of sim- 
plicity ; and which forms an inte- 
resting circumstancei n the history of 
each of these eminent men, from 
the ambition which both have 
shewn to record it to posterity. 

In 175!, he was elected professor 
of logic in the university of Glas- 
gow; and, the year following, he 
was removed to the protessorship 
of moral philosophy in the same 
university, upon the death of Mr. 
Thomas | Craigie, the immediate 
successor of Dr. Hutcheson. In this 
situation,he remained thirteen years; 
a period be used frequently to look 
back to, as the most useful and hap- 


About this time, too, he 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


py of his life. It wasindeed a situ- 
ation in which he was eminently 
fitted to excel, and in which the 
daily labours of his profession were 
constantly recalling his attention to 
his favourite pursuits, ‘and familiar- 
ising bis mind to those important 
speculations he was afterwards to 
communicate tothe world. In this 
view, though it afforded, in the 
mean time, but a very narrow scene 
for his ambition, it was probably in- 
‘strumental, in no inconsiderable de- 
gree, to the future eminence of his 
literary character. 

Of Mr. Smith’s lectures, while a 
prefessor at Glasgow, no part has 
been preserved, excepting what he 
himself published in the Theory of 
Moral Sentiments and in the Wealth 
of Nations. The society therefore, I 
am persuaded, will listen with plea- 
sure to the following short account 
of them, for which I am indebted 
to a gentleman who was formerly 
one of Mr. Smith’s pupils, and who 
continued to his death to be one of 
his most intimnateand valued friends. 

In the professorship of logic, 
to which Mr. Smith was appointed 
on his first introduction into this 
university, he soon saw the neces- 
sity of departing widely from the 
plan that had been followed by his 
predecessors, and of directing the 
attention of his pupils to studies of 
a more interesting and useful nature 
than the logic and metaphysics of - 
the. schools. Accordingly, after 
exhibiting a general view of the - 
powers of the mind, and explaining 
so much of the ancient logic as was 
requisite to gratify curiosity, with 
respect to an artificial method of 
reasoning, which had once occu- 
pied the universal attention of the 
learned, he dedicated all the rest of 

his 


CHARACTERS. 


his time to the delivery of a system 
of rhetoric and belles lettres. The 
best method of explaining and il- 
lustrating the various powers of the 
human mind, the most useful part 
of metaphysics, arises from an ex- 
amination of the several ways of 
communicating our thougbts by 
speech, and from an attention to 
the principles of those literary com- 
positions, which contribute to per- 
Suasion or entertainment. By these 
arts, every thing that we perceive 
or feel, every operation of our 
minds, is expressed and delineated 
in such a manner, that it may be 
clearly disfinguished and remeinber- 
ed. There is, at the same time, 
no branch of literature more suited 
to youth, at their first entrance upon 
philosophy, than this, which lays 
hold of their taste and their feelings. 
It is much to be regretted, that 
the manuscript containing Mr. 
Smith’s lectures on this subject was 
destroyed before his death. The 
first part, in point of composition, 
was highly finished; and the whole 
discovered strong marks of taste and 
original genius. From the permis- 
sion given to students of taking 
notes, many observations and opi- 
nions, contained in these lectures, 
have either been detailed in sepa- 
rate dissertations, or ingrossed in 
general collections, which have 
since been given tothe public. But 
these, as might be expected, have 
lost the air of originality and the dis- 
tinctive character which they re- 
ceived from their first author, and 
are often obscured by that multi- 
plicity of common-place matter in 
which they are sunk and involved. 
About a year after his appoint- 


_ ment to the professorship of logic, 


Mr. Smith was elected to the chair 
of moral philosophy. His course of 


[*41 


lectures on this subject was divided 
into four parts. The first contained 
natural theology ; in which he con- 
sidered the proofs of the being and 
attributes of God, and those princi- 
ples of the human mind upon which 
religion is founded. The second 
comprehended Ethics, strictly so 
called, and consisted chiefly of the 
doctrines which he afterwards pub- 
lished in-his Theory of Moral Sen- 
timents. In the third part, he 
treated at morelength of that branch 
of morality which relates to justice, 
and which, being susceptible of pre- 
cise and accurate rules,.is, for that 
reason, capable of a full and parti- 
cular explanation. 

Upon this subject, he followed 
the plan that seems to be suggested 
by Montesquieu ; endeavouring to 
trace the gradual progress of juris- 
prudence, both public and _ private, 
from the rudest to the most refined 
ages, and to point out the effects of 
those arts which contribute to sub- 
sistence, apd to the accumulation of 
property, in producing correspoad- 
ent improvements or alterations in 
law and government. This im- 
portant branch of his labours he also 
intended to give to the public, but 
this intention, which is mentioned 
in the conclusion of the Theory of 
Moral Sentiments, he did not live 
to fulfil. 

In the last part of his lectures, 
he examined those political regula- 
tions which are founded, not upon 
the principle of justice, but that of 
expediency, and which are calcu- 
lated to increase the riches, the 
power and the prosperity of a state. 
Under this view, he considered the 
political institutions relating to com- 
merce, to finances, to ecclesiastical 
and military establishments. _What 
he delivered on these subjects con- 

tained 


#42) 


tained the substance of the work he 
afterwards published under the title 
of An Inquiry into the Nature and 
Causes of the Wealth of Nations. 
There was no. Situation in 
which the abilities of Mr. Smith 
appeared to greater advantage than 
as a professor. In delivering his 
lectures, he trusted almost entirely 
to extemporary elocution. His man- 
ner, though not graceful, was plain 
and unaffected; and as he seemed to 
be always interested in the subject, 
he never failed to interest his hear- 
ers, Each discourse consisted com- 
monly of several distinct proposi- 
tions, which he successively endea- 
voured to prove and _ illustrate. 
These propositions, when announced 
in general terms, bad, from their ex- 
tent, not unfrequently, something of 
the air of a paradox. In his at- 
tempts to explain them, he often 
appeared, at first, not to be suffi- 
¢iently possessed of the subject, and 
spoke with some hesitation. As he 
advanced, however, the matter 
seemed to crowd upon him, his 
Manner became warm and animated, 
and his expression easy and fluent. 
In points susceptible of controversy, 
you could easily disceru, that he se- 
¢retly conceived an opposition to 
his opinions, and that he was led, 
upon this account, to support them 
with greater energy and vehemence- 
By the fullness and variety of his 
illustrations, the subject gradually 
swelled in his hands, and acquired a 
dimension which, without a tedious 
repetition of the same views, was 
calculated to seize the attention of 
his audience, and to afford them 
pleasure, as well as instruction, in 
following the same object, through 
all the diversity of sh«des and aspects 
in which it was presented ; and aiter- 
wards in tracing it backwards to 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


that original proposition or general 
truth, from which this beautiful 
train of speculation had proceeded, 

His reputation as a professor 
was accordingly raised very high, 
and a multitude of students from a 
great distance. resorted to the uni- 
versity, merely upon his account. 
Those branches of science which he 
taught became fashionable at this 
place, and his opinions were the 
chief topics of discussion in clubs 
and literary societies. Even the 
small peculiarities in his pronuncias 
tion or manner of speaking became 
frequently the objects of imitation, 

While Mr. Smith was thus dis- 
tinguishing himself by his zeal and 
ability, as a public teacher, he wag 
gradually laying the foundatien of a 
more extensive reputation, by pre- 
paring for the press his system of 
morals. The first edition of this 
work appeared in 1759; under the 
title of ‘* The Theory of Moral 
Sertiments.” 

Hitherto Mr. Smith had re- 
mained unknown to the world asan 
author; nor have I heard that be 
had made a trial of his powers in 
any anonymous publications, except 
in a periodical work called the Edin- 
burgh Review, which was begun 
in the year 1755, by some gentle~ 
men of distinguished abilities, but 
which they were prevented by other 
engagements from carrying farther 
than the two first numbers. To this 
work Mr. Smith contributed a re- 
view of Dr. Johnson’s dictionary of 
the English language, and also @ 
letter, addressed to the editors, con- 
taining some general observations on 
the state of literature in the different 
countries of Europe. In the former 
of these papers, he points out some 
defects in Dr. Johnson’s plan, which 
he censures as not sufficiently gram- 

matical. 


CHARACTERS. 


matical. ‘* The different significa- 
tions of a word (he observes) are in- 
deed collected ; but they are seldom 
digested into general classes, or 
ranged under the meaning which 
the word principally expresses : and 
sufficient care is not taken to distin- 
guish the words apparently synoni- 
mous.” To illustrate this criticism, 
he copies from Dr. Johnson the arti- 

cles but and humour, and opposes to 
_ them the same articles digested 
agreeably to his own ideas. The 
various significations of the word but 
are very nicely and happily discrimi- 
nated. The other article does not 
seem to have been executed with 
equal care. 

The observations on the state of 
learning in Europe are written with 
ingenuity and elegance; but are 
chiefly interesting, as they shew the 
attention which the author had 
given to the philosophy and litera- 
ture of the continent, at a period 
when they were not much studied 
in this island. 

In the same volume with the 
Theory of Moral Sentiments, Mr. 
Smith published a dissertation “* on 
the Origin of Languages, and on the 
different Genius of those which are 
original and compounded.” 

I shall subjoin an original letter 
of Mr. Hume’s addressed to Mr. 
Smith soon after the publication of 
_ his Theory. It is strongly marked 
with that easy and affectionate plea- 
santry which distinguished Mr. 
Hume’s epistolary correspondence, 
and is entitled to a place in this 
memoir, on account of its connexion 
with an important event of Mr. 
Smith’s life, which soon after «re- 
moved him into a new scene, and 
influenced; to a considerable degree, 
the subsequent source of his studies. 


[*43 


The letter is dated from London, 
12th April, 1739. 

*¢ | give you thanks for the agree. 
able present of your Theory. Wed« 
derburn and I made presents of our 
copies to such of our acquaintances 
as we thought good judges, and 
proper to spread the reputation of 
the book. I sent one to the duke 
of Argyle to lord Lyttleton, Horace 
Walpole, Soame Jennyns, and 
Burke, an Irish gentleman, who 
wrote lately a very pretty treatise 
on the Sublime. Millar desired my 
permission to send one in yourname 
to Dr. Warburton, I have delayed 
writing to you till I could tell you 
something of the success of the book, 
and could prognosticate with some 
probability, whether it should be 
finally damned to oblivion, or should 
be registered in the temple of im- 
mortality. Though it has been 
published only a few weeks, I think 
there appear already such strong 
symptoms, that I can almost venture 
to foretell its fate. It isin short 
this; but I\ have been interrupted 
in my letter by a foolish impertinent 
visit of one who has lately come 
from Scotland. He tells me that 
the university of Glasgow intend to 
declare Rouet’s office vacant, upon 
his going abroad with lord Hope. 
I question not but you will have our 
friend Ferguson in your eye, in case 
another project for procuring him a 
place in the university of Edinburgh 
should fail. Ferguson has very much 
polished and improved his Treatisé 
on Refinement, and with some 
amendments it will make an admi- 
rable book, and discovers an elegant 
and a singular genius. The Epigo- 
niad, 1 hope, will do: but it is 
somewhat up-hill work. As I doubt 
not but you consult the reviews 

sometimes 


*44) 


sometimes at present, you will seein 
the Critical Review a letter upon 
that poem ; and I desire you to em- 
ploy your conjectures in finding out 
the author. Let me see a sample of 
your skill in knowing hands by your 
guessing at the person. I am afraid 
of lord Kaime’s Law Tracts. A 
man might as well think of making 
a fine sauce by a mixture of worm. 
wood and aloes, as an agreeable 
composition by joining metaphysics 
and Scotch law. However, the 
book, I believe, has merit ; though 
few people will take the pains of 
diving into it. But, to return to 
your “book, and its success in this 
town, I must tell you. A plague of 
interruption! I ordered myself | to be 
denied; and yet here js one that has 
broke in upon me again, He isa 
man of letters, and we have had a 
good deal of literary conversation. 
You told me that you was curious 
of literary anecdotes, and therefore 
T shall inform you of a few that have 
come tomy knowledge. I believe 
1 have mentioned to you already 
Helvetius’s book De l’Esprit. It ts 
worth your reading, not for its phi- 
losophy, which Ido not highty va- 
lue; but for its agreeable composi- 
tion. I bad a letter from bim a few 
days ago, wherein he tells me that 
my name was much oftener in the 
manuscript, but that the censor of 
books at Paris obliged him to strike 
it out. Voltaire has lately pub- 
lished a small work called Candide, 
ou VOptimisme. I shall give you a 
detail of it; but what is all this to 
my book? say yous My dear Mr. 
Smith, have patience: compose your- 
selt to ‘tranquillity : shew yourself a 
philosopher in practice as well as 
profession: think on the emptiness, 
and rashness, and futility of the com- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


‘tude ; 


1795. 


mon judgments of men: how little. 
they are regulated by reason in any 
subject, much more in philosophicat 
subjects, which so far exceed the 
compteliension of the vulgar. 


Non si quid turbida Roma 
Elevet, accedas: examenve improbum in 
illa 

Castiges trutina: nec te quesiveris extra, 
A wise man’s kingdom is his own 
breast ; or, if he ever looks farther, 
it will only be to the judgment of a 
select few, who are free from preju- 
dices, and capable of examining his 
work. Nothing indeed can be a 
stronger presumption of falsehood 
than the approbation of the multi- 
and Phocion, you know, al- 
ways hae himself of some blun- 
der, whenghe was attended with the 
applauses of the populace. 

** Supposing, therefore, that you 
have duly prepared yourself for the. 
worst by all these reflections,: I pro- 
ceed to tell you the melancholy news 
that your book has been very unfor- 
tunate; for the public seem disposed 
to applaud it extremely. It was 
looked for by the foolish people with 
some impatience; and the mob of 
literati are beginning already to be 
very loud in its praisese ‘Three Bi- 
shops called yesterday at Millar’s: 
shop in order to buy copies, and to 
ask questions about the author. Tbe 
bishop of Peterborough said he had 
passed the evening in a company ~ 
where he heard it extolled above all 
books in the world.» The duke® of 
Argyle is more decisive than he 
uses to be in its favour. I suppose 
he either considers it as an exotic, 
or thinks the author will be ser- 
viceable to him in the Glasgow 
elections. Lord Lyttleton says, 
that Robertson, and Smith, and 
Bower, are tlie glories of English 
literature. 


2G HARA C TOE RS: 


literatrue. Oswald protests he does 
not know whether he has reaped 
more instruction or entertainment 
from it. But you may easily judge 
what reliance can be put on his judg- 
ment, who has been engaged all his 
life in public business, and who 


never sees any faults in his friends.’ 


Millar exults and brags, that two- 
thirds of the edition are already 
sold, and that he is now sure of suc- 
cess. You see what a son of the 
earth that is, to value books only 
‘by the profit they bring him. In 
that view, I believe it may prove a 
very good book. 

** Charles Townsend, who passes 
for the cleverest fellow in England, 
is so taken with the performance, 
that he said to Oswald, he would put 
the duke of Buccleugh under the 
author’s care, and would make it 
worth his while to accept of that 
charge. As soon as I heard this, I 
called on him twice, with a view of 
_talking with him about the matter, 

and of convincing him of the pro- 
priety of sending that young noble- 
man to Glasgow: for I could not 
hope, that he could offer you any 
terms which would tempt you to 
renounce your professorship. But I 
missed him. Mr. Townsend passes 
for being a little uncertain in his re- 
solutions; so perhaps you need not 
build much on his sally. 

** In recompense for so many mor- 
tifying things, which nothing but 
truth could have extorted from me, 
and which I could easily have multi- 
plied to a greater number, I doubt not 
but you are so good a Christian as to 
return good for evil ; and to flatter 
my vanity by telling me, that all the 
godly in Scotland “abuse me for my 

-account of John Knox and the Re- 
formation. 1 suppose you are glad 
1 


[*45 


to see my paper end, and that I am 
obliged to conclude with 
Your humble servant, 
Davip Hume.” 


After the publication of the 
Theory of Moral Sentiments, Mr. 
Smith remained four years at Glas~ 
gow, discharging his official duties 
with unabated vigour, ‘and with in- 
creasing reputation. During that 
time, the pian of his lectures un- 
derwent. a considerable change. 
His ethical doctrines, of which he 
had now published so valuable a 
part, occupied a much smaller por- 
tion of the course than formerly ; 
and, accordingly, his attention was 
naturally directed to a more com- 
pleie illustration of the principles 


‘of jurisprudence and of uh eg 


economy. 
To this last subject, his droughts 
appear to have been occasionally 
turned from a very early period of 
life. It is probable, that the unin- 
terrupted friendship he had always 
maintained with bis old companion, 
Mr. Oswald, bad some tendency to 
encourage him in prosecuting this 
branch of his studies; and the pub- 
lication of Mr.Hume’s political dis- 
courses, in the year 1752, could not 
fail to confirm him in those liberal 
views of commercial policy which 
had already opened to him in the 
course of his own enquiries. His 
long residence in one of the most 
enlightened mercantile towns in this 
island, and the habits of intimacy in 
which he lived with the most re-, 
spectable of its inhabitants, afforded 
him an opportunity of deriving what 
commercial information he stood ir: 
need of, from the best sources; ane! 
it is a circumstance, no less honour- 
able to their liberality than to his 
talents, 


*46] 


talents, that, notwithstanding the 
reluctance, 80 common among men 
of business, to listen to the conclu- 
sions of mere speculation, and the 
direct opposition of his leading 
principles to all the old maxims of 
trade, he was able, before he quit- 
ted his situation in the university, 
to rank some very eminent mers 
chants in the number of his pro- 
selytes. 

Among the students who at- 
tended his lectures, and whose minds 
were not previously warped by pre- 
judice, the progress of his opinions, 
it may be reasonably supposed, was 
much more rapid. It was this class 
of his friends, accordingly, that first 
adopted his system with eagerness, 
and diffused a knowledge of its 
fundamental principles over this part 
of the kingdom. 

Towards the end of 1763, Mr. 
Smith received an invitation from 
Mr. Charles Townsend, to accom- 
pany the duke of Buccleugh on his 
travels; and the liberal terms in 
which the proposal was made to 
him, added to the strong desire he 
had felt of visiting the continent of 
Europe, induced him to resign his 
office at Glasgow. With the con- 
nection which he was led to form, 
in consequence of this change in his 
situation, he had reason to be satis. 
fied in an uncommon degree, and 
he always spoke of it with pleasure 
and gratitude. To the public, it 
was not perhaps a change equally 
fortunate; as it interrupted that 
studious leisure for which nature 
seems to have destined him, and in 
which alone he could have hoped 
to accomplish those literary projects 
which had flattered the ambition of 
his youthful genius. 

The alteration, however, which 


. 


! 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


from this period took place in his 
habits, was not without its advane 


tages. He had hitherto lived chiefly 4 


within the walls of an university ; 
and although, to a mind like his, the 


observation of human nature on the . 


smallest scale is sufficient to convey 


a tolerably just conception of what 


passes on the great theatre of the 
world, yet it is not to be doubted, 
that the variety of scenes, through 
which he afterwards passed, must 
have enriched his mind with many 
new ideas, and corrected many of 
those misapprehensions of life and 
manners which the best descriptions 
of them can scarcely fail to convey 
—But whatever were the lights that 
his travels afforded to him, as a stu- 
dent of human nature, they were 
probably useful in a still greater 
degree, in enabling him to perfect 
that system of political economy, 
of which he had already delivered 
the principles in» his lectures at 
Glasgow, and which it was now 
the leading object of his studies to 
prepare for the public. - The co- 
incidence between some of these 
principles and the distinguishing 
tenets of the French ceconomists, who 
were at that very time in the height 
of their reputation, and the inti- 
macy in which he lived with some 
of the leaders of that sect, could not 
fail to assist him in methodizing and 
digesting his speculations ; while the 
valuable collection of facts, accu-~ 
mulated by the zealous industry of 
their numerous adherents, furnished 


him with ample materials for illus=, 


trating and confirming his theoreti- 
cal conclusions. 

After leaving Glasgow, Mr. Smith 
joined the duke of Buccleugh, at 
London, early in the year 1764, 
and set out with him for the con- 

tinent, 


CHARACTERS, 


tinent in the month of March fol- 
lowing. At Dover, they were met 
by sir James Macdonald, who ac- 
companied them to Paris, and with 
whom Mr. Smith laid the foundation 
of a friendship, which he always 
‘mentioned with great sensibility, and 
of which he often lamented the short 
duration. The panegyrics with 
which the memory of this accom- 
plished and amiable person has been 
honoured, by so many distinguished 
characters, in the different countries 
of Europe, are a proof how well 
fitted his talents were to command 
general admiration. The esteem 
in which his abilities and learning 
were held by Mr. Smith, is a testi- 
mony to his extraordinary merit of 
still superior value. Mr. Hume 
too, seems, in this instance, to have 
partaken of his friend’s enthusiasm. 
““ Were you and I together, (says 
he, in a letter to Mr. Smith) we 
should shed tears at present, for the 
death of poor sir James Macdonald. 
We could not possibly have suffered 
@ greater loss than in that valuable 
young man.” 

In this first visit to Paris, the 
duke of Buccleugh and Mr. Smith 


employed only ten or twelve days; 


after which, they proceeded to 
Thoulouse, where they fixed their 
residence for eighteen months; and 
where, in addition tothe pleasure 
of an agreeable society, Mr. Smith 
had an opportunity of correcting and 
| extending his information concerning 
the internal policy of France, by 
the intimacy in which he lived with 
some of the principal persons of the 
parliament. 

From Thoulouse they went, by 
@ pretty extensive tour, through the 
south of France, to Geneva. Here 
they passed two months. ‘The late 
earl Stanhope, for whose learning 


[*47 


and worth Mr. Smith entertained a 
sincere respect, was then an inbabi- 
tant of that republic, 

About Christmas, 1765, they 
returned to Paris, and remained 
there. tiJ] October following. The 
society in which Mr. Smith spent 
these ten months, may be conceived 
from the adyantages he enjoyed, in 
consequence of the recommendations 
of Mr. Hume. Turgot, Quesnai, 
Necker, D’Alembert, Helvetius, 
Marmontel, madame  Riccoboni, 
were among the number of his ac- 
quaintances; and some of them he 
continued ever afterwards to reckon 
among his friends. From madame 
d’Anville, the respectable mother of 


the late excellent and much lament- 


ed duke of Rochefaucault, he re- 
ceived many attentions, which he 
always recollected with particular 
gratitude. 

It is much to be regretted, that 
he preserved no journal of this very 
interesting period of his history; 
and such was his aversion to write 
letters, that I scarcely suppose any 
memorial of it exists in his corres- 
pondence with his friends. The 
extent and accuracy of his memory,. 
in which he was equalled by few, 
made it of little consequence to 
himself, to record in writing what 
he heard or saw; and from his anxi- 
ety before his death to destroy all 
the papers in his possession, he seems 
to have wished, that no materials 
should remain for his biographers, 
but what were furnished by the 
lasting monuments of his genius, 
and the exemplary worth of his 
private life. 

The satisfaction he enjoyed in 
the conversation of Turgot may be 
easily imagined. Their opinions on 
the most essential points of political 
economy, were the same; and they 

were 


#48) ANN 


were both animated by the same 
‘zeal for the best interests of man- 
kind. The favourite studies, too, 
of both had directed their enquiries 
to subjects on which the understand- 
ings of the ablest and the best in- 
formed are liable to be warped, to 
a great degree, by prejudice and 
passion; and on which, of conse- 
quence, ® coincidence of judgment 
is peculiarly gratifying. 

We are told, by one of the bio- 
graphers of Turgot, that, after his 
retreat from the ministry, he occu- 
pied his leisure in a philosophical 
correspondence with some of his 
old friends ; and, in particular, that 
various letters on important subjects 
passed between him and Mr. Smith. 
] take notice of this anecdote chiefly 
as a proof of the intimacy which 
was understood to have subsisted 
between them: for, in other re- 
Spects, the anecdote seems to me to 
be somewhat doubtful. It is scatce- 
ly to be supposed that Mr. Smith 
would destroy the letters of such a 
correspondent as Turgot ; and still 
Jess probable that such an inter- 
course was carried on between them 
without the knowledge of any of 
Mr. Smith’s friends. “From some 
inquiries that have been made at 
Paris, by a gentleman of this society, 
since. Mr. Smith’s death, 1 have 
reason to believe, that no evidence 
of the correspondence exists among 
the papers of M. Turgot, and that 
the whole story has taken its rise 
from.a report suggested by the 
knowledge of their former intima- 
cy. This circumstance I think it 
of importance to mention, because 
a good deal of curiosity has been 
excited by the passage in question, 
with respect to the fate of the sup- 

osed letters. 

Mr.’ Smith was also well knowa 


YUAL REGISTER, 


_science.” 


1795. 


to M. Quesnai, the profound and 


original author of the economical 


table ; a man (according to Mr. 
Smith's account of him) ‘ of the 
greatest modesty and simplicity ;”~ 
and whose system of political eco- — 
nomy he has pronounced, ‘ with — 
all its imperfections,” to be -** the 
nearest approximation to the truth 
that bas yet been published on the — 
principles of that very important 
If he had not been pre-— 
vented by Quesnai’s death, Mr. | 
Smith had once an intention (as he - 
told me himself) to have inscribed 
to him his “* Wealth of Nations.” 
It was not, howevers merely 
the distinguished men, who, about 
this period; fixed so splendid an era 
in the literary history of Franee, 
that excited Mr. Smith’s curiosity 
while he remained in Paris. His 
acquaintance with the polite litera- 
ture, both of ancient and modern 
times, was extensive; and, amidst 
his various other oe¢upations, he had 
never neglected to cultivate a taste 
tor the fine arts ;—less, itis probable, 
with a view to the peculiar enjoy- 
ments they convey, (though he was 
by no means without sensibility to 
their beauties) than on account of 
their connection with the general 
principles of the human mind; to 
an examination of which they af- 
ford the most pleasing of all avenues. 
‘To those who speculate on this very 
delicate subject, a comparison of the 
modes of taste, that prevail among 
different nations, affords a valuable 
collection of facts; and Mr, Smith, 
who was always disposed to ascribe 
to custom and fashion their full 
share in regulating the opinions 
of mankind, with respect to beauty. 
may naturally be supposed to have 
availed himself of every oppor- 
tunity which a foreign country af- 
forded 


CHARACTERS. 


forded him of illustrating his former 
theories. 
Some of his peculiar notions, too, 
with respect to the imitative arts, 
seem to have been much confirmed, 
by his’ observations while abroad. 
In accounting for the pleasure we 
receive from these arts, it had early 
occurred to him asa fundamental 
principle, that a very great part of 
it arises fram the difficulty of the 
imitation ;, a principle which was 
probably suggested to him by that 
of the difficulté surmontée, by which 
some French critics had attempted 
to explain the effect of versification 
and of rhyme. ‘This principle Mr. 
‘Smith pushed to the greatest possible 
length, and referred to it, with sin- 
‘gular ingenuity, a great variety of 
phenomena in all the different fine 
arts. It led him, however, to some 
conclusions, which appear, at first 
view at least, nota little paradoxi- 
cal; and I cannot help thinking, 
that it warped his judgment in 
many of the opinions which he was 
accustomed to give on the subject 
of poetry. 
The principles of dramatic com- 
position had more particularly at- 
tracted his attention; and the his- 
tory of the theatre, both in ancient 
and modern times, had furnished 
him with some of the most remark- 
able facts on which his theory of the 
imitative arts was founded, Irom 
this theory it seemed to follow asa 
consequence, that the same circum- 
stances which, in tragedy, give to 
blank verse an advantage over prose, 
should give to rhyme an advantage 
over blank verse; and Mr, Smith 
had always inclined to that opinion. 
Nay, he had gone so far as to ex- 
tend the same doctrine to comedy ; 


and to regret, that those excellent 


pictures of life and manners which 
Vou. XXXVIL. 


[*49 


the English stage affords, had not 
been executed after the model of 
the French school. Theadmiration 
with which he regarded the great 
dramatic authors of France tended 
to confirm him in these opinions ; 
and this admiration (resulting ori- 
ginally from the general character 


of his taste, which delighted more 


to remark that pliancy of genius, 
which ‘accommodates itself to esta= 
blished rules, than to wonder at 
the bolder flights of an undisciplined 
imagination) was increased, to a 
great degree, when he saw the 
beauties that had struck him in the 
closet, heightened by the utmost 
perfection of theatrical exhibition. 
In the last years of his life, he somer 
times amused himself, at a leisure 
hour, in supporting his theoretical 
conclusions on these subjects, by 
the facts which his subsequent stu- 
dies and observations had suggested ; 
and he intended,, if he had lived, to 
have prepared the result of these 
labours for the press. Of this work 
he kas left for publication a short 
fragment; the first part of which is, 
in my judgment, more finished in 
point of style than any of his come 
positions ; but he had not proceeded 
far enough to apply his doctrine to 
versification and to the theatre. As 
his notions, however, with respect 
to these, were a favourite topic of 
his conversation, and were intimate- 
ly connected with his general prins 
ciples of crilicism, it would have 
been improper to pass them oyer in 
this sketch of his life; and I even 
thought it proper to detail them at 
greater length than the comparative 
importance of the subject would 
have justified, if he had carried bis 
plans into execution. Whether his 
love of system, added to his par- 
tiality for the French drama, may 


ie 


*50] 


not have led him, in this instance, 
to generalize a little too much his 
conclusions, aud- to overlook. some 
peculiarities in the language and 
versification of that country, I shall 
‘not take upon me to determine, 

In October, 1766, the duke of 
Buccleugh returned to London. 
‘His grace, to whom I am indebted 
for several particulars in the fore- 
going narrative, will, I hope, forgive 
the liberty I take in transcribing one 
paragraph in his own words: ‘In 
October, 1766, we returned to Lon- 
don, after having spent near three 
years together, without the slightest 
disagreement or coolness; on my 
‘part, with every advantage that 
could be expected from the society 
of sucha man. We continued to 
Jive in friendship till the hour of his 
death ; and I sball always remain 
with the impression of having lost a 
friend whom I loved and respected, 
not only for his great talents, but 
for every private virtue.” 

The retirement in which Mr, 
Smith passed his next ten years, 
formed a striking contrast to the 
‘unsettled mode of life he had been 

or some time accustomed to, but 
was so congenial to bis natural dis- 
Position, and to his first habits, that 
it was with the utmost difficulty he 
“was ever persuaded to leave it. 
During the whole of this period, 
(with the exception of a few visits 
to Edinburgh and London) he re- 
mained with his mother at Kirkal- 
dy ; occupied habitually in intense 
study, but unbending his. mind, at 
times, in the company of some of his 
old school-feliows, whose ‘* sober 
wishes” had attached them to the 
place of their birth. In the society 
of such men, Mr. Smith delighted; 
and to them he was endeared, not 
enly by his simple and unassuming 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


manners, but by the perfect knows 
ledge they all possessed of those doe 
mestic virtues which had distinguish- 
ed him from his infancy. 

Mr. Hume, who (as he tells us 


’ himself) considered ‘* a town as the 


true scene for a man of letters,” 
made many attempts to seduce him 
from his retirement. “In a letter, 
dated in 1772, he urges him to pass J 
some time with him in Edinburgh. | 
“I shall not take any excuse from — 
your state of health, which I suppose 


only a subterfuge invented by indo~ } 


lence and love of solitude. Indeed, 
my dear Smith, if you continue to 
hearken to complaints of this na- 
ture, you will cut yourself out en- 
tirely from human society, to the 
great loss of both parties.” In an- } 
other letter, dated in 1769, from his 
house in James’s court, (whichcom- | 
manded a prospect: of the frith of | 
Forth, and of the opposite coast. of 
Fife) ‘* I am glad (says he) to have 
come within sight of you; but as 
I would also be within speaking- 
terms of-you, I wish we could con- 
cert measures for that purpose. I 
am mortally sick at sea, and regard 
with horror and a kind of hydro- 
phobia the great gulph that lies be- 
tween uss I amralso tired of tra- 
velling, as much as you ought ne- 
turally to be of staying at home. I 
therefore propose to you to come 
hither, and pass some days with me 
in this solitude. I want to know 
what you have been doing, and pro- 
pese to exact a rigorous account of 
the method in which you have em- 
ployed yourself during your retreat. 
I am positive you are in the wrong 
in many of your speculations, es- 
pecially where you have the mis- 
fortune to differ from me. All these 
are reasons for our meeting, and I 
wish you would make me some rea- 
sonable 


‘ ; i 
Rae CHARACTERS. 


sonable proposal for that purpose. 
There is no-habitation on the island 
of Inchkeith, otherwise I ‘should 
challenge you to meet me on that 
‘spot; and neither of -us ever to 
leave the place, till we were fully 
agreed on all points of controversy. 
J expect general Conway here to+ 
morrow, whom I shall attend to 
Roseneath, and I shall remain there 
afew days. On my return, I hope 
to find a letter from you, containing 
a bold acceptance of this defiance.” 
» At length (if the beginning of 
the year 1776) Mr. Smith accounted 
to the world. for his long retreat, 
‘by the publication of his Inquiry 
into the Nature and Causes of 
‘the Wealth of Nations.” <A letter 
of congratulation, on this event, 
from Mr. Hume, is now before me. 
At is dated ist April, 1776,, (about 
six months before Mr. Hume’s 
.death) ; and discovers an amia- 
-ble solicitude about his friend’s lite- 
rary fame. ‘* Euge! Belle! dear 
-Mr. Smith: I am much pleased 
with your performance, and the pe- 
rusal of it has taken me from a state 
of great anxiety, It was a work of 
so much expectation, by yourself, 
by your friends, and by the public, 
that I trembled for its appearance ; 
but am now much relieved. Not 
but that the reading of it necessarily 
requires so much attention, and the 
public is disposed to give so httle, 
-that I shall still doubt for some 
time of its being at first very popu- 
lar. Butit has depth, and solidity, 
and acuteness, and is so inuch illus- 
trated by curious facts, that it must 
at last take the public attention. It 
is probably much improved by 
-your last abode in London. If you 
were here, at my fire-side, | should 
aispute some of your principles, 
-+. But these, and a hundred other 


[*s1 


points, 4re fit only to be Aicuniéas in 
conversation. I hope it will be soon; 
for lamina very bad state of health, 
and cannot afford a long delay.” 
About two years after the publi- 
cation of * the Wealth of Nations,” 
Mr. Smith was appointed one of 
the commissioners of his»majesty’s 
customs in Scotland ; a preferment 
which, in bis estimation, der ved an 
additional value from its being be 
stowed on him at the request of the 
duke of Buccleugh. The greater 
part of these two years he passed at 
London, ina society too extensive 
and vaned to afford him any oppor- 
tunity of indulging, his taste for 
study, His time, however, was not 
lost to himself; for much of it was 
spent with some of the first names in 
English hterature. » Of these no un- 
favourable specimen is preserved by 
Dr. Barnard, in his well known 
“¢ Verses addressed to sir Joshua 
Reynolds and his friends :” 


If have thoughts, and can’t express em, 


Gibbon shall teach ine how to dress ” em 
In words select and terse: : 
Jones teach me modesty and Greek, 


‘Smith how to think, Burke how to speek, 


And Beauclerc to converse. 


In consequence of Mr. Smith’s 
appointment to the board of cus- 
toms, be removed, in -1778, to 
Edinburgh, -where he spent the last 
twelve years of his lite; enjoying 
an affluence which was more ‘than 
equal’ to all hs wants: and, what 
was'to him of still greater ‘value, 
the prospect of passing the remains 
der of his days among the’ compa* 
nions of his youth. 

His mother, who, though now 
in extreme old age, still possessed a 
considerable degree of health, and 
retained all her faculties unimpaired, 
accompanied him to town; and his 

[*D 2} cousin 


*59] 


cousin, Miss Jane Douglas, (who 
had formerly been a member of his 
family at Glasgow, and for whom 
he had always felt the affection of 
a brother), while she divided. with 
him those tender attentions which 
her aunt’s infirmities required, re- 
lieved bim of a charge for which 
he was peculiarly ill qualified, by 
her friendly superintendance of his 
domestic economy. 

The accession to his income, 
which his new office brought him, 
enabled him to gratify, to a much 
greater extent than his former cir- 
cumstances admitted of, the natural 
generosity of his disposition; and 
the state of his funds at the time of 
his death, compared with his very 
moderate establishmenz, confirmed, 
beyond a doubt, what his intimate 
acquaintances had often suspected, 
that a large proportion of his annual 
savings was allotted to offices of 
secret charity. A small, but ex- 
cellent library, which he had gra- 
dually formed with great judgment 
in the selection; and a simple 
though hospitable table, where, 
without the formality of an invita- 
tion, he was always happy to re- 
ceive his friends, were the only ex- 
pences that could be considered as 
his own, 

The change in his habits, which 
his removal to Edinburgh produced, 
was not equally favourable to his 
literary pursuits. The duties of his 
office, though they required but 
little exertion of thought, were yet 
sufficient to waste his spirits, and to 
dissipate his attention; and now 
that his career is closed, it is im- 
possible to reflect on the time they 
consumed, without lamenting that 
it had not been employed in labours 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


more profitable to the world, and 
more equal to his mind, 

During the first years of his resi- 
dence in this city, his studies 
seemed to be entirely suspended ; 
and his passion for letters served 
only to amuse his leisure, and to 
animate his conversation. ‘The ine 
firmities of age, of which he very 
early began to feel the approaches, 
reminded him at last, when it was 
too late, of what he yet owed to the 
public, and to his own fame. The 
principal materials of the works 
which he had announced, had been 
long ago collected ; and little pro~ 
bably was wanting, but a few years 
of health and retirement, to bestow 
on them that systematical arrange- 
ment in which he delighted; and 
the ornaments of that flowing, and 
apparently artless style, which he 
had studiously cultivated, but which, 
after all his experience in composi< 
tion, he adjusted, with extreme dif- 
ficulty, to his own taste. 

The death of his mother in 1784, 
which was followed by that of Miss 
Douglas in 1788, contributed, it is 
probable, to trustrate these projects, 
They had been the objects of his 
affection for more than sixty years; 
and ip their society he had enjoyed, 
from his infaney, all that he ever 
knew of the endearments of a fa- 
mily. He was now alone, and help- 
Jess ; and, though he bore his loss 
with equanimity, and regained ap- 
parently his former cheeriulness, yet 
his health and strength gradually 
declined till the period of hisdeath, 
which happened in July, 1790, 
about two years after that of his 
cousin, and six after that of his 
mother. His last illness, which 
arose from a chronic obstruction i 

his 


CHARA 


his bowels, was lingering and pain- 
ful ; but had every consolation to 
sooth it which he could derive from 
the tenderest sympathy of his friends, 


and from the complete resignation of 


his own mind. 

A few days before his death, 
finding his end approach rapidly, 
he gave orders to destroy all his ma- 
nuscripts, excepting some detached 
essays, which he entrusted to the 
care of his executors; and they 
were accordingly committed to the 
flames. What were the particular 
contents of these papers is not 
known, even to his most intimate 
friends; but there can be no doubt 
that they consisted, in part, of the 
lectures on rhetoric, which he read 
at Edinburgh in the year 1748, and 
of the lectures on natural religion 
and on jurisprudence, which form- 
ed part of his course at Glasgow. 
That this irreparable injury to letters 
proceeded, in some degree, from 
an excessive solicitude in the, au- 
thor about his posthumous repute- 
tion, may perhaps be true: but 
with respect to some of his manu- 
scripts, may we not suppose, that 
he was influenced by byghé?, mo- 
tives? It is but seldom that a phi- 
losopher, who has been occupied 
from his youth with moral or with 
political enquiries, succeeds com- 
pletely to his wish in stating to 
others, the grounds upon which his 
own opinions are founded; and 
hence it is, that the known princi- 
ples of an individual, who has ap- 
proved to the public his candour, 
his liberality, and his judgment, 
are entitled to a weight and an au- 
thority, independent of the evidence 
which he is able, upon any par« 
Scular occasion, to produce in their 
support. 
this circumstance, and an: appre- 


A secret consciousness of 


CTERS. (#53 


hension, that by not doing justice 
to an important argument, the pro- 
gress of truth may be rather retard« 
ed than advanced, have probably 
induced many authors-to with-hold 
from the world the unfinished re- 
sults of their most valuable labours ; 
and to content themselves with giv- 
ing the general sanction of their 
~sufirages to truths which they re- 
garded as peculiarly interesting to 
the human race. 

The additions to the Theory of 
Moral Sentiments; most of which 
were composed under severe dis 
ease, had fortunately been sent to 
the press in the beginning of the 
preceding winter; and the author 
lived to see the publication of the 
work, The moral and serious strain 
that prevails through these additions, 
when connected with the circums 
stance of his declining health, ‘adds 
a peculiar charm to his pathetic elo= 
quence; and communicates a new 
interest, if possible, to those sub- 
lime truths, which, in the acades 
mical retirement of his youth, a- 
wakened the first ardours of his ge- 
nius, and on which the last efforts of 
his mind reposed. 

In a letter addressed, in the year 
1787, to the principal of the uni« 
versity, of Glasgow, in consequence 
of his being elected rector of that 
learned body, a pleasing memorial 
remains of the satisfaction with 
which he always recollected that 
period of his literary career, which 
had been more peculiarly conse+ 
crated to these important studies. 
‘* No preferment (says he) could 
have given me so much real satis- 
faction. No man can owe greater 
obligations to a society than I do to 
the university of Glasgow. They 
educated me; they sent me to Ox- - 
ford. Soon after my return” to 

[*D 3] Scotland, 


*54] 


Scotland, they elected me-one of 
their own members; and afterwards 
preferred. me _to another office, to 
which the abilities and virtues of the 
never to be forgotten Dr. Hutche- 
son had given a superior degree of 
iJlustration. The period of thirteen 
years which I spent as a member of 
that society, 1 remember as by far 
the most useful, and-therefore, as 
by far the, happiest and most ho- 
nourable period of my life; and 
Now, afler three and twenty years 
absence, to be remembered in so 
very agreeable a manner by my old 
friends and protectors, gives me a 
peart-felt joy which I cannot easily 
€xpress to you,” f 

The short narrative which I have 


now finished, however barren of ins’ 


ciden!, may convey a general idea 
of the genius and» character of this 
illustriousman. Of the intellectual 
gilts and attainments by which he 
was so eminently distinguished ;— 
of the' originality and comprehen- 
siveness of his views ; the extent, the 
Variety, and the correctness of his 
information; the inexhaustible fer- 
tility of his invention; and the or- 
naments which his rich and beauti- 
ful imagination had borrowed from 
classical culture;—he has lefi behind 


him lasting monuments. To his pri-’ 


vate worth the most certain of all 
testimonies may be found in that 
confidence, Tespect and attachment, 
which followed him through all the 
various relations of life. The sere- 
nity and gaiety he enjoyed under 
the pressure of his growing infirmi- 
ties, and the warm interest be felt 
to the last, in every thing connected 
with the welfare of kis friends, will 
be long remembered by a small cir- 
cle, with whom, as long as his 
strength permitted; he regularly 
Spent an evening in the week ; -and 


ANNUAL "REGISTER, 1795. 


to whom the recollection of his “ 


worth still forms a pleasing, though- 


melancholy bond of union. 


* 


The more delicate and charac ‘ 
teristical features of his mind, it is, © 


perhaps, impossible to trace. 
there were many peculiarities, both 
in his manners; and in his intel- 


That- 


lectual habits, was manifest to the ° 
most superficial observe¥; but, al- ° 


though to those who knew him, 


these peculiarities detracted nothing * 


from the respect which his abilities 


commanded; and, although to his’ 
intimate friends, they added an in- 


expressible charm to his conversa- 


tion, while they displayed, in the” 
most interesting light, the artless ' 


simplicity of his heart ; yet it would 
require a very skilful pencil to pre- 
sent them to the public eye. He 


was certainly not fitted for the ge- ° 
neral commerce of the world, or’ 
for the business of active life. The 


comprehensive speculations 
which he had been occupied from 
his youth, and the variety of mate- 
rials which his own invention con- 
tinually supplied to his thoughts, 
rendered him habitually inattentive 
to familiar objects, and to common 


with » 


occurrences ; and he frequently ex-'' 


hibited instances of absence, which 


have scarcely been surpassed by the ° 


fancy of Bruyere. Even in com- 
pany he was apt to be engrossed 


with his studies; and appeared, at’ 


times, by the motion of his lips, as 
well as by his looks and gestures, to 
be in the fervourof composition. I 
have often, however, been struck, 
at the distance of years, witb his ac- 
curate memory of the most trifling 
particulars ; and am inclined to be- 
heve, from this and some other cir- 


cumstances, that he possessed a- 


powernot perhaps uncommonamong 


absent mtn, of recollecting, in con-~ 


sequence 


CHARACTERS. 


“sequence of subsequent efforts of 
reflection, many occurrences which, 

at the time when they happened, 
did not seem to have sensibly attract- 
ed hisnotice. — _ 

To the defect now mentioned, it 
was probably owing, in part, that 
he did not fall in easily with the 
common dialogue of conversation, 
and that he was. somewhat. apt to 
convey his own ideas in the form of 
@ lecture. When he did so, how- 
ever, it never proceeded from a 
wish to engross the discourse, or 
to gratify his vanity.. His own incli- 
nation disposed him so strongly to 
enjoy in silence the gaiety of those 
around him, that his: friends were 
often led to concert little schemes, 
in order to bring him on the subjects 
most likely to interest him, Nor do 
I think I shall be accused of going 
too far, when I say, that he was 
scarcely ever known to start a new 
topic -himself, or to appear unpre- 
pared upon those topics that were 
introduced by others. Indeed, his 
conversation was never more amusing 
than when he gave a loose to his 
genius, upon the very few branches 
of knowledge of which he aulye ipen 
sessed the outlines, 

The opinions he formed of men, 
upon a slight acquaimtance, were 
frequently erroneous; but the ten- 
dency of his nature inclined him 
much more to blind partiality, than 
to ill-founded prejudice. The en- 
larged views of ‘human affairs, on 
which his: mind habitually: dwele, 
left him neither time nor inclination 
to study in detail, the uninteresting 
peculiarities of ordinary characters ; 
and accordingly, though intimately 
acquainted with the capacities of the 
intellect, and the workings of the 
heart; and accustomed, in his theo- 
nes, to mark, with the most deli- 


[*55 
cate hand, the nicestshades, both of 
genius and of the passions; yet, in 
judging of individuals, it sometimes 
happened, that bis estimates were, 
in a surprising degree, wide of the 
truth. 

The opinions too, which in the 
thoughtlessness and confidence of his 
social hours, he was accustomed to 
hazard on books, and on questions of 
speculation, were not uniformly such 
as might have been expected from 
the superiority of his understanding, 
and the singular consistency of. his 
philosophical principles. They were 
liable to be influenced by accidental 
circumstances, and by the humour 
of the moment ; and when retailed 
by those who only saw him) oc 


<casionally, suggested false and cone 


tradictory ideas of his real senti- 
ments. On-these, however, as on 
most other occasions, there was al- 
ways much truth, as well as inge- 
nuity, in his remarks: and if the 
different opinions which, at differ- 
ent times, be pronounced upon the 
same subject, had been all combined 
together, so as. to modify and limit 
each other, ,they would probably 
have afforded materials for a de- 
cision, equally comprehensive and 
just. But, in the society of his friends, 
he had no disposition to form those 
qualified conclusions that we ad- 
mire in his writings; and he gene- 
rally contented himself with a bold 
and, masterly sketch of the object, 
trom the first point of view in which 
his temper, or his fancy, presented. 
Something of the same kind might 
be remarked, when he attempted, 
in. the flow of his spirits, to deline« 
ate those. characters which, from 
long intimacy, he might have been 
supposed to understand thoroughly. 
The picture was always lively and 
expressive ; and commonly bore_e 

[*D 4] strong 


*561 


strong and amusing resemblance to 
the origiual, when viewed under 
one particular aspect; but seldom, 
perbaps, conveyed a just and com- 
plete conception of it in all its di- 
mensions and proportions. In a 
word, it was the fault of his uppre- 
meditated judginents, to be too 
‘systematical, and too much in ex- 
‘tremes. 

But, in whatever way these 
trifling peculiarities in his manners 
may be explained, there can beno 
doubt, ‘that they were intimately 
connected with the genuine art- 
lessness of his mind. In this ami- 
able quality, he often recalled to his 
friends the accounts that are given 
of good La Fontaine; a quality 
which in him derived a peculiar 
gtace from the singularity of its 
combination with those powers of 
reason and of eloquence, which, in 
his political and moral- writings, 
have long engaged the admiration of 
Europe. 

In his external form and appear- 
ance, there was nothing uncommon. 
When perfectly at ease, and when 
warmed with conversation, his 
gestures were animated, and not up- 
graceful; and, in the society of 
those he loved, “his features were 
often brightened with a smile of in- 
expressible benignity. In the com- 
pany of strangers, ‘his tendency to 
absence, ‘and perhaps still more his 
consciousness of this tendency, ren+ 
dered his manner somewhat em- 
barrassed ;—an effect which ‘was 
probably not a little heightened by 
those speculative ideas of propriety, 
which -his recluse ‘habits tended at 
once to perfect in his conception, 
and to diminish his power of rea- 
lizing. He never sat for his picture; 
but the medallion of Tassie conveys 
an exact idea of his profile, and of 

k 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


the general expression of his cout- 
tenance. 


Anecdotes of Mr. Robert Bakewell, of 
Dishley; from the Gentleman’s 
Maganne. — 


R. Robert Bakewell, the most 
& successful and celebrated ex- 
perimental farmer ever known in 
England, ‘was born at Dishley in 
Leicestershire, about 1725 or 6. 
His grandfather and father bad re- 
sided on the same estate since the 
beginning of this century ; and his 
father, who died about 1760, had 
always the reputation of being one 
of the most ingenious and able 
farmers of his neighbourhood. Mr. 
Bakewell having conducted , the 
Dishley farm several years . before 
the decease of his father, began, 
about 40 years since, that course of 
experiments which has procured 
him such extensive fame. He ori- 
ginally adopted a principle, @ priori,’ 
of which all the experience of his 
future life evinced the propriety. 
Having remarked that domestic ani- 
mals, in general, produced others, 
possessing qualities nearly similar to 
their own, he conceived he had 
only to select from the’most valuable 
breeds such as promised to return 
the greatest possible emolument to 
the .breeder; and that the should 
then be able, by careful attention to 
progressive improvement, to pro- 
duce a race of sheep, or rather ani- 
mals, possessinga maximum of ad- 
vantage. Under the influence of 
this excellent notion, Mr. Bakewell 
made excursions into different parts 
of England, to inspect the various 
breeds, and to ascertain those which 
were best adapted to his ‘purposes, 
and the most valuable of pix 


| (CHARACTERS. 


His wext step was to select and pur- 
chase the best of all the sorts. where. 
ever they could be found; and this 
_ selection, the result of several years 
experience, was the original stock 
from ‘which he afterwards propa- 
gated his own. This excellent 
ground-work was alone fostered to 
its present unrivalled perfection by 
the persevering industry of Mr, 
Bakewell. Like the immortal 
Newton, what his genius had cons 
ceived, he happily »possessed the 
patientindustry toexecute. About 
1760, Mr. Bakewell sold his sheep, 
by private contract, at not more 
than two or three guineas’ each. 
Some time afterwards, he began to 
let out some of his rams, and for a 
few seasons received only 15s. and a 
guinea a piece for them ; but, as the 
fame of his breed extended itself, he 
advanced his prices, and, by the 
year 1770, was enabled to let some 
of his rams for the season for 25 
guineas, Since that time, the 
ptices and credit of his stock have 
been progressively increasing ; and, 
_of late years, single rams have been 
- let for the season, for the enormous 
sum of 400 guineas and upwards. 
Yt isa fact, which has no former ex- 
ample, that one ram, called “ The 
‘Two-Pounder,” produced in one 
season, the sum of 800 guineas, ins 
dependent of ewes of Mr. Bake. 
well’s own stock, which, at the same 
vate, would have made a total, the 
produce of asingle ram, of 1200 
guineas! Every branch of the 
Agricultural Art is more or less in- 
debted to the fortunate genius and 
original mind of Mr, Bakewell. 
Ile directed his attention, however, 
the most successfully, to the im- 
provement of the sheep known by 
the name of ‘* The Dishley,” or, 


“NewLeicestershire,” tolong-horned 


[*57 


cattle; and to strong horses of the 
black breed, suitable for the harness 
and the army. The improvement 
of pigs, and the cultivation of the 
best winter. food for cattle, had 
latterly engaged his attention; and 
he had proved himself useful to the 
public by introducing into practice 
the flooding of meadows. | The race 
of Dishley sheep are known by the 
fineness of their bones and flesh, the 
lightness of the offal, the disposition 
to quietness, and, consequently, to 
mature and fatten with less food 
than other sheep of equal weight 
and value. Mr. Bakewell \im- 
proved his black harses by an. at- 
tention to the: form which is. best 
adapted to their use. His stallions 
have been let for the season for 100 
guineas and upwards. About ten 
years since, he exhibited his famous 
black horse to the king and many of * 
the nobility in the court-yard at St 
James’s. Hislong-horned cattle have 
been characterised by properties 
similar to those of his sheep, for the 
fineness of the bone and flesh, the 
lightness of the offal, and the dispo- 
sition to fatten. In a word, no 
competitor ever had the temerity to 
vie with him in his horses and cate 
tle; and his sheep continue as uni- 
versally unrivalled, notwithstanding 
the competitions excited at various 
times by motives of interest or en- 
vy- In this place it may be worth 
while to insert the following state- 
ment of. the prices given at two 
leading auctions of stock, bred from 
Mr. Bakewell’s. These great prices, 
as well as the prices which these 
articles always maintain, are the 
most indubitable proofs of the high 
opinion which the best and most in- 
terested judges entertain of Mr. 
Bakewell’s merit. The first sale 
which we advert to was that of Mr, 
Fowler, 


> 


#58] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795; 


Fowler, of Rollright, in Oxfordshire. 
This gentleman had commenced his 
breeding-speculations with a couple 
of cows, anda bull which he had 
hired of Mr. Bakewell. After his 
death; one article of his live«stock, 
the horned cattle, sold fora value 
equal to that of the fee-simple of 
his farm! Fifteen head alone of 


_ bullsand cows sold for 2464 pounds, 


or at the rate of 164 pounds each ! 
The other anction was that of Mr. 
Paget at Ibstock. Mr. Paget had 
been many years the intimate friend, 
and, in the Breeding-society, a very 
eminent and successful colleague of 
Mr. Bakewell. The sale of his 
stock was therefore looked up to 
with much eagerness by the public. 
Atthis sale, one bull sold forthe sum 
of 400 guineas (and a sixth share of 
the same has since been sold for 100) 
and a two-year old heifer for 84! 
211 ewes and theaves fetched 3315 
guineas, on the average 17 guineas 
each; and one lot of five ewes was 
sold for 310 guineas ! Such was the 
respect paid to Mr. Bakewell, in his 
life time. ‘To conclude that he was 
sufficiently rewarded, would be to 
with-hold his due, if we consider the 
money and honours that are bestowed 
on projects far less beneficial than 
his. Perhaps, at some futute pe- 
riod, the civic crown and: public 
monuments will be awarded to such 
characters in preference to the more 
doubtful claims of the warrior and 
the statesman. Mr. Bakewell 
died the 1st of October, 1795, in 
kis 70th year. As he had never 


been married, his business devolves 
to. Mr. Honeyborn, his: nephew 3 
and it is a fortunate circumstance 
for the public, that this gentleman 
is possessed of genius and enterprize 
similar to that of his predecessors In 
person, Mr. Bakewell was tall, 
broad-set, and, in his latter years, 
rather inclined tocorpulency. His 
countenance bespoke intelligence, | 
activity, and a high degree of be- 
nevolence. His. manners were 
frank and pleasing, and well calcus 
lated to maintain the extensive po. 
pularity he had acquired. His do- 
mestic arrangements at Dishley were 
formed on a scale of hospitality to 
strangers, that gained him universal 
esteem; of the numerous visitants 
induced by curiosity to call at his 
house, none ever left it without have 
ing reason to extol the liberality 
of its owner. Many — interesting 
anecdotes are related of his hu- 
manity towards the various orders of 
animals ; he continually deprecated 
the atrocious barbarities practised by 
butchers and drovers ; shewing, by 
examples on bis own farm, the most 
pleasing instances of docility in the 
animals under his care. In. fine, 
without the introduction of unmean- 
ing panegyric, Mr. Bakewell was 
exactly such a character as every 
well-meaning man. would wish to 
be. His vices were few, and with- 
out name; his virtue such as most 
men ought to imitate ; and his uti- 
lity was of such extensive conse- 
quence, as to bea proper object of | 
emulation to-all men, 


NATUBATS 


NATURAL 


Observations on the Structure of 
the Eyes of Birds, by Mr. Pierce 
Smith, Student of Physic ; from the 
Philosophical Transactions. 


\ \ J HILE examining the eyes of 
Birds, I observed in them a 


‘singular structure, which I believe 
has not been hitherto noticed ; and 
though not the object I had in view, 
_in the examination, it will perhaps 
elucidate several remarkable cir- 
cumstances in the natural history of 
these animals, and may ultimately 
be applied to the eyes of other ani- 
mals and add one additional dis- 
covery to those already made on 
this beautifully constructed organ. 

In March, 1792, I observed, 
while dissecting the eyes of birds, 
an irregular appearance of the 
sclerotica, in that part of it which 
immediately surrounds the cornea ; 
and which in them is generally flat. 
On a more minute examination, it 
appeared to be scales lying over 
each other, and which appeared 
capable of motion on each other. 
These appearances I shewed to Dr. 
Fowler, of London, and likewise 
to Mr. Thomson, surgeon, Edin- 
burgh. In June, this paper was 
copied out, at my request, by Mr. 
Irving, who resided jn the same 
house with me. On investigating 
this singular structure, the scales 
were found to be of tony hard- 


: hay : ae #59 A} . oF ‘ i; 3 


HISTORY: 


ness, at least much more so than any 
other part of the sclerotica. On the 
inside of the sclerotic coat of the 
eye there was no appearance of 
these scales, that part of it being 
similar to the rest of the sclerotica. 
Tendinous fibres were detected 
spreading over the scales, and ter- 
minating at last in forming the four 
recti muscles belonging to the eye, 
so that, upon the contraction of 
these muscles, motion of the scales 
would be produced. ‘This imbri« 
cated appearance of part of the 
sclerotica, and the destruction of 
the tendinous fibres spreading over 
scales, terminating at last in the 
four recti muscles, led me to con» 
sider the use of this structure, what 
would be the effect of motion of the 
scales upon the vision of birds, and 
how far this'can be applied to other 
animals. 

It is a fact so well known to per« 
sons acquainted with optics, that it 
is almost unnecessary to mention it, 
that the rays of light, passing through 
alens, will be refracted to a point 
or focus beyond the lens, and this 
focus will be less distant, in propor 
tion as the lens approaches, to a 
sphere in shape.. Now this princi- 
ple is very naturally applied to the 
explanation of the use of this ap 
paratus. These scales lying each 
partly over the next, so as to al-' 
low of mojon, will, on the cons 

traction 


#60] ANNUAL REGISTER, 


traction of the recti muscles, inserted 
into and covering them, move over 
each other, and thus the circle of 
the sclerotica will be diminished, 
and of course the cornea, which is 
immediately within the circle made 
by these scales, will be pressed for- 
wards, or, in other words, rendered. 
more convex, and thus the focus of 
the eye becomes altered, its axis 
being elongated. This construction, 
and consequent convexity of the 
cornea, must render small objects 
near the animal very distinct. 

On these muscles relaxing, the 
elasticity of the sclerotic coat will 
restore the cornea to its original 
flatness ; it thus becomes fitted for 
viewing objects placed ata greater 
distance from the eye, and this will 
be in proportion to the degree of 
relaxation. 

There seems toexist in nature an 
economy of motion, to prevent fa- 
tigue and exhaustion of the abimal 
powers by continued voluntary mus- 
cular action. If two opposite ac- 
tions of the same frequency occur in 
two muscles, the one being antago- 
nist to the other, the action of one 
ceasing, the action of the other must 
take place previously to farther mo- 
tion of the part; for instance, on the 

- biceps flexor of the arm acting, the 
arm will be bent, but on discontinu- 
ing its action the arm will remain in 
the same state, unless it was straight- 
ened by the action of the bicepts 
exterior, its antagonist ; but where 
one action in a part is required to 
take place almost constantly,and the 
opposite action but.seldom, to save 
the animal from fatigue necessarily 


induced by muscular contraction, - 


she gives an elastic ligament, which 
from its elasticity may be said to be 
in continual action, without ex. 
hausting the animal. Thus, when 


1793. 


the opposite action, which is of less 


‘frequent occurrence, is required, it 


is performed by overcoming the re- 
sistance, or elasticity of this elastic 
ligament, which, on the muscle giv- 
ing over its action again, resumes its - 
former state. The elastic cartilages 
of the ribs performing, in some de= 
gree, the functions of a muscle, are 
of use in fespiration ; likewise the 
elastic ligaments which support the 
claws of all the feline genus, keep- 
ing them from friction against the 
ground. ‘These claws, at the voli- 
tion of the animal, by muscles ap- 
propriated for that purpose, are 
brought into action or extended. 
From theabovementioned structure, 
the same thing appears to take place 
in the eyes of animals. When an 
animal is desirous of seeing minute 
objects, the recti muscles act, and 
thus, by rendering the eye more 
convex, enlarge the angle under 
which the object is seen. How ne- 
cessary is this structure to these ani- 
mals in particular ; for, without ita 
bird would be continually exposed 
to have its head dashed against a 
tree when flying in a thick forest, 
its motions being too rapid for the 
common structure of theeye. The 
eagle, when soaring high in the 
air, observes small objects on the 
earth below him, inconceivable to 
us, and darts upon them instanta- 
neously. Here we must allow that 
there must be an extraordinary ale 
teration in the focus in this eye, in 
almost an instant of time. How 
could this be performed unless the 
animal had this apparatus? The 
eyes of quadrupeds, as I shall after- 
wards shew, can perform this altes 
ration, though notin the same degree, 
as it is not necessary, their modes of 
life being different. A swallow, |) 
sailing through the air, pursues a 
great |) 


NATURAL 


great or Small fly to almost certain 
destruction. This apparatus is very 
distinct inallthese birds. Wher- 
ever we find the subsistence or safety 
of an animal entrusted to, or de- 
pending more particularly upon, 
one sense than the rest, we are sure 
to find that sense proportionably 
perfect 5 as inquadrupeds, the organ 
of smelling is remarkably perfect, 
and leads them to their prey ; so the 
eyes of birds are proportionably 
perfect, being the means, not only 
of their support, but from them 
they receive the first intimation of 
approaching danger. 

The eyes of birds, like those of 
other animals, consist of three coasts, 
the sclerotica, choroides, and retina. 
The human eye, as well as those of 
quadrupeds, is nearly spherical ; in 
birds the sphere is more oblate, the 
sclerotica, as itapproaches the cor- 
nea, becoming suddenly flat. The 
cornea, though small, when com- 
pared with the size of the whole eye 
is more convex, as it forms the seg~ 
ment of a smaller circle added to the 
larger formed by the sclerotica. The 
reason or advantage of this flatness 
is not very evident. Iv prevents 
them, perhaps, from projecting so 
far aS to expose them to danger 
from the trees and grass amongst 
which these animals live. 

After having examined the eyes 
of birds, and seeing this curious ap- 
paratus, | was next led to the exa- 
mination of the eyes of quadrupeds, 


‘that I might see in what manner 


they resemble the eyes of birds, and 
if Tcouid account for their being 
able to accommodate their eyes to 
objects at different distances. 

This was a subject I found in- 
yolved in much difficulty, as the 
eyes of quadrupeds appeared on 


examination not to have these im. 


HISTORY. [*6 


bricated scales which are so obvious 
in birds, but all this difficulty vanish- 
ed on taking hold of one of the four 
recti muscles of the eya of a sheep; 
and by tearing and dissecting, I. 
found that it terminated in, and 
with the other parts composed, the 
cornea ; so that on the first volition 
of the mind, the recti muscles on 
contracting will have the power of 
fixing the eye, and keeping it steady, 
and at the same time by contracting 
more or less, will adapt the focus 
of the eye to the distance of the 
object, but in a less degree than in 
birds. On these muscles giving 
over acting, the eye will be restored 
to its former state by the elasticity 
of the sclerotic coat. 

From a knowledge of these cir- 
cumstances, we may, from rational 
principles, explain, why people, by 
being long aecustomed to view smail 
objects, obtain, in time, a sort of 
microscopic power, if it may be so 
called ; that is, the muscles which 
contract the cornea,‘will, by cus- 
tom, increase their power of action, 
and grow stronger, like the othag 
muscles of the body ; other pheno-~ 
mena of vision on these principles 
may be explained, 


Observations on the Influence which 
incites the Muscles of Animals te 
contract, in Mr. Galvani’s Ex- 
periments, by W. C. Wells, M. D. 
F. R. S. from the same. 


R. Volta, in his letters to Mr. 
Cavallo, which have been 

read to this society, not only has 
shewn that the conclusions, whick 
Mr. Galvani drew from his experi- 
ments on the application of me- 
tals to the nerves and museles of 
animals, are in various respects 
erroneous, 


#62] 


erroneous, but has also made known 
several important facts, in addition 
to those which had been discovered 
by that author.” As he appears, 


however, from these letters, to have’ 


fallen into some mistakes himself, 
and has certainly not exhausted the 
subject which he has treated in 
them, I shall venture to communi- 
cate to this learned body a few ob- 
servations I have made respecting 
it, which may contribute both to 
correct his errors, and to increase 
our knowledge of the,cause of those 
motions, which have been attributed 
by Mr. Galvani and others to an 
animal electricity. These obser- 
vations will be so arranged, as to 
furnish answers, more or less satis- 
factory, to the following questions : 
does the incitement of the influence 
which, in Mr. Galvani’s experi- 
ments, occasions the muscles of ani- 
mals to: contract, either wholly, or 
in part, depend. upon any peculiar 
property of living bodies? What 
are the conditions necessary for the 
excitement of this influence? Is it 
electrical ? ' 

- When a muscle contracts upon a 
connection being formed, by means 
of one or more metals, between its 
external surface and the nerve 
which penetrates it, Mr. Galvani, 
contends that, previously to this 
effect, the inner and outer parts of 
the muscle contain different quan- 
tities of the electric fluid; that the 
nerve is consequently in the same 
state, with respect to that fluid, as 
the internal substance of the muscle; 
and that, upon the application of 
one or more metals between its 
outer surface and the nerve, an 
electrical discharge takes place, 
which is the cause of the contrac- 
tion of the muscle. In shsrt, he 
supposes a complete similarity to 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


exist between a muscle, in a proper |i 
condition to exhibit this appears | 
ance, and a charged Leyden phial; 
the nerve of the former answering, |} 


as faras/his experiments are con= {f 


cerned, the same purpose as the 
wire, which is connected with the in- 
ternal surface of the latter. 

Now, if this were just, sucha fj 
muscle ought to contract, whenever |; 
a communication is formed between — 
its internal surface and the nerve, 
by means of any conductor of elece | 
tricity ; and accordingly Mr. Volta, 
who toa certain extent adopts Mr. 
Galvani’s theory, asserts this to be 
the case, as often as the experiment 
is made upon an animal which has 
been newly killed. But Iam in- 
clined to believe that he rests this 
assertion upon some general princi- 
ple, which he thinks established, 
and not upon particular facts; for 
he gives none in proof of it, and I 
have often held a nerve of an animal 
newly killed in one hand, while 
with the other I touched the muscle 
to which the nerve belonged, but 
never saw contractions by this 
means excited. Lhave also frequent- 
ly taken hold of a nerve of an ani- 
mal, which was recently killed, with 
a non-conductor of electricity, and 
have in this way applied its loose 
end to the external surface of the 
muscle which it entered, without 
ever observing motion to follow. I 


think, therefore, I am entitled to 


conclude, not only that the theor 
advanced by Mr. Galvani, respect- 
ing the cause of the muscular mo- 
tions in his experiments, is erro. 
neous; but also, that the influence, 
whatever its nature may be, by 
which they are excited, does not 
exist in a disengaged state in the 
muscles and nerves, previously tothe 
application of metals. Should it be 
urged 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


yrged against this conclusion, that, 
Since metals are much better con- 
ductors of electricity than moist 
Substances, the charge of a muscle 
may be too weak to force its way 
through the latter, though it may 
be able to pass along the former ; 
my -answer is, that, in all Mr. 
Galvani’s experiments, the nerve 
makes a part of the connecting 
medium between the two surfaces of 
the muscle, and that the power of no 
compound conductor can begreater 
than that of the worst conducting 
substance, which constitutes a part 
} of it. 

It may be said, however, that, 
although there is no proof that any 
influence naturally resides in the 
nerves or muscles, capable of pro- 
ducing the effects mentioned by 
Mr. Galvani, these substances may 
still, by some power independent of 
the properties they possess in com- 
mon with dead matter, ‘contribute 
to the excitement of the influence, 
which is so well known to exist in 
them, after a certain application of 
metals. Before 1 enter upon the 
discussion of thissupposition, I must 
observe, that there are two cases of 
such an application of metals: the 
firstis, when we employ oualy one 
metal ; the secon’, when we employ 
two or more. iil respect to the 
first case, a Jate author, Dr. Fowler, 
who seems to have made many ex- 


periments relative to this point, po-- 


sitively asserts, that he never saw a 
fair instance of motion being pro- 
duced by the mere application of a 
single metal to a muscle and its 
nerve. I shall, therefore, defer 
treating this case, till I speak of the 
conditions which are necessary for 
the excitement of the influence. Nor 
will the present subject suffer from 
‘this delay; for if it be shewn, as I 


[*63 


expect it will, that, when two or 
more metals are used, the muscle and 
its nerve do not furnish -any thing 
but what every other moist substance 
is equally capable of doing, it will, 
I think, be readily granted, that 
they can give nothing more, when 
only one metal is applied to them. 

In regard to the second casey 
Mr. Volta has affirmed, or has said 
at least, what I regard as equivalent 
to affirming, that, when two metals 
are employed, the influence in ques- 
tion is excited by their action upon 
the mere moisture of the parts which 
they touch. The proofs, however, 
of this assertion were reserved for 
some future communication. But 
as more than two years have now 
elapsed since they were promised, 
and none have been given to this 
society, or have appeared, as far as 
Ican learn, in any other way, I 
hope I shall not be thought preci« 
pitate, if, at this distance of time, 
I offer one of the same point, which 
seems to me both plain and decie 
sive. 

It is known, that, if a muscle 
and its nerve be covered with two 
pieces of the same metal, no motion 
will take place upon connecting 
those pieces,by means of one or more 
different metals. After making this 
eXperiment one day, I accidentally 
applied the metal I had used as the 
connector, and which I still held in 
one hand, to the coating of the mus- 
cle only, while with the other hand 
I touched the similar coating of the 
nerve, and was surprised to find that 
the muscle was immediately thrown 
into contraction. Haring pro 
duced motions in this way sufficient- 
ly often to place the fact beyond 
doubt, I next began to consider its 
relations to other facts formerly 
knowm I yery soon perceived, that 

the 


*64] 


the immediate. exciting cause of 
these motions could not be derived 
from the action of the metals upon 
the muscle and nerve, to which 
they were applied; otherwise it 
must have been admitted, that my 
body anda metal formed together a 
better conductor of the exciting in- 
fluence than a metal alone, the 
contrary of which I had known, 
from many experiments, to be the 
ease. The only source, therefore, 
te which it could possibly be re- 
ferred, was the action of the metals 
upon my own body. It then oc- 
curred to me that a prqper oppor- 
tunity now offered itself of deter- 
mining, whether animals contribute 
to the production of this influence 
by means of any other property 
than their moisture. With this 
view, I employed various moist sub- 
stances, in which there could be no 
Suspicion of life, to constitute, with 
one or more metals, different from 
that of the coatings of the muscle 
and nerve, a connecting medium 
between those coatings, and found 
that they produced the same effect 
as my body. A single drop of 


water was even sufficient for this. 


purpose ; though, in general, the 
greater the quantity of the moisture 
which was used, the more readily 
and powerfully were contractions of 
the muscle excited. But, if the 
mutual operation of metals and 
moisture be fully adequate to the 
excitement of an influence capable 
of occasioning muscles to contract, 
it follows, as an immediate conse- 
quence, that animals act by their 
moisture alone in giving origin to 
the same influence in Mr. Galvani’s 
experiments, unless we are to admit 
more causes of an effect than what 
are sufficientfor its production. 
Before I dismiss this part of my 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


subject I may mention, that, being 
in possession of a method to deter- 
mine what substances are ‘capable, 
along with metals, of exciting the 
influence, I made several ex peri- 
ments for the purpose of ascertaining 
this point. I found, in consequence, 
that all fluid bodies, except mer- 
cury, that are good conductors of 
electricity, all those at least which 
I tried, can with the did of metals 
produce it. The bodies I tried, be- 
sides water, were alcohol, vinegar, 
and the mineral acids; the last 
both in their concentrated states, 
and when diluted with various pore 
tions of water. Alcohol, however, 
operated feebly. On the other . 
hand, no fluid, which is a non 
conductor of electricity, would assist 
in its production : those upon which 
the experiment was made were the 
fat and essential oils. " Ether, from 
its similiarity to alcohol, I expected 
would also have concurred in the 
excitement of the influence, but it 
did not; neither would it conduct 
the influence when excited by any 
other means. I may remark, how. 
ever, that the ether I employed 
had been prepared with great care : 
other ether, therefore, less accurate- 
ly made, may possibly be found to 
contribute to the excitement of the 
influence, either from the unde= 
composed alcohol, or naked acid, it 
may eontain. 

Having thus given an answer to 
the first question, I proceed to the 
discussion of the second, 

It has hitherto been maintained 
by every author, whose works | 
have read upon the subject of Mr. 
Galvani’s experimenis, and by 
every person with whom I have con- 
versed respecting it, that metals are 
the only substances capable, by their 
application to parts of animals, 

‘ of 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


of exciting the influence, which in 
those experiments occasions the 
miuscles to contract. But it ap- 
pears rather extraordinary, that 
none of those, who contend for the 
identity of this influence and the 
electric fluid, have ever suspected, 
that ‘the only very good dry con- 
ductor of the latter, which weknow, 
beside the metals, possesses like 
them the property of exciting the 
former. I confess, however, that it 
was not this consideration but acci- 
dent, which led me to discover that 
charcoal is endowed with this pro- 
perty, and in such a degree that, 
along with zinc, it excites at least as 
Strongly as gold with zinc, the most 
powerful combination, I believe, 
which can in this way be formed of 
the metals. - But, to prevent disap- 
pointments, I must mention, that 


_all charcoal is not equally fit for 


this purpose, and that long keeping 


_ Seems to diminish its power. 


It being shewn that charcoal is 
also to be ranked among the ex- 
citers of this influence, I shall now 
speak of the circumstances, in which 
both it and the metals must be 
placed, to fit them for the exercise 
of their power.- With respect to 
metals, Mr. Volta maintains, that, 
to this end, it is only necessary that 
two different ‘species be applied to 
any other body which is a good 


conductor of electricity, and that 


@ communication be established be-« 
tween the two metalic - coatings. 


But charcoal is a much better con- 
ductor of electricity than water, and 
~ yet metals in contact with it alone 


will not excite. Again, Mr. Volta 


says, that the simple application of 
_| two metals to two parts of an ani- 
.| mal, disturbs the equilibrium of the 

electric fluid, and disposes it to pass 
from one of the parts to the other, 


Vou, XXXVII. 


(*65 


which passage actually takes place, 
as soon as a conductor is applied 
between the metals. But what 
should prevent the passage of the 
fluid before the application of a new 
conductor, since the metals were 
already connected by means of the 
moisture of the animal? farther, 
a consequence of this opinion is, 
that, if the under surfaces of two 
different metals be placed in mois- 
ture, and their upper surfaces be 
afterwards connected by means of 
a nerve, still attached to its muscle, 
contractions ought then to be pros 
duced ; since the whole quantity of 
the electric fluid, necessary to re- 
store the equilibrium, which has 
been disturbed by the action of the 
metals, must pass through thenerve. 
This experiment I have made, and as 
I did not find the muscle to contract, 
I must hold Mr. Volta’s opinion, on 
this point, to be likewise ill-founded, 
The fact is, that as far as the con- 
traction of muscles is a test, whether 
the influence exists or not, and we 
have no other, it is never excited 
when two metals, or one metal and 
charcoal, are necessary for this pur= 
pose, unless these substances touch 
each other, and are also in contact 
with some of the fluids formerly 
mentioned. 

But there is still another requisite 
for the excitement of the influence, 
which is a communication by means 
of some good conductor of electrici+ 
ty, between the two quantities of 
fluid, to which the dry exciters are 
applied, beside that which takes 
place between the same quantities 
of fluid, when the dry exciters are 
brought ‘into contact with each 
other. As from this last circum- 
stance, a complete circle of con. 
nection is formed among the differ- 
ent substances employed, it has been 

[*E]} imagined 


#66] 


imagined by many, that the indivi- 
dual quantity of the influence ex- 
cited goes the whole round, each 
time contraction is produced. There 
is an experiment, however, first 
(I believe) made by Dr. Fowler, 
which appears to contradict this 
opinion: he brought two differ- 
ent metals into contact with each 
other, in water, at the distance of 
about an inch from the divided end 
of a nerve, placed in the same wa- 
ter, and found that the muscles, 
which depended upon it, were from 
this procedure thrown into con- 
tractions. Now, in this experi- 
ment, there was surely room enough 
for the influence to pass through 
both metals, and the moisture im- 
mediately touching them, without 
going near to the nerve. I think 
it, therefore, probable, that motions 
are in no case produced by any 
thing passing from the dry exciters 
through the muscles and nerve, but 
that they are occasioned by some in- 
fluence, naturally contained inthose 
bodies as moist substances, being 
suddenly put in motion, when the 
two dry exciters are made to touch 
both them ‘and each other ; in like 
manner as persons, it is said, have 
been killed by, the metion of their 
proper quantity of the electric fluid, 
But to return from conjecture to 
' facts, I shall now examine, whether 
it be always necessary to employ 
two dry exciters, that is, two metals 
or one metal and charcoal, in order 
to occasion contractions. 

Gold and zinc, the first the most 
perfect of the metals, the other an 
imperfect one, operate together very 
powerfully in pgoducing contrac- 
tions; while gold and, the next 
most perfect metal, silver operate 
very feebly. It would seem, there- 
fore, that the more similar the me- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1798: 


tals are, which are thus used, 
the less is the power arising from 
their combination. Two pieces of 
the same metal, but with different 
portions of alloy, are still more 
feeble than gold and silver; and 
the power of such pieces becomes 
less and less, in proportion as they 
approach each other in point of 
purity. From these facts it has 
been inferred, that, ifany two pieces 
of the same metal were to possess 
precisely the same degree of purity, 
they would, if used together, be en-~ 
tirely inert, in regard to the excites 
ment of muscular contractions ; in 
confirmation of which, many persons 
have asserted, that they have never 
observed muscles to move frem the 
employment of two such pieces of 
metal, or of one piece of metal 
having the same fineness through 
its whole extent. Others, however, 
upon the authority of their observa~ 
tions, have maintained the contrary: 
and to the testimony of these I must 
add my own, as I have frequently 
seen muscular motions produced 
not only by a single metal, but like- 
wise by charcoal alone. Nor will 
credit be denied me on this head, 
after I have pointed out certain 
practices, by which any one of those 
substances may at pleasure be made 
to produce contractions. ‘The most 
proper way of mentioning these 
practices, will, perhaps, be to relate 
in what manner they came to my 
knowledge. 

I one day placed a piece of salver, 
and another of tin-foil, at a small 
distance from each other, upon the 
crural nerve of a frog, and then 
applied a bent silver probe between 
them, with the view of ascertaining, 
whether contractions would arise, 
agreeably to Mr. Volta’sdeclaration, 
from the influence passing through 

& pore 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


@ portion of the nerve without en- 
tering the muscles. Having finished 
this experiment, I immediately af- 
ter applied the same probe between 
the silver coating of the nerve and 
the naked muscles, and was sur- 
prised to see these contract. A se- 
cond and third application were 
followed by the same effects, but 
farther applications were of noavail. 
It then occurred to me that motions 
might re-appear, if I again touched 
the two coatings with the probe, 
and the event proved the conjecture 
to have been fortunate; for, after 
every application of the probe to 
the two coatings, contractions were 
several times excited by it. The 
fact being thus established, that, un- 
der certain circumstances, contrac- 
tions could be produced by silver 
alone, it next became a subject of 
inquiry, whether this was owing to 
any disposition of the muscles and 
nerve, which had been induced 
upon them by Mr. Volta’s experi- 
ment, or whether, the condition of 
the muscles and nerve being unal- 
tered by that experiment, the silver 
had gained some new property by 
coming into contact with the tin-foil, 
The point in doubt was soon deter- 
mined, by applying the probe to a 
piece of tin-foil, which had no con- 
nection with any part of the animal; 
for, when this was done, it was 
again enabled to produce contrac- 
tions. As these experiments, how- 
ever, frequently did not succeed 
when made upon other frogs, I af- 
terwards varied the metals, and 
found in consequence, that zinc, 
particularly if moistened, communi- 
cated an exciting power pretty 
constantly to silver, gold, and iron. 
If any of these metals were slightly 
rubbed on the zinc, they almost 
always acquired such a power. 


[67 


It will, perhaps, be thought, from 
the last-mentioned circumstance, 
that, in every instance of motion 
being in this way produced, it was 
in truth owing to some part of one 
of the metals having been abraded 
by the other; so that, under the ap- 
pearance of one metal, two were in 
reality applied. But it can scarcely 
be supposed, that, from touching the 
polished surface of tin-foil in the 
gentlest manner with the smooth 
round end of a silver probe, any part 
of the former metal was carried 
away by the latter; and even when 
friction was used, as the zinc was 
much harder than the gold and 
silyer, it is not probable that it was 
in the least abraded by them. Be- 
sides, moisture, as I have already 
said, increases this effect of friction, 
though it lessens friction itself. 

The most powerful argument, 
however, in favour of my opinion, is 
another fact I discovered in pursuing 
this subject ; which is, that an ex- 
citing power may be given to a me- 
tal by rubbing it on many substances 
beside another metal, such as silk, 
woollen, leather, fish-skin, the palm 
of the human hand, sealing-wax, 
marble, and wood. Other substances 
will, doubtless, be hereafter added 
to this list. 

As the metals while they were 
rubbed were held in my hand, which, 
from the dryness of its scarf-skin, 
might have afforded some resistance 
to the passage of small quantities of 
the electric fluid ; and as the sub. 
stances, upon which the friction was 
made, were either electrics, or im- 
perfect conductors of electricity ; I 
once thought it possible, that the 
metal subjected to the friction had 
acquired,by means of it,an electrical 
charge, which, though very slight, 
was sul sufficicut to act as a stimu. 


f*E2 ) lus 


#68] 


lus upon thé nerves to which it was 
;communicated. But that this was 
not the case was, afterwards made 
evident, by the following experi- 
ments and considerations. 

1. A metal, rendered capable by 
friction of exciting contractions, 
produced no change upon Mr, Ben- 
net’s gold-leaf electrometer. 

2. The interposition of moisture 
does not, in any instance I know of, 
increase the effect of fricti:n in ex- 
citing the electric fluid.. In ’some 
instances it certainly lessens this ef- 
fect. But meistened substances, 
when rubbed; by a metal, commu- 
nicate to it the capacity of produc- 
ing contractions, much more readily 


than the same substances do when” 


dry. 

3. If my hand, from being anim- 
perfect Gincithen; had occasioned 
an accumulation of electricity in 
the metal which was rubbed, a 
greater effect of thesame kind ought 
certainly to have been produced by 
insulating the metal completely ; 
which is contrary to fact. 

4. I placed a limb of a frog, pro- 
perly prepared, upon the floor of 
my chamber ; if a severe frost bad 
“not prevailed when I made this ex- 
periment, I should have !aid it upon 
the moistened surface of the earth, 
I then raised from the muscles, by 
means of an electric, the loose end 
of the nerve,:and touched it with 
the rubbed part ofa piece of metal ; 
but no contractions followed. To 
be convinced that this was not 
owing to any want of virtue in the 
metal, I kept the same part of it still 
in contact with the nerve, while I 
applied another part to the muscles; 
immediately upon which. contrac- 
_ tions were excited. , 

5. Admitting now the limb of an 
@nimal to be in such an experiment 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


completely insulated, and that. the 
metal actually becomes electrical 
from the friction it undergoes,surely 
a very few-applications can only be 
required to place them both in the 
same state with respect to the elec~ 
tric fluid ; and when tbis happens, 
all motions depending on the trans- > 
flux of that fluid must necessarily 
cease. I have found, howeyer, that 
a piece of metal which has been 
rubbed will excite contractions, 
alter it has been many times applied 
to the lrmb. In one instance, vigo- 
rous contractions were occasioned 
by the 200th application; and if I 
had chosen to push the experiment 
farther, I might certainly have pro- 
duced many more. I may mention 
also, as connected with this faut, 
that I have frequently obsérved 
piece of metal to excite motions, 
an entire day after it had begn 
rubbed. 

What I have said will, probably, 
be thought more than sufficient to 
prove, ‘that metals, after being 
rubbed, do not produce muscular 
contractions by means of any dis- 
engaged electricity they contain. If 
my vpinion were now asked, re- 
specting the mode in which friction 
communicates such a power to them, 
I should say, that the part which has 
been rubbed is-so far altered, in 
some condition or property, as to be 
affected differently, by the fluid ex- 
citers, from a part which has not 
been rubbed; in short, that the 
rubbed part becomes, as it were, a 
different metal. ‘There are two 
facts, besides those already men- 
tioned, which support this conjec- 
ture. The first is, that when I have 
endeavoured to give an equal degree 
of friction to the two parts of the 
metal which I applied to the muscle, 
and its nerye, little or ne motion 

was 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


wasiexcited by it; so that it is rea- 
sonable to suppose, that, if precisely 
the Same degree of friction wer 

given to both the parts, no contrac- 
tions would ever be produced by 
them, when used in this way. The 
second is, that, although only one 
part of the metal be rubbed, still, if 
both the muscle and nerve be coated 
with’some other metal, the applica- 
tion of the rubbed metal between 
these similar coatings will not be fol- 
lowed by motions ; which, however, 
will immediately be produced, by 
touching the’ naked muscle and nerve 
with the same piece of metal. But, 
whether any part of my reasoning 
upon this head be admitted as just 
or not, it must yet be granted, as I 
think I cannot be mistaken respect- 
ing the facts which have been men- 
tioned, that very slight accidents 
may give the power of exciting con- 
tractions to a single metal,which had 
it not before; and that we may hence 
easily account for the discordant tes- 
timonies of authors upon this point. 

Hitherto I have spoken only of 
the effects of friction upon metals. 
But to conclude this part of my sub- 
ject, I must now remark, that char- 
coal, though from its friability not 
very fit for the experiment, may yet 
be rendered capable by the same 
means of producing contractions, 
without the assistance of any of the 
metals. 

My next and last objcet is to en- 
quire, whether the influence, which 
in all these experiments immediate- 
ly excites the muscles to act, be 
electrical or not. 

The points of difference between 
any two species of natural bodies, 
even those which, from the similarity 
of some of their most obvious quali- 
ties have once been thought the 
same, are found, upon accurate ex- 


[*69 


amination, greatly to exceed in 
number those of their agreement. 
When, therefore, two. substances 
are known to have many properties 
in common, while their differences 
are few, and noneof these absolutely 
contradict such a conclusion, we 
infer with ‘considerable confidence, 
that they are the same, though we 
may not be immediately able-to 
explain why their resemblance is 
not complete. After Mr. Walsh, for 
instance, had discovered, that. the 
influence of the torpedo was trans- 
mitted by all the various bodies 
which are good conductors of the 
electric fluid, philosophers made 
little hesitation in admitting them to 
be one and the same. substance, 
though some of their apparent diffe~ 
rences could not then be accounted 
for. In like manner, the inquirers 
into the nature of the influence, the 
effects of which are so evident in 
Mr. Galvani’s experiments, have 
very generally, and in my opinion 
justly, allowed it to be electrical, 
on the ground that its conductors 
and those of electricity are altogee 
ther the same. To this, however, 
an objection has been made by Dr. 
Fowler, which, if well founded, 
would certainly prove them to be 
different substances ; -for he has as- 
serted that charcoal, which is so 
good a conductor of electricity, Te= 
fuses to transmit the influence, upon 
which the motions in Mr. Galvani’s 
experiments depend. In. reply, I 
shall only say, that Dr. Fowler.must 
have been unfortunate with respect 
to the charcoal he employed ; since 
all the pieces I ever tried, and I 
have tried many,’ were found to 
conduct this influence. 

Other arguments have likewise 
been urged against the identity of 
the two influences; all of which, 

[* E 3] how- 


* 70] 


however, excepting one, I shall de- 
cline discussing, as they either are of 
little importance, or have not been 
stated with sufficient precision. The 
objection I mean is, that in none of 
the experiments with animals, pre- 
pared after the manner of Mr, Gal- 
vani, are those appearances of at- 
traction and repulsion to be observ- 
ed, which are held to be the tests of 
the presence of electricity, My 
answer to it is, that no such appear- 
sances can, occur in Mr. Galvani’s 
experiments, consistently with the 
known requisites for their success, 
and the established laws of electri- 
city. For, as it has been proved, 
that there is naturally no disengaged 
electrio fluid in. the nerves and mus- 
cles of animals, I except the tor- 
pedo and a few others, no signs of 
attraction and_ repulsion can be 
looked for in those substances, be- 
fore the application of metals or 
charcoal; and after these have been 
applied, the equilibrium of the in- 
fluence, agreeably to what has been 
already shewn, is never disturbed, 
unless means for its restoration be 
at the same time afforded. Neither 
then ought sigus of attraction and 
repulsion to be in this case present- 
ed, onthe supposition that the in- 
fluence is electrical ; since it is ne- 
cessary for the exhibition of such 
appearances, that bodies, after be- 
coming electrical, should remain so 
during some sensible portion of time: 
it being well known, for example, 
that the passage of the charge of a 
Leyden phial, from one of its sur- 
faces to the other, does not efiect 
the most delicate electrometer, sus~- 
pended from a wire or otber sub- 
stance, which forms the communi- 
‘cation between ‘them. 
Such are the observations I mean 
at’present to submit to'the consider- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795: 


ation of this Society, respecting the 
influence which incites the muscles 
of animals to contract, in Mr. Gal- 
vani’s experiments. 


Observations on the Maritime Alps ; 
* from Beaumont’s Travels through 
them, 


oS inp vee lee that some general 
deductions from the principal 
facts, or phenomena, mentioned in 
the course of this work may be ex- 
pected of me, especially with re- 
spect to the theory of the formation 
of their regular surface of the earth, 
at least of that wonderful part of it 
which I have so repeatedly explores 
ed, Lhave ventured to annex a few 
observations, which appear to me 
to merit the particular attention of 
philosophers, as likewise the con- 
sequences which I think might be 
drawn from them. 

I do not, however, mean to speak 
of what relates to the first and great 
revolution experienced by our globe 
at the formation of its continents : 
that is, at the epoch when the wa- 
ters covered it about two thousand 
four hundred and fifty toises, and 
which is nearly the present eleva- 
tion of some of the granitic peaks 
of the Alps, as Mont Blanc, Mont 
Rose, &c. In short, of the time 
when they were totally submerged 
by that element, and formed them- 
selved under that fluid, either by 
eflect of crystallization or precipitas 
tion. I therefore only intend to 
touch on the phenomena which re- 
late to the last immersion experi- 
enced by our continent, and which 
appears to have been partial. 

I. From the immense atterrisse-. 
ments, or land-accumulations, al- 
ready formed, and which are con- 
tinually increasing at the mouth * 

the 


NATURAL. 


the P6; from the extreme variation 
or great variety existing in the dif. 
ferent strata of sand, pebbles, and 
vegetable earth, which now form 
the banks of that wonderful river ; 
from the number of beds of mari- 
time and fluviatiles, or river shells, 
which lieinsome places distinct or 
separated, and in others confusedly 
mixed together, from Cremona to 
the sea: in fine, from the progres- 
sive diminution which the velocity 
of the waters of the P6 experience, 
in proportion as the lower valley of 
Lombardy enlarges and gets nearer 
the sea; I conclude or deduce the 
following consequences. 1. That 
that part of the valley, which lies 
eastward of Cremona, cannot owe 
its origin or increase but to the 
quantities of earthy matter continu- 
ally brought down and deposited by 
this river, which, to all appear- 
ances, were formerly infinitely more 
considerable than at present. 2. 
That the sea once covered this fer- 
tile plain; and that the greatest 
part of Lombardy may be consider- 
ed as an encroachment made on 
that element, by a quantity of frag- 
ments detached from the primordial 
and secondary chain of mountains, 
which were at first hurled by the sea 
in its last retreat, and then carried 
along by the waters of the Pd, which 
in some degree still continues to de- 
posit them, as before mentioned, by 
meansof the frequent imundations 
caused by the overflowings of the 
P6 in the confines of Ferrara and 
Bologna, which are. increased by 
the eagerness of the inhabitants of 
those provinces, who unfortunately 
attempted to restrain the waters of 
that formidable river too soon by 
banks, dykes, &c. ¥ 
If. From the direction of the val- 
ley of Lombardy, and of all the se= 


HISTORY. {*7k 


condary ones which terminate ia it ; 
from the extreme difference in the 
elevation of the head of these se- 
condary valleys situated at the foot 
of the Alps, and likewise from their 
number, compared to those on the 
west and south-west of .the same 
mountains; from their irregular 
form, number, and great degree of 
abruptness, which exist likewise in 
the secondary and tertiary moun- 
tains on the eastern side of the grani- 
tic peaks, in comparison to those of 
the same order on the western: in 
short, from the calcareous chain of 
hills which surround all Lombardy : 
I think I may venture to conclude : 
1. That the motion of the sea, in 
its first mutation or change, hada 
direction tending nearly from west — 
toeast. 2. That at first it rose toa 
great height, which appears to be 
fully proved by the calcareous mat- 
ter, containing maritime shells, now 
found lying on some of the primi- 
tive rocks of the Alps. 3. That 
its motion and retreat, or subsiding, 
were at first extremely rapid. 4, 
That the seas having rose above the 
plains which form the high valleys 
of the Alps, it afterwards precipi- 
tated itself towards the east, and 
dug by its weight and velocity the 
valleys which are at their feet, mu- 
tilating and chamfretting the secon- 
dary mountains which intercepted 
its passage. 5. That the sea, having 
in process of time abated in its mo- 
tion, had by its sediment formed 
the schistus and secondary moun- 
tains, which describe a kind of zone 
to the plain of Lombardy : in short, 
6. That it is evident, that the sea 
remained or stopped a much longer 
time on the western side than of the 
eastern, 

III. From the enormous masses 
of granite and primitive rock whicl 

[*E 4] how 


*72] 


now lie isolated on the summit of 
several high calcareous, schistous 
and sandy-hills in Piedmont, to 
which they have not the least ana- 
logy, I am naturally led to believe, 
1. That the soil of the upper part of 
the valley ef Lombardy was, when 
still covered or submerged by the 
sea, nearly as elevated as the sum- 
mit of those hills are at present. 2. 
That. these granitic masses were 
most probably driven on the top of 
those hills by the accelerated action 
of the sea, as I have previously ob- 
served in a former part of my work, 
“and left in that isolated state by the 
same current, which, by gradually 
furrowing the soil in. various direc- 
tions, formed an innumerable quan- 
tity of small irregular valleys, which 
have however, in general, their 
salient. or prominent angles. uni- 
formly opposed to the concave ones. 

IV, rom the extreme degree of 
cold particularly experienced on 
the Cols de Tende, Finestre, and 
Argentera, &c. though less elevated 
than Mont Cenis, I draw-the fol- 
lowing conclusion, viz. at the 
height and degree of elevation of 
the. mountains, above the level of 
the sea, have less influence than 
that which they have above their 
valleys, in order to the absolute de- 
termination of the kind of climate 
which exists on their summit ; pro- 
vided, however, their height does 
not exceed one thousand or twelve 
hundred toises, that being nearly 
the zone in which the snow is per- 
manent. 

V. From the irregular inclina- 
tions or directions so generally found 
in. the beds ar strata of the secondary 
Mountains, and from their abrupt- 
ness, breaks, and quantity of hete- 
rogeneous ‘matter so frequently con- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


tained in their cavities; I am of 
opinion, 1. That those mountains 


could not have given way and sunk, 
except at the time when their sum~ — 


mits were entirely submerged by 


the sea: indeed this supposition ap- — 


pears to be fully elucidated, by the 
calcareous matter containing ma- 
rine fossils, which generally fill the 
vacuum formed by the different 
breaks. of those mountains, and 
which is likewise sometimes found 
on their summits. 2. That they 
could not have thus broken or se~ 
parated, but from the effect of sub- 
terraneous caverns formed in the in- 
terior of the globe, the vaults of 
which, from being progressively 
over-charged by a continual accu- 
mulation of calcareous particles de» 


posited by the sea, have sunk or 


given way, as, I flatter myself, I 
have in a former part of this. work 
clearly demonstrated, 
VI. From the number of moun- 
tains formed of grés, or sand-stone, 
marne, or marl, and pudding-s!one, 
which lie on others of different 
species, such as granite, rock-stone, 
&c. which likewise vary as to the 
reciprocal inclinations of — their 
Strata; also, from the irregularity 
and extreme verticality in the strata 
of the mountains of schist, whiclr 
even form a right angle with the 
horizon; in fine, from the general 
disorder or confusion which appear 
so Conspicuous inthe secondary and 
tertiary mountains, situated towards 
the west and south-west chain of 
the Alps, Iam led to believe: 1. 
That the wonderful changes which 
our globe has experiéficed are en- 
tirely owing to the effects of fire, 
and water, which have, at different 
epochs, powerfully and visibly acted 
either together or separate, 2. That 
the 


7 


Cee eet an ee Ons am Gee oe ae Se See et + Oba SS ee S6- 


ae 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


the continents have likewise been 
exposed to similar revolutions ; and, 
in short, that the last great débacle, 
or bouleversement, is not, by se- 
yeral centuries, of so remote a date 
as has been generally supposed. 
VII. From the sandy hills which 
compose the valley described in the 
eighth chapter, containing different 
species of marine fossils, and which 
are asif enclosed or wedged in the 
midst of high calcareous mountains, 
which do not contain any ; from the 
direction of this valley, which tends 
from north to south: from the petri- 
fied trees likewise found ten feet be- 
low the soil of the same valley, in 
the environs of Nice, resting on cal- 
careous beds, the roots of which 
contained in their ramifications a 
quantity of marine fossils ; I am in- 
duced-to conclude, 1. That the sea, 
in its slow and gradual r-treat, 
must have formed an extensive 
gulph in the neighbourhoed of 
Escarene; and that the calcareous 
mountains, above alluded to, served 
as its eastern and western boundary. 
2. That the summit of the sandy 
hills, which now form the inner val- 
ley, indicate as nearly as possible 
the elevation of the bottom of the 
gulph at that period. In fine, that 
the waters having afterwards effec- 


ted their retreat in that place, from: 


north to south, had, as it were, 
traced out the valley, which has 
since been finished by the draining 
of that part of the sea which had 
been accidentally retained in some 
of the bigher valleys, in consequence 
of having broken, by its weight and 
action, the calcareous barrier which 
for a time retained it. 

VIL. From the abrupt state of 
| the calcareous mountains which 
border the Mediterranean coast 


[*78 


from Nice to Savona; from their 
extreme height or elevation; from 
the depth of the sea which washes 
their basis ; as likewise from .the di- 
rection of the rivers and. valleys of 
that part of the chain, which isin 
general from north to south, and the 
vast number of gypsum quarries 
which are withina mile ar two of 
the coast; I am led to suppose, 
1. That the major part of the se- 
condary and tertiary chain of the 
Alps still remains covered by the 
sea. 2. That it appears’ probable 
that those mountains may extend to 
the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. 
In fine, that a number of these cal- 
careous mountains owe their abrupt- 
ness to the last retreat of the sea, 
which bad, by insensibly undermin- 
ing their basis, occasioned part of 
their mass to detach and fall into the 
water, from their not having at that 
period acquired the same degree of 
consistence which they now pos- 
SESS. 

1X. From not having been able, 
with the greatest care and attention, 
to trace or discover the least indica- 
tion of volcanic operations from 
La Bouchette, near Genoa, to Mont 
Viso, in. Piedmont, which are the 
two mountains which terminate the 
maritime chain, I think myself aus 
thorised to say that there does not 
appear to have existed any  vol- 
canos in that part of the Alps, ex- 
cept in the valley of Fontaine du 
Temple, mentioned in the last chap- 
ter, and which, from not having - 
been able properly to inyestigate, f 
cannot to a certainty venture to 
give my opinion. 

These are the conclusions I de- 
duce from the foregoing premises 
and which I offer to the considera- 
tion of the public with some diffi- 

dence 


*74| 


dence, sensible of the difficulties 
which attend the structure of all 
the theories of the earth; but if I 
should be thought to have failed in 
any of my inferences, I have still 
the satisfaction to know that, with- 
out any View to system, I have en- 
deavoured faithfully to collect and 
to record natural facts, of which 
others may probably make a better 
use than I have made myself, and to 
which the attention of scientific 
men may not unprofitably be di- 
rected. It is not for me to pro- 
nounce how far I have succeeded ; 
but as Sir William Hamilton’s ob- 
ject has been to trace the operation 
of firein the formation of the great 
features of nature, so it has been 
mine to trace and to notice the ope- 
ration of water; and, perhaps, when 
the power of these two mighty ele- 
ments is duly considered, great light 
will be thrown on a subject hitherto 
imperfectly investigated. 

I shall be happy should my works, 
with their embellishments, be al- 
Jowed the honour of standing as an 
invitation or introduction to the 
study of that part of the Alps, 
where the few flowers and ears of 
corn which I have gathered may 
serve as a specimen of their rich- 
ness and fertility, asa field of sci- 
ence, and whose harvest I must 
leave to be reaped by others more 
conversant than myself in the philo- 
sophy of natural history. 


Account of the Buffalo of America, 
by Mr. Turner; from Letters 
and Papers on Agriculture, se- 
lected from the Correspondence of 
the Bath and West of England So- 
ciety, Vol, VII. 


HE. American Buffalo is, if 1 
mistake not, the bison of Buffon, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Immense herds of this animal roam 
at large, in interior America. From 
Green River to the Mississippi, the 
shores of the Ohio are lined with 
them. The hunters are too apt to 
destroy them wantonly: a circum- 
stance much to be regretted, and 
not to be prevented. Frequently 
have I seen this fine animal iilled ; 
and, excepting the tongue and the 


tallow, left on the ground a prey | 


to the tigers, wolves, and eagles. 
The boss on the shoulders of the 
buffalo is, as well as the tongue, ex- 
tremely rich and delicious,—super- 
rior tothe best English beef. It is 
usual to cure the tongues, and 
transport them to New Orleans ; 
where they are sure to meet witha 
good market. 

There is a singular, an affecting 
trait in the character of the buffalo, 
when acalf; and my feelings have 
severely felt it. Whenever a cow 
buffalo falls before the murdering 
lead of the hunters, and happens 
to have a calf, the helpless young 
one, far from attempting an escape, 
stays by its fallen dam, with signs 
expressive of strong and active 
natural affection. ‘The dam thus 
secured, the hunter makes-no ate 
tempt on the calf, (knowing it to be 


unnecessary) but proceeds to cut — 


up the carcase : then laying it onhis 
horse, he returns towards home, 
followed by the poor calf, thus in- 


stinctively attending the remains of i 
T have seen a single hun- — 


its dam. 
ter ride into the town of Cincinnati, 
between the Miames, followed in 


this manner, and, at the same time, __ 
by three calves, who had lost their — 


dams by this cruel hunter. 


Since I have expressed a wish to — 
see the buffalo domesticated on the © 
English farms, I will now mention a — 
fact concerning it, within my own © 
A farmer, on the great © 


knowledge. 
Kenhawa 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


Kenhawa, broke a young buffalo to 
the plough ; having yoked it witha 
steer taken from his tame cattle. 
The buffalo performed to admira- 
tion. Enquiring of the man, whe- 
ther he had any fault to find with 
the buffalo’s performance, he an- 
swered, there was but one objection 
to it: the step of the buffalo was 
too quick for that of the tame steer. 
** My friend,” said I, “ the fault 
lies not in the buffalo, but in the 
steer: what you term a fault in the 
former is really an advantage on 
its side.” Till this moment, the 
man had laboured under one of those 
clouds of prejudice bul too common 
among farmers. He had taken the 
' ox of his father’s farm, as the unit 
whence all his calculations were to 
be made,and his conclusions drawn: 
it was his unchangeable standard of 
excellence, whether applied to the 
plough or to the draught. Nosooner 
was my observation uttered, than 
conviction flashed on his mind. He 
acknowledged the superiority of the 
buffalo. ~ 

But there is another property in 
which the buffalo far surpasses the 
ox:—his strength. Judging from 
the extraordinary size of his bones, 
and the depth and formation of his 
chest, I should not think it unreason- 
able to assign nearly a double portion 
of strength to this powerful inhabi- 
tant of the forest. Reclaim him, and 
you gain a capital quadruped for 
the draught and for the plough: his 
activity peculiarly fits him for the 
latter, in preference to the ox, 


Account of the River Tigris; from 

Ouseley’s Persian Miscellanies. 
MONG his other fitles, the 
Persian emperor styled himself, 


[75 


lord of the four rivers of Paradise, 
which an ingenious traveller* exe 
plains by ‘* Iuphrates, Tigris, 
Araxes, and Indus;” although in 
another place, he acknowledges his 
uncertainty, whether these were the 
streams that watered that happy: 
garden; that the Euphrates and 
Tigris were the principal rivers of 
the terrestial Paradise, is allowed by 
all writers. The Jihoon, or Oxus, 
as we have just seen, is supposed by 
some to have its source there, but as 
to the river Shihoon, as written in 
the specimen, I must confess my 
ignorance. I cannot affirm that it 
means the Araxes, which rises in 
Armenia, to the west of the Caspian 
sea; and 1 should rather imagine 
that the points over the first letters 
were superfluous, and that it signifies 
the Shihoon, or ancient Jaxartes, 
between which, and the lower part 
of the courses of the Jihoon, or 
Oxus, lies that country . called 
‘lransoxania formerly, and by the 
modern Asiatics, Mawer®-ul Neher, 
‘¢ the land beyond the river.” - 

But so little has been done on the 
geography of those countries, and so 
ignorant are we still of the exact 
situation of the rivers which we 
speak of, that a most learned writer 
takes particular occasion to remark 
the peculiar obscurity which yet 
hangs about them; and even the 
celebrated orientalist, M. D’Her- 
belot, only tells us, that perhaps 
(‘6 peut étre”) the Shihoon is only 
another name for that river, which 
the ‘‘ Antients called Jaxartes, and 
the Arabs write Sihoon.” 

Of the river Tigris, so celebrated 
by the Greek and Latin writers, 
the ancient name is no longer used, 
and it is now called Dejleh ; the 


* Sir Thomas Werbert. 


etymology 


76] ANNUAE!REGISTER, 1795. 


etymology of the former is traced to 
the Persian word Terr, an arrow, 
. which the river, from its velocity, 
was said to resemble. To this word 
the Greeks (according to their usual 
custom of adapting to their own 
idiom, all foreign, or as they styled 
them barbarous, words). added the 
common termination of the nomina- 
live case is, and the interpolation of 
the Greek gamma may beaccounted 
for by the probable gutturality of 
pronunciation with which the Per- 
sians uttered the letter R.. 

The rapidity of this river’s course 
is alluded to by Sadi, in an elegy 
which has been published with a 
Latin translation. ‘' The fame of 
ny verses,”’ says the prophetic poet, 
“shall spread over the world with 
greater impetuosity than the current 
of the Tigris; and theriver Deileh 
is celebratedin a particular chapter 
of a most excellent geographical 
poem by Khacam. 

The ancient Medes as well as 
Persians (According to Pliny) called 
an arrow Tigris, and a learned com- 
mentator on Plutarch contends that 
this is properly a Medic, not a Per- 
sian word; but the two nations are 
confounded by most authors on ac- 
count of theirvicinity. Yet, though 
all ancient writers agree, that the 
name, whether Medic or Persian, 
was imposed as expressive of the 
rapidity of this river’s current, we 
find one traveller who calls them all 
in question, and) asserts, that its 
stream is less swift, even than that 
of the Euphrates. 

On the banks of the Dejleh, 
** am I fallen,” (says the plaintive 
peet Jami) ‘S$ unfriended, and re- 
mote froin any habitation, whilst a 
torrent of ‘tears, like that of the 
rapid stream, flows from my eyes.’’ 
This river from its conflux with the 


Euphrates, may be said to water the © 
plains of Babylon, and I could never 
read the above-mentioned passagein 
the original Persian, without recol- 
lecting the beautiful beginning of 
that fine Hebrew psalm or-elegy, — 
composed in asimilar forlorn situa- 
tion, and expressive of the same 
feelings. 

From the original Chaldaic name 
mip The Greeks have formed 
their corrupt EvQegarns; for it is 

yvain to seek the etymology of this 
‘word in a Greek compound. The 
Persians and Arabians still call the 
river by its ancient Hebrew name, 
which they write, as in eid eed pea 
specimen Frat. 

The celebrated current of the ~ 
Euphrates, was divided, according 
to the Arabian geographer, whom 
Bochart follows, into five channels 
or branches, oue of which led to 
Cusain Chaldea; and on the banks 
of another, was seated the “ golden 
Babylon,” once the proud mistress 
of the eastern world, being: the 
capital of the Assyrian monarchy, 
which comprehended Syria, Meso- 
potamia, Chaldea, Persia; in short, 
except India, all the great nations 
of western Asia. 

_ Qn the banks of those celebrated 
streams, the baa mon Neheroth 
Babel, or ‘‘ rivers of Babylon,” of 
the royal Psalmist, the persecuted 
Jews huvg up their useless harps, 
ner would gratify ‘* those who had 
led them captive into the strange 
land with melody, or with a seng.* 

Those banks were so thickly planted 
with willow trees, as the learned 
Bochartinforms us, that the country 
of Babylon was thence styled** the 
vale of willows,” and on those trees ~ 
were suspended the neglected and © 
unstrung lyres of the captive 
Hebrews. ’ 
Observations 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


Observutions on Spontaneous Inflam- 
mation ; with a particular Ac- 
count of that which happened on 

board a Russian Frigate in the 
Year 1781 ; and of the Experi- 
ments made in order to ascertain 
the Cause of it. Ina Letter to 
the Editors, from the Reverend 
William Tooke, F. R. S. Member 
of the Imperial Academy of Sci- 
ences at St. Petersburgh, jc. From 
the Repertory of Arts and Manu- 
factures. 


HE following observations on 
spontaneous inflammations 
Were drawn up, a few years ago, 
in Russia; they were suggested by 
an accident which happened on- 
board a frigate lying in the harbour 
of Cronstadt. I was then at Cron- 
stadt, and consequently had an op- 
portunity of procuring an accu- 
rate account, not only of the 
accident itself, but also of the ex- 
periments made to ascertain the 
~cause of it. If you think proper to 
add them to the accounts of spon- 
taneous inflammations which you 
have already published, you are at 
liberty to do so. 

The explication of the causes of 
spontaneous inflammations, in cer- 
tain substances and. compositions, 
must ever be an object of conse- 
quence to the magistracy; as, by 
discovering the causes of such phe~ 
nomena, the suspicion of felonious 
practices in setting fire to buildings 
may fre§uently be avoided, and 
many an innocent person saved from 
capital punishment. A bare at- 
tempt to lessen the number of 
victims, that may possibly bedoomed 
to bleed at the bar of mistaken 
justice, can never be thought either 
frivolous or impertinent. 

J intentionally pass over the pyro- 

4 


table kingdoms ; 


[*77 


phori, at present so well known to 
chymists, prepared from alum, &c, 
as not properly belonging to my de- 
sign, though deserving of notice in 
explaining the causes of spontane- 
ous inflammation ; nor shall I say 
any thing of those inflammatiohs 
that happen in the mineral king- 
dom, in coal-mines, alum-pits, &c.. 
as they are already sufficiently 
known, and their causes have often 
been discussed. 

Of incomparably more impor- 
tance, and far Jess known, are the 
spontaneous inflammations of subs; 
stances from the animal and’ vege- 
and these are 
what I, design here briefly to bring 
together : as I firmly believe, that. 
a more extensive publication of 
these phenomena may prove. of 
general utility to mankind, by 
lessening the dangers to which they 
are, exposed. 

A recent instance will serve to 
elucidate what I now advance. A 
person of the name of Ride, at 
that timean apothecary at Bautzen, 
had prepared a pyrophorus from 
rye-bran andalum. Not long after 
he had made the discovery, there 
broke out, in the next village of 
Nauslitz, a great fire, which did 
much mischief, and was said to 
have been occasioned by the treat~ 
ing of a sick cowinthe cow-house. 
Mr. Riide knew that the country- 
men were used to lay an applica- 
tion of parched rye-bran to their 
cattle, for curing the thick neck; he 
knew also, that alum and rye-bran, 
by a proper process, yielded a pyro- 
phorus ;' and now he wished to try 
whether parched rye-bran alone 
would have the same effect. Ac- 
cordingly, he roasted a quantity of 
rye-bran by the fire, till if had ac- 
quired the colour of roasted coffee. 

This 


*78] 


This roasted bran he wrapped up 
in a linen cloth; in the space of a 
few minutes there arose a strong 
smoke through the cloth, accom- 
panied by asmellof burning. Not 
long afterwards the rag grew as 
black as tinder, and the bran now 
become hot, fell through it on 
the ground in little balls. Mr. 
Riide repeated the experiment at 
Various times, and always with the 
same result. Who now will any 
longer doubt, that the frequency of 
fires in cow-houses, which in those 
, parts, are mostly wooden buildings, 
may not be occasioned by this com- 
mon practice, of binding roasted 
bran about the necks of the cattle? 
The fire, after consuming the cattle 
and the shed, communicates itself 
to the adjoining buildings; great 
damage ensues ; and the ignorant 
look for the cause in wilful and ma- 
licious firing, consequently in a 
capital crime. : 

Montet relates, in the Memoires 
de l’ Académie de Paris, 1748, that 
animal substances, under certain 
circumstances, may kindle into 
flame ; and that he himself has been 
witness to the spontaneous accension 
of dung-hills. The woollen stuff 
prepared at Cevennes, which bears 
the name of Emperor’s-stuff, has 
kindled of itself, and burnt to a 
coal. Itis not unusual for this to 
happen to woollen stuffs; when in 
hot summers they are laid in a heap, 
in a room but little aired. 

In June, 1781, the same thing 
happened at a wool-comber’s ina 
manufacturing town in Germany, 
where a heap of wool-combings, 
piled up in a close warehouse sel- 
dom aired, took fire of itself. This 
wool had been by little and little 
brought into the warehouse; and, 
for want of room, piled up very 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


high and trodden down, that more . 
might be added to it. That this 
combed wool, to which, as is well- 
known, rape-oil mixed with butter 
is used in the combing, burnt of 
itself, was sworn by several wit- 
nesses. One of them affirmed that, 
ten years before, a similar fire hap- 
pened among the flocks of wool at 
a clothier’s, who had put them into ~ 
a cask, where they were rammed 
hard, for their easier conveyance. 
This wool burnt from within out 
wards, and became quite a coal; 
it was very certain that neither fire 
nor light had been used at the 
packing, consequently the above 
fires arose from similar causes. 

In like manner very creditable 
cloth-workers have certified, that 
after they have bought wool that 
was become wet, and packed it 
close in their warehouse, this wool 
has burnt of itself; and very serious 
consequences might have followed, 
if it had not been discovered in 
time. 

The spontaneous accension of va- 
rious matters from the vegetable 
kingdom, as wet hay, corn, and 
madder, and at times wet meal and 
malt, are already sufficiently known. 
Experiments have likewise repeat- 
edly been made with regard to such 
phenomena; and it will presently 
appear, that hemp, or flax, and 
hemp-oil, have frequently given 
rise to dreadfal confagrations. 
Montet says: in the year 1757, a 
sort of sailcloth, called prelart, hav- 
ing one side of it smeared with 
ochre and oil, took fire in the ma- 
gazine at Brest, where it had pro- 
bably kindled of itself. It is not 
at all unlikely that many fires in sta- 
ports have arisen, from these self- 
accensions ; as it has often hap- 
pened that, after the strictest en- 


quiry, 


NATURAL HISTORY. 


quiry, the real cause of them has 
not been discovered. 

- About twenty years ago, several 
fires broke out, within a short space 
of time, in a rope-walk, and in some 
wooden houses, at St. Petersburgh ; 
and, in all these instances, not the 
slightest trace of wilful firing could 
be found; but there was lying in 
the rope-walk, where the cables for 
the navy are made, a great heap of 
hemp, among which a considerable 
quantity of oil had been carelessly 
spilt, and it was therefore declared 
spoilt ; for which reason it had been 
bought ata low price, and put up 
together, and. was held to be the 
cause of the fire. The inferior in- 
habitants of that part of the town 
had likewise bought of this spoilt 
hemp, at a cheaper rate than usual, 
for closing the chinks, and caulking 
the windows of their houses, which 
are constructed of balks laid one 
upon the other. At this rope-walk, 
coils of cable have been found hot, 
and the people have been obliged 
to separate them, to prevent farther 
danger. 

It was inthe spring of the year 
1780, that a fire was discovered on 
board a frigate lying in the road off 
Cronstadt; which, if it had not 
been timely extinguished, would 
have endangered the whole fleet. 
After the severest scrutiny, no cause 
of the fire was to be found; and 
the matter was forced to remain 
without explanation, but with strong 
surmises of some wicked incendiary 
being at the bottom of it. In the 
month of August, in the same year, 
a fire broke out at a hemp-maga- 
zine at St. Petersburgh, by which 
several hundred thousand poods* 
ofhemp and flax were consumed. 


[*79 


The walls of the magazine are of 
brick, the floors of stone, and the 
rafters and covering of iron; it 
stands alone on an island in the 
Neva, on which, as well as on 
board the ships lying in the Neva, 
no fire is permitted. ~ In St. Peters- 
burgh, in the same year, a fire was 
discovered in the vaulted shop of a 
furrier. In these shops, which are > 
all vaults, neither fire nor candle is 
allowed, and the doors of them are 
all of iron. At length the probable 
cause was found to be, that the fur- 
rier, the evening before the fire, 
had got a roll of new cere-cloth, 
(much in use here for covering ta- 
bles, counters, &c. being easily 
wiped and kept clean, ) and had left 
it in his vault, where it was found 
almost consumed. 

In the night, between the 20th 
and 2ist of April, 1781, a fire was 
seen on board the frigate Maria, 
which lay at anchor, with several 
other ships, in the road off the island 
of Cronstadt ; the fire was however 
soon extinguished ; and, by the se= 
verest examination, little or nothing 
could be extorted concerning the 
manner in which it had arisen. The 
garrison was threatened with a scru- 
tiny that should cost them dear ; 
and, while they were in this cruel 
suspense, the wisdom of the sove- 
reign gave a turn to the affair, 
which quieted the minds of all, by 
pointing out the proper method to 
be pursued by the commissioners of 
inquiry, in the following order to 
Count Chernichet. 

‘“* When we perceived, by the re- 
port you have delivered in of the 
examination into the accident that 
happened on board the frigate 
Maria, that, in the cabin where the 


* A pood consists of 40 pounds Russ, or 36 pounds English, 


fire 


*§0] 


fire troke out, there was found 
parcels of matting, tied together 
with packthread, in which the soot 
of burnt firewood had been mixed 
with oil, for the purpose of painting 
the ship’s bottom, it came into our 
mind, that, at the fire which hap- 
pened last year at the hemp-ware.- 
houses, the following cause, among 
others, was assigned, that the fire 
might have proceeded from the 
hemp being bound up in greasy 
mats, oreven from such mats having 
Jain near the hemp : therefore, neg- 
~ lect not to guide your father inqui- 
ries by this remark.’ 

As, upon juridical examination, 
as well as private enquiry, it was 
found that, in the ship’s cabin, 
‘where the smoke appeared, there 
lay a bundle of matting, containing 
Russian lamp-black, prepared from 
fir-soot, moistened with hemp-oil 
varnish, which was perceived to 
have sparks of fire in it at the time 
of the extinction, the Russian ad- 
miralty gave orders to make various 
experiments, in order to see whether 
a mixture of hemp-oil, varnish and 
the forementioned Russian black, 
folded up in a mat and bound to- 
gether, would kindle of itself. 

They shook furiy pounds of fir- 
wood soot into a tub, and poured 
about thirty-five pounds of hemp- 
oil varnish upon it; this they let 
stand for an hour, after which they 
poured off the oil. The remaining 
mixture they now wrapped up in a 
mat, and the bundle was laid close 
to the cabin, where the midshipmen 
had their birth. To avoid all sus- 
picion of treachery, two officers 
sealed both the mat and the door 
with their own seals, and stationed 
a watch, of four sea-officers, to take 
notice of aj] that passed the’ whole 
night through; and, as soon as any 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


smoke should appeat, immediately 
to give information to the coms 
mandant of the port. 

The experiment was made the 
26th of April, about eleven o’clock 
A. M. in pfesence of all the officers 
named in the commission. Early on 
the following day, about six o'clock 
A. M. a smoke appeared, of which 
the chief commandant was imme-~ 
diately informed by an officer; he 
came with all possible speed, and, 
through a small hole in the ‘dane 
saw the mat smoking. Without 
opening the door, he dispatched a 
messenger to the members of the 
commission ; but, as the smoke bes 
came stronger, and fire began to ap 
pear, the chief commandant found 
it necessary, without waiting for 
the members of the commission, 
to break the seals and open 
the door. No sooner was the air 
thus admitted, than the mat began 
to burn with greater force, and pre- 
sently it burst into a flame. 

The Russian Admiralty being 
now fully convinced of the self-en< 
kindling property of this composi- 
tion, transmitted their experiment 
to the Imperial Academy of Sci- 
ences ; who appointed my friend Mr. 
Georgi, a very. learned and able 
adjunct of the Academy, to make 
farther experiments on the subject, 
and to him I am chiefly indebted 
for this account; though, being my 
self at the time upon a visit to some 
of my old parishioners at Crons 
stadt, I made myselfacquainted with 
many of the circumstances on the 
spot. 

The experiments of this ingeni- 
ous chymist are of great importance, 
as they form a valuable addition to 
our knowledge on the subject ; and 
are very remarkable from the occa- 
sion that led to these discoveries. 

The 


NATURAL 


Previous to the relation of the 
experiments, it is necessary to ob- 
serve, that the Russian fir-black is 
three or four times more heavy, 
thick, and unctuous, than that kind 
of painter’s black which the Ger- 
mans cail kien-rahm. The former 
is gathered at Ochta, near St. Pe- 
tersburgh, at Mosco, at Archangel, 
and other places, in little wooden 
huts, from resinous fir-wood, and 
the unctuous bark of birch, by 
means of an apparatus uncommonly 
simple, consisting of pots without 
bottoms, set one upon the other ; 
and is sold very cheap. The fa- 
mous fine German kien-rahm is 
called in Russia Holland’s black. Io 
what follows, when I speak of raw 
oil, it is to be understood of linseed= 
oil, or hemp-oil; but most commonly 
the latter, The varnish is made of 
five pounds of hemp-oil boiled with 
two ounces and a half of minium. 
For wrapping up the composition, 

r. Georgi made use of Coarse 


hemp linen, and always single, 


‘ 


never double. The impregnations 
and commixtures were made ina 
large wooden bowl, in which they 
stood open till they were wrapt up 
in linen. 

That I may not be too prolix, I 
will select and communicate only 
such of the experiments as were 
most remarkable, and succeeded 
best. 

Three pounds of Russian fir-black 
were slowly impregnated with five 
pounds of hemp-oil-varnish ; andy 
when the mixture had stood open 
five hours, it was bound up in linen, 
By this process it became clotted ; 
but some of the black remained dry. 
When the bundle bad lain sixteen 
hours in a chest, it was observed to 
emit a very nauseous, and rather 
putrid smell, not quite unlike that 

Vou. XXXVI. 


HISTORY. 


of boiling oil, Some parts of ‘it be- 
came warm, and steamed much; 
this steam was watery, and by no 
means inflammable, Eighteen hours 
after, the mixture waS wrapt up, 
one place became brown, emitted 
smoke, and directly afterwards 
glowing fire appeared. The same 
thing happened in a second and @ 
third place; though other places 
were scarcely warm. The fire crept 
slowly around, and gave a thick, 
grey, stinking smoke. Mr. Georgi 
took the bundle out of the chest, 
and laid it on a stone pavement ; 
when, on being exposed to the free 
air, there arose a slow burning 
flame, a span high, with a strong 
body of smoke. Not long after- 
wards there appeared, here and 
there, several chaps,, or clefts, as 
from a little volcano, the vapour 
issuing from which burst into flame. 
On his breaking the lump, it burst 
into a very Violent flame, full three 
feet high, which soon grew less, 
and then went out. The smoking 
glowing fire lasted for the space of 
six hours 3 and afterwards the res 
mainder-continued to glow without 
smoke for two hours longer. The 
grey earthy ashes; when cold; 
weighed five ounces and a half. 

In another experiment perfectly 
similar to the foregoing, as far as 
relates to the composition and quane 
tities, the enkindling did not ensue 
till forty-one hours after the i impreg= 
nation : the heat kept increasing for 
three hours, and then the accension - 
followed. 

It is worthy of remark, that these 
experiments succeeded better on 
bright days, than on such as were 
rainy : and the accension came on 
more rapidly. 

In another experiment, | three 
pounds of Russian fir-black were 

[* FJ slowly 


[sr 


*30] 


slowly impregnated with three 
pounds of raw hemp-oil; and the 
accension ensued after nine hours. 

Three quarters of a pound of 
German rakm were slowly impreg- 
nated with a pound and a half of 
hemp-oil varnish. The mixture re« 
mained seventy hours before it be- 
came hot andreeking. It then gra- 
dually became hotter, and emitted 
a strong exhalation; the effluvia 
were moist, and not inflammable. 
The re-action lasted thirty-six hours, 
during which the heat was one while 
stronger, and then weaker, and at 
length quite ceased. 

Stove, or chimney soot, mostly 
formed from birch-wood smoke, was 
mingled with the above-mentioned 
substances and tied up; the com- 
pound remained cold and quiet. 

_ Russian fir-black, mixed with 
equal parts of oil of turpentine, and 
bound up, exhibited not the least 
re-action or warmth. 

Birch-oil, mixed with equal parts 
of Russian fir-black, and bound up, 
began to emit a volatile smell; but 
the warmth soon went off again. 

From the experiments of the Ad- 
miralty, and of Mr. Georgi, we 
learn, not only the decisive certainty 
of the self-accension of soot and oil, 
when the two substances are mixed 
under certain circumstances, but 
also the following particulars. 

Of the various kinds of soot or 
lamp-black, the experiments suc- 
ceeded more frequently and surely 
with the coarser, more unctuous, 
and heavier, like Russian painter’s 
black, than with fine light German 
rahm, or with coarse chimney-soot. 
In regard ta oils, only those expe- 
riments‘succeeded which were made 
with drying oils, either raw or 
boiled. The proportions of the 
soots to the oils were, in the suc- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


cessful experiments very various; 
the mixture kindled with a tenth, 
a fifth, a third, with an equal, and 
likewise with a double proportion 
of oil. In general, however, much 
more depends on the mode of mix- 
ture, and the manipulation; and, 
as Mr. Georgi often observed, on 
the weather: for, in moist wea- 
ther, the bundles, after becoming 
warm, would frequently grow cold 
again. 

Tt is in all respects remarkable, 
that it should never till now have 
been observed, that a mixture which 
has been made millions of times, in 
all proportions and quantities, for 
painting of ships, and the outside 
of wooden houses, and sometimes 
intentionally, sometimes acciden- 
tally, left covered or open, a longer 
or a shorter time, should be capable 
of kindling of itself. It is highly 
probable, that, even on this ocea- 
sion it was entirely owing to the at- 
tention of the empress that it was 
made an object of enquiry, or even 
that it was at all observed. 

Before V finish this paper, I will 


just mention a self-accension, not . 


noticed till of late, and that by Mr. 
Hagemann, an apothecary at Bre- 
men. He prepared a boiled oil of 
hyoscyamus, or henbane, in the 
usual way, with common oil. The 
humidity of the herb was’ nearly 
evaporated, when he was called 
away by other affairs, and was 
obliged to leave the oil on the fire. 
The evaporation of the humidity 


was hereby carnied so far, that the: 


herb could easily be rubbed to pow- 
der. The oil had lost its green 
colour, and had become brownish. 
In this state it was laid on the 
straining-cloth, and placed in the 


garden, behind the house, in the 


open air. 


In 


; 
| 
: 


NATURAL HISTORY: 


In the space of half an hour, on 
coming again to this place, he per- 
ceived a strong smoke there, though 
he thought the oi! must long have 
been cooled: on closer inspection, 
he found that the smoke did not pro- 
ceed from the oil, but from the herb 
on the straining-cloth; at the same 
time the smell betrayed a concealed 
fire, 

He stirred the herb about, and 
blew into it 2 bellows, whereupon 
it broke out into a bright flame. 
Had this herb been placed in the 
house near the fire, it might 
easily have been supposed that a 
spark had flown into it, which had 
caused thé inflammation; but this 
was not the case; the herb had 
kindled of itself. We see from 
this, that those who are entrusted 
with the preparation of boiled oils, 
Should take care they do not give 
occasion to dangers by fire; which 
.mmay excite suspicions of felonious 
designs, to the ruin of innocent per- 
sons in their lives or reputations. 

Iam, &c. 
W. Tooxe. 


Account of the Lynx of Abruzzo ; 
_ from De Salis’s Travels through 

various Provinces in the Kingdom 
_ of Naples, in 1789. 


, LTHOUGH Buffon and 
Schreber have given us very 

good accounts of the lynx, the na- 
turalist will probably not be dis- 
pleased at receiving some infurma- 
tion about the species of lynx pecu- 
liar to the provinces of Abruzzo. 
It is frequently met with in the 
woods of Abruzzo Ultra, where it 
is called Il Gatto Pardo, and is 
smaller than a ‘sort that is not infre- 
quent amongst the Grison moun- 


f*gs 


tains, and which precisely resembles 
the species given in Buffon’s Natural 
History, part xix. plate 21. French 
octato, and in Schreber’s Sucking 
Animals, part iii. plate 109, page 
408. But the lynx of Abruzzo is 
ofa darker colour, is from eighteen 
to twenty inches high, and from 
twenty-four to twenty-seven inches 
in length, to the root of the tail, 
which is four inches long. The male 
is larger than the female. The co- 
lour is whitish, with spots like stars, 
of a reddish yellow, inclining to a 
yellow gold colour. The hair is 
short and soft, the head large, and 
like a tiger’s, with longish upright 
ears, terminated by a tuft of coarse, 
hard, and upright bristles. The 
eyes are large, and the teeth, claws, 
and whiskers, are long and sharp. 
Had I heen fortunate enough to 
procure a dead one, I could give 
a much more complete description ; 
but, E could not succeed in my en- 
deavours. ‘The actions of this ani« 
mal exactly resemble those of a cat, 
like which it sits, runs, springs, eats, 
purrs, and sleeps ; although all these 


_actions are in proportion to its supe- 


rior size. It is easily tamed ; and 
the Barons Tomasetti assured me 
that it ran about the house like a 
cat; was much attached to them, 
and was in no wise inconvenient, 
except from its extraordinary cu- 
riosity. Not a corner in the house, 
hor 4 moveable therein, remained 
unvisited ; and a female lost its life 
by jumping down the hole in the 
privy. I was surprised to find that 
the domestic cat had an insuperable 
aversion to this animal; and I was 
assured that the moment that alynx 
was brought into the house, all the 
cats disappeared, and were seen no 
more during that animal’s abode 
there. ‘he lynx bears the priva~ 

[*F 2] tion 


*34] 


tion of its freedom only so long as 
it is allowed to wander about the 
house; all those which the Baron 
sent to the royal menagerie having 
soon died of excess of fat,-which 
was the case with that I saw there, 
and which also appeared extremely 
melancholy. The lynx of Abruzzo 
is unquestionably the most swift, 
subtle, and audacious beast of prey 
in Italy. It only wanders about in 
the night, and never is seen in the 
day, unless when in heat, or in 
search of provision forits young. It 
feeds upon all kinds of mice, moles, 
martins, ferrets, hares, badgers, ot- 
ters, and even sheep and goats ; nei- 
ther are tame and wild fowl safe 
from its attacks. It watches for its 
prey, either upon the ground, or 
between the branches of a tree, and 
usually seizes it at the very first 
spring, even though it be on full 
speed; and from its ambuscade 
amongst the branches it successfully 
darts upon birds that are upon the 
wing. When it has killed such a 
large animal asawild boar, or a roe- 
buck, it first sucks the blood out of 
the arteries, which scems tobe its 
favourite food; after which it de- 
vours the soft parts of the head, 
neck, shoulders, and legs, together 
with the entrails, and leaves the 
yemainder. When it fails in pro- 
curing a live animal, it contents it- 
‘self with vegetables, or gratifies it- 
self with all kinds of fruit. Its fa- 
vourite place of abode is amongst 
thick and extensive forests, and in 
solitary districts, where it makes its 
retreat in hollow trees, or in holes 
and cleftsin the rocks. It pairs 
only once a year, at the beginning 
of spring ; and contrary to the cus- 
tom of cats, which celebrate their 
Ruptials wit hideous cries, it re- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


mains perfectly silent. The female 
goes two months, and then brings 
forth two young ones, which are 
generally of different sexes. She 
suckles them during two months ; 
and the young ones require two 
years to grow and be fit for pairing. 
It has been observed here that the 
lynx generally attains the age of 
twenty years. Sociability apper- 
tdins not to its qualities, and more 
than one couple are rarely found 
in adistrict. Like all creatures up- 
on earth, this also has its enemies, 
and is pursued by men, dogs, wolves, 
and large snakes. Flight isits first 
object; but when it is deprived of 
the means of escape, and is attacked 
and wounded, it defends itself 
against every description of enemy, 
with such fury and dexterity, that it 
is seldom overcome but by numbers 
of beasts, or the superiority of hu- 
man sagacity. The lynx not only 
feeds occasionally upon the bodies 
of dead men, but even attacks 
children and deyours them. ‘This 
animal is seldom to be taken alive, 
except whilst very young, when it 
is frequently found playing upon 
the grass near the trees, or straying 
about the country in quest of its 
mother. It is sometimes taken in 
traps, but is generally shot. The 
attachment subsisting between acou- 
ple is remarkable ; “for, when one 
lies dead upon the ground, and the 
hunters have retired to a certain 
distance, the other approaches ils 
comrade, looks at.it, goes round it, 
lies down by it, goes away, and 
returns several times; until it ap- 
pears to have lost all hopes of its 
being only asleep, ~ The lynx fur- 
nishes man with a very warm and 
useful skin ; and some profit arises 
from its fat and gall. 


USE. 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


On the use of Sea Water in Agrigul- 
ture ; fromthe Earl of Dundonald’s 
Treatise on Agriculture and Che- 
mistry. 


UT as it may happen that much 
time may elapse before-any re- 

lief ‘is granted, or any alteration 
made in the present salt laws, it be- 
comes important to consider how a 
supply of salt, or what is still more 
valuable, how a supply of sea or salt 
water may be obtained for the use of 
cattle, and the purposes of agricul- 
ture, without being subjected to the 
present duties. Previous to this ex- 
planation, it 1s proper to state some 
farther circumstances, more fully to 
impress on the mind of the farmer 
the effect which salt or sea water has 
in promoting the more full putrefac- 
tion of dung and vegetable matters, 
It is well known that ships built 
of unseasoned timber are at first 
very unhealthy. The exhalation of 
the vegetable juices of the fresh 
“wood is not the sole cause. It is 
principaily to be ascribed to the 
putrescent hepatic gas generated 
by the mixture of the vegetable 
juices with the vitriolic neutral salts 
contained in sea water, forming 
what is called bilge water. The 
smell of it i$ no less offensive, than 
its effects are’ prejudicial to the 
health of the ship’s company. When 
# new vessel happens to be tight, 


and to make little water, it is tha 
practice with all intelligent seamen, 
to sweeten the vessel’s hold and lim- 
bers, by daily letting in and pump- 
ing out a_ sufficient quantity of 
water. 

Certain gases, which are in- 
jurious to the health of animals, are 
favourable to the growth of plants : 
hepatic air is one of them; and as 
hepatic air is formed in vessels’ holds 
by the action of sea water on the 
soluble mattér-efthe wood, the same 
effect will be produced by the addi- 
tion of salt water to dung or to 
vegetable matters, ‘I'he generation 
of the hepar is to be ascribed solely 
to the vitriolic salts contained in sea 
water, and there is some reason to 
suspect, that sea salt, or muriat of 
soda, may suffer a decomposition in 
this putrefactive process, and that 
the marine acid thereof may be 
decomposed, 

The putrefaction of sea water is 
not confined to the bilge water in 
vessels, The water of the sea itself, 
in certain southern latitudes, under- 
goes a. material change, emitting, 
during long calms, a putrid offen. 
sive smell; and water intended for 
the purpose of making salt, kept too 
long in the reservoirs during sum~ 
mer, will suffer such an alteration 
in its nature, as to be rendered inca- 
pable of yielding chrystals of sea 
salt. A month or six weeks of warn, 


CP 3] 


*86| 


weather, is, in this latitude, suffi- 
cient to produce the change, which 
is prevented by letting out of the re- 
servoir, every fourteen days, part of 
the old brine, and taking in a.fresh 
supply of sea water, frequently very 
inferior in concentration or strength 
to that which is obliged thus to be 
discharged. If this tendency to pu- 
trefaction take place simply in ‘con- 
sequence of the small proportion of 
animal and vegetable matters con- 
tained in sea water, there is still 
greater reason (exclusive of actual 
experiments) to conclude, that if 
will take place, in a much higher 
degree, on adding sea water to a 
larger proportion of such substances 
as of themselves have a tendency to 
the putrefactive state. As any far- 
ther proofs of the effects of the saline 
matters contained in sea water, in 
promoting putrefaction, may be 
deemed unnecessary, a method of 
procuring a supply, without incur- 
ring the expence of manufacturing 
them, or being liable to the present 
duties, is an object of the greatest 
importance to the farmer and the 
grazier, particularly to those who 
are at a distance from the sea. 

In its vicinity, farmers and others 
avail themselves of their situation, 
and procure sea water either to mix 
with dung, or for the other purposes 
to which the application of it has 
been recommended. A ton of sea 
water contains from a bushel to a 
bushel and a quarter of sea salt, be- 
side a certain proportion of the vi- 
triolic salts. This quantity could 
not be purchased in England, in- 
cluding the duty, at an expence legs 
than seven shillings, which farmers, 
situated as before described, may 


procure at the small expence of 


carriage. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795, 


Sea water may be raised, where 
coal is cheap, by means of a fire 
engine, to such a height as, corres 
ponding with the level of the inland 
country, would allow the water to 
be conveyed in small open canals, 
in wooden or in earthen pipes, to 


_ a considerable inland distance : each 


farmer, or proprietor receiving as it 
passes the necessary supply. 


Account of the Mode of making Par- 
mesan Cheese, by Mr. Pryce; 
from Letters and Papers on Agri- 
culture. 
AT ten o’clock in the morning, 
five brents and a half of milk, 
each brent being about forty-eight 
guarts, was put into a large copper, 
which turned on a crane, over a 
slow wood-fire, made about two 
feet below the surface of the ground. 
The milk. was stirred from time to 
ume: and, about eleven o’clock, 
when just luke-warm or considers 
ably under a blood heat, a ball of 
rennet, as big as a large wainut, ° 
was squeezed through a cloth into 
the milk which was kept stirring, 
This rennet was said to haye been 
purchased of a man at Lodie, famous 
for the composition ; but that it was 
principally made of the same part of 
the calf as we use in England for 
that purpose, mixed up with salt 
and vinegar: it appeared to me to 
be also mixed with ald cheese. I 
much doubt whether there was any 
great secret in the composition: but 
it seems to me that the just propor- 
uon of rennet is a matter of con- 
sequence, which is not in general 
sufficiently attended to, By the 
help of the crane, the copper was 
turned from over the fire, and let 
stand 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


stand tilla few minutes past twelve ; 
at which time the rennet had suf- 
ficiently operated. It was now 
stirred up, and left to stand a short 
time, for the whey to separate a 
little from the curd. Part of the 
whey was then taken out, and the 
copper again turned over a fire suffi- 
ciently brisk to give a strongish heat, 
but below that of boiling. A quarter 
of an ounce of saffron was put in, to 
‘give it a little colour; but not so 
nonaturally high as some cheeses in 
England are coloured ; 3 and it was 
well stirred from time to time. The 
dairy-man (this is not women’s work 
in Italy) frequently felt the curd. 
When the small, and, as it were, 
granulated parts, felt rather firm, 
which was in about an hour and a 
half, the copper was taken from 
the fire, and the curd left to fall to 
the bottom. Part of the whey was 
taken out, and the curd brought up 
in a coarse cloth, hanging together 
in a tough state. It was put intoa 
hoop, and about a_balf-hundred 
weight laid upon it, for about an 
hour; after which the cloth was 
taken off, and the cheese placed on 
a shelf in- the same hoop. At the 
end of two, or from that to three 
days, it is sprinkled all over with 
salt: the same is repeated every 
second day, for about forty to forty- 
five days; after which no farther 
attention isrequired, Whilstsalting, 
they generally place two cheeses 
one upon another; in which state 
they are said to take the salt better 
than singly. 

The whey is again turned into 
the copper, and a second sort of 
cheese is made; and afterwards 
even a third sort, as I was informed; 
a piece of economy which I have 
net known practised in England. 


[*87 


Valuable new Discovery for the Pre- 
servation of Corn ; from the Paris 
Moniteur :—by Antoine Gouan, 
National Professor of Botany in 
the School of Health at Montpe- 
hier: Addressed to the, National 
Convention. 


N° person is ignorant how much 
grain, roots, and collections 
of Natural History, are liable to be 
devoured by insects, and- particu. 
larly by weevils, which, by con- 
suming the internal part, and leaving 
only the husk, occasion frequently 
the greatest mischiefs, 

These are considerably felt in 
great magazines, but particularly 
on shipeboard, where numerous 
crews on long voyages require very 
ample store of corn, and where the 
diminution and damage produce 
often the most fatal consequences, 

These inconveniences, and the 
difficulty of preserving these articles 
of the first necessity, have engaged 
my attention for many years, and 
induced me to aitempt several 
methods of preserving them from 
the approach and ravages of these 
insects. I knew that in certain 


countries they expose their grain to 


smoke and yapour ; in others it was 
placed for some time in an oven, 
I also knew that pepperand other 
aromatics were considered as good 
preservatives. But that which is 
easy and unexpensiye on a small 
scale, becomes dear and impractica- 
bie when applied to a larger. My 
object was to find means, therefore, 
which should be at once easy, effi- 
cient, and economical : 

I, By banishing the insects which 
cause this damage to the grain. 

Il. By avoiding a weighty ex- 
pence. 

[*F 4] IT, 


y 


#38] 


III. And by exempting the grain 
from the odour contracted in fumi- 
gation, particularly from the oils of 
a low quality which are employed 
for this purpose. 

In consequence, in the year 1786 
I tried the experiment of placing 


different roots, &c. ripe and newly _ 


gathered in a box, which I had 
bored for the purpose of giving ad- 
mission to mites and other insects. 
At the corners and bottom of the 
box I placed several leaves of hart- 
wort, the odour of which I knew 
was noxious to several animals. In 
another I put leaves of horehound, 
of ruc, and of tansy.—The boxes 


thus prepared, remained fora full, 


year on the ground under my 
shelves. 

At the end of that term I found 
the roots, &c. perfectly sound, but 
the odour of the plants more or less 
remained; and fearing that it might 
communicate itself to the outward 
skin, and occasion a disgusting taste, 
I proceeded to substitute to the 
former bitter acromotic herbs, such 
as the little centaury, wormwood, 
thyme, mint savory, &c. which are 
every where found in abundance. 

I thus preserved the grain, &c. 
fora long time, without renewing 
the plants. Those which I now 
present to the Convention have 
been thus preserved since the year 
1788. 

After this experiment, now made 
seven years since, there can be no 
doubt but that the practice would 
succeed ona much larger scale; and 
as the grain and seeds, when 

‘gathered ripe and kept from a moist 
air, preserve for a long time their 
vegetable faculties, it follows, that 
they may be thus conveyed in safety, 
and planted with success in the most 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


distant countries, and after the 
longest voyages. 

I have thus done my duty, as a 
good citizen, in presenting to my 
country the result of my researches, 
in a discovery valuable in itself and 
useful to humanity. 

P. S, I did not think it right to 
try the means which some persons 
use to preserve the corn; by burning 
it with chalk and cinders, as a 
trifling circumstance may alter these 
substances in such a manner as to 
damage the grain. 


——__—, 


Discovery in Distillation from Pota- 
toes, which will no Doubt increase 
the Cultivation of that Valuable 
Article of Life. 


OTATOES have been found, 

by repeated experiments, to 
yield by distillation a vinous spirit of 
a most exquisite quality, superior to 
the finest brandy; and in the 
quantity of about five quarts, highly 
rectified, from the quantity of 
seventy pounds weight. 

In the process the Joss of time and 
expence inseparable from malt dis- 
tillation are avoided; the potatoes 
are boiled to a thin pulp, which is 
diluted with hot water, and strained; 
the mass is then fermented with 
barm for about a fortnight, and 
then distilled in the usual way. 

The spirit yielded possesses a 
strong favour and perfume of rasp- 
berries, and is not liable to be spoiled 
by what is called the feints coming 
over the helm, as the very last and 
weakest part that comes off the still,~’ 


is equally sweet with the first. 


These facts were long since ascer- 

tained to the satisfaction of the 

Bath society, by Dr. Anderson, 
Obscrbatione 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


Observations on the grafting of Trees. 
In a Letter from Thomas Andrew 
Knight, Esq. to Sir Joseph Banks, 
Bart.from the Philosophical Trans- 
actions. 


Dir: 

I AM encouraged to address the 
following letter to you, by the 
Opinion you were last year pleased 
to express of part of my experi- 
ments and observations, on the dis- 
eases and decay of those varieties of 
the apple and pear which have been 
long in cultivation. The disease, 
from whose ravages they suffer most 
is the canker, the effects of which 
are generally first seen in the winter, 
or when the sap is first rising in the 
spring. The bark becomes disco- 
loured in spots, under which the 
wood, in the annual shoots, is dead 
.to the centre, and in the older 
branches, to the depth of the last 
summer’s growth. Previous tomak- 
ing any experiments, I had cons 
versed with several planters, who 
entertained an opinion, that it was 
impossible to obtain healthy trees of 
-those varieties which flourished in 
the beginning and middle of the 
present century, and which now 
form the largest orehards in this 
country. The appearance of the 
young trees, which I had seen, jus- 
"tified the conclusion they had drawn ; 
but the silence of every writer on 
the subject of planting, which had 
come in my way, conyinced me 
that it was a vulgar error, and the 
following experiments were under- 

taken to prove it so. 

I suspected that the appearance 
of decay in the trees I had seen 
Jately grafted, arose from the diseas- 
ed state of the grafts, and concluded 
that if { took scions or buds from 


[*89 


trees grafted in the year preceding, 
I should succeed in propagating any 
kind I chose. With this view, I in- 
serted some cuttings of the best wood 
I could find in the old trees, on 
young stocks raised from seed. [I 
again inserted grafts and buds taken 
from these on other young stocks, 
and, wishing to get rid of all con- 
nection with the old trees, I repeat- 
ed this six years; each year taking 
the young shoots from the trees last 
grafted. Stocks of different kinds 
were tried, some were double graft- 
ed, others obtained from apple- 
trees which grew from cuttings, and 
others from the seed of each kind of 
fruit afterwards inserted on them; 
I was surprised to find that many of 
these stocks inherited all the diseases 
of the parent trees. 

The wood appearing perfect and 
healthy in many of my last grafted 
trees, I flattered myself that I had 
succeeded; but my old enemies, the 
moss and canker, in three years 
convinced me of my mistake. Some 
of them, however, trained to a 
south wall, escaped all their diseases, 
and seemed (like invalids) to enjoy 
the benefit of a better climate. I 
had before frequently observed, that 
all the old fruits suffered least in 
warm situations, where the soil was 
not unfavourable, I tried the ef, 
fects of laying one kind, but ‘the 
canker destroyed it at the ground. 
Indeed I had no hopes of success 
from this method, as I had observed 
that several sorts, which had always 
been propagated from cuttings, 
were as much diseased as any otbers, 
The wood of all the old fruits” has 
long appeared to me to possess less 
elasticity and hardness, and to feel 
more soft and spongy under the 
knife, than that of the new varie- 
ties which I have obtained trom 

seed. 


#99] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


seed. This defect may, I think, be 
the immediate cause of the canker 
and moss, though it is probably it- 
self the effect of old age, and there- 
fore incurable. 

Being at length convinced that 
all efforts, to make grafts from old 
and worn out trees grow, were in- 
effectual, I thought it probable that 
those taken from very young trees, 
raised from seed, could not be made 
to bear fruit. The event here an- 
swered my expectation. Cuttings 
from seedling apple-trees of two 
years old were inserted on stocks of 
twenty, and in a_ bearing state, 
These have now been grafted nine 
years, and though they have been 
frequently transplanted to check 
their growth, they have not yet pros 
duced a single blossom. I have 
since grafted some very old trees 
with cuttings from seedling apples 
trees of five years old: their growth 
has been extremely rapid, and there 
appears no probability that their 
time of producing fruit will be ac- 
celerated, or that their health will 
be injured, by the great age of the 
stocks. A seedling apple tree usu- 
ally bears fruit in thirteen or four- 
teen years; and I therefore con- 
clude, that I have to waitfor a blos- 
som till the trees, from which the 
grafts were taken, attain that age, 
though I have reason to believe, 
from the form of their buds, that 
they will be extremely prolific. 
Every cutting, therefore, taken from 
the apple (and probably from every 
other) tree, will be affected by the 
state of the parent stock. If that 
be too young to produce fruitit will 
grow with vigour but will not bl+s- 
som, and if it be too old it will im- 
mediately produce fruit, but will 
never make a healthy tree, and 
consequently never answer the ins 


teution of the planter. The root, 
however, aad the part of the stock 
adjoining it, are greatly more dura- 
ble than the bearing branches ; and 
I have no doubt but that scions ob- 
tained from either would grow with 
vigour, when those taken from the 
bearing branches would not. The 
following experiment will, at least, 
evince the probability of this in the | 
pear-tree. I took cuttings from the © 
extremities of the hearing branches © 
of some old ungrafted pear-trees, — 
and others from scions which sprang 
out of the trunks near the ground, 
and inserted some of eachon thesame 
stocks. The former grew without — 
thorns, asin the cultivated varieties, 
and produced blossoms the second 
year; whilst the latter assumed the 
appearance of stocks just raised 
from seeds, were covered with 
thorns, and have not yet produced 

any blossoms. : 
Theextremities of those branches 
which produce seeds, in every tree, 
probably shew the first indication of 
deeay ; and we frequently see (par- 
ticularly in the oak) young branches 
produced from the trunk, when the 
ends of the old ones have long been 
dead. The same tree, when crope 
ped, will produce an almost eternal 
succession of branches, The dura- 
bility of the apple and pear, I have 
long suspected to be different in dif- 
ferent varieties, but that none of 
either would yegetate with vigour 
much, if at all, beyond the life of 
the parentstock, provided that died 
from mere old age. | am confirmed 
in this opinion by the books you did 
me the honour to send me; of the 
apples mentioned and described by 
Parkinson, the names only remain, 
and those since applied to other 
kinds now also worn out ; but many 
of Evelyn's are still well known, 
partie 


articularly the red-streak. This 
apple, he informs us, was raised 
rom seed by lord Scudamore in the 
eginning of the last century.* We 
ave many trees of it, but they ap- 
ear to have been in a state of de- 
ay during the last. forty years. 
3ome others mentioned by him are 
n a-much better state of vegetation ; 
ut they have all ceased to deserve 
he attention of the planter. The 
lurability of the pear is probably 
omething more than double that of 
the apple. 

It has been ntoagked by Evelyn, 
nd by almost every writer since, on 
the subject of planting, that the 
growth of plants raised {rom seeds 
yas more rapid, and that they pro- 
duced better trees than those obtain- 
ed from layers or cuttings. This 
seems to point out some kind of de- 
cay attending the latter modes of 
propagation, though the custom in 
the public nurseries of taking layers 
from stools (trees cropped annual- 
ly close to the ground) probably re- 
tards its effects, as each plant rises 
immediately from the root of the 
parent stock. 

Were a tree capable of affording 
an eternal succession of healthy 
plants from its roots, I think our 
woods must have been wholly over- 
run with those species of trees 
which propagate in this manner, as 
those scions from the roots always 
grow in the first three or four years 
with much greater rapidity than 
seedling plants. An aspin is seldom 
seen without a thousand suckers ris- 
ing from its roots; yet this tree is 
thinly, though universally, scattered 
over the wood-lands of this country. 
I can speak from experience that 
the luxuriance and excessive disposi- 


USEFUL PROJECTS, 


[*9t 
tion to extend itself in another plant 
which propagates itself from the 
root, (the raspberry), decline in 
twenty years from the seed, The 
common elm being always propaga- 
ted from scions or layers, and grow- 
ing with luxuriance, seems to form 
an exception ; but as some varieties 
grow much better than others, it 
appears not improbable that the 
most healthy are thosé which have 
last been obtained from seed. The 
different degrees of health in our 
peach and nectarine trees may, I 
think, arise from the same source. 
The oak is much more long-lived 
in the north of Europe than here ; 
though its timber is less durable, 
from the numerous pores attending 
its slow growth. The climate of 
this country being colder than its 
native, may, in the same way, add 
to the durability of the elm; which 
may possibly be farther increased by 
its not. producing seeds in this cli- 
mate, as the life of many annuals 
may be increased to twice its natue 
ral period, if not more, by prevent- 
ing their seeding. 

I have been induced to say a great 
deal more on this subject than, I 
fear, you will think it deserves, from 
a conviction that immense advan- 
tages would arise from the cultiva~ 
tion of the pear and apple in other 
counties, and that the ill success 
which has attended any efforts to 
propagate them, has arisen from the 
use of worn out and diseased kinds. 
Their cultivation is ill understood 
in this country, and worse practised ; 
yet an acre of ground, fully planted, 
frequently affords an average pro- 
duce of more than five hundred 
gallons of liquor, with a tolerably 
good crop of grass; and I have not 


* Probably about the year 1634, 


the 


*92] 


the least doubt but that there are 
large quantities of ground in almost 
every county in England capable of 
affording an equal produce. 

I have only to add an assurance, 
that the results of theforegoing ex- 
periments are correctly stated ; and 
that © 
* Tam, Sir, &c. 

Tuo. Ann. Kyient, 
Elton, Herefordshire, 
April 13, 1795. 


Se 


On the Dry-Rot in Timber; in a 
Letter from Robert Batson, Esq. 
of Lime-HHouse, to the Society for 
the Encouragement of Arts, Ma- 
nufactures and Commerce ; Srom 
whose Transactions it is extracted. 


YPXHE society for the encourage- 

ment of arts, manufactures, 
and commerce, continuing to offer 
a premium for discovering the cause 
of the dry-rotin timber, and disclo- 
singra certain method of prevention, 
T beg leave to lay before them an 
account of a method I have put in 
practice, and which, at present, 
appears to me to have fully suc- 
@ecded. 

The dry-rot baving taken place 
in one of my parlours, in such a 
Manner as to require the pulling 
down part of the’ wainscot every 
third year, and perceiving that it 
arose from a damp stagnated air, 
and from the moisture of the earth, 
I determined in the month of June, 
1783, to build a narrow closet next 
the wall through which the damp 
came to the parlour, which had the 
desired effect; but, though it put a 
total stop to the rot in the parlour, 
the evil soon appeared in the closet ; 
fungi of a yellow colour arose, toa 
great degree, in varioys parts of it, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


In the autumn fof the year 1706, 
the closet was locked up about ten} 
weeks; on opening it, numerous 
fungi were observed about the low- 
er part of it, and a white mould 
was spread by a plant resembling @ 
vine or sea-weed, and the whole of 
the inside, China, &c. was covered 
with a fine powder of the colour of 
brick-dust. It being then cleaned 
out, I soon perceived (what indeed 
I di¢ not expect) that the evil. had. 
-impregnated the wood so far as to 
run through every shelf therein, 
and the brackets that supported | 
them ; it had also seized upon, and 
destroyed, a moveable board for 
breaking sugar on. I therefore, in 
the beginning of the year 1787, de- 
termined to strip thé whole closet of 
lining and floor, and not leave a par- 
ticle of the wood behind; and also 
to dig and take away about two feet 
of the earth in depth, and leave the 
walls to dry, so as to destroy the 
roots or seeds of the evil, When, 
by time, and the admission of air, 
and good brushing, it had become 
sufficiently dry and cleansed, I filled 
it, of sufficient height for my joists, 
with anchor-smith’s ashes ; knowing 
that no vegetable would grow in 
them, My joists being sawed off to 
their proper lengths, and fully pre- 
pared, they and their plates Were 
well charred, and laid upon the ash« 
es ; particular directions being given 
that not any scantling or. board 
might be cut or planed in the place, 
lest any dust or shavings might drop 
among the ashes. My flooring- 
boards being very dry, I caused 
them to be laid close, to prevent 
the dirt getting down, which, I 
thought, in a course of time, might 

bring on Vegetation, 
The framing for lining the closet 
was then fixed up, having all the 
4 lowey 


ower pannels let in to be fastened 
vith buttons only; that, in case any 
egetation should arise, the pannels 
ight, with ease, be taken out to 
xamine them. 

This having now been done up- 
ards of six years, and no vegeta- 
ion or damp appearing, the whole 
fthe pannels and floor remaining 
n the same state as when first put 
p, I shall have a satisfaction in ta- 
ing part of the floor up, if the so- 
iety think proper to appoint a com- 
ittee to examine the place. 

If what 1 have produced meets 
the approbation of the society, I 
wish it made public under their 
Sancuon, thatas full a trial as possi- 
ble may be made of it; and if, at a 


of general utility, any honorary 
token of the society’s approbation 
will be received with much satisfac- 
tion by me. 

I think it may be highly necessary, 
jn some situations, to take outa 
greater depth of earth; and where 
ashes can be had froma foundery, 
they are fully equal to those from 
anchor-smiths, but by no meaus de- 
pend upon house-ashes. Iam, &c. 

Rover? Batson. 


In consequence of the foregoing 
letter, a committee was appointed 


the closet, who met on the 15th of 
May, 1794; the wainscot being ta- 
ken down, and the flooring- boards 
taken up, they were all found. ene 
tirely free from any appearance of 
the rot; and from all the cireum- 
stances then observed, it was the 
opinion of the committee, that the 
method advised by Mr. Batson, 


U SERUL (PROJECTS. 


proper distance of time, it proves - 


toexamine and report the state of 


[*99 


when fully and completely put in 


execution, appeared to have ans= 
wered every intention mentioned in 
his letter; and his opinion seemed 
the more justly founded, as two 
pieces of wood (yellow fir) which 
had been driven into the wall as 
plugs, without being previously 
charred, were affected with the rot. 


Composition of a Water which has 
the Property of Destroying Cater- 
pillars, Ants, and other Insects ; 
invented by C. Tatin,* at Paris ; 
from the Annals de Chimie. 


AKE of black soap, of the best 

quality, 1lb. 2 3 
flowers of sulphur, .. 11b.4 
mushrooms,any kind, 2\b. 
river or rain water, . 15gls. 

Divide the water into two equal 
parts ; pour one part, that is to say, 
seven gallons and a half, into a bar- 
rel, of any convenient size, which 
should be used only for this pur- 
pose ; let the black soap be stirred 
init ull it is dissolved, and then 
add to it the mushrooms, after they 
have been slightly bruised. 

Let the remaining half of the 
water be made to boil in a kettle ; 
put the whole quantity of sulphur 
into a coarse open cloth; tie it up 
with a packthread in form of a 
parcel, and fasten to it a stone or 
other weight, of some pounds, in 
order to make it sink to the bottom, 
If the kettle is too small for the 
seven gallons and a half of water to 
be boiled in at once, ‘the sulphur 
must also be divided. During twenty 
minutes (being the time the bviling 
should continue) stir it well witha 


* The Bureau de Consultation of Paris gave a reward to the author of this 
composition fur his discovery, which they desired might be made as public as 


possible. 


stick, 


*94)] 
stick, and let the packet of sulphur 
be squeezed, so as to make it yield 
to the water all its power and colour. 
The effect of the water is not ren- 
dered more powerful by increasing 
the quantity of ingredients. 

The water, when taken off the 
fire, is to be poured into the barrel, 
where it is to be stirred for a short 
time with astick ; this stirring must 
be repeated every day until the mix- 
ture becomes fetid, in the highest 
degree. Experience shews that the 
older, and the more fetid, the com- 
position is, the more quick is its 
action. Itis necessary to take care 
to stop the barrel well every time 
the mixture is stirred. 

When we wish to make use of 
this water, we need only sprinkle 
it, or pour it upon the plants, or 
plunge their branches into it ; but 
the best manner of using it is to 
inject it upon them with a common 
syringe, to which is adapted a pipe 
of the usual construction, except 
that its extremity should terminate 
in ahead of an inch and a half in 
diameter, pierced in the flat part 
with smadl holes, like pin-holes, for 
tender plants; but, for trees, a 

_ head pierced with larger holes may 
be made use of. 

Caterpillars, beetles, bed-bugs, 
aphides, and many other insects are 
killed by a single injection of this 
water. Insects which’ live under 
ground, those which have a hard 
shell, hornets, wasps, ants, &c. re- 
quire to be gently and continually 
injected, till the water has penetra- 
ted, to the bottom of their abode. 
Ant-hills, particularly, require two, 
four, six, of eight quarts of water, 
according to the size and extent of 
the ant-hill, which should not be 
disturbed till twenty-four hours after 
the operation. If the ants which 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 


‘use of, 


happen to be absent should assert 
ble, and form another hill, it mus 
be treated in the way before men 
tioned. In this manner we shall a 
last destroy them, but they mus 
not be too much disturbed with a} 
stick ; on the contrary; the injec} 
tion should be continued till, by 
their not appearing upon the sur- 
face of the earth, they are supposed | 
to be all destroyed. 

We may advantageously add to 
the mixture two’ ounces of nua 
tomicd, which should be boiled 
with the sulphur; the water, by this 
means, will acquire more power; 
particulatly if used for destroying 
ants. 

When all the water has been made } 
the sediment should be 
thrown into a hole dugin the ground, | 
Jest the poultry, or other domestic 
animals, should eat it. 


Specification of the Patent granted to | 
Mr. John Tucker, of Wickham, in 
the County of Southampton, Tan- 
ner ; for his Method of Tanning; 
and making Leather of a superior 
Quality, and in a much shorter 
Period of Time, than hath hitherto 
been done.. Dated May 12, 1795. 


O all to whom these presents 
shall come, &c. Now know 

ye, that J, the said John Tucker, in 
compliance with the said proviso, 
do hereby declare, that the nature 
of my said invention, and the man- 
ner in which the same is to be per- 
formed, is particularly described 
and ascertained as follows ; that is 
tosay, the vat or pit may be made 
or composed either of wooden, 
earthen, metallic, or other substance 
fit for the purpose, and constructed 
in any form, or size, that may be 
necessary 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


§necessary or convenient. The 
oozes should be kept in a regular 
kind degree of heat, by means of a 
flue, connected with them by an 
inclosure of brick, wood, stone, or 
any kind of metal, or other substance 
fit for the purpose; but the best 
method is to make the vats of 
beech, (with the top-plank of oak, 
about two inches thick,) four feet 
and ahalf deep, six feet long, and 
four feet wide; the sides to be per- 
} forated with holes, about one inch 
and a half in diameter, and two 
inches in distance from each other. 
} ‘The vat or pit should be enclosed in 
a metallic coating, and so com- 
pletely soldered as to prevent the 
escape of any of the fluid. ‘There 
must be an eye made in the vat, 
with a hole init, for the ooze to 
discharge itself through when ex- 
hausted. The vat should be placed 
on bricks, and enclosed with a case 
of brick-work, leaving an interstice 
_of a few inches for the heat to circu- 
latein; which heat should be kind 
and gentle, and received froma 
fire placed near the bottom of the 
vat, so as to be either increased or 
extinguished at pleasure as necessity 
or convenience may require. A 
small hole, or holes, must be left in 
the upper part of the brick-work, 
which is necessary for the warm air 
to ascend through. The old way of 
cold infusion for the extracts, as to 
the taps and spenders, will not be 
affected by this process, and the 
hides may be brought into the yard 
as usual; but it will be proper to 
handle them very frequently for 
some time, otherwise, as the action 
of the bark in very considerably in- 
creased by the warmth it has re- 
ceived, it will, if the hides be not 
often moved, operate partially, so 
4s to defeat the production of per- 


[*95 
fect leather. But, if this process 
of tanning be strictly attended to, it 
will produce leather, not only ina 
much shorter period of time than 
has hitherto been done, but of very 
superior quality, and durability. In 
witness whereof, &c. 


Rice Bread.—by Arthur Young, Ese. 
from Annals of Agriculture. 


MONGST the many trials 

made on different mixtures by 
the Board of Agriculture, 1 was 
rather surprised to find that rice 
ground to flour did not make any 
figure equal to my expectations. 
This led me to try 1t boiled, instead 
of ground, and the result was so 
favourable, that it deserves being 
communicated to the public. [ 
tried it in various proportions, but 
the most successful was, three. 
fourths wheaten flour, and one- 
fourth rice, weighed before boiling, 
It should be very well boiled, and 
the water squeezed out (which 
water may be used as starch for 
linen, and there is no better) and 
then mixed with the flour: it is 
made as common bread; none 
equals it, being more pleasant to 
the palate than any baker’s bread. 
That it is highly nourishing, there 
can be no doubt, as rice is admitted 
to be of all grain the most so. It is 
likewise a great advantage, that it 
has arestringent quality, all breads 
that induce laxity being pernicious 
to hard labouring people. 

Tho’ rice by the pound is dearer 
than wheaten flour, it is not so in 
bread ; I tried ten repeated experi- 
ments, on mixing one pound anda 
halfof flour with half a pound of 
rice, and the loaves weighed cold, 
gave from three pounds to three 

pounds 


pounds two ounces, which is a 


greater gain than in baking bread of 


wheat flour only. 

A cireumstance attending rice, 
which fenders it a great object, is 
the possibility of procuring it in 
almost any quantities ; for, not to 
mention the United States of Ame- 
rica, it is to be had surprisingly 
cheap from India. It is seldom 
higher, atCalcutta, than two’ sicca 
Tupees the bag of 168]lb; and for 
cargo rice 34 rupees; it has been 
bought in the districts, five mauns 
for the rupee, which is 400\b. for 
Qs. 4d. The average price at 
which it could. be bought in large 
quantities, is 5s. 3d per cwt. To 
this is to be added the freight to 
London in ships, Lascar ones of the 
country, 12s. per cwt.; in all, 
landed in England, 17s. 3d. per 
cwt. instead of 44s. the price at pre- 
sent sold for at London. Thus im- 
ported, it must be apparent to every 
one how much cheaper the bread 
would be. 

I have tried it, in the same pro- 
portion with barley, and it makes: 
good bread for labouring people, 
but heavy, like all mixtures of bar- 
ley, and the gain in baking not 
nearly equal to that by mixing with 
wheat. 

So excellent a sort of bread being 
thus attainable, itis to be hoped that 
its use will spread into every part of 
the kingdom, and that those per- 
sons, who assist their poor neigh- 
bours by don&tions cf bread, will 
adopt this mode of making it, since 
itisnot so much the price of the 
bread, as saving the consumption of 
wheat, which seems at present the 
object. 


Substance of Sir John Sinclair’s Ade 
dress to the Board of Agriculture, 
on Tuesday the 14th of July, 1795; 


%96) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


stating the Progress that had been 

madei n carrying on the Measures 
undertaken by the Board, for pro- 
moting the Improvement of ihe 
Country, during the second Sessions 
since its Establishment. 

Ye generous Britons venerate the 

lough ; 
—So with supctior boon may your rich 
soil, 
Exuberant Nature’s better blessings — 


pour 
Over every land, the naked nations 
clothe, _ 
And be th’ exhaustless granary of a 
world ! 
Tuompson’s Sprinc. 


HAT he could not think of 
their separating for the sum- _ 
mer, without laying before the board — 
according to the practice of last 
year, an #bstract of their proceeds — 
ings, at the conclusion of what ought — 
properly to be accounted their se 
cond session, only one meeting 
having been held in 1793, when the 
board was originally constituted. 
That nothing could give him 
greater satisfaction, than to observe 
the progress’ which the board was 
making towards completing the 
great measure which it had at first 
undertaken, namely, that of ascer- 
taining the present state of the agris 
culture of these kingdoms, and the 
means of its imprdvement. That 
not only the rough draught of the 
survey of cach county, with hardly 
any exceptions (and those would 
soon be supplied) had been printed, 
but that the reprinting of the re+ 
ports had also conmimenced, from 
which it would appear what pro- 
gress had been made in collecting 
additional information. The re- 
printed report of Lancashire, which 
was now ready for publication, 
would fully explain the plan accor- 
ding to which those reports were 
in 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


in future to be drawnup. From an 
examination of that report, the pub- 
lic would see to what a pitch of per- 
fection agricultural knowledge was 
likely to be brought, by theaccumu- 
lation of so many valuable materials. 

That, next to collecting informa- 
tion, the board was naturally 
anxious to excite a spirit ofim- 
provement ; a spirit which could 
best be roused by pointing out to 
the legislature those obstacles which 
prevented agricultural industry, and 
by endeavouring to prevail upon 
parliament to remove them. When 
the reports were completed, it 
might be expedient for that purpose 
to draw up an abstract of the whole, 
adhering to the division by coun- 
ties, but restricting the information 
to those points which were of gene- 
ral importance. That report, which 
it would be proper to lay before his 
majesty and both houses of parlia- 
ment, would state such measures as 
seemed to be the most likely to rouse 
a spirit of agricultural exertion, He 
hoped that important work would 
be completed before the ensuing 
session of parliament was brought 
to a conclusjon. 

The third object, that of draw- 
ing up a general report, in which 
each subject connected with agri- 
culture should be distinctly treated, 
had also made considerable pro- 
gress. Scveral of the chapters were 
’ already drawn up ; and the fifteenth 
chapter, on the great subject of 
manures, was prinied and in circu- 
lation. That chapter fully explained 
the nature of the proposed report, 
and the manner in which it was ine 
tended to be executed. 


[*97 


Among the duties of the board of 
agriculture there was none of more 
real importance, than that of bring- 
ing under the Consideration of par 
liament such measuresas were likely 
to promote the interests of every 
description of persons connected 
with husbandry, more especially 
those of the lower orders of society. 
With that view a bill was’ brought 
into parliament, on the recommen- 
dation of ‘the board, ‘which had 
passed into a law, and was likely to 
prove of much consequence to that 
valuable class, the common labour- 
ers, who were entitled to the pecu- 
liar attention of the legislature, and 
to the protection of the board, in 
enabling them to lay out their 
little pittance to the best advan- 
tage, and without the risk of impo- 
sition.* 

That a most important, but at the 
same time a very delicate branch of 
duty, incumbent upon the board, is 
that of submitting to the considera- 
tion of parliament, the claims of 
those wiio merited to be rewarded, 
on account of discoveries advans 
tageous to agriculture. That any 
attempt of that sort, it might easily 
be supposed, was liable to many dif- 
ficulties. ‘Vhat the board had suc- 
ceeded in its first application, in be- 
half of a very deserving individual, 
Mr. Joseph Elkington, who had 
carried the art of draining land toa 
perfection hitherto unknown, and 
which, if spread. over the whole 
kingdom, must necessarily prove 
the source of infinite public benefit. 
That sum, being the first ever granted 
by parliament for any discovery of 
importance to husbandry, rendered 


* This Act,, which was recommended to the attention of the board by Sir 
Christopher Willoughby, one of its members, and was introduced into parliament 
by Mr. Powys, is entitled, An Act for the more effectual Prevention of the Use 
of defective Weights, and of false and unequal Balances,” § 


Vor. XXXVII. 


[*G] it 


toes) ANNUALR 


it more valuable to the person who 
received it, and more creditable to 
the board, in consequence of whose 
recommendation it had been ob- 
tained. ‘That the board had this 
day appointed a committee for the 
purpose of attending to that subject 
during the recess ; by whose exer- 
tion, he had na doubt considerable 
progress would be made, in the 
course even of this year, in having 
those individuals taught who might 
be sent with that view to Mr. 
Elkington. 

That there is no duty more in- 
cumbent on a board of agriculture, 
than that of recommending such 
measures as are the most likely to 
provide a sufficient quantity of food 
for the people : recommendation, it 
is well known, is all thata beard 
possessed of such limited powers can 
attempt ; but in that respect it for- 
tunately seems to be possessed of 
considerable influences. The defi- 
ciency of the last crop becoming 
too apparent at the commerncemeit 
of this year, an extraordinary meet- 
ing was held to take the subject into 
consideration, when the board re- 
solved to recommend the culture of 
potatoes as in every point of view 
the resource the easiest to be ob- 
tained, and the most to be depend- 
ed on. By accounts received from 
various parts of the island it appears 
that the recommendation had been 
attended with the best consequences. 
There is every reason to believe 
that perhaps 50,000 additional acres 
of potatoes have been planted in 
consequence of that recommenda- 
tion. As each acre of potatoes will 
feed, at an average, from eight to 
ten people for twelve months, it is 
probable that the board have been 
the means of raising as great a quan- 
tity of that food. as will main ain 
nearly a million of people for six 


EGISTER, 1795. 


months, and consequently it will 
have been the happy instrument of 
_preventing thevrisk of scarcity or fa- 
mine during the ensuing season. For 
the purpose of increasing that cul- 
ture in future, and of ascertaining 
the principles on which it could best 
be conducted, a report has been 
drawn up and printed, which con- 
tains all the intormation that could 
be collected in Great Britain and 
Ireland, or from foreign publications 
on the subject of potatoes. 

That for many years past constant 
complaints have been made of the 
increasing price of provisions. Many 
causes have been assigned for such a 
circumstance, and many remedies 
suggested; but the most effectual 
one undoubtedly is that of cultiva- 
ting the many millions of acres now 
lying waste and unproductive. That 
to that point he should take the li- 
berty of calling the attention of the 
board early in the course of the en- 
suing session ; and Jn the interim he 
trusted that the members of the 
board would pay every possible alt= 
tenuon to the subject. 


“ Let as cut. off those legal bars, 

“ Which crush the culture of our fruit- 
“ ful Isle ; 

“Were they remov'd, 
“ wealth would flow; 

“Our wastes would then with varied 
“ produce sinile, 

“And England soon a second Eden 
“ prove.” 


unbounded 


The last, and perhaps the most 
important object to which the at- 
tention of the board can be directed, 
is that of attending to the situation 
and circumstances of the lower 
orders of the people. That impor- 
tant branch of our duty had not 
been negleeted during the course of 
the present session. In addition to 
the specific measures above alluded 
to, a special committee was ap- 

eas pointed 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


pointed to take the general subject 
into consideration, who have laid 
the foundation, by their investiga- 
tions, for very important regulations 
in regard to that great branch of 
political economy. A matter of 
that importance, however, requires 
much deliberation, before either 
parliament can be applied to for 
new laws, or any recommendation 
can be submitted to the considera- 
tion of private individuals. But 
there were three points which 
seemed to meet with a very general 
concurrence. The first was to pro- 
mote improvements in the construc- 
tion of cottages, more especially to 
ascertain the means by which the 
consumption of fuel could be dimi- 
nished. The second, to recommend 
the annexing of a large garden to 
each cottage; by which the labourer, 
with the assistance of his family, 
might beenabled to raise a consider- 
able quantity of provisions, without 
being obliged to go to market for 
every thing he had occasion for. 
Many instances of the benefit result- 
ing from such an appendage were 
stated in the different county re- 
ports, and were known to many 
members of the board. The third 
point was, that of encouraging, by 
every possible means, the extension 
of friendly societies, that most for- 
tunate of ali institutions for the 
benefit of the poor, and the most 
likely means that could possibly be 
devised for rendering their situation 
comfortable. 

“That the variety of important 
subjects regarding which it was ne- 
cessary for the Board to collect in- 
formation, and of measures which 
it might have occasion to recom- 
mend to the public attention, having 
rendered it extremely desirable to 
egiablish @ correspondence with 


[*99 


some respectable body in each 
county, it had occurred, that either 
the grand juries or the magistrates 
assembled at the quarteresessions, 
were in every point of view the 
fittest and most respectable descrip= 
tions of persons for the board to cor- 
respond with. That a circular let« 
ter had been sent by the board, 
Suggesting the many public ad- 
vantages that might be derived, by 
establishing a committee of the ma= 
gistrates in each county, to core 
respond with the board upon such 
subjects, whick there is every reas 
son to believe will be cordially ac- 
ceded to; a most desirable circum- 
stance, as such au intercourse could 
not fail to be productive of conse- 
quences: equally satisfactory to the 
board, and important to the general 
interests of the country. 

The president then concluded his 
address in the fallowing wards: 

“*On the whole, the board have 
only to persevere, with zeal and 
alacrity, in the great course in which 
they are now engaged, in order to 
effect objects which were never 
compassed in any other country ; 
and which, without an institution, 
carried on with such zeal and ener- 
gy, would never have been supposed 
attainable. And in carrying on 
this great undertaking we ought to 
consider, that we are not only le- 
bouring for ourselves and cur poste- 
rity, and for the nations by whom 
we are surrounded, who must profit 
from ourinstructions, and be bene- 
fitted by our example, but that we 
are laying a foundation for the fur 
ture prosperity and happiness of the 
human race; since their prosperi y 
and happiness must ever depend on 
the facility with which their means 
of sustenance can be provided. ‘This 
country bas much to boast of. In 


[(*G 9] tha 


#100] 


the arts of war it has had few 
equals: in commerce and manu- 
facturing industry, it bas gone be- 
yond all competition: in every 
branch of learning it has produced 
individuals who can rival the proud- 
est names that antiquity can exhi- 
bit: and 2f, im addition to those 
other sources of fame and crecit, it 
can bring agriculture, and the useful 
arts connected with it, to perfection 
Qwhich by the exertions of this 
board can hardly fail to be speedily 
accomplished) where is the nation 
that will be able to make a more 
distinguished figure in the page of 
history.” 


Abstract of Minutes of the Evidence 
taken before the Committee of 
Council appointed for the Conside- 
ration of all Matters relating to 
Trade, and foreign Plantations, 
an Respect to the Stock of Grainin 
this Country, and its Price subse- 
guent to the Harvest of 1794, and 
respecting the Produce of the Har- 
vest of the present Year ; the pre- 
sent and probable Price of Grain 
an this Country till the ensuing 
Harvest ; and the Mcans of pro- 
curing a Supply to. make good the 
Deficiency m the Produce of this 
Country ; with other Proceedings 
thereupon, from Jan. 3151795, to 
Aug. 0, 1795 ; and of the Evidence 
before the Lords of the Prvwy Goun- 
cil to the like Effect, from. April 
27, 1795, to Notember 5, 1795. 


HE result of various inquiries 
was an opinion that the crop 

of 1794 was very defective, and not 
likely to be sufficient for the usual 
consumption; that a supply was 
purchased at Dantzic ; and that 
private merchants would speculate 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795, 


in purebases, which would depend 
on the relative prices in the mar- 
kets abroad and in England in the 
Spring, where those purchasers 
would be destined. The crops in 
America were too short, and the 
price too high, to bring it to Eng. 
land, though the French orders were 
not limited to quality or price. The 
last crop in Canada was plentiful 
and good, and might be looked for 
in July, and from the Baltic in May. 
Spain and Portugal had scanty 
harvests ; the latter no grain to 
spare. In Sicily crops had failed, 
and exportation was prohibited, 
Nothing was to be had in time from 
Egypt or Turkey. The rise of ‘the 
price of wheat in London was gra 
dua], owing to the exhausted stocks 
of wheat and flour in the hands of 
the millers and dealers at harvest- 
time, and additional buyers in Lon- 
don. The frost raised flour 2s.a 
sack, and, if it continued, would 
cause a farther rise, to erable the 
millers to supply London by lands 
carriage. Leaving more bran, &c. 
in the flour would increase the 
quantity of bread, but make it less 
nutritive. Mr. Arthur Young stated 
the last crop deficient not full one» 
filth below the average of ten years ; 
soit was 1788; worse 1789; yet 
the prices of that crop till harvest 
1790, did not amount, on an average 
throughout the kingdom, to more 
than 7s. abushel. He thought im- 
portation bore no proportion to the 
want; and that the Albion-mills had 
reduced the price of flour. Mr. 
Sheredine, the king’s baker and pur- 
veyor of bread, thought that the in- 
erease of one penny on the quartern 
loaf of household would give a profit 
to the baker, and make it preferred, 
By Governor Pownall’s -bill, the 
assize was set low, and there was no 

bread 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


bread of the whole meal, it being in- 
tended to lay a check on both meal- 
man and baker ; but in this the bill 
failed. If only. one sort of flour 
was allowed to be mae, the meal- 
man would be obliged to make it, 
and could have no sale for the finer. 
If the miller was forced by parlia= 
mentto dress his flour coarser, it 
would increase the quantity froma 
given quantity of wheat, as it would 
take in the finer pollards, which are 
now, in the common mode of manu- 
facturing, entirely separated from 
the flour, the expence of manus 
facturing would be cheaper, and the 
flour sooner fit for.use. The best 
and most wholesome bread is made 
from flour that contained the whole 
of the meal, with the broad bran 
only taken out; and the fine pol- 
lards contain a sweet oily substance, 
that prevents the bread from drying 
in so short a time as bread made 
from fine flour only. Brown-bread 
flour, manufactured in the best man- 
ner from the whole of the wheat; 
with thé broad bran only taken out, 
imay be ground to-day, dressed to 
morrow, andused next day. The 
poor will not buy the coarser bread 
if they can buy better, nor be satis- 
fied unless they give the highest 
price. No bread is now made in 
London for sale but the fine wheaten, 
The parliamentary household bread 
should be made from the whole 
meal, the broad bran only being 
taken out; which may be ascertained 
either by dressing it through a cloth, 
or wire, woven with a certain num- 
ber of threads or wire in an inch. 
What is called a 14s, cloth is gene- 
rally understood to be proper for 
use. This flour would bake into 
’ such bread as is made in gentiemen’s 
families, where the wheat has been 
ground in their own mill, and no 


#701 


tricks played with it. If parliament 
would give the same encouragement 
to the baker for making bread trom 
the flour as here stated, as they now 
have for baking the fine household 
flour, the millers would be willing 
to manufacture for that purposes 
Flour from Indian corn mixed with 
wheat would give it a yellow cast ; 
but a small quantity improves ordi- 
nary flour very much. White pease 
are sometimes ground with it in 
small quantities. If the Albion-miils 
had ground to the hire it would 
not have been a profitable concern, 
which is the cage with common mils 
lers: they are, therefore, all meal- 
men. The Albion-mills caused a 
competition, which reduced the 
profit to the millers in general. No 
wheat is used in distilling, nor any 
objection thence to prohibit the use 
of wheat and wheat-flour entirelys 
or carrying any kind of corn coast- 
wise from one port of the united 
kingdom to another. 

Mr. Stonard, starch.maker, said 
there was no law confining the mas 
king of starch to wheat, which made 
it whiter. No profit on the trouble 
of making it of rice; and starch 
merely for washing might be made 
of barley, The East-India Com- 
pany’s scarlet cloths require starch 
in dying ; and it is useful to the pas 
per-trade for packing it. 

Pease and beans might be used to 
make it ; but potatoe starch has no 
body, and is made with great 
waste; it can only be made of vege- 
table substances; and the number of 
hogs fed from the offal of it is a con« 
siderable object. The committee 
appointed by the lord-mayor and 
court ofaldermen were of opinion, 
that the mode by which the. prices 
of wheat and flour have been col. 
lected, under the act of 31 Geo. II, 

[* G 3] c. 6, 


102]. ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ce. 6. by which the assize of bread 
is regulated, is not efficient to the 
purpose of obtaining the true prices 
of all the wheat. and flower within 
the jurisdiction of the city of Lon- 
don ; and they propose that a pro- 
* per person collect from the meters 
office an account of all wheat de- 
livered for making bread, and de- 
mand of the different sellers of 
wheat, the price at which each pare 
cel was sold, the average price of 
the quantity delivered in a week, 
may become the return on which 
the assize of bread for the next week 
may be fixed, and that the price of 
ali flower delivered to bakers within 
the bills of mortality in a week be 
the average whereon to fix the 
assize of bread for the subsequent 
week. ‘This report was not at- 
tended to, because the assize is regu- 
lated by the price. of flour, not of 
wheat, amd the eflicacy of the mea- 
sure was doubtful. In the month of 
June, the usual quantity of wheat 
broughtinto the London market, fell 
_ off full one-half, and flour, as be- 
lieved, in the same proportion, 
The whole quantity of wheat that 
could be exported from the Baltic, 
was 200,000 quarters ; of which our 
governinent purchased 120,000 ; of 
the remaining $0,000, part would go 
to France direct, and part thither 
through Denmark. Very little ex- 
pectation of importation trom Ame- 
rica from the old harvest, and trom 
the new uone before November. 
The lords of the council met regu- 
Jarly every Wednesday from that 
tiine, received amounts of wheat 
and other grain imported or taken 
on board neutral or other vessels, 
and distributed to the best of their 
judgment to the different parts of 
the country that wanted it, many 


places being reduced to three or 
four days consumption. The lord- 
mayor and the city members at- 
tended with their plan of relieving 
their jurisdiction by subscription, as 
did the bakers company, to state the 
difficulty in setting the assize of 
standard wheaten bread, so as to 
make it answer to the bakers to 
sell it. By July 8, there bad ar- 
rived 22,000 quarters of foreign 
wheat ; 6000 were disposed of to 
the millers near London from, 82s. 
to 84s. per quarter, and one quarter 
at 86s. The disuse of hair-powder 
was deemed not-of sufficient conse- 
quence; itis made of starch, and 
sometimes of ground rice ; the quan- 
tity of starch so applied is about 
one-third ; very little starch is made 
at present. The soldiers used flower 
for powder. In consequence of a 
report from the attorney and so- 
licitor-general, and serjeant Adair, 
the lords of the council stated, that 
many difficulties had presented them- 
selves with respect to any measuré 
for fixing the assize of standard 
wheaten bread, contrary to that 
settled by the 13th of his present 
majesty, so as to induce the baker 
to sell it, so that they had come to 
no resolution thereon. — Subscrip- 
tions were therefore substituted. 
The lords were, however, clearly of 
opinion, that the lord-mayor and 
court of aldermen should set the as- 
size of standard wheaten bread, 
and that it should be publicly known 
that it 1s so set, agreeably to 31 
Geo. II. § 3. 

The whole quantity of wheat in 
hand, July 22, 64,340 quarters ; 
flour, 12,055 barrels. There being 
a disposition to stop corn and flour 
in their passage to different parts of 
the kingdom, the lords declare that 

there 


USEFUL PROLTECTS: 


theré is reason to hope the stock, 


with the foreign supply, will last till. 


harvest ; that exportation was pro- 
hibited ; and that the magistrates 
must do their duty ; and troops were 
ordered to protect the free circula- 
tion. 6000 quarters were put up to 
sale in the London market, and 
7000 Monday, July 27. The 
weekly consumption of flour at 
Norwich is from 600 to 700 sacks. 
Some places were supplied by prize- 
ships brougut into the nearest port ; 
others from London. 

August 5, the whole quantity of 
wheat in England, undisposed of, 
was 24,760 quarters.—Aug. 12, 
18,450.—Aug. 19, 13,720. —Aug. 
26, 15,450, Sept. 2, 225430: 4_No 
return till Oct. 3, 33,200, and ex- 
ported from the Baltic, 46,000.— 
Oct. 17, 22,600.—Oct. 21,.31,000. 
Oct. 28, 9,330.—Oct. 31, Canada 
wheat sold from 72 to 77s. per 
quarter. 

At Workington and Whitehaven 
the people were perfectly satisfied 
with bread made of barley and rye. 
Fifty-six ships were sent to Quebec, 
ef which only 28 arrived at different 
ports in England, and the obtaining 
the farther quantity was very doubt. 
ful, in consequence of the immense 
demand for flour in Newfoundland, 
and for his majesty’s service’ in 
Nova Scotia and the West Indies. 
What arrived was the greatest part 
heated, from being shipped in hot 
weather; butit would probably reco- 
ver, The demand for foreign wheat 
increasing, Mr. Claude Scott, the 
agent for government, was ordered, 
Oct. 1, to sell in each week in that 
month, in the London Markets 5000 
quarters, taking care to diminish in 
proportion to the quantity of British 
wheat brought in. A bill was pre- 


[*108 


paring in October, to prohibit mak~ 
ing starch from wheat, and for per= © 
mitting the importation of starch at 
a duty, not exceeding the inland 
duty, now payable on starch made 
within the kingdom. Free export- 
ation of wheat permitted at Dante 
zic, and the price declining. Mr. 
Scott applied for a greater supply 
for the London market, the demand 
being so pressing that country mils 
lers came 60 miles forit: ‘* The 
price of wheat remained very high 


. in Holland,as the purchasers for that 


market did not enjoy the saine de- 
gree of confidence for the present 
as the English. The French Con- 
vention was making very liberal 
proposals to contract for quantities 
to any extent, to be delivered in 
France ; whence it was to be in- 
ferred, that the crops in France had 
not turned out so well as would ap- 
pear from the accounts in the news- 
papers ; but it was not e be sup- 
posed that any body would enter in- 
to a direct contract with the Con- 
vention, as payment might be subject 
to such delays and altercation, &c.” 

Extract of a letter from Dantzic, 
Sept. 15, 1795.—Messrs. Helicars, 
in a letter from Bristol, to lord 
Hawkesbury, Oct. 8, 1795, ob- 
serve, that *¢ the consequence of the 
late scarcity would have been more 
serious, had not the calamity been 
relieved by the foreign importation 
on gover snment account ; 3 a specula- 
tion truly justifiable, because the 
principle, we presumey arose from 
the conduct of that nation we are 
at war with; for, it isa fair inference, 
that no individual merchant can or 
would risk his property in a trade 
wherein he had to meet the agents 
of a nation, the support of whose 
cbimerical constitution depends on 


[*G 4] a supply 


© 


*104) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1793. 


a supply of food; and, to attain 
which, no sacrifice of property was 
an obstacle ; therefore that nation, 
whose exigencies were urgent, was 
_ compelled to embark at the national 
cost, or render no relief. Thus, 
while we beg to pay our tribute of 
acknowledgement for thatseasonable 
precaution, allow us to express our 
opinion that, when tke causes of 
justification cease, the scheme should 
also ; for, except in cases so extra- 
ordinary, the supplies of grain will 
find their way to market through the 
merchant (under regular and perma- 
nent laws, adapted to relieve the 
manufacturer, as well as prudently 
encourage the farmer), with greater 
facility, more steadiness, and less ex- 
pence, than through the medium of 
any government, 

In ‘the counties of - Hereford, 
Monmouth, Worcester, Gloucester, 
Wilts, Somerset, and Devon, the 
harvest in point of weather for saving 
it has been universal, and the crop 
of springssown grain never known to 
be more atundant: but one general 
opinion prevails of the defectiveness 
of the crop of wheat, which may be 
ascribed to two causes ; the destruc- 
tion of the plant by severe frosts last 
winter, when the ground was not co- 
vered with snow, and the eflect of a 
few frosty nights, when the wheat 
was in blossom, injuring the top of 
the ear from filling, and which now 
affects the yielding very materially. 
To exemplify it more clearly, the 
estimation prevails that the stock of 
old and new British wheat on Sept. 
29, 1795, was one-third short of the 
stock of old and new, Sept. 29, 
1794; and it is a most lamentable 
circumstance to look forward to, 
when we review the evils likely to 
result from the late dearth. <A fru- 
gal use of wheat recommended, and 


introduced substitutes for it in the 
make of bread, will alleviate in a 
small degree. The free circulation 
of corn inland should have every at- 
tention and support; for, the late 
distress was greater than the stock _ 
in the growers’ hands justified, had 
not interruption been given by mobs 
under the sanction of men who 
ought to have known their duty bet- 
ter. In many districts of only 20 
miles, the difference in price was 
full 10s. to 20s. per quarter more 
than it ought to have been, compa- 
ratively speaking. To these two ob- 
jects we most humbly suggest to 
your lordships, should be united 
that of a timely foreign supply, ei- 
ther by bounty, to encourage the 
merchants, should the markets be 
free and open; or, in case they 
were resorted to as last year, we 
conceive the national purse cannot 
be opened fora more laudable pur- 
pose than such national necessities, 
as the property of individuals is ina~ 
dequate to. ‘The average consump- 
tion of Bristol, and the places im- 
mediately dependent on it, is about 
2000 sacks, or 250 tons of flour; 
and the effect of inland situations 
resorting for relief cannot be more 
fully elucidated than by reference to 
the failure of 1774, when 60,000 
quarters of wheat, and upwards of 
50,000 barrels of flour, were im- 
ported in twelve months, and circu- 
lated in all the adjacent counties.” 
English wheat soldat the London 
market, Oct. 18, at 96s. to 98s. per 
quarter, 1500 quarters, an advance 
of Os. per quarter on the last market- 
day’s price; government wheat from 
60s. to 82s. per quarter, 5000 quar- 
ters, and more could have been sold 

had it been fresh and sweet. ° 
The different corn-factors stated 
that the wheat of this year was, in 
Dorset, 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


Dorset, in part blighted, which 
made it produce less; the general 
average defective, but the defect 
partia!. About Yarmouth, thecrops 
one quarter measure per acre, and 
2lb. the bushel heavier, than last 
year. In Kent very defective ; and 
in the fens of Lincolnshire a mate- 
rial deficiency; all owing to the 
blight. In Hertfordshire, 15 bushels 
per acre instead of 22 or 23. The 
small supply brought toLondon since 
the last harvest; owing to the de- 
ficiency in this year’s crop, and the 
old stock being exhausted, the dith- 
culty of procuring a crop from the 
additional labour in threshing, aris- 
ing from the defective quality of the 
~ sheaves, the demand for seed-wheat, 
which perhaps this year exceeds the 
demand of ordinary years, as the 
high price leads the farmer to sow 
more seed. Wheat is generally one- 
tenth of the produce this year ; it 
will be more; and the great part of 
the supply which used to come to 
London is drawn off in consequence 
of the home demand, and the de- 
mand of other districts where the 
crop has been short. The supply 
will increase when the seed-time is 
over, which will be about the middle 
of November. No ideaof the sup- 
ply being withheld in consequence 
of combinations, which are believed 
impossible. Barley generally under- 
stood to be abundant. Oats a good 
crop, but not so many sown as be- 
fore, but more wheat. Pease a good 
crop. In Dorset, people resort to 
_barley bread, that grain being plenti- 
ful; but probably, while so applied, 
the price will not be so reasonable as 
might be expected from the crop. 
Another corn-factor states the de- 
ficiency of supply arising from the 
seed-time to be not greater at pre- 
sen!, as to English wheat, than it 


[*105 


has been for the Jast.30 years, but 
the price and demand miuch greater 
than in any part of that period. 
This demand arises from the neigh- 
bouring counties being entirely with- 
outany stock of old wheat, and send- 
ing for it to London. The defect 
is more in the want of flour, which 
is owing to the millers and mealmer 
being wholly without any stock of 
it; and that again is owing to the 
great want of wheat, and the high 
price cf it for the last three months. 
The farmers in Essex, Suffoik, and 
Norfolk, are threshing out biitey, 
fearing the price of that grain will 
fall, wall not that of wheat; and its 
produce was very abundant, not less 
than five quarters per acre. The 
pocrer people rejected standard 
wheaten .bread, not so much _ be- 
cause they thought it unwholesome, 
or did not like it, but because it 
was not universal: if there was no 
other sort, they would be content 
to eat it. 

Another says, the wheat was it 
general thin on the ground, and 
yields ili ; in consequence of blight, 
the crop of cone wheat is particu- 
larly bad; ascribes the want of sup- 
ply toa sickness among the labours 
ers, reduced from five or six ina 
barn to one or two; and the late 
rains have rendered the ground fa- 
vourable for sowing, to which the 
farmers apply the corn as fast as 
threshed. Theincrease will probably 
be considerable, as the markets in 
October are generally thin; but it 
will not be great till the seed-time 
is over. ‘he crop of wheat not 
so bad as to justify the present high 
price, though it will be probably 
higher than last year. Hedoes not 
believe the poorer inhabitants of the 
kingdom will be induced to eat 
bread made of other sorts of grain. 

The 


#106) ANNUAL REGISTER, i795: 


The finer bread is used in the poorer 
parts of the town, such as Spital- 
fields, &c. On the borders of Es- 
sex, the magistrates enforced the 
use of the standard wheaten bread; 
but the poor did not like it, and 
thought it did not go so far, and the 
mnagistrates now suffer the finer 
wheaten to be made. He agrees 
with the poor in opinion, that 
standard wheaten bread does not go 
so far as the fine wheaten bread. If 
an inferior sort of bread is to be 
made, it should bé universal ;_ but, 
if this bread was made wholly of 
English wheat, without any mixture 
of torcign, which is generally bad, 
it might be wholesome.» 

Another stated the quantities of 
wheat sold in the London market 
for the month of September, and 
first three weeks of October, in the 
last four years, as follows: 


1792 1793 
Weeks Qrs Weeks Qrs 
Sept. 5 21,204 4 12,987 
Octe')) BiKP1 F823) gis 23/827 
1794 1795 
Weeks Qrs Weeks Qrs 
Sept. 4 10,171 4. 7,081 
Oct. 3 8,887 38 9,989 


and that the price would be enor- 
mously high through the year, unless 
some substitute could be found for 
wheat, of whieh there is not enough 
to make bread till next harvest. 
Thinks bread of other grain would 
be liked, as it was by the poor at 
rip ivaniay santana when given 
to them. 

All the respectable mealmen and 
corn-factors concurred in opinion as 
to the crops; price, and supply: 

The crops in America 1793 and 
1794 not good; and the price high 
on account of the quantities ex- 
ported to France and the West In- 
dies,particularly the Hayannabs and 

Ll 


the advantageous speculation it afe 
fords in Europe: ‘The French mis — 
nister purcliased it in the two last 
and present years, and paid forit in 
gold coin, or by bullion, or by wine 
and brandy; the present Contractis 
by certificates issued by the Ameri- 
can government for part of the debts 
owing to France from the United 
States, which certificates amount to 
800,000 dollars; but; as some of 
them do not bear sohigh an interest 
as 6 per cent. American stock; there 
will probably be a loss on them of 
20 per cents The whole of the sum 
paid by France in this mode may 
amount, including all deductions, 
to 160,0001. Most of the ships car- 
rying wheat and flour to France 
cleared outprincipally for Falmouth, 
and a market sometimes to Ham- 
burg and sometimes to Spain and 
Portugal. The French government 
have sustained great losses in this 
trade by captures of corn and mo- 
ney, amounting to near 200,000I. ; 
and the American merchants made 
immense profits by the high price 
required for their flour exported on 
their own risk: Even in the cons 
tracts now carried on the Josses are 
supposed, by well-informed persons 
in America, to be about 60l. per 
cent. A number of merchants in 
America, who considered the Ame- 
rican debt owing to France as a col 
lateral security, finding the debt is 
applied in the manner here statedy 
are discouraged from shipping pro- 
Visions on their own atcount; and 
the payments will not be so exten 
sive this yeat as the last; and some 
merchants at New York, who had 
made an agreement with M. Faus 
chet, the French minister, to send 
flour to France, and; in consequence, 
had drawn bills to a large amount 
in England, on a supposition 93 

the 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


the money would be paid in France, 
and brought to England in ume to 
satisfy these bills,which has not been 
the case, are on this account in the 
greatest distress. ‘The quantity of 
wheat for exportationin the United 
States is estimated at about a mil- 
lion of bushels of flour, 1,100,000 
barrels. 

The divisions and their weight 
were stated, also the price of flour 
made of wheat and barley in several 
proportions, and their produce per 
bushel. 

Mr, Wm. Malcolm, who drew up 
the reports of the counties of Surrey 
and Bucks, is the only person who 
suggests a combinativn of opulent 
farmersgiwho play with and feed the 
markets at their own prices; which 
demand the interference of parlia- 
ment, to keep open the ports, offer 
bounties, prevent smuggling, com- 
pel the pitching of grain in the 
markets, enforce laws against en- 
grossing, furestalling, and regrating, 
and prevent combinations to raise 
the price of Jabour. He ascribes 
the high price of grain to the great 
increase of population, the emi- 
grants, the very great proportion of 
land converted from arable to pas- 
ture,increase of buildingsand people 
in manufacturing towns,villages les- 
sened, and great towns, particularly 
London, increased nearly 1-8th. The 
great quantity of potatoes grown 
this season bas lessened the quantity 
of grain. He recommends num- 
bering the people by the assessors of 
the taxes, to ascertain the average 
produce sufficient for them compar- 
ed with the number of-acres. 

Mr, Malcolm suggests the follow- 
ing hints ;—‘ The immense quan- 
tity of meal used in the kitchens 
et large families, to supply a pint 


[*107 


or two of soup for the table, must 
contribute to the great consumption 
of wheat; and the vast number of 
small pigs,weighi ng from to 101b. 
per quarter,called Sibi and sold 
from 7d. to 8d. the lb. which would, 
if kept a few weeks longer, weigh 
from 15 to 20lb. the quarter, is 
Yanother cause of the dearness of 
meat. In these times economy 
should be set on foot in all families. 
The vast number of horses kept for 
pleasure and useless parade, must, 
by consumption of oats and hay, 
prevent the growth of human food 
on the same ground. House-Jambs 
are another delicate that might be 
done without; and, -if suffered to 
live a few months longer, would 
weigh more, and be of more use. 
We seem now to set in for a wet 
autumn, and of course a wet seed- 
time for wheat, which will be a 
cause of raising the price by men 
who speculate in it. The difference 
in the price between the brown and 
white loaf is not sufficient to tempt 
the poor to eat it. The brown 
should be made of the whole pro- 
duce of the wheat, with only a re- 
duction of one-ninth of the weight 
for bran, &c.; and a bushel of 
wheat, weighing 43lb. should send 
home to the owner 36lb. of meal, 
Olb, of bran, and 11b, loss or waste.” 
Nov. 2, a bill was ordered.to be 
prepared, to prevent obstructions to 
the free passage of grain and other 
provisions throughout the kingdom. 
Recommended to the lord-mayor 
and aldermen, to take measures for 
preparing Correcter assize-tables, to 
extend to bread made of white or 
household wheaten flour, with one- 
third, one-fourth, or one-fifth of rye, 
barley, oats, and Indian-corn flour, 
that the baker might have such a 
profit 


#108] 


profitas might encourage his making 
it for sale at such a reduced price as 
should encourage the purchaser to 
take it. 

Nov. 5. Mr. William Cramp, 
keeper of the house of correction at 
Lewes, Sussex, gave an account of 
the mode of making starch from 
horse-chesnuts. He put the ches- 
nuts first in water to swell them till 
they burst, then took off the skin, 
_ and grated thekernel into fresh cold 
water. When that was done, he 
strained it through a coarse strainer 
or cheese-cloth, rinsing the pulp 
well with fresh water, and then 
strained it again through a very fine 
Strainer to take off the internal skin, 
or little thin red film next to the 
kernel. The strainer cannot be too 
fine for this second straining; for’ 
starch will get through where 
water does. It was then left to set- 
tle five or six hours till the starch 
was effectually settled at bottom. 
The water in which it was settled 
was poured off, and fresh water put 
on it, and all stirred up again, and 
left to settle a second time, serving 
it in that manner two or three times, 
till the starch was bleached quite 
white; and, after it had again efiec- 
tually settled, the last water was 
poured off, and it was put upon 
boards to dry. The whole process 
jn summer, when the weather is fine 
to dry it outof doors, may be finished 
in four days, and the starch will be 
fit to box up. It is better to dry it 
in the open air than on a stove, as 
the stove would probably dry it 
too fast, and affect the colour, which 
was also the case unless the chesnut 
was very clean of the inside skin. 
The whole expence is in grating 
and breaking the kernels; and that 
of making 5lb. of starch would not 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 179%. 


exceed. Is, 6d. One gallon of chese 
nuts was enough for experiment. 
Mr. C. imagines that acorns would / 
answer the same purpose, and might 
be ground along with the chesnuts, 
but he had not tried. The process 
of making starch from chesnuts and 
potatoes is exactly the same; anda 
bushel of the: latter; at 56lb. the 
bushel, will make about 6b. 4 oz 
of starch. 
The first report from the select / 
committee, appointed to take into F 
consideration the present high price — 
of corn, printed Nov. 19, 1795, 
states the firstand most obvious mode 
of supplying the deficiency to be by 
the importation of grain from fos 
reign ports, by the restoraffn of the 
trade on corn toits natural channel, 
with the additional encouragement 
of a bounty of 20s. per quarter on 
wheat, and a proportionate bounty 
per barrel of flour from Europe 
south of Cape Finistere, or the ports 
in the Mediterranean-or Africa, till 
the quantity of wheat and flour to- 
gether shall equal 3,000,000 quars 
ters, a bounty of 15s. per quarter on 
a certain quantity of wheat, and 
10s. per quarter on all exceeding 
it from the other ports of Europe; 
and from America; and of 5s: 
per quarter, and in proportion on 
flour of Indian corn. A proclama- 
tion prohibiting the exportation 
and encouraging the importation 
from Feb. 13, 1795, until the expir- 
ation of six weeks from the com- 
mencement of the next session of | 
parliament. The report on the 
assize of bread, Nov. 9, 1795y 
was that the old standard bread, 
made of flour the whole produce of 
the wheat, and weighing three 
quarters of the weight of wheat, 
would tend to prevent many incon- 
veniences 


niencies which have arisen in the 
size and making of bread for sale ; 
nd that the columns in the repealed 
ct of 8 Anne would be the proper 
ssize for the said standard wheat 
read, a twelve penny loaf of which 
ould, on a medium, contain 2lb. 
f bread in 8 more than the twelve- 
enny loaf of wheat made under 
1G. 11, 

The report from the committee 
f the House of Commons 1774, to 
onsider the method practised in 
aking flour from wheat, the prices 
hereof, and how far it may be ex- 
edient to put the same upon the 
egulations of an assize was re- 
rinted 9 Nov. 1795. 

‘ 


Zvil of using Potatoes for Bread ; 
from the Annals of Agriculture. 


O ascertain the value of pota- 

toes in making bread, a loaf 
as made of five pounds of good 
four, and another of three pounds 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


[*109 


four ounces of the same flour mixed 
with one pound twelve ounces of 
potatoes ; when boiled and mashed, 
equal quantities of yeast, salt, and 
water, were put to each loaf; but, 
in making up, it was found that the 
loaf of flour required more water, 
which was accordingly. added, and 
that the mixed loaf had already too 
much; three ounces of flour were 
added to remedy the defect. On 
weighing them when cold, after ba- 
king the same time in the same oven, 
it was found that the flour loaf 
wejgbed eight pounds six ounces, 
and the mixed que only five pounds 
fifteen ounces, 

Now, as five pounds of flour 
producedeight pounds six ounces of 
bread ; in the same proportion, the 
three pounds seyen ounces of flour 
would have made five pounds twelve 
ounces of bread: hence the one 
pound twelve ounces of potatoes 
may be said to have produced only 
three ounces of bread, 


/ 


ANTIQUITIES. 


ANTIQUITIES. 


Account of the Government. of Eng- 
land from the Year 1400 to 1485; 
trom Andrews’s History of Great 
Britain, Vol. 1, Part 2. 


Se: power of each department 
of legislature became now 
more accurately defined, although 
no considerable alterations had been 
made in either. 

The king’s authority was most as- 
suredly notin general despotic, since 
he could neither repeal nor change 
any law which had been made by 
consent of his parliament. Yet 
that dispnesing power which each 
monarch assumed, when it suited 
his purpose, threw far too great a 
weight into the scale of royalty. 
The sovereign besides retained the 
cruel right of giving i in marriage the 
wards of the crown, although that 
preiogative (as well as that of pur- 
veyance) was exercised in a much 
more moderate degree than it had 
been of old.* 

He could likewise press for his 
service not only soldiers and sailors, 
but also musicians, goldsmiths, em- 
broiderers and various sorts of arti- 
ficers.t 

The peers attended their duty in 
parliament at their own expence, 
The representatives of the commons 
were always paid from the com- 
jueneement of representation. Tor 


* Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Angliz. 
} Preamble to stat, 25, Hen. VI. cap, 14. 


*110 J | a 


wards the close of the 14th century 


it was fixed at 4s.. per diem for 


knights of shires, and half that sum 


for each burgess. 

The shenfi’s influence in returne 
ing members was extensive and fre- 
quently abused, ‘ Sometimes they 
made no proper elections of knights, 


&c. sometimes no return at all, and © 


sometimes they returned such as 
had never been elected’ 


For these and such hke misde- | 
meanors he might be sued by action | 
at the assizes and was liable to fine 


and imprisonment. 
The qualification requisite for 
knights of the shires was 401. per 


annum. It appears too that strength | 
of body and constitution was de- | 


manded, for the parliamentary writs 
about this period directed the elec~ 
tors to chuse not only the wisest but 
the stoutest men (potentiores ad la- 
borandum), that they might be able 


to endure the fatigue of the journey . 


and of close attendance.§ 

Besides their pay, the members 
of the House of Commons had the 
privilege, for themseves and their 
servants, of freedom from all ar- 
rests. A necessary exemption, that 
they might be enabled to perform 
their duty. But this privilege (as 
well as their pay) attended on the 
members only during their actual 
services, and quitted them at the 

“a 

+ Ibid 
§ Prynne. 
end 


= 


ae Ng eer 


d of each session; allowing only 
or the few days which they might 
be obliged to employ in journeying 
to London and returning home.* 
The convocations were regularly 
summoned with the lay-parliaments 
and as regularly met. The prelates 
were still directed to attend and 
‘consult with the nobles.’ They 
were also directed to order their 
dean and archdeacons to attend in 
person, each chapter ta send one 
proctor, and the clergy of each di- 
acese to send two proctors, ¢ to con- 
gent to those things which should 
be ordained by the common council 
of the kingdom.’ As therefore they 
were only to ‘ consent,’ not ‘ to 
consult,’ the proctors could scarcely 

e reckoned a part of the commons. 
They however received wages and 
partook of the privileges of parlia- 
ment. ‘The ecclesiastics still con- 
tinued to.lay taxes on themselves ; 
but the consent of the other bran- 
ches of legislature was necessary to 
give force to their decree.t 

Parliaments were often called and 
quickly dismissed. They had fre- 
quently only one session, and once 
(in 1399,) but a single day. 

No considerable alterations ap- 
peared in the English courts of law, 
‘The number of the judges in the 
courts at Westminster was by no 
means certain. Under’ Henry VI, 
there were at one time eight 
judges in the court of Common 

leas. Lach judge took a solemn 
oath that ‘ he would take no fee, 
pension, gift, reward, or bribe, from 
| any suitor, saving meat and drink, 
which should be of no great -va- 
lue.T 

The laws were ill-executed 
throughout the 15th century. Main- 


* Prynne, + Ibid. 


AW TALQU F TABS. 


(#111 
tenance (an union for sinister pur- 
poses) still prevailed ; the priests by 
their exemptions were set above the 
law ; sanctuaries abounded through- 
out the realm and protected the | 
vilest criminal and the most disho- 
nest debtor ; perjury throye and af= 
forded a living to many ; while the 
high constable, under colour of ex- 
ercising military law, was autho- 
rised to proceed in cases of treason, 
‘summarily and without noise or 
form of trial,? and if he wished to 
give an appearance of justice to his 
proceedings, he could call in the aid 
of torture by fire or on the rack. 

The account which the learned 
judge Hale gives of the lawyers 
who pleaded in the 15th century 
does them little honour. He con- 
demns the reports during the reigns 
of Henry 1V. and V. as inferior to 
those of the last twelve years of Ed. 
ward III; and he speaks but cooly 
of those which the reign of Henry 
VI. produces.§ 

Yet this deficiency of progressive 
improvement in the common law, 
arose not from a want of application 
to the science; since we read ina 
very respectable treatise that there 
were no fewer than 2,000 students 
attending on the inns of Chancery 
and of Court, in time of its wrie 
ter.4] 

The Court of Chancery seems to 
date its rise at the close of the 14th 
century. It was highly obnoxious 
to the professors of the common law, 
who, by their interest in the House 
of Commons, procured a petition 
against it from the Parliament to, 
Edward. IV. in 1474. The influe 
ence of the prelates (who were cer- 
tain of guiding that court) defeated 
this attempt, and its establishment 


t Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Anglia. 
5 Hist, of Common Law, apud Henry, 


@ Fortescue de Laudibus, &c. 
encountered, 


#119] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


encountered no farther © difficul- 

ties.* 

One observation there remains to 
make on the general state of the 
English at this period. Civilization 
indeed Had not hitherto made such 
progress as entirely to abolish sla- 
very. Yet few land-owners or renters 
were to be found who did not prefer 
the labour of freemen to that of 
slaves. Thiscircumstance diminish- 
ed their number, and the perpetual 
civil contests enfranchized many by 
putting arms in their hands. Within 
afew years after the accession of 
the Tudors, slaves were heard of no 
more. 

A reflection at the close of the 
15th century by Philip deCommines 
will very naturally finish this see- 
tion. His sufirages in favour of 
England is the more remarkable as 
it is given Voluntarily at the close of 
the longest and most bloody civil 
war with which the English annals 
can be charged. ‘ In my opinion’ 
(says that judicious observer) ‘ of 
all the countries in Europe where I 
was ever. acquainted, the govern- 
ment is no where so well managed, 
the people no where less obnoxious 
to violence and oppression, nor 
their houses less liable to the deso- 

_ lations of war, than in England ; for 
there the calamities fall only upon 
the authors. 

Scotland was not so happy. The 
unfortunate death of the Norwegian 
Margaret had involyed that realm in 
along and bloody contest with its 
powerful neighbour; and, although 
the gallant and free spirits of the 
Scots had preserved the indepen- 
dence of their country,notwithstand - 
ing their inferiority in numbers, 
‘ wealth, and discipline, it could not 


prevent the preponderance of a 
most odious and tyrannic aristocra* 
cy. Perpetual domestic warloosened — 
every tie of constitutional govern- 
ment; and a Douglas, a Creighton, 
or a Donald of the isles, by turns 
exercised such despotism and inhu« 
manity as no monareh in the 15th 
century would have dared to prac= 
tise. 

The endeavours of the first and 
of the second James were turned to 
wards improving the jurisprudence 
of the North, by engrafting on it the 
best parts of the English system ; 
but the suddenness of their deaths 
and the weak reign of their successor 
James III. prevented their people 
from receiving much benefit from 
such laudable designs. 

The parliament of Scotland, at 
this period, had nearly monopolized 
all judicial authority. Three com-' 
mittees were formed from the house 
(for there was only one) soon after 
the members met. The first, like 
the ‘ Triers in England,’ examined, 
approved of, or disapproved petitions 
to the senate; thesecond constituted 
the highest court in all criminal pro- 
secutions, as did the third in civil 
ones. And, as every lord of parlia- 
ment who chose it might claim his 
place in each of these committees, 
almost the whole administration of 
law, civil as well as military, resided 
in the breast of the Scottish nobility, 

There was another court, that of 
Session, of which the members and 
the duration were appointed by par- 
liament. 

The justiciary (an officer discon- 
tinued in England as too potent) 
was still nominally at the head of 
the Scottish law, and held courts 
which were styled ‘ Justiciaries,’ as 


* Cotton’s Records, 


did 


\ 
\ 


ANTIQUITIES. 


did the Chamberlain ‘ Chambers 
lainaries ;’ from these courts there 
was allowed an appeal to a jurisdic- 
tion of great antiquity, styled ‘ The 
Four Boroughs’ Court.’ This was 
formed of burgesses from Edinburgh 
and three other towns, who met at 
Haddington to judge on such ap- 
peals. 

There was one abuse, however, 
which rendered every court of jus- 
tice nugatory. It had become a 
custom for the Scottish monarchs to 
bestow on their favourites not only 
estates but powers and privileges 
equal to their own. These were 
styled Lords of Regalities ;? they 


‘formed courts around them, had 


mimic officers of state, and tried, 
executed, or pardoned the greatest 
criminals. 

The good sense of James II. 
prompted him to propose a remedy 
for this inordinate evil; but two ad- 
mirable laws which he brought fore 
ward (the one against granting * Re- 
galities’ without consent of parlia- 
ment; the other, to prohibit the be- 
stowing of hereditary dignities) were 
after his decease neglected; and 
Scotland continued, two centuries 
longer, a prey to the jarring inter- 
ests of turbulent, traitorous noble- 
mren. 


Account of the Proceeding in the 
Trial by Battle ; from Dallaway’s 
Heraldic Inquiries. 


NCIENTLY, when one per- 
son was accused by another 
without any farther witness than 
the bare ipse dtxit of the accuser, 
the accused party making good his 
own cause by Strongly denying the 


Vor. XXXVI. 


[*113 


fact, the matter was then referred to 
the decision of the sword. If the 
parties were noble, the king him= 
self was always present at the com- 
bat, seated on a scaffold, attended 
by the earl marshal and high con- 
stable of England, who were to see 


‘that no undue advantage was taken 


by either party. The conqueror 
was then declared innocent, and the 
vanquished guilty. 

The seventh of June, a combate 
was foughte before the king’s pas 
lace at Westminster, on the paves 


‘ment there, betwixt one sir John 


Annesley, knight, and one Thomas 


Katrington, esq. 


The occasion of this strange and 
notable triall rose hereof. The 
knight accused the esquier of trea« 
son, for that whereas the fortresse of 
Sainte Saviour within the isle of 
Constantine, in Normandie, belong- 
ing sometime to sir John Chandos, 
had bin committed to the said Kat- 
tington, as Captayne thereof to 
keepe it against the enemies,hehadde 
for money solde and delivered it 
over to the Frenchmen, when he 
was sufficiently provided,of men,mu- 
nition, and vittayles, to have defend- 
ed it against them ; and sith the in- 
heritance of that fortresse and lands 
belonging thereto, had apperteyn- 
ed to the said Annesley in righte of 
his wife, as nearest cousin by affinite 
unto sir John Chandos, if by the 
false conveyance of the said Katring- 
ton, ithad not bin made away and 
alienated into the enemies hands, 
hee offered therefore to trie the 
quarrell by combate, against the 
saide Katrington, whereupon the 
same Katrington was apprehended, 
and putte in prison, but shortly af- 
ter set at libertie againe. 


[* H] Whilst 


*114}) ANN 


Whilst the Duke of Lancaster* 
during the time that bis father King 
Edward lay in bys lastsicknesse, did 
inal things what liked him, and soat 
the contemplation. of the lord Lati- 
mer as. was thought, hee released 
Kkatrington for the ume, so that sir 
John Annesley could notcome to the 
effect of his suite in all the meane 
time, till nowe. Such as feared to 
be charged with the like offences, 
stayed the matter, till at length by 
the opinion of true and auntiente, 
knights, it wasdefyned, that for such 
a foreign controversse that hadde 
not risen within the limittes of 
the realme, but touched possession 
of thynges on the further side of the 
sea, it was lawful to have it tryed by 
battayle, if the cause were first no- 
tified to the conestable and marshal 
of the realme, and that the combate 
was accepted by the parties. 

Here upon was the day and place 
appointed, and all things provided 
readie, with lystes rayled and made 
sosubstantially,as ifthe same shoulde 
have endured for ever. The .con- 
course of people that came to Lon- 
don to see this tried was thought to 
exceede that of the king’s corona- 
tion, so desyrous were men to be- 
holde a sight so strange and unac- 
customed. 

The king and ‘his nobles, and 
all the people veing come togyther 
ig the morning of the day appoynt- 
ed, to the place where the lystes 
were set up, the kmght being arm- 
ed and mounted on a-fayre courser 
seemely trapped, entered first as ap- 
pellant, staying ull his adversarie 
the defendant should come. And 


shortly after was the esquier called. 


to defend his cause, in this fourme. 


UAL. REGISTER, 1795. 


Thomas Katrington defendant,come 
and appeare fo save the action, for 
which sir John Annesley knight and 
appellant hath publiquely and by 
writing appelled thee: he being 
thus called: thrise by an herault at 
armes, at the thirde call he cometh 
armed likewise, and ryding on a 
courser trapped with trappes em- 
brodered with his armes. 

At his approaching to the lys- 
tes he alyght from his horse, least 
according to the law of armes the 
conestable shoulde have chalenged 
the horse if he had. entered within 
the lystes, but his shifting nothing 
avayled him, for the horse after his 
maister was alyght beside him,ranne 
up and downe by the rayles nowe 
thrusting his heade over, and nowe 
both heade and breaste, so that the 
Earlof Buckingham,tbycause hewas 
high conestable of Englande,claym- 
ed the horse afterwardes, swearing 
that hee woulde have so much of 
him as had appeared over the rayles, 
and so the horse was adjudged unto 
him. 

But now to the matter of the com- 
bate (for this chalenge of the horse 
was made alter) as soon as the es- 
quier was come within the lystes the: 
indenture was brought forth by the 
marshall and conestable, which had 
been made and sealed before them, 
with consent of the parties, in which 
were conteyned the articles exhibit- 
ed by the knight agaynst the esquier, 
and there the same was read afore 
all the assemble. 

The esquier, whose conscience - 
was thought not to be cleare, but ra- 


- ther guilte, went abaut to make ex- 


ceptions, that his cause by some 
means might have seemed the sound- 


* The famons John of Gaunt. 
+ One of the king’s sons, afterwards duke ef Gloucester.’ 


er. 


AN TLQUPTL Es: 


&r, But the Duke of Lancaster 
hearing him so staye at the matter, 
Sware thgt except according to the 
eiditiofts of the combate, and the 
lawe of armes, he woulde admit 
all things in the indenture comprys- 
ed, that were not made without his 
owne consent, he shoulde as guilty 
of the treason forthwith he had 
forth to execution. 

The duke with these words wan- 
ne great commendation, and avoyd- 
ed no small suspicion that had beene 

» conveyed of him, as partialle to the 
esquier’s cause: The esquire hedr- 
ing all this, saydj that he durst fight 
with the knight, not onely in these 
poyntes, but in all other in the 
worlde, whatsoever the same might 
be: for he trusted more to bis 
strength of bodie, and favour of his 
friendes, than in the cause which he 
liad taken upon hym to defende. 
He was indeede a mightie man of 
stature, where the knight among 
those that were of a mean stature 
was one of the least. 

Friendés to the esquier in whomke- 
had great affyance to be borne out 


through their assystance; were the’ 


lords Latimer and Basset wyth other. 
Before they entered battalle, they 
tooke an othe, as well the knight as 
the esquier, that the cause in which 
they were to fight was true, and that 
they dealt with no witch craft, nor 
arte magicke whereby they might 
obteyneé the Victorie oftheir adver- 
sarie, nor had about the any herb 
or stone, or other kind of experi- 
ment with wich miagitians use to 
triumph over theyr enemies. ‘This 
othe received of either of them, and 
therewith having made their pray- 
ers devoutly, théy begin the bat- 
tayle, first with speares, after with 
swordes, and lastly with daggers. 
They fouglit long, till finally the 


[aiid 


knight had bereft the esquier of all 
his weapons, and at length the es< 
quier was manfully overthrown by 
the knight: but as the knight 
woulde have fallen upon the esquier, 
through sweate that ran downe by 
his helmet, his sighte was hyndered, 
so that thinking to fall upon the es- 
quier, hee fell downe sidelifg him- 
selfe, not comming neare to the es- 
guier, who perceyving what had 
happened, although he was almost 
overcome with long fighting, made 
to the knight, and threw himself up- 
on him, so that many thought the 
knight ghoulde have been overcome: 
other doubted not but that the 
knight woulde recover his feete a- 
gaine, and get the victorie of his ad- 
verSariec. 

The king in thé mean tyme cause 
ed it to bee proclaymed that they 
should stay, and that the knight 
shoulde bee raysed ‘up from the 
ground, and so ment to take up the 
matter betwixt them. 

To Be short; such were sent as 
should take up the esquier, but com- 
ming to the knight, hee besought 
them, that it might please the king 
to permit them to lie still, for he 
thanked God hee was well; mis- 
trusted not to‘obtayned the victorie, 
if the esquier might be layde upon 
him; in manneras he was earst. 

Finally when it wotld not bee so 
granted, he wads contented to be 


_raysed up, and was ho sooner set up- 


on his feete, but he cheerfully went 
to the king; without any man’s 
helpe, where the esquier could ney- 
ther stand nor go without the helpe 
of two tien to holde him up, and 
therefore was set-in his chaire to 
take his ease; to see if he might re- 
cover his strength. 
The knight, at his coming before 
the king, besought him and his no- 
f*H 2 bles 


#116] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


bles tograunt him so much,that hee 
might -be eftsoons layde on the 
ground as before, and the esquier to 
be laid aloft upon him, for the knight 
perceived that the esquier through 
excessive heat, and the weight of 
his armor, did marvellously faint, 


so as his spirits were in maner taken ° 


from him. The king and the nobles 
perceyving the knight so courage- 
ously to demand to trie the battel 
forth to the utterance, offring great 
summes of money, that so it might 
be done, gpcreed that they should 
be restored again to the same plight 
in which they lay when they were 
raised up: but in the mean time 
the esquier fainting, and falling down 
in a swoone, fel out of his chaire as 
one that was like to yield up his last 
breth presently among them. Those 
that stood about him cast wine and 
water upon him, seeking so to bring 
him againe, but all would not serve, 
till they had plucked off his armor, 
and his whole apparel, which thing 
proved the knight to be vanquisher, 
and the esquier to be vanquished. 

After a little time the esquier be- 
gan to come to himself, and lifting 
up his eves, began to holde up his 
hed, and to cast a gastly looke on 
eyery one about him: which when 
‘yt was reported to the knight, he 
eommeth to him armed as he was 
(for he had put off no peece since 
the beginning of the’ fight) and 
speaking to him, called him traitor, 
and false perjured man, asking him 
if he durst trie the battel with him 
againe : but the esquier having nei- 
ther sense nor spirite whereby to 
make answere, proclamation was 
made that the battell was ended, 
and every one might go to his lodg- 
ing. 


* Tt cost 5001, . 


The esquier immediately after he 
was brought to his lodging, and 
layde in bed, beganne to wax rag- 
ing woode, and so continuing still 
out of hys wittes, about nine of the 
clocke the next day he yeelded up 
the ghost. 

This combate was fought (as be- 
fore ye have heard) the vith of 
June, to the great reioysing of the 
common people and discoragement 
of traytours. 


Account of Chelsea College ; from 
Lyson’s Environs of London. 


© vive Royal Hospital at Chelsea 
stands asmall distance from the 
river-side; it is built of brick, ex- 
cept the coins, cornices, pedimentsg 
and columns, which are of freestone, 
The principal building consists of a 
large quadrangle, open on the south 
side: in the centre stands a bronze 
statue of the founder, Charles IJ. in 
a Roman habit, the gift of Mr. To-- 
bias Rustat.* The east and west 
sides, each 365 feet in length, + 
are principally occupied by wards 
for the pensioners ; at the extremi- 
ty of the former is the governor’s 
house, in which there is a very 
handsome state-room surrounded 
with portraits of Charles I. and H; 
William III. and his Queen; 
George II.; their present Majesties, 
&c. Inthe centre of each of these 
wings,and in that of the north front, 
are pediments of freestone, support- 
ed by columns of the Doric order. 
In the centre of the south front isa 
portico, supported by similar co- 
Jumns, and on each side a piazza, on 
the frieze of which is the following 
inscription: ‘‘ Jn subsidium et leva- 


+ Measured from the extremity of the north front. 


ANTIQUITIES. 


men emeritorum senio, belleque frac- 
torum, condidit Carolus Secundus, 
auxit Jacobus Secundus, perfecere 
Gulielmus et Maria Rex et Regina, 
1690.” Theinternal centre of this 
building is occupied by a large ves- 
tibule, terminating in a dome ; on 
one side is the chapel, and on the 
other the hall. The former was con- 
secrated by Bishop Compton in the 
year 1691. It is about 110 feet in 
length, paved with black and white 
marble, and wainscotted with Dutch 
Oak. The altar-piece, which re- 
presents the ascension of our Sa- 
viour, was painted by Sebastain 
Ricci.* Arich service of gilt plate, 
consisting of a pair.of massy candle- 
sticks, several large chalices and 
flaggons, and a perforated spoon, 
‘was given by James II. ; the organ 
was the giftof Major Ingram. The 
hall, where the pensioners dine, is 
situated on the opposite side of the 
vestibule, and is of the same dimen- 
sions as the chapel. At the upper 
end is alarge picture of Charles II. 
on horseback, the gift of the earl of 
Ranelagh; it was designed by Verrio, 
and finished by Henry Cooke.+ 
The whole length of the principal 
building, as it extends from east to 
west, is 790 feet ; a wing having been 
added at each end of the north side 
of the great quadrangle, which 
forms part of a smaller court. These 
courts are occupied by various 
offices, and the infirmaries ; the lat- 
ter are kept remarkably neat, and 
supplied with hot, cold, and va- 
pour baths. To the north of the 
college is an inclosure of about 
thirteen acres, planted with avenues 
of limes and horse-chesnuts ; and to- 
wards the south, extensive gardens. 
The whole of the premises consists 
of about fifty acres. — 


* Anecdotes of Painting, vol, ili. p. 142, 
[*H 3 


ak BW 


The establishment of the Royal 
Hospital or College at Chelsea, con- 
sists of a governor, lieutenant-govere 
nor, major, two chaplains, an orga- 
nist, a physician, surgeon, apothe- 
Cary, secretary, steward, treasurer, 
controller, clerk of the works, and 
various subordinate officers. The 
number of ordinary pensioners is 
336; these men must have been 
twenty years in his majesty’s ser- 
vice; butsuch as have been maimed 
or disabled, may be admitted at any 
period. The number of those who 
can enjoy the advantages of this es- 
tablishment, being so small in pro- ‘ 
portion to that of the brave veterans 
who stand in need of them, the pre- 
sent governor, very much ta his 
credit, has made a rule, that except 
under very particular circumstances, 
no person shall be admitted into the 
house under sixty years of age; by 
this means the benefit of the charity 
is appropriated with much greater 
certainty to those who are its most 
proper objects... ‘The pensioners 
who live in the house (commonly 
called the in-pensioners) are pro- 
vided with clothes (an uniform of 
red lined with blue); lodging and 
diet, besides which they have an al- 
lowance of eight-pence a week. The 
college being considered as a mili- 
tary establishment, the pensioners 
are obliged to mount guard, and to 
perform other garrison duty. -They 
are divided into eight companies, 
each of which has its proper com- 
plement of officers, serjeants, corpc- 
rals, and drummers. The officers, 
who have the nominal rank of cap- 
tain, lieutenant, and ensign, are 
chosen from the most meritorious 
old serjeants in the army, and have 
en allowance of three shillings and 
sixpence per week ; theserjeants have 


+ Tbid, vol. iii. p. 92. 
] two 


#118) 


two shillings; the corporals and 
drummers ten-pence. Two serjeants, 
four corporals, and fifty-two of the 
most able privates, are appointed, by 
the King’s sign-manual, to act asa 
patrol on the road fram Chelsea to 
Pimlico, for which duty they have 
an additional allowance. The patrol 
consists of half the number here 
mentioned, the duty being taken 
alternately. There is likewise in the 
college a small corps, called the light 
horsemen, thirty-four in. number, 
who are allowed two shillings per 
week, and are chosen indiscrimi- 
nately out of any of the regiments 
of cavalry. The various servants of 
the college, among whom are twen- 
ty-six nurses, make the whole num- 
ber of its inhabitants above five 
hundred and fifty. There are also 
_ belonging to the establishment, four 
hundred serjeants, who are out-pen- 
- Sloners, and receive a shilling a day ; 
these are called king’s letter-men, 
and are appointed, half by the go- 
vernor, and half by the secretary at 
war. The number of private out- 
pensioners is unlimited ; their al- 
Jowance is five-pence per day, and 
they are always paid half a year’s 
pension inadvance. Their number 
has been much increased since the 
passing of the militia-act; they are 
now upwards of twenty-one thou- 
sand, and are dispersed all over the 
three kingdoms, at their various oc- 
_cupations, being liable to be called 
upon to perform garrison-duty as in- 
-valid companies in time of war. The 
expences of this noble institution 
(excepting about 7000I. which ari- 
ses from poundage of the household 
troops,* and is applied towards the 
payment of the out-pensioners) are 
defrayed by an annual sum voted by 


* Since Mr. Burke’s bill, the army poundage is confined to those 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


parliament. The yearly expence of 
the house-establishment, including 
the salaries of the officers, repairs, 
and other incidental charges, varies 
from 25,000). to 28,000]. The in- 
ternal affairs of the hospital are re- 
gulated by commissioners appointed 
by the crown, and consisting of the 
governor, lieutenant-governor, and 
some of the principal officers of 
state, wha hold a board, as occa- 
sion requires, for the paying of out- 
pensioners, and other business. 


Articles of Reconciliation between a 
Man and his Wife, Océ. 9, 1629; 
Srom the same. , 
T was agreed between Joseph 

Caron and Margery, his wife, 
in manner and form following : 

1, Joseph Caron, do willingly pro- 
mise to my wife Margery, that up- 
on condition that she will not here- 
after make farther inquiry into any 
thing that hath in time past occasion- 
ed jealousy on her part, I from this 
time forward will forbear the pri- 
vate company of any woman or 
maid whom she may suspect to be 
dishonestly inclined ; and in parti- 
cular, because of ber former suspi- 
cions, how unjust soever, I do pro~ 
mise to estrange myself from Mrs. 
Largeand Mrs. Colmer, and whom- 
soever else she hath formerly sus- 
pected: and that I will forbear 
striking her and provoking speeches, 
aud be as often with her at meals as 
I can conveniently, and in all things 
carry myself asa loving husband 
ought to do to his wife: In witness _ 
whereof I have subscribed my name 
the day and year above mentioned, 

Joseru Canon. 


troops. 
I, Margery 


2 


AIN* T IMQ 


. I, Margery Caron, do willingly 
promise to my foresaid husband, 
Joseph Caron, that upon condition 
that he perform faithfully what he 
hath promised, [ will from this day 
forward forbear to inquire into any 
thing that hathin time passed occa- 
sioned jealousy in me towards my 
husband ; and in particular do ac- 
quit Mrs. Colmer, by these presents, 
from any guilt of dishonesty with 
my husband, being now persuaded 
of his innocency therein, whatsoever 
Ihave formerly said to the con- 
trary ; and do promise, for the time 
to come, the premises being duly 
performed on my husbaid’s part, to 
carry myself towards him in all 
things as becometh a loving and 
faithful wife: In witness whereof I 
_do subscribe my name the day and 
year above written. 
Marcery Caron. 


a 


Account of Canons, the celebrated 
Seat of the Duke of Chandos, in 
the Parish of Stanmore Parva; 
Srom the same. 


HE magnificent mansicn, built 
4 upon this estate, about the 
year 1712, by Mr. Brydges, after- 
wards duke of Chandos, has been 


frequently celebrated in verse and. 


prose.* It stood at the end ofa 
spacious avenue, being placed dia- 
gonally so as to shew two sides of 
the building, which at a distance 


* Samuel Humphreys’ wrote a poem 


“of Greenwich 


TW. LTADes. [*119 


gave the appearance of a front of 
prodigious extent. Vertue-describes 
it as a noble square pile all of store; 
the four sides almost alike, with sta- 
tues on the front: within was a 
small square of brick, not handsome; 
the out-offices of brick and stone, 
very convenient and well «isposed. 
The hall richly adorned with marble 
Statues, busts, &c, The ceiling of 
the staircase by Thornhill. ‘The 
grand apartmeats finely adorned 
with paintings sculpture and furni- 
ture.t The columns which sup- 
ported the building were all of 
marble, as was the great staircase, 
each step of which was made of an 
entire block, above twenty fect in 
length.t The whole expence. of 
the building and furniture is said to 
have amounted to 200,0001.§ James 
was the architect. 
Dr. Aléxander Blackwell, author of 
a trealise on agriculture, was em- 
ployed to superintend the works 
without doors; and it is probable 
that he laid out the gardens and 
pleasure-grounds, which abounded 
with vistas, lakes, canals, and sta- 
tues, in the taste then prevalent. 
Phe duke’s manner of living cor- 
responded with the magnificence of 
his mansion, and fell hirtle short of 
the state of a sovereign prince. 
When Pope’s- well known satire 
ayainst false taste came out, it was 
immediately supposed to have been 
directed against Canons and its noble 
owner, there chavracterized under 


upon Canons, addressed to the duke of 


Chandos, folio 1728, “It speaks of the place in terms of general pancyyric, but 


contains little of description. 


Yhere is another poem on Canons by Gildon, 


+ MS. in the earl of Orford’s collection at Strawberry-Fill. 


} Defoe’s Tour through England. 


§ Hawkins’s history of music, vol. v. p. 1798. 


q Gentleman’s Magazine, September 1747. 


the 


(*H 4] p 


*120) 


the name of Timon.* Dr. Johnson 
in his life of that poet says, “ from 
the reproach which the attack ona 
character so amiable brought upon 
him, hetried all means of escaping. 
He was at last reduced to’shelter his 
temerity behind dissimulation, and 
endeavoured to make that disbelieved 
which he had never the confidence 
openly to deny.+ He wrote an 
exculpatory letter to the duke, 
which was answered with great 
magnanimity, as by a man who ac- 
cepted his excuse without believing 
his professions.”t There is a 
print of Hogarth’s in which he re- 
presents Pope white-washing the 
earl of Burlington’s house, and be- 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


carriage as it passes by. Admitting 
«what there is little doubt of, the 


poet’s application of his satire to ~~ 
Canons, his concluding lines are sine - _ 


gularly prophetic : 


Another age shall see the golden ear © 
Imbrown the slope and nod on the 
parterre, 
Deep harvests bury all his pride has 
plann’d, 
And laughing Ceres reassume the land.§ 
When the Duke of Chandos died, 
this magnificient mansion being 
thought to require an establishment 
too expensive for the income of his 
successor, after fruitless attempts to 
dispose of it entire, was pulled down, 
and the materials‘sold by auction in 


spattering the duke of Chandos’s the year 1747. T he grand staircase 


* The most striking passages in the satire applicable to Canons are the following: 


Greatness with Timon dwells in such a draught 
As brings all Brobdignag before your thought : 
To compass this, his building is a town, 

His pond an ocean, his parterre a down. 

The suffering eye, inverted nature sees, 

Trees cut like statues, statues thick us trees. 
And now the chapel’s silver bell you hear, 
That summons you to all the pride of pray'r, 
Light quirks of music, broken and uneven, 
Make the soul dance upon a jig to heaven. 

On painted ceilings you devoutly stare, 

Where sprawl the saints of Verrio and Laguerre, 
On gilded clouds in fair expansion lie, 

And bring all paradise before your eye. 
Bot hark the chiming clocks to dinner call, 

A hundred footsteps grace the marble hull. 


+ There is certainly something equivocating in what he says in the prologue to 
his satires : - ; 
Who to the Dean ahd silver bell can swear, 
And sees at Canons what was never there. 


There is no doubt if he intended at all todisguise his satire he would introduce 
some extraneous circumstances. After all, I think the chapel is the most cha- 
racteristic feature in the portrait. 

{ Lives of the Poets, vol. 1v. p. 89. 

§ It is a remarkable circumstance, that Warburton, in his first edition of Pope's 
works, admits the application of the satire to Canons, by observing upon this pas- ’ 
sage, that “ had the poet lived three years longer, he had seen his prophecy ful- 
filled.” In a future edition, as if anxious to explain away what upon considera- 
tion he thought might confirm a charge not creditable to his friend, he alters his 
observation thus: that “he would have seen his general prophecy against al} ill- 
judged magnificence displayed in a very particular instance.” 

; 1 is 


ANTIQUITIES. 


isnow at lord Chesterfield’s house 
in May Fair. An equestrian statue 
of George the first, which stood in 
the park, is now in the centre of 
Leicester Square. The site of Ca- 
nons, with a considerable lot of the 
materials, the park, and demesne 
jands, were purchased by William 
Hallett, esquire, who built the pre- 
Sent villa. His grandson sold it to 
Dennis O’Kelly, esquire, the well 
known possessor of the famous horse 
Eclipse, whose bones lie buried in 
thepark. Canons is now the pro- 
perty of Patrick O’Kelly, nephew of 
Dennis.* 


Curious Letter, wrote by Sir John 
Lesly to Sir Thomas Riddle, of 
Gateshead, during the Siege of 
Newcastle ty the Scots, in the 

Reign of Charles I ; an authentic 

Copy from the original, in the 

Possession of the Riddle family. 


Sir Thamas, 

ETWEEN me and Gad it 

maks my heart bleed bleud to 
see sic wark gae thro sae trim a 
gairden as yours. I ha been twa 
times we my cusin the general, and 
sae sall I sax times mare afore the 
wark gae the gate. But (a) gin 
awe this be dune, sir Thamas, ye 
maun mak the twenty punds thretry, 
and I maun hae the tagg’d tail 
trooper that stans in the staw (6), 
and the wee trim gaeing thing (c) 
that stands in the newk (d) of the 
hawe (ce), chirping and chirming 
atthe newn tide o’ the day, and 
forty bows (f) of bier to saw (g) 
the mons with awe. 


[*121 


And as I ama chevalier of fortin 
and a lim of the house of Rothes, as 
the muckle (2) main kist in Edia- 
burgh auld kirk can weel witness, 
for these aught hundred years and 
mare bygainge, nought shall skaith 
(2) your house within or without, te 
the validome of a twapenny chee- 
kin. hin 

Iam your humble servant, 
Joun Lesstiy. 

Major-general and captain over 
saxscore atid two men, and some 
mare, crowner of Cumberland, 
Northumberland, Marryland and 
Niddisdale, the Merce, Tiviot- 
dale and Fife, baile of Kirkaldie,. 
governor of Burnt Eland and the 
Bass, laird of Libberton Tilly 
and Whooley, siller-tacker of 
Sterling, constable of Leith, and- 
sir John Lessly, knight, to the 
bute (4) of awe that. 


A Declaration of the Right Honour- 
able James Earl of Derby, Lord 
Stanley and Strange, of Knoeking 
and of the Isle of Man, concerning 
his Resolution to keep the Isle of 
Man for his Majesty's Service; 
against wll Force whatsoever. To- 
gether with his Lordship’s Letter in 
Answer to Commissury-General 
Treton. 


LAUSIBLE beginnings are not 
always the forerunners of good 
ends. They may promise fair, but 
itistheend that either crowns all 
undertakings with reputation or 
brands them with shame ; making a 
most exact discovery of the under- 
taker’s intentions, whether good or 
evil, Many honest-meaning men, 


* Dennis O'Kelly, esq. was buried at Whitchurch, in the parish vault, Jan. 7, 


1 


788. 

(a) Before. (b) Stable. (c) A chime clock. (d) Corner. \(¢).Hall. 
ae oe of barley. (g) To strike the bargain, (/) The great chest of records 
im Edinburgh old church. (i) Hurt or damage, () Into the bargain, 


who 


‘ 


‘1991 ANNUAL REGISTER}1795. 


who eight years since viewed the 
face of the parliament’s.actions, and 
judged of their integrity, their pro- 
testations and declarations, enter- 
tained a very charitable and honour- 
able opinion both of them and their 
cause, and therein thought not too 
much to hazard both their lives and 
estates with them, who are long 
since sat down in the chair of re- 
pentance, having by sad experience 
found their large pretences to prove 
but the shadows of weak perfor- 
mances, and their greatest labours 
to produce no other effects than to 
burden this distracted nation with 
unheard-of tyranny and miserable 
oppression. But they that beheld 
their actions, even in their primi- 
tive and best times, with a con- 
siderate and judicious eye, did 
easily perceive them to pursue their 
own ambitious ends more than the 
welfare of this miserable Jand ; that 
they were men whose thoughts were 
filled with blood, and judged them 
through pretence of zeal to be 
wolves in sheep’s clothing; and 
what better could be expected from 
the illegal proceedings of those men 
who presumed from servants to be- 
come masters, but that they should 
endeavour to bring in democracy, 
and abolish monarchy; their actions 
being altogether such as must needs 
produce strange effects, and set 
open the flood-gates of ruin to over- 
flow this kingdom. 

For my own part, I have with 
my utmost power and skill taken 
most perfect and exact notice of all 
their. proceedings, from their first 
beginning of entrance into action 
unto this day ; and therein can find 
nothing but a large comment upon 
that text of Samuel, ‘‘ rebellion is as 
the sin of witchcraft.”’ I satin their 
house of peers more than a full 


year, till finding their courses to be 
so strangely unparliamentary, I was 
constrained, with divers others of 
the loyal nobility, to forsake the 
house, and repair into my country, 
being truly ashamed to bear any 
part in their rebellious enterprizes, 
wherein they. have proceeded with 
such impudent violence, that they 
have plundered and ruined all the 
ancient nobility and gentry of this 
kingdom ; fought many desperate 
and bloody battles against their 
sovereign, his children, and sub- 
jects; imprisoned his sacred person ; 


-and not only so, but, that: they 


might out go all their predecessors 
in rebellion, and become unprece- 
dented therein, they clouded the 
very rays of sacred majesty, in bring- 
ing the royal owner of the throne to - 
their bar of injustice; and beyond 
all that, upon a scaffold, at high 
noon-day, in the face of the world, 
as a malefactor, before his own 
court-gate, in his usual place of re- 
creation, after-a most shameful 
manner, by the hands of the com- 
mon hangman, inhumanly murder- 
ed their sovereign, unheaded the 
Lord’s anointed ; and not contented 
with his blood, in prosecution of 
their most deadly and implacable 
malice, have since, to the utmost of 
their power, endeavoured to stain 
the candour of his royal name, in 
fixing thereon the ignominious 
brands of tyrant, traitor, and murs 
derer; styling him, in all their 
prints, the grand and capital enemy 
of the kingdom, and laying their 
guilt of all the blood that hath been 
shed upon his isnocent shoulders: 
and beyond all this, have quite dis- 
carded, banished, and cashiered, 
all the royal issue, and solemnly 
proclaimed our present dread sove- 
reign lord, king Charles the second, 
and 


AINTIQUITIES. 
and his: princely brother the duke of 


York, traitors in the usual places, to 
the amazementand detestation of the 
whole world. 

And whereas there hath been of 
late some overtures-made to’ me by 
one Henry Ireton, who styles:him- 
self commissary-general of their 
army,-whom his manners styles the 
parliament of England, in whose 


- fame and for whose service he de- 


mands that I deliver up this Isle of 
Man; and for a grateful acknow- 
ledgement of that service, he en- 
gages on their part that I shall have 
an act of indemnity for all that I 
have done, and my lands to be re- 


_ stored to me without composition, 
_ and upon my engagement not to op- 


pose the proceedings of the parlia- 
ment in their present government, I 
shall peaceably and.quietly enjoy the 
Same; in answer to which I declare, 
that according to the dictate of my 
own conscience and reason, and ac- 
cording unto the obligation I stood 
engaged unto his majesty my late 


dread sovereign, as well by my 


common allegiance as by my more 
particular duty of personal service, 
in the beginning of these unhappy 
differences and divisions of the king- 
dom, I engaged myself on his ma- 


_ jesty’s party, wherein I have con- 


= 


stantly persevered, either in acting 
or suffering, until this day 5 concur- 
ring with those of the contrary party 


_ only in hating detestable neutrality. 


According to my best ability, I 


_ did diligently execute all such com- 


ed 


missions as I did receive from his 
‘majesty ; and did always use my ut- 
most endeavour to retain the people 
in their due obedience unto him, as 


ff shall ever faithfully practise to- 


wards my present sovereign, his son, 
holding myself bound unto him in 
the same bonds of allegiance and 


[*198 


loyalty as I was to the late king, of 
ever-blessed memory, his father; 
and do hereby declare, that I do 


drom my very soul abhor all base 


compliance with any of his majesty’s 
enemies, whether foreign or do- 
mestic: and particularly if I could 
endure to be treacherous, I would 
never do it with the prevailing 
party in England, whom I know to 
have renounced all principles of 
civility, honour, honesty, and con- 
science; and whose engagements, 
vows, protestations, and oaths, I 
would not take as security for the 
least atom of dust on which I tread. 
And Ido protest, in the presence 
of God and the whole world, that 
in balance to my allegiance, honopr, 
and conscience, I scorn their par- 


‘don in reference to any thing I have 


acted or shall act hereafter: and 1 
value my estate no more than the 
most contemptible mote that flies 
in the sun. 

And I do hereby declare, that, to 
the utmost of my power I shall 
faithfully endeavour to hold out 
this island to the advantage of his 
majesty, and the annoyance of all 
rebels and their abettors, and do 
cheerfully invite all my allies,friends, 
and acquaintance, all my tenants 
in the counties of Lancaster and 
Chester, or elsewhere, all other his 
majesty’s faithful and loyal subjects, 
to repair to this island as their ge- 
neral rendezvous and safe harbour, - 
where they shall receive entertain- 
ment, and such encouragement as 
their several qualities and condi- 
tions shall require, where we will 
unanimously employ our forces to 
the utter ruin of these unmatchable 
and rebellious regicides, and the 
final destruction of their interest 
both by land and sea, Neither shall 
any apprehension of danger, either 

to 


#104) ANNUAL REGISTER, (1790. 


to my life or estate, appal me; but 
T shall, on all oceasions, (by Ged’s 
assistance) ’shew myself ready to ex 
press my duty and loyalty with the 
hazard of both : and this I shall ad- 
venture for the future with more 
alacrity, forasmuch as, in all my 
former attings in his majesty’s ser- 
vice, I never did ‘any thing, with 
relation to the trust reposed in me 
that awakens my conscience to re- 
pentance. . 
DeERBy. 


From Castletown, in 
the Isle of Man, 
July 18, 1649. 


Letter to General Ireton, in Answer 
to his Summons of the Isle of Man. 


Sir, 

HAVE received your letter with 

indignation, and with scorn re- 
turn you this answer, that I can- 
not but wonder whence you should 
gather any hopes that I should 
prove, like you, treacherous to my 
sovereign; since you canrot be in- 
sensible of the manifest candour of 
my former actings in his late ma- 
jesty’s service, from which principles 
of loyalty I am no whit departed. 
I scorn your proffer, I disdain your 
favour, 1 abhor your treason ; and 
am so far from delivering up this 
island to your advantage, that I 
shall keep’ it with the utmost of may 
power to your destruction, Take 
this for your final answer, and for- 
bear any farther solicitation ; for if 
you trouble me with any more mes- 
sages of this nature, 1 will burn the 
paper and hang the messenger. This 
is the immutable resolution, and 
shall be the undoubted practice, 


of him who accounts it his chief 9) 


glory to be 
His majesty’s most loyal 
and obedient servant, 
DERBY. 
From Castletown. 
July 12, 1649. 


Two Original Letters of King James 
the First. 


Copy of a Letter from his Majesty | 


to the Lords, read at the Board, 
November 12, 1617, touching 


the Abatement of his Majesty’s | 


Household Charge. 


LETTER 1. 

* My Lords, 
O worldly thing is so precious 
as time. Ye know what task 
I gave you to work upon during 
my absence; and what time was 
limited unto you for the performance 
thereof. This same chancellor of 
Scotland was wont to tell me twen- 
ty-four years ago, that my house 
could not be kept upon epigrams : 
long discourses and fair tales will 
never repair my estate. Omnis vir- 
tus tn actione consistit, Remember 
that I told you, the shoe must be 
made for the foot ; and let that be 
the square of all your proceédings 
in the business. Abate superfluities 
in all things, and multitudes of un- 
necessary officers, wherever they 
may be placed ; but for the house-~ 
hold, wardrobe, and pensions, cut 
and carve as many as may agree 
with the possibility of my means. 
Exceed not your own rule of fifty 
thousand pounds for the household : 
if you can make it less, I will ac- 
count it for good service; and that 
you 


0 


ANTIQUITIES. 


you may see I will not spare mine 
own person, I have sent with this 
bearer, a note of the superfluous 
charges concerning my mouth, hav- 
ing had the happy opportunities of 
this messenger, in an errand so 
nearly concerning his place. In 
this, Lexpect no answer in word, 
or writing, but only the real per- 
formance, for a beginning to relieve 
me out of my miseries. For now 
the ball is at your feet, and the 
world shall bear me witness, that 
I have put you fairly to it; and so 
praying God to bless your labours, 
I bid you heartily farewel. 
Your own, 
James R. 


LETTER Il. 
My Lords, 

RECEIVED from you yester- 
night the bluntest letter that, I 
think, ever king received from his 
council. Ye write that the green 
cloth will do nothing, and ye offer 
me noadvice. Why are ye coun- 
sellors if ye offer no counsel ? An ore 
dinary messenger might have brought 
_ me such an answer. It is my plea- 
sure, that my charges be equally 
with my revenue ; and it is justand 
necessary so to be. For this is a pro- 
ject must be made, and one of the 
main branches thereof is my house. 
' This project is but to be offered 
unto you ; and how it may be better 
laid than to agree with my honour 
and contentment, ye are to advise 
_upon, and then have my consent. 
If this cannot be performed without 
diminishing the number of tables, 
_ diminished they must be; and if 
that cannot serve, two or three must 
be thrust in one. If the green 


cloth will not make a project for 


_ this, some other must do it; if ye 
cannot find them out, I must only 


e195 


remember two things; the time 
must no more belost ; and that there 
are twenty ways of abatement be- 
sides the house, if they be well 
looked into ; and so farewel. 
James R. 


Description of the Ruin at Thessa- 
lonica, or Salonicha, called the Ins 
cantada ; from Stuart and Revett’s 
Antiquities of Athens, Vol. IV. 


E had visited such objects of 
curiosity, aS our inquiries 
could discover atThessalonica before 
we left it; but, although it was a 
large and populous city, said at that 
time to contain 100,000 inhabitants, 
we found the remains of only ene 
building, the description of which 
we could flatter ourselves would ine 
terest the lovers of ancient art. 
This is situated in the Jews quar 
ter. Five Corinthian columns on 
their pedestals, support an entabla- 
ture, over which is an attic adorned 
with figures in alto relievo ; on the 
side next the street are a Victory, a 
Medea, perhaps, or a Helen, with 
a diadem and sceptre, a Telephus, 
and a Ganymede; and, next the 
court-yard of the Jew’s house, a 
Bacchante dancing and playing on 
the flute, a Bacchus, a Bacchante 
crowned with vine leaves, and a 
Leda. It seems difficult, if not im- 
possible, to ascertain the species of 
building of which this ruin once 
made a part: for, though the figures 
I have specified would seem to be 
proper decorations for a theatre, no 
traces were discovered that might 
confirm the opinion these figures 
suggested ; nor does the vulgar tra- 
dition of the place afford apy light 
that may assist ourinquiries- I will, 
howerer, relate the account they 
Bive, 


#196] ANNUAL REGISTER; 1793: 


give, just as I received it, since it 
may give the reader some idea of 
the present Greeks, shew their pro- 
pensity for the marvellous, and the 
facility with which, from a few 
given circumstances, they can make 
out a wonderful story. - 

This building they call Goetria 
the Incantada@, and affirm it to have 
been the work of magit art. On 
being asked when, and, on what 
occasion, thisextraordinary fact was 
performed, they answered, *¢ the fact 
was undoubted ; every body knew 
that their great king, Alexander, 
conquered Persia; when he was 
preparing to invade that empire, 
he solicited the assistance of a king 
of) Thrace, who accordingly united 
his forces to those of his Macedo- 
nian neighbour, attending in person, 
with his family, at the court of Alex- 
ander, where they were royally en- 
tertained, and lodged in a sumptu- 
ous palace, near his own, communi- 
cating with it by means of a mag- 
nificent gallery, of which these co- 
Jumns are the remains. The Thra- 
cian queen, a lady of transcendant 
beauty, accompanied her husband 
on this visit. Alexander, young, 
and unaccustomed to control his 
passions, ardent in the pursuits of 
love as of glory, dazzled with such 
excess of charms, determined to 
violate the rights of hospitality and 
seduce the queen of Thrace. He 
contrived, by means of this gallery, 
to pay her frequent visits, though 
not so privily as to escape the notice 
of her husband, who, baving verified 


his suspicions; resolved to take @ 
dreadful revenge on the deluder: 
He had, in his train, a skilfal necro 
mancer from Pontus, who, discover 
ing by his art the instant that Alex- 
ander was to pass:to the queen’s 
apartment, scattered his spélls’ and 
charms throughout this gallery ; they 
were of such marvellous power,that 
whoever should, at a certain hour; 
attempt to pass, would inevitably 
be converted into stones Aristotle, 
a conjuror, attached to Alexander, 
and of skill greatly superior to the 
man of Pontus, discovered his dan- 
ger time enough to prevent it: by 
his advice and entreaties, Alexan- 
der was prevailed on to forbear for 
once his intended visit. The im- 
patient queen, tired with expecta« 
tion, sent one of her confidential 
servants to see if her lover was com= 
ing, and she herself soon followed. 
At this instant, the king, supposing’ 
the magic had worked all its effect,’ 
issued forth, attended by his con- 
juror, to feast his eyes with a sight 
of the revenge he had taken ; when, 
strange to relate, both companies, 
‘hose with the king, as well as those 
with the queen, were instantly 
changed to stone, and remain to 
this hour a monument of vengeance 
ona jealous husband and an unfaith= 
ful wife.” 

The architecture of this building 
is very indifferent in point of taste, 
and is probably much posterior to 
the other specimens described in 
this work, 


er bas 


MISCELLANEOUS 


if #197 J ' et 


MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 


On the Instability of the @reck and 
Roman Republics ; from Whita- 
ker’s real Origin of Government. 


HEN rose republics. The first 
that made its appearance in 

the world was at Athens. The 
_keentgenius of Attica, wanting to 
try an experiment upon the univer- 
sal polity of man, to substitute a 
creature of its own reason for the 
fabrication of God’s wisdom, and 
to violate the primogenial law of 
nature in favour of a fantastical 
theory took advantage of the death 
of a self-devoted monarch, and, in 
a pretended fear of never having 
so good a monarch again, most un- 
gratefully deprived his family of the 
crown, by venturing upon the bold 
innovation ef erecting a republic. 
They thus inverted the pyramid of 
government, made it to stand upon 
Its point, and reared its base in 
the air. The example, however, 
was afterwards followed by all the 
states of Greece. They all gave 
free scope to their fancies, in mo- 
delling their governments. They 
cut them to this form, they carved 
them to that. Butthey still reduced 
them nearer and nearer to an in- 
efficient simplicity of power. They 
then considered them as more or 
less perfect in their republican na- 
_ ture. Yet they could find none 
~ that would give them the promised 


happiness. They were wretched 
under all. The grand principle of 
all, in supposing the power of go-' 
vernment to be originally in the 
people, in believing the subjects to 
be virtually the sovereigns, inafirm- 
ing the servants to be vitally the’ 
masters ; propositions surely, how. 
ever familiar to our ears at present, 
calculated only for the meridian of 
St. Luke’s Hospital ; this precluded ' 
all possibility of settlement; changes” 
succeeded to changes, all was dis- 
traction, confusion, and misery. * 
Having thrown their little world of 
society off from that central pin of 
authority, upon which it had been 
founded by God himself, they 
could never find a rest for it again. 
‘The divine equipoise had been rash- 
ly destroyed by the hand of man, 
and man felt his folly in his suffer- 
ings) The imputed power of the’ 
people was like the water of the 
ocean, now breaking through all its 
bounds as the balance of the globe 
was gone, and now sweeping in an’ 
irresistible deluge over the land. 
Yet, with something like the infa- 
tuation of the Jews in receiving 
their false Messiahs, they still wel- 
comed every pretender to the cause 
of liberty, still hailed every factious 
man as a friend, and attached them- 
selves to every reformer as a deli- 
verer. These ‘* declared,” says 
Plutarch himself at a particular pe- 
riod 


riod of their Sicilian history, ‘that 
the end of their coming was to in- 
troduce liberty, and depose mo- 
narchs; but they did so tyrannize 
themselves, that the reign of the ty- 
rants seemed a golden age, compared 
with the rule of these deliverers; 
which made the Sicilians to esteem 
those more happy who had expired 
in slavery, than they who survived 
to see such a freedom.” Nay, their 
feelings had been so severely wound- 
ed by this popular kind of tyranny, 
that when Timoleon had recovered 
their capital from its oppressions, 
he found the market-place rankly 
overgrown with grass, horses actu- 
ally feeding upon it, and the groom 
lying upon the ground to attend 
them, that he therefore invited the 
emigrants to come back, and rein- 


habit their desolated city ; that few 


however came, ** so much,” adds 
the historian in a strain remark- 
ably apposite to modern times, “‘ did 
they dread and abhor the very 
name of those communities, and mu- 
nicipalities, and tribunals, which 
had produced the greatest part of 
their tyrants.” 

The power which bad created 
the first revolution in Rome, was 
perpetually called upon to create 
others. ‘Consuls,-dictators, plebeian 
tribunes, military tribunes, or de- 
cemvirs, were successively and inter- 
changeably appointed. The scale 
of power in the state under all, was 
continually sinking towards the peo- 
ple, till it touched the very ground 
at last. It sunk, therefore, loaded 


moreand more with misery to them.: 


They became the dupes of ambiti- 
ous men, enlisted as partizans in 
their pursuits, and engaged as cham- 
pions in their contests ; were ems 
barrassed with seditions, scourged 
with rebellions, and racked with 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


revolutions, At the last of these 
revolutions, Lucan describes one of 
the personages in his poetical history 
bursting out with all the agony of 
feeling for his wretched country ; 
and exclaiming with envy at the 
happiness of the most absolute mo- 
narchies on the earth. 

Felices Arabes, Medique Eoaque tellus, 


Quam sub perpetuis tenuerunt Fata ty- 
rannis ! 


Geography considered ix a political 
Point of View; from Mercier’s 
Fragments. 


HOEVER admits an original 
plan in the universe, whoever 
rejects the words fatality and chance, 
and surveys with an attentive eye 
the empires of ancient and modern 
times, will perceive an order of dee 
marcation upon the surface of our 
globe, and will not fail to recognize 
the hand that traced the limits and 
erected the ramparts. He will be- 
hold nations mutually contending till 
they are cenfined within the geogra+ 
phical circle drawn by nature ; in 
that enclosure they enjoy the repose 
which was denied them when they 
overleaped the bounds, 
When in the height of metaphy- 
sics, we feel something that resists, 


that repels us forcibly, that defeats 


us in spite of our efforts, it is a de- 
cisive mark that we go beyond our 
limits, and strain to surpass our na- 
tural capacity : it isa secret admo- 
nition which reminds us of our frail- 
ty, and corrects a presumptuous 
weakness. But, in the material 
world, when an evident principle 
enlightens reason at the commence- 
ment of its researches, it is a certain 
token that the mind possesses a fund 
of resources which will enable it to 

draw 


MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS, 


draw infallible conclusions. Let us 
first be natural philosophers : I have 
thought J could discern on the globe 
a decided intention of nature to se- 
parate states without too much dis- 
joining them, to delineate geome- 
trically the form of empires, and 
to domiciliate kingdoms; I have 
thought I could perceive that the 
globe wasso configured, as that na- 
vigation would one day be the tie 
to bind together the human race, 
These ideas will no doubt please 
those who, struck with the harmo- 
nious immensity, believe, that the 
government of the universe presides 
majestically and necessarily over all 
other governments. We need only 
use our eyes, perhaps, to be con- 
vinced of these new truths: an at- 
tentive survey of geographical charts 
.determines, in some measure, the 
positive extent of states; fur the 
mountains, the rivers, and the lakes, 
are the unquestionable boundaries 
end guardians which kind nature has 
placed for the preservation and tran- 
quillity of human associations, 

But if the order of-nature have 
visibly separated empires, it has 
on another hand decreed, that they 
shall have a mutual commerce of 
knowledge ; its design in this respect 
isnot concealed. When I hold in 
my hand a fragment of loadstone, 
and reflect that this stone, which 
appears in no way remarkable, in- 
forms us constantly of the direction 
of the north, and renders possible 
and easy the navigation of the most 
unknown seas, I have about mea 
convincing proof that nature in- 
tended a social life for man. All 
these indications of design seem, 
therefore, to evince that her views 
tend simply to unite men, and make 
them share in common the good 
things disseminated over the globe. 


Vor, XXXVII. 


t 


r*199 


Whenever, for the preservation of 
the whole, a great crisis of nature 
occasions the disruption of a small 
portion of the globe, you suddenly 
perceive seas arise where islands 
were swallowed up. Never hasa 
gulf, never has a large gap, invin- 
cibly separated the different parts of 
the globe ; on the contrary, the soft 
girdle of the waters every where _ 
invites man, every where presents 
to him roads more dangerous than 
difficult, and which his courage and 
genius have surmounted: The ce- 
lebrated English navigator, who 
discovered the inhabited islands in 
the Pacific Ocean, sailed from the 
Thames, passed the Antipodes of 
London, and performed the circuit 
of the earth. Lastly, since it has 
latterly been discovered, by a ne- 
ver-erring experience, that winds, 
which blow constantly during a cer-. 
tain season of the year, waft our 
ships to India, and that contrary 
winds, prevailing during another 
season, Convey them back again to 
our ports—it is impossible not to 
recognize certain admirable guides, 
calculated to approximate.and unite 
the most remote nations. If man 
has learned to construct a vessel, a 
bridge upon the ocean, if this frail 
machine nevertheless braves the 
angry elements ; itis because the 
primary intention of nature was 
that men of all climates should not 
be strangers to each other: A dark 
cloud conceals from us the nations 
which inhabit the northern extre- 
mity of Ameriea ; but a slight con 
vulsion of the globe may suddenly 
form asea, to conduct our vessels 
among these new nations; and, in 
a similar way, although the interior 
parts of Africa be nearly as much 
unknown as the centre of the earth, 
it requires only a happy occurrence 
[*1] to 


#130} 


to open for us the route. The great 
views of nature will sooner or later 
be accomplished, . 

- For the same reason that she gives 
mountains a gentle slope, to allow 
a free access to them, and facilitate 
the entrance into the yallies, she 
has distributed in all directions a 
profusion of rivers and seas; every 
thing announces a circulation simi- 
lar to that in the human body. She 
therefore ‘wills, that all the people 
of the earth should be knit by the 
bonds of union, but without clash- 
ing suddenly, and being too readily 
blended. Thus, by extending and 
connecting our various branches of 
knowledge, we shall find that they 
all tend to the improvement of the 
human species ; and in this view art 
is nature. — 


On Didactic Poetry; from a critical 
Essay on Akenside’s Pleasures of the 
Imagination, by Mrs. Barbauld. 


IDACTIC or preceptive poetry 
seems to include a solecism, 

for the end of poetry is to please, 
and of didactic precept the object 
is instruction. Itis however a spe- 
cies of poetry which has been cul- 
tivated from the earliest stages of 
society ; at first, probably, for the 
simple purpose of retaining, by means 
of the regularity of measure, and the 
charms of harmony, the precepts of 
agricultural wisdom, and the apho- 
risms of economical experience. 
When poetry came to be cultivated 
for its own sake, it was natural to 
esteem the didactic, asin that view 
it certainly is, as a speciesof inferior 
merit, compared with those which 
are more peculiarly the work of ima- 
gination; and accordingly in the 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


more splendid era of our own poetry 
it has been much less cultivated than 
many others. Afterwards, when 
poetry was become an art, and the 
more obvious sources of description 
and adventure were in some measure 
exhausted, the didactic was resorted 
to, as affording that novelty and va~ 
riety -which began to be the great 
desideratum in works of fancy. 

This species of writing 1s like- 
wise favoured by the diffusion of 
knowledge, by which many sub- 
jects become proper for general 
reading which, in a less informed 
state ofsociety, would bave savoured 
of pedantry and abstruse specula- 
tion : for poetry cannot descend to 
teach the elements of any art or 
science, or confine itself to that res 
gular arrangement and clear brevity 
which suit the communication of un- 
known truths. In fact, the muse 
would make a very indifferent school 
mistress, 

Whoever, therefore, readsa di- 
dactic poem ought to come to it with 
a previous knowledge of his subject ; 
and whoever writes one, ought to 
suppose such a knowledge in his 
readers. If he is obliged to explain 
technical terms, to refer continually 
to critical notes, and to follow a sys- 
tem step by step with the patient 
exactness of a teacher, his poem, 
however laboured, will be a bad 
poem. His office is rather to throw 
a lustre on such prominent parts of 
his system as are most susceptible of 
poetical ornament, and to kindle 
the enthusiasm of those feelings 
which the truths he is conversant 
with are fitted to inspire. In that 
beautiful poem, the Essay on Man, 
the system of the author, ifin reality 
he had any system, is little attended 
to, but those passages which eines 

4 , the 


MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS, 


fhe love of virtue, are read with 
delight, and fix themselves on the 
memory. Where the reader has this 
previous knowledge of the subject, 
which we have mentioned as neces- 
sary, the art of the poet becomes it- 
self a source of pleasure, and some- 
times in proportion to the remote- 
ness of the subject from the more 
obvious province of poetry ; we are 
delighted to find with how much dex- 
terity the artist of ‘verse can avoid a 
technical term, how neatly he can 
turn an uncouth word, and with how 
much grace embellish a scientific 
idea. Who does not admire the in- 
finite art with which Dr. Darwin has 
described the machine of sir Richard 
Arkwright ? His verse is a piece of 
mechanism, as complete in its kind 
as that which he describes. Allured 
perhaps too much by this artificial 
species of excellence, and by the 
hopes of novelty, hardly any branch 
of knowledge has been so abstruse, 
or so barren of delight, as not to 
have afforded a subject to the didac- 
tic poet. Even the loathsomeness of 
disease, and the dry maxims of me- 
dical knowledge,have been decorated 
with the charms of poetry. Many 
of these pieces however owe all their 
entertainment to frequent digres- 
sions. Where these arise naturally 
outof the subject, as the description 
of a sheep-shearing feast in Dyer, or 
the praises of Italy in the Georgics, 
they are not only allowable but 
graceful ; but if forced, as is the 
story of Orpheus and Eurydice in the 
same poem, they can be considered 
in no other light than that of beautiful 
monsters, and injure the piece they 
are meant to adorn. The subject of 
a didactic poem therefore ought to 
be such as isinitself to be attractive 


[*131 


to the man of taste, for otherwise 
all attempts to make it so, by adven- 
titious ornaments, will be but like 
loading with jewels and drapery a fi- 
gure originallydefective and ill-made. 


Of the Infirmities and Defects of 
Men of Genius ; from D? Israeli’s 
Essay on the Literary Character. 


HE modes of life of a man of 

genius are often tinctured with 
eccentricity and enthusiasm, These 
are in an eternal conflict with the 
usages of common life. His 
occupations, his amusements, and 
his ardour, are discordant to 
daily pursuits, and prudential ha- 
bits, It is the characteristic of 
genius to display no talent to or= 
dinary men; and it is unjust to 
censure the latter when they consie 
der him as born for no human pur- 
pose. Their pleasures and their 
sorrows are not his pleasures and 
his sorrows. He often appears to 
slumber in dishonourable ease, 
while his days are passed in labours, 
more constant and more painful 
than those of the manufacturer. 
The world is not always aware that 
to meditate, to compose, and even 
to converse with some, are great las 
bours: and as Hawkesworth obe 
serves, ‘f that weariness may be 
contracted in an arm chair.” 

Such men are also censured for 
an irritability of disposition. Many 
reasons might apologize for these un- 
happy variations of humour. The 
occupation of making a great name, 
is, perhaps, more anxious ahd pre- 
carious than that of making a great 
fortune. We sympathise with the 
merchant when he communicates 

[*I-2] melancholy 


*132] 


melancholy to the social circle in 
consequence of a bankruptcy, or 
when he feels the elation of prospe- 
rity at: the success of a vast specula- 
tion. The author is not less immer- 
sed in cares, or agitated by success, 
for literature -has its bankruptcies 
and its speculations. 

The anxieties and disappointments 
ofan author, even of the most suc- 
cessful, are incalculable. If he is 
Jearned, learning is the torment of 
unquenchable thirst, and his elabo- 
rate work is exposed to the accident- 
_ alrecollection vf an inferior mind, 
as well as the fatal omissions of wea- 
ried vigilance. If he excels in the 
magic of diction, and the graces of 
fancy, his path, is strewed with roses, 
but his feet bleed on invisible yet 
piercing thorns. Rousseau has given 
a glowing description of the cease- 
less inquietudes by which he ac- 
quired skill in the arts of composi- 
tion ; and has said, that with what- 
ever talent a man may be born, the 
art of writing 1s not easily obtained. 

It is observed by M. La Harpe 
(an author by profession) that as it 
has been proved there are some ma- 
ladies peculiar to artists, there are 
also surrows which are peculiar to 
them ; and which the world. can 
neither pity nor soften, because it 
cannot have their conceptions. We 
read not without a melancholy emo- 
tion, the querulous. expressions of 
men of genius. We have a little 
catalogue de calamitate Litteratorum; 
we might add a volume by the addi- 
uon. of most of our own authors, 

The votarics of the arts and sci 
ences are Called, by Cicero, heroes 
of peace; their labours, their dan- 
gers, and their intrepidity, make 
them heroes ; but peace is rarely the 
ornament of their feverish esistence. 

Some are now only agreeable, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


7 


1795. 


who might have been great writeys, 
had their application: to study, and 
the modes of their life, been differ- 
ent. In Mr, Greaves’s lively recol~ 
lections of his friend Shenstone, are 
some judicious observations on this 
subject. He has drawn a compari- 
son between the elevated abilities of 
Gray, and the humble talents of 
Shenstone; and he has -essayed to 
shew, that it was the accidental cir- 
cumstances of Gray’ ’s place of birth, 

education, his admittance into some 
of the best circles, and his assiduous 
application to science, which gave 
him that superiority over the indo- 
lence, the retirement, and the i iner= 
tion of a want of patronage, which 
made Shenstone, as Gray familiarly 
said, ‘* hop round his walks’? like a 
bird in a string, 

Men of genius are often. reveren- 
ced only where they are known by 
their writings. In the romance of 
life they are divinities, in its his- 
tory they are men. From errors - 
of the mind, and derelictions of the 
heart, they may not be exempt; 
these are perceived by: their ac~ 
quaintance, who can often discern 
only these qualities. The defects 
of great men are the consolation of 
the dunces, 

For their foibles it appears more 
difficult to account than for their 
vices ; for a violent passion depends 
on its direction to become either ex- 
cellence or depravity ; but why 
their exalted mind should not pre- 
serve them from the imbecilities of 
fools, appears a mere caprice of na- 
ture. A curious list may be formed 
of 


“Fears of the brave and follies of 
“ the wise.” Johnson. 


In the note underneath I have 
thrown together a few facts which 
may 


MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 


tray be passed over by those who 


have no taste for literary anecdotes.* 
_. But it isalso necessary to acknow- 
ledge, that men of genius dre often 
unjustly reproached with foibles. 
The sports of a vacant mind, are 
imisunderstood as follies. The sim- 
plicity of truth may appear vanity, 
and the consciousness of superiority, 
envy. Nothing is more usual than 
vur surprisé at some great writer or 
artist contemning the labours of ano- 
ther, whom the public cherish with 
equal approbation: We place it to 
the account of his envy, but per- 
haps this opinion is erroneous, and 
elaims a concise investigation. 

Every superior writer has a man- 
ner of his own, with which he has 
been long conversant, and too often 
inclines to judge of the merit of a 
performance by the degree it at- 
tains of his favourite manner. He 
errs, because impartial men of taste 
are additted to no manner, but love 
whatever is exquisite. We often 
see readers draw their degree of 
comparative merit from the manner 
of their favourite author ; an author 
does the same; that is, he draws it 
from himself, Such a partial stand- 
ard of ta¥te is erroneous; but it is 
more excusable in the author than 
in the reader. 


[*133 

This observation will serve to ex- 
plain several curious phenomena in 
literature. "The witty Cowley des- 
pised the natural Chaucer ; the clas- 
sical Boileau, the rough sublimity of 
Crebillon; the forcible Corneille, 
the tender Racine; the affected 
Marivaux; the familiar Moliere; the 
artificial Gray, thesimple Shenstone: 
Each alike judged by that peculiar 
manner he had long formed. In a 
free conversation they might have 
contemned each other; and a dunce, 
who» had listened without taste or 
understanding, if he had been a ha- 
berdasher in anecdotes, would have 
hastened to reposit in his warehouse 
of literary falsities, a long declama- ~ 
tion on the vanity and envy of these 
great men. 

It has long been acknowledged 
that every work of merit, the more 
it is examined, the greater the merit 
will appear. The most masterly 
touches, and the reserved graces 
which form the pride of the artist, 
are not observable, till after a fami- 
liar and constant meditation. What 
is most refined is least obvious § and 
to some must remain unpérceived 
for ever. : 

But ascending from these elabo- 
rate strokes in composition, to the 
views and designs of an author, the 


: 


* Voiture was the son of a vintner, and, like our Prior, was so mortified whenever 
reminded of his original occupation, that it was said of him, that wine which cheered 
the hearts of all men, sickened that of Voiture. Rousseau, the poet, was the son of 
acobler; and when his honest parent waited at the door of the theatre, to embrace 
his son on the success of his first piece, the inhuman poet repulsed the venerable fa- 
ther with insult and contempt. Akenside ever considered his Jameness as an un- 
supportable misfortune, since it continually reminded him of his origin, being oc- 
casioned by the fall of a cleaver from one of his fathex’s blocks, a respectable butch- 
er. Milton delighted in contemplating his own person, and the engraver not having 
reached our sublime bard’s “ ideal grace,” he has pointed his indignation in four, 
jambics. Among the complaints of Pope, is that of “ the pictured shape.” Even 
the strong-minded Johnson would not be painted “ blinking Sam.” Mr, Bos- 
well tells us that Goldsinith attempted to shew his agility t@ be superior to the 
dancing of an ape, whose praise had occasioned him a fit of jealousy, but he failed 
in imitating his rival. The inscription under Boileau’s portrait, describing his cha- 
racter with lavish panezyric, and a preference to Juvenal and Horace, is unfortu- 
pately known to have been written » ret : more 

* 


*134) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


more profound and extensive these , 


are, the more they elude the read-, 
er’s apprehension. I refine not too 
much when I say, that the author is 
conscious of beauties, that are not 
in his composition. The happiest 
writers are compelled to see some of 
their most magnificent ideas float 
along the immensity of mind, be- 
yond the feeble grasp of expression, 
Compare the state of the author with 
that of the reader ; how copious and 
overflowing is the mind of the one to 
the other ; how more sensibly alive 
to a variety of exquisite strokes 
which the other has not yet perceiv- 
ed; the author is familiar with eve- 
ry part, and the reader has but a 
vague notion of the whole. How 
many noble conceptions of Rousseau 
are not yet mastered! How many 
profound reflections of Montesquieu 
are not yet understood! How ma- 
ny subtle lessons are yet in Locke, 
which no preceptor can teach ! 
Such, among others, are the rea- 
sons which may induce an author to 
express himself in language which 
may sound like vanity. To be ad- 
mired, is the noble simplicity of the 
ancients, (imitated by a few eleva- 
ted minds among the moderns) in 
expressing with ardour the consci- 
ousness of genius. We are not more 
displeased with Dryden than with 
Cicero, when he acquaints us of the 
great things he has done, and those 
he purposes to do. Mcdern modes- 
ty might, perhaps, to some be more 
engaging, if it were modesty; but 
our artificial blushes are like the la. 
dies’ temporary rouge, ever ready 
to colour the face on any occasion. 
Some will not place their names to 
their books, yet prefix it to their 
advertisements; others pretend to 
be the editors of their own works; 
some compliment themselves in the 
third person; and many; concealed 


under the shade of anonymous crie 
ticism, form panegyrics, as elabo- 
rate and long as Pliny’s on Trajan, 
of their works and themselves: yet, 
in conversation, start at a compli- 
ment, and quarrel at a quotation. 
Such modest authors resemble cer- 
tain ladies, who in public are equal. 
ly celebrated for the coldest chase 
uty. 

Consciousness of merit character- 
ises men of genius; but it isto be 
lamented that the illusions of selfs 
love are not distinguishable from 
the reality of consciousness, Yet, if 
we were to take from some their 
pride of exultation, we annihilate 
the germ of their excellence. The 
persuasion of a just posterity smooth- 
ed the sleepless pillow, and spread 
a sunshine in the solitude of Bacon, 
Montesquieu, and Newton; of 
Cervantes, Grey, and Milton. Men 
of genius anticipate their contempo- 
raries, and know they are such, long 
before the tardy consent of the public. 

They have also been accused of 
the meanest adulations; it is certain 
that many have had the weakness to 
praise unworthy men, and some the 
courage to erase what they -have 
written, A young writer unknown, 
yet languishing for encouragement, 
when he first finds the notice of « 
person of some eminence, has ex- 
pressed himself in language which 
gratitude, a finer reason than reason 
itself, inspired. Strongly has Mil- 
ton expressed the sensations of this 
passion, ‘* the depth immense of 
endless gratitude.” Who'ever pays 
an ** immense debt” in smallsums ? 


Whimsical Eaxpences of Economy ; 
Strom the Gentleman’s Magazine. 


: O you know, Mr. Urban, that 
I am in the high road to be 
. ruined 


MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 


ruined by economy? Never did a 
poor man pay so dear in order to 
save money; and it is all owing to 
the cry that you and others have set 
up about scarcity, that I am fairly 
driven out of my own house, and 
am the laughing-stock of all my 
neighbours. 

You must know that I have the 
good fortune to enjoy the best wife 
mm the world. She is a pattern to 
all her acquaintance. She looks into 
every thing herself, is quite notable, 
a great manager; an_ excellent 
market-woman, and knows the 
cheapest shop in town for every ar- 
ticle that we want. ‘This is not 
only a great comfort as well as sav- 
ing to ourselves, but a great conve- 
Hience to our friends ; for, when any 
of them want to buy a gown, or a 
pound of raisins, they are sure not 
only to consult my wife, but to take 
her with them for fear that they 
should be imposed upon; and thie 
kind soul is every day upon her 
feet trudging into the city with one 
friend or another, because really in 
the city things may be bought for 
almost half price: and this I can 
assure you is true, from the extra- 
ordinary bargdins that she constantly 
makes. 

But, Mr. Urban, to my misfor- 
tunes. I need not tell you; sir, who 
have so well describéd the present 
scarcity; that every feeling heart is 
anxious to lessen the consumption 
of wheat, and to make aS great a 
saving as possible of bread in these 
hard times. The number of sub- 
stitutes for flour which have: been 
suggested by the ingenious sir John 
Sinclair, president of the board of 
agriculture, and others, struck my 
wife very forcibly: ‘* Dear me !” 
she said one morning at breakfast— 
* how simple the receipt is !|—Just 


[*133 


one half flour, and one half pota- 
toes. I declare I will try it—and 
then we shall make our own bread, 
and what a saving that will be! It 
is but having a little cast-iron oven 
put up at the side of the kitchen- 
grate, and it will be the most con- 
venient and handy thing in the 
world—it will bake a pie,.or a few 
tarts upon occasion; and you know, 
my love, it will keep your leg of 
mutton hot and comfortable any 
time that you should happen to be 
detained at Lloyd’ss What do you 
think of it; my dear ?” I never have 
an opinion of my own upon any 
subject of this kind. My wife is 
sovereign out of the counting-house, 
which is my only territory. ‘* My 
dear, says 1—** you know best. It 
is surely the duty of every one to 
lessen the consumption of wheat; 
and, if you think a mixed bread 
will answer; I would have you try 
it; but, my love, might you not 
make your experiment, and send 
the loaf to the bakehouse, and not 
buy an oven till you see how it an- 
swers?” ‘* Qh dear; no, by no 
means; now that is always your 
way. My God! trust a baker with 
an experiment when he is to be 
deprived of our custom if it suc- 
ceeds! No, I thank you. Why, he 
would burn it on purpose.” There is 
no arguing with my wife, she is so 
clever ; and, besides, when once she 
takes up a thing, she finds out so 
many advantages in a minute, that 
did not strike her at first, that the 
second reasons are often more forci- 
ble than the original inducement. 
This ‘was precisely the case about 
the little cast-iron oven; it was 
thought of only for the sake of the 
pdtatoe-bread ; but such a variety 
of uses for an oven came crowd 
ing upon her mind, thgt she won- 
{*14] dered 


*1386] ANNUAL REGISTER) 1798. 


dered how we had ever been able 
‘to go on without an oven.—An oven 
would save itself in two months 
in the expence of fuel; for she de- 
clared for her own part that she 
liked baked meat as well as roast ; 
and, whenever I dined out, she and 
the children could do very well with 
a bit of a beef-steak pie, or a baked 
shoulder of mutton; and, besides, 
a Cast-iron oven was no expence— 
she saw one sold at an auction for a 
couple of guineas, and she knew 
the broker that bought it; he lived 
in Moorfields, for she often dealt 
with him.—I did not say a word 
more. 

When I came home to dinner, 
my wife told me, with great joy,that 
she had got the oven, and the brick- 
layer was coming in the morning to 
set it; and she had only paid two 
guineas and a half, and it was as 
good as new. There was not asin- 
gle crack about it, and it was quite 
charming. There was only one 
thing that she did not know how to 
manage—there was not room by 
the side of the fire for the oven with- 
out removing the boiler. But she 
was sure, if the bricklayer had snot 
been an ass, he might have contriv- 
edit somehow. But, hang the cop- 
per, it was not wanted often; it 
might be put up in the little back 
cellar under the counting-house. 
It would be easy, the bricklayer 
said, to carry up a flue. I saw she 
had settled the whole plan, and she 
entertained me during dinner with 
the preparations she had made for 
our new bread. She was sure, she 
said, that potatoes would be dear, 
because every body was going to 
eat them, and she had therefore the 

«precaution to buy in as many as she 
‘thought would serve us for the win- 


e 


ter. ‘* Good God! my dear, they 
will spoil. Where can you keep 
them?” “IT warrant you Ill find 
room,” says she; ‘* and as to their 
spoiling, I'll answer for them, How 
do I preserve pears till the month 
of June? and surely they are more 
delicate than potatoes.” 1 know 
how clever my wife is at these things. 
Her preserves are excellent, and 
there is not a week but some of our 
friends are forced to send to us 
for a pot or two, when their own 
are all spoilt; and my wife always 
takes care to have enough on that 
very account. 

Well, sir, next day my wife beg. 
ged of me to dineat the coffee-house, 
because I knew the kitchen would 
be quite taken up with the. brick- 
layer, and she was determined to 
lose no time, forshe would have a 
loaf ready to put in as soon as the 
oven was set. Well, sir, I went to 
Slaughter’s coffee-house, and told 
my friends how necessary it was for 
every person to set an example, in 
these hard times, of eating a mixed 
bread, and that I had determined to 
introduce it in my own family. In- 
deed, I said, my wife was actually 
about’ it. ‘ Aye, Mr. Cakeling, 
said a neighbour, you are the man 
to lead us the way; you have a 
wife that knows how to do every 
thing. I’ll be bound that she makes 
bread fit for a prince if shesets about 
it.” This is the way, Mr. Urban, 
that all my friends speak about my 
wife, she has got such a name for 
cleverness. So I went home quite 
full of our new bread—No—quite 
elated I mean—for oh, Mr. Urban, 
to this day, and it is six weeks ago 
since we began to bake, I have not 


‘got a bellyful of home-made bread. 


I wish I had time to go through 
3 all 


MISCELLANEOUS. ESSAYS. fag! #7 


all our experiments. One time our 
loaf would not ris®—another time it 
would not come out—it stuck fast 
to the bottom—it wanted salt, it had 
too much salt—it was too wet, it 
was too dry! it was sometimes quite 
dough, but in general it was burnt 
to a cinder. It went on this way 
for the first week ; my wife and I 
could not discover the reason. We 
had tried potatoes in every way; 
we had boiled them, meshed them, 
pulverised them, poured water after 
water over them to make them 
white ; we had reduced (I say we, 
for being a national object, I was 
happy to take a part; besides, I 
own, I was a little on the alert, for 
I had promised my friends at 
Slaughter’s to bring them a loaf) we 
had reduced 20lbs. of potatoes to 
2, and had made excellent starch of 
it, though we could not make bread. 
We had consumed half the stock of 
potatoes that was to serve us all win- 
ter, without getting a single loaf 
that was eatable. My wife cried 
‘for vexation. She was sure there 
must be something in the matter 
that we did not dream of, for she 
‘knew as well how to make bread as 
any bakerin England; but she would 
find it out before she slept. 
An old baker, who had now 
turned flour-factor, of ouracquaint- 
ance, was called in, not because 
she did not know, as well as any 
baker in England, how to make 
bread; but there might be some 
-knack in managing the oven, that 
she was -unacquainted with—some 
thing in the way of heating it—or 
of putting the bread in it—or of tak- 
ing it out. In short, for once she 
- would take advice. ‘* Lord, Ma’am,” 
“says the flour-factor, “ it is no 
-wonder you could not succeed—- 
why Ma’am, you have got one of 


those kickshaw iron ovens. Lord 
bless you! they don’t answer, they’d 
burn all the bread in the world be- 
fore they’d Bake it. “‘There’s no do- 
ing any good with an iron oven.” 
My wife was struck dumb, but yet 
she was satisfied. She was com- 
pletely acquitted—the fault did not 
lie with her: but however, it would 
be easy to alter it, a small oven 
might be built for a mere trifle on 
the good old plan; and an oven 1 
accordingly got. 

But mark the consequences. The 
kitchen. chimney was torn. down, 
and some how or other the flue was 
injured. It was impossible to live 
in it for smoke. My maid gave us 
warning, she could not live in it; 


_and I was forced to dine at the cof- 


fee-house every day. My wife, 
however, is a woman of resource. 


‘She applied to an ingenious mecha- 


nic, who has great skill in chim- 
neys. ‘This man has invented a 
fine apparatus for a kitchen. He 
has a range that does every thing— 
it boils, roasts, stews, and bakes, 
all by the same fire; and the ex- 
penceis nothing, for it saves itself in 
fire in a twelvemonth. | Nothing 
would satisfy my wife but to have a 
new-fashioned range; and accord- 
ingly, at-an expence of more than 
501. I have got my kitchen meta 
morphosed ; and I am making mix- 
ed bread at no allowance. 

My wife has got into the way. 
This cast-iron oven on the new plan 
succeeds to a miracle; and I should 
be quite happy if it were not 
for the expence. But really Mr. 
Urban, there is nothing so dear 
as economy. I calculate that eve- 


Ty quartern-loaf of bread, which J 


make, costs me half-a-crown; and 
this is not the worst of it. Some- 
times we all get the gripes into the 

bargain. 


198] ANNUAL REGISTER,’ 1795. 


bargain. I believe that my apo-~ 
thecary’s bill will come té a good 
round sum for counteracting the ef- 
fects of the staff of life. 

I do not ascribe this to my wife} 
Hoy sir, she Is the best woman upon 
earth ; but you know it was natu- 
tal that she should try all mixtures. 
So one day we’had wheat and bars 
ley, and that gave us dysentery. 
The next we had a mixture of oat+ 
meal, and that put our blood into 
a fever; on the third we had pota~- 
toe bread, and them we had indi- 
gestion. In short, without know- 
Jng at first the reasony we have all 
been unwell: have all had occasion 
for the apothecary. And we are 
all beginning again, without ven- 
turing, however, to say so, to wish 
for plain old household bread from 
the baker. 

My neighbours have somehow 
or another found this out; and I 
am truly to be pitied. They ask 
mre jeeringly how many hundred 
weight of potatoes go to a quartern- 
loaf ; and the very flour-factor that 
my wife called in said to my face, 
at the Langbourn-Ward Coffee- 
house, that, if this saving plan went 
on, all the flour in the kingdom 
would be wasted ; andy, to tell you 
the truth; § begin to think so. 


CurtstorpHer CAKELING. 


Cranbourne-alle, Deo 23 


Grimaldi ; a true Story ; from Va- 
rieties of Literaturey Vol. 1. 


DRING the civil war of 
Genoa, an Italiany of the 

name ef Grimaldi, fled to Pisa. 
Money was the only thing in the 
Wniverse that could boast of his 


friendship and esteem. He mains 
tained, that fortune ought to be 
pursuedin any way and at any price, 
and that no means were disgraceful 
but such as did not succeed. He 
that has a great store of money, he 
used to say, has but few stings of 
conscience. 

We may readily suppose, that a 
man of such maxims had formed a 
settled plan to become rich. Acé 
cordingly he began very early to 
labour at the edifice of his fortunes 
and even in his youth he merited 
the appellation of an old misers 
With the talent of acquiring riches; 
he united the far more extraordi+ 
nary art of keeping them. He lived 
quite alone. He had neither dog 
nor cat in the house; because he 
must have found them in victuals. 
Neither did he keep a servant; to 
spare himself the necessity of paying 
wages- Moreover, he was in con- 
tinual fear of being robbed; and 
theft was in his estimation a crime 
of blacker dye than parricide. 
He was universally the object of 
hatred and contempt; but when he 
felt himself insulted or abused he 
went straightway home,cast a loukat 
his dear strong box, and was come 
forted. 

The frugality of his meals, and 
the poverty of his dress, were no 
deception to the public on the true 
state of his circumstances, as is 
usually the case with misers, The 
cloak of artifice, under which they 
think to conceal their affluence, fre- 
quently serves but to swell it in the 
eyes of other men; and their avarice 
is only @ sign hung out to invite the 
thief to enter. 

One evening when he had sup- 
ped in company, (it may be easily 
imagined that it was not at home,) 
he was returning to his house cvs! 

ate 


MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 


jate and alone. Some one that had 
watched his steps, fell upon him 
with intention to murder him. 
Grimaldi felt himself stabbed with 
@ poignard, but he had still somuch 
Strength as to take to his heels, 
At the same time came on a dread- 
ful storm. Faint with his wound, 
his affright, and the rain, Grimaldi 
threw himself into the shop of a 
goldsmith, which by chance was 
still open. This goldsmith was in 
full pursuit of wealth, like Grimaldi, 
only that he had fallen upon a way 
less promising than that of usury, 
He was in search of the philoso- 
pher’s stone. This evening he was 
making a grand projection, and had 
left open his shop for moderating 
the heat of his furnace. 

Grimaldi’s entrance seemed some- 
what rude. Fazio, for that was 
the goldsmith’s name, immediately 
knew the man, and asked him what 
he did in the street at such an un- 
seasonable hour, andin such terrible 
weather? Ah! sighed Grimaldi, I 
am wounded! As he pronounced 
these .words, he sank into a chair, 
and expired. i 

Fazio’s confusion needs not to be 
described. Heranup to Grimaldi, 
tore open his clothes that he might 
have freer room to breathe, and 
used every means he could think of 
to recall him to life, but all in vain; 
he was dead. Fazio examined the 
body, and perceived that Grimaldi 
had a stab in the breast; the wound 
had closed of itself, so that the 
bleod could not flow out, and he 
died by suffocation. 

Fazio, at this accident, found 
himself in the greatest distress. The 
whole neighbourhood was asleep, 
or had shut up their houses on ac- 
gount of the bad weather. He was 
quite alone in the house, as his wife 


[*139 


and two children were gone to visit 
his dying father. 

All at once a bold thought came 
into his head, which under these 
circumstances seemed easily prac 
ticdble. He was certain that no one 
had seen Grimaldi come into his 
shop. In such continued rain and 
thunder there was no temptation 
for people to be gaping at their 
windows. Besides, by announcing 
Grimaldi’s death, Fazio himself 
might be brought into suspicion. 
After weighing maturely the whole 
of the affair, he shut up his shop, 
determined to turn the adventure to 
his own advantage; and in cone 
formity with his passion for transmu- 
tations, to make an experiment 
whether he could not transmute 
misfortune into fortune, as he had 


been trying to turn his lead into 


silver or gold. 

Fazio knew of Grimaldi’s wealth, 
or had always suspected him to be 
rich. He began by searching his 
potkets, and found, together with 
some Coin, a large bunch of keys. 
Good! thought he to himself, this 
is a mark of the favour of heaven ; 
the finger of Providence is manifest 
in it! That such a terrible storm 
should come on this night; that my 
shop should be standing open, that 
Grimaldi should be wounded, and 
die in my chair ; all this conld not 
happen without a particular dispen- 
sation from above. He has no re- 
lation, and perhaps even no friend, 
One stranger is as good as another 
stranger, and Fazio as good as 
another heir. I have even one 
right more. Had it got been for 
me, he would have died in the 
street, and have lain in the wet the 
whole night; who knows whether 
he dfd not come into my shop in 
order to constitute me his heir. His 

visit 


*140] 


visit supplies the place of a formal 
testament. I will quietly take the 
executorship upon me; that will be 
the wisest and the safest way: For, 
should I even go and relate the 
whole event to the magistracy, I 
should not be believed. Grimaldi’s 
body isin my house, and every-man 
would account me his murderer 
it would cost me a great deal of 
trouble to prove my innocence, 
Whereas if I bury him privately, 
there will be nobody to blab, as no+ 
body will have seenit. And truly be- 
tween the scaffold and.a full coffer 
it isnot very difficult to chuse, Eu- 
teka! I have found what I have been 
so long hunting after; I have found 
the philosopher’s stone, without the 
‘help of my cursed crucibles, and my 
smoaky heintzel !* 

Armed with a dark lantern, he 
set out on his way.. The rain fell 
in terrents from the clouds, the 
thunder rolled in dreadful peals, but 
he neither felt nor heard any thing 
of it. His mind was fullof Grimaldi’s 
hoards. He tried his keys, unlocked 
the doors, opened the sitting room ; 
it was not large, but well secured. 
It had incomparably more locks than 
doors. We may easily imagine 
what he first looked about for. 
Against the iron chest he directed 
the whole battery of his bunch of 
keys, and he almost despaired of 
carrying the siege; as it alone had 
four or five different locks without 
side, not to mention those within. 
At length however he took the fort ; 
in it he found a casket full of gold 
rings, bracelets, jewels, and other 
valuables, and with it four bags, on 
each of which he read with trans- 
port the words: Three thousand 
ducats in gold, He trusted impli- 


* The name of 2 « 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1765: 


citly to the epigraph,’taking it for 
granted that all was rightly told. 

- Quivéring with joy, he seized 
upon the bags, and left the jewels 
behind, a8 there was a chance that 
they might betray him. Being a 
great friend to order, he carefully 
replaced every thing in its forme 
state, shut again every lock, and 
happily came back to his house with 
the precious burden, without being 
met or seen by any one. His first 
care was to put his foar bags ina 
place of security; his second, to 
take measures for the interment of 
the deceased. He lifted him up 
easily as a feather; for the bare 
touch of the bags of gold, by its 
Native energy, had imparted to him 
a strength which astonished himself. 
He carried Grimaldi into bis cellars 


dug a deep grave, and tumbled him | 


in, with his keys and clothes. This 
done, he filled up the grave with so 
much caution that it was impossible 
to discover that the earth had been 
opened. 

Having finished his work, -he 
hastened to his room, untied his bags, 
and began, not so much to count 
as to feed his sight with the gold. 
He found that all was exactly right, 
not asingle piece was wanting; but 
he was dazzled and giddy at the 
sight of so much money. First he 
counted it, then he weighed it; has 
ecstasy increasing every moment. 
He deposited the whole heap in a 
private closet, burnt the bags, and 
did not quit them with his eyes till 
the last atom was cofsumed, when 
he threw the ashes into the air, 
afraid lest even these might betray 
him. At last he retired to rest ; for 
labour and joy had conspired to fae 
tigue bim. 


chemical! furnace, 


Some 


ee 


| 


’ MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 


Some days after, as nothing was 
seen Or heard of Grimaldi, the mae 
gistracy ordered his house and his 
chamber to be opened. All were 
surprised at not meeting with the 
master; but much more at not find- 
ing any money in the house. 

Three months elapsed without 
any tidings of Grimaldi, either as 
dead or alive. As soon as Fazio 
perceived that there was no longer 
any talk about his sudden disappear- 
ance, he on his part began to let fall 
a word or two concerning his che- 
mical discoveries. Shortly after he 
even spread a report under hand 
about something of a bar of gold. 
People laughed at him to his face, 
as they had already had so many 
examples of his having been deceived 
‘in his operations. But Fazio for 
this time stood firm to his assertions, 
prudently observed a certain grada- 
tion in his discourses and exhibitions 
of joy, and at last went so far as to 
talk of a journey to France for con- 
yverting his bar into current coin. 

The better to conceal his real de- 
sign, he pretended to be in want of 
cash for his travelling-charges, and 
borrowed a hundred florins ona 
farm, which he had not yet sent up 
the chimney. Fifty of them he kept 
to his own uses, and fifty he gave to 
his wife, at the saine time assuring 
her of his speedy return, ‘This in- 
formation threw her into a tremor. 
_ She feared it was the ruin of his for- 
tune that forced Fazio to fiy his 
country : she never expected to see 
him again, and thought of nothing 
but the being shortly reduced to the 
extremity of distress, and left for- 
lorn, with her two fatherless child- 
ren, destitute of bread. She beg- 
ged and conjured him not to travel. 
She spoke with so much eloquence 
aud pathos, that Fazio was affected 


[*14r 


to that degree, as no longer to be 
able to conceal his secret, notwithe 
standing his resolution to keep it for 
life. He took her gently by the 
hand, led her into his cabinet, dis- 
closed to her the transaction with 
Grimaldi, and shewed her his gold- 
en treasure. Dost thou now enter- 
tain any doubt of the truth of my 
ingot of gold? added he, with a 
smile. ‘ 

We may judge of the satisfaction 
this gave to Valentina, for this was 
the name of F'azio’s wife. “She fell 
upon his neck, and thanked, and 
flattered him as much, as before she 
had teazed him with reproaches 
and objections. A multitude of 
plans were struck out of future hap- 
piness and glory; and preparations 
for the journey were made with all 
speed. But when the very day fixt 
for his departure was come, Valene 
tina, on whom Fazio, as we may 
easily imagine, had inculcated the 
profoundest silence, Valentina, I 
say, did not fail to make common 
cause with the rest of the family, 
and remonstrated against the joure 
ney as before. She pretended as if 
she had still her doubts, was lavish 
of her prayers and entreaties, and 
was almost dissolyed in tears, withe 
out feeling the least uneasiness. 
Fazio passed for a fool. The whole 
town made game of him, and he 
laughed at the whole town in return. 

While he was on the way to 
Marseilles, his wife, whom he had 
left behind at Pisa, continued to 
play the part she had begun. She 
was incessantly complaining of her 
poverty, while in private she had 
plenty ofall things. Forher husband 
had left with hera sum of money 
which was more than sufficient for 
defraying her necessary expences. 
Every one lamented her fate, and 

yet 


#142] 


yet she had no causes for pity but 
what she was forced to affect. 

Fazio placed out his pieces of 
gold, for which he got gocd bills of 
exchange on an eminent banker at 
Pisa, and wrote to his wife that he 
had disposed of his ingots of gold, 
and was already set out on his 
return, Valentina shewed the letter 
to her relations and acquaintance, 
and to all that were willing to see it: 
and every one that sawit was filled 
with surprise. The majority still 
doubted of the reality of Fazio’s 
good fortune, when he arrived in. 
person at Pisa, 

He appeared with a triumphant 
air distributed his embraces on the 
right hand andthe left, and related 
the success with which his chemical 
Jabours had been crowned to all the 
world; not forgetting to add, that 
his bars, on being assayed, turned 
out to be the purest and the finest 
gold. He corroborated the verbal 
testimonies of his good fortune, by 
speaking and substantial proofs, and 
fetched from his banker’s 
thousand gold dollars in specie. To 
this kind of demonstration no objec- 
tion could be made. The story 
was told from house to house, and 
all men extolled his knowledge in 
the occult science of the transmuta- 
tion of metals. The very man, who 
but a few months before was pro- 
nounced a confirmed fool by the 
whole city at large, was now eleva- 
ted by that very city to the rank of 
a great philosopher ; and Fazio en- 
joyed, at one and the same time, the 
double advantage, of being honoured 
as both learned and rich. 

There was no longer any need of 
concealing his wealth, and there- 
fore he gave scope to his desires. 
He redeemed his farm from the 
mortgage, bought himself a title at 


nine. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


Rome, for connecting respect and 
riches together, he procured a mag- 
nificent house and a couple of 
estates, and made over the rest of 
his money to a merchant at ten per 
cent. 

He now kept two footmen, two 
maid servants, and, according to 
the prevailing mode of the times, 
two saddle horses, one for himself, 
and the other for his wife. In this 
manner they enjoyed the pleasure of 
knowing themselves to be rich ; a 
pleasure that is far more sensibly 
felt by such as have formerly been 
inwant. Valentina, who was now 
a woman of too much consideration 
to look after the affairs of the house 
herself, took home to her, with the 
approbation of her husband, an old 
and very ugly relation, with her 
young and beautiful daughter. . 

For living tothe top of the grand 
style (probably it was then the fa- 
shion at Pisa, as it is now with usin 
capital towns) Fazio resolved to 
keep amistress. He cast his eyes 
on the daughter of the aged relation, 
who, as was said above, was exe 
tremely handsome. She was called 
Adelaide, and was in the age of love 
and coquetry, either of which alone 
is sufficient to lead @ man into folly. 
Adelaide lent a very willing ear to 
the overtures made by Fazio, and 
soon entered into so intimate a cor- 
respondence with him, as to occa- 
sion a disagreement with his wife. 
But ere Valentina had time to pene- 
trate the secret, or to convince 
herself of her husband’s infidelity, 
Fazio had already spent a consi- 
derable sum of money on his dear 
Adelaide. 

Valentina was jealous of her rights 
to the last punctilio, and it grieved 
her much to see herself under the 
authority of an usurper. Discord 

broke 


MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 


broke in upon their conjugal union. 
Valentina, according to the ordinary 
course of things, became sullen, aad 
Adelaide imperious. One day they 
quarrelled so violently, that Valen- 
tina turned the old housekeeper, 
with ter daughtery out of doors, 
Fazio, on returning bome, took this 
procedure very much amiss, grew 
so much the fonder of Adelaide, 
and hired a suitable lodging for her. 
Valentina, who was very violent 
by nature, could no longer mode- 
rate her fury. 

Fazio, having in vain tried every 
method to pacify or to deceive her, 
retired to his estate in the country, 
and had Adelaide brought to him. 
This no sooner reached the ears of 
Valentina, who in her jeabousy was 
more like a fury than a woman, 
than she meditated the most horrid 
revenge. Without once reflecting 
on the melancholy consequences, 
she resolved to impeach her hus- 
band, before the magistrate, as the 
mourderer of Grimaldi. She put her 
dreadful scheme in execution on 
thespot; and Fazio, who was dream- 
ing away delicious moments in the 
company of his fair one, never 
thought ef the storm that was ga- 
thering over his head. 

The judge, in the first place, exa- 
mined into the circumstances deli- 
vered in by the informant, and then 
dispatched person’s to dig up the 
ground in Fazio’s cellar; where 
finding the remains of Grimaldi’s 
body, Fazio was seized in the arms 
of Adelaide, and carried to prison, 
At first, he denied the charge ; but 
on being confronted with his ‘wife, 
and she appearing as his accuser, he 
immediately exclaimed: ‘ Wretch 
as thou art, had I loved thee less, 
thou wouldst not have been en- 
trusted with my secret; 1 was weak 


, 4143 


from my love towards thee, and thou 
hast brought me hither.”” The tor- 
ture, which at that time was so dane 
gerous to accused innocence, exe 
torted from Fazio a confession of 
all he had done, and even of what 
hehad not. He accused himselfas 
the murderer of Grimaldi, although 
he wasnot; and was sentenced to 
forfeit his possessfns, and to suffer 
death, at the place’of public execu- 
tion. 

Valentina, on being dismissed, 
would have returned home to her 
habitation, but was not a little Sure 
prised at finding it beset with officers 
of justice, who had qven turned her 

children out of it. “No more: was 
wanting than this fresh misfortune 
for completely rendering her a prey 
todespair. The stings of conscience 
already wrung her heart: for, her 
revenge being satiated, she had 
opened her eyes, saw the rashness 
of her conduct inf all its extent, and 
had a full presentiment of ber future 
misery. Pain and remorse now 
arose to their height. In frantic 
mood she ran about with dishevelled 
hair, and implored the judge to set 
free her husband, whom she herself 
had delivered up to the hangman. 
The sight of her children redoubled 
the pangs of her soul. 

The whole city resounded with 
this melancholy event. Valentina, 
who was a horror to herself, had 
not even the poor consolation of 
exciting compassian. Relations and 
acquaintance hated and avoided her 
like a ravening beast, 

Fazio, in the mean time, was 
awaiting his deplorable doom. He 
was led to the place of execution ‘ 
along the principal streets. He as- 
cended the scaffold with great com- 
posure, avouched his innocence, and 
cursed the impetuous jealousy of 

his 


*144)- 


his wife. He was executed ; and 
his body, according to custom, was 
exposedon the scaffold as a terror 
to the beholders. Rage and despair 
had in the mean time transported 
Valentina to. the dreadfullest of all 
imaginable deeds. She took her 
. two children by the hand, and hur- 
ried them with hasty strides, and 
continually weeping, to the place of 
execution. She pressed throvgh the 
crowd, who made way for her to 
pass, and loaded her with execra- 
tions. 

But Valentina was deaf to all that 
passed. She reached the foot of 
the bloody scaffold, and mounted 
with her children the fatal steps, as 
though she would once more em- 
brace the body of her spouse. Va- 
lentina led her children. quite up 
to the bleeding corpse, and bade 
them embrace their deceased father. 
At this doleful sight, and at the 
cries of these poor children, all the 
spectators burst out into tears, when 
suddenly the raging mother plunged 
a dagger into the breast of one, 
yan upon the other, and stretched 
him dead beside his dying brother. 
An universal burst of horror and 
dismay ascended to the skies! The 


ANNU S&L. REGISTER, 1795. 


populace ranto lay hold of her—~ 
but, already she had stabbed herself 
with the poignard, and fell lifeless 
on the bodies of her husband and 
children, 

The sight of the two murdered 
children, and the mother wallow- 
ing in their blood, filled all that 
were present with detestation and 
terror. It was asif the whole city 
had met with some general calamity, 
Astonishment and. dejection took 
held of every mind and heart. The 
inhabitants roamed up and down 
the streets in gloomy silence, and 
the crowd was incessantly renewing 
round the scaffold where the blood 
of the children and the mother was 
mingling with the blood of the in- 
nocent father. Even the hardest 
hearts were melted into pity and 
compassion. 

The judge, affected by the rela- 
tion, granted leave to the family to 
inter the bodies of the father and 
mother in a place without the walls, 
The two children were buried in 
the church of St. Catharine. The 
tradition of this melancholy event 
has been preserved at Pisa to the 
precent day, and itis still related 
there with yisible concern, 


A tenes can EY 


c { *145 J 


cans oP oR Oe 


QDE for the NEW YEAR 1795. By Henry Jamas Pye, Esq. 
Poet Laureat. . 


~ L. 


GAIN the swift revolving hours 
Bring January's frozen car ; 

Still discord on the nations low’rs, 
Still reigns the iron pow’r of war. 
Hush’d be awhile the tumult’s storm ; 
Awhile let Concord’s milder form 
Glide gently o’er each smiling plain, 
While as they weave the myrtle wreath 
The sportive loves and graces breathe 

The hymeneal strain. 


If. 


From Parent-Elbe’s high-trophy’d shore, 
Whence our illustrious chiefs of yore 
Brought that blest code of laws their sons revere, 
And bade the glorious fabric flourish here, 
The royal virgincomes——Ye gales + 
Auspicious, fill the swelling sails ; 
And, while ye gently curl the azure deep, 
Let ev’ry ruder blast in silence sleep ; 
For not from Afric’s golden sands, 
Or either India’s glowing lands, 
Have e’er the favouring Naiads brought 
A prize to us so dear, a bark so richly fraught. 


6 Hil. 


Bright maid, to thy expecting eyes 

When Albion’s cliffs congenial rise, 
No foreign forms thy looks shall meet, 
Thine ear no foreign i greet 


Vou. XXXVII. {* K 


146] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 


Here shall thy breast united transports prove 
Of kindred fondness and connubial love. . 
O that amid the nuptial flowers we twine, 
Our hands the olive’s sober leaves might join, 
Thy presence teach the storm of war to cease, 
Disarm the battle’s rage, and charm the world to peace. 
Iv. 

Yet if the stern vindictive foe, 

Insulting, aim the hostile blow, 

Britain, in martial terrors dight, 

> «© Lifts high the avenging sword, and courts the fight. 

On every side behold her swains 

Crowd eager from her fertile plains ! 

With breasts undaunted, lo, they stand 

Firm bulwarks of their native land, 

And proud her floating castles round, 

The guardians of her happy coast, 
Bid the‘r terrific thunder sound 
Dismay to Gallia’s scatter’d host, 
While still Britannia’s navies reign: 
Triumphant o’er the subject main. 


ODE for His Mayjesty’s Bintu-Day, 1795. By Henny 
Pye, Esq. Poet Laureat. 


J. " 


OT from the trumpet’s brazen throat 
Be now the martial measure blown, 
Mild concord breathes a sofler note, 
To greet a triumph all her own ; 
Wafted on Pleasure’s downy wings, 
nearer joy than conquest brings 
Now soothes the royal parent’s breast ; 
By rosy wreaths of Hymen bound, 
A Nation’s fervent vows are crown’d, | 
A: much-loy’d son is blest. 


If. 
While crowdss on this returning morn, 
Their willing homage pay, 
And shouts of heart-felt gladness born, 
O’ercome the Muse’s lay, 
: Amid the Pzan’s choral sound, 
While dying faction’s shrieks are drown’d; 
O Sove- 


JAMES 


20. Dh hem [147 


© Sovereign of a people’s choice, 

Hear, in that people’s general voice, 
The noblest praise that waits a throne; 

Their surest guard thy patriot zeal — 

Thy public care their strength—they feel 
Thy happiness their own. 


iil. 


O royal youth ! a king’s, a parent’s pride, 
A nation’s future hope !—again the tongue, 
That join’d the choir, what time by Isis side 
Her tuneful sons thy birth auspicious sung, 
Now hails, fulfill’d by Hymen’s hallow’d flame : 
The warmest wish Affection’s voice could frame : 
For say, can Fame, can Fortune know 
Such genuine raptures to bestow, 
As from the smiles of wedded love arise, 
When heavenly virtue beams from blushing Beauty’s eyes? 


IV. 


Ne’er may the rapid hours that wing 
O’er Time’s unbounded field their ceaseless flight, 
To grateful Britain’s monarch bring, 
A tribute of less pure delighigg” 
Ne’er may the song of duty soothe his ear 
With strains of weaker joy, or transports less sincere> 


EXTRACT from Mr. Maurtce’s Elegiac Poem on Sir Wm. Jones. 


* The 


O chase the tenfold gloom, my Jones, was thine, 
To cheer the Brahmin, and to burst his chains ; 
To search for latent gems the Sanscreet mine, 
And wake the fervour of her ancient strains. 


For oh! what pen shall paint with half thy fire, 
The power of music on the impassion’d soul, 

When the great masters wak’d the Indian lyre, 
And bade the burning song electric roll ?* 


impressive title of one of the most ancient Sanscreet treatises on musi¢ 


is, “ The Sea of Passions. See our author's animated account of the Indian 
music in the Asiatic Researches, vol. ii, p. 55. 


[* K 2] The 


*148) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


‘The mystic veil, that wraps the hallow’d shrines 

Of India’s deities, ’twas thine to rend; ¢ 
With brighter fires each radiant altar shines, 

To Nature’s awful god those fires ascend. 


Sound the deep conch; dread Veshnu’s power proclaim, 
And heap with fragrant woods the blazing urn ; 

I see, sublime Devotion’s noblest flame 
’Midst Superstition’s glowing embers burn ! 


°Twas thine, with daring wing, and eagleeyc, 
To pierce Antiquity’s profoundest gloom ;* 

To search the dazzling records of the sky, 
And bid the stars the sacred page illume.+ 


Nor did the instructive orbs of heav’n, alone, 
Absorb thy soul ’mid yon ethereal fields ; 
To thee the vegetable world was known, e 

And all the blooming tribes the garden yields. 


From the tall cedar on the mountain’s brow, 
Which tlfe fierce tropic storm in vain assails, 

Down to the humblest shrubs that beauteous blow : 
And scent the air of Asia’s fragrant vales. 


But talents—fancy—ardent, bold, sublime— 

_ Unbounded science—form’d thy meanest fame ; 

Beyond the grasp of death, the bound of time, 
On wings of fire religion wafts thy name. { 


And long as stars shall shine, or planets roll, 
To kindred virtue shall that name be dear ; 
Still shall thy genius charm the aspiring soul, 
- And distant ages kindle at thy bier. 


* See thetwo profound Dissertations on the Indian Chronolegy in Asiatic 
Researches, vol. il. p, 111, and 389. 2 

+ Consult various astronomical passages in the treatises above-mentioned, and 
the discourse on the Lunar Year of the Hindus, in the same publication, vol. iii. 
p. 249, They are all made smbservient to the cause of the national theology, and 
the illustration of the grand truths delivered in the sacred writings. 

ft Alluding to some circumstances of devotion, which occurred in the moments 
of sir William’: dissolution. 


ODE 


PH Do LAT IRM {*149 


- 


_ ODE to JURYMEN, by Peter Pinpar. 


S™; it may happen, by the grace of God, 
J That, Great Peter, one day come before ye, 
‘Lo answer to the man of wig, for ode, 

Full of sublimity, and pleasant story. 


Yes, it may so fall out that lofty men, 

Dundas, and Richmond, Hawksb’ry, Portland, Pitt, 
May wish to cut the nib of Peter’s pen, 

And, cruel, draw the holders of his wit ; 


Nay, Dame Injustice in their cause engage, 
To clap the gentle poet ina cage ; 

And should a grimly judge for death harangue, 
Don’t let the poet of the people hang. 


What are mycrimes? A poor tame cur am I 
Though some will swear I’ve snapp’d them by the heels; 
A puppy’s pinch, that’s all, I don’t deny ; 
But Lord ! how sensibly a great man feels! 


A harmless joke, at times, on kings and queens ; 
A little joke on lofty earls and lords ; 

Smiles at the splendid homage ef court scenes, 
The modes, the manners, sentiments, and words : 


A joke on Marg’ret Nicholson’s mad knights ; 
A joke upon the shave of cooks at court, 
Charms the fair muse, and eke the world delights ; 
A pretty piece of inoffensive sport. 


Lo, in a little inoffensive smile, 
There lurks no lever to o’erturn the state, 
And king, and parliament! intention vile ! 
And hurl the queen of nations to her fate. 


No gunpowder my modest garrets hold, 
Dark-lanterns, blunderbusses, masks, and matches ; 
Few words my simple furniture unfold ; 
A bed, a stool, a rusty coat in patches. 


Carpets, nor chandeliers so bright are mine ; 
Nor mirrors, ogling vanity to please ; 

Spaniels, nor lap-dogs, with their furs so fine; 
Alas! my little live-stock are—my fleas ! 


[*K 3] AN 


#150) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


AN ANTIENT CATCH. 


From a MS. of the Time of Queen Elizabeth, in the British Museum. 
: (Vespasian, A. 25.) 


re the cuppe, Bhylyppe, and let us drynke a drame, 

Ons or twyse abowte the howse and leave where we 
began. 

I drynke to yow, sweteharte, soo mutch as here is in, 

Desyeringe yow to followe me, and doo as I begyn; 

And yf yow will not pledge [me], yow shall bere the blame, 

T drynke to yow with all my harte, yf yow will pledge me the 
same. 


VERSES 
4 


Written by the late Earl of Cuatuam. From “ Sewarnv’s Anec- 
DOTES,” in which Work it was for the first Time printed. To the Right 
Hon. Richard Grenville Temple, Lord Viscount Cobham. InviTATION 
to Soutu Loper.* From “* Tyrrhena Regum Progenios,” ce 

bee Norman princes sprung, their virtues heir, 
Cobham, for thee my vaults inclose 
Tokay’s smooth cask unpiere’d. Here purer air, 
Breathing sweet pink and balmy rose, 


Shall meet thy wish’d approach. Haste then away, 
_ Nor round and round for ever rove f olb{ 
The magic Ranelagh, or'nightly stray 

In gay Spring Gardens glittering grove. 


Forsake the Town’s huge mass, stretch’d long and wide, 
Pall’d with Profusion’s sickening joys ; 

Spurn the vain capital’s insipid pride, 
Smoke, riches; politics, and noise. 


Change points the blunted sense of sumptuous pleasure ; 
' And neat repasts in sylvan shed, 
Where Nature’s simple boon is all the treasure, 
Care’s brow with smiles have often spread. 


Now flames Andromeda's refulgent sire, 
Now rages Procyon’s kindled ray, 

Now madd’ning Leo darts his stellar fire, 
Fierce Suns revolve the parching day. 


* A Seat of Mr. Pitt on Enfield Chace, 
The 


PlLOChOPAR LR IAUA sexs 


The shepherd now moves faint with languid flock 
To rivlet fresh and bow’ry grove, 

To cool retirements of high-arching rock, ° 
O’er the mute stream no zephyrs moye. 


Yet weighing subsidies and England’s weal, 
You still in anxious thought caii forth 

Dark ills, which Gaul and Prussia deep conceal, 
Or fierce may burst from towering North.” 


All-seeing Wisdom, kind to mortals, hides 
Time’s future births in gloomy night ; 
Too busy care, with pity, Heaven derides, 
Man’s fond, officious, feeble might. ae 
Use then aright the present. Things to be, 
Uncertain flow, like Thames ; now peaceful berne a 
In even bed, soft-gliding down to sea ; i 
Now mould’ring shores, and oaks uptorn, 


Herds, cottages, together swept away, As gt te 
Headlong he rolls ; the pedant woods ee sag 
And bellowing cliffs proclaim thedire dismay, 


When the fierce ‘torrents rouse the tranquil floods. or 


They,’ masters of themselves, they happy live, wok 
Whose hearts at ease can say secure, 47 
“This day. rose not in vain : let Heaw’n aes give 4 f 
‘Or clouded skies, or sunshine pure.” 4); 


Yet never what swift Time behind has cast 
Shall back return ; no pow’r the thing 
That was bid not have been ; for ever past, 

It flies on unrelenting wing. a 


Fortune, who joys perverse in mortal woe, © 
Still frolicking with cruel play; 

Now may on me ker giddy smile bestow,” ~ 
Now wanton to another stray. et ag ig 


If constant; I caress her; if she flies 
On fickle plumes, farewel her charms ! 

All dower I wave (save what good fame’ supplies,) 
And wrapt my soul in Freedom’s arms. 


[FK A} oon > 6 Tis 


*152] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


’Tis not for me to shrink with mean despair, 
Favour’s proud ship should whirlwinds toss; 

Nor venal idols sooth with bart’ring prayer, 
To shield from wreck opprobrious dross, 


*Midst all the tumults of the warring sphere, 
My light-charged bark may haply glide ; 

Some gale may waft, some conscious thought shall cheer, 
And the small freight unanxious glide. 


WriuiraMm Pir, 1750. 


PROLOGUE ?¢o the WHEEL OF FORTUNE. 


i FARMER late (so Country Records say) 

From the next market homeward took his way ;. 
When as the bleak unshelter’d heath he crost, 

Fast bound by winter in obdurate frost, 

The driving snow-storm smote him in his course, 

High blow’d the North, and rag’d in all its force : 

Slow pac’d and full of years, th’ unequal strife 

Long time he held, and struggled hard for life; 
Vanquish’d at length, benumbed in every part, 

The very life-blood curdling at his heart, 

Torpid he stood, in frozen fetters bound, 

Doz’d, reel’d, and dropt, expiring to the ground. 

Haply his dog, by wond’rous instinct fraught, 

With all the reas’ning attributes of thought, 

Saw his sad state, andiito his dying breast 

Close cow’ring his devoted body press’d : 

Then howl’d amain for help, till passing near 

Some charitable rustic lent an ear ; 

Rais’d him from earth, recall’d his flitting breath, . 

And snatch’d him from the icy arms of death. 

So when the chilling blast of secret woe 

Checks the soul’s genial current inits flow; - 
When death-like lethargy arrests the mind, 

Till man forgets all feeling for his kind ; 

To his cold heart the friendly Muse can give 

Warmth and a pulse that forces him to live; 

By the sweet magic of her scene beguile, 

And bend his rigid muscles with a smile ; 

Shake his stern breast with sympathetic fears, 

And make his frozen eye-lids melt in tears ; | 
Pursuing still her Jife-restoring plan, 
Till he perceives and owns himself a Man : 


Warm’d 


P-OTR T RY. ress 


Warm’d with these hopes, this night we make appeal 
To British hearts, for they are heartsthat feel. 


EPILOGUE fo the WHEEL oF FortTUNE. 


HERE are—what shallI callthem? Two great powers, 
Who turn and overturn this world of our’s— 

Fortune and folly—tho’ not quite the same 
In property they play each other’s game; 
Fortune makes poor men rich, then turns “em o’er 
To folly, who soon strips them of their store. 

Oh! ’*twasa mighty neat and lucky hit, 
When Pat O’Leary snapt a wealthy cit, 
For why? His wants were big, his means were small, 
His wisdom less, and so he spent his al! : 
When fortune turn’d about and jilted Pat, 
Was fool or fortune in the fault of that? 
—Sir Martin Madcap held the lucky dice, 
He threw, and won five thousand in a trice; 
Keep it! cried caution—no, he threw again, 
Kick’d down the five, and cut with minus ten. 
—Giles Jumble and his dame, a loving pair, 
No brains had either, and of course no care, 
Till (woe the day), when fortune, in her spitey. 
Made Giles High Sheriff, and then dubb’d him knight 
Up they both go; my lady leads the dance, 
Sir Giles cuts cap€rs on the Wheel of chance ; 
Heads down, heels over, whisk’d and whisk’d about, 
No wonder if their shallow wits ran out; - 
Gigo’d by their neighbours, gull’d of all their cash, 
Down came Sir Giles, and lo! with thund’ring crash. 
Who says that Fortune’s blind ? she has quicker sight 
Than most of those, on whom her favours light ; ; 
For why does she enrich the weak and vain, 
But that her ventures may come home again ? 
Pass’d thro’ like quicksilver, they lose not weight, 
Nor value in their loco-motive state ; 
No stop, no stay ; so fast her clients follow, 
Ere one mouth shuts, another gapes to swallow ; 
Whilst like a conjurer’s ball—presto ! begone ! 
The pill that serv’d Sir Giles, now serves Sir John. 

Sir Eustace had a fair and lovely wife, 
Form’d to adorn and bless the nuptial life ; 
Fortune’s best gift in her best giving mood, 
Sir Eustace made that bad whick Fleav’n made good ; 


Basel y 


41544 ANNUAL REGISTER, hn 


Basely allur’d her into Folly’s course, ‘ 
Then curs’d his fate, and sued out a divorce: “wa 
Unjust at Fortune’s cruelty to rail, 
When we make all the miseries we bewail. 
Ah ! generous patrons, on whose breath depends" 
The fortune of the muse, and us her friends 3; 
If, in your grace, this night you shall bestow 
One sprig of laurel for your poet’s brow, 
Impart to me your flattering commands, 
And sign them with the SWiK" of your hands, 


ADDRESS spoken by Mrs. Sippons, at her Benefit, and written by Sam. 
Rogers, Esq. Author of the Pleasures ws Memorys, 


ES, ’tis the pulse of life! my fears were vain! 
I wake, I breathe, and am my self again, 

Still in this nether world ! no seraph yet ! : 
Wor walks my spirit when the sun is set, 
With troubled step to haunt the fatal board, 
Where I died tast—by poison or the sword ; 
And blanch each honest cheek with deeds of night, 
Done heré so oft by dim and doubtful light. 


—To drop all metaphor, that little bell 
Call’d back reality and’ broke the spell, 
No heroine claims your tears with tragic tone ; 
A very woman—scarce restrains her own! 
Can she, with fiction, charm the cheated mind, 
When to be grateful is the part assign’d ? 
Ah, No ! she scorns the trappings of her art's" 
No theme but truth, no prompter but the heart. 


Bat, Ladies, say, must I alone iecoes 
Is here no other actress ? let me ask. 
Believe me, those who best the heart dissect, 
Know every woman studies stage-effect. 
She moulds her manners to the parts she fills, | 
As instinct teaches, or as humour wills ; 
And, as the grave or gay her talent calls, 
Acts in the drama till the curtain falls. 


First, how her little breast with triumph swells, 
When the red coral rings its silver bells ! 
To play in pantomime is then the rage ; 
Along the carpet’s many-colour’d stage ; 
Or lisp her merry thoughts with loud endeavour, 
Now here; now there,—in noise and mischief ever ! 
Aschool 


POSE TIN WIA  Peies 


A school girl next, she curls her hair in papers, 
And mimics father’s gout and mother’s vapours, 
Discards her doll, bribes Betty for romances 5 
Playful at church, and serious when she dances ; 
Tramples alike on customs and on toes, 

And whispers all she hears to all she knows ; 
Terror of caps and wigs and sober notions ! 
A romp! that longest of perpetual motions ! 
—Till tam’d and tortur’d into foreign graces, 
She sports her lovely face at public places ; 
And with blue, laughing eyes, behind her fan, 
First acts her part with that great actor Man. 


Too soon a flirt, approach her and she flies, 

. Frowns when pursu’d, and, when entreated sighs ! 
‘Plays with unhappy men as cats with mice ; 

Till fading beauty hints the late advice. 

Her prudence dictates what her pride disdain’d, 
And now she sues to slaves herself had chain’d. 


Then comes that good old character a wife, 
With all the dear, distracting cares of life ; 
A thousand cards aeday at doors to leave, 
And in return, a thousand cards receive. 
Rouge high, play deep, to lead the ton aspire, 
With nightly blaze set Portland-place on fire; 
Snatch half a glimpse at Concert, Opera, Ball, 
A Meteor trac’d by none, tho’ seen by all ; 
And when her shatter’d nerves forbid to roam, 
In very spleen—rehearse the girl at home. 


Last the grey dowager, in ancient flounces, 
With snuff and spectacles the age denounces ; 
Boasts how the Sires of this degenerate Isle 
Knelt for a look and duel’d for a smile; 

The scourge and ridicule of Goth and Vandal, 
Her tea she sweetens, as she sips, with scandal ; 
With modern belles eternal warfare wages, 

Like her own birds that clamour from ‘their cages ; 
And shuffles round to bear her tale to all, 

Like some old ruin, “§ nodding to its fall.” 


Thus woman makes her entrance and her exit, 
Then most an actress when she least suspects it. 
Each lesson lost, each poor pretence forgot ; 

Yet nature oft peeps out and marks the plot; 

Full oft, with energy that scorns control, 

At once lights up the features of the soul ; 

Unlocks each thought chain’d down by coward art, 

And to full day the latent passions start ! 
3 ut 


#156] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


But she, whose first best wish is your applause, 
Herself exemplifies the truth she draws. ~ 
Born on the stage—thro’ every shifting scene, 
Obscure or bright, tempestuous or serene, 
Still has your smile her trembling spirit fir’d ! 
And can she act, with thoughts like these inspir’d ? 
Thus from her mind all artifice she flings, 
All skill, all practice, now unmeaning things ; 
To you uncheck’d, each genuine feeling flowsy 
For all that life endears—to you she owes. 


THE PURSUIT OF HEALTH. From Brtor’s Miscellanies. 


ty here April morn, reclin’d in bed, 

Just at the hour when dreams are true, 
A fairy form approach’d my head, 

Smiling beneath her mantle blue. 


* Fie, fie,’ she cried, ‘ why sleep so long, 
When she, the nymph you dearly love, 

Now roves the vernal flowers among, 
And waits for you in yonder grove ? 


* Hark! you may hear her cherub voice : 
The voice of health is sweet and clear ; 
Yes, you may hear the birds rejoice 
In symphony her arbour near.” 


T rose, and hasten’d to the grove, 
With eager steps and anxious mind; 
T rose the elfin’s truth to prove, 
And hop’d the promis’d nymph to find. 


My fairy,took me by the hand, 
And cheerfully we stepp’d along ; 
She stopp’d but on the new-plough’d Jand, 
' To hear the russet woodlark’s song. 


We reach'd the grove—I look'd around, 
My fairy was no longer near ; 

But of her voice I knew the sound, 
As thus she whisper’d in my ear : 


‘The nymph, fair health, you came to find, 
Within these precincts loves to dwell ; 
Her breath now fills the balmy wind; 
This path will lead you to her cell.” 
I bended 


ad 


BiG: BT RY. 


{ bended to the primrose low, 
And ask’d, if health might there reside ? 
“She left me,’ said the flower, ‘ but now, 
For yonder violet’s purple pride.’ 


I question’d next the violet queen, 
Where buxom health was to be found ? 
She told me, that she late was seen 
With cowslips toying on the ground. 


Then thrice I kiss’d the cowslips, pale, ° 
And in their dew-drops bath’d my face ; 
I told them all my tender tale, 
And begg’d their aid coy health to trace. 


* From us,’ exclaimed a lowly flower, 

¢ The nymph has many a day been gone; 
But now she rests within the bower 

Where yonder hawthorn blooms alone.” 


Quick to that bower I ran, I flew, 
And yet no nymph I there could find ; 
But fresh the breeze of morning blew, 
And Spring was gay, and Flora kind. 


If I return’d sedate and slow, 
What if the nymph I could not see? 
The blush that pass’d along my brow 
Was proof of her divinity. 


Aad still her votary to prove, , 
And still her dulcet smiles to share, 

I'll tread the fields, I’]] haunt the grove, 
With untir’d steps and fondest care. 


O sprite belov’d ! vouchsafe to give 

A boon, a precious boon to me ; 
Within thy influence let me tive, 

And sometimes too thy beauties see. 


So shall the muse, in nobler verse, 
And strength renew’d, exulting sing ; 

Thy praise, thy charms, thy power rehearse, 
And sweep, with bolder hand, the string. 


[*157 


A TALE 


*158] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


ATALE; by the Reo. Mr. Bisnor- 


Quod petis hic est. 


N°? plate had John and Joan to hoard, 
Plain folk, in humble plight 5 

One only tankard crown’d their board, 
And that was fill’d each night, 


Along whose inner bottom sketch’dy 
In pride of chubby grace, 

Some rude engraver’s hand had etch’a 
A baby Angel’s face. 


John swallow’d first a mod’rate sup; 
But Joan was not like John; 

For, when her lips once touch’d the cup, 
She swill’d till all was gone- 


John often urg’d her to drink fair, 
But she ne’er changed a jot 5 

She Iov’d tosee the Angel there, 
And therefore drain’d the pot. 


When John found all remonstrance vain, 
Another card he play’d ; ; 
And, where the angel stood so plain, 
He got a devil portray’d. 


Joan saw the horns, Joan saw the tail, 
Yet Joan as stoutly quafi’d 5 

And ever, when she seized her ale, 
She cleared it at a draught. 


John star’d, with wonder petrify’d, 
His hairs rose on his pate ; 

And ** why dost guzzle now” he cry'd, 
“© At this enormous rate ?”’ 


‘© John,” said she * am I to blame ¢ 
I can’t im conscience stop ; 


For sure ’twould be a burning shame 
To leave the Devil a drop!” 


HOPE 


1EBTVI TRY. _ [#159 


AN EPIGRAM:; from the Gentleman’s Magazine. 


RIAR Paul, in his cell, made his exit of late, 
Of the gravel some say; but no matter for that; 
He died, that’s enough ; and if the story say right, 
Arrived at hell gate in a pitiful plight, 
Who’s there! cries the Demon onguard; Quoth the other 
A guilty poor priest, sir, a catholic brother, 
Halt, instantly halt, cry’d the sentry ; stand clear, 
Go be damned somewhere else, for you sha’nt enter here. 
We admit no such savage, no wrétch so uncivil ; 
Who above ate his god, may below eat the devil ! 


PERSONIFIED. From Lorenzo de’ Medici. By W1ii14™ 
Roscoe. 


MMENSE of bulk, her tow’ring head she shews, 
Her floating tresses seem to touch the sktes, 
Dark mists her unsubstantial shape compose— 
And on the mountain’s top ber dwelling lies. 


’ As when theclouds fantastic shapes disclose, 


~- 


For ever varying to the gazer’s eyes, 
*Till on the breeze the changeful hues escape :— 
Thus vague her form, and mutable her shape. 


Illusive Beings round their sovereign wait— 
Deceitful dreams, and auguries, and lies ; 

Innum’rous arts the gaping crowd that cheat, 
Predictions wild, and groundless prophecies ; 

With wond’rous words, or written rolls of fate, 
Foretelling (when ’tis past) what yet shall rise ; 

And alchymy, and astrologic skill, 

And fond conjecture—always form’d at will ! 


Tue Harpiness or A Country Lire. By the same. 
é kes splendid halls, thy palaces forgot, 


Can paths o’erspread with thorns a charm supply; 
Or, dost thou seek, from our severer lot, 
To give to wealth and pow’r a keener joy ? 


Thus I replied —‘ I know no happier life, 
No better riches than you shepherds beast - 
Freed from the hated jarsof civil strife, 
Alike to treach’ry and toenvy lost. a 
T 


7160] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


The weed ambition ’midst your furrow’d field 
Springs not, and av’rice little root can find : 

Content with what the changing seasons yield, 
You rest in cheerful poverty resign’d. 


What the heart thinks the tongue may here disclose, 
Nor inward grief with outward smiles is drest ; 
Not like the world, where wisest he who knows 
To hide the secret closest in his breast.” 


The Author calls upon the Faculties of his own Mind to exert themselves te 


great and useful Purposes. By Wm. Roscoe. From the same. 


nh from thy trance, my slumb’ring genius Frise, _ ; 
That shrouds from Truth’s pure beam thy torpid eyes - 
Awake, and see, since reason gave the rein 

To low desire, thy ev’ry work how vain. 

Ah think that bliss the mind explores, 

In futile honours, or unbounded stores : 

How poor the bait that would thy steps decoy 

To sensual pleasure and unmeaning joy ! 

Rouse all thy pow’rs for better use design’d, 

And know thy native dignity of mind : 

Not for low aims and mortal triumphs given— 

Its means exertion, and its object Heaven. 

Hast thou not yet the dit’rence understood 
*Twixt empty pleasure and substantial good ?— 
Not more oppos’d, by all the wise confest, ~ 
The rising Orient from the farthest west. 

Doom’d from thy youth the galling chain to-prove 
Of potent beauty and imperious love ; 

Their tyrant rule has blighted all thy time, 

And marr’d the promise of thy early prime. 

Tho’ Beauty’s garb thy wond’ring gaze may win, 
¥et know, that walves—that harpies dwell within. 


Ah think how fair thy better hopes had sped, 
Thy widely-erring steps had reason led ; 
Think, if thy timea nobler use had known, 
Ere this the glorious prize had been thine own ; 
Kind to thyself, thy clear’ discerning will, 

Had wisely learn’d to sever good from ili. 

Thy spring-tide hours consum’d in vain delight, 
Shall the same follies close thy wintry night: 
With vain pretexts of Beauty’s potent charms, 
And Nature’s frailty blunting Reason’s arms. 


At 


POET R WY. (*161 


At length thy long-lost liberty regain, 
Tear the strong tie, and break th’ inglorious chain; 
Freed from false hopes, assume thy native pow’rs, 
And give to Reason’s rule thy future hours ; 
To her dominion yield thy trusting soul, 
And bind thy wishes to her strong control, 
‘Till love, the serpent that destroy’d thy rest, 
~ Crush’d by her hand; shall mourn his humbled crest: 


On the Death of Porrrran, occasioned by a fall from a Stair-Cases as he 
was playing on his Lute. 


AN ELEGY on the Death of his Friend Lorenzo vy’ Medtct ; 
by the same. 


HILST borne in sable state, Lorenzo’s bier 
The tyrant death his proudest triumph brings, 
He mark’d a bard in agony severe, 
Smite with delirious hand the sounding strings. 


He stopt, he gaz’d: the storm of passion rag’d ; 

And prayers with tears were mingled—tears with grief! 
For lost Lorenzo war with fate he wag’d ; 

And ev’ry god was call’d to his relief. 


The tyrant smil’d, and mindful of thé hour, 
When from the shades his consort Orpheus led-—- 
*€ Rebellious, too, wouldst thou usurp my pow’r, 
** And burst the chain that binds the captive bed ?”” 


. He spoke, and speaking, launch’d the shaft of fatey 
And clos’d the lips that glow’d with sacred fire ! 
His timeless doom ‘twas thus Politian met 
Politian master of th’ Ausonian lyre! 


Vor, XXXVII. {*L} Account 


fo S168.- J 


Account of Books for 1795. 


The Life of Lorenzo de? Medici, 
called the Magnificent. By Wil- 
liam Roscoe, 4to. 2 vol. 1795. 


ig was asserted, probably with jus- 
tice, by Gibbon, that there is no 
scholar in Asia who might not re- 
Ceive accessions to his knowledge 
from the perusal of the work of 
d’Herbelot, a native of the re- 
mote and * unbelieving countries 
of the west. Itmight, perhaps, be 
affirmed, with equal propriety, that 
the most learned men of Ispahan 
and Constantinople would profit by 
the study of the oriental writings 
‘of Sir William Jones. We know 
‘with certainty that d’Anville was 
capable of instructing the inhabi- 
emits of the Banks of the Nile and 
the Euphrates, in the ancient geo- 
gtaphy of Egypt and Assyria.— 
None of these triumphs of learned. 
industry, however, over the obsta- 
cles of a foreign language of dissi- 
milar manners, and of distance 
bothin time and place, are jn our 
opinion so striking as that which is 
exhibited in the work now before 
us. In all the instances to which 
we have alluded, the nations which 
suffered themselves to be surpassed 
in their own national literature, by 
foreigners, had declined from their 
ancient splendour. In some of the 


examples, those nations had become 
altogether rude and barbarous. It 
excites no wonder that the scho- 
lars of Oxford and Gottingen should 
be more familiar with the history of 
Pericles, and more conversant with 
the writings of Thucydides, than 
the wretched and ignorant inhabi- 
tants of modern Athens: but that 
discoveries should be made in the 
literature of one of the most polite 
and learned nations of Europe, by 
a foreigner who had never visited: 


-that country, who was not proe 


fessionally devoted to study, who did 
not enjoy the ease of lettered lei- 
sure, but who was immersed in the 
pursuits of an active and laborious 
profession, is a circumstance so 
singular and so wonderful, as to 
be of itself sufficient to confer no 
mean degree of interest and im- 
portance on the work of Mr. Ros- 
coe. 

That Italian poems’ of the 15th 
century, unknown to the scholars 
of Italy in the present age, should 
be given to the public by an attor- 
ney of Liverpool, is a fact which 
we believe to be unparalleled in the 
history of literature. 

Whe reader will paturally be cu- 
rious to learn how a writer, in the 
circumstances of Mr. Roscoe, could 
have been encouraged to attempt a 


* In the eye of Mahommedans<eunpelieving. 


1 


work 


ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


work net implying merely the addi- 
tion of elegance and philosophy to 
the narrative of facts already known, 
which e Hume, a Robertson, or a 
Gibbon, might have bestowed in 
their closets, but containing valua- 
ble ahd important accessions to the 
stock of our historical knowledge. 
This curiosity will be best satisfied 
by the author himself.—Speaking of 
the labours of his predecessors, he 
says, 

* Such being the attempts that 
had been made to exhibit to the pubs 
lic the life and labours of Lorenzo 
de’ Medici, I conceived that there 
could be no great degree of arro= 
gance in endeavouring to give a 
more full and particular account cf 
them: nor was I deterred from the 
undertaking by the consideration, 
that Providence had placed my lot 
beyond the limits of that favoured 
country. 


“ Ch’ Appenin parte, e’l mar circonda 
el’ Alpe.” 


‘The truth is that,ina remote part 
of this remote kingdom, and deprived 
of the many-advantages peculiar to 
seats of learning, I saw no difficulty 
in giving a more full, distinct, and 
accurate idea of the subject than 
could be collected from any per- 
formance I had then met with. For 
some years past, the works of the 
Italian writers had amused a portion 
of my leisure hours ; a partiality for 
any particular object generally 


_ awakens the desire of obtaining far- 


ther information respecting it, and 
from the perusal of the Italian poets, 


I was insensibly led to attend to the | 


literary history of that cultivated na- 
tion. In tracing the rise of modern 
iterature, I soon perceived that 
every thing great and estimable in 
science and in art revolved round 


[*163 


Lorenzo de’ Medici, during the 
short but splendid @ra of his life, as 
a common centre, and derived from 
him its invariable preservation and 
support, Under these impressions, 
I began to collect such scattered 
notices respecting him as fell in my 
way ; and the I'lorentine histories of 
Macchiavelli and Amirato, the cri- 
tical labours of Crescimbeni, Mu 
ratori, Bandini, and Tiraboschi, 
with other works of less importance, 
of which I then found myself pos- 
sessed, supplied me with materials 
towards the execution of my’ plan. 
I had not however proceeded far, 
before I perceived that the subject 
deserved a more minute enquiry ; 
for which purpose it would be ne~ 
Cessary to resort to contemporary 
authorities, and if possible to original 
documents. The impracticability 
of obtaining in this country the in- 
formation of which I stood in need 
would perhaps have damped the ar- 
dour of my undertaking, had not 
@ circumstance presented itself in 
the highest degree favourable to 
my purpose. An intimate friend, 
with whom I had been many years 
united in studies and affections, had 
paid a visit to Italy, and had fixed 
his winter residence at Florence. 
well knew that I had only to request 
his assistance, in order to obtain 
whatever information he had an 
opportunity of procuring, from the 
very spot which was to be the scene 
of my intended history. My ine 
quiries were particularly directed 
towards the Laurentian and Ric» 
cardi libraries, which I was cona 
vinced would afford much original 
and interesting information, It 
would be unjust merely to say that 
my friend afforded me the assistance 
I required; he went far beyond 
eyen the hopes ihad formed, and 

(#*L 2} his 


*164), ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


his return to his native country 
was, if possible, renderd still more 
grateful to me, by the materials he 
had collected for my use. Among 
these, I had the pleasure to find se- 
veral beautiful poems of Lorenzo 
de’: Medici, the originals of which 
afe deposited in the Laurentian Li- 
brary, although the former editors 
of his works appear not to have 
had the slightest information re- 
specting them. These poems, which 
have been copied with great accu- 
racy, and, where it was possible, 
collated witb different manuscripts, 
will for the first time be given to 
the public at the close of the pre- 
sent volume. The munificence of 
the late Great Duke Leopald, and 
the liberality of the Marquis Ric- 
cardi had laid open the inestimable 
treasures of their collections to 
every inquirer; and under the re- 
gulations of the venerable Cano- 
nico Bandini, to whose labours the 
literary history of Italy is highly 
indebted, such arrangements have 
been adopted in the Laurentian Li- 
brary, that every difficulty which 
might retard research is effectually 
yemoved. Unlike the immense but 
ill-digested and almost prohibited 
collections of the Vatican, the li- 
braries of Florence are the common 
property of the learned of all na 
tions; and an institution founded by 
Casmo, and promoted by Lorenzo 
de’ Medici, yet subsists, the noblest 
monument of their glory, the most. 
authentic depository of their fame.” 

The first chapter of this valuable 
work isintroductory. It containsa 
slight sketch of the history of the 
Republic of Florence and of the 
House of Medici, till the time of 
Cosmo de’ Medici, the grandfather of 
Lorenzo, of whose life it presents us 
with a full and interesting account. 


The History of Florence had indeed 
been delineated in a manner so 
masterly by Machiavel, that it 
would have been prudent in any 
modern author, to have abstained 
from it, even if it had a natural 
connexion with his subject. It is 
perhaps the most instructive work 
which has appeared in modern 
times, on the nature and causes of 
those convulsions that are incident 
to popular governments. If Tas 
citus be justly celebrated for having 
painted with so much force the ex- 
cesses of regal tyranny, and the 
atrocious cruelty that lurks beneath 
the exterior of polished manners, 
among nations who are advanced 
from refinement into corruption, the 
Florentine History of Machiavel 
deserves similar praise for an equally: 
admirable picture of the vices which 
belong to a different state of soci- 
ety, of the rage of faction and 
ferocity of civil dissension, which. 
seem inseparable from extreme de- 
mocracy, of the banishments, pre- 
scriptions, and confiscations, which | 
have but too uniformly characterized 
that species of government. 

The account of the House: of 
Medici is scarcely interesting till, 
under Cosmo, the history of that 
family becomes the history of lite- 
rature. From that period, indeed, 
the remark of Lipsius is justified, 
that they seem to have been a race 
particularly destined by Providence 
for the restoration and protection of* 
polite letters. There is perhaps 
nothing more interesting in literary 
annals, than the diseovery of ancient 
manuscripts by those learned men 
who were patronized by Cosmo de’ 
Medici. What cultivator or admirer 
of literature will not, even now, 
feel some agitation, when he re- 
flects that fifty years more-of neglect 

might 


' ACCOUNT ~ 


might have destroyed the works of 
Lucretius and Quintilian ; and who 
can help feeling the most poignant 
regret, when he considers that, at 
that critical and interesting period, 
@ little more early or more fortu- 
nate search might have preserved: 
the Decades of Livy ? Though, how- 
ever the more early history of the 
house of Medici does not possess 
so general an interest, it is not 
without important political in- 
struction. We find that this family, 
which at length acquired absolute 
power in the republic of which they 
were citizens, paved the way to 
that despotic authority by being 
champions for popular privileges 
and leaders of the democratic party. 
This is the path which, in almost 
every age, has béen trodden by 
those who have shackled the liber- 
ties of their country. It was from 
the shoulders of the rabble that 
Pisistratus, Cesar, and Cromwell, 
mounted the throne: and the pa- 
trons of licentiousness have almost 
uniformly proved to be only candi- 
‘dates for tyranny. Far be it from 
us tomake any inference from these 
facts which might discourage great 
and generous minds from exertions 
in the defence of liberty, the noblest 
exercise of the human faculties in 
the service of mankind ; and equal- 
ly distant is it from our wishes to 
impede the progress of such minds, 
and to defraud them of that glory 
which is their just reward, by dif- 
fusing a base, ignoble, and harassing 
distrust of their purity: but, if our 
voice could have any authority or 
effect, we should never cease to in- 
culcate on the citizens of free states 
the necessity of suspecting the ho- 


nestly of violent men, of detecting, 


the tyrant in the disguise of the de- 
magogue, and of perpetually distin- 
guishing those who contend for the 


OF BOOKS. [*165 


laws, the constitution, and the: lis 
berties of their country, from those 
who would sacrifice that constitution 
and those laws under pretext of vi- 
sionary philanthropy, but often 
merely for the purposes of interested 
ambition :—Homines non tam com= 
mutandarum quam evertendarum re= 
rum cupidé. 

The second chapter of Mr. Ros= 
coe’s work is employed in describ- 
ing the early periods of the life of 
Lorenzo, and the administration of 
Pierro de’? Medici, who was inferior 
in abilities both to his father Cosmo 
and his son Lorenzo; and whose 
life is distinguished by little else: 
than that- patronage of literature 
which was hereditary in his family. 
In the ‘third chapter, we find Lo-’ 
renzo himself, as the first citizen of 
Florence, without any name or ap~' 
pearance. of supreme magistracy,' 
called tothe administration of the 
affairs of the republic; with a sin-" 
gular and undefinable species of au 
thority, somewhat similar to that 
which Pericles enjoyed at Athens, 
and which satisfied the ambition of 
Pompey, at Rome. The authority 
and ascendancy of a powerful citi- 
zen guided the public affairs, withs 
out violating the forms of a free 
constitution. Salva Libertate Po» 
tens. 

Several curious subjects are treat- 
ed in this chapter. ‘Ihe city of, 
Florence is perhaps the only.one of 
which the ‘* Merchants” literally 
became *¢ Princes.” Mr. Roscoe 
has presented us with some very 
striking proofs of the wealth of the 
house of Medici. Ina period of: 
only thirty-seven years, they had’ 
expended, in works of charity or’ 
public utility, a sum of not less than 
663,755 florins; and if we’ take 
into the account the value of money 
360 years ago, this sum will appear 

[*L, 3] almost 


*166] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


almost incredible. The inquiries of 
our author into the particulars of 
the traffic, which was the source of 
such enormous wealth, have not 
proved very successful ; though it 
would have highly gratified our cu- 
Tiosity to have understood the com- 
mercial transactions of these illustri- 
ous merchants, who ** corresponded 
at once with Cairo and London, 
and often imported a cargo of In- 
_dian spices and Greek books in the 
same vessel.”* 

The prevalence of the Platonic 
philosophy in Italy forms another 
subject of pleasing and interesting 
description. The amiable and sub- 
lime visions of Plato associated more 
easily with that polite literature 
which began to revive in the west, 
than the severe and harsh logic of 
his great disciple and rival. Even 
the adoption of new errors contri- 
buted to restore the activity and 
independence of the human mind, 
by delivering it from that bigotted 
adherence to the Peripatetic phi- 
losophy, which had for so many 
centuries shackled its powers and 
impeded its progress. 

A review of the poems of Lorenzo, 
with ample remarks in general, 
forms the subject of the 5th chapter, 
in which the author is naturally led 
to an account of the rise of the Italian 
poetry in general. 

The second volume of this history 
opens with some remarks on the vi- 
gilance with which Lorenzo de’ 
Medici laboured to preserve that 
balance of strength, among the 
powers of Italy, which was so ne- 
cessary to the security of every indi- 
vidual state ; a principle of policy 
that was then perhaps for the first 
time regularly and systematically 
adopted, and which has continued 
to be the great hinge on which the 


affairs of Europe have turned from 
that period, down to the commence- 
ment of those tremendous revolu- 
tions in ourtimes, that threaten to 
bury all ancient systems and estab- 
lishments in one common ruin. Our 
readers will peruse these observa 
tions with pleasure : 

The situation of Italy, at this pes 
riod, afforded an ample field for 
the exercise of political talents. 
The number of independent states 
of which it was composed, the ine- 
quality of their strength, the ambi- 
tious views of some, and the ever 
active fears of others, kept the 
whole country in continual agitation 
and alarm. ‘The vicinity of these 
states to each other, and the nar- 
row bounds of their respective do- 
minions, required a promptitude of 
decision, in cases of disagreement, 
unexampled in any subsequent pe- 
riod of modern history. Where the 
eyent of open war seemed doubtful, 
private treachery was without scru- 
ple resorted to % and where that 
failed of success, an appeal was 
again made to arms. The ponti- 
fical see had itself set the example 
of a mode of conduct that burst 
asunderallthe bondsof society, and 
operated as a convincing proof that 
nothing was thought unlawful which 
appeared to be expedient. To 
counterpoise all the jarring interests 
of these different governments, to 
restrain the powertul, to succour 
the weak, and to unite the whole 
inone firm body, so as to enable 
them, on the one hand, successfully 
to oppose the formidable power of 
the Turks, and on the other, to re- 
pel the incursions of the French and 
the Germans, both of. whom were 
objects of terror to the less warlike 
inhabitants of Italy, were the im- 
portant ends which Lorenzo pro- 


posed 


® Gibbon, Decline and Fall, vel. 12. 8vo. edit. p. 186. 


ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


posed to accomplish. The effectu- 
al defence of the Florentine domi- 
nions against the encroachments of 
his more powerful neighbours, 
though perhaps his chief induce- 
ment for engaging in so extensive a 
project, appeared, in the execution 
of it, rather as a necessary part of 
his system, than as the principal ob- 
ject which he had in view. In these 
transactions we may trace the first 
decisive instance of that political ar- 
rangement, which was more fully 
developed and more widely extend- 
ed.in the succeeding century, and 
which has since been denominated 
the balance of power, Casual al- 
liances, arising from consanguinity, 
from p#rsonal attachment, from vi- 
cinity, or from interest, had indeed 
frequently subsisted among the Itali- 
an states ; but these were only par- 
tial and temporary engagements, 
and rather tended to divide the 
country into two or more powerful 
parties, than to counterpoise the in- 
terests of individual governments, 
so as to produce in the result the ge- 
neral tranquillity. 

The sixth chapter to which these 
remarks form the introduction, is 
employed in details of the public 
conduct of Lorenzo; and it cone 
cludes with an interesting account 
of the great reputation which he 
enjoyed throughout Europe, and of 
the high degree of prosperity that 
Florence, and indeed all Italy, ina 
great measure, Owed to the wisdom 
and honesty of his counsels. 

In the 7th chapter our attention 
is again directed to the more attrac- 
tive subject of the progress of litera- 
ture. From the crowd of interest- 
ing passages which obtrude them- 
selves on us we shall select one which 
will tend to console the vanity of 
the unfortunate inmates of the gare 


[*167 


ret, by the recollection of the greats 
ness and importance which their 
predecessors enjoyed in former times. 

“« Such were the causes that in the 
fifteenth century concurred to pros 
mote the study of the ancient lan- 
guages in Italy; but one circum- 
stance yet remains to be noticed, 
which was perhaps more efficacious 
than any other im giving life and 
energy to these pursuits. An ace 
quaintance with the learned lan- 
guages was, at this period, the most 
direct path, not only to riches and 
literary fame, but to political emi- 
nence ; and the most accomplished 
scholars were in almost every go- 
vernment of Italy, the first ministers 
of the time. This arose in a great 
degree from the very general use of 
the Latin tongue, in the negociations 
of different states, which rendered it 
almost impossible for any person to 
undertake the management of pub- 
lic affairs, without an habitual ac- 
quaintance with that language; but 
this was more particularly exeme 
plified in Florence, where the most 
permanent officers were uniformly 
selected on account of thejr learn- 
ing, During along course of years 
the place of secretary, or chancel- 
lor of the republic, (for these terms 
seem to have been indiscriminately 
used) was filled by scholars of the 
first distinction. In the beginning 
of the fifteenth century, it was held 
by Colluccio Salutati, who had been 
the intimate friend of Petrarca and 
of Boccaccio, and is denominated 
by Poggio, ‘ The common father 
and instructor of all the Jearned.” 
He was succeeded by Leonardo 
Aretino, whose services to the re- 
public were repaid by many privi- 
leges and favours conferred on him- 
seif and his descendants. After the 
death of Leonardo, this office was 

[*L 4] given 


*168], 


given to Carlo Marsuppini, and was 
afterwards successively held by Pog- 
gio Bracciolini, and Benedetto Ac- 
colti; during a great part of the 
time that the affairs of Florence 
were directed by Lorenzo de’ Medi- 
ci, the chancellor of the republic 
‘was Bartolomeo Scala,. whose life 
affords the best example of the ho- 
nours and emoluments which were 
derived from the cultivation of lite- 
rature. Scala deduced his origin 
from parents of the lowest rank, nor 
did ‘he possess from his birth even 
the privileges of a Florentine citi- 
zen. An early proficiency in let- 
ters recommended him to the notice 
of Cosmo de’? Medici, and it was 
the pride of Scala to avow the 
meanness of his birth, and the obli- 
gations which he owed to his earliest 
patron. The loss of Cosmo was 
ainply compensated to Scala by the 
favour of his descendants, through 
whose assistance he gradually rose to 
honours and to affluence, and in the 
year 1472, was entrusted with the 
seal of the republic. In imitation 
ofhis predecessors in this office, Sca- 
Ja began a history of Florence, of 
which he lived to complete only four 
books. His apologues are highly 
commended by Landino and Ficino, 
Of his poetry, specimens remain 
both in the Latin and Italian lan- 
guages, and the former have ob- 
tained a place in the celebrated 
collection of the Latin poems of his 
illustrious countrymen. Consider- 
ing the proverbial uncertainty of 
public favour, the life of Scala may 
be esteemed a life of unusual pros- 
perity. He transacted the cuncerns 
_of the republic, with acknowledged 
fidelity, industry, and ability, ar- 
rived at the highest dignities of the 
state, amassed wealth, ranked with 
men of learning, and left at his 


correspondence. 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1798. 


death a numerous progeny to ins 
herit his riches and his respectability. 
In his controversy with Politiano, 
he appears however as a scholar to 
manifest disadvantage ; but the ims 
petuosity of his adversary hurried. 
him into a contést which it is 
evident he would willingly have 
avoided, and in which every’ ef- 
fort to extricate himself only 
brought down a severer chastise- 
ment.’— 

“If the circumstances before re= 
lated were not sufficiently charac- 
teristic of the spirit of the times, we 
might advert to the other govern- 
ments of Italy; where we should 
find, that offices of the highest trust 
and confidence were often filled by 
men who quitted the superinten- 
dance of an academy, or the chair 
of a professor, to transact the affairs 
of a nation. Alfonso, king of Nas 
ples, and Francesco Sforza, contend~ 
ed in liberality with each other, to 
secure the services’ of Beccatelli, 
Pontano was the confidential ad- 
viser, and frequently the representa- 
tive to other powers, of Ferdinand, 
the son of Alfonso. The brothers’ 
of the family of Simoneta directed 
for a considerable time the affairs of 
Milan. Bernardo Bembo, and Fran- 
cesco Barbaro, maintained the lite. 
rary no less than the political digni- 
ty of the Venetian Republic, and 
left each of them ason who eclipsed 
the reputation of bis father. When 
eminent talents were not engaged in 
public services, they were reward-— 
ed by the most flattering attention, 
and often by the pecuniary boun- 
ty of illustrious individuals, who 
relaxed from the fastidiousness 
of rank, in the company of men 
of learning, or have left memorials 
of' their regard by their epistolary 


© Nor 


ACCOUNT 


* Nor was it seldom that the cha- 
racters of the scholar, and of the 
man of rank, were united in the 
same person. Of this Giovanni Pi- 
co, of Mirandula, to whom we have 
before frequently adverted, is per- 
haps the most illustrious instance. 
This accomplished nobleman, of 
whom many extraordinary circum- 
stances are related, and who cer- 
tainly exhibited a wonderful exam- 
ple of the powers of the human mind, 
was born at Mirandula in the year 
1463, and was one of the younger 
children of Giovan-Francesco, Pico, 
prince of Mirandula and Concordra. 
So quick was his apprehension, so 
retentive his memory, that we are 
told a single recital was sufficient to 
fix in his mind whatever became 
the object of his attention. After 
having spent seven years in the most 
celebrated universities of Italy and 
France, he arrived at Rome in the 
twenty-first year of his age, with the 
reputation of being acquainted with 
twenty-two different languages. 
Eager to signalize himself as a dis- 
putant, Pico proposed for public 
debate nine hundred questions, on 
mathematical, theological, and scho- 
lastic subjects, including also inqui- 
ries into the most abstruse points of 
the Hebraic, Chaldaic, and Arabic 
tongues. This measure, which in 
its worst light could only be consider- 
ed asan ebullition of youthful vanity, 
might, without any great injustice, 
have been suffered to evaporate in 
neglect; but the Romish prelates 
instead of consigning these propo- 
sitions to their fate, or debating them 
with the impartiality of philosophers, 
began to examine them with the 
suspicious eyes of church-men, and 
selected thirteen of them as hereti- 

cal. To vindicate himself from 
this dangerous imputation, Pico 


a 


-OF BOOKS. 


composed a Latin treatise of consi« 
derable extent, which heis said to 
have written in the space of twenty 
days, and which he inscribed to 
Lorenzo de’ Medici, under whose 
protection he had sheltered himself 
from persecution at Florence. The 
character and acquirements of Pico 
afforded to his contemporariesa sube 
ject for the most unbounded pane- 
gyric. ‘“* He was a man,” says Po- 
litiano, ** or rather a hero, on whom 
nature had lavished all the endow. 
ments both of body and mind; erect 
and elegant in his person, there was 
something in his appearance almost 
divine. Of a perspicacious mind, a 
wonderful memory, indefatigable 
in study, distinct and eloquent in 
speech, it seems doubtful whether 
he was more conspicuous for his 
talents or his virtues. Intimately 
conversant with every department 
of philosophy, improved and inyi- 
gorated by the knowledge of vari- 
ous languages, and of every hono~ 
rable science, it may truly be said 
that no commendation is equal to, 
his praise.” 

‘ The instances before given of 
the critical talents of Pico, whatever 
may be thought of their accuracy, 
will at least justify him from the 
reproof of Voltaire, who is of, 
opinion that the works of Danteand. 
Petrarca would have been a more 
suitable study for him than the sum- 
mary of St, Thomas, or the compis 
lations of Albert the great. But 
the literary pursuits of Pico were not 
confined to commentaries upon the 
works of others. From the speci- 
mens which remain of his poetical 
compositions in his native language, 
there is reason to form a favourable 
judgment of those which have pe- 
rished. Crescimbeni confesses, that 
by his early death the Tuscan po- 

, etry 


*170]) ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


etry sustained a heavy loss, and that 
his accomplished pen might have 
rescued it from its degraded state, 
without the intervention of so many 
other eminent men, whose labours 
had been employed tothe same pur- 
pose. The few pieces which re- 
main of his Latin poetry induce us 
to regret the severity of their author. 
‘These poems he had arranged in five 
books, which he submitted to the 
correction of Politiano, who having 
performed his task, returned them to 
theirauthor, with an elegant apology 
fur the freedoms which he had taken. 
Soon afterwards Pico committed 
his five books to the flames, to 
the great regret of Politiano, who 
has perpetuated this incident by a 
Greek epigram. If the works thus 
destroyed were €qua! in merit to his 
Latin elegy addressed to Girolamo 
Benivieni, posterity have reason to 
Jament the loss.’ 

From the eighth chapter, we 
have already extracted the charac- 
ter of the celebrated Girolamo Sa- 
vonarola; with whose eventful histo- 
ry most of our readers are probably 
acquainted. 

The subject of the ninth chapter 
is the arts; of which Mr. Roscoe 
has deduced the history from their 
first rade beginnings in Italy, to the 
commencement of the golden age 
of Leo. 

The tenth and last chapter con- 
tains an account of the death, anda 
review of the character, of Lorenzo; 
a narrative of the expulsion of his 
son from Florence, and of the con- 
vulsions which agitated that repub- 
lic; and a brief history of his de- 
scendants, till the house of Medici 
at length acquired the sovereign 
authority in that country of which 
they had been so long the first citi- 
zens ;—e revolution whieh was ac- 


complished by Cosmo de’ Medici, 
who became the first grand duke of 
Tuscany. 

We have now presented to the 
public such ample extracts from this 
valuable work, that they will beable 
to form their own opinion both of 
its general excellence and its dis- 
tinguishing qualities, 

It must be noinconsiderable con- 
solation to the lovers of literature, to 
observe that, in the midst of these 
furious political animosities which 
threatened to banishevery mild sene 
timent and elegant pursuit from 
among us, there should still remaina 
sufficient portion of calm literary 
taste to render a work like the pre- 
sent so generally acceptableand po- 
pular, Solid and permanent repu- 
tation the intrinsic merit of the work 
itself must in time have secured: but 
it was scarcely to have been hoped 
that it should haveacquired such ra- 
pid fame, without treating any tem~- 
porary topic, or adopting any tem- 
porary fashion; without stooping to 
the meretricious allurements of style 
which seduce a depraved taste ; and 


. without either flattering or provok- 


ing any of the passions which divide 
an agitated public. Itis not often 
at any time, but it is very seldom in 
such times as the present, that the 
means of obtaining early popularity 
are the same with those of securing 
a lasting reputation.—We congra- 
tulate the author on having come 
bined both these objects, without 
having debased the dignity of histo- 
ry so far as to minister to any of the 
reigning prejudices of the age. He 
has obtained public applause, with- 
out any sacrifice either of the purity 
of his taste or of the independence 
of his*principles. He has paid no 
court to the prepossessions of that 
body of Englishmen, among whom 

the 


"ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


the very name of liberty seems in 
danger of becoming unpopular ; nor 
does he betray the slightest taint of 
those extravagant and chimerical 
opinions concerning government; 
which have infected another part of 
his countrymen. We may say that 
of him which cannot always be said 
of historians of great name, that, as 
an instructor in morals and politics, 
he is uniformly safe. Justice, hu- 
manity, liberty, and public tran- 
quillity have in him ar enlightened 
and inflexible advocate. Faithful 
to these—the invariable interests of 
mankind—he pronounces with rigid 
impartiality the judgment of history 
on all their enemies, whatever pre- 
text they may assume by whatever 
motives they may be instigated, and 


under whatever disguises they may . 


appear. 

The success of such a work, we 
hope, will stimulate and encourage 
those scholarsand philosophers, who 
have perhaps too hastily supposed 
that politics had absorbed every 
other sentiment, and whom that ap- 
prehension has hitherto induced to 
withold their works from the public. 
Some such we ourselves have. the 
honour of knowing; and many more, 
we have no-doubt, are actuated by 
similar apprehensions, The exam- 
ple of Mr. Roscoe is sufficient to 
prove to them that all taste for sci- 
entific discussion and literary re- 
search is not extinguished, and that 
the public still feel an interest in the 
history of Poggius and Politian, of 
Michael Angelo and Raphael ; and 
even if the world were more ex- 
clusively occupied by politics, it 
would be worthy of men of genius 
to attempt to soften the harshness of 
# political temper by the infusion of 
elegant literature into the mind, 
We should be far, indeed, from 


[*174 
wishing that the people of England 


were more employed even in the 
most delightful amusements that 
letters can afford, than concerned 
about the great interests of their 
country : butit is the nature of well- 
directed literary pursuits to calm 
and mitigate the animosity of face 
tion, without extinguishing or even 
enfeebling public spirit. 


An Enquiry into the Foundation and 
History of the Law of Nations in 
Europe, from the Time of the 
Greeks and Romans to the Age of 
Grotws. By Robert Ward, of the 
Inner Temple, Esq. Barrister at 
Law, 2 vols. 800. 


) has been, a frequent reproach 
to English lawyers, that, hows 
ever profound and extensive may 
be their knowledge of the laws and 
constitution of their own country, 
they are remarkably ignorant of the 
jaws and constitutions of other 
countries, and are little acquainted 
either with diplomatic jurisprue 
dence, or with the law of nations. In 
almost every other art and science, 
England has produced authors whose 
works hold a distinguished rank in 
the republic of letters: but she has 
scarcely given birth to one writer on 
general law, whose works are cited 
out of her own courts of justice, or 
read by the learned of other nations. 
Lord Bolingbroke, who sometimes 
took a pleasure in exposing the de- 
fects of his countrymen, has, on 
more than one occasion, made this 
remark in his writings, 

We have now before us, how- 
ever, a work on the law of nations) 
that may, perhaps, contribute much 
towards redeeming us from this ree 


proach. 
Mr. Ward 


*172] 


Mr. Ward commences his labours 
by endeavouring to settle the exact 
import ofthe expression, the law of 
agtions, and by pointing out the 
real foundation of that law. The 
author admits that the law of na- 
ture forms a part of it ; but, observ- 
ing (to use his own expressions ) 
‘how. discordant the opinions of 
many are, upon-the ramifications of 
the law of nature, he concluded it 
to be necessary, that the foundations 
ef the law of nations should be 
something more fixed and definite ; 
and therefore in addition to the law 
of nature, not with a view to reject 
it, he holds revealed religion, and 
the moral system engrafted upon it 
to be the surest foundation.’ 

The author then treats of the law 
of nations, as it is observed by the 
Christian world. This is the subject 
of the first three chapters. In the 
fourth, be endeavours to shew that 
the law of nations is not to be con- 
sidered as the law of the world, but 
only as the law of particular classes 
of nations, united together by simi- 
lar religious and moral institutions. 
In the fifth chapter, which closes 
this part of his publication, he shews 
how different classes of nations may 
. be distinguished ;_ this chapter is, in 
our opinion, aie most important of 
this part of the work: for, though 
we think that the author has dis- 
covered great ingenuity and ability, 
in his inquiry into the foundation of 
the law of nations, yet the princi- 
ples both of the Jaw of nature and 
of the law of nations are necessarily 
so broad, that it is extremely diffi- 
cult, and sometimes impossible, to 
express thein in such a manner as 
te give perfectly distinct and exact 
notions of the ideas which they are’ 
designed to convey; and in this re- 
speet, Writers on municipal jay 


iu 


‘ ~ 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 


1795. 


have greatly the advantage. On 
thisimperfection of the law of na 
tions, Mr. Ward has the following 
pertinent remark : 

‘ As the principles of all civil and 
municipal laws must be founded in 
natural reason, but derive the form 
and manner in which they are 
brought into use from positive insti- 
tutions ; so also the law of nations 
must put in force the dictates of _ 
nature, in some known mode agreed 
upon by all who conform to them. 
The only difference is, that in the 
one case, it 1s individuals who are | 
called upon to settle the mode; in 
the other, it is whole nations 
acting through the organs of their 
government ; thatin the one, almost 
every thing that can exercise the 
judgment of an individual in his 
various relations, is settled for him 
by written law, or by precedent; 
while among states, (from their 
comparatively little intercourse and 
the want ofa common sovereign,) 
much is left without precedent, 
wavering, as accident, or whim—or 
the varying ideas of natural justice, 
may direct.” 

He. then proceeds to give a 
chronological account of the law of 
nations as it has been observed in 
Europe: of the strange ideas that 
were formerly entertained of it ;. of 
the gradual changes which took 
place in those ideas, and the causes 
of those changes ; together with the 
improvements which were given to 
them, So as to elevate the law into 
the rank of the sciences. He bee 
gins with the history of the law of 
nations in Europe as, observed by 
the Greeks and Romans, After 
having remarked, in general terms, 
the high eminence which they at- 
tained in, arts and arms, he thus 
continues ; 

‘One 


ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


* One thing however was wanting 
to the perfection which, had they 
possessed it, they would probably 
have acquired; and that was the 
knowledge of the doctrines of a re- 
ligion which, whatever may be its 
points of controversy, has had the 
uniform effect, wherever it has taken 
root, of producing a more equitable 
notion of things, and a milder system 
of manners. 

‘Accordingly, from the want of 
this great advantage, we may ob- 
serve that the people in question, 
while they were in the first scale of 
eminence in almost all other respects, 
fell far short of their posterity in 
their ideas of the law we treat of. 
The want of a principle sufficiently 
binding in their schemes of morality, 
had a palpable effect upon their 
_characters in private life ; and, as 
might be expected, it transferred 
itself into the spirit of their law of 
nations. However, therefore,” we 
may be accustomed to hear ‘of their 
politeness, their arts, their refine- 
ments in elegance, or their know- 
ledge of laws, we find, upon inquiry, 
that their politeness, while it shar- 
pened their understandings, had no 
effect upon their hearts; that their 
refinements were for the most part 
sensual; and when we comé to con- 
template the general scope of their 
laws of war and pease they will be 
found too often to resemble the bar- 
barians they despised. 

The author then comes to the 
period at which Rome, 


“With heaviest sound, a giant statue 
fell; Couns. 


and he draws an interesting, but 
frightful, picture of that calamitous 
time. After having given a suc- 
cinct account of the maxims and 
morals of the northern nations, he 


l¢ 


[*173 


observes that, with such morals and 
maxims, their law of nations must 
have been far different from that 
comparatively regular one of the 
Romans. These rules of right, far 
from checking their dreadful and 
murderobs inclinations, were them- 
selves so warped and adapted to 
them, that they gave them fresh 
force. 

He then gives the history of the 
law of nations in Europe, from the 
above period down to the eleventh 
century ; and he afterwards pursues 
ittothe 15th. He shews the in- 
fluence of the feudal law, and after- 
wards that of chivalry, on the law of 
nations; and he points out the re+ 
gularity and improvements which it 
received from the institutions of 
chivalry: institutions, (he says,) 
which have long gone by, and faded 
before the general improvement of 
manners which time had brought on. 
In the ages however when they 
flourished, they were of essential 
consequence to the well being of 
the world, and as faras they went 
supplied the place of philosophy 
itself,’ 

A considerable portion of the 
work is employed in shewing the ins 
fluence of Christianity, and the ec- 
clesiastical establishments, on the 
law of nations. 

- Mr. Ward then proceeds to dis- 
cuss the influence of treaties and 
conventions ; and this we consider 
asthe most useful part of his work, 
It is followed by an entertaining 
account of the rank and claims of 
the nations of Europe: but we do 
not find that he takes any notice of 
one of the most curious events in 
the history of the rank and prece- 
dence of the English nation, viz. the 
dispute for precedence between" 
the French and English, at the: 

council 


*174] 


council of Constance. A short ac- 
count of it may be found in L’En- 
fanv’s history of that council ; but 
the best relation of it isin the 8th 
vol. of Vanden Hardv’s collections. 
Ifthe author should publish a se- 
cond edition of bis work, which we 
think its merit makes highly pro- 
bable, we hope he will give the par- 
ticulars of this curious event in our 
diplomatic history. 

Mr. Ward now pursues his subject 
from the 15th to the 17th century, 
and concludes with the age of 
Grotius. He pronounces a high 
eulogium on the celebrated treatise, 
de Jure Belli et Pacis, of that ami- 
able man and universal scholar. He 
_ mentions Puffendoiff with praise, 
and Vattel in terms of the greatest 
commendation : but he observes, in 
conclusion, that his treatise does not 
appear, by any means, to preclude 
the necessity of studying the works 
of his masters. 

From the persual of this publica- 
tion we have derived great pleasure. 
We think that it is written with 
method and clearness; thatit is re- 
plete with various and _ extensive 
erudition; and that it bears through- 
eut unequivocal marks of industry 
and ability. 


An Inquiry into the Duties of Man, 
in the higher and middle Classes of 
Society in Greut Britain, resulting 
Sromtheir respective Stations, Pro- 
Sessions, and Employments, Bu 
Thomas Gisborne, M. A. Ato. 


ie has been objected to moral 
writers, from Plato and Aristotle 
down to Puflendo:? and Grotius, 
that their systems are too scientific 
and refined for the ordinary occurs 
zencesof life; fer how shall abstract 


ANNUAL REGISTER,: 1795. 


principles repel a present and strong 
temptation? More modern authors 
have delivered their rules of ethics 
with a closer attention to practice; 
but they have usually comprehended 
too wide a range, and have described 
the general duties of man, while 
those of the different ranks and pros 
fessions in society have been passed 
in silence. Indeed, to trace out 
minutely the different habits and 
obligations of all the different or- 
ders in civil life, might be too much 
to expect from an individual writer; 
it would be considered as sufficient, 
if he should explain clearly the pars 
ticular duties of that class of persons’ 
whose pursuits and avocations were 
allied to his own. Sorel, the his- 
toriographer of France, published, 
about the midde of the lastcentury, 
in his * Bibliotheque Frangois,” 
along account of authors in the 
French language who have treated 
of the conduct of life in public, or 
of what are called the homiletical 
virtues; but jt should seem that 
their precepts referred to behaviour 
rather than:to morals, and were di- 
rected chiefly to the higher orders 
in society. This last observation 
applies to a very ingenious little 
pamphlet, entitled, ** Thoughts on 
the Manners of the Great,” of 
which elegance and force are its 
least recommendations ; and which 
appears to have suggested the hint 
ot the work before us. The author 
of thishas indeed extended his plan 
over a much more ample and useful 
field of enquiry, and has rendered. 
by it avery eminent service to his 
country and to mankind. That he 
has been able to treat minutely and 
correctly of the habits, pursuits, and 
occupations of the different ranks 
and professionsinto which the higher 


and middle classes of society eee 
; this 


ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


this country distributed, is owing, 
as he informs us in a Short preface, 
to his having been favoured with 
the unreserved advice and animad- 
versions of persons severally occu- 
pying the station, or belonging to 
the profession in question, and ac- 
customed to consider its duties in a 
conscientious light. 

The work is divided into fifteen 
chapters. The first contains the 
plan of the work ; and in the course 
of this chapter the author gives his 
reasons why no part of the work has 
been appropriated to those who are 
placed in the lowest ranks of so- 
ciety, By them argumentative and 
bulky treatises of morality will not 
be read. The careful perusal of 
their Bible, and the study of short 
and familiar expositions of its pre- 
cepts, aided by the public and pri- 
vate admonitions of their pasters, 
are to them the principal sources of 
instruction. ‘The second chapter 

_ contains general remarks on the first 
principles of the British constitution. 
Chapter the third explains the du- 
ties of the sovereign. Chapter the 
fourth, the general duties of En- 
glishmen, as subjects and fellow- 
citizens. Chapter the fifth is on 
the duty of peers, Chapter the 
sixth is on those of members of the 
house of commons. Chapter the 
seventh treats on the duties of the 
executive officers of government. 
Chapter the eighth is’ on the duties 
of naval and military officers. Chap-~ 
ter the ninth on the duties of the 
legal profession. Chapter the tenth 
on those of justices of the peace and 
municipal magistrates. Chapter the 
eleventh ap the duties of the 
clerical profession, Chapter the 
twelfth on the duties of physicians. 
Chapter the thirteenth on the duties 
of persons engaged in trade and 


[*175 


business. Chapter the fourteenth 
on the duties of private gentlemen, 
In the fifteenth and concluding 
chapter, considerations are submit- 
ted to persons who doubt or deny 
the truth of Christianity, or the ne= 
cessity of a strict observance of all 
its precepts. In a work, the ob- 
vious intention of which is to be 
useful rather than amusing, much 
novelty ought not to be expected ; 
we will, therefore, content ourselves 
with passing cursorily over the work, 
selecting such passages from each 
chapter, in its order, as shall appear 
to us most original or important. 

Our author’s observations, in the 
second chapter, on the privilege of 
voting for members of parliament, 
are of this description : 

‘*‘ It is undoubtedly true, thata 
very large majority of the inhabi- 
tants of this kingdom has no elective 
voice in the appointment of the 
inembers of the house of commons; 
in other words, most of the people 
of Great Britain have no suffrage in 
the nomination of the persons who 
are to enact the laws by which non- 
electors, in common with the rest 
of the nation, are to be governed. 
But the limited diffusion of the 
elective franchise cannot fairly be 
affirmed to be a breach of justice. . 
The right of voting for a member of 
parliament is a public trust; it is as 
truly a civil office as the most con- 
spicuous employment in the state; 
and, humble as it may seem, isa 
civil office of considerable impor- 
tance, All public offices and trusts 
being constituted in this kingdom 
for the general good of the whole ; 
it is just that they should be confer- 
red on such polstical conditions as 
the general good may demand, and 
be devolved on those persons alone 
who possess the political qualifica- 

tions 


176] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


tions deemed essential to the proper 
discharge of the duties attached to 
them. Of these conditions and 
qualifications the nation is to judge; 
and when it has fixed, according to 
its best views of public utility, the 
terms on which each public. office 
shall be conferred, and the descrip- 
tion of persons to whom it shall be 
sues no man who is destitute 
of the civil qualifications prescribed, 
has any plea for complaining of in- 
justice in being precluded from fill- 
ing the post. It would be as un- 
reasonable in a person thus disquali- 
fied, to contend that he is treated 
with injustice in not being permitted 
to be an elector, as it would be to 
affirm that he is unjustly treated in 
not being permitted to be king. 
The king and the elector are alike 
public officers and the nation has 
the same right to appoint citizens 
of a particular description to choose 
members of parliament, as it has to 
appoint a particular family to oc- 
cupy the throne.” In a subsequent 
part of the same chapter, the au- 
thor considers the expediency of 
the limitation of the right of voting 
for members of parliament ; and 
concludes with the following ob- 
servations : ‘‘ The grand object to 
be had in view in imparting the 
elective franchise is, to secure, as 
far as may be possible, the’choice of 
proper representatives. By « this 
consideration alone the number and 
description of electors ought to be 
regulated. And if this considera- 
tion undeniably requires, on the 
one hand, that the whole number of 
electors in the kingdom should bear 
an adequate proportion to the 
amount of the inhabitants, it seems 
equally to require, on the other, 
that the right of voting should be 
confined to men competent and 


likely to discharge the trust come 
mitted to them, in a manner condue 
cive to the public good. If we re- 
flect on the uninformed condition of 
multitudes in the lower ranks of 
society; on the blind deference 
which they commonly pay to the 
will of their immediate superiors ; 
on the temptations they are under 
of being corrupted by bribes; on 
the facility with which they may be 
deluded by artful misrepresentations 
and inflammatory harrangues; on 
the difficulty of preventing confusion 
and riots in popular assemblies, — 
spreading over the face of a whole 
kingdom; on the rapidity with 
which tumults excited by design or 
accident in one assembly would be 
communicated by contagion to 
another, until the country would 
be agitated with general convul- — 
sions; if we reflect on the dangers © 
to be dreaded from these and other 
circumstance which would attend © 
the plea of universal suffrage, we © 
shall probably see great reason to 
rejoice that the elective right is lis 
mited under the British constitution. 
And we are not to forget, that if 
any inconveniences and hardships 
are to be apprehended, in conse 
quence of limiting it, they are ne- . 
cessarily much diminished, if not — 
altogether removed, by the very 
small share of property requisite to 
procure the privilege of voting for. 
county members, ; 

From chapter the third, which 
treats of the duties of the sovereigny 
we shall make no selection; not that 
we think it inferior in excellence to 
the other parts of the work ; but as 
we cannot quote from every part, 
we would wish to conform to the 
intention of the Worthy and patri- 
etic author, of €xtending, to the 
widest~ circles ‘the ‘benefit of his 

labours. | 


ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


labours, We shall pass over like- 
wise the fourth chapter for the same 
reason, observing only that Mr. 
Gisborne contests in it, but we do 
not think with success, the claim of 
the-sovereign to’natural, perpetual, 
and indefeasible allegiance ; though 
he is supported in his opinion by Sir 
W. Biackstone, and other writers of 
high repute. f 

The chapter on the duties of peers 
has a very just and important ob- 
servation on the custom of voting by 
proxy. 

‘* A considerate nobleman will 
make a very sparing and cautious 
use of his privilege of voting by 
proxy ; and will be scrupulous in 
receiving the proxy of another peer. 
Indeed, the idea of a person giving 
his vote in the decision of a question 
which he has not heard debated, 
and may never have considered, in 
enacting or rejecting a bill with tHe 
nature and object of which he is 
unacquainted, at a time too, per- 
haps, when heis in another quarter 
of the globe, and unable to learn 
the present posture of affairs and 
circumstances either at home or in 
the rest of Europe, is so plainly re- 
pugnant to common sense, is capa- 
ble of being so easily and grossly 
perverted to thé mancuvres of 
private interest, or of party, and so 
nearly resembles the Popish plan of 
putting one man's conscience into 
the hands of another, that the sur- 


render of this privilege would, ap-. 


parently, be at once honourable to 
the house of lords, and beneficial to 
the nation.” © 

Among the benefits resulting from 
the house of commons, as itis at 
present constituted, the following 
deserves to be recited from the sixth 
chapter : 

‘* It furnishes the means of a pae 

Vou, XXXVII, 


[*177 


tient and safe discussion of political 
grievances and popular discontents, 
before they are grown to such a 
magnitude as neither to be tolerated 
with safety to the state, nor removed 
without the risk of dangerous con- 
vulsions.. ‘The beneficial effects of 
a representative house of commons, 
in this point of view, are not. to 
bedescribed. In despotic govern 
ments, from the want of similar ine 
stitutions, the smothered embers 
accumulate heat in secret, until 
they burst into a general flame. 
The people, impatient at length of 
enduring the wrongs. over which 
they have long brooded in silent 
indignation, seek redress by open 
rebellion, as the only method by 
which they can hope to obtain it. 
In the ancient democratic states, in 
which the principle of representa- 
tion was not adopted, endeavours 
to redress glaring defects in the 
constitution were usually productive 
of ferments, tumults, and factious 
disorders, which rendered the ats 
tempt abortive, or terminated in 
hasty and impolitic resolves. But in 
Great Britain, the house of come 
mons serves as a conductor to draw 
of the lightning by a noiseless and 
constant discharge, instead of suf- 
fering it to collect until the cloud 
becomes incapable of containing it, 
and by an instantaneous flash to le- 
vel to the ground a fabric, whichages 
had been employed in erecting.” 
The three following chapters we 
shall pass over in silence, remarking 
only, that the eighth, which relates 
to the duties of naval and military 
officers, contains in the notes several 
important and striking facts derived 
from the best authority, and contri- 
buting very much to diversify and 
toenforce the reasoning. Thesame 
observation applies also to the thir- 
{*M ] teenth 


*178] 


teenth chapter, and indeed, in writ- 
ings of the didactic kind, examples 
can hardly be too often employed. 

The recital occurring in the tenth 
chapter, of the temptations which 
assail a justice of the peace'is forci- 
bly expressed : 

‘* Every situation and employment 
in life influences, by a variety of 
moral causes, the views, tempers, 
and dispositions, of those who are 
placed in it. The justice of the 
peace can plead no exemption from 
thisgeneral rule, The nature of his 
authority, and the mode in which 
itisexercised, have am obvious ten- 
dency to produce some very unde- 
sirable alterations in his character, 
by implanting new failings in it, 
or by aggravating others to which 
he may have antecedently been 
prone. His jurisdiction is extremely 
extensive, and comprises a multi- 
plicity of persons and cases, The 
individuals who are brought before 
him are almost universally his infe~ 
riors, and commonly in the lowest 
ranks of society. The principal 
share of his business is transacted in 
hisown house, before few specta- 
tors, and those in general indigent 
and illiterate. Hence he is liable 
to become dictatorial, brow beating, 
consequential, and ill-humoured ; 
domineering in his inclinations, dog- 
matical in his opinions, and arbi- 
trary in his decisions. He knows, 
indeed, that most of his decisions 
may be subject to revisal at the ses- 
sions, but he may easily learn to 
flatter himself, that he shall meet 
with no severe censure from his 
friends and brethren on the bench, 
for what they will probably consider 
as an oversight, or, at the most, as 
an error easily remedied, and there- 
fore of little importance, He knows 
too, that he may be called to account 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


before the court of king’s bench ; 
but he is also aware that great ten- 
derness is properly shewn by courts 
of law to the conduct of a justice, 
unless a culpable intention on his 
part is clearly proved, and that the 
objects he may be tempted to ag- 
grieve are usually too humble, igno- 
tant, and timid, to think of seeking 
redress, except in very palpable and 
flagrant cases, and frequently too 
poor to be able to undertake the 
task of seeking itin any. Incone 
sequence, moreover, of being per= 
petually conversant in his official ca- 
pacity with the most worthless mem- 
bers of the community, destined as 
it were to register every crime per- 
petrated within many miles of his 
habitation, and witnessing petty acts 
of violence, knavery, and fraud, 
committed by men who had pre 
viously maintained a tolerable good 
character in their neighbourhood, 
he may readily acquire the habit of 
beholding all mankind with a suspi- 
cious eye; of cherishing sentiments 
of general distrust, and: of looking 
with less and less concern on the dis- 
tresses of the common people, from 
a vague and inconsiderate persuasion 
that they seldom suffer more than 
they deserve. Against these snares 
and temptations which beset him on 
every side, and will infallibly cir- 
cumvent him in a greater or less de- 
gree, if he rests in heedless inatten- 
tion, orin false ideas of security, let 
him guard with unremitting vigi- 
lauce. If they are suffered to under- 
mine those better resolutions, and 
supplant those better purposes with 
which he entered upon his office ; 
let him not think that heshall escape 
from the circle of their influence, 
when he quits the limits of his 
justice-room. They will follow him 
into every scene of private and do- 

mestic 


ACCOUNT 


mestic life. The habits of the ma- 
gistrate will infect the conduct of 
the husband, the father, the friend, 
the country gentleman; they will 
render him arrogant and over-bear- 
ing, sour and morose, impatient of 
contradiction, obstinate in his de- 
signs and undertakings, gloomy, sus- 
picious, and unfeeling ; uncomfort- 
able to all around him, and more 
uncomfortable to himself.” 

The next chapter treats of the 
clerical profession, for the principal 
materials of which our author ac- 
knowledges his obligations to bishop 
Burnet aud archbishop Secker. We 
shall make no quotations from this 
part of the subject; for, with what- 
ever faults the clergy may be 
charged, it will hardly be said, gene- 
rally, that they have no knowledge 
of their duty; nor can those to 
whom the censure may be justly ap- 
plied, attribute their ignorance to 
the want of instruction. 

On the chapter concerning the 
duties of physicians we shall make 
but one remark. Mr. Gisborne is 
of opinion that avarice is a vice im- 
puted, justly or unjustly, to that 
profession. We have always under- 
stood the exact c-ntrary to be the 
case ; and that no class of men what- 
ever in the exercise of their art shew 
greater liberality. Dr. Samuel Jobn- 
son was of this opinion, and we be- 
lieve it to be true (in cities and great 
towns) of persons of that faculty, 
with very few exceptions. In less 
populous situations the physician is 
very rarely applied to but by the 
wealthy ; and towards them genero- 
sity is out of the question. 

The following quotation from the 
thirteenth chapter recommends equis 
ty and steadiness of conduct to per- 
sons engaged in trade and business, 

** It frequently happens that men 


OF BOOKS. [*179 


over-rate the good which they have 
done, and perhaps it is equally com. 
mon for them to have considered 
too little the good which they might 
have done. The services which a 
person engaged in a liberal line of 
trade or business may render to the 
public, by an upright discharge of 
the duties of his occupation, and a 
diligent attention tothe opportuni- 
ties of usefulness which it affords, 
are not sufficiently regarded. He 
who pursues his employment for its 
proper ends, and conducts himself 
on principles of equity and benevo- 
lence ; who scrupulously obeys the 
precepts of religion and the laws of 
his country ; who seeks nounfair or ' 
unreasonable advantages, nor takes 
them even when they obtrude them- 
selves upon him for acceptance ; 
who withstands pernicious combi- 
nations, and dares even to set the 
example of breaking dishonest and 
disingenuous customs; who joins 
Openness to prudence, and benefi- 
cence to frugality ; who shews him- 
self candid to his rivals, modest in 
success, and cheerful under disap- 
pointments ;. and who adorns bis 
professional knowledge with the va- 
rious acquisitions of an enlarged 
and cultivated understanding—is a 
benefactor to his country and to 
mankind. His example and his in- 
fluence operate at once on the cii- 
cle in which he moves, and gradually 
extend themselves far and wide. 
Others, who have been witnesses of 
his proceedings and his virtues, imi- 
tate them both, and become the 
centre of improvement to additional 
circles. Thus a broad foundation 
is laid for purifying trade from the 
real stains which it has contracted, 
and of rescuing it from the dis- 
graceful imputations with which it 
is undeservedly charged. And thus 
(*M2] a single 


*180] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


‘a single individual may contribute 
in no small degree to produce a mo- 
ral revolution in the commercial 
character.” 

The rules which our author gives 
for the regulation of paper credit 
are very judicious : 

_ The fundamental principle to 
be insisted on, with respect to con- 
tracting engagements of the nature 
in question, is that which should re- 
gulate every engagement of every 
kind: namely, that they who pro- 
mise should know themselves to be 
able to perform. It is manifestly 
hot enough that he who signs or in- 
dorses a bill (for the same general 
principles attach to both) should 
know that he is able ultimately to 
pay it; he should know that he is 
. able to pay it, that is to say, to find 


means of paying it at the time when 


it becomes due. In this latter par- 
ticular, however, some latitude of 
interpretation is allowable. He is 
not bound to be morally certain that 
he shall be able to pay it inevery 
‘possible emergence which may arise. 
The possibility of a great political 
convulsion, of a general stagnation 
in mercantile credit, or of some very 
extraordinary loss of his own; though 
any one of these events might dis- 
able an individual from paying his 
bill, should not prevent him from 
giving a bill, these not being events 
reasonably to be calculated upon. 
And the concurring demands of a 
very large number of holders of his 
notes are no more to be calculated 
upon than the cases above-mention- 
ed: indeed, they commonly imply 
the existence of one of those cases, 
namely, a general stagnation of mer- 
cantile credit. Neither a banker, 
therefore, nor any other person, is 
bound in conscience to limit his sigs 
nature and indorsement of bills to 


the sum which he knows he may 
by possibility be required to pay; 
nor to that which he may have li- 
terally bound himself to pay; but 
to the sum for which he may rea- 
sonably expect that he shall, in con- 
sequence of those engagements, be 
called upon. Care, however, is to 
be taken, and in the case of a bane 
ker especial care, that he keeps on 
the prudent side.” 

Our author’s caution to merchants 
against the practice of covering 
ships, as the term is, in time of 
war, or making them over by @ 
fictitious transfer to the subject of 
some neuiral power, that by means 
of the papers procured through the 
pretended sale they m ayappear to 
be neutral property if taken by the 
enemy, is well worthy their attention. 

“ It may be urged, perhaps, in 
behalf of this proceeding, that it 1s 
confessedly allowable to impose on 
an adversary ; that the art of war 
consists of stratagems and feints ; 
that no moralist was ever rigid 
enough to condemn the admiral or 
the merchantman for hanging out 
false colours ; and that it is absurd 
to maintain that it is lawful to 
deceive an antagonist by fictitious 
flags, yet unlawful to delude him 
by fictitious papers. This is not 
the place for examining how far 
and on what grounds it may be jus- 
tifiable for open enemies to impose 
on each other; nor is the proceed- 
ing under consideration to be tried 
or justified by those rules; for here 
isa third part introduced, the in- 
habitant of the neutral state, a state 
in profound peace with both the 
contending nations; who delibera- 
tely suffers himself to be bribed by 
‘a subject of the one to practice an 
artifice on those of the other, which 
no plea, but that of being himself 

engaged 


ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


engaged in avowed hostilities with 
the latter, could possibly have jus- 
tified. And if it be thus criminal in 
the Austrian to become an accom- 
plice in the plot, it is at least as cri- 
minal in the British merchant to 
tempt him to accede to it, or to 
avail himself of his concurrence.”* 
The following note is subjoined to 
the same passage which we have just 
quoted. ~ . 
_“ In the late war it was very 
common for British merchants to 
procure Austrian papers for their 
vessels, especially for those destined 
forthe Mediterranean; and during 
the same period many British ships 


were nominally rendered Russian” 


property in a similar way. 
** A similar mode of proceeding, 
though directly contrary to the laws 


of Great Britain, as well as those’ 


of morality, prevailed to a great 
extent during the existence of the 
late charter of the East India-Com- 
pany, which prohibited the sending 
of any commodities from England 
to the British daminions, in the East, 
except through the medium of the 
company. Butthe English merchant 
often saw great advantage to be de- 
rived from transmitting them through 
another channel against the com- 
pany’s consent. He therefore load- 
ed his ship, and ordered it to Os- 
tend to be covered. Being thus 
made in appearance Austrian pro- 
perty, it was enabled to land its 
cargo in Hindostan. The changes 
made inthe charter on its late re- 
newal have taken away the tempta- 
tion to such frauds, but the remem- 
brance of them may be useful ; and 
as the recital of a distressing event 


[*181 


resulting from an immoral practice 
proves sometimes an effectual mee 
thod of deterring men from pro 
ceedings of the same nature, I am 
induced to relate, though without | 
naming the parties concerned, a cire 
cumstance which lately took place. 
The laws, designing to throw obs 
structions in the way of those who 
might endeavour fraudulently to 
send goods to the East Indies, had 
disqualified every tradesman who 
sold any articles to a merchant, and 
knew they were smuggled thither, 
from recovering the price hy a legal 
process. A London dealer furnished 
a merchant with a large quantity of 
goods, being conscious that they 
were to be sent to the East Indies 
by means of Ostend papers. Soon 
afterwards distrusting the responsi« 
bility of the purchaser, he thought 
it prudent to sue out a commission 
of bankruptcy against him ; and in 
the capacity of petitioning creditor 
took an oath of the reality of the 
debt. The other party retorted his 
attack, by threatening to prosecute 
him for perjury. The tradesman 
finding that the law would not re- 
cognize such a debt, and that he 
should certainly beoutwitted,shrunk 
from the impending disgrace and 
shot himself.” 

The following advice is given to 
the manufacturers. ‘ ‘To have ree 
course to every reasonable precau- 
tion, however expensive, by which 
the health of the workmen may be 
secured from injury, and to re- 
frain from prosecuting unwholesome 
branches of trade, until effectual 
precautions are discovered, is the 
indispensible duty of the proprietor 


_ * Probably too, in case of capture, an oath would be necessary to authenti- 
cate what the papers falsely averred; and there is much danger that it would not 
be scrupled to procure the release of the ship. The mershant’s criminality is 
increased by his being aware of such a temptation, 


[*M 3] 


of 


*182q] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


of a manufactory. Let him not 
think himself at liberty to barter 
the lives of men for gold and silver. 
Let him not seek profit by acting 
the part of an executioner. Let 
him station his workmen in large, 
dry, and well ventilated rooms. Let 
him constantly prefer giving them 
their work to perform at home, 
whenever it can be done with tole- 
rable convenience, to collecting 
them together in the same apart- 
ment. Let him encourage them, 
when opportunity offers, to reside 
in villages and hamlets, rather than 
in a crowded town. Let him in- 
culcate in them * in how great a de- 
gree cleanliness contributes to health, 
and impress them with the necessity 
of invariably observing those many 
little regulations,t which though 
singly too minute to be noticed in 
this place, have collectively much 
effect in preventing disease. Where 
his own efforts seem likely to fail, let 
him Jay the matter before the ablest 
physicians, and steadily put in prac~ 
tice the instructions which he re- 


ceives ; and finally, let him exert 
hisutmost abilities to discover in- 
noxious processes which may be 
substituted for such as prove detri- 
mental to the persons who conduct 
them ; and direct by private solicita- 
tion, and on proper occasions by 
public premiums, the attention of 
experienced artists and manufac- 
turers to the same object. The suc- 
cess of his endeavours may in many 
cases be found highly advantageous 
to him, not merely by preserving the 
lives of his most skilful workmen, 
but by saving Some valuable mate- 
rial ¢ formerty lost in the operation, 
But, whether that be the case or 
not, he will at least reap a satisfac 
tion from them which he could not 
otherwise have enjoyed, that of re- 
flecting on his profits with a quiet 
conscience. 

Ia the chapter on the duties of 
private gentlemen, there is the fol« 
lowing passage : 

“ The weight which a wealthy 
land-owner, resident in the country, 
possesses in the place where his pro- 


* “The proprietor of a great manufactory, established near a large inland 


town, told a person of credit, from whom I heard the fact, that on approaching 
his workmen he could discern by the smell proceeding from their clothes, whe- 
ther they lived in the town or on a neighbouring common. This circumstance 
also might point out the comparative bealthfulness of the two situations. 

+ “'The latter of the two gentlemen mentioned in the preceding note informed 
me, that having observed some young persons in his own manufactory to be affec- 
ted, by being e:oployed on a preparation of lead, he had completely remedied 
the evil, by appointing an old workman constantly to attend them with water 
and towels on their leaving their work at meal-times, and oblige them thoroughly 
to wash their hands and faces before they ate; and also prohibiting them from 
playing, or using any strong exercise, until they had pulled off their coats and 
aprons, which were sprinkled with lead. It appeared from experience, that if they 
used any considerable exercise, without taking the latter precaution, the dust pro- 
sears frota their clothes was inhaled by them, and produced very prejudical 
effects. 

1 “ Bishop Watson, after speaking ina passage which hasbeen recently quoted 
of the young man rendered paralytic, by fixing an amalgam of gold aud silver on 
copper, says, ‘ A chimney, I believe, has of late been opened at the farther side 
of the oven, into which the mercurial vapour is driven; and thus both the mercury 
is saved, and the health of the operator is attended to.’ Chemical Essays, 
vo]. 4. p. 255. In the samevolume, p. 275—277, the almost universal adoption 
of the cupola instead of the hearth furnace for smelting lead isshewn to have 
been attended with great advantages to the proprietors, as well as with the most 
salutary consequences to the workmen,” 


; perty 


ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 


perty is situated, is usually so great 
as to give him a preponderating in- 
fluence in the management of all 
parochial concerns. ‘This influence 
ought never to be employed by him 
directly or indirectly for the attain- 
ment of selfish or improper ends. 
What epithets, for example, would 
his conduct deserve, if he should 
procure the levies and the statute 
labour of the parish to be expended 
in making or repairing roads conti- 
guous to his own house, or bene- 
ficial chiefly to himself and his te- 
nants; while others, of far more im- 
portance to the inhabitants in gene- 
ral, are left year after year almost 
impassable ! 

“What if, in order more effec- 
tually to accomplish his plans, he 
should cause himself to beappointed 
surveyor of the highways ? what if, 
instead of fixing a watchful eye on 
the proceedings of public houses, 
and endeavouring to abolish such as 
are disorderly or needless, he should 
connive at their irregularities, or 
even promote an augmentation of 
their number, for the purpose of 
serving some partizan or dependent 
of his own? Far from exposing him- 
self by such practices to the con- 
tempt of the neighbourhood, and 
the reproaches of his conscience, 
let him consider the influence he en- 
joys over others as a trust for the 
exercise of which he is responsible ; 
and exert it, without grudging the 
trouble, in maintaining their rights, 
composing their differences, increa- 
sing their comforts, and improving 
their morals, Let him devote, 
where it is necessary, some portion 
of his time and attention to the in- 
spection of parochial accounts. Let 
him not tolerate the abuse of chari- 
table bequests either in land or 
money, left for the benefit of the 
poor, by suffering them to be con- 
signed into unsafe hands, or to be 


[*183 


let out on too low terms; or by al- 
lowing their produce to be misap- 
plied to save the purses of the rich. 
By his readiness to listen to well- 
founded complaints, Jet him keep 
the different parish officers to their 
duty. The inhabitants of the work- 
house will then be treated with hu- 
manity, fed and clothed sufficiently, 
and furnished with necessary bocks 
of religion ; and will neither be op 
pressed with immoderate labour, nor 
yet permitted, when able to work, 
to loiter and become vicious through 
idleness. Due assistance will not 
then be refused in fit cases to the 
sick and indigentin their own houses, 
Doles and donations will be dis- 
tributed, not according to sect and 
party, but according to desert and 
necessity. The situation of the certi- 
ficated poor, too frequently excluded 
from any share in such relief by 
those who are enjoying the benefit 
of their labour, will. not be disre- 
garded ; nor will they be unneces- 
sarily hurried away to their places 
of settlement by vexations or mali- 
cious removals.” 

The following advice to those 
who undertake the important office 
of sheriff well deserves to be cone 
sidered : 

‘© Among the difierent public offi- 
ces, which private gentlemen are 
called to undertake in their respec 
tive counties, may be noticed those 
of sheriff, deputy-lieutenan!, grand 
or special jurors,and commissioners 
of taxes, roads, and canals. Of 
these, that of sheriff isthe most emi 
nent. ‘The sheriff is the first civil 
officer, as the lord-lieutenant is the 
first in a military capacity. But let 
him not be vain of his temporary 
rank, or solicitous to out-vie his 
predecessors, and dazzle the eyes of 
the gazing multitude by the splen« 
dour of his equipage, and the .ume 
ber of his attendants. Let him be 

[*M 4} impartial 


#184] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


impartial in his conduct at elections 
of members of pariiaments,coroners, 
and verderors. Let him be ready 
to convoke, on proper applications, 
county meetings, for the purpose of 
addressing any of the branches of 
the legislature, or the consideration 
of local business: but let him not 
promote such assemblies, for the 
purpose of displaying his own impor- 
tance, of facilitating party views, 
of gratifying a minister, or ef being 
advanced to knighthood. In sum- 
moning grand-juries, let him not 
pass by or postpone particular in- 
dividuals, in consequence of private 
disputes or political differences. As 
so large a share of the original duties 
ofa sheriff is now performed by his 
deputy, the qualifications, and 
above all the integrity ofthat officer, 
ought tobe severely scrutinized by 
his principal. And he who recal- 
lects that the first incident which 
turned the thoughts of Mr. Iloward 
to the subject of prisons, was the 
insight ke obtained into the state of 
them in his official capacity as sheriff, 
will scarcely want additional argu- 
ments to convince himof the bene- 
fits which would result, were 
sheriffs* in general to bestow a little 
more attention than is usually given 
to the condition of gaol and to the 
conduct of those whem they appoint 
to govern them.” 


In the last chapter of this inquiry 
considerations are submitted to per- 
sons who doubt or disbelieve the 
truth of Christianity, or the necese 
sity ofa strict observance of all its 
precepts. It opens in the following 
manner : ‘ 

** When I explained, in the in- 
troductory chapter, the plan of the 
present work, I stated that it was 
my purpose to combine on every 
occasion, as far as the nature of the 
subject might admit, the conclu. 
sions of reason with the dictates of 
religion. I have accordingly en- 
deavoured, throughout the fores 
going chapters, to establish moral 
duties on Christian principles, and 
to enforce the performance of them 
by Christian motives. This conduct 
has evidently proceeded on the sup- 
position that such principles would 
be deemed obligatory, and such 
motives recognized as powerful, by 
the greater part of my readers. I 
cannot, however, be ignorant, and 
I think it would be wrong to dissem- 
ble my conviction, that if this book 
should be fortunate enough to obtain 
the attention of those classes of so~ 
ciety to which it is addressed, it will 
not unfrequently fall into the hands 
of persons who deny or doubt the 
truth of the Christian’revelation ; or 
who alledge that a strict observance 
of its precepts is incompatible with 


* “ For a detailed account of the duties of sheriffs, see Blackstone, 5th edit, 


vol. 1. p. 543, 344, 346 ; and of under-sheriffs, p. 345, Under-sheriffs are pro- . 
hibited by the statute of the 23d of Henry VI. under a very heavy penalty, from 
acting as attomnies during the time they are in office, lest they should be guilty 
of partiality and oppression in discharging the functions of it. In the present 
state of things, attornies of credit would not undertake the office on these terms ; 
knowing that if their private business went for a year into the hands, of their 
competitors, much of it would never return to themselves. And the law has leng 
been avowedly and universally evaded. Sir William Blackstone however shews, 
that he considers the law as not obsolete, by styling the evasion of it ‘shame- 
ful, vol. 1. p. 845. As the habitual evasion of laws gradually impairs the sense 
of right and wrong, it is much to be wished that the statue in question, ‘if it be 
salutary,’ as Sir William Blackstone pronounces it to be in the place already 
cited, were enforced ; or otherwise openly repealed. Under-sheriffs are likewise 


forbidden, and to as little purpose, to contimue in office more than one year to- 
gether. : 


their 


se 


‘ACCOUNT OF. BOOKS. 


their political or professional duties, 
and is not required from them inthe 
existing state of the world.” 

To infidels and sceptics, of whose 
errors he briefly enumerates the 
causes, he xefers it to be considered, 
whether in so weighty and solemn a 
question as a divine revelation, if it 
be notimprobable, or even not im- 
possible, they are not bound by the 
highest obligations to examine with 
fairness into the validity of its 
claims. ‘He then states the circum- 
stances of the first establishment of 
the Christian faith—the humble 
origin of ‘its author—the difficulties 
he had to encounter, and the pre- 
judices to overcome—the constant 
Opposition he experienced——the in- 
nocent and useful life heexhibited— 
the ignominious death he under- 
went—the firmness and constancy 
of his first disciples, though they had 
nothing to expect for that constancy 
in the present life, and in fact ex- 
perienced nothing but troubles and 
persecutions. Yet from these un- 
promising beginnings did Christia- 
nity make its way so successfully, 
that within three centuries from the 
first preaching of Christ, it pene- 
trated to the remotest extremities of 
the Roman empire. — He concludes, 
that a religion thus destitute of all 
worldly means of support, could not 
haye thus obtained belief and ac- 
Ceptation, if its pretensions had not. 
been founded on irresistible truth. 
For a more detailed account of this 
most important of all inquiries, he 
refers the reader to Mr. Paley’sViews 
of the Evidences of Christianity, Dr. 
Beattie’sTreatise on the same subject, 
and Mr. Paley’s Hore Pauling. 

The plea of those who contend 
against the necessity of a strict ob- 
servance of all the precepts of 
Christianity in the existing state of 


[#185 


the world, he examines both by 
reason and Scripture. 

With respect to the firsthe argues, 
that if custom is to determine how 
far we’must obey the rules of) the 


Gospel, it will follow, that if it 


should be the general custom utterly 
to disregard those rules, no indivi- 
dual would be under any obligation 
to observe them. But an argument 
like this, which strikes directly at 
the root of all religion, cannot be 
maintained by those who believe in 
Christianity. 

From the Holy Scriptures many 
texts are cited, demonstrating the 
necessity of a perfect obedience ; 
and ina long note there is an in- 
genious, and, we think, a just ex- 
position of one text, 2 Kings, ch. v. 
18th and 19th verses, which seems 
to countenance the ‘practice of de- 
viating from the line of strict duty 
in compliance with existing circum- 
stances, but which may be very 
fairly otherwise explained. 

He concludes his work in the fol- 
lowing words : 

‘* It is impossible to conceive that 

e who knowingly deviates from the 
path of moral rectitude and Christian 
duty, because most others in the 
same rank and profession with him- 
self deviate from it, and because, by 
forbearing to deviate, he should 
incur embarrassments and_ losses, 
odium and disgrace, is, in that in- 
stance, acting consistenly with the 
letter or the spirit of the various 
scriptural injunctions which have 
been quoted. Let those, who find 
themselves tempted to such devia- 
tions, consider whether it is not 
probable that the Supreme Being, 
or whose providence the success of 
every undertaking depends, will 
prosper those who scrupulously ob~ 
serve the laws which he has pre-e 
3 scribed 


; 


*136] 


scribed for their conduct, and leave 
the issue in his hands, rather than 
those who manifest their distrust of 
his care, by resorting to arts and 
practices. which he has forbidden ; 
whether those, who are injured in 
their worldly prospects by their 
conscientious adherence to the line 
of rectitude, are not entitled to the 
full benefit of the scriptural conso- 
Jation. ‘¢ If ye suffer for righte- 
ousness sake, happy are ye ;” and 
whether itis not the part of wis- 
dom as well as of duty, whatever 
be the event at present, to regulate 
every action by that rule, according 
to which it will be judged at the last 
day.” 

We here close our account of 
this valuable book; from which, 
though we have taken copious ex- 
tracts, we have omitted, on account 
of their length, several passages, 
which it was originally our wish to 
have inserted. For those selections 
which appear, we shall make no 
apology; the public are obliged, 


ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 


by every sincere effort, to promote 
their benefit : and the author, if his 
character may be collected from his 
writings, will be highly gratified by 
any circumstances which may ren- 
der his exertions more extensively 
useful. In this inference we can 
hardly be mistaken ; as one prevail- 
ing feature in the composition is an 
energy, and indeed exuberance of 
style, arising evidently from his 
zeal and earnestness in favour of the 
cause he has undertaken.We heartily 
wish the work, what the author 
cannot command, though he de- 
serves it, the best success. But 
whatever reception the labours of 
his pen may experience from his 
countrymen, for whose happiness 
he is ardently solicitous, he may 
rejoice in the full possession of re- 
wards far surpassing literary praise, 
and which mortals can neither di- 
minish nor augment ;—the secret 


applause of his own heart, and the 


approbation of his Maker. 


THE 


THE 


CONTENTS. 


HISTORY or EUROPE. 


CHAP. I. 


Effects of the new Constitution established in Poland.—Ecxternal and inter- 
nal.—Notice to ullihe European Powers of the New Changes in Poland. 
Schemes of the Courts of Petersburgh, Berlin, and Vienna, for the 

. complete Subjugation and Dismemberment of Poland.—Patriotic Associ- 
_ ations in that Kingdom, in Support of the New Constitution.— Difficulties 
_-and Perplexities of the Poles.—Plan of Defence against an expected 
Attack by Russia.—Opposed by the Nobles.—Interference of Russia, and 
Declaration of the Russian Ambassador to the King and Polish Diet. — 
The Nobles desist fromtheir Opposition to the Plan for National Defence.— 

A cordial Union between all Individuals and Parties.—The King of 
Poland invested with the Command of the Polish Armies.—The Russian 
Army enters the Frontiers of Poland.—Various Actions between the 
Russian and Polish Troops.—Application of the Poles for the stipulated 
Succours to the King of Prussia.—These refused.—Signal Victory ob- 
tained by the Poles over the Russians.—Inefiicacy of this for the great 
End for which they had taken up Arms.—Prevalence of the Russian 
Power.—Submission of the.Polish Nation.—Prutest in the Diet against 

* this Submission.—Popular Dissatisfaction and Indignation at the Pro- 
ceedings of the Diet. ” , : . 1 


CHAP. II. 


Continuation of the Partitioning System of Policy.—Prussian Troops entering 
Poland, take Possession of Dantzic and Thorn.—A second Partition of 
Poland avowed and declared by the Partitioning Powers tothe Polish Dict.— 
Remonstrances of the Diet.—And Means employed for the Prevention of 
that Partition.—Violences of the Russian Ambassador at Warsaw.—The 
Polish Diet compelled by an armed force to sign « Treaty of Peace and Al- 
liance with Russia.—And one of a like Nature and like Conditions with 
Prussia. —A Spirit of Opposition in the Diet to Russia.—Revival of an 
Order of Knighthood that had been suppressed by Order of the Czarina,.— 
Fatal Consequences of this Step.—Insolence and Tyranny of the Russians. — 
General Insurrection of the Poles.—Headed by Kosciusko.—Successes of 
the Poles.—Junction of Russian and Prus:ian Forces for the Reduction of 
Warsaw.—Siegeof Warsaw.—Brave and resolute Defence by the Poles.— 


CONTENTS. 


The King of Prussia raises the Siege.—An immense Russian Army, under 
Suwarrow, advances against Warsaw.—Decisive Action.—Defeat and 
Capture of Kosciusko.—<All Hopes of Poland at an end.—Final Dis- 
memberment.—Tyranny of the Russians.—Reflections . het ik Sa 


CHAP. III. 


Action and Re-action of Measures and Events.—A Majority of the Dutch in- 
clined to Peace and Amity withthe French Republic.—Efforts of the Dutch 
Government for the Suppression of this Spirit.—But the French Faction 
mereases.— A French Army invades the United Provinces.— Departure of 
the Duke of York from Holland.—Boldness of the French Faction.—Pro- 
portiqnable Dejection of the Stadtholderian Party.—Actions between. the 
British and French.—Retreat of the former towards the Leck,— Hostile 
Behaviour of the Dutch tothe English.—Extreme Hardships suffered by the 
Enghsh Army in its Retreat from Holland.—Rage of the Amsterdammers 

- against the Prince of Orange.—Escape of this Prince to England.—The 
French invited to Amsterdam.—Other Places declare also for the French.— 
These admitted in all the Provinces. — Assembly of the Provisional Repre- 
sentatives of the People of Holland.—Conquests of the French.—Alarm of 
the Princes of the Coalition.—Continued and increasing Miseries of the 
English Army.—Transactions of the French Armies on the Rhine. The 
French Republic entertains the most extensive Views of Conquest. —Prussia 
deserts the Coalition, and forms a separate Peace with France.—A-se- 
parate Peace concluded also between France and Spain y 42 


CHAP, IV. 


A Paeification between the Convention and the Insurgents in La Vendée.— 
On Terms very favourable to the latter. —Yet they again rise in Arms.— 
Action between the Republicans and Emigrants, with other Loyatists, near 
Quiberon.—-Defeat and Disasters of the Loyalists.—Their Capture or total 
Excision.—A British Squadron reduces and fortifies L’ Isle Dieu.u—New 
Arrangements in Holland.—Enormous Contributions: —The Convention 
highly elated with the Successes of their Armies.—Distribution of these.— 
Distressesof the French People.— Andthose of t he Conquered Countries. — 
Reduction of the Fortress of Luaembourg —And Mentz invested by the 
French.—Who cross the Rhine.—Campuign on that River.—Successes of 
the French.— And Losses.—Tide of Success turned in Favour of the 
Austrians.—A Junction between the French Armies, under Jourdan and 
Pichegru, checks the Victorious Career of the Austrians.—Manheim re- 
taken from the French.—Campaign on the Italian Frontiers of France.— 
Sttuation of the Interior of France.—And general Temper of the French 
Nation.—Extreme Animosity and Licentiousness of abusive Language.— 
Measure of Convention for restraining this —dnd securing the Liberty 
of Religious Worship : , ae . 63 

ye CHAP. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP. V. 


Examination of certain Members of the late Committee of Safety.—These 
. declared accessary to the Tyrannies of Robespierre.— An immense Crowd, 
entering the Hall of the Convention, demand Impunity for the accused 
Members. This ‘Pumult suppressed.—The Members of the tyrannical 
Committee banished to Guiana.—A Number of turbulent Terrorists sent 
to Prison.—A Commission of Eleven Members appomted by the Convention 
for drawing up a New Constitution.— Finances of France.—Judges and 
Jurors of the Revolutionary Tribunal condemned.—And ewecuted.—The 
Lenity of the Convention exposes them to the Ill. Will of the Terrorists.— 
Discontents.—And Commotions.—A Crowd, breaking into the Hall of the 
Convention, demands Bread.— Firmness of the President of.the Convention. 
—Outrages and Atrocities of the Mob.—The Convention delivered from 
Insurgents by the Military force of Paris. —The Contest between the Con- 
vention andthe Rioters renewed.—The Convention deem it prudent to tem= 
porize, and offer Terms of Accommodation. —The Rioters invited to the . 
Honours of the Sitting.—And receive the Fraternal K iss.— Resist the Exe- 
cution of the Law.—Forced to lay down their Arms, and surrender at Dis- 
cretion. —The Terrorists and their Adherents completely overthrown.— 
Insurgents at Toulon.—Defeated by the Troops of the Line, with great 
Slaughter.—The Death of the Son of Lewis XV I.—Deliverance of the 
young Princess of France from Prison.—The Convention, by several harsh 
Decrees, obviate any Suspicions that might arise of their Attachment to 
Loyalty.—New Constitution, consisting of two Councils, and an Executive 
Directory.—Reflections thereon. f : 4 ; 82 


CHAP. VI. 


Regulations respecting the Election of Deputics to the New National Assem- 
bly.—Considered by many as Infringements on the Privileges of the Peo- 
ple.—Contentions on this Subjeet, between the Convention on the one Part, 
and the Citizens of: Paris, and other Cities on the other.——Ambitious 
Views of the Leaders of the Convention.—A Gloom cast on the Expectations 
that had been formed from the New Constitution.— Allegations in Facour 
of the Convention.— Action between the Parisians and the Regular Troops, 
who took Part with the Convention.—Complete Defeat of the Parisians.— 
Artifices of the Convention in order to gloss this Insurrection. Resentment 
against the Parisians severely exercised by the Convention.—Novw released 
from all Restraint.—Disappointment and Suspicions of neighbouring Na- 
tions, concerning the New Constitution, and Regulation of Elections in 
France. Plans of the Convention, for strengthening and perpetuating its 
Authority.—A Commission of Five appointed to consult on Measures for 
Saving the Country.—A Vote for the Annulment of the Commission’ of 
Five confirming the Constitution agreed on, and the Dissolution of the As- 
sembly.—The Moderates prevail.—Reflections on the Temper-and Conduct 
of the Convention . ' p ‘ 100 

CHAP. 


CONTENTS. 
CHAP, VII. 


Meeting of the New Legislature.—Strength of the predominant Party.— 
New and great Object of Ambition among the Leaders.—Characters of the 
Members of the newly-established Directory.—Pomp and Parade of the 
Directory.—Policy of keeping up a Taste for external Splendour and Dise 
tinction.—These hateful to the rigid Republicans.—The Terrorists, called 
mow the Society of the Pantheon, resume their primary Designs. —The Di- 
rectory alarmed, yet judge it expedient to court the Favour of the Terro- 
rists.—Regulations of the Directory, and Contests respecting the public 
Songs of Paris.—The Spirit and Temper of the Parisians indicated by these 
Contests : a seasonable Admonition to the Directery.— Decline of Terror- 
asm.— The Terrorists, or Society of the Pantheon suppressed, and the House 
itself shut up.—The Terrorists continue to assembic, and give vent to their 
Rage, in small Parties.—A new Opposition to the Directory, more formid= 
able than the Society uf the Pantheon had been.—Reduction of the Galleries 
mm the Hall of the Convention, to a Space not containing more than three 
Hundred Spectators.—Utility of dividing the Legislature into two inde- 
pendant Bodies.—Remarkable Artifice of the Junior Cauncil for command. 
ang the Appointment of all the Members of the Directory.—Establishment 
of an Institution in France for the Advancement of Arts and Sciences.— 
And of Central Schools for Languages, Literature, and Philosophy, in all 
the Departments.—Perfect Enjoyment of Religious Toleration.— Bigotry 
and Presumption of the Roman Catholics.—Checked with Moderation by 
the Directory.—Treaties of Peace between the French Republie and other 
Governments.—Public Mention of them by different States 115 


; CHAP. VIIf. 


Incorporation of the Austrian Netherlands with the French Republic.—An 
Object of Alarm to the Neighbouring Nations.—Debility of the French 
Marine.— Naval Exertions of France confined to Depredations on the Bria 
tish Trade.—Revolt under the Auspices and Conduct of Victor Hughes of 
the French West-India Islands, that had been reduced by the English.— 
Superior Skill, Bravery, and Success, of the British Officers and Seamen. 


-—The Dutch Colony at the Cape of Good Hope taken by the English.—Suc-. 


cess of the French in Piratical Warfare.—Bold and masterly Retreat of 
Admiral Cornwallis.—Prosperous State of French Affairs on the Continent. 
Interference of the French in the Government of the small Stare of Gene 
va.— This new-modelled after the Fashion of the French Republic.—Insur- 
rections.—V iolence.—A Revolutionary 7 ribunal.—Intrigues of the French, 
' for bringing the City of Geneva under Subjection to the French Republic. 
—The Influence of the New Principles of the French extends across the 
Atlantic.—and excites dangerous Commotions in America.—The Authority 
&f Government maintained in the United States of America, by the Mo- 
deration, Prudence, and Vigour of General Washington.—Insurrection 
of Emigrants from Ireland, and the Highlands of Scotland, in the West- 


ern Parts of Pensylcania,—Quelled by the Approach of a great and a 
sistible 


— 


CONTENTS. 


sistible Force under General Washington.—A Dispute between the Ameri- 
can States and the Indians, on the Frontiers, supported by a Body of Ca- 
nadians and British Colonists.—Settled by the spirited and judicious Cone 
duct of General Wayne i ° 132 


CHAP. IX. 


Successes of theArms of France in every Part of Europe.—Most of thePowers, 
engaged in the Coalition, alarmed at the Backwardness of their People to 
push the War for the Restoration of the French Monarchy.—General 
Partiality of the inferior Ranks, in all Nations, to the French Republic._— 
Different Sentiments entertained of the French Republic, by different Pow- 
ersof Europe-—And of the necessary political Balance.—Treaties between 
the French Republic and several Members of the Confederacy.—Meeting 
of the British Parhament.—Speech from the Throne, recommending avi- 

erous Prosecution of the War.—Addresses, in Answer, from both Houses. 
— Debates thereon.— Motion, by Mr. Sheridan, tending to the Repeal of 
the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus.— Negatived.—Motion, by Mr. Wil- 
berforce, for negotiating a Peace with France.—Negatived—Motion for 
a Repeal of the Act suspending that of Habeas Corpus.—Negatived.— 
Motion for continuing the Suspension- Act.—Carried in both Houses 146 


CHAP. X. 


State of the Coalition.—Motion in the Hoyse of Commons for augmenting 
the Number of Seamen and Marines.—Army Estimates —The Conduct 
and the Result of the present War.—Loan of Four Millions to the Em- 
peror.— Discussions on Continental Alliances.—Statement of the Force, 
requisite for the Service of 1795.—New Taxes : 165 


CHAP. XI. 


The Sentiments of the French towards the English.— Motion in the House of 
Peers by the Eurl of Stanhope, for Non-interference in the Internal Af= 
Sairs of France.—Unanimously rejected.— Motion of alikeTendency in the 
House of Commons.— Negatived.— Motion in the House of Peers for fa- 
cilitating the Opening of a Negotiation with France.— Negatived.—Mo- 
tion for a vigorous Prosecution of the War.—Carried.—Sundry Motions 
Sor Preparing a Way for Peace with France.—Negatived.—Motion in 
the House of Commons for an Inquiry into the State of the Nation.—Ne- 
gatived.—Another tothe same Intent in the House of Peers.—Negatived. 
—Motion in the House of Commons, tending to a General Pacification, 
by Mr. Wilberforce.—Negatived.—A Motion of a similar Tendency in 
the House of Lords.—Negatived. : ; 181 
‘ 


CHAP. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP. XII. 


Motion in the House of Commons, by Mr. Wilberforce, for a final Aboli- 
tion of the Slave-Trade.—Negatived.—Acquittal of Mr. Hastings.— 
Reflections on the History and Issue of his Trial, and on his own Cha- 
racter and Deportment.—Motion by Mr. Windham, tending to miaintain 
Discipline, and increase the Strength of the Militia Regiments.—Car- 
ried.— Bull passed for new-modelling the London Militia.—Motion for 
introducing into the Militia the Use of Artillery.—Carried.—Extra- 
Allowance to the Army for Bread and Meat, made to the Army by Go- 
vernment, without the Participation of Parliament.—A Subject of Alarm 
to Opposition, and many others.—Motion: for a Censure on this Step, by 
General Macleod.—Negatived —A Loan of public Moncy to the Mer- 
chants of Grenada and St. Vincent’s.—Statement of East-India Affairs. 
—Regulations in Favour of the Officers in the Military Service of the 
East-India Company.—Marriage of the Prince of Wales, to the Princess 
Caroline of Brunswick.—Setilement of his Revenue.—And other pecu- 
niary Affairs. . . : . . » 203 


CHAP. XIIL. 


Affairs of Ireland.—Population.—Eeclesiastical Divisions of the People.— 
Discontents at Tythes.—Resistance made to their Collection.—Petition 
of the principal Roman Catholics, for the Redress of sundry Grievances, 
to the King.—An Answer returned, containing a Number of Concessions. 

_ Secret Connections between many of the Irish and the French Revolu- 
tionists, a Subject of Alarm in England.—The Earl Fitzwilliam appoint- 
ed to the Government of Ireland.—Meeting of the Irish Parliament.— 
Ample Supplies granted.—The Catholic Party prepare to press and en- 
force their Demands.—Lord Fitzwilliam endeavours to concitiate their 
Favour.—Motion by Mr. Grattan, for Leave to bring ina Bill for the 
Relief of the Roman Catholics.—Carried.—Joy and Ewultation of the Ca- 
tholics.— Damped, by Intelligence that the British Ministry are averse 
to the Measure.—Lord Fitzwilliam dismissed.—Succceeded by Lord 
Camden.—An Address voted to Lord Fitzwilliam, by Parliament, highly 
approving his Conduct.—Various Addresses to his Lordship from different 
Parties of the disaffected Extreme versatility of the Irish Parliament. 
—The Motions carried but @ few Days before, almost unanimously ne- 
gatived now by great Majorities.—The unstcadiness and tergiversation 
of the Irish Parliament-men.—Sow the Seeds of Mistrust and Jealously 
wn their Constitutents.—Altercations in the British House of Peers, res- 
pecting the Instructions given so Lord Fitzwilliam, previously to his as - 
suming the Government of Ireland.—Motion by the Duke of Norfolk, 
for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Conduct of Ministry in this Matter 
and the Grounds for their Dismissal of the Earl Fitzwilliam from the 
Office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.—Rejected.—Debates in the House 
of Commons on a similar Motion.—And which met with a similar Fate.— 
Speech trom the Throne.—And Prorogation of Parliament. . . 222 

CHRONICLE 


CONTENTS. 


CHRONICLE. 1—359 
Births for the year hy ; . 49 
Marriages 4 ; , 50 
Deaths : 3 p 3 7 i 
Promotions . 55 
Sheriffs appointed by his Maj eoty : 58 
APPENDIX TO THE CHRONICLE. 
Londen Gazette, April 6, 1795 ° f , 60 
London Gazette, June 27 . : 2 64 
London Gazette Extraordinary, Nas. 23 ° ; 66 
The French Constitution adopted August 22, 1795 76 
Account of the different Sums of Money that have been paid by Great Bre: 
tain to the Emperor, during the present War 104 
Accurate List of the Dutch Navy : abid. 
Petition of the Lord Mayor, &c. of London, for Peace ° 105 
Southwark Petition for the same Purpose 106 
Copy of a Circular Letter written by Mr. Dundas; 0 onthe S: ubjo6t of Mann- 
ing the Navy - S . 108 
Answer of the Mayor of ¥ armouth ° tbid. 
Estimate of the Charge of Foreign Tr oops 3 in the Service of Great Britain. 
for the Year 1795, = ° 109 
Account of the Troops employed by the King of Prussia, in pursuance of 
the Treaty signed at the Hague, Apri, 1794 abid. 
Account of the Number of Foreign Troops aétually in Br itish Pay, laid 
before the House of Commons 110 


Ceremony of the Acquittal of Varren Hastings, Esq. (late Governor Gene- 
ral of Bengal) se the High Court of Parliament, and a Table of the 
Votes lil 

Supplies granted by Parliament for the Ser vice of the Year 17 95 116 

Principal Public Aéis passed in the Vifth Session a the Seventeenth Parliu- 


ment of Great Britain = C 119 
Prices of Stocks for the Year 1795 121 
Prices of the Produtts of Live Stock, paid by the V iétualling-Office, from 

1740 to 1795 122 
Prices of the Products of Live Stock, paid by the Vi€tualling-Office, from 

1781 f0 1795 123 


Account of the Total Net Produce of ‘Duties arising from the Stamp-Reve- 
nue, that have amounted to 1000/. or more in the Four Quarters, ending 
Oét. 10, 1795 eer: 

Account of the Total Net Produce of the Duties of Customs in England and 
Scotland, distinguishing the Produce of every separate Article, the Duties 
on which shall have amounted to 10001. or more in the Four Quarters, 
ending Oét. 10, 1795 120 

Account of the Total Net Produce of the Duties, of, Excise in England and 
Scotland, distinguishing the Produce of every separgte Article, the Duties 
on which shall have amounted to 10001. or more, in the Four Quarters, 
ending Oét. 10, 1795 ; 130 
VoL, XXXV Il. * [#N] Account 


CONTENTS. 


Aecount of the Quantity of Coals Imported into the Port of London, from 
1744 to 1795 133 


Average Prices of Wheat and Barley, duri ing the Year 1796 ibid. 
State of the Barometer, Thermometer, and Eh lygrometer for the Year 1795, 
134 

A General Bill of Chrisicnings and Burials, from Dec. 9, aio to Dec. 8, 
1795 : 135 

S TATE PAPERS. 

Message from the King, to the House of Commons, Feb. 4 136 
The like, April 27 abid. 


His Majesty's Speech from the Bhikone, on closing the Session, June 27, 137 
His Majesty's Speech from the Throne, on opening the Sesston, Olt. 29, 138 
Message from the King, Dec. 7 ‘ : : 140 
The like, Dec. 8 


3 i ‘ ; aed. 
The like : tbid. 


Pratest of Lord Stanhope, against this Country interfering: én the internal 
Affairs of France 141 
Protest against the Act for far ther Suspending the Habeas Con “pus Aét 143 
Protest against the Rejeétion of the Motion for treating with France 144 
Protest against the Rejeétion of the Motion for Investigating the Cause of 
Lord Fitzwilliam’s Recall : : ; ibid. 
Protest against the Act for Transferring the Militia 


ie 151 

Protest against the Passing of the New > Treason- Bill s 152 
Protest against the Sedition Bill . 153 
Speech of. his Excellency the Vice-Roy of Corsica, deliv vered to the Chamber 
of Parliament, at the Opening of the Session, Feb. 9, 1795 = Lop 
Earl Fitzwilliam’s Speech to both Houses of ihe Irish Parliament, on Open- 


- ing the Session, Jar. 22 ° ; 157 
Earl Camden’s Speech on Proroguing the Trish Par swlianient, June 5, 159 
Convention between his Britannic Ma ujesty and the Binge? or of Germany, 

signed at Vienna, May 4 161 


Articles of agreement for raising French Corps for the Service of Great - 
Britain, March 9 


. 163 

Proclamation respecting Dutch Bills of Bachinizes Feo: 6 eK Lrg 

Additional Instructions to the Commanders of Ships of War and Privateers 
having Letters of Marque against France . 168 

‘Proclamation by his Excellency James Seaton, Captain Geneely and Gover- 
nor-in-Chief of the Island of St. Vincent 3 : abid. 
Orders by General the Duke of Richmond, April 20 : 169 


Copy of a Letter and Instructions from Sir Wilitam Scott and Dr, John Ni- 
coll, bf the Commons, rear at the Instance of Mr. Jay, ge Ameri- 
can Minister ‘ 


170 
Proclamation issued by his Majesty, relative to seditious Assemblies 1 76 
Treaty of Peace signed by Charrette, on the Part of the Insurgent Inhabi- 

tants (f La Vendée and the Commissioners of the Convention on the Part 


of the French Republic, March 7 177 
Treaty of Peace between the Chiefs of the Chouans and the French Conven- 
tron ‘ . ibid. 
Treaty of Peace between France and Pri Ussia : . 178 


: Second 


CONTENTS: 


Second Treaty between the same Powers. é : 180 
Substance of a Treaty, dated Brussels, March 9, and Heidleberg, April 7, 
between the Imperial and Royal Commission and that of France, relative 
to the Individuals not taken in Arms x 3 181 
Treaty of Alliance, offensive and defensive, concluded between the Repub- 
lic of France and the Republic of the Seven United Provintes . 182 
Proclamation uf Victor Hughes, at Guadaloupe 6 184 
Proclamation of General Vaughan, at Martinico - abid. 
Declaration of the Commissioners, delegated, by the National Convention of 
France, to the Windward Islands, tu all the Neutral Nations, trading 
with the said Islands : . . : 185 
Declaration of the same Commissioners, to the Commanders-in-chief of the 
British Forces ‘ : - : "187 
Address, of the National Convention, to the Army of the North, on the 
Anniversary of the Death of the King of France, of January 21, 188 
Speech of Bossy d’ Anglas, on the Policy of the French Republic, with respect 
to foreign Nations, adopted, by the Convention, as a Declaration of the 
Principles of the French People, Jan. 30 . : wid 
Proclamation of the Royalists of Anjou and Upper Poitou, in Answer to 
the pacificatory Proclamation of the Representatives of the People, 198 
Declaration of the Chiefs of la Vendée, in the Armies of the Centre and 
Pays Bas ‘ i ‘ : . 22199 
Address of Charette,and the other Leaders,tothe Inhabitants of la Vendée200 


Extract from the Register of the States-General, Jan. 18 202 
Extracts from the Records of the Deliberations of the States-General, 
Jan. 19 ‘ 203 


Questions put by the Stadtholder to the Master of the Pink Johanna Hoo- 
genraat wine fale : : : : ibid 
General Daendel’s Proclamation to the Dutch, inviting them to surrender 204 


Proclamation of the Revolutionary Committee of Amsterdam, ibid. 
Proclamation of the Representatives of the French Nation to the People of 
Batavia : ; : 205 


Proclamation of the Provisionary Representatives of the People of Amster- 

dam . ; ; 2 ° abid. 
Second Proclamation é DAM F 206 
Public Instrument of the new Order of Things, published at the Hague, 207 
Proclamation of the French Commissioners at the Hague, Jan. 27. 209 


Proclamation signed at the Hague ; : SLO 
Proclamation of the Representatives of the French People, at the Hague, 
Jan 30 ; L dee x ; x ibid, 
Proclamation of the Provisional Representatives of the People of Amster _ 
_ dam. : } S : ibid 
Second Proclamation, by the same, ‘ 213 


Proclamation of the Council of State, in the Regency of Neufchatel 216 
Proclamation of the Prince of Orange 2 ; - S17 
Decree of the King of Spain, Feb. 4 . . 221 
Edict of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, : ot) aeeabid. 
Imperial Decree of Commission, from the Emperor, to the Diet at Ratis- 
bon, respecting the Proposition for negotiating a Peace with France, 223 
Proclayation addressed to the Batavian Army, by the States-General, 224 
' [*N 2) Procla- 


' CONTENTS. 


Proclamation to the Dutch People, from the Provisional Representaticcs of 


Holland, March 26 ‘ 225 
Proclamation from the Committee of Public Safety, of the French Conten- 
ttor, to the Inhabitants of the Province Guipuscoa, in Spain 226 


Declares of the King ef Prussia to his most high Colleagues, Co-States of 
the German Empire, rand Members of the Germanic League, with respect 
to the Treaty of Peace concluded between himand the French Republic 227 

Proclamation from the French National Convention to the Citizens of 
Paris 234 

Subsiauce of the Emperor's Fes of Cainniissians dated emits May 19, 
relative to preparatory Measures for a Pacification, presented to the As 


sembly of the Diet of the Empire. at Ratisbon, May 22 y 235 
Copy of the Note delivcred from the Emperor to the King of Prussia, at 
Berlin, Feb. 21 F A 238 
Answer of the Prussian Cabinet : 239 
The Members of the General Administration of Bane Flavdostes sitting at 
Ghent, to the National Convention of France, Feb. 3 , 240 
Letter from the Representatives of the People, with the Armies of the North 
and Sambre, and Meuse, to the National Convention : 24) 
The Members of the Central Administration of Belgium to the National 
Convention 2 ibid. 


Letter from the Renrescnvatines of the Fr ench People, with the Armies of 
the North, to the National Conveation, dated Brussels, Feb. 26, 242 


Letter from the same, Alarch 7 243 
Address of the Magistrates of Antwerp to the National Contention ibid. 
Letter from the Magistrates of Brussels, read in the Convention 244. 
Substance of a Rescript of the Emperors dated Vienna, presented to the 
Ministers of the States, et Ratisbon, May 4 = ibid. 
Substance of a Declaration, made, May 12, to the Ministers of the States of 
the Empire, by the Emperor 245 


Substance of the Emperer’s second Rescr ink to the Diet of Ratisbon, ibid. 
Substance of the Address, which accompanied the Medal, which the Danish 

Nation sent to Count Bernstorff 246 
Substance of the Treaty between Great Raas and the Dey of Alziers 246 
Proclamation to. the People of France, upon the Completion of the Con- 


stitution - ‘ ebid. 
Freaty concluded at Basle, ee 8, hetaneets the Republic of France and 

the Landgrave of Hesse Cassell ‘ ; 247 
Decree for incorporating the Austrian Ne therlands, Sc. with the French 

Republic . ‘ 248 
Proclamation to the I nak People, Oct. 7 250 
Proclamation from the Executive Directory to the Fi ce People 251 
Letter from Louis XV IIT. to the Archbishop of Par as ‘i - 953 
Letter from Louis XV LIT. to the Pope E ibid, 
Answer of the Pope : abid. 
Proclamation of Louis XVIT. ce to the Froieh People i 254 
Edict published. at Hanover, Sept. 29 262 
Pro Memoria, or, Note delivered by the Prussia, Divecsirsal Envoy to the 

States of Franconia : . ; “ 263 


Imperial 


CONTENTS. 


Imperial Decree of Ratification, concerning the Opening of Negociations 
for a Peace between the E umpire and France, August 21, ‘ 265 
Inper ial Court-Decree, concerning the separate Treaty of Peace concluded 
between the Landgrave of eae Cassell and the French Republic, 267 
Treaty of defensive Alliance between iis Britannic Majesty and the Empe- 


ror of Germany, signed at Vienna, May 29, . 269 
Treaty of defensive Alliance between his Britannic Majesty and the Em- 
press of Russia, Keb. 18, 272 
Manifesto on the Part of the Empress of Russia, relative to the Affairs of 
Poland, . . 277 
Proclamation by Sir Gilbert Elliot, Viceroy of Corsica 3 279 
Note of Mr. Drake, the British Envoy Ys to the Genoese Republic 281 
Answer to the above : ° ibid. 
Treaty between America and Algiers ‘ ‘ 28¢ 
Treaty between America and Sapin ‘ 286 
Abstract of the Treaty between Great Britian and Aner 3 294 
Treaty between the King of Spain and the Republic of France 297 
Speech of the President of the United States of America to both Houses of 
Congress, Dec. 8, 1795. . ; 4 300 


CT AAR A Goa Rv: 


Account of the Reign and Character of Maximilian II. Emperor of Ger- 
many ; from Wraxall’s History of France . *1 
Account of the Convent of Nuns of Clarisse, at Cologne ; Jrom Mrs. 
Radcliffe’s Journey through Holland and the Western Fronticr of Ger- 


many *4 
Observations on the distinct Characters of Modern W higs and Tories 3 from 
Belsham’s Memoirs of the Reign of George II. 5 5 


Description of the several Merits of Albert Durer, Michael Angelo, nes 
Leonardo da Vinci, by Mr. Fuseli; from Seward’s Anecdotes . *7 
Account of the Harem, or Apartments for the Ladies ; from Russell's Na- 
tural History of Aleppo : . *10 
Account of the Turkish Ladies i from the same *14 
Account of the Republic of San Marinu. By Dr. Calica. aioe of the 
History of Greece; from Seward's AnEeoTGs ca distinguished Pers 


sons, se. . *15 
Account of the celebrated Conspiracy of the. Pazzi, “at Florence ; from 
Roscoe's Life of Lorenzo de? Medici. . . . #27 
Poetical Character of Politiano ; from the same *30 
Character of the celebrated Girolamo Savonarola ; from the same *31 


Life f. the late James Boswell, Esq. from the Gentleman’s Magazine, *32 
The Life of Patrick Browne, M. D. Author of the History of Jamaica ; 
fromthe European Magazine #34 
Particulars of the Life and Character a ‘Allon Smith, LL. D. from the 
Third Volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society of FE dinburgh *37 
Anecdotes of Mr. ual amie of Dishley Mey fr om the Gentleman's 
Magazine ¥57 
N ATURAL 


CONTENTS. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 


Observations on the Structure of the Eyes of Birds, by Mr. Pierce Smith, 
Student of Physic ; from the Philosophical Transactions Mi #5Q 
Observations om the Influence which incites the Muscles of Animals to 
contract, in Mr. Galvani’s Experiments, by W.C. Wells, M. D. F.R.S. 
from the same - « aR ‘ : *61 
Observations on the Maritime Alps; from Beaumont’s Travels through 
them . : = é ; : ; tO" 
Account of the Buffalo of America, by Mr. Turner ; from Letters and Pa- 
pers on Agriculture, selected from the Correspondence of the Bath and 
West of England Society, Vol. VII. 5 et *74 
Account of the River Tigris ; from Ouseley’s Persian Miscellanies *75 
Observations on Spontaneous Inflammation ; with a particular Account of 
that which happened on board a Russian Frigate in the Ycar 1781; ‘and of 
the Experiments made in order to ascertain the Cause of it. Ina Letter 
to the Editors, fromthe Rev. William Tooke, I’. R. S. Member of the 
Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburgh, Sc. from the Reper- 


tory of Arts and Manufactures Skis : ‘ iS 
Account of the Lynx of Abruzzo; from De Salis’s Travels through various 
Provinces in the Kingdom of Naples, in'1789 : ; *83 


USEFUL PROJECTS. 


On the Use of Sea Water in Agriculture ; JSrom the Eari of Dundonald’s 


Treatise on Agriculture and Chemistry Q ‘ =85 
Account of the Mode of making Parmesan Cheese, by Mr. Pryte ; from 
Letters and Papers on Agriculture . ° *86 


‘aluable new Discovery for the Preservation of Corn; from the Paris 
Moniteur :—by Antoine Gouan, National Professor of Botany in the 
School of Health at Montpelier ; Addressed to the National Convention *87 

Discovery in Distillation from Potatoes, which will no doubt increase the 
Cultivation of that Valuable Article of Life : 2 #88 
Observations on the grafting of Trecs. Ina Letter from Thomas Andrew 
Knight, Esq. to Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. from the Philosophical Trans- 
actions > 5 : : ° *89 

On the Dry-Rot in Timber ; in a Letter from Robert Batson, Esq. of 
Lime-House, to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufac- 
tures, and Commerce ; from whose Transactions it is extracted *92 

Composition of a Water which has the Property of Destroying Catapillars, 
Ants, and other Insects ;-invented by C. Tatin, at Paris; from the 
Annals de Chimie ; : : : *93 

Specification of the Patent granted to Mr. John Tucker, of Wickham, in 
the County of Southampton, Tanner ; for his Method of Tanning, and 
making Leather of a superior Quality, and ina much shorter Period of 
Time, than hath hitherto been done. Dated May 12, 1795 *O4 

Rice Bread.—by Arthur Young, Esq. from Annals of Agriculture *95 

Substance 


CONTENTS. 


Substance of Sir John Sinclair’s Address to the Board of Agriculture, on 
Tuesday the 14th of July, 1795 ; stating the Progress that had been made 
in carrying on the Measures undertaken by the Board, for promoting 

‘the Improvement of the Country, during the second Sessions since its 
Establishment. , : : : *96 

Abstract of Minutes of the Evidence taken before the Committee of Council, 
appointed for the Consideration of all Matters relating to Trade, and 
Foreign Plantations, in Respect to the Stock of Grazn in this Country, and 
its Price subsequent to the Harvest of 1794, and respecting the Produce 
of the Harvest of the present Year; the present and probable Price of 
Grain in this Country till the ensuing Harvest ; and the Means of pro- 
curing g Supply to make good the Deticiency in the Produce of this Coun- 
try ; with other Proceedings thereupon, from Jan. 31, 1795, to Aug. 6, 
1795 and of the Evidence before the Lords of the Privy Council to the like 
Effect, from April 27, 1795, to November5,1795. . - *j00 

Evil of using Potatoes for Bread ; from the Annals of Agriculture, *109 


‘ANTIQUITIES. 


Account of the Government of England from the Year 1400 to 1485 ; from 
Andrews's History of Great Britain, vol. 1, part 2. : + ae 
Account of the Proceeding in the Trial by Battle ; from Dallaway’s Heral- 
dic Inquiries. : 5 ‘ : * : Pe dl 
Account of Chelsea College ; from Lyson’s Environs of London, *116 
Articles of Reconciliation between a Man and his Wife, Oct. 9, 1629; | 


from the same, : : : é : oy SRELS 
Account of Canons, the celebrated Seat of the Duke of Chandos, in the 
Parish of Siawnore Parva ; from the same, sii evs 


Curious Letter, wrote by John Lesly to Sir Thomas Riddle, of Gateshead, 
during the Siege of Newcastle by the Scots, in theReign of Charles I ; 
an authentic Copy from the Original, in the Possession of the Reddle 

_ Family, : Sr a : : 3 . ri92 

A Declaration of the Right Honourable James Earl of Derby, Lord Stanley 
and Strange, of Knocking and of the Isle of Man, concerning his Resolu- 
tion to keep the Isle of Man for his Majesty's Service, against all Force 
whatsoever. Together with his Lordship’s Letter in Answer to Commis- 
sary-General Ireton, - ? A“ aes ee 

Letter to General Ireton, in Answer to his Summons of the Isle of Man, *124 

Two Original Letters of King James the First, - ; . ibid. 

Description of the Ruin at Thessalonica, or Salonicha, called the Incuntada ; 
Srom Stuart and Revelt’s Antiquities of Athens, - ‘ ¥125 


~MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 


On the Instability of the Greek and Roman Republics ; from Whitaker's 
real Origin of Government, ; ‘ ; ; *127 
Geography 


CONTENTS. 


treography considered in a political Point of View; from Mercier’s 


fragments : . : *128 
On Didactic Poetry ; from a Critical Essay on Akenside’s Pleasures of the 
Imagination, by Mrs. Barbauld < , *130 


Of the Infirmities and Defects of Men of Genius ; from D’ Isracli’s Essay on 

the Literary Character : ‘ és : *131 
Whimsical Expences of Economy ; from the Gentleman's Magazine *154 
Grimaldi ; a true Story ; from Varieties of Literature : *138 


P00 8. POR, 


Ode for the New Year, 1795, by Henry James Pye, Esq. Poet-Laureat *145 
Ode for his Majesty’s Birth-Day, 1795, by the same . *146 
£xtract from Mr. Maurice's Elegiac Poem, on Sir William Jones — *147 
Ode to Jurymen, by Peter Pindar : - 5 *149 
dn Ancient Catch ; from a MS. of the Time of Queen Elizabeth, in the 

British Museum : F F : *150 
Verses written by the late Earl of Chatham. [From Seward’s Anecdotes, 

an which Work it was for the first Time printed.| To the Right Hon. 


Richard Grenville Temple, Lord Viscount Cobham : ibid. 
Prologue to the Wheel of Fortune = : . B52 
Epilogue to the same : . : : S153 
Address spoken by Mrs. Siddons, at her Benefit, and written by Samuel 

Rogers, Esq. Author of the Pleasures of Memory ‘ *154 
The Pursuit of Health ; from Beloc’s Miscellanies ; *156 
A Tale, by the Reo. Mr. Bishop. ; : é *158 
Epigram ; from the Gentleman's Magazine ; . "1 59 
Hope personified ; from Lorenzo de’ Medici, by William Roscoe ibid. 


Lhe Happiness of a Country Life, by the sane . : ibid. 
Phe Author calls upon the Faculties of his own Mind to exert themselves to 
great and useful Purposes, by William Roscoe ; from the same #160 
On the Death of Politian, occasioned bya Full from a Stair-case, as he was 
playing on his Lute. An Elegy on the Death of his Friend Lorenzo de’ 
Medici, by the same 2 . ; ‘ *101 


Account, of Books for 1795, 


The Life of Lorenzo de? Medici, called the Magnificent. By Wm. Roscoe, 
Ato. 2 vol. 1795. . ; ; . . : ee 162 
An Enquiry into the Foundation and History of the Laz of Nations inEurope 
Srom the Time of the Greeks and Romans to the Age of Grotius. By Ro- 
bert Ward, of the Inner Temple, Esq. Barrister at Law, 2 vols. 8v0. *171 
An Inquiry into the Duties of Man, in the higher and middle Classes of So 
ciety in Great Britain, resulting from their respective Stations, Professions. 
dnd Employments. Bu Thomas Gisborne, M. 4.4to, . « *37 


pte le hate te iene Tins ee 
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