portant duties of my prefent fituation, prevent me from accepting your invitation. Befides, my ttudies having been principally directed toward philofophy and theology, and not particularly toward legiflation, little could be expected from me in refpect to that fcience; but in every cafe in which my abilities will permit me to advance an opinion of any weight, it shall always be at their fervice, through the medium of my friend and correfpondent Francois, who is alfo chofen a member of the conventional affembly. As a minister of religion, the object of my moft ardent defires is your happiness. I fincerely pray, that the fupreme Being, the father and friend of mankind, whofe providence directs all events, may deftroy the machinations of your enemies, and put an end to the troubles with which you are now agitated: and may he give a speedy and happy establishment to your affairs. Ioffer up this prayer both as a Frenchman and an Englishman, fince we have at length made the happy difcovery fo long kept a fecret only by the ambition of courts, that France and England, neighbouring nations, have an equal interest in being friends with each other. I am, &c. J. PRIESTLEY.' The fame deputy alfo read two other letters from Dr. Priestley. The one was a request to the national convention to permit him to decline the honour of fitting among them. The other was an answer to a letter fent him by M. Roland, informing him of his election.-In this letter he congratulated the minifter on his great talents and activity, and above all, on his conduct during the French revolution. He exhorred him to continue his exertions against the internal enemies of the ftate, while his brave countrymen were fighting upon the frontiers in defence of liberty. Thefe letters were much applauded, and ordered to be infcribed in the minutes; and in anfwer to his letter, addrefied to the affembly, the prefident was charged to inform him, that the convention would receive with pleasure any reflections which he might be pleafed to tranfmit to them. The convention then decreed, that all the filver plate found in the churches, and in the houfes of the emigrants, should be fent to the mint. They likewife decreed, that none of the minifters of ftate could be chofen from among the deputies to the convention, On Saturday, Sept. 29, the convention decreed that the committee of the constitution fhould confift of twelve perfons, and that it should be diffolved as foon as it had drawn up its plan. It was likewife agreed that the plan of the conftitution, when drawn up, fhould not be difcuffed, till at least two months after it should be prefented to the convention, in order that it might be examined by all the liberal-minded and enlightened men in Europe. The fame day, the prefident of the conveation received a letter from M. Roland. This virtuous minister, adverting to the afcendancy which it was apprehended that the commons of Paris wifhed to have over the convention, thus proceeds: Paris, doubtlefs, has done great fervice to liberty. For this reafon we must not permit perverfe or blinded men to ftifle or enchain it there, in the name of the people whom they deceive. For this reafon Paris ought to reduce itself to the eighty-third part of its influence; for influent more extenfive might excite fears, and nothing would be more hurtful to Paris than difcontent a mistrust in the departments. It is because Pat has been of great fervice to liberty that we ough to enfure to it the enjoyment of liberty, by perfect equilibrium, and by the strongest unions all the parts of the empire. For this reika v ought to suffer no deputation, however numen it may be, to aim at any kind of afcendency ove the convention; for the beft laws can refalt any from wife and matured eliberation, and this cr take place but where perfect independence and t greatest freedom of opinion prevail. For this refon the convention must have an armed force, belonging to Paris, or any other city, but to t whole republic, for the convention is the rep fcntative body of the whole republic and cant! without abfurdity, without inconvenience, as without inexpreffible misfortunes, be fubje any of its parts. Thefe are truths which met be told, becaufe they concern the farety, par and profperity of France.' He noticed then an attempt to ridicule Es for the influence which it was fuppofed his s had over him. I consider myself,' fid extremely happy to think, that my eserie were reduced to the neceflity of ridiculing the union of virtues which prevail in my family. have enemies, and I must have, for I am fah convinced that there can be no patriotism without morality. I am fufpicious, therefore, of these vijm of whomfoever is accufed of wanting lity, and I must be feared or detefted by all the who are in that clafs. It is always numerous inthe the time of revolutions, and it is from it that a thofe exceffes proceed which disfigure them. Land left dry after a flood continues fam time to be infefted with those infects which reman uncovered; but they foon perish. In the fant manner the vices and paflions nourished by deftifm furvive it, and appear for a moment to da newborn liberty. But its powerful warmth, lik: that of the meridian fun, purifies, animates, an every where diffufes life and happiness. Such is the Revolution which we ftill wanta revolution of manners. I flatter myfelf that I fhall even be of fome fervice in that. I reject 20 partof the task impofed on the ministry of a people, who are free, and who have adopted the pureft principles of republicanifm.' This letter was much applauded, and ordered to be printed,an i fent to the eighty-three departments. On Monday, October 1, a letter was read from the commilioners who had been fent by the convention to the armies under Kellerman and Dumourier, then united at St. Menehould in Champagne; in which they observe, that on the morning of September 29, they viited the camp of general Dumourier. We fuccellively reviewed,' faid they, * our troops. General Dumourier announced to the foldiers our arrival, as well as motives of aut journey, and the whole army, by their acclanutions, teftified the falleft approbation of your decrees. We harangued the foldiers, and tod then, that they were now going to fight for their homes, their wives, and their children; that the A letter was then read from the minifter for foreign affairs. I announced,' faid he, to the convention, that overtures for a negociation had been made in the name of the king of Pruffia to general Dumourier. I mentioned, at the fame time, the decision of the executive power, which ordered the generals to listen to no propofals until the armies of Defpots had first evacuated the land of liberty. The propofals of the king of Pruffia were, however, remarkable; as they contained a precife acknowledgment of the national authority, and of the quality of reprefentative of the nation in external relations, which had been attached formerly to the political exiftence of the conftitutional king. Another acknowledgment, no lefs remarkable, was, that the ancient order of things, deftroyed by the will of the nation Since 1789, was contrary to the happiness of the people. Such an unexpected acknowledgment, fpontaneously made, without any previous negociation, might incline us to think that the enemy's armies are in the greateft diftrefs. There are, however, other motives equally preffing, which make them think of peace: a kind of truce was agreed upon. General Dumourier took advantage of it, to collect, and properly difpofe the different bodies which were to be joined to his army. He quietly made all thofe movements which were necefiary to give him a fuperiority, by his fiuation, and to confine the enemy in theirs. While he was thus preparing military plans, frequent communications, which could not but be advantageous to liberty, were established between the two armies. Dumourier embraced this opportunity of exchanging prifoners of war. The cartel agreed on with the Pruffian generals was formed according to the laws decreed by the national afiembly. The emigrant prifoners were not included in it, and the duke of Brunswick did not even perfift in a remonftrance, which he had made in their fa vour. A conference on this occafion took place between the duke of Brunswick, count de Luchefini, minifter of the king of Pruffia, and lieutenant colonel adjutant general Thouvenot, who was charged with conducting the exchange of prifon.rs. In this conference the duke of Brunf wick expreffed himself almost in the following terms: Our nations are not formed to be enemies: might not fome means be devised for accoinmodat ing matters in an amicable manner? We are in your country: it is defolated by the inevitable miffortunes of war; we know that we have no right to prevent a nation from giving itself laws, and from tracing out its internal government. We do not wish it. We are only interested for the fate of the king. Affure us, that a place will be affigned to him, in the new order of things, under any denomination whatever, and his majesty, the king of Pruffia, will return to his own itates, and become your ally, The moderation of this language from a man who figned the manifeftoes already published, and to which the contempt of the French nation has done ample juftice, muft appear furprifing. Lieutenant-colonel Thouvenot anfwered, that the will of the French republic would not yield to any foreign influence, and that the reprefentatives of the nation, to whom the valuable depofit of its honour and glory was particularly intrufted, would perfift in maintaining decrees which had been fanctioned by general opinion." The Duke of Brunfwick terminated the conference, by faying, that he would transmit to general Dumourier a memorial upon the subject. This memorial is a third manifefto, worthy in every thing of the two former. General Dumourier received it with indignation. It was immediately announced, that the truce was broken; and letters from the general, in a ftyle fuited to a man honoured with the noble employment of conducting Frenchmen to victory, procured an answer from the king of Pruffia's aid-du-camp, ftating that the intentions of the king, and of the duke of Brunswick, had been mifunderstood; that a new conference was demanded; and that the royal and imperial armies would not be the first to break the truce. General Dumourier refused to confent to any new conference, or any delay in the operations of the campaign, unless the memorial of the duke of Brunswick fhould be first annulled. Such is the actual state of things.' The copy of the declaration or memorial of the duke of Brunswick, referred to in the above letter, was then read by M. Briffot: (See our Magazine for October, p. 292.) On the 2d and 3d of October, other letters were received from the commiffioners of the army, announcing the actual retreat of the invading army. "The enemy," fay the commiflioners, are retiring as faft as they can, but they are harraffed in their retreat. During two days they have loft more than 400 men, who have been taken prifoners, together with a number of waggons loaded with provitions of every kind. The road road behind them is ftrewed with dead bodies. The camp, which they have quitted, resembles a burying-ground; above 300 horfes, half eaten, were found in it. The prifoners and deferters all agree, that they have more than 50 men fick in each company; the foldiers were often fix or feven days without tafting bread. Dumoarer's army is in the best order poffible. All officers and foldiers are animated with a defire of conquering. The general, by the able manœuvres he employed, and the pofitions he took, has finished a campaign which will form an epoch in the annals of France. One will be fcarcely able to believe, that he dared to retreat with 17,000 men from an army of 80,cco; to take fuch a pofition as enabled him to ftop their progreis, effect a junction with the different bodies which came to his afiftance, and placing himself directly between the Pruffian army, encamped at Liron and La Lune, oppofite the latter, and be a check by the camp of Bienne, which he took poffeffion of, upon 20,000 Heffans, encampt at Clermont. By continually harraffing the enemy, and intercepting their convoys, he has been able to detain them in the most berren part of France, and to oblige them at length to retire fhamefully from the country, with an army diminished one-third by difeafe, and the prifoners they have lost.” On Wednesday, October 4, the national convention decreed, that the fum of 50,000 livres, granted on the 12th of Auguft, for the expences of the heretofore king, fhould be committed to the difpof of the minifter of the home department, who, on refponfibility, fhould fuccefively deliver in the orders for payment of the bills of the tradefmen. They likewife ordered an eftimate of the future expences to be made out, in order to regulate the fum to be granted for that purpose. On Saturday, October 6, the minister of justice fent to the convention the feals of the ftate in gold, with the maces, which were carried by the mace-bearers of the chancery. The convention decreed, that thefe articles, as well as the fceptre and the crown of the cidevant king, and other infignia of the like kind, fhould be broken and carried away to the mint.' On Sunday, the convention annulled the decree for removing general Montefquicu from his command. A deputation of the fection of Paris, called Gravilliers, requefted that the convention would 1peedily pafs fentence on the king; and complained at the fame time of feveral decrees of the convention. "The men of the roth of Auguft, faid they, will never fuffer thofe in whom they have placed their confidence to drown for a moment the fovereignty of the people. Courage in a free people is a virtue, and we will never depart from this principle that if it is just to obey the laws, it is juft alfo to refift defpots, under whatever mak they may conceal themselves. We are of opinion that our intereft requires that we should make our election by open vote." -6 Prefident Citizens, the right of petitioning is a facred right, but those who prefent themselves at the bar to employ it, ought sot to forget that refpect which they owe to the reprefentatives of the people I do not mean to the people of Paris, but to the people of all France. The national convention only acknowledges one people, one fovereign-that is, the union of the citizens of the whole republic. The reprefentatives will o be compelled by threats to violate or dif. ha ge their duty. They know it, and will render themieira worthy of that confidence with which the French republic have invested them. They have nothing to fear, and they fear nothing from the people of Paris; and what you faid, to affure them, wa perfectly ufelefs. They entertain neither fear tor fufpicion. In short, the national convention will always hear with pleasure the language of liberty, but it will never fuffer that of licentioufnels. will take your petition into confideration, and admit twenty of you, the number painted out by the law, to the honours of the fitting.” ted. The convention ordered this answer to be pra The fection of Gravilliers protested their feb. miffion to the law, but requested that the fettin for the future fhould be authorifed to choose by open vote. They were of opinion that no fear of preponderance of party could influence elections of that kind. On Tuesday, October 9, it was decreed, the fuch of the emigrants, as are taken with arms in their hands, fhall be executed within 24 houn, after being first proved to be emigrants, before a military commiffion of five perions, to be appoin ted by the etat-major of the army; foreigners who have quitted the fervice of France, fince the 14th of July, 1789, and joined the emigrants, or the enemy, to be treated in the fame mre; the powers at war to be responsible for all viskions of the law of nations by any reprisals made by the emigrants. 1 On Thursday, the 11th, one of the secretari proclaimed the names of the members who are te compole the committee of the constitution. That werc Seyes, Thomas Paine, Petion, Briffot, Ver gniaud, Genfonne, Barriere, Danten, Condur. cet. On Friday, October 12, the prefident and fecret ry of the fection of Marielles communicated a refolution of the fection, demanding a repeal of the decree which directs elections to be made by ballot, instead of open vote. The ref lution imported alfo, that if the affembly should not repeal the decree, the fection would it ke luch measures as to its wifdom fhould feem meet, obeying, provifionally, the decree in the mean time. Several members called for a decree of accufation against the prefident and the fecretary. The convention ordered, that they fhould be brought to the bar, to an an antwer for their conduct. The prefident announced a letter from general Dumourier, in which he requested leave to come and prefent his refpects to the national convention. The convention having immediately decreed that the general should be admitted, he appeared at the bar, accompanied by feveral of his italf officers. General General Dumourier's Speech. "Citizens, legiflators Liberty is every where triumphant; guided by philofophy, it will overfpread the univerfe, and it will establish itself on all throne:, after having crushed defpotifm, and enlightened the people. "The conftitutional laws which you are about to frame, will form the bafis of the happiness and fraternity of nations. This war will be the laft, and tyrants and privileged orders, miftaken in their criminal calculations, will be the fole victims in this ftruggle of arbitrary power against reafon. The army, which the confidence of the nation entrufted to my command, have deferved well of their country. Reduced, when I joined them on the 28th of Augufi to 17,000 men, and difar. ganized by traitors, whom punishment and fhme every where pursue, they were neither intimidated by the number, difcipline, threats, barbarity, nor first fucceffes of 80,000 fitellites of defpotifin. The défiles of the foreft of Argon were the Thermopyla, where this handful of foldiers of liberty made a respectable refiftance for 15 days to that formidable army. More fortunate than the Spartans, we were fupported by two armies, animated by the fame fpirit, whom we joined at the impregnable camp of St. Menchould. The enemy, in defpair, wished to attempt an attack, which adds a new victory to the military career of my colleague and friend Kellerman. In the camp of St. Menehould, the foldiers of liberty displayed other military virtues, without which even-courage may be hurtful-confidence in ther chiefs, obedience, patience, and perfeverance That part of the republic confits of a dry foil, deftitute of wood and water. The Germans will remember it; heir impure blood will perhaps fertilize thefe barren plains, which are now drenched with it. The feafon was uncommonly rainy and cold; our foldiers were badiy clothed; were deftitute of ftraw to lie upon; had no covering, and remained fometimes two days without bread, becaufe the pofition of the enemy obliged our conveys to take a long circuit by crofs roads, which are very bad at all feafons, and which were then spoiled by the long rains: for I must do juftice to the purveyors of provifions and forage, who, notwithstanding all the obftacles of bad roads, wet weather, and the fecret movements which I was obliged to conceal from them, fupplied us with abundance, as far as was poffible; and I am happy in declaring, that we are indebted to their care for the good health of the foldiers. [Applaufes.] I never heard them murmur. Songs and joy would have made one take this formidable camp for one of thofe camps of pleafare, where the luxury of kings formerly collected embodied automata, for the amufement of their mistreffes and children. The foldiers of liberty were supported by the hope of conquest; their fatigues and fufferings have been rewarded; the enemy have funk under famine, mifery, and difeafe. This formidable army, diminished one half, has fled. The roads are strewed with the carcaffes of horfes and dead bodies. Kellerman is in purfuit of them with more than 40,000 men, while I fhall march Hib. Mag. Dec. 1792. Citizen general, the reception you have met with from the national convention will exprefs to you much better than I can their fatisfaction with your conduct, and that of your colleagues, and the opinion they entertain of Continue to you. direct the courage and zeal of the army; cont nuc ro guide your foldiers and your brethren in arms, in the path of honour and of victory; continue to ferve your country with fidelity, and you will have new claims to the esteem and gratitude of the republic. The convention invites you as well as your brethren in arms, to the honour of the fitting." An adjutant general of Dumourier's army prefented to the convention the first standard which the emigrants had difplayed, and which the foldiers of liberty had conrageoufly taken from the enemy. The convention decreed, that this signal of rebellion, inftead of being hung in the hail as a trophy, fhould be put into the hands of the common executioner, to be publicly burnt. They decreed, likewife, that the king's effigy fhould be taken away from the affignats. Charles of Helle, commandant of Befancon [a relation of the landgrave of Hoffe Ciffel, and heretofore called prince Charles of Helle] informed the convuntion, that in confequence of his attachment to the caufe of liberty and equality, his property in Germany was taken from him, by the order of the landgrave of Heffe. The convention ordered the committee of domains to inquire into this, with a view to indemnity Charles of Heffe out of the property of his family in France. A degree was paffed, declaring that the inhabitants of Lifle have deferved well of their country. On Monday, October 15, the convention decreed the fuppreffion of the crofs of St. Louis, and referred to the committe of conftitution and war, to report whether a new military decoration fhould be substituted. The city of Geneva having admitted a garrifon of 1,600 Swifs, and having given a negative to the requifition of the French ministry, that they fhould be fent away," the minister for fɔreign affairs informed the convention that the executive council had fent the following notifi cation to themagistrates of Geneva ; The council p rifts in requiring that the Акаа 1,600 Swine, N Chapter XVI. the Hiftory is refumed. After the fuccefsful campaign of 1695, William diffolved his fecond parliament. "By this parliament," our author obferves, continental connections were first adopt ed into the political fyftem of England, and the practice of borrowing and funding was introduced;" and he laments, not without reason, that, from the unfkilful manner in which the fupplies and loans were conducted, and from the corruption which had pervaded every department, many millions of national debt were unneceffarily contracted. He gives them credit, however, for their efforts to fecure the purity and independence of their fucceffors," though even thefe efforts were directed by party fpirit and facticus motives. This picture, though unpleafing, we are afraid, is not drawn beyond the life. The first triennial parliament," he remarks," commenced their political career with a mafure no lefs confonant to justice than to, the general defire of the nation." This was the bill by which trials for high treafon were regulat ed according to the law and practice of England with refpect to other crimes. In his detail of this important acquifition to the liberties of the fubject, and of the other proceedings in Parliament, the Doctor preferves his ufual animation and impartiality. His account alfo of the projected invafior from France, of the conspiracy to affam nate William, of the trial of the confpirators, and of the debates on the bill for attainting fir John Fenwick, merits the fame praife. We are pleafed to find him, iu one note, vindicating the unfortunate James from all concern in the.intended affaffination of William; and, in another note, vindicating William from the charge of perfonal enmity and feverity against Sir John Tenwick. The following paragr ph, while it juftifies our opinion of the talents and political principles of the Author, contains fuch a deferved encomium on celebrated names as cannot be unacceptable to our readers. "The patriotic exertions of the commons in this feffion deferve to be remembered with the warmeft gratitude by pofterity. Both admiration and efteem are called forth, while we confider the ingenuity of individuals, in devifing expedients to deliver the nation from the most preffing embarraffiments; and the generofity of parties, in fufpending animofities, and cordially adopting those measures which were effential for restoring national credit and profperity. While the example of their wisdom and fuccefs inculcates this encouraging maxim, that the patriot ought never to defpair under the darkest and most perplexing of pect of public affairs, the refolutions and meafares which they pugfued, exhibit fpecific remedies for fimilar calamities, if they should occur at any future period. I fhall only, in general, mention thofe facts which give an aftonishing view of the fpirit and wifdom difplayed in the houfe of commons. Every former feflion of parliament, firce the commencement of the war, had never propofed any thing farther, than to impofe taxes acequate to the intereft of the principal fums berrowed for the fervices of the year; and they had often failed in this purpofe, through the infutfciency of the funds for the payment alligned to them, and exch quer tallies were discounted st the rate of thirty or forty per cent. The houfe of commons, during this feflion, not only provided funds for raifing the whole fupplies within the year, but alfo for difcharging the deficiencies of all former fupplies. The fum of five hundred and fifteen thousand pounds was voted for the relief of the civil lift, which was in arrears, and the fum of one hundred and twenty-five thoufand pounds for making good the deficiency in recoining the money. Thefe refolutions, and the measures by which they were accomplished, while they reflect honour on all who acceded to them, confecrate the name of Mr. Montague, the chancellor of the exchequer, to diftinguuhed and lafting applaufe. Poffeffed of an understanding penetrating and comprehenfive, he devoted hinfelf, with intenfe application, to the Rtudy of finance; and fuggefted expedients and refource which not only eluded the refearches of the most ingenious fpeculators, but exceeded the comprehenfion of many, who were far from being ignorant or inexpert with refpect to the ordinary bufines of the revenue.. The names of the celebrated Sir Ifaac Newton and Mr. Locke are also tranfmitted to our gratitude, for having contributed their affittance to Mr. Montague in this arduous butinefs; and it is a pleasure to publish every cir cumftance, which adds to the merit of those whose memory is fo precious to every friend of science and virtue. At the fame time it may be obferved, that all their ingenuity would have been exercifed in vain, and all their expedients and refources muft have failed, if the means and faculties of the nation had not been in aftate of progreffive improvement. A fam exceeding ten millions, raised within the pace of one year, in a nation which had already fupported feven expenfive campaigns, affords the moit unequivocal proof of the increafe of national profperity in confequence of the revo Jution; |