fefted by the enemy, to attempt a defcent on The levies, he obferved, as they were at prefent conducted, were extremely irregular and difproportionate in the feveral counties. By the prefent militia laws there were a proportion in fome counties of but one to feven, while in others it ran as high as one to fortythree. He did not therefore mean to regulate the prefent plan refpecting the fupplemental militia, according to the original numbers as the militia was then, railed, but according to the numbers as they actually were in the different counties. The next point to which Mr. PITT directed the attention of the houfe was, to increase the number of irregular ca valry for this purpose, the first step would be to afcertain the number of horfes kept for pleafure; the perfon who kept a horfe of that defcription, could certainly have no objection to forward the meafure, fince it was evident, rom his being in fuch a fituation, that he had a confiderable ftake to defend. The tax on horfes furnished a juft medium to afcertain the amount of the irregular cavalry, which might be added to the force already established throughout the country. It appeared from this tax, that no lefs than two hundred thousand horfes were kept for pleatiffe, 120.000 of them were paid for by perfons who kept one horfe only. He propoted to take the tenth of the whole of the taxed horfes, which would, confequently, furnifh a body of 20,000 cavalry. Whoever kept ten horfes, he propofed to produce at a certain day a man and a horfe fully accourred, and those who kept above that number to furnish in proportion. Where perfons kept lets, they might be joined together to complete that number, and the man and horfe fhould in that cafe be furnished by ballot., He next propofed to en.body, as a corps of mark mun the game-koopers throughout the kingdom: in other words, that every one who had taken out a licence as game-keeper, fhould be allowed to throw it up; but if he did not, he fhould be obliged to enter into the corps. In that cafe, the number of men under that defcription would be about 7000. The aggregate of Mr. PITT's propofals were: To raife 15,coo men, to be divided between the army and the navy; A fupplemental militia, confifting of 60,000 men; A body of irregular cavalry, as near 20,000 men as poffible, and, A corps of 7000 men, expert in the ufe of fire-arms, confifting of gamekeepers, amounting in all to 102,000 . 1796.] Political Affairs-Great Britain. 743 forces, by obferving, that if the enemy did not liten to proper terms of peace, but perfevered in continuing the war, notwithstanding every jutt propofa ir could not be contended that or country that it thould be confidered in fuch a cafe, that the feafonable increase of our force would fecure us fate y at home, and enable us to te ac pt of it a road, and that he carneftly defired, that he might not be implicated in a contrary opinion. burdens upon the people, and to detract from the industry, and fuipend the labours of the poor, without any one oftenfible caufe or folid proof whatever. The first duty of the houfe in fuch a cafe was, before it affented to fuch ex-hould not undertake off wive operal.ons: traordinary and oppreffive propofals, to affure itfelf of their neceflity. If the houfe was not difpofed to imitate the conduct of the tait parlia nent, by relying on affertion only, and refigning itself up to an implicit confidence; then he trusted that it would infift upon fome proof being offered, that the danger against which it was deemed neceffary to provide, did actually exift. The minifter feemed to have built the plan of his operations upon a bafelefs foundation; he might with equal juice, have adopted the fame pan om years finée, when general DUMOUR ER threatened to fail up the Thames, and take the tower of London. But to expect any other authority from the prefent minifters than declaration, he was well aware, was vain, and for the luftation of this affertion, he referred to all their paft tranfactions. They had before raifed and diffuied alarms, for other purples than thofe which they profeffed, but tending chiefly to increase their own extenfive power; and he had therefore every reafon to be doubtful now of their fincerity. The minifter's idea of decimating the beaucavalry in Hyde Park was ludicrous, particularly where it affected thofe equeftrians who clubbed to keep a horfe. As to that part of the plan which inyolved the game-keepers; although they had taken out a licence to kill game, he did not fee why they were better qualified to kill Frenchmen. He confidered the plan as oppreilive in the extreme, fince there were many perfons and with families, who either muft abandon their occupation, or muft fubmit to difagreeable conditions, which neither did exift, nor could be poffibly forefeen, when they accepted their employment. Mr. DUNDAS, after referring to what Mr. SHERIDAN had faid of the conduct of the laft parliament, flattered himfelf that the prefent one, confidering "the beneficial and laudable meafures' adopted by their predeceffors, would fhow their approbation of thofe meatures, by their readiness in following fimilar steps. This minifter argued in favour of the propofed augmentation of the national Mr. Fox agreed with Mr. SHERIDAN, tha no proof had been adduced of the exiftence of any danger to this untry. from a fuppofed detcent of the enemy. Mr. DUNDAS, he faid. hid fpoken of the last parinent as having fat fix years with the higheft approbation, and the greateft advantage to this cou try. "For my part," laid Mr. Fox, “I think the laft parliament did the mot mitchief to this country and its livery, that ever was done to it fince firft the name of liberty, or the ufe of parliaments, were known. The hon. gentleman might have shown that the lat parliament had infringed the rights of the people, and increafed the power of the executive government beyond any former example. Pari.aments were.originally initiated to protect the public pufe, and the power of the people; but the laft parliament was lavish of both, and proved, in his opinion, the greatest curfe that a people had ever experienced." The general current of Mr. Fox's obfervations on the propofed measure, went to prove, that minikers were not afraid of an invafion, but that they augmented the domeftic force of the country only that (as Mr. DUNDAS intimated) they might be enabled to detach a larger portion to purfue deftructive fchemes of conqueft abroad. Mr PITT, as might be expected, defended the latt parliament against the affertions advanced by Mr. SHERIDAN and Mr. Fox. Colonel TARLETON profeffed he would not oppofe the meafure at prefent, but he defired that it might be viewed with all poffible jealoufy. Mr. ELFORD (a new member) fupported the measures before the committee; and afferted, that the clamour excited against the bills paffed last sesfion, was caufed by grofs mifreprefentation, Mr. Mr. CURWEN poke against the meafures propofed by the minifter; he thought that if any enemies to the country and conftitution exifted, he must look for the traitors near the throne. Mr. Serjeant ADAIR faid, he thought that the bills paffed laft feffions had prevented feditious meetings, and therefore deferved every eulogium. All the refolutions paffed the committee. In conformity to that part of his majefty's fpeech, which relates to a negociation for peace, we find, that the executive directory of France published an official note, purporting, that an application, dated Westminster, the zift of September, was remitted, on the 27th of September, to the minifter of foreign affairs for the French republic, and by rim prefented to the directory, defiring palports for an envoy from the British cabinet, who was to proceed to Paris, to make overtures of peace. That the executive directory immediately charged the minifter of foreign affairs to deliver the paffports defired, to the envoy of England, who fhall be invefted with full powers, not only to propofe and negociate a peace between the French republic and Great Britain, but to conclude it definitively between the two powers." If, then, the English government," adds the directory," in this proceeding (agree. ably to her former conduct in refpect to this point) does not wifh merely to deceive the public, and induce it to believe that the carries on the war unwillingly if it is not adopted in order to have the pretext for requefting fupplies, which the English people beholds them lavish with regret; if this government abjures unjuft hatred; if the opens her car to the voice of humanity if the yields to the wifh of the nation, whofe interefts and welfare are intruited to her care, the peace will experience, on our parts, neither obftacle nor delay." Lord MALMSBURY, who had acquired fome reputation in foreign negociations, while minifter of the Hague, was felected by the Britifh cabinet as a proper perfon to conduct this important negociation. He left London on his momentous miffion on the 15th of October; and later accounts have announced his fafe arrival at Calais. The British miniftry have at length come to an open rupture with the Genocfe; and the caufe of this difference, we underfland, to have been as follows: Twelve or fifteen tranfports, laden with artillery and ammunition for the French army, were in the port of Genoa, and were proceeding to land their cargoes in the harbour of St. Pierre d'Arena. On the 12th of September, an English fhip of 74 guns went out of port, and fent two boats, with 25 men each, who boarded a French veffel employed in landing her goods, cut the cable, and carried her off as a prize. The failors immediately on the atrack, quitted the veffel, and gave the alarm to the gunners, who flew to arms, and fired upon the English boats; but the hips of war having difpatched fresh boats to affift in the capture, the French veffel was foon out of reach of the cannon. A gun boat, and two corfairs, which were in the port, went out, and advanced with boldness to the English fhips to cut off the prize; but they were forced to retire. The 74 gun fhip was half gun-fhot from the Mole; two fhots were fired upon the French works at St. Pierre d'Arena, which determined the Genoefe batteries to fire but feebly, and confequently without fuccefs. This event, however, caufed a general alarm in the city A quarrel took place between the Geneofe and French, becaule the former appeared to favour the English officers who were there; and an officer of the navy was wounded by the Geneefe guard. The French minifter immediately demanded the port to be fhut against the English, and the fequeftration of the English veffels there. Thefe two demands were complied with by the government, who, however, could not diffemble their extreme embarrassment, as the agents of the Genoefe government had guaranteed to the French their landing goods in the harbour of St, Pierre d'Arena. The British cabinet, by fome means, has been led to conftrue thefe tranfactions into an aggreflion on the part of the Genocfe, and on that account has laid an embargo upon all Genocfe fhips in Englifh ports, or which fhould arrive in English ports, till farther orders. We noticed in our laft the royal proclamation, by which the free navigation, from Great Britain to the United Provinces of Holland was permitted, as well as the exportation of all kinds of merchandife, except military and naval ammunition, provided they were ex ported under a neutral flag.' After the national affembly of the Batavian people had taken the above pro clamation 1796.] Political Affairs.-Ireland... France. clamation into ferious confideration, they iffued a proclamation, on the 16th of September, in which they termed the British proclamation an artifice, which the Batavian people well knew how to appreciate a lure which they difdained. What Batavian heart," faid the proclamation," is not filled with indignation, on confidering that the enemy of our country would offer us for fale thofe very effects of which we have been wrongfully pillagedThey refolve, That it fhall not be permitted to import into the United Provinces any British manufactures whatever, nor any British merchandize in general. That upon the importation of effects of this kind, they fhall be confifcated to the profit of the Batavian people. "That it be forbidden to the inhabitants of the Batavian republic to accept or pay any bills of Exchange drawn from Great Britain." IRELAND. On the 13th of October, his excellency the lord lieutenant proceeded to the houfe of lords, and opened the feffion with a fpeech, the echo of that made by his majefty to the English parliament. The addrefs to his majefty was moved for by Mr. WOLFE, in a maiden fpeech, and feconded by Mr. BAGWELL. Mr. GRATTAN propofed an amendment to the addrefs, the purport of which was, to effect the complete conceffion of the conftitutional privileges to the Roman Catholics of Ireland. This produced a debate, which was not concluded till paft two in the morning; and the amendment was ftrongly opposed. On the part of Mr. GRATTAN, and his friends, the debate was conducted with much force and fpirit, they fupported the indifpenfable neceffity of an hearty union of all forts of the people, to the fafety of the empire, at this crifis. It was oppofed by the other fide, upon the ground, that the mode and occafion of introducing it, as a clog to the addrefs, was inexpedient and ungracious, and that as going to demand a ftipulation for the Catholics, it was inimical, rather than friendly, to their caufe. The house at length divided---ayes 12, noes 149. The motion for the original addrefs, was then put and carried. In a few days after, the attorney-general brought in a bill relative to perfons charged with high treason, and for fufpending the act of Habeas Corpus in 745 Ireland, which was hurried through the house of commons in a fingle night. FRANCE. On the 23d of September, PELET DE LA LOZERE made a motion, in the council of five hundred, for peace, upon which the order of the day was called for. On this occafion BOISSY D'ANGLAS rofe, and faid, "that though he fupported the order of the day, he did not the lefs approve of the intention of PELET, He thought that French liberty would triumph over all its enemies; but it was of ufe to declare to the people, that the war into which they have been drawn was not a war of caprice, but of liberty. "It was of importance," he faid, "to announce to all Europe the duplicity of PITT, at the moment in which he was foliciting new fubfidies, and deceiving the English people. That people," he added, were fincerely defirous of peace, but the English government continued to urge, we muft make war because the French do not wish for peace; or becaufe they do not defire it until they have destroyed all the thrones of Europe. Thefe, he obferved, were undoubtedly the political principles which had directed PELET; nevertheless, as the agitation of the queftion might involve fome circumftances injurious to the interefts of the republic, he moved the order of the day, which was almoft unanimously paffed. On the 22d of September, the executive directory difpatched a meffage to the council of five hundred, purporting, that it found it its duty to fubmit to the council, for its confirmation, a measure refpecting the diftribution of provifions to the poor of Paris. After recapitulating the former arrangements with respect to this neceffary object of police, they add, "When the conftitutional government was firft eftablished, bread and meat were diftributed to more than 600,000 perfons, at the daily expence of upwards of 1 150,000 franks. "At this time the diftribution of the ratios of three quarters of a pound of bread is made to no more than 185,000 perfons, and 10,000 pounds weight of meat, per day, are given away to the aged, the infirm, and the women whe are in labour. "The daily expence does not exceed the fum of 30,000 livres'; this expence fhould be, from the firft of Vendemaire, at the charge of the commune of Paris; but as the council had not taken care to fecure fecure it the neceffary funds, the executive directory ordered the minifter of the interior to furnish this indifpenfable fupply, until the council fhould afford the commune of Paris legal means of defraying the expences. The fupply of meat to the civil hofpitals, and to the houfes of arreft, produces alfo an expenditure of 100,000 livres per month, which the executive directory ordered the minifter of the interior to pay, till the council fhail appropriate the neceffary funds for that purpofe RION, on the 25th of September, in the name of a particular commiffion, charged to examine the law of the 3d Brumaire, addreffed the council of five hundred, and, after fome pertinent obfervations on the caufe of thofe exceffes in which France under the revolutionary government, had been involved, he proceeded to an inveftigation of the law of 3d Brumaire. He obferved, "that to fay a law is revolutionary, is not to fay that it is unjust. Will it be faid that it i revolutionary, because it has a relation to the revolution? Unfortunately, Frenchmen will still have need to frame laws relative to the revolution, for parties are still contending. The revolution was finished on the day when the contitution was put in activity, but the revolutionary laws muft ftill continue, as the waves are ftill feen agitated, when the tempeft has fubfided. Indulgence is afked for the relations of emigrants; thefe citizens are deprived of one of their rights only, that of being chofen for pubIc functions. Let us not ftifle the confitution under the pretext of re-animating it. You have not protefted against the revolutionary meafure, by which the government put in a ftate of ficge the Weftern departments; you felt that the fafety of the people demanded that meafure. The finest period of the Roman republic affords but one Junius Brutus, but one Manlius Torquatus, who facrificed to his country the affections of nature!" He then spoke of the amnefty, and propofed, "that the first article of the 3d Brumaire, concerning liberticidal figners of revolutions, be refcinded. "Secondly, that there is no room for deliberation on other propofitions, made relative to this law." His report was ordered to be printed. On the 27th of September. BAILEUL, in the council of five hundred, on a motion of order, called the ferious attention of the council to the reiterated attempts of the confpirators. Their boldness, 4 their impunity, every thing feemed calculated to alarm the good and peaceable citizens. He urged the neceffity of repreffing faction inftantly. He therefore propofed to form a commiffion of five members, to revife the laws relative to the fuppreffion of feditious affemblages, and the mode of profecuting and trying all thofe who attack the conftitution and government. This propofal was adopted. On the fucceeding day, BoUSET, on a motion of order, demanded that the council fhould proceed without delay to the difcuffion of the civil code. CAMBARENES obferved, that this difcuffion was not fimilar to that of a common plan. The whole of the task was here to be confidered, and the mode in which the difcuffion was to proceed was the first object of deliberation. The commiffion propofed on the latter head a plan of refolution; it was therefore proper to adjourn the queftion until that plan fhould be fubmitted to the council. It is only neceffary to add, that this opinion was adopted by the majority of votes, On the 23d of September the anniverfary fête of the foundation of the repub.... lic, was celebrated in Paris, in the Champ de Mars, with much appropriate fcenery and magnificence. In our laft review of military affairs, we left the army of Italy, under the command of general BUONAPARTE, in poffeflion of Trente. General WURMSER, obliged to abandon Baffano, fled in perfon, with the wrecks of two batta. lions of grenadiers of Montebello, between Vicenza and Verona, where he rejoined the divifion he had ordered to march to Verona, confifting of 4,500 cavalry, and 5000 infantry, at the moment he heard that the French were preffing on to Trente. On the 9th of September, General WURMSER learnt the arrival of the French general MASSENA, at Vicenza. He felt that he had not a moment more to lofe, he defiled along the Adige, which he croffed at Porto Legnago. The 10th of September, in the evening, the general of divifion, MASSENA, paffed the Adige, at Roncon, while general ANGEREAU marched from Padua to Porto Legnago, being under a neceffity of informing his left, that the Auftrians might not attempt to fave themfelves by Caftel Baldo. On the 11th General BUONAPARTE made difpofitions to cut off the retreat of General WURMSER. For that purpose a wing ΟΙ |