tive, but unprejudiced eye, muft fee that I never depart from the conftitutional line, and that I feel profoundly how glorious it is to be the King of a free people!"

This conclufion was followed by long continued fhouts of, "Bravo, Long live the King of the French."

The Prefident anfwered, "The Affembly will take the propositions you have made in to confideration, and communicate their determination by a message."

The drynefs of this anfwer, and the affectation of avoiding the words Sire, and Majy, gave general diffatisfaction, which was marked by warmly refuming the acclamations of Vive le Rei.

The King withdrew, attended by a deputation, preceded by his ministers, and efcorted by the national guard.

Several members moved, that the speech hould be printed, and fent to the eightythree departments.

Mr Bazire moved, to add the Prefident's fwer, to fhew to France, that, in circum fances calculated to inspire enthusiasm, the Affembly had guarded against it.

M. Daverhoult faid, the answer might be worthy of the Affembly; but it did not accard with the speech, which contained no propofitions.

The fpeech was ordered to be printed, and fent to the departments

The minifter of war defired to be heard. "The King," he said, “wishes for peace; he has neglected no means of fecuring it : but he thinks it his duty to fupport these patic measures by a vigorous line of conduct. His Majefty has charged me to give orders ler affembling 150,000 men on the frontiers within a mouth. I am confident this is not sely poffible but eafy. We must remove this fpirit of difcouragement, which would reprefent France as ftripped of her political influence; we must fhew that it is the fame nation, the fame power that fought under Lewis XIV.; we must prove, that the glory of an age belongs not to a fingle man.

I know that, at the very moment when the government is making every disposition fer war, thofe very men who were the most clamorous for it furround all our measures with fufpicion. But you, Gentlemen, will concert fuch manœuvres; and they will not eafily perfuade a great nation, that liberty is to be defended by mere words.

I fhall fet out, in a few days, by the King's erders, to affure myfelf of the ftate of the frontiers and the army. I fhall fpeak to the officers and the foldiers in the name of the national grandeur, and of their own inteef, fince the French deferters vow an implacable hatred to those who continue faithful.

I fall tell them, that the word treafon is VOL LIV. January 1792.

not peculiar to any language, and that in the day of war all uncertainty is a crime by the laws both of honour and of reafon. Finally, I shall inspire the brave national guards, the firft founders of liberty, with the love of difcipline.

During my abfence, I fhall commit the charge of my department to one of my colleagues; and fuch is my confidence, that I invoke responsibility on my own head for all the orders that shall be given by the King, and counterfigned by M. Deleffart, the minifter for foreign affairs.

Three armies appear to me to be neceffary. To command them, Meff. Rochambeau, Lukner, and Fayette, are pointed out by the voice of their country-and the voice of their country and that of the King are now but one. [Three feveral plaudits.]

His Majefty wishes that it were in his power to raile M. Rochambeau and M. Luckner to the rank of Marthals of France. A law prevents him; but is not the fupreme law the fafety of our country?

A fupply of money will be neceffary; but France will not weigh money in the scale against liberty. Befides, this increase of expence ought to be lefs alarming to the creditors of the ftate, than the continuation of uncertainty and anarchy; that the moment war is declared, property will be more than ever protected. Terrible on the frontiers, tranquil within the kingdom-fuch ought to be our fituation-that the payment of taxes, the protection of our colonies, confidence in the government, and refpect for the powers that preferve a neutrality, may enfure fuccefs to a war undertaken only for the intereft of the people and the maintenance of the conftitution.

In the vaft, and perhaps bold enterprife which I have conceived, fome of its details have perhaps efcaped. I can, however, fay, with the approbation of my confcience, that I have diligently employed my time fince my acceffion to the miniftry.

I hope not to neglect any one of the parts confided to my vigilance. The King aids me in my labours. His exertions for the public good will one day be known, and will redouble the attachment to his perfon of all thofe who, like myself, have attached their fate to the liberty of France."

This fpeech was loudly and often applauded. Several members moved that it thould be printed.

The Affembly ordered the speech to be in ferted in the minutes, printed, diftributed, and tranfmitted to the eighty-three depart

fty held to them, the National Affembly recognife the King of the French. They feel more than ever how truly valuable is harmony between the two branches of power, and a frank communication, which is the defire and will be the welfare of the empire.

Sire, the Affembly will fix all their attention on the decifive measures which you announce; and if the order of events fhall make the measures neceffary, they promife to your Majefty more true glory than was ever obtained by any of your ancestors.

They promife to Europe the new fpectacle of a great people, outraged in its immutable love of liberty, arming the hand in union with

the heart.

Every where the French people will oppofe themselves with vigour to their enemies, from the Rhine to the Pyrences, from the Alps to the ocean. All France fhall be covered by the regards of a good King, and by foldiers intrepid and faithful.

Behold, Sire, the family that deferve your heart-thefe are your friends-thefe will ne ver abandon you.

All the reprefentatives of the French people-all the Frenchmen guarantee, on their heads, the defence of a conftitution to which they have fworn, and of a beloved King whofe throne they have established."

On Dec. 19. the minister of juftice prefented an account of decrees lately prefented for the royal fanction, To the decree against the nonjuring clergy was affixed the VetoThe King will examine.

M. la Fayette, Dec. 24. appeared at the bar, and delivered the following addrefs:

"The National Affembly know my principles and my fentiments. I fhall confine myfelf to exprcffing how much I feel the marks of approbation which the Affeinbly bestowed on the choice which the King has been pleafed to make of me, and to profeffing my profound refpect for the reprefentatives of the French nation, and my unalterable devotion to the maintenance of the French conftitution."

This addrefs was received with loud and repeated plaudits.

The minifter for foreign affairs prefented the anfwers of feveral courts to the King's notifcation of his acceptance of the conftitu

tion.

The King of Denmark, Nov. 11.-I have always applauded the measures which your Majefty has taken for the good of the nation; and I truft you will do juftice to the eager nefs with which I fhall return the friendship of which you give me new affurances.

The King of Naples, O. 11.-I have read the communication of the events which concern your Majefty in the prefent state of the French monarchy. Be allured of the fincere

and zealous intereft which I have taken, and fhall always take, in whatever regards your perfon.

The Elector Palatine, Nov. 11.-I have received the notification of your Majefty's acceptance of the conftitution decreed by the French nation. Not only are my invariable attachment to your Majesty, the proximity of the Palatine to fome of the provinces of your kingdom, and the good understanding that has hitherto fubfifted between our re fpective fubjects, fure pledges of the particu lar intereft which I take in this important e vent; but it excites a warm defire of partici pating in the perfect content and tranquillity of your Majefty, and all your Royal Family, to the ftrengthening of the French monarchy, and the producing of a benign influence ca the feveral ftates of Europe.

The Arch-Duchefs, Governess of the Low Countries, Nov. 12.-I am informed of your Majefty's having accepted and fanctioned a new constitution for your kingdom. I earneftly wish that this new refolution may produce you a lafting fatisfaction, and become a fource of happiness to the monarchy and the nation.

The Landgrave of Heffe-Caffel, Nov. 23. The refpe&ful part which I take in all events that concern your Majefty, equals my attachment to your august perfon. Accept my thanks for the notification of your acceptance of the new conftitution. I pray conftantly for whatever may contribute to your Majesty's glory and happiness, and the profperity of your reign.

The Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, Nov. 8.-I pray, with all my heart, that the acceptance of the conftitution, which you have prefented to me in the name of the nation, may bring your Majefty all the fatisfaction and happiness which you deserve on so many

accounts.

The Duke of Wurtemberg, Dec. 2.-I have received your Majefty's letter with refpect and gratitude. Be affured of the inte reft I fhall always take in whatever concerns your Majefty's facred perfon.

The Landgrave of Baden, Dec. 3.-Your Majefty cannot doubt the attachment which I fhall always preferve for your facred perfon, and the prayers which I fhall put up for your happiness.

The Republic of Venice.—The gracious expreffions of friendship contained in your Majeity's letter, were received by the fenate with the greateft fatisfaction, and the most lively gratitude. The republic, firm in its ancient ufage of regarding the profperity of the Crown of France as its own, continues to form the moft ardent wifhes for your Majefty's glory, and the happiness of your reign.

The Republic of Genoa, Nov. 16.-We

have received the letter intimating that your Majefty has accepted the conftitutional act presented to you by the nation. We take this occafion of affuring your Majefty, that we continue to take a lively intereft in all that concerns your august person, and the prosperity of your reign. We repeat our requels for the prefervation of our rights, agrecable to the treaties which unite the two nations in a perfect correfpondence, and which we shall always confider it as our glory to maintain.

The Republic of Valais, Nov. 20.-Your Majefty having communicated to us your acceptation of the conftitution prefented to y by the French nation, we have the ho eur to affure you, that we take the moft Evely intereft in whatever can contribute to the honour and the glory of your Majesty and the nation, and the ftrengthening of our ance. We form the moi fincere and ardent vows for the prefervation of your fred perfon, and of all the Royal Fami

by.

The minifter then stated, that the King had not received an answer to his application to the Helvetic Body for an extenfion of the general amnefty to the foldiers of the regiment of Chateau-Vieux, condemned to the galleys for mutiny; but that, from a letter from one of the Cantons, adopted and circulated by the Canton of Zurich-fetting forth that the offence of these foldiers was purely military, unconnected with the French revolation, and that, however defirous the Helvetic body might be to comply with the wifhs of his moft Chriftian Majesty, the punifhment of it was abfolutely neceffary for the maintenance of difcipline among their troops there was reafon to believe that the appli.

ation would be ineffectual.

Spain. His Majefty was informed by a letter figned by Count Florida Blanca, the Spanish minifter, that the King his mafter had given orders to the governor of the Spanish part of St Domingo to obferve the not strict neutrality with refpect to the infarre&ion in the French part; but that, if bodies of the blacks fhould be formed for the parpoles of plunder, piracy, and the defraction of the whites, then to aid the latter with provifions, arms, and ammunition, to employ all his forces by fea and land to protect them, taking care at the fame time to prevent the contagion from reaching the Spanish part of the ifland, and for that parpofe to form a line of troops on the fron

tier.

The King of Spain being alfo informed that his fending a minifter to the Swifs Cantons had given umbrage to the Cour of France, had ordered his Charge d'Affaires to explain, that the perfon fo fent had been appointed five years ago, and that the principal

object of his miffion was to obtain a continuation of the recruiting for Spain in Switzerland.

The Emperor-Transmitted to the King, in January laft, the complaints to the Diet of the Empire on the abolition of the feudal fyftem in the lands poffeffed by feveral German Princes in Alface and Lorraine. The King, in his anfwer, juftified the decrees of the National Affembly, declined the interpofition of the Germanic body, and renewed the offer of a juft indemnification to the parties interested. This answer was fubmitted to the diet of Ratifbon, and the Conclufum of the diet was, that all things, both temporal and fpiritual, must be put upon their ancient footing, agreeable to the treaties and

conventions.

It is to be observed, that the National Affembly had abolished all jurifdiction metropolitan and diocefan, exercifed by foreign prelates; an abolition that fell chiefly on the Archbishops of Mayence and Treves, and the Bishops of Spire and Bafle.

The Emperor has addrefied a letter to the circles of the Empire confirming the above Conclufum, and the following letter to the King.

Leopold II. Emperor and King of the Romans, &c. Pursuant to our Conftitutional laws, we have communicated to the Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire, on the one part, the complaints of the vaffals of our Empire, which, agreeably to the wifes of our Electoral College, we trammitted amicably to you on the 14th Dec. laft, and on the other, the antwer returned by your Majefty.The more we have confidered this affair, the more we must regret that your Majefty's awer was not conformable our just expectation. Befides its not being drawn up in an idiom usual in difcuffing bufinefs between the Empire and your kingdom, we remarked, that it called in question the competence of the vaffals of the Empire to implore our intervention at the Diet, in order to affure them the fame protection of the Emperor and the Empire, which protected their interests on occafion of public pacifications.

to

To judge from the tenor of your answer, your Majesty, no doubt, fuppofed, that all the poffeffions of our vaffals in difpute were fubject to the fupremacy of your Crown, fo as to make it free to difpofe of them as the public utility feems to require, provided a just indemnification were given. But if your Majefty will take the trouble of examining more attentively the public pacifications in queftion, as well as all the other treaties between the Empire and France, since 1648, it will not furely efcape your perfpicuity, that such a fuppofition cannot be well found ed.

You will then fee moft clearly, on the one part, what are the lands that have been hitherto transferred to the fupremacy of your Crown by the confent of the Emperors and the orders of the Empire; and on the other, that the poffeffions of our vaffals in Alface, Lorraine, ond elsewhere, which have not been transferred to your Crown by a fimilar confent, muft remain in their ancient rela. tion to the Empire, and cannot confequently be fubjected to the laws of your kingdom. But with refpect even to the districts, the ceffion of which is moft exprefsly ftipulated in the treaties, France cannot be ignorant that these very treaties have given to the exercife of your fupremacy, in regard to the vaffals of the Empire, different reftrictions both fpiritual and civil, which cannot in any fhape be arbitrarily overturned by new decrees of your nation.

We have therefore reafon to complain of the derogations which, fince the month of August 1789, have been made to the terms of the faid treaties, and infractions which have followed in confequence, to the prejudice of our rights, of thofe of the Empire, and of our vaffals; and we are convinced that we are bound not only to interpofe in their favour the most folemn proteftation, both in our name and the name of the Empire, but also to give to the injured all the aid which the dignity of the Imperial Court and the maintenance of the prefent conftitution require.

Such is the refolution on which we have determined, and we fhould already have taken measures to fignify it in the noft efficacious manner, if your Majefty's wellknown fentiments of juftice and equity had not left us the hope of obtaining by an amicable negotiation, in favour of the vaffals of our Empire, a reintegration full and conformable to the difpofition of those treaties.

Your Majefty's prudence will eafily perceive the injury which a violation of the promifes equally binding on both parties reciprocally made to the Empire by your Crown, and even guaranteed by the latter, would do to the title by which the different countries of Alface and Lorraine have been fucceffively transferred to you. It will eafily difcover the confequences not to be calculated which may be produced both in Eu rope and the other parts of the world, where nations exift that have at any time entered into treaties with yours, by fo manifeft a proof, that France, without regard to the fanctity of public promifes, thinks herfelf at liberty to violate them whenever her own intereft makes it appear conveni

ent.

Your defire to caufe juftice between nations to be obferved, and to maintain the

friendship that fubfifts between your kingdom and our empire, will certainly induce you to difregare this pretended convenience, which cannot be obtained but with the detriment of treaties, and does not allow us to doubt that the inftances which we now renew to you, both in our name and the name of the Empire, will effect a ceffation of all the innovations mace fince the beginning of Auguft 1789, as far as they affect the ftates and vaffals of our Empire: that they will operate the re-establishment of the latter in the enjoyment of all the revenues of which they have been deprived; and, finally, that the re-establishment of all things, on the foot determined by the treaties, will be the confequence.

We intreat your Majefty to make known to us if this is your full intention. The more prompt your aufwer, and the more conform able to received custom, the lefs doubt we fhall entertain of the fincerity of your desire, and that of your nation, to cultivate peace and friendship with the Empire. We wish your Majefty every thing that can contribute to your happiness.

"Given at Vienna, Dec. 3, 1791."

After reading the Emperor's ratification of the Conclufum of the diet, the minifter informed the Affembly that he fhould lay before them the indemnification agreed upon with the Prince of Lowenstein.

The Prince of Hohenloe and the Prince of Salm Salm were difpofed to treat on the fame terms, fo that the execution of one would almost conclude the other two.

Negotiations were alfo going on, and well advanced, with the Duke of Wurtemberg, the Duke of Deux-Ponts, and Prince Maximilian; but they required, previous to any agreement, the reimbursement of their revenues on the feudal rights in question, from the 4th of August 1789.

His Majefty had charged his new minifter at Treves to infitt on the Elector's difperfing the affemblage of the Emigrants within his States before the 15th of January, on pain of being confidered as an enemy. He had alfo claimed anew the interpofition of the Empire, and reprefented to the Emperor the inevitable confequences of a fecond refufal. Instructions, to the fame effect, had been given to M. Legur, the new minifter at Berlin, and to his other minifters at the principal German courts.

The Prince Bishop of Liege had fent a letter formally difavowing his having given his citadel, or the Convent of the Capuchins, to the French Emigrants to affemble in. But his Majefty, not thinking this letter fufficient, had given orders to require that no affemblage whatever fhould be allowed or aid given to the Emigrants in the state of Liege

Од

On Dec. 27. the military committee prefented a report on the ftate of the frontiers, the refult of which was, that they were in the beft poffible state of defence wherever they were expofed to attack by land, and from Dunkirk to Huningue, an extent of 160 leagues, guarded by 130,000 effective men; that the arfenals were well fupplied with arms. efpecially cannon and ammunithat the troops of the line in actual fervice amounted to 100,500 men, the artillery to 37,700, and the volunteer National guards to 85,024,-in all 223,224, effective men; that fifty-four battalions were yet to be formed, and the troops of the line to be zugmented to their full complement, which together would raise the number of the land forces to 340,000, without including auxilia

tion;

ries.

The committee therefore propofed, that there was no ground for debate on a motion far fending commiffioners to examine the fate of the frontiers; and that the executive power fhould be charged to accelerate the formation of the volunteer National guards in the departments where they are not yet formed.

The decree propofed by the military committee, to enable the King to raise M. Luckner and M. Rochambeau to the rank of Marhal of France, was paffed.

AMERICA.

The following is the Prefident's addrefs to both Houses of the Federal Legiflature, delivered in the fenate-chamber on the opening of Congrefs. "Fellow-citizens of the Senate, and of the Houfe of Reprefentatives,

I meet you, upon the prefent occafion, with the feelings which are naturally in fpired by a ftrong impreffion of the profperous fituation of our common country, and by a perfuafion equally ftrong, that the labours of the feffion, which has just commenced, will, under the guidance of a fpirit no lefs prudent than patriotic, iffue in measures conducive to the ftability and increafe of national profperity. Numerous as are the providential bleffings which demand our grateful acknowJedgements; the abundance with which another year has again rewarded the induftry of the husbandman is too important to escape recollection.

Your own obfervations in your refpective fituations will have fatisfied you of the progreffive ftate of agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and navigation. la tracing their caufes, you will have remarked with particular pleasure the hap Py effects of that revival of confidence, public as well as private, to which the

conftitution and laws of the United States have fufficiently contributed; and you will obferve, with no lefs intereft, new and decifive proofs of the increasing reputation and credit of the nation. But you, nevertheless, cannot fail to derive fatisfaction from the confirmation of these circumftances, which will be disclosed in the feveral official communications that will be made to you in the course of your

deliberations.

The rapid fubfcriptions to the bank of the United States, which completed the fum allowed to be fubfcribed in a single day, is among the ftriking and pleasing evidences which prefent themfelves, not only of confidence in the government, but of refource in the community.

In the interval of your recefs, due attention has been paid to the execution of the different objects which were specially provided for by the laws and refolutions of the laft feffion.

Among the most important of thefe is the defence and fecurity of the western frontiers. To accomplish it on the moft humane principles was a primary wish.

Accordingly, at the fame time that treaties have been provifionally concluded, and other proper means used to attach the wavering, and to confirm in their friendship the well disposed tribes of Indians-effectual meatures have been adopted to make thofe of a hoftile defcription fenfible, that a pacification was defired upon terms of moderation and juftice.

These measures having proved unfuccessful, it became neceffary to convince the refractory, of the power of the United States to punifh their depredations: offenfive operations have therefore been directed-to be conducted, however, as confiftently as poffible with the dictates of humanity. Some of thefe have been crowned with full fuccefs, and others are yet depending. The expeditions which have been completed were carried on under the authority, and at the expence, of the United States, by the militia of Kentucky, whofe enterprife, intrepidity, and good conduct, are entitled to peculiar commendation.

Overtures of peace are ftill continued to the deluded tribes, and confiderable numbers of individuals belonging to them have lately renounced all further oppofition, removed from 'their former fituations, and placed themfelves under the immediate protection of the United States.

I