compofition of a new fyftem for the future civilization of her people; that accordingly a commiffion of 460 deputies, chosen out of the several provinces, for affifting in the formation of the new code, made a folemn opening of their feffions the 10th August 1767, at Mofcow, in presence of her Imperial Maje fty, who remained there with them a good time after. Towards the end of last year we received advice, that debates ran pretty high among the deputies, on this question, "Whether the good of the state requires, that the bondage to which the pealants are subject, be entirely abolifhed, or that it fhould ftill fubfift under some restrictions?” They who favoured the natural rights of the husbandmen, alledged the example of the peasants of G. Britain, and the United Provinces. They might have added, thofe of Sweden; but perhaps did not incline to go the length of making their peasants one of the orders of the state. Thofe for continuing things as they were, urged the example of the peasants of Poland, Hungary, and Denmark, who are all flaves in different de grees. According to latest advices from Peterfburg received last year concerning the Turks, a rupture with them had been forefeen there, and proper measures early taken in confequence. Nothing with respect to SWEDEN in particular, seeming worthy of notice in a fummary, came to hand in the courfe of last year. His Majefty of DENMARK, on his acceffion to the throne, as was oblerved in our immediately preceding fummary, formed an extenfively humane and patriotic defign, for delivering the peafants, throughout his dominions, from the flavill vaffalage by which they were fub ject, almost in every respect, to the proprietors of manor.lands. After his marriage, both he and the Queen fet the amiable example, which was followed by a good many of the nobility; and his Majefty appointed a commiffion to deliberate on the most proper expedients for emancipating that whole opprefed order of people. Laft year we were informed, that two bailiwicks in the province of Jutland had received their liberty; that nevertheless many obstacles were ftill raifed against the abolition of fervitude throughout the kingdom, by the lords owners of lands, who used every means they could think of to oppose it, on account of their private interest; but that as his Majefly had this liberal plan much at heart, it was fupposed that it would notwithstanding be carried into execution. We received advice last year, that a treaty had been concluded at Copenhagen, and afterwards ratified, by which the dfferences that had long subsisted between the crown of Denmark and the predeceffors of the prefent Grand Duke of Rullia, relative to a part of the country of Holftein in Germany, the Grand Duke's patrimony, were accommodated, to the mutual fatisfaction of the Empress of Ruffia and his Danish Majesty. The differences which had long subfifted between the crown of Denmark and the city of Hamburg, were allo amicably terminated last year. As to GERMANY, we had advices from Vienna, that the Empress of Ruffia fent difpatches thither, intimating her defire to know what part that court would take in cafe of a rupture between her Imperial Majefty and the Porte; and that the anfwer was faid to import, That the Emperor and Emprefs-Queen would obferve a ftri&t neutrality, as the troops they had on foot would be deftined to cover their own dominions. Succeffive accounts from thence, dated in October and November, informed, that the Porte had fent notice to the court there, as alfo to certain others, at different times, of her difpleafure at the Ruflians for sending their troops into Poland; of her having fhut up the Ruffian refident at Conftantinople, and another defined to fucceed him, in the cattle of the Seven Towers; and of her having adually declared war against Ruffia. a on the It is not doubted, but that the court of Berlin will vigorously fupport the meafures the fo frongly advised with respect to Poland, and fulfil the engagements the came under by the laft treaty of defenfive alliance with Rutlia. His Prullian Majefty had troops affembled, during confiderable part of last year, frontiers both of Brandenburg and of Silefia, to watch the motions, and check the excurfory ravages, of the Poles confederated against their new conftitutions. There were accounts of his having taken into his pay two regiments of Brunswick infantry, and as many of Heffe-Caffei ; alfo of his fending recruiting parties to Hamburg, Banten, and different other parts of Germany, to inlift men, and buy up horfes, for his fervice. Early last year we had advices of a new treaty of alliance and friendship being on foot, and in great forwardness, between the States-General of the UNITED PROVINCES and the King of Pruffia, whofe niece was married, the preceding year, to the Prince of Orange, hereditary Stadtholder of thofe provinces. In June, his Pruffian Majefty, attended by the Prince-Royal, his nephew, and the two Princes of Brunfwick, paid a visit to the dominions of their High Mightineffes, proceeding as far as the palace of Loo, in Guelderland; where the Prince and Princess of Orange were prefent to receive and entertain them. It was confidently afferted, that the finifling hand was then to be put to feveral treaties which had been a confiderable time in agitation, tending to introduce a new fyftem of politics, in the trade, connections, and future grandeur, of the republic. The only article particularly fpe cified in the public papers as having been on the tapis, was a propofal made by the King of Pruffia, to exchange certain territories belonging to him in Europe for one of the Dutch islands in the West Indies. The only thing elfe feeming to deferve notice here of which we received intelligence, was, that the Emprefs Queen had forbid her fubjects of the Auftrian Ne therlands to carry on any intercourfe or trade with the Dutch; an unexpected measure, the reafons for which we were not made acquainted with. Whatever they might be, the connections between the houle of Auftria, on one fide, and G. Britain and the United Provinces, on another, are now fo flender, that a fmall matter is fufficient to break them. We had occafion to obferve, in former fummaries, that almoft the whole parliaments of FRANCE fhewed, by their proreedings and reprefentations, for a confiderable time, that they reckoned flrong attempts were made by the court, in 1765, to deprive the province of Brittany of the immunities and privileges reserved and ftipulated to it, when long ago it came under the dominion of the crown, and which it had till then continued in good measure to enjoy. The parliament of Rennes, capital of that province, judging the execution of a scheme for that purpole to be refolutely carrying on, and finding remontrances of none effect, all the members of it, exept twelve, re figned their offices, and abfolutely refused to resume them, though commanded by the King, as no offers were made to redrefs their grievances. Several other parliaments foon interceded in their favour, by letters and remonftrances; but without having any apparent influence. Some members of that parliament were feized by dragoons, and carried to confinement in different places; the rest of those who refigned being at the fame time banished to the distance of twenty leagues from Rennes, and as many from Paris. Another parliament of Rennes was constituted, by the King's declaration, in November 1765, compofed of the twelve old members who did not refign, and the rest new ones, making fixty in whole, a number confiderably inferior to what the preceding parliament had confifted of. His Majesty's declaration likewife ordered five or fix of the old members who had refigned, to be profecuted before a commiffion of the new parliament, which was transferred for that purpose to St Malo, the whole of this parliament being extremely unpopular at Rennes. The parliament of Pau, capital of Berne, having that year pafled an arret which gave offence to the court, and a declaration for annulling it being fent them, the yielding of obedience was fo inconfiftent with their views of the cafe, that they addreffed a letter to the King, demanding their difmiflion. A new parliament was alfo nominated in their flead, which affembled at Pau that fame year., A great part of the news from France for a good time after, confifted of articles relating to the one or the other of thofe two parliaments. The warm zeal with which the other parliaments of the kingdom interefted themfelves in their favour, gave the court much uneafinefs; but all endeavours proved from time to time fruitless in regard to what was aimed at. The members of the parliament of Rennes taken into cuftody, claimed their privileges in oppofition to the arreft, and denied the competency of the commiflion to try them. After feveral delays, they were at length, in virtue of an arret of council, dated Nov. 22. 1766, removed to the Battile, in order that the King himself might determine the matter. About that time we had advice, that the feveral parliaments were ufing vigorous efforts to maintain their authority against the influence of the court; but but that, on the other hand, the miniftry were as affiduous in their endeavours to crufh them; in which it was imagined they would at length fucceed, by the help of the clergy, who feconded them with all their power. courfe of last year, they have, fince the restoration of peace, had forty-eight capital fhips, befides frigates and fmaller veffels of war, built in the ports of that kingdom alone. They have also had built, and have now a-building, a good many more in the ports of Sweden and others of the Baltick, as alto at Genoa. Add to this, that we had advice in 1767, of their having fent, with permition of the court of Madrid, fhip-carpenters to the Spanish West Indies, in order to furnifh them with some capital men of war from thence. There were accounts last year, of the court having concluded treaties of subsidy with different princes of Germany, and of other fuch treaties being in agitation. Some other things relating to France will occur in our progress. In the beginning of 1767 we were in formed, that the King, after hearing the accufations against the confined members of the parliament of Rennes read, annulled them all, and permitted thofe members to retire to their eftates, their long confinement, it would feem, being reckoned sufficient atonement; with this exception, that M. de Chalotois and his fon were exiled to Saintez. In the courfe of that year we had accounts of further endeavours being used by the parliament of Paris, that of Rouen, capital of Normandy, and even by the new parliament of Brittany, to obtain that the old parliament of that province In the year 1763, feveral hundred cifhould be restored, as to members and tizens of GENEVA, which is confederaotherwife, to its former footing; as alfo 'ted with fome of the principal Swifs canthat the ftates of Brittany made fome tons, made reprefentations to their maparticular compliances with his Majesty's giftrates, that divers infractions of the demands, in order to the fame end. At laws had lately happened in the proceedlength, in the month of February last ings on criminal caufes, at the fame time year, we received advice, of his Majefty fpecifying the laws, and the infractions. having confented to let the exiled mem- The magistrates denying that they had bers of the parliament of Brittany re- acted contrary to the laws, the epreturn home, and refume their functions, fenters demanded, that the general counas well as Meff. de Chalotois, and the o- cil of the burghers, the only tribunal by ther disgraced magistrates; but no men- which laws are made, abrogated, or extion was made of redrefs of any of the plained, fhould decide the point. This grievances on account of which they re- the magiftrates refused; and said, that it figned. We were also informed last year, depended on them, whether they would of there being a report at Paris, that offer any matter to the decifion of the the parliament of Provence had put in ex- general council or not. After much alecution an arret of theirs, in defiance of tercation, the citizens thewed their power an act of council annulling it. Nothing at the next election of magiflrates, rejedfurther on the fubject, however, appearing all the candidates for offices who were ed. This gives occafion to repeat an obfervation made in our immediately preceding fummary, to wit, That all the parliaments of France appear to have conformed ftriatly to an injunction of his Majesty, in his answer to a grand deputation of the parliament of Paris, on the 9th of March 1766, with refpect to the keeping of their deliberations fecret; whereas for fome time before that, it was common enough to fee whole refolutions and remonftrances of a parliament, or the most material and ftriking parts of them, in our public papers. Taught by experience in the late war, the French have been and continue very intent upon rendering their navy formidable. According to advices in the prefented to them for their approbation, by a majority of two to one. The ordidinary councils, greater and leiler, applied to France, with the Swils cantons of Zurich and Bern, as mediators, in quality of guarantees of the established conftitution. Minifters from thofe three states accordingly arrived at Geneva, as mediators, in March 1766; and, after long deliberation, agreed upon what was called the plan of a conciliating treaty. It contained a declaration, that the inagiftrates propofed at the time when the election fhould in courfe have happened, had been rejected by the burghers without reafon; and a scheme of government for the future, which we had not occa· fion to fee. That plan being laid before the the body of the citizens, for their acceptance, it was rejected, on the 15th of December that year, by 1095 votes against 515. Upon this the French plenipotentiary delivered a declaration, which forbade all the reprefenting burghers to appear afterwards in his Moft Chriftian Majesty's dominions; at the fame time informing them, that all the merchandise they fhould be bringing from France, or fending thither, would be feized. Effectually to stop all manner of communication and commerce be tween the two states, a body of French troops was caufed to form a chain along the frontiers, at the distance of only about a quarter of a league, less than a British ftatute-mile, from Geneva. In 1767, the plenipotentiaries retired; the Genevefe at Paris on affairs of commerce were obliged to leave that capital, and the kingdom of France; trade fenfibly ftagnated at Geneva; and numbers of the principal inhabitants betook themfelves to other places. It being afterward refolved, in the council of 200, by a majority of votes, that the welfare of the republic depended on the decifion of the three mediating powers, the plenipotentiary minifters, though they did not return to Geneva, took the matter a gain under their confideration, and agreed on a new decifion the 15th of October that year. It was the fame month laid before the leffer council of 25, and then before the greater council of 200, which ordered printed copies of it to be deliver ed to every citizen. According to advices received in the end of that year, and for fome time in the beginning of the laff, the ferment appeared to run ftill very high, and reconciliation to be at a great diftance; notwithstanding which, on the 11th of March last year, peace was happily restored, the new plan of arrangement being then approved in the council-general of the citizens, by a majority of 1203 against 23. Of the numerous articles of advice received from ITALY last year, a very great part related to Co+fica. Above thirtynine years ago, the inhabitants of that ifland began to ftruggle for throwing off the yoke of the republic of Genoa, and for refuming their liberty; which they afferted they had a right to do, as the Genoefe had violated the principal ftipulations of a mutual convention, by which it had been furrendered. After many viciffitudes, the Corficans, under the conduct of their brave countryman, Pafchal Paoli, had gained fo many advantages before the middle of the year 1764, as had rendered them masters of the whole ifland, except a few fea-port towns, with the territory adjacent ; nor was it doubted but all thofe places would foon have fallen into their hands, had not the Genoese obtained fuccours from France, by a treaty concluded at Compeigne on the 6th of Auguft that year. In virtue of that treaty, a body of French troops landed in Corfica, with out oppofition, inDecember succeeding; his Molt Chriftian Majefty having given affu rances to the inhabitants, that the troops were not intended to make war against them, nor to disturb rhe inward tran quillity of the ifland, but only to guard the fortified towns, delivered to them by the Genoefe in trust, during the space of four years. His Majefty alfo offered to mediate an accommodation between them and the republic, and to be guaran tee of it when agreed upon; at the fame time defiring them to propofe a plan for that purpose. The Corficans declared, that they would never negotiate a peace with the republic, unless the previously confented to acknowledge them free and independent, and to yield to them the few places in the island of which the was ftill poffeffed; but that if their liberty and independence were fecured, they would fubmit to any one of feveral conditions, burdensome to themselves, which they proposed, for rendering the accommodation advantageous and honourable for the Genoefe; or would resign themfelves, without referve, to the goodness and equity of his Moft Chriftian Majesty, in regard to what should be done for thofe ends. Their proposals, it was faid, were fent by the French minifter to Genoa, but rejected there with difdain. The republic, to gratify the courts of Madrid and Rome, having confented, that a great number of the Jesuits expelled from Spain in 1767, might be difpofed of in the towns kept for her in Corfica, the French troops which were in Calvi, Algaliola and Ajaccio, returned to their own country, to make room for thofe fathers. Small bodies of Genoese troops were fent to replace the French garrifons in the places evacuated. On that occafion fome boftilities happened between them and the Corficans; but, by the French commiffaries interpofing, a compromife was made for the remaine der der of the time during which the troops of their nation were to have kept garrifon in those towns, according to the treaty of Compeigne, namely, till Auguft, as we have been informed, or, at furtheft, till December, of last year. In the end of 1767, and for fome time in the beginning of last year, we were amufed with accounts of a treaty of accommodation being in agitation, on the footing of the preliminary conditions demanded by the islanders. We were told, that the British minister at Genoa often conferred with the republic's fecre. taries of state, for bringing the affair to an iffue. Nay there were advices importing, that the treaty was in fact concluded. Laft fummer matters caft up in a new light, which preceding appearances could but with difficulty be fuppofed to prognofticate; a light very interefting to the honour of France, and to the highlyraised hopes of a people, we suppose with juftice on their fide, gafping for liberty and independence. We do not incline to deal in declamation, or even much in remarks which might be coolly made. The facts are recent; and some of them, as they appeared in the public papers, we fhall endeavour briefly to recapitulate. On the 28th of May, a courier from Paris arrived at Genoa, with the ratifi cation of a new treaty concluded between France and the republic. The account given of it in the Corsican gazette was, that the latter had ceded to the former for ten years the garrifons of Corfica, and the exercise of fovereignty over the island; and the former had engaged, within those ten years, either by force or perfuafion, to put the Corficans again under the dominion of the Genoefe, provided the republic fhould pay to France all the expence the fhould have laid out during that period in Corfica; but that though this was a public article of the treaty, there was faid to be a fecret one, ftipulating, that the republic, after the ten years, fhould feign to demand the reftitution of the island, but on pretence of the exorbitant expence which had been laid out, and the inability of the republic to repay it, Corfica fhould remain as a pledge to France, with the perpetual rights of fovereignty, under cover of the dominion of the republic. Advices from Genoa faid, that three articles of the treaty were kept very secret, In an edict of his Most Christian Majefty, dated Compeigne, Aug. 5. he avowed his adopting the Corficans with complacency among the number of his fubjects; and promifed, if they submitted to his fovereign rights, to watch over their glory and happiness with the sentiments of a paternal heart. It was thought that his would foothe and quite fubdue the iflanders, but the expected confequence did not happen. Upon certain advice of the treaty be→ ing concluded, and finding that more French troops were actually landing in the island, there was held at Corte a general affembly of the Corficans, to whom, as accounts from that place informed, Poali clearly fhewed, in an animated fpeech, that France, after amufing them with fair appearances, had in the end proved entirely deceitful; at the fame time exhorting them to concert fuch measures as they fhould judge proper for fo trying an occafion. It was refolved, to treat all thofe as enemies who fhould make any attempts against the liberty of the inhabitants, and vigorously to defend the rights recovered by the blood of fo many citizens. Pursuant to this, all were forbid, on pain of death, to furnish any of the places poffe fled by the French with provifions. Pofterior advices even from Paris imported, that when the French King's edict, containing promises to the Corficans, as already taken notice of with threatenings alfo in cafe of their not obeying, were fent to General Paoli, he convoked a general assembly; in which that edict, and the Paris gazette of Aug. 15. were torn, and trampled under foot by all the chiefs. As the freil bodies of French troops fucceffively came, from about the middle of May and downward, to the fea-port towns which had formerly been garrifoned by their countrymen, the Corficans, unwilling to furnish any pretext for hostilities against themselves, made no oppofition, during a confiderable time, to their landing. The forces of that nation, from their first coming to the island, in December 1764, had till kept poffeffion of Bastia, on the eastern fide, and St Fiorenzo, upon the western, diftant from one another only about nine miles; and from those two places were their aperations chiefly directed last year. Their firft undertaking happened in July, when they established a communication between Bastia and St Fiorenzo, by making themfelves mafters of the interjacent towns, |