themfelves to fpeak.-Fresh trouble, invectives, and perfonalities, interrupt each in his turn; till Petion obtained the hearing by a decree.

Petion. "Is it thus, Citizens, that we treat the great interefts of the State? [Interruption.] It is not with thefe violences, with thefe paffions, that we can judge men or things. It is impoffible to get into this tribunal without ftanding the mark for the moft atrocious calumnies. They call out the Enemy! the Royalift! if we are not of their party and others fpeak of Liberty.-Can we give it to others if we are flaves our felves? Who among you is here that withes a King?" [All the Affembly rifes, crying no one-no one.]

After a fpeech of fome length, tending to invite the Affembly to a further examination of the important fubject, the Convention decreed that the further difcuffion of the proceedings against Louis XVI. is open, and fhall be continued till judgment be pronounced upon him.

December 28. A letter from the Minifter of Foreign Affairs, was read, ftating, that the Charge des Affaires of the Court of Madrid had juft fent him the Declaration of the Spanish Ministry.

Copy of the Declaration. "The French Government having teftified to that of Spain, a defire of feeing that neutrality formally attefted, which in fact prevails between the two nations, his Catholic Majefty has authorifed the undersigned, Principal Secreta ry of State, to declare by this note, That Spain will obferve, on its fide, the firictest neutrality in the war in which France is engaged with other Powers.

"The Catholic King, in confequence of the neutrality agreed upon, hall order the troops on the frontier to retire; retaining, in places of ftrength, the number neceffary for the fervice, and that of their respective detachments, which fhall be executed immediately after the French have delivered a declaration fimilar to the prefent, promifing to act on their part in the fame manner. Commiffion er fhall be appointed by both parties, to afft at the execution of this agreement. "At Madrid, 17th December 1791. Signed," Firmada le Duc d'Aloudia. 31. Lebrun, the Minifter of Foreign Affairs, prefented a report of the ftate of Affairs with England;

"I. That the Minifter of the French Republic at London fhall be ordered to prefent a note to the British Miniftry, to demand, in the name of the French Re

public, a clear, speedy, and categorical anfwer, whether, under the general deno mination of the foreigners mentioned in this new bill, the Parliament and government of Great Britain mean also to comprehend the French.

"II. That in cafe of an answer in the affirmative, or if none is received in the courfe of three days, he fhall be authorifed to declare, that the French Republic cannot confider this conduct, but as a manifeft infraction of the commercial treaty concluded in 1786; that it confequently ceafes to think itself bound by that treaty; and, henceforth, confiders it as null and void."

"

Jan. 1. Kerfaint, in name of the united Diplomatic, Colonial, and Marine Committees, gave in a report on the prefent fituation of France in regard to England. He began by taking a curfory view of the state of the French naval force, and ftated to the Convention, that, by means of fome flight repairs, it might be put on a refpectable footing, and that France had in its finances a fund fufficient to render its arms as triumphant by fea as they have been by land. He then adverted to the hoftile preparations mak ing by England, and endeavoured to fhew, that the British Minifters were trampling on juftice, were breaking, without reafon, thofe treaties which unite France and England, and were affociating themselves with those defpots, who had fo barbaroufly and fhamefully declared war againft the French. He endeavoured to fhew alfo, that the conduct purfued by England was contrary to its interefts; as the British Government, unless strangely blinded, muft forefee the dangers of fuch an enterprize. The Englifa, he faid, had not beheld with that indifference which might be imagined, the perfonal infults offered to their moft zealous friends, Priestley and Walker, and would they fee, without murmuring, their riches and blood wafted in a war against a generous people, guilty of no crime, but that of withing to remain free, after having broken their chains? Even fhould thefe iflanders be fo blind to their own interefts, as to fuffer themselves to be led away by the obftinacy of their Minifters, the French, if they purfued proper measures to repel the multiplied attacks of their ene mies leagued together, had no occafion to give way to falfe alarms. To excite their courage, they had the example of all oppreffed people-the Athenians, haraffed both by fea and land, yet every

where

them;

where triumphant-the Dutch, refifting the tyrannical efforts of Philip II. and preferving their liberty amidst enemies who feemed powerful enough to crush and the remembrance of their own courage, at a time when they at leaft had the conftancy and energy of a free nation. On the other hand, how much would England fuffer in its commercial interefts? Its credit would be ruined. The Indies, the ports of which would be fhut to them, muft ceafe to be a fertile source of riches. Holland would fhare in the misfortunes of its ally, and the French commerce would increafe by the loffes of their enemies. He concluded by fome reflections on the plan of a decree rendered highly neceffary to the prefent circumftances. The principal articles of it were, That vigorous mea fures fhould be inftantly pursued, to fit out a proper number of fhips; to put the fea ports in a proper ftate of defence, and to organize the naval force requifite for naval expeditions.

The Convention decreed, that Kerfaint's fpeech fhould be printed; and that the Diplomatic Committee, the Committee of Conftitution, the Committee of War, and of Colonies, fhould deliberate on his plan, and on the general meafures rendered neceffary by the fituation of France with refpect to England.

Jan. 3, A Letter from General Cuftine, dated December 19. was read, of which the following is. the fubftance: Being informed that 35,000 Pruffiaus and 3000 Heffians were advancing, he collected an army of 23,000 men, and took an advantageous poft before Francfort, ftrongly fortified by nature, and by various works. In this poft, he waited for the enemy, one column of whom advanced, but foon after retired when they faw the good difpofition of the French army. The General then had no uneafinefs refpecting Francfort, as he had left in it a ftrong garrifon. The enemy, however, by a fecret march, prefented themselves before the town, and the inhabitants immediately opened the gates. A great number of the French foldiers were killed. After this, the enemy made feveral attempts to attack the French army, and were always repulfed, often with lofs. The General thea retired into Mentz, which he fortified in the best manner poffible. He beftows the highest praife on the troops whom he commands, but deplores the fituation in which they are. Many of the foldiers are deftitute of clothes, fhoes, and, in particular, breeches:

and this state of nakedness is the more diftreffing, on account of the feverity of the feafon, and the labours of the campaign. They had lain out feveral nights in this diftreffing fituation. He adds, that the French had loft very few men, but that the Pruffians had fuffered confiderably. The General confiders it as a great honour to have had to contend with forces commanded by the King of Pruffia, the Prince Royal, the Duke of Brunfwick, Gen. Kalkcreuth, and the Landgrave of Helle Caffel.

After this letter was read, feveral members accufed Pache, the Minister at War, with neglect of duty, and Valazy moved, that in the interim the Minifter of Foreign Affairs fhould fuperintend the department.

After a great tumult, the Convention paffed to the order of the day.

TRIAL OF LOUIS XVI. Kerfaint "I move, that the difcuffion of this bufinefs fhall be terminated in the present sitting."

The members on the left rose with the cry of,." We fupport the motion, we fupport it."

A voice on the Montagne" Let us clofe the debate immediately." Both fides rofe to fupport the new motion.

A member declared, he fhould not vote, if he could not deliver his opinion.

It was obferved, that if all the members were to be heard, who had given in their names, it would take fifteen months to finish the difcuffion.

The Affembly then decreed by a great majority,

1. That this difcuffion is closed from this time.

2. That the members whofe names are on the lift of speakers, may print their speeches by printers of their own choice, at the expence of the nation.

3. That the deliberation on the queftions to be put, be adjourned to Monday

Divan by your envoy. If your Majefty difavows that note, in which the Ambaffador of France is denounced to the Porte as a bad citizen, you must send an Ambaffador to France, and recal your Envoy from Conftantinople. If not, the Republic will confider your refufal as a declaration of war. I can allow you only one hour to return an answer."

"The King replied, That, before an hour, his Minifter would give one, which he accordingly did, agreeably to the demands of France, but it contained also an offer of mediation. I rejected this offer, as it was not in my inftructions, and I demanded a second answer, which I received from the Minifter in the fol lowing words:

"I am ordered, by the King of the two Sicilies, to announce to M. Latouche, That his Sicilian Majefly formally and openly difavows every thing that may have been done in his name against the French Nation at Conftantinople. His Majesty declares, befides, that he never took any fteps to prevent Ambassador Semonville from being received at the Ottoman Porte. As his Majefty intends fending an Ambaffador to France, he with pleasure embraces this opportunity of making him depart immediately for his deftination."

TRIAL OF THE KING.

14. After a difcuffion, which continued till half past 9 o'clock, during which, the debates were carried on with great violence, the Convention decreed that they fhould to-morrow proceed to determine the three following questions by the appeal nominal:

I. Is Louis guilty?

II. Shall there be an appeal to the People?

III. What punishment has Louis in curred?

Tuesday January 17. The Convention proceeded to the firft vote in the queltion, "Is Louis guilty of a confpiracy againft liberty, and of attempts again the general fafety?"

Several members expreffed themselves in the affirmative upon grounds which had been affigned, others modified their opinion; the greater number obferved, that they pronounced as Legislators, and not as judges. But there was not one voice which abfolutely acquitted the accused of the charges against him.

After the votes were taken, the Prefident announced, that twenty-fix members had leave of abfence: that five were abfent from indifpofition, and one it was

not known from what circumftance twenty-fix had made different declara tions; fix bundred and ninety-three had voted in the affirmative. The Prefident then pronounced the following SENTENCE:

"I DECLARE, IN THE NAME OF THE CONVENTION, THAT LOUIS IS GUILTY OF A CON. SPIRACY AGAINST THE LIBERTY OF THE NATION, AND OF ATTEMPTS AGAINST THE SAFETY OF THE STATE.”

They then proceeded to the vote upon the fecond queftion; "Shall the decree which the National Convention shall pass with regard to Louis Capet, be tranfmitted for the fanction of the people ?"

Two hundred and eighty-two gave their voice for the function of the people, and four hundred and eighty against it."? The fitting did not rife till eleven at night.

The third queftion as to the punishment, was delayed till next day.

At fix in the evening, the Prefident announced the queftion,

What punishment fhall be applied to the crimes of which Louis XVI. late King of the French, is declared convicted?"

The Secretary afcended the Tribunal. At three in the morning, about a fourth of the voices were collected.

17. A quarter after eight o'clock, the Prefident read the refult of the Appeal Nominal. He declared, THAT THE PUNISHMENT TO BE INFLICTED UPON LOUIS, WAS DEATH, which was carried by a ma jority of five only.

The three defenders of Louis Capet were then admitted to the bar. One of

them, Defeze, said,

Citizens, Representatives, The law and the decrees have entrusted to us the facred function of the defence of Louis. We come, with regret, to prefent to you the laft act of our function. Louis has given to us the exprefs charge to read to you a letter figned with his own hand, of which the following is a copy:

the National Convention this appeal by all the means in their power, and to demand, that mention fhould be made in the minutes of their fitting. "Given at Paris, the 26th Jan. 1793. (Signed) LOUIS."

Defeze then refumed the difcourfe. He reminded the Affembly that the decree of death had only been pronounced by a majority of five voices, while the other part of the Affembly were of opinion that the fafety of the country required another decifion. He warmly Conjured them to examine anew the queftion of appeal, and to grant to humanity, to the interest of the State, all that juftice might not feem imperiously to claim.

The Prefident informed the Counsel, that the Convention would take their requefts into confideration, and invited them to the honours of the fitting.

The difcuffion of the queftion, whether it would be proper to fufpend the execution of the fentence paffed against Louis Capet, was adjourned to next day.

The Convention rofe at eleven at night, after a fitting which continued thirty-fix hours.

POLAN D.

Warfaw, Nov. 24. It is made manifeft more and more every day, what kind of Liberty is to be granted to this ill-fated Nation. The People in general are rigoroufly prohibited from reading any papers which countenance the French Revolution. Moniteur, and Gazette Nationale de France, are particularly profcribed. A reward of a thousand florins is

offered to any person who will inform against those who circulate fuch writings. It is no doubt referved for the Government of this country to refolve the problem, that a Free State (for the Ruffians always infift that they maintain the Freedom of the Poles) can fubfift without Light or Knowledge.

DENMARK.

Elfineur, Jan. 10. In the course of the laft year, 12,114 veflèis have paffed the Sound; viz. 4349 English, 2181 Dutch, 1362 Danish, 1132 Swedish, 65 Ruffian, 209 Dantzic, 142 of Papenburg, 40 Imperial, 737 Pruffan. 188 of Bremen, 86 of Lubes, 35 of Oldenburg, 3 of Hamburg, 338 of Roftoc, 21 of Cour

land, 11 Portugueze, 15 French, 68 Americans, 40 Spanish, and two more, the names of which were unknown.

SWEDEN.

Stockholm, Dec. 24. On the 21ft of this month, a M. Thorild published a paper, under the title of " The Liberty of Reafon, demonftrated to the Regent and the Swedish Nation," openly preferring a Republican Reform of Government. M. Thorild being arrefted the next day, and brought before a Court of Justice, the people demanded the doors to be opened, to the end that any of the citi zens might plead for the accufed; which being granted, M. Thorild was highly applauded by feveral who spoke in his behalf; and a number of the populace accompanied the carriage, in which he returned, crying, "Thorild and Liberty." Exclamations of this kind conținued the whole of the night, and part of the next day.

ITALY.

Rome, Dec. 14. Cardinal Zelada, by order of the Pope, has notified, that after having provided for the fafety of his coafts and ports in the Mediterranean, and after having taken proper measures to prevent peace from being interrupted in any of his States, and to preferve tranquillity, his Holinefs has ordered a militia to be levied in the different Provinces, who, in a proportionate number, fhall be fent to the Capital to guard it in concert with the garrilon now there,

AMERICA.

The hope of peace between the United States of America and the Indians has vanifhed; for the latter have murdered the Commiffioners fent to them from Congrefs, to treat even for a month's fufpenfion of the war. Very long hoftilities, of courfe, muft enfue upon this, and the event can fcarcily be lefs than the extinction of the neighbouring endians, and the establishment of a further frontier of planters. The Indians have firelocks, and know the use of them; but their ammunition muft, at length, be exhaufted, and they have yet to feel the dreadful effect of heavy artillery,

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE,

IRELAND.

Dublin, Jan. 10. This day his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant went in ftate to the House of Peers, and opened the Seffion with a speech from the throne; which concluded with the following li

beral recommendation:

"I have it in particular command from his Majefty, to recommend it to you to apply yourselves to the confideration of fuch measures as may be moft likely to ftrengthen and cement a general union of fentiment among all claffes and defcription of his Majefty's fubjects in fupport of the eftablished Conftitution: with this view, his Majefty trufts, the fituation of his Majefty's Catholic fubjects will engage your serious attention, and in the confideration of this fubject he relies on the wifdom and liberality of his Parliament."

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, Jan. 14.

Mr Conolly declared his refolution 10 fupport the measure. In 1782, he obferved, a propofition of this kind came before the Houfe, but it came from a bo dy of armed men fitting in the metropolis. Such a propofition from fuch a bo dy he would always think it right to refift, because the power of reforming the Parliament refided in the Parliament itfelf; it was on that account he rejected the propofal then. Since that period, the public grievances had increased vethem had been in vain attempted. He ry confiderably. Other remedies to heal would therefore recommend it to Government to turn their thoughts to that grand one-REFORM.

his whole life had he heard any declara Mr Grattan profeffed, that never in tions which gave him fuch rapturous de light as thofe which he had juft now heard from thofe Right Hon. Gentle men. He felt himself young again. Such great truths had thefe Gentlemen uttered in a very few words, and fuch falutary means to heal the ills of the country, that he thought them the beft orators he had ever heard.

He therefore moved, " That a Committee be appointed to enquire whether any, and what abufes have taken place in the Conftitution of the country, and in the Adminiftration thereof, and to report fuch temperate remedies as may be likely to redress the fame.”

Mr Corry propofed an amendment, viz. that inftead of a Committee to enquire into the abuses of the Conflitution and of the Adminiftration, a committee fhould be appointed to enquire into the ftate of the Reprefentation.

This amendment was finally agreed to, the Committee being made a Committee of the whole Houfe, and the day appointed for their fitting-Monday fortnight.

ENGLAND.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

LONDON, January 22. Mr Secretary Dundas called the at

tuation