and to the Hague. He defended with firmness, the independence of those two states against the weakness of his government, which after having promised to respect it, sacrificed it to foreign insinuations.

The eyes of the Directory were opened, but it was too late, the hostile armies advanced into Italy; the discontented assumed audacity in the interior, the confusion increased. Mr. Fouché was called to the ministry of general police, where he acquired great honour by the good which he did, by the evils which he prevented, and by the resistance which he opposed to the passions, in every crisis.

His first act on entering into the administration under the Executive Directory, was a remarkable report against the anarchists: "Do not hope," said he, "that they will re"form; that which they undertake for the "i ndependence of their passions is to them "virtue and liberty; the means, by which

"to them means adapted to prepare their "force and their prosperity." He adds, in speaking of the monsters who committed the assassinations in the prisons: " their remorse "cannot efface the remembrance of the mur "ders which they have committed. The na"tion sees always their assassinations which

appal it, and cannot read in their minds the "remorse which might reassure it."

Those who see the Duke of Otrantò in the midst of his family are tempted to believe that his ideas and his sentiments do not extend beyond the circle of domestic affections. His manners are simple and regular. It is of no consequence to him that he is rich; he disdains artifice and subtilities, he permits himself to be spoken to with freedom. He treats lightly frivolous things, and gives strong attention to all that is serious. All ideas relative to the state of man, to his happiness, to his duties, are familiar to him. Whatever contributes to form civil societies, to perfect,

D

to defend, to corrupt, and to destroy them, is the continual object of his meditations. He has protected, in his long and difficult administration, all modes of existence without exception; there was complete security for every individual who sought only tranquillity. He always opposed himself to laws made but for the exigencies of the moment; "they," said he often, 66 only confirm the evil without "remedying it, because their execution which "is necessarily arbitrary is always entrusted "to the passions."

As the Duke has served under various governments, his enemies have endeavoured to persuade the world that his character bent itself to all; but if he had been the compliant instrument of all governments, it seems to us that he would not have passed a part of his life in exile and in proscription.

The correspondence of the Duke of Otranto, his instructions to the prefects bear the stamp of foresight and of the profound

art of managing the human heart. His style is often incorrect, but all that he writes is conceived with great elevation.

It has been said that the Duke of Otranto in his administration under the republic aimed by his instructions to the prefects to substitute morality for religion and the police for justice. We have procured the two circulars which have served as a basis for this strange accusa tion. Their date is in the month of Brumaire, when Bonaparte was named chief of the government of the republic. When we reflect on that period, we are struck at the courage of him who wrote them: it required at that time a great superiority of language to procure a favourable reception to the senti ments and the doctrine which are expressed in them.

Circular to the Bishops.

Paris, 25th Brumaire,

(16th Nov. 1799.)

Ist year of the Consulate.

No civilized nation has been without one or more forms of religiousworship. But no known

nation has been sufficiently enlightened to assign to religion the place which it ought to have.

Some have made religious laws, like civil and criminal laws, one part of the social code, and their pontificate was a magistracy. The government was at first, the stronger on this account; but when religious opinions lost their force, it lost its own.

Among other nations government and religion have been two powers by the side of each other which came incessantly into contact, to support or to combat each other; there the ministers of religion have been alternately oppressors and oppressed. This is the history of modern Europe.

Other times are arrived; reason has prepared them; religion ought to bless them. You will no longer be exposed either to exercise persecution or to suffer it. All forms of religion shall be free; and if there is any of them which receives an especial