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the 1st of January, 1818. The substance of the Minister's speech on the first projet was, that the Law of the 29th October, 1815, by which the Government was empowered to arrest and detain suspected persons, was intended to be only temporary, and had been exercised with every possible clemency. The number

of persons in custody at any one time throughout all France never exceeded 419, and that was in the month after the troubles at Grenoble. At the beginning of this year they amounted to 167; on the 1st of June to 319; and on the 1st of this month to S1, including 17 for Paris. The numbers of those placed in surveillance at a distance from their usual places of residence, were 253 on the 1st of July of this year, and do not exceed 100 now. The numbers under special surveillance in their own Communes, never amounted to more than 900 in the whole kingdom; and the larger part were not aware of their being under surveillance. It was still necessary, he observed, for the public security, to continue restraints on the actions of the turbulent, but not to the extent of the law of October 1815.-The second projet, respecting the liberty of the press, is as gross an act of tyranny as any committed within the last twenty-five years "Newspapers and periodical works cannot be published without the King's authority." Having thus summarily disposed of the journals and periodical works, the next projet, with respect to other literary productions, directs, that upon the seizure of a publication under a law of the 21st October, 1814, the party whose work is seized may, by a certain process, cause the question respecting the seizure to be decided upon by the tribunal within eight days. After that delay, if the seizure be not maintained by the tribunal, the work shall be returned to its owner.

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A Paris paper of the 16th inst. mentions, that ten estates in the departments of La Manche aud Pas de Calais, have been purchased by Englishmen, who purpose to settle in France; 42 families are also said to have settled in the Vaucluse.

Extract of a letter from Paris, Dec. 16. "The Budget will not, it is said, be finally discussed before February; it will be made a powerful instrument against the Ministers. The whole body of the lower classes, particularly those in trade, are marshalled against it The com. plaints against it are loud and violent, as falling chiefly upon the poor, instead of pressing upon the rich; by directly taking a tenth, fifth, &c. of their annual income, according to its amount. "system of taxation is the favourite topic of the political economists of the Palais Royal."

This

The whole of the 16th and 18th inst. was devoted in the Chamber of Deputies to the discussion of a Law to enable Ministers to receive in advance about onethird of the payments of the taxes for 1817. This Law was carried by a large majority (164 to 30), and is a new triumph to the Ministers who have pledged themselves to the fact, that the embarrassments which call for these extraordinary supplies are merely temporary.

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Letters recently received from Paris say that France, at the present moment, is unable to pay her instalments of the contributions. It is said, that an agent sent to England by the French Government, for the purpose of negociating a loan, has failed entirely in his object. The sums required altogether were nine millions sterling. It is pretty generally believed that the time fixed for the payment of the contributions due has been prolonged for two months, by the unanimous assent of the Allied Powers. The letters also state, that the failure on the part of the French Government to satisfy its engagements" is not likely to be attended with any unpleasant result."

The French almanacs for 1817 announce three extraordinary high tides; namely, the 5th of April, 11th of October, and 9th of November, particularly if high winds prevail.

An English soldier of the 43d Regiment, under the Duke of Wellington, named Robert Parvy, was hanged on the 16th ult. for robbery.

A young Spaniard, and a married female of the same nation, formed an illicit attachment lately at Bourdeaux. The husband, discovering it, took steps to break off the connexion; in consequence, the guilty parties agreed on their mutual destruction; and they were both found dead, with their heads shattered to pieces by pistol shots.

NETHERLANDS.

The increase of discontent and disturbance on the French frontier provinces, bas induced the Belgic Government to adopt extraordinary means of precaution. All suspicious pe. sons are strictly watched, and several have been sent out of the Belgian territory. General Vandamme was among the latter; but, it is said, he has since received permission to remain in one of the Northern provinces.

A sort of misunderstanding appears to have arisen between the Governments of the Netherlands and France. Orders were issued by the former some mouths since to detain and give up French deserters, upon condition that the same was done in France with respect to deserters from the Netherlands. It seems, how ever, that, though French deserters have been given up, there has been no recipro

city on the part of the French Government. The King of the Netherlands therefore revokes his former orders.

The Second Chamber of the States General of the Netherlands has at length agreed to the proposition for prohibiting the Export of Core.

"Brussels, Dec. 13. The Second Chamber of the States-General in its yesterday's sitting, was almost wholly occupied with the proposal of Mr. Hoffschmidt, the object of which was, to prohibit the exportation of corn by the frontier of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; and with that of Mr. Pyke, relative to a general prohibition of the exportation of corn of all kinds, which is not proved to have been imported. After a long and animated debate, both these proposals were adopted. The first by a majority of 60 votes to 12 and the second by 42 to 35," During the debate on these interesting motions, the popular feeling was very strongly evinced in the Assembly, The state of the corn-market at Brussels, the day after the prohibitory resolutious were agreed to, strongly corroborates the impression that there was no scarcity; as on that day there was a general stagnation, and a great quantity of corn remained unsold.

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SPAIN.

Private letters from Spain state, that Colonel Cholin, and twelve others, were under close confinement in the fortress of Pamplona, and in daily expectation of being brought out to the public square for execution. It is said, that they are implicated in an extensive revolution forming in Spain; that their correspondence was intercepted, and part of the ramifications of the plot were discovered.

By accounts from Spain, it appears that Ferdinand has issued a decree, in effect entirely excluding the importation of all British cotton goods, East India cottons, such as nankeens, &c. are comprehended in this order.

The Spanish Consul residing at Antwerp has notified to the merchants of that city an Ordinance of his Master, prohibiting the importation into his dominions of foreign cotton manufactures. The "fatal influence which the sale of such goods" is said by the Spanish Council of Finance to have had on "the agriculture and commerce of the kingdom," is assigned in the preamble of the Ordinance as the cause of its promulgation. ITALY.

It was a short time since mentioned in a Foreign Journal, that there had been some serious quarrels at Messina between the English and American seamen in that port. It is now stated, that in consequence of a man of colour, belonging to the Java American frigate, having been

found on board the Anne, Captain Bell, of Malta, committing a theft, he was punished by the crew of the latter vessel. Three American officers met Capt. Bell on shore, grossly insulted him, and challenged him to set-to; which he accepted, and having beat two of them, their companions seized and cruelly assaulted him. The Sicilian Government was appealed to; but no further result is stated than occasional disturbances.

The Princess of Wales is said to have lately paid a visit to the Ex- Empress Maria Louisa, at Parma, and to intend remaining some weeks at Milan.

GERMANY.

The Emperor of Austria, who has recently taken a young wife, is marrying off his daughters as fast as he can; one is united to a Neapolitan Prince, a second goes to the Brazils, and a third, about 15, and very beautiful, is said to be designed for the presumptive heir to the kingdom of Saxony.

One step towards a popular Government has at length been taken in Germany. At the eighth sitting of the Diet at Frankfort, on the 2d inst. the Envoy of Saxe Weimar submitted to them the new Constitution of that State, and demanded for it the guarantee of the Germanic Confederation.Political writers in that country assert, that if the sovereigns on the Continent do uot fulfil the expectations formerly held out to the people of granting them full civil rights, a revolution will take place.

The new King of Wurtemberg is making considerable reductions in the public expenditure, by abolishing useless offices, and reducing the emoluments of others.

Stutgard, Nov. 25.—Our Sovereign commences his reign by acts most favourable to the relief of his subjects; namely, by reductions and economy. His Majesty, who never loved pomp, has diminished court state. The guards, which were very expensive, will be dissolved: the king has declared, that he was sure of being faithfully guarded by every one of his soldiers and of his people. The standing army will not exceed eight or nine thousand men. All the citizens capable of bearing arms will be trained to the use of them; a means of defence which will save much expence, and consequently facilitate that mitigation of the taxes which is speedily expected; and among others, the abolition of the tax on Colonial produce, the dini nution of the stamp duties, &c.

The King of Wurtemberg has prorogued the States till the 16th of January, when his Majesty is expected to make a proposition respecting the new Constitution.

There is a melancholy account of the harvest in Germany. In the vicinity of Halle, all the corn has been eaten up by vermin. The

The winter has now set-in in the Northern part of Europe; the Upper and Lower Elbe, the Vistula, and the Neva, are frozen: the exportation of corn has been prohibited in Sweden; but on the other hand we learn, that numerous shipments of grain are making at Dantzic, although the Vistula is frozen: the grain is carried out to sea to the ships.

Nuremberg, March 28. The wellknown Adam Muller, the soothsayer, says, "the tranquillity of Europe will not last longer than till the summer of 1817; when, through the instigation of the French, war will again break out. But France will be overpowered by the victorious Allies; and the monarchy will be destroyed, by being divided among different branches."

STATE OF THE SUN.-The Rev. M. Stark, Canon and Astronomer of Augsburg, has observed in the sun a vast opening or cavity, 4 minutes 26 seconds from its eastern, and 15 minutes 7 seconds from its southern edge. In that cavity, the apparent diameter of which is three times larger than the real diameter of the earth, are seen too black hollows or holes, separated from each other by a luminous space; and the largest of which terminates in a point at its upper extremity, and is very wide, and crenated at its lower. Between this vast apparent abyss and the eastern edge of the sun there are several asperities, below which four small black spots are seen, and six above.

RUSSIA.

The Emperor of Russia has given liberty to the peasants of Esthonia, at the special desire of the Nobles.

ASIA.

By the last arrivals from Java, accounts have been received of a successful and decisive action having been fought at Macassar, in Celebes, between the British troops stationed at that settlement and the armies of several of the Native Chiefs in hostility with the European authority. These accounts were brought to Batavia by the Hon. Company's cruiser Ternate; and it appears, that on this occasion the whole of the disposable force at Macassar attacked the enemy in a very strong position, defended by 15 redoubts, and flanked on both sides by perpendicular rocks several hundred feet high. The whole of the redoubts were carried, and the enemy's general, Datu Chita, killed. We regret, however, to add, that our loss was great; Lieutenants Samuel Watson, Ashe, and Goding, being wounded, and 74 men killed and wounded. The whole force did not amount to 500 men, including marines and seamen from the cruizers, headed by Captain Eatwell of the Benares, who were of the most essential service.

The latest intelligence from Bengal announces the intended departure of the

Governor General for the Upper Provinces, for the purpose of affording the necessary protection to the Rajah of Jeypore, whose country was in a state of continual alarm, from the predatory incursions of those barbarous freebooters, the Pindarries; and subject to demands of large sums of money from other powers, which he was not in equal strength to oppose. This resolution of Government, it was supposed by many, would bring on a war with the Mahrattas and Scindia.

Advices have been received by Govern ment from China, to the end of July. Lord Amberst had arrived at Macao, after a tedious passage of nearly six months. On his arrival, be received the pleasing intelligence (as it was believed at the India House that he would not be very favourably received), that the Emperor had signified his pleasure that the em bassy should be received with every possible distinction.

AFRICA.

The Emperor of Morocco, who lately interdicted the exportation of grain from his ports, is now said to have offered to send a supply to France. This is perhaps thrown out by the French Government, for the purpose of contributing to keep the people quiet.

A new Sovereign has started up in Egypt in the person of Amound Ali, the Pacha. He has built fortifications, and raised an army of adventurers of all nations, the greater part of whom are probably French.

AMERICA, &c.

New York Papers to the 16th of last month state, that the Russian Ambassador is about to quit the United States, in consequence of a misunderstanding respecting the arrest of the Russian Consul at Philadelphia, for a serious offence against the American laws. Private letters contain an account of a similar misunderstanding with M. Hyde de Neuville, the French Ambassador Shortly after that gentleman reached Baltimore, it seems, a public dinner was given to the French fugitives, and toasts extremely insulting to the French Government were drunk on the occasion, particularly one proposed by the Postmaster of Baltimore. M. de Neuville obtained little satisfaction; it' being replied to him, that if the President himself had been exposed to a similar insult, the laws of America would have given him no remedy.

An article from New York states, that' the Americans have taken into their service another refugee French General: his name is Bernard. In the event, therefore, of new wars on the great American Continent, the North American troops may be expected to behave better than they did during the late campaigns on the Canadian frontier,

The

The election for President was going on in the United States at the date of the last advices. The democratic party has evidently a great ascendancy; whence the nomination of Mr. Munroe is no longer considered doubtful.

A large party of the French emigrants lately arrived in the United States have formed a company, for the purpose of joining in an establishment on the banks of the Mississippi.

Accounts from Boston (United States) of the 16th Oct. state, that it is impossible to describe the distressed state of those who have imported largely of British manufactures; the sacrifice making on sales of their importations were as great as from 20 to 30 per cent.; and the stock of goods on hand being very great, an amendment in the market could not, of course, be expected. These distresses were augmented by the holders of British goods. sending on from New York and Philadelphia (where they could not effect sales under 40 or 50 per cent. loss) large quantities to be sold by auction at Boston.

It appears from the Halifax papers, that a destructive fire took place there on the 9th of October: its ravages were only stopped by taking down two or three houses before the flames had reached them. The property destroyed is valued at 30,000. The Governor has issued a proclamation, stating, that notwithstanding the activity of the garrison, there had been much plunder; and that if any goods of the distressed inhabitants could be traced into the hands of the robbers, they should be deemed felons, and suffer death. The time allowed for restoration was two days from the date of the proclamation.

The present situation of the United' States with South America assumes considerable importance. In addition to the hostile appearances, in the United States, of expeditions fitting out to assist the cause of the Spanish insurgents, it would now appear the Spaniards have again captured another American schooner, the Firebrand. The intelligence is demi-official, communicated by the Commanding Officer at New Orleans. The official paper, the National Intelligencer, however, attempts to explain away the circumstance, by stating, that inflammatory accounts are daily circulated to exasperate the citizens of the United States against Spain. The account of the capture of the Firebrand is stated not to be depended upon, as another account mentioned that she escaped from the three Spanish schooners by superior sailing. The other papers are loud in their execrations against Spain.

The Buenos Ayres Commodore Brown, who did so much mischief to the Spaniards in the Pacific Ocean, has been detained

at Barbadoes, with his ship and cargo, in the following curious manner :-"The Hercules, Commodore Brown, arrived at Barbadoes towards the end of September; at the same time his Majesty's ship the Beaver, Captain Stirling, came in from a cruize. The custom-house officers went on board the Hercules; but not being able to read Spanish, or being otherwise deceived, they did not seize her, and Sir James Leith ordered her to quit the Island. By some circumstances Captain Stirling's suspicions were excited; and on searching her papers he found out who she was, and Brown acknowledged he had abandoned the cause of Buenos Ayres, and was seek ing a port to dispose of his cargo. The only commissions he had were, a com mission for another vessel, and one to a person not on board. Captain Stirling therefore seized her under the Navigation Laws, and carried her to the Admiral at Antigua, who approved of what he had done. The Hercules mounts 22 guus, and has 56 men, with a valuable cargo of quick silver, silks, steel, dry goods and spice, supposed to be worth a million of dollars," the produce of plundered towns and ves sels in the Pacific Ocean. The lawyers have no doubt of her confiscation; but there appears much doubt of what is to be? done with Admiral Brown and his crew, whether or not they are to be sent home and tried as pirates."

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An expedition lately sailed from Port au-Prince for South America. This ex pedition was a scheme of the younger Mina, who has found means to get toge-" ther a number of adventurers like himself, and even to collect three small vessels, the largest mounting 18 guns; with which he sailed to take part with the Independ ents, of all nations and characters, in arms, in various parts of Spanish South America.

By the schooner Sarah and Hannah, arrived at Charleston from Laguira, a rest port had been brought, that the Spanish Patriots were again in possession of Margaritta, Barcelona, Carupana, and part of Oronoko. Cumana was closely blockaded by them, and, being much straitened for provisions, was expected soon to fall into their hands. The Royalist General Morales, advancing to the relief of Cumana, was attacked near Barcelona by the Pas triots, and defeated with a very considerable loss: he was not supposed to bave more than 1,500 or 2,000 men under his command; while the Patriots could mus ter, under their different leaders, nearly 10,000. Even the Spanish officers themselves began to despair of much longer defending that part of the Spanish dominions against the Revolutionists. The celebrated pártisan, Sir Gregor M'Gregor, who was represented in the late Spanish

accounts

accounts to have been killed, and his body cut up and satted, and sent to Mexico, is still alive, and in command of a strong body of Revolutionists near Cu

Idana.

The General Assembly of Barbadoes have passed a Slave Population Registry Bill, with a clause enacting a penalty of 1001. for each slave omitted. This has been done by invitation from Government, to render the adoption of Mr. Wilberforce's Bill unnecessary,

The Planters of Dominica are remonstrating with the Government at home, against the new regulation for supplying the West India islands with provisions and lumber from Canada, instead of the United States, as before the war with the latter country-supplies received froga Canada had been so scanty that starvation was seriously dreaded, unless the ports were immediately opened to the United States.

Letters from Demerara mention, that Meetings had been called of the Planters of the extensive colonies of Vemerara and Berbice to petition the Governor to remove the sectaries, particularly the Methodists. The petitions requested that app ication might be ma de to the Mother Country to take the present situation of the West Indies into consideration: they suggest the dividing the Colonies into various parishes; that they would willingly pay the expense of having learned teachers of the Established Church settled amongst them, who would contribute, by their precepts ard examples, to the benefit of the Colonies; but that the ignorant sectaries woul' I spread misery and desolation amongst the British West India possessions.

America Papers to the 21st ult. contain accounts from St. John's, Antigua, of the yellow fever having raged there for several eeks, and caused a dreadful mortality among those not seasoned to the climate ; among the natives the effect was ut slight. The contagion was brought to Antigua from Guadaloupe, where it is said to have swept off nearly one third of the inhabitants.

F. HIPWRECKS.-His Majesty's late ship Cmus, from Newfoundland, was lost in tie Bay of St. Mary's, at midnight, on .he 24th of October; the officers and men wonderfully escaped in four sinal boats, after rowing from six in the morning till four in the afternoon, in search of a spot to land; they were then obliged to march back eighteen miles to the wreck in search of provisions, where they remained several hours before they attained it ; nor had they any change of clothes or a bed to

lay on before they reached Renews, eleven days after the accident.-Intelligence has also been received of the melancholy loss of the transport ship Harpooner, Joseph Briant, Master, with more than half of the unfortunate people with whom she was freighted. She went ashore (precisely on the same spot where the Comus did, so short a time before) on the night of the 10th of November, at halfpast nine at night. The Harpooner left Quebec on the 27th of October, bound for London, with invalids, and detachments from the 4th Royal Veteran Battalion, and other corps stationed in Canada, and a number of women and children; in all, three hundred and eighty. The ship struck on a reef of rocks off Cape Pine, and shortly filled with water; when a number of people between decks were drowned. The vessel kept together until three o'clock of the morning of the 11th; when the wreck was hailed by the mate and four others who had ventured on shore in a boat at the hazard of their lives, and informed the sufferers of their situation. For the boat to return was impossible; a line was therefore fastened round a dog, which fortunately happened to be on board; and, being thrown over, he swam with it on shore, which was the means of saving the lives of the master, crew, and about 160 passengers. some time afterwards went to pieces, upwards of 100 persons were precipitated into the ocean and perished:

When the vessel

Cabin passengers saved-Capt. Prince, 4th Royal Veteran Battalion, and Lady; Lieut. Milrea, ditto, eldest daughter and son; Paymaster Scott, ditto; Mrs. Wilson, and eldest daughter; Miss Armstrong; Capt. Willock, 103d regiment; Ensign Gleeson, ditto.

Cabin passengers lost-Surgeon Armstrong, 4th Veteran Battalion, his lady, son, and two youngest daughters; Lieut. Wilson, ditto, son, and two daughters; Mrs. Milrea, and two youngest daughters; Miss Pilmore, and three sons of Captain Prime.

The cause of both these ships being wrecked was, the very great indraught into the different bays of the island-they both went on shore in a thick fog,

The French frigate Normand has arrived in the West Indies, with a letter of thanks from Louis XVIII. to Sir James Leith*, for his conduct at Guadaloupe during the insurrection in favour of Buonaparte; and his Majesty has conferred on his Excel. lency the dignity of Great Cross of t Order of Merit. The insignia of he Order were to follow in another frigate.'

* Since deceased, see p. 566.

GENT. MAG. December, 1816.

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COUNTRY

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