tunately, the confpirators betrayed themselves. They could not conceal the pride they took in the name of royalifts, nor the contempt in which they held the republicans. They were haftening to the execution of their projects with undiffembled alacrity, and confidence of fuccels, and were actually at the very eve of entering upon it, when the vigilance and penetration of government difcovered their intentions,

In the mean time, the armies of the republic, fo ungenerously neglected, and ill treated, refolved to do themfelves, and the nation, that juftice for which they had in vain petitioned. They had come forward with a determination that ftruck the confpirators with awe, and reanimated the friends of the republic They boldly expofed the perfidy of its internal foes, and infifted on their punishment. Rouzed by the fpirit and fidelity of the armies, the executive power affumed fresh vigour. It felt the neceffity of employing every poffible exertion, and of embracing, without hefitation, all the means that offered, to fave the conftitution from the imminent ruin that threatened it, and which was hourly approaching. The talk was truly difficult and hazardous. Protected by forms that militated in favour of, their projects, a faction of perfidious legiflators was labouring to undermine that conftitution, under pretence of guarding it from innovations, and of reftricting every part of government within its own limits; but thefe were evidently become too narrow for the zeal and activity now wanted from every quarter whence it could be procured. The ftate called for the

immediate help of all that were able to co-operate in its falvation.

On thefe juft and laudable principles were founded the fortunate meafures that preferved the republic: nor were they adopted till it was on the point of perifhing; fo ferupuloufly averfe were its warmeft friends to deviate from eftablished rules, till they found themfelves under the compulsion of inevitable and dire neceflity to break through them, for the undeniable and manifeft good and fervice of the state, which could not have been faved by any other means. Escaped from perdition, through the protection of Providence, and the refolution of thofe who were its inftruments, on this critical emergency, the republic was now at liberty to act without the impulfe of terror, and to difplay fentiments of humanity that would dignify its character, and render it refpectable to its most virulent enemies. Inftead of exercifing that vengeance it might lawfully have done, upon men, who, had they fucceeded in their defigns, would have fhewn their antagonists no mercy, it generously abitained from the infliction of all perfonal punishment, Not a drop of blood was fhed; no act of violence committed. Banifhment alone was the fentence pronounced upon the guil ty. They were left to their own remorfe, and to the flame incurred by their criminal deeds. The government, which they fought fo ardently to deftroy, was content with removing them to a diftance, where they would be unable to profecute their pernicious fchemes. Such lenity, when contrafted with fo much provocation, muft effectually filence the calumnies of those who had bafely reprefented the

French

French as a blood-thirfty and mercilefs people. Here was an inftance of the contrary, feldom, if ever, precedented in the civil feuds of nations."

The fequel of the addrefs expatiated on the miferies that had been fo aufpiciously avoided, and the profperity that would arife from the concord and benevolence to each other of families and individuals, while they remained firmly united in their attachment to the conftitution, and their oppofition to those who ftrive to fow the feeds of difcord among them,and to plunge them even into blood and murder." From the return of unanimity and confidence among the various claffes of fociety, the most happy confequences would result to all France. Agriculture, induftry, commerce, would, in a fhort time, be diffufed through every part of the country, and with them would fpring up the comforts of private life, and the fplendor attending the fuccefs of public affairs. By the re-establishment of unfeigned union among the French, their foreign enemies would quickly be reduced to defpair of either partitioning France as their prey, or of fubduing it to its former flavery. Magiftrates, adminiftrators, functionaries of all degrees, were now called upon by their country to exert themfelves with peculiar diligence 1 and fervour, in the ftations which the fuppreffion of the late confpiracy would henceforth enable them to occupy in peace, undisturbed by the fear of being expelled, through ruffian violence, or facrificed for having discharged their duty. Men of letters, on whom the return of defpotifm would have impofed perpetual filence, were now freed from their terrors, and empower

ed to exercife the energy of their minds in enlightening the public, in defending the caufe of liberty, and confuting the apologifts of tyrants, in aiding government, and forming the manners of the nation."

Such were the ideas which the framers of the addrefs, decreed by the council of five hundred, endeavoured to imprefs on the people of France.

It was carefully ditiributed in every department, and in every divifion of the army, and received with great approbation and applaufe by all the friends of the republic, and of republican principles, not only in France, but in every part of Europe. They concurred in afferting both the reality of the confpiracy, and the indifpenfible necefity of recurring to the means that were used to fupprefs it. Every proof of its exiftence had, they afferted, been adduced, that could in reafon and equity be expected, and not one found argument had been alleged to difprove it. The conteft between government and oppofition was manifeft, the favours and partialities to the royalists were not lefs vifible, the influx of emigrants, and the boldness of their fpeeches and behaviour, the feizure of treafonable papers, and the difcovery of the fecret agency of the numerous emiilaries of the royal party: thefe and other circumstances of the moft fufpicious nature fufficiently corroborated the charge, of an attempt against the republic, and carried conviction to the minds of all who were not unpreju diced,

The reply to thefe allegations was that the confpiracy had not been legally proved to be real, in a court of juftice; that the individuals ac

cufed, pofitively denied the charge; and that to país fentence upon them, without bringing them to an open trial, argued an apprehenfion that they would not have been found guilty by an impartial jury. It was alfo urged, that to violate the forms of a conftitution was to violate the conftitution itself, of which thofe forms were defigned to be the fafeguard; and that, even allowing the confpiracy to have been no fiction, if no legal jurors could be brought to condemn the confpirators, it would amount to a plain proof that the public was with them, and approved of their defign: in which cafe they would ftand acquitted by the highest authority.

To the many cenfures and invectives caft upon the republican party, for its conduct on this occafion, the answer which was generally allowed to be the most plaufible, and by many reputed fatisfactory, was, that if the confpirators had been formally tried, they must inevitably have been found guilty, and condemned to die: in which cafe it would not have been in the power of government to remit the fen, tence. It was more humane, therefore, as well as more prudent, to banish them; a punishment which, by sparing their lives, prevented the odium that must have been incurred by the effufion of so much blood.

The ineffectual expedition of the French to Ireland, in the month of December, 1796, did not put an end to the expectation they had formed of being able to make an effectual impreffion upon that part of the British empire. On the return of the fleet to Breft, a proclamation was published, wherein the troops, embarked for that fervice, were

told, that another attempt was in preparation, which would only be deferred till the return of more favourable weather.

Whether a fecond expedition was actually intended, or that government meaned only to keep up an alarm in Great Britain, every appearance of fuch a defign was maintained. Sailors and foldiers reforted, from various quarters, to Breft, where general Hoche had fixed his head quarters. But the whole month of January, and more than half of February elapfed, before any active measures took place: and those that were then taken, appeared of a nature that thewed an intention rather to perplex the British miniftry, than to profecute any regular defign against this kingdom.

A corps of about fourteen hundred men was embarked in four veffels, three of them large frigates, which, failing from Breft, stood round the coaft of England, and entering the Bristol channel, about the 20th of February, anchored in the harbour of Ilfracomb, on the north of Devonfhire, where they fkuttled feveral merchantmen, and would probably have deftroyed all the fhipping there, had they not been apprifed that a body of troops was marching against them. This was the North Devon Regiment of Volunteers, commanded by colonel Orchard. Leaving Ilfracomb, they stood over to the headland off St. Davids, in Pembrokeshire, and came to an anchor in a bay near Fifhguard. Here their troops were difembarked. But their landing was attended with great difficulty. As they were totally unacquainted with the country, they came afhore at a place full of rocks, which they were obliged to climb

with much labour. On the twentythird, their whole force being landed, they advanced into the country, expecting, it has been faid, to be joined by numbers. But if fuch was their expectation, they were greatly deceived. The whole country was inftantly alarmed, and the people gathered from all parts to oppose them. In the courfe of the day, more than three thousand men were collected, of whom seven hundred were well trained militia. Lord Cawdor put himself at their head, and marched directly against the enemy, whom he reached before the fetting in of night. But inftead of attempting either attack or defence, the French commander informed him, by a letter, brought by one of his officers, that the circumftances, under which the French troops were landed, rendering military operations unneceffary, as they would only tend to bloodfhed and pillage, all the officers under him, had intimated their defire to enter into a negociation for a furrender.

To this meffage lord Cawdor replied, by requiring them immediately to furrender prifoners of war. With this requifition they complied, and laid down their arms on the following day. They had no fieldpieces with them, but brought a quantity of powder and ball, fufficient to load feventy carts. One half of them were picked veterans, but the other confifted, according to report, of galley-flaves, and others of the like fort, taken. out of prifon on condition of their engaging in this attempt. Their ragged appearance fully countenance this furmife, and the firft object that occupied them, on their landing, was to provide themselves with clothes where

ever they could find any. Various motives were aligned for this undertaking. Whatever they might be, those who were employed in it, had only their own prowefs and exertions to rely upon for fuccess, as the ships that brought them, took their departure as foon as the debarkation was completed, leaving them entirely to the chances and and protection of their own fortune. The most probable of the several opinions, formed upon this subject, feems that which afcribes to the French government a determination to prove the practibility of effecting a landing in England, notwithstanding the numerous fleets that guard its coafts. In a trial of this importance they were willing to rifk the handful of men that were fent to make it. They might not, however, imagine that they would fo readily yieid to the first fummons, and poffibly hoped that they would be able to occafion much confufion before they were fubdued.

While the French were thus vainly endeavouring to carry the war into the British dominions in Europe, the arms of England were more fuccefsfully employed against the poffeffions of their Spanish allies in the Weft Indies. An expedition was planned, and took place in February, against Trinidad, an ifland of confequence on the northern coaft of South Ameri

ca.

The land forces were under the command of general Abercromby, and the fquadron under that of admiral Harvey. The Spaniards, in expectation of an attack, had collected a naval force for their defence. It confifted of four ships of the line, befides frigates, and lay at anchor in a bay, plected by ftrong batteries. On the fixteenth

of February, admiral Harvey arrived, with the British fquadron, and immediately refolved to attack it. But, during that night, which preceeded the intended attack, the Spanish fhips cafually took fire, and all were confumed but one, which was captured. After this difafter,

the Spaniards were not in a condition to make any effectual refittance. General Abercromby landed his forces, and having made himfelf mafter of the principal town, with little oppofition, the Spanish governor furrendered the whole ifland by capitulation.

CHAP.