164] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
CHAP. XI. 
Effects expected in France from a growing Spirit of Moderation.—The Chief | 
Object in the Councils of France, how to break or to weaken the Power of — 
England.—Plan of the French for that End.—Means for restoring the | 
Pecuniary Credit of the French Republic—A Rupture threatened between | 
‘the French Councils and Executive Directory.—Prevented by the Necessity ~ 
of their acting in Concert.—The Legislature invade the Province of the | 
Directory, by the Appointment of a Committee for judging in Cases of 1 
Appeals from Emigrants.—Loftiness of the Directory.— Humbled by the 
wise Economy and Firmness of the United States of Americaa—Jealousies” 
and Disputes between the French and Americans.—And an open Rupture. } 
@ es spirit of lenity that seemed 
to have arisen and been nou- 
rished by the new constitution, be- 
gan to operate powerfully in its 
favour, and to gain it daily fresh 
adherents. The people in France 
appeared in general extremely 
willing to support it, hoping that 
the period of internal confusions 
would thereby be accelerated, and 
that the Muropean powers leagued 
against them, when they found that 
unanimity was re-established among 
the French, would cease to prose- 
cute the war for the restoration of 
the house of Bourbon to the throne 
of France, against the manifest will 
of the nation. 
The heads of the republic were 
now deeply occupied in the con- 
certing of means to counteraét the 
measures of that power, on the in- 
defatigable efforts of which all the 
others depended for the support of 
their own. It was with unfeigned 
mortification that France beheld 
that had befallen the other parts of }* 
the coalition. That invincible spirit, | C 
which had so many ages accompa. |) 
nied the councils and the arms of 
so many contests with France, had, |! 
in the present, displayed greater |) 
an idea, that however the French. 
republic might for a while diffusel 
the terror of its arms among the 
neighbouring states, the persevering 
courage of the English, aided by 
their immense opulence, would final- 
ly weary out the endeavours of the 
French to retain the acquisitions they 
had made; and, that notwithstand- 
ing the republic itself might remain, 
it would, on the issue of the terrible 
trial it had stood, be compelled te 
remit of thepretensions it had form: 
ed to prescribe terms of peace 
all its numerous enemies, and t 
’ trea 
