eS TAT BORA P E\RS, 
fiscations. But it isin vain that 
every effort is made to hinder the 
introduction of English merchan- 
dize, if no\steps are token to pre- 
vent their consumption: in the in- 
terior of the republic. 
The fourth article of the above- 
mentioried law specified, that every 
rson who introduced or sold 
such merchandize, should be deem- 
ed suspected persons, and punished 
accordingly, pursuant to the de- 
eree of the 17th September. This 
law can no longer be in force ; it 
is for your wisdom, citizens repre- 
sentatives, to substitute sume others 
in its stead. 
in England, the public execute 
severe justice on those who affect 
to prefer the produce of foreign 
to their own national manufacto- . 
ries. Can there be found in France, 
men, who are so far the enemies 
of their own country, as to oppose 
a measure so essentially necessary 
to the industry and prosperity of 
the nation, and which tends—to 
lessen those resources ‘we furnish 
our enemies for prolonging the 
war they have excited against us ? 
You have still, citizens represen- 
tatives, legislative a¢ts to form 
against those, who, in despite of 
the law, have, by their speculation 
of mercantileavidity, obtained stores 
of English merchandize. If youdo 
not think it proper they should in- 
cur the penalty of confiscation, and 
the other punishments prescribed 
by the law, you may at least ap- 
point a short period for their re- 
exporting the gocds, which they 
ought not to have introduced, and 
that under such penalties as you 
may. dictate. Yes, citizens repre- 
sentatives, the safety of the repub- 
lic, perhaps, depends on the rigour 
_peace, 
[255 
and promptitnde of the measures 
you shall take on this occasion. 
Do you desire to re-animate your 
commerce, to relieve your manu- 
factories, and to re-establish your 
trade? Would you deprive our 
enemies of their gteat resources 
for carrying on war against us? 
Would you force the British go. 
vernment to treat sincerely for 
and would you have it 
brought to a conclusion? One of 
the most powerful means of pro- 
moting this great end of public 
prosperity, would be to take the 
most efficacious measures for pro- 
hibiting, until the return of peace, 
the sale or consumption of English 
merchandize in every part of the 
republic. 
The executive direétory invites 
you to take this object into imme- 
diate consideration. 
(Signed) 
ReveLLIERE LEPEAUX, 
president. 
Lacarbe, sec. general, 
On the 26thof OBober, the Executive 
Dire@ory of the French Republic 
presented a second Message upon the 
subjeB to the Council of Five Hun- 
dred. . 
Citizens representatives, 
IT is of*moment that the exe. 
cutive direftory should not conceal 
from you, that, by the official cor- 
respondence of its agents, and by 
private informations which they 
receive from all parts, they are 
certain, that if the legislative body 
does not take speedy measures to’ 
prevent the importation and sale 
of English goods in France, the 
Batavian convention will not delay 
revoking the decree which it en- 
- acted, 
