xviil 
‘The first declined to accept on 
account of his age and infirmi- 
ties.. Several others. offered 
their services, particularly. AZ. 
Lamoignon de Mala/fberbes, .a 
man‘of 78 years of age, Being 
ready, he said, ** to devote him- 
self in his defences” and: fmally, 
these two’ were appointed to 
discharge that honourable 
though dangerous duty. M. 
de Seze,.a celebrated advocate 
of Bourdeaux, was afterwards 
joined.to them as a third coun- 
sel. 
The progrefs of the French 
arms has not been so great of 
late as formerly. The Austri- 
ans retook Franckfort after a 
pretty smart engagement, in 
which a great number .of 
French were .killed, and ta- 
ken prisoners; and a report 
- prevails that Custine had been 
defeated with a great slaugh- 
“ter, and himself taken prisoner}; 
But this wants ‘confirmation. 
It seems however to be unde- 
niable, that the French troops 
are at present in great want of 
the most necefsary articles of 
subsistence, and are nearly in 
the state that Shakespeare 
déscribes 5‘ sans «stock- 
ings, sans fhoes, sans bread, 
ans every thing.” .Dumourier 
writes to the National Conven- 
tion, “ That if he had not by 
great accident captured two 
boats Jaden with. oats upon 
the Scheldt, his cavalry must 
have perifhed for want of fo- 
age. He complains of the mi- 
historical chronicle. 
‘nister.of war for not. 
supplies; aud the minister of 
war .exculpates himself by 
throwing the blame on the 
commifsary.. of _ stores. All 
that can be known with cer- 
tainty is, that the. army is in 2 
state of miserable suffering. 
The. diet >of Ratisbon: have at 
length consented to put their 
forces on the war. establifhment, 
with a view to.act with vigour 
against the .French ‘in the 
spring. 
A report prevails that France 
and Spain have. concluded a 
-treaty offensive and defensive. 
This news comes by the way 
of Lisbon, but wants confirma- 
tion. 
—_—_—_—_———__—_—_—_—_— 
Domestic. 
House of Lords. 
Their lordthips afsembled_ on 
Thursday Dec. 13th, in obedi- 
ence to-the royal proclamation 5 
and, at half past two, his. majes- 
ty being seated on» the throne, 
Sir Francis Molyneux was sent 
to demand the attendance of the 
commons; when. the speaker of 
that house, and several membeis, 
appearing at the bar, his majesty 
was pleased to deliver the fol- 
lowing most gracious speech. 
‘© My Lords and» Gentlemen, 
‘« Having judged it necefsa+ 
ry to embody a part of the mi- 
litia of this kingdom, I have, 
in pursuance of the provisions 
of the law, called: you together 
within the time limited for 
that purpose: and it is on 
