xviJi historical chronicle, 



and Hefsian troops have had sevc-rr.l very fliarp rencounters, in which some 

 officers of rank and great estira>.t'oii have fallen, particularly in an attack 

 on the suburbs of that pl;ije on the 24th August, in which the troops Were 

 inadvertantly exposed.to the fire of some malked batteries, v-hich they had 

 r.ot perceived, which did great execution. 



Intertialstate of Trance. 



The uncertainty that still prevails with regard to intelligence from that 

 country, obliges us to form opinions from facts and circumstances that are 

 only impertectly known ; but by a careful comparison of these, there seems 

 to be re;ison to l)elicve, that the influence of the rulina; powers at present 

 is ^rfatiy reduced ; and that a ciisis extremely different from what they 

 l.old iorth to view in their public haranging, is seriously apprehended by 

 tliCiU. Ii is evident that since the commencement of the present Campaign, 

 Dof-vitlistanding their utmost exertions, they have never been able to bring 

 lorward a force sufficient to give any etTective check to the combined pow- 

 ei's on the northern frontier ; but since the defection of Dumourier, send 

 /iui?h more since the iniprisQr.ment oI'Custine, the debility has been ex- 

 tremely apparent; for nothing else but a disinclination to the service, or a di- 

 vision of councils, productive or a want of discipline, or an absolute want of 

 troops, could have induced them to abandon the two very strong posts above 

 named, with so much facility. It indeed appears, that weak as these armies 

 rlready w ere, tliey ivere obliged to detach from thence a strong body of ca- 

 valryjnto tl.e iiiterior of the kindom to s;:pprefs the numerous insurrections 

 tJiere. 



Tlie ruling junto seem to have been long aware of these evils, and have 

 made every exertion m their power to overcome them. Sensible that their 

 whole reliance is on the sans rul'lottes, all their views have been steadily di- 

 rected to the obtaining the favour^jf the mob. It has been repeatedly de- 

 clared that af-;efsments fliall be made upon the rich to pay for the accom- 

 modation of the poor; and it has been lately declnred, that grain fliall be 

 sold to tlie poor at a low price, and that the money to pay for the defalca- 

 tion of that piice to the baker, fliall lie aisefsed from the rich ; but afraid to 

 put this decree into actija! execution, the decree is not to take effect till the 

 ^rst of November. Even this dc-uceur not having produced that hearty con. 

 currence which was expected, oihtr fliifts have been adopted. To keep the 

 jiopulace attached to their cause, the grofsest falsehoods bive been fabrica- 

 ted. In this line, Barrerk has become singularly conspicuous of late. On 

 the first of August, he announced in the cor.vention, that a letter from Mr 

 ritt had been interrupted, containing dnections for fomenting difsentions in 

 France ; and is besides cvidentivcalculatcd to throwpublic odium on certain 

 perrons ihey disliked. It produced the tollcwing decree, which sufficiently 

 marks the state of mind of the convention at the time. 



Decree proposedby Barrere on the \st of August , and decreed. 



Art. I. The National Convention denounces the Britifli government to 

 F'!--! ye and the Lnglifli nation. 



II. Every Frenchmen that fliall place his .money in the Englifli funds 

 fhali be declared a traitor to his country. 



III. Every Frenchmen who has n:cncy in the Englifl) funds, or those of 

 ■ any other po\\er with whom France is at war, ftiall be obliged to declare 

 tlv' ■■aroe. 



\\. All foreigners subjects of tVe powers now at war willi France, par- 

 tlcuU.riy the lujiiill., froai i-e arrested, and seals put upon their papers. 

 V. The barriers of Pans ihal! be instaiitly fliut. 



