348 
and it is added, that compulfory mea- 
fures have been adopted, by the court 
of Vienna, for the purpofe of invigorat- 
ing their warlike operations; and that 
large fums have been demanded, even 
of the monks and nuns of Lombardy, 
om the non-payment of which they are 
threatened with the feizure of their 
whole property. | 
Prussia. ‘The politics of the court of 
Berlin appear, at prefent, to be fome- 
what myfterjous. A report has prevail- 
ed of fome mifunderfianding between 
the courts of St. James’s and Berlin, 
relative to the affairs of Holland, and the 
terms concerning it, which it would be 
proper to accede to im the cafe of atreaty 
with France. 
i HOLLAND. 
_ The National Convention, the efta- 
blifhment of which was the moft impor- 
tant bufinefs which has lately been tranf- 
ated: in this republic, has, at length, 
commenced its fittings. The States 
General previously ordered it to be pro- 
claimed, by found of trumrpet, that the 
National Convention was to meet on the 
fic of March, and that, on the fame 
day, the provincial adminiftration of 
Holland fhould hold its fittings. The 
States General, in their proclamation, 
enjoined all the other provinces to ac- 
Knowledge and obey the convention : 
and gave notice to all officers, military 
and civil, that, from the moment the 
National Convention fhould be conftitut- 
ed, all their authority would ceafe,. and 
be vefted in the Convention. ‘The cere- 
mony of the Spaming of the Convention, 
- on the firf of Marc 
deputies were efcorted, by the national 
guards, to the hall of the Convention, 
where the commiffion was opened. The 
affembly of the States General then de- 
clared, that its funétions were at an end, 
and diffolveditfelf. The thips difplayed the 
‘Rational flag. Citizen Paulus was elected 
the firft prefident of the Convention. 
All the Swifs troops, many of whom 
fiad been long in the Dutch fervice, 
were formally difmiffed on the, 18th. of 
. February; and the following day, the 
Swifs guards marched from the Hague 
to Breda, where the different regiments 
were to rendezvous, and:to begin their 
march home through Frante, 
| ETALY. 
The French appear to be making great 
_ preparations for invading Italy with a 
very formidable army; but it is fup- 
" pofed, that the prudence of the Sardi- 
mian government will not permit them 
State of Public Affairs. 
, was {plendid. The | 
f March 
to risk the event. It is reported, that 
negociations for peace are going on under 
the mediation of Spain; and it is even 
faid, that the figning of a treaty of peace, 
between the republic of France and the 
king of Sardinia, is deferred by the 
latter, only to give his Imperial -majefty 
the neceffary time to put Lombardy in 
a fate of defence. Othef aceounts,. how- 
ever, differ {o materially from thefe, 
that it is faid his Sardinian Majefty is 
ready to act in conformity to the views. 
of the Britifh court, provided his fubfidy - 
be doubled. The republic of Genoa 
have peremptorily refufled to comply 
with a demand made by the French, Fi 
they fhould give up the fortreffes of 
Savona and: Gavi.. 
GREAT BRITADN- 
The diftrefs of the lower orders of the 
people, in confequence of the high price 
of provifions, continues to be great; and 
the majority of all ranks are certainly 
tired of the war, and are pleafed and 
amufed with: rumours of negociation and 
of peace. But fo much alarm has not 
been excited, as.might have been expeét- 
ed,, from the ftatement which has lately 
been made, in parliament,of the enor- 
mous unprecedented expence of the pre- » 
fent war. 
Confiderable apprehenfions Rave beer: 
entertained, refpeéting the ftate of the 
Weft-India islands ;, but information has. 
been received of the arrival of fo many 
British troops there, that they are now | 
fuppofed to: be in a flate of fecurity ¢ 
though the late news from thence has 
not been: favourable. 
The friends of humanity. have been 
much difappoited by the rejeétion of 
the bill, in the houfe of commons, for 
the abolition of the slave trade;. and the 
rather, becaufe this. rejeétion took place: 
in the very fame parliament, which had: 
woted,, that the slave trade fhould expire, 
on the firft of January 1796. 
TRELAND. 
Notwithftanding the vigorous mea- 
fures of government, the depredations 
of the defenders have not entirely ceafed.. 
A number of thefe deluded: people have 
been tried for High Treafon at Dublin, 
and other. parts of the country, during 
this month. Of thofe who were con- 
victed, fome have been executed, and: 
fome reprieved. 
In a political point of view,. there. ig 
nothing more important than the bill for 
SUPPRESSING INSURRECTIONS, @ & 
is called, which has lately paffed tha 
legislature of this countiy. 
Some: 
3 
