1799-] 
take off the reftriction laid upon the 
liberty of the prefs by article the 35th of 
the law of the 19th of Fructidor. Coliot 
applauded the principles upon which the 
liberty of the prefs was founded, but difap- 
proved of the plan of Bertlier as inade- 
quate and impracticable. Creuze Latouche 
thought alfothat Bertlier’s p'an would not 
remedy theevilscomplained of, and would 
produce acrowd of inconveniences, but the 
re{traint being taken off would afford a 
greater latitude to the agents of England 
and Auftria, to undermine the conftitution 
through the mejium of the prefs, and 
particularly the diurnal prints, as in the 
fifth year, when Lord M—— paid them 
50,000 francs. He then enlarged upon 
the various evils which would arife from 
the licentioufnefs of the prefs—Public 
fun&tionaries would be brought into con- 
tempt, the misfortunes of the republic 
exaggerated, and energetic mea(ures ren- 
dered neceflary by exifting circumftances, 
would be denounced to the public as acts 
of tyranny. 
Francois (de Nantes) ftrongly contended 
for the liberty of the prefs ; adverting to 
the arguments drawn from its abufe he 
exclaimed, ** What, becaufe fome men are 
fhort fighted or have only one eye, mutt 
we therefore tear out the precious organ 
of light? Brecaufethe fun fhines alike 
upon the wicked and the good, ought we 
therefcre to cover his face with an ever- 
Jaiting cloud? ‘The people will not be 
deluded by evil journals ; they have taken 
the manly gown inthe field of victory. 
Let the journals, faid he, reftored to 
liberty, affift with all their efforts to render 
the republic triumphant!”’ Here appiaufes 
refounded from the galleries. 
HOLLAND. 
The Batavian republic is makirg great 
preparations to detend itfelf againit the 
attack which it is {uppofed Great-Britain 
is meditating againft it. 
The legiflature in the month of May 
finally determined, that feudal rights and 
lordfhips fhould be abolifhed, and autho- 
rifed the Directory to {tate the mode of 
proceeding, and the indemnities to be 
made by the ftate. The article of the 
conftitution declaring the banifhment of 
emigrants, and confifcation of property 
fied January 1795, was ratified by the 
fecond chamber on the roth ot May. 
SWEDEN, 
It appears by a declaration made by 
the king of Sweden to the diet of the em- 
pire as Duke of Pomerania, that he de- 
cares to his co-eftates, that he is ready 
to caufe his contingent to march as Duke 
State of Public Affairs. 
491 
of Pomerania for the prote&tion of the 
empire againft the French, and withes 
that all well-difpofed members of the em- 
pire, particularly thofe who have the 
power to maintain it effectually, may 
imitate his example. In the courfe of 
this declaration his Majetty fays, «* That 
it may perhaps be alledged, that the inter- 
efts of fome of theeftates of the empire 
prefcribes to them what is termed a neu- 
trality, but though he allows thofe fove- 
reigns and countries to be exceptedywhich, 
from imperious circumftances, are pre- 
vented from fupporting the expence of the 
war, yet he does not fee any reafon tor 
fuch conduét in thole whofe fituation ex- 
cludes the like excufe.”’ 
EAST-INDIES 
Tt appears by the lateft intellicence 
from the Eaft, that general Stewart left 
Bombay in February laft for the Malabar 
coaft, to take the command of the Bom- 
bay army,which, in conjun&tion with that 
of Madrafs, it is {uppofed to move to- 
wards Seringapatam. with a view to at- 
tack Tippoo, who is fufpected of fome 
defign in conjunétion with the French 
againit the company. ee 
It alfo appears that government by its 
vigilance had prevailed in reftoring tran- 
quillity to {everal diftti@s. That Zemaun 
Shats had been lefs alert in his move- 
ments, and that he had retreated about 
fourteen cofs from the place of his en- 
campment. The coaft of Malabar was 
perfectly quiet, and four Britith frigates 
were cruiling in that direétion. It was 
confidently reported at Bombay, that an 
attack was meditated againft Java, great 
preparations being making for fome im- 
portant expedition. 
IRELAND, 
Nothing materially interefting has late- 
1) happened in the filter kingdom. On the 
mf of June the Lord Lieutenant pro- 
rogued the Irifh parliament till the 16th 
of July. The fpeech which his excellency 
made from the throne on this occafion was 
to the following purport ; 
«* That he had received his majefty’s 
command to releafe them from further 
attendance in parliament, in order that 
the various parts of the kingdom which 
were {till agitated by the projeéts of the 
difaffected, might reap the advantages of 
their more immediate vigilance and pro- 
tection. He thanked them in his Ma- 
jefty’s name for the continued zeal which 
they had manifefted for counteractingy the 
wicked plots of internal con{pirators, and 
for the defeat of every  hoitile “attempt 
in which the defperation of the enemy 
might 
