1798.} 
clufion, the particulars of them become 
exceedingly interefting, as by a proper 
attention to them the public will be ena- 
bled tojudge which party is to be blamed 
for the evils attending the recommence - 
ment of hoftilities, or which party to be 
thanked for the bleffings of peace. The 
notes delivered to the French plenipoten- 
tiaries by thofe of the emperor and the de- 
putation of the empire, dated the s4th, 
17th, and 18th of October, principally 
dwell upon this claufey viz. Dhatat 
the French republic refufes to evacuate 
the right banks of the Rhine, on the 
principle of retaining its advantages till 
the figning of peace; if, after haying con- 
fented’ to their ceflion, it continues to 
keep the fortrefles of Kehl and Caffel, 
the fame principle requires that the em- 
peror fhould retain Ehrenbreiftein, and 
fecure the performance of the conventions 
made to preferve the poile/lion of it, with- 
out trouble, during the long courle of 
the negociation.”” 
Upon this ftatement, therefore, the 
Imperial negociators in their conferences 
and notes, repeatedly requefted liberty to 
furnifh the fortrefs of Ehrenbreitftein 
with provifions, &c. to prevent its fall- 
ing into the hands of the French from 
receflity. | 
The French plenipotentiaries, on the 
other hand, intwo notes inreply to thole 
ot the deputation of the empire, ex- 
prefled the painful fenfations which unne- 
cellary delays in the negociation had 
called forth in them, and declared, in the 
moft explicit manner, that the French re- 
public wifhes for peace but fears not war. 
Reipecting their giving up at prefent 
thole places, which are to be furrendered 
at the conclufion of a peace, they con- 
tend, that the deputation have only to 
bring the negociation to an amicable con- 
clufien, and the object refpeéting Ehren- 
breit{tein would be accomplifhed. 6° The 
French republic,” fay they, ‘ with for 
peace. Is the deputation refolved only 
to talk of it?” 
In the beginniag of November, the de- 
putation of the empire returned an an{wer 
to the two laft notes of the plenipoten-. 
tiaries of the French republic, in which 
they expreffed their furprize at the charge 
brought againft them of infincerity in 
their profeffions of peace—they renewed 
thofe profeffions, and earneftly enforced 
the jultice of their former requeft of re- 
yictualling the fortrefs of Ehrenbreitftein. 
At this point ftands the negociation, nor 
could it be at all difficult to bring it to a 
happy conclufion, if both parties were 
State of Public Affairs. 
335 
fincere in their endeavours; but this, in 
fa&t, is probably the cafe with neither. 
SWITZERLAND. 
The troops of the emperor having en- 
tered the Grifons, the citizens of the 
Helvetic republic, as they are now ftyled, 
had, it feems, exprefled fome apprehen- 
fions upon that event; the Swifs Direc- 
tory, therefore, fent a circular letter, 
addrefled to the national profecfs, requir- 
ing, for the fafety of Helvitia, that each 
canton hold in readinefs a certain number 
of chofen troops, who may be affembled 
and marched immediately to any point 
at which they may be wanted, for the 
fervice of the frontiers, and ordering the 
prefects to organize fuch troops within 
their re{pective jurifdiétions, and to put 
them on duty, by caufing them to mount 
guard. In performing this fervice, how- 
ever, they are directed to conduct them- 
felves as much as poflible according to the 
ancient ufages of their cantons. 
IRELAND. 
From the frequent defeats of the rebels, 
the fate of their leaders, the capture of' 
the French under General Humbert, and 
from the dettru&tion. of the French Heet 
by Sir J. B. Warren, it is rational to 
hope, that the fitter kingdom is about te 
enjoy that order and tranquillity to which 
fhe has fo long beena ftranger. Thouga 
fome diforders {till exift, the rebellion 
may be faid to be nearly fupprefled: the 
Jaft and moft daring of its fupporters, 
Holt, has at length furrendered to govern- 
Temes 
Among the prijoners taken on board 
La Hoche, there were feveral natives ef 
Yreland: Mr. Wolfe Tone, whofe cafe 
has become extremely fingular, was one 
of them. He was brought te BRub- 
lin, and tried by a court martial. He 
behaved with great firmnefs and intrepi- 
dity ; at his trial, he allowed the truth 
of the charges brought againft him; he 
appeared to glory in the caufe in*which 
he had embarked, which he called “* The 
fame in which Wafhineton had fucceeded, 
and in which Kohutko failed.”? Holding 
acommiffion in the French fervice, he 
prayed the court to fentence him to be 
fhot, enforcing his requeft by the condué& 
of the French towards thofe natives of 
France who were tent by the Englifh to 
aid the rebellion in La Vendée, and were 
taken inarms. ‘This requeft was denied 
him, and he was ordered to be executed. 
In the night preceding the day appointed 
for his execution, he, however, found 
means to cut his throat; the next mormn- 
ing Mr. Curran applied to the court of 
King’s 
