1798.4 
( 463 } 
STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
In December, 1798. | 
FRANCE. 
"WXHE affairs of the French republic 
become daily more interefting, and 
important, and, we may add, - more 
precarious.~* Hoftilities have been com- 
menced againft the French by the 
King of Naples, who, in conjunction 
with the King. of Sardinia, now - ftands 
forth as the champion of the holy apol- 
tolic fee. 
The French General Championet, who 
commanded in the Roman territory, was 
attacked at all points on the 23d of No- 
vemer, by the Neapolitan troops under 
the command of General Mack ; and as 
the force of the enemy was fuperior to 
theirs, they were under the neceffity of an 
immediate retreat. After this tranfaétion. 
General Championet wrote to inform Ge- 
neral Mack that fuch conduct required on 
his part a candid explanation, which he 
demanded at hishands. He defired him 
to confider that peace prevailed between 
the French republic and the court of Na- 
ples; and that the ambaffadors of the two 
governments refide conftantly at Paris 
and at Naples to adjuft any difference 
that might arife between the two refpec- 
tive flates. 
The reply of General Mack was honeft 
and candid at leaft. He ftated that the 
army of his Sicilian majefty under his 
command had paffed the frontiers in order 
to take pofleflion of the Roman territory, 
which had been revolutionized and ulurp- 
ed iince the peace of Campo Formio, and 
that thenew republic had never been ac- 
knowledged by his Sicilian Majefty, nor 
by his auguft ally the emperor and king. 
Thefe proceedings were tran{mitted in 
2 meflage from the executive direétory on 
the 6th of December, to the two legifla- 
tive councils. On the fame day the council 
of five hundred, agreeably to the 335th ar- 
ticle of the conftitution, refolved itlief into 
a committee. The meflage and papers which 
accompanied it being read, the council 
adopted a refolution, declaring war againtt 
the Kixg of Naples and the Kg of Sarut- 
via; and this refolution was confirmed 
by the council of elders. 
The negociations at Raftadt are fill 
proceeding, but with a tardy pace; fome 
attribute the prefent delay to arrange- 
ments being about to take place for form- 
ing a general congrefs. ‘The French de- 
puties at that place have, however, con- 
tented to pay the public debts of the com- 
munes fituated on the left banks of the 
-and avowed manner. 
Rhine,which are computed at 166,000,006 
livres Tournois. ‘They infift on the Ger- 
mans, who have emigrated from the 
uniied countries, being treated as French 
emigrants. ‘The aniwer of the French 
minifiers, in regard to the ifland of Bude- 
rich, Elgieth Tell, and Ehrenbreitftein, is 
merely negative. 
The intelligence refpe€ting the death of 
General Buonaparte, 1s too vague and corn- ~ 
tradi@ory to merit regard. 
ITALY. 
The government of Naples has, it is 
faid, for fome time continued the mo& 
active preparations of war, and to fuccour 
the enemies of France in the moft open. 
About the end of 
Oétober the Roman confails publifhed a 
paper at Rome, which may be called the 
manifefto of that republic againft the 
king of the Two Sicilies. It is direéted 
to the commiffioners of the French repub- 
lic, and charges his Sicilian majefty with 
fomenting fedition in the Roman republic, 
which he feeks to {mother in her cradle ; 
they add, that he pays the rebels, he ap- 
plauds their crimes, and fends them offi- 
cers; But thefe defcendants of the mafters 
of the world, affure the commiffioners that 
they regard France as their deliverer from 
defpotifm, and that they are ready to fly 
to avenge their own wrongs and thofe of 
the French: republic. In about three 
weeks after the publication of this mani-. 
feito, the Neapolitan troops entered the 
territories of the Roman republic, as al- 
ready ftated. . 
TURKEY. 
By intelligence from Conftantinople, 
dated the 25th of Oétober, it appears 
that the Ottoman Porte, was making 
great preparations in conjunction with” 
the Ruffian and Englifh fhips in thofe* 
feas, to attack genera] Buonaparte. From 
the fame authority it is faid, that the in- 
furreGion af Pafwan Oglou, aflumes 
daily, a more formidable aipect. Advice 
had at that time been received, that the 
Pacha Muftapha hed declared himfelf 
governor of Belgrade, independent of the 
Porte, whofe authority he had fet at defi- 
ance, in confequence of which, and fome- 
other unfavourable circumftances, all con- 
verfation refpeéting the operation of the 
Rebels or the French, was prohibited in 
that capital. So decifive was the victory 
of Pafwan Ogloy, ina late aétion before 
Widdin, that the captain Pacha, in his 
flight inte Wallachia, was followed by 
only 
