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46 : State of Public Affairs in France. 
open book with the following words, in’ 
' Jetters of gold, «* French Republic—Con- 
ftitution of the eighth year.” 
After fome difputes about the oath, and 
a few regulations relative to the internal 
police, the affembly adjourned until next 
morning, when three counfellors of ftate 
prefented projects of two laws, the firft re- 
Jative to the intercourfe between the va- 
rious public bodies, and the fecond con- 
cerning theredemption and alienation of 
the rents due to the republic, which are 
now valued at fifteen years purchafe, a 
. tenth payable within three decades, and the 
remainder in three feparate inftallments, 
at the end of fix, twelve, and eighteen 
months. 
_ One of the firft acts of power on the part 
General Bonaparte was, to difpatch an 
. gide de-camp to the King of Pruffia an- 
nouncing the late changes. 
. He alfo liberated feveral imprifoned 
priefts and nobles, and exhibited the moft 
ardent defire to enter intoa treaty withthe 
infurgents in the interior ; in confequence 
of which, a fufpenfion of hoftilities imme- 
diately enfued; but their terms, from a 
confcioulnefs of their own power, were 
faid to be of an extravagant nature, and 
hoftilities have ere this, moft probably, re- 
commenced. . 
Previoufly to this event, a proclamation 
was iffued from ‘* the Confuls of the Re- 
public to the Inhabitants of the depart- 
ments of the Weft,”’ inwhich, after ftating 
<* that an impious war was threatened to 
be kindled’ a fecond time,”’ they obferve, 
that they do not wifh to employ force un- 
til they had firft exhaufted all the means of 
perfvafion. They at the fame time pro- 
mife liberty of worfhip, and inform them 
that the deftruétive laws relative to hof- 
tages and the forced loan have been re- 
vealed. -** The minifters of a God of 
See are called on to promote recon- 
ciliation and concord,’’ and they are de- 
fired ‘* to {peak to the hearts of the peo- 
ple the language which they have learned 
in the fchool of their mafter.”’ 
_ A decree is annexed to this proclama- 
tion requiring 
x. Ali the infurgents to feparate within 
the fpace of one decade. 
2. Todeliver up their arms and can- 
non of every kind, particularly thofe fur- 
nifhed by England. 
3. A compiete amnefty for all patt of- 
fences is held out. ‘ 
And 4. Such of the communes as fhall 
perfift in rebellion, fhall be, declared by 
General Hedouville, who has been lately 
FPeb, ¥, 
replaced by General Brune, out of the 
conftitution, and treated as the enemies of 
the French people. 
The late change in the government be- 
ing confidered by the Senate of Hamburg, , 
as a favourable opportunity for obtaining 
forgivenefs, it immediately addrefled a 
Jong. and laboured apology to *‘ the Cone 
fuls” relative to Napper Tandy and his af= 
fociates, in which they remark, “that 
their ruin and utter annihilation would 
have been the inevitable confequence of a 
refufal.”” 
The following note centains the anfwer 
tranfmitted : 
Bonaparte, Firf Conful “of the Republic, ta 
the Burgomafiers and Senate of the- Free and 
Imperial City of Hamburg. | 
Paris, 9th Nivofe, (8th year. } 
E have received your letter, gentlemen; 
it is no juftification of your conduét. ° 
It is by courage and virtue alone that 
States dre preferved; cowardice and vice prove 
their ruin. 
You have violated the laws of hofpitality : 
Such a violation would not have taken place 
among the barbarian hordes of the defert. 
Your fellow citizens will impute it to you, 
as an eternal reproach. 
The two unfortunate men will die illuf- 
trious; but their blood will be.a fource of 
greater evils to their perfecutors than could 
be brought upon them by a whole army. 
BonaPAaRTE, FirftConful. 
H. B. Maret, Secretary, &c. 

But of all the events that have lately oc- 
curred in France, noone fo nearly interefts 
this country, as the recent attempt, on the 
part of the new government, to enter into 
a negociation with his Majefty’s Minifters. 
Here follows the correfpondence, which 
renders all obfervations on our part necd- 
lefs. 
MY LORD, 
I Difpatch, by order of General Bonaparte, 
Firft Conful of the French Republic, a. 
meffenger to London; he is the bearer of a 
letter’ from the Firft Conful of the Republic 
to his Majefty the King of England. I re- 
queft you to give the neceflary orders, that 
he may be enabled to deliver it direétly into 
your own hands. This ftep, in itfelf, ah- 
nounces the importance of its object. 
Accept, my Lord, the affurance of my 
higheft confideration. 
(Signed) Cr. Mav. TALLEYRANE, 
Paris, the 5th Niwofe, 8th year of the 
French Republic, ( Dec. 25, 1799-) 
