MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY or the morning of Saturday the ft of affembled in the Hall to the number of 434, M. Ducaffel, the Vice-Prefident, faid, that, having taken the opinion of the other Depu ties of what he fhould fay to the King, they went up to the palace at fix in the evening. They faw the Minister of Juftice, who told them, that his Majefty, had appointed the next day at one o'clock to receive the Depu tation. The Vice-Prefident stated to the Minifter, that it was of the utmost importance to the public affairs of the empire, that the notice with which they were charged fhould be made known to his Majefty withbut delay; and they could not, confiftently with their duty to the Legiflative Affembly, poftpone their commiffion. The Minister of Juftice reprefented this to his Majesty, who was pleafed to appoint nine of the clock of the fame evening to receive the Deputation. Accordingly, at nine o'clock, they went up again, and were received by his Majefty in the Council Chamber; when M. Ducaftel made his reverence, and delivered his committion in the following terms: "Sire, "The National Affembly Legislative is nally conftituted, and we are appointed a Deputation to intimate this to your Majesty." The King defired to know the names of the Deputation. The Vice-Prefident told him, that he had not a lift of the names, and that in truth he did not know them all. His Majefty was then pleafed to fay, that he would come in perfon to the Affembly on Friday next. This delay was fo ill received, that many gave up all for loft. During the two vacant days, the shock given to public credit, and the general alarm which fuddenly spread through all ranks, very foon convinced the Affembly of their mifconduct, and furnished an opportunity of fhewing, that the moderate men had the ma-jority; and it was fortunate for the Revolution that they had the good feufe to make manifest this important circumitance, as the King was much exasperated, and might have regarded this oppofition as an act of hoftility fuficiently strong to feparate him from the Allembly for ever. The moment of Democratic enthusiasm being over; on Friday the 7th of October the King came to the Allembly, and, with as GENT. MAG. November, 1791. much chearfulness as ever, delivered the following (peech: "Gentlemen, "Affembled by virtue of the constitution to exercife the powers which it delegates to you, you will undoubtedly confider as among your first duties, to facilitate the operations of Government; to confirm public credit; to add, if potfible, to the fecurity of the engagements of the Nation; to fhew that li berty and peace are compatible; and, finally, to attach the people to their new laws, by convincing them that those laws are for their good. "Your experience of the effects of the new order of things, in the feveral departments from which you come, will enable you to judge of what may be yet wanting to bring it to perfection, and make it easy for you to devife the most proper means of giving the neceffary force and activity to the Administration. For my own part, called by the Conftitution to examine, as first reprefentative of the people, and for their interest, the laws prefented for my fanction, and charged with caufing them to be executed, it is alfo my duty to propofe to you fuch objects as I think ought to be taken into confideration in the courfe of your feffion. "You will fee the propriety of fixing your immediate attention on the ftate of the finances; and you will feel the importance of establishing an equilibrium between the receipt and the expenditure, of accelerating the affeffment and the collection of taxes, of introducing an invariable order into all parts of this vaft Administration, and thus providing at once for the fupport of the State and the relief of the people. "The civil laws will alfo demand your care, which you will have to render conformable to the principles of the Conftitution. You will alfo have to fimplify the mode of proceeding in Courts of Law, and render the attainment of juflice more eaty and prompt. "You will perceive the neceffity of establishing a fyftem of National Education, and of giving a folid bafis to public forit. You will encourage commerce and industry, the progrefs of which has fo great an intinence on the agriculture and wealth of the kingdom; and you will endeavour to make permanent difpofitios for affording work and relief to the indigent. "I fhall make known my firm defire for the re-establishment of order and discipline in the army; and i thall neglect no means that may contribute to restore confidence among all who compofe it, and to put it into a condition to fecure the defence of the realm. If tlie laws in this refpect are in fufficient, fufficient, I shall make known to you the meafures that feem to me to be proper, and you will decide upon them. "I fhall in the fame manner communicate my fentiments respecting the navy, that important part of the public force, deftined to protect trade and the colonies. "We shall not, I hope, be troubled with any attack from abroad. I have taken, from the moment that I accepted the Conftitution, and I full continue to take, the steps that appear to me the most proper to fix the opinion of Foreign Powers in our favour, and to maintain with them the good intelligence and harmony that ought to fecure to us the continuance of peace. I expect the best effects from them; but this expectation does not prevent me from pursuing with activity thofe meatures of precaution which prudence ought to dictate. [Loud applauses of Vive le Roi!] “Gentlemen, in order that your important labours and your zeal may produce the effects expected from them, it is neceflary that conftant harmony and unalterable confidence should reign between the Legiflative Body and the King. [Renewed applause and acclamations. The enemies of our repofe are but too ftudious to difunite us; the love of our country must therefore raily us, and the public intereft render us infeparable. [Warm applaufes.] Thus the public force will be exerted without obftruction; the Administration will not be harraffed by vain alarms; the property and the religion of every man will be equally protected; and no pretext will be left for any perfon to live at a diftance from a country where the laws are in vigour, and men's rights respected. "It is on this great bafis of order that the ftability of the Conftitution, the fuccefs of your labours, the fafety of the empire, the fource of all kinds of profperity, must depend. It is to this, Gentlemen, that we all ought to turn our thoughts, in this moment, with the utmost pollible vigour; and this is the object that I moft particularly recommend to your zeal and to your patriotifm." [The most lively testimonies of applause were given to the King on this conclufion.] Information was received from the Department of the Rhone and the Loire, that M. Phocas had fled, with 246,000 livres of the public money. The Affembly decreed, That this fum, having been appropriated to paying the penfions of Ecclefiafticks, fhould be instantly re-placed from the Treafury; and referred it to a Committee, to examine and report .whether or not the Administrators of the Department were responsible. Saturday 8.] The Prefident read a letter from the King, the contents of which were: "I request of you, Mr. Prefident, to inform the Aflembly, that I will wait upon them to-day, at one o'clock. Inform them alfo, that I have appointed M. Bertrand de Molleville to be Minister of the Marine, is the room of M. Thevenard, who has given in his refignation." The Municipality of Paris prefented them felves. M. Bailly, who was at their best, expreffed himself in the following terms: "The city of Paris comes to after the fentiments of its inhabitants. You are ce ftituted a National Legitlative Auen — you have fulfilled a facred duty-we A not you for doing fo, but we thank you fur the example which you have fet. We ta you for the folemnity that embellified ra oath. We have feen, as in the stes world, your old men carry the facred book of the law into an Affembly culected in Majeftic filence. Gentlemen, the Recl tion is terminated-the people are eagai the laws that muft follow it. The we powers are limited-the people defire that they may be balanced, but that they may be respected. "It is time that confidence fhould defcend from this Affembly, and the Throne, to d fufe itself over all the empire. Legilitars, whofe only business is to do good, turn your attention to the city of Paris, fo courage in danger, and at the fame time fo calm; 6 will continue to afford this glorious exampit, in defending itfelf against enemies who wh to excite difturbances in its bofom.” The Prefident replied: "The National Affembly hopes that th city, diftinguished by the enthufiaim of freedom, will diftinguish itself still more by at attachment to the laws: it is only neceffar to guard the people from feduction; ther own impulfe will always lead them to vines They have chofen you as their Magiftrateas their friend. You have been fo hitherto you now are fo; and will always fuppo the fame character." Sunday 9. A meffenger from Lyons is formed the Affembly, that M. Phocas, whe had run away with 246,000 livres of the public money, was stopped, and in cuftris. On the repart of the Committee to winn the matter had been referred, the Afemay decreed: “That, as by the principles of the Canth tution a conftant and unbroken refpont lity exifts among all the agents and deporte ries of public money, it thould be referred to the Executive Power, to obtain from the pr per perfons the re-payment to the Trea of the fum of 246,700 livres, voted by the Affembly to re-place the like fum carried o from the Department of the Rhone and the Loire by the Secretary." On the application of the Commifiters of the Treasury, it was decreed, to appeix ten Members of the Affembly to take an count of the money in the Treasury, in or der to afcertain whether or not it coUTE fponded with the fum reported to the Con ftituting Affembly on the day of their diffo lution. The The order of the day being the arrangeent to be made for conducting public buffs, the difcuffion was adjourned, in order › receive explanations from the Minifters r the feveral Departments. They were introduced in the form preribed; and the Prefident informed them, at they had leave to speak. The Minister of Juftice fpoke firft. He prefented the impoffibility of preparing e information expected by the Aembly in fhort a time; but that he hoped in a fortght or three weeks he fhould be able to mply with their demands. A Member defired to know, why the reater part of the National Guards fent to fend the frontiers had been fent without ms? The Minister of War faid, he should be ble to prefent all the details the day after to sorrow. The Minifter of Public Contributions faid, e had very lately prefented affeffments and xes to the former Alfembly, and engaged > prefent in a fhort time accounts fimilar to e prefent. M. de Montmorin was called upon to inorm the Affembly of the intercourfe which rance maintained with Foreign Powers. ie answered, that the intercourfe with other ations had ceafed during all the time that he Royal Functions had been fufpended; nd that it was only fince the ceflation of hat violent order of affairs that the correpondence had been refumed. Immediately fter the acceptance by the King, faid M. Montmorin, couriers were fent to all the Powers, but their answers have not yet arived; fo that on this fubject I can add nothing to what his Majefty himself faid the Jay before yesterday. "I move," cried M. Lecroix, “that the Minifler of Foreign Affairs be obliged to an(wer more pointedly the feveral questions put to him. In fuppofing that the fufpenfion of the Royal Functions has caufed a cefation of our political intercourfe with other Powers, have we not, notwithstanding that, always continued to maintain Ambatfadors at their Courts? Now thefe Ambaffadors are informed of what paffes, of which they ought to inform M. de Montmorin, that this Minifter, in his turn, may inform the Affembly, by laying open the correspondence." Many Members adopted the fentiments of the last speaker; but the Minifter remained for fome time filent and unmoved, which caufed confiderable clamour. The Minifter of Justice, M. Duport Dutertre, at luft spoke. He observed, that it Was contrary to the principles of the Conftitution to require that a Minister fhould aniwer to every question that might be put to him by individuals. "If the Affembly orders him to fpeak, he will do fo." It was then put to the vote, Whether M. de Montmorin fhould anfwer the interroga tory that had been put to him? and, after much debate, it was decreed he should. M. de Montmorin then entered upon the detail, which was afterwards much enlarged by the information of other Minifters, and occafioned much murmuring in the Affembly, which was occupied in forming fevere laws to prevent emigration, and to deter the revolting Princes from their treasonabié pros ceedings; which, however, the King re fused to sanction. Thefe, taking advantage of the favourable difpofition of the neighbouring Powers, and of many of the National Representatives, towards them, caufed the following CounterProclamation to be published, and redoubled their exertions to increase their numbers. "PROCLAMATION OF THE BROTHERS OF THE KING OF FRANCE, "To difpel the fufpicions which have arijen of their intention to dethrone their Brother. "OUR honour induces us loudly to publifh a profeffion of faith, to which we mean to adhere on the prefent and every future ocfion. To re-establish the refpect due to the Chriftian religion and its Minifters; to reftore to the King his freedom and legal authority; to the different orders of the State their proper rights, founded on the laws of the Monarchy; to every Citizen, his property; to the Kingdom, its antient and immutable Conftitution; to all Frenchmen, and particularly to the inhabitants of country places, fecurity, tranquillity, and the adminiftration of justice, of which they have been deprived: Such is the only end we propose, and for which, if it is neceffary, we are ready even to fpill the laft drop of our blood. Never did any perfonal ambition fully the purity of thefe views!-We here declare it on the honour of Gentlemen; and, at the fame time, give the formal lie to every contrary allegation.” Monday, Nov. 14.] One of the Secretaries read the following letter from the King: "Mr. Prefident, Paris, Nov. 14. "I am informed, that, on the application of the Minifter of Marine, made by my orders, and on his responsibility, for the fum of 10,370,912 livres, to defray the expence of an extraordinary armament, which the difaftrous fituation of the colony of St. Domingo renders neceffary; the Affembly has refolved, that there is not room to deliberate, on account of the unconftitutional form in which the application was made. "I find no article in the Constitution which prescribes a form different from that adopted by the Minister of the Marine in the prefent inftance, and which the Conftituting Affembly fauctioned, both before and after my acceptance of the Constitution, by voting all demands of the fame nature presented in a letter from the Minifter, and addressed by my order to the Prefident. The Legiflative Affembly followed this example, voting 500,000 livres for the fupport of the Inva Tids, on the fimple application of the Minifter at War. "I cannot diffemble how much I fhall be grieved to fee, that, in a moment of danger to the empire, when murder and fire are ravaging the most valuable of our colonies, and threatening with total roin manufactures, commerce, and agricultore, the Affembly could think fo trifling a difficulty a fufficient ground for refufing to deliberate on a matter of fuch importance. The wishes and alarms of the principal towns of the kingdom, ma nifested in their addreffes, fhew but too frongly the urgency of applying the most efficacious remedies to an evil of fuch magnitude as effentially to involve in it the fubfiftence of the people, who must always be the object of my vigilance and most lively folicitude. "I trust that a confideration of fo much weight will determine the Affembly no longer to defer voting the extraordinary fupplies which I have directed the Minister of the Marine to demand. form M. le Marquis de la Queuille, that French foldiers, travelling the States of the Emperor in the Low Countries withat patī parts, must be confidered as deferters, and given up, as if legally demanded, in virtue of the cartel -This is a principle which can admit of no deviation. 5. I have already informed M le Mar quis de la Queuille, that it is not in the power of their Koyal Highneffes to confent to any collective meeting of French Gentlemen, Officers or others. I inftantly require carefully to avoid whatever may give tits af to the refidence of Melheurs the Frem Refugees, that Government may not fað tef obliged to interpole, or, compelled by the relative fituation in which it ftands, formaly to oppofe a practice which cannot be tule rated, and which is entirely inconfiftent with the laws of hofpitality, and with that pretection which it is zealous to obferve, and to caufe to be obferved." NOTE TO M. LE DUC D'UZES. "The Government-General, being informed that Methieurs the French Orien continue to take refuge in great numbers ja the Low Countries; that they aufembie the cities and towns of the frontiers; th they form new corporations, diftinguished by new uniforms; and that they perform t The Minifter Plenipotentiary of his Im-tary exercifes and evolutions, which, though perial Majefty at Bruffels has communicated the two following official notices; the one to M. de la Queuille, the other to M. d'Uzes. NOTE TO M. DE LA QUEUILLE. "In answer to two notes of M. le Marquis de la Queuille, containing the one four, the other five demands, I have the honour to inform him: "1. That the Government cannot admit of establishing a rendezvous for French recruits, neither at Henri Chapelle, nor any other fpot of the Emperor's dominions in the Low Countries, as it would interfere with the recruiting for the National regiments in the fervice of his Majefly, which, fince the disturbances, are fill far from being complete. 2. That every Frenchman, furnished with a paffport, may travel the Low Coun tries without obstruction, in any direction he thinks proper; but repeated parties of fifteen men may give rite to more than one inconvenience; and, particularly, it will be impoll ble to permit them to pats armed, and under the form and denomination of a party for regiments which have no exitence legally recognized out of the kingdom of France. "3. Any French Officer may go into the province of Luxemburg, and remain there on any particular business he may have occaion, provided he comply with the ufual leget forms, and do not give to his business the air of any mislion or commiffion whatsoever. "4. I have already had the honour to in they are not armed, cannot fail to produce a fenfation too strong for that state of ferment in which the difturbances of the provinces have left many minds; the Minister Pie potentiary thinks himfeif bound to inform Meffieurs the French Refugees, through M. le Duc d'Uzes, to whom he has the honor to addrefs the prefent note, to this effect: "That it cannot be permitted that Me fieurs the French Officers fhould aifemble it the town of Antoing, or that they thou form a body of too great a number in t fame foot, particularly on the frontiers. "That it cannot be permitted that thes fhould perform in a body, even withd arms, m'itary evolutions; "and still lefs tha they should retain, on any part of the ten tory of his Majesty, foldiers, deferters from the French troops; and that inftructi fball he given to the Officers comman the troops of the Emperor, to watch over thefe objects, as well as every part of 204 conduct of Meffieurs the French Ofiar, which may extend beyond the hopitaly which they have demanded. They may be well perfuaded that there is no intention en tertained to deprive them of the afflum which has been granted them. "The cities and towns of Roeux, Lons, Chievres, Seignies, Braine le Comte, Eheim, Leifines in Hainault, de Nivelles, Vel vorde, and others in Brabant, a number of cities and towns in Flanders, furnish Mesfieurs the Officers Refugees commodious ha bitations, and all forts of advantages to pro cur cure, at a cheap rate, provisions, utenfils, and moveables, necellary for their temporary refidence." NEW CIVIL CODE OF PRUSSIA. The New Code of Laws for Pruffia was lately published at Berlin. It is the work of M. Klent and M. Saurez, under the direction of the Great Chancellor Cramer; and, with due regard to antient cuftoms and prejudices, difplays a humane and enlightened fpirit. Punishments are rendered much less ri-` gorous and cruel. Left-hand marriages are allowed only to Gentlemen, Kings Counsellors, and perfons of the fame rank with these : but the party contracting fuch a marriage must declare, upon his honour, that he has not fufficient fortune for a right-hand marriage. The left-hand wife is not to affume the name of her husband, nor even that of spouse; The must be contented with that of boufekeeper. The children of fuch marriages are legitimate: but the father is not obliged to give them an education fuitable to his own rank; and they cannot inherit his real property, unlefs where there are no children or relations by a right-hand marriage. Every young woman feduced, against whom it is not proved that the is a common proftitute, fhall be juridically married to her feducer, as wife by the right-hand, if she be of the fame rank, and by the left-hand, if of inferior rank. The declaration of the husband, that he does not chufe to live with her, is fufficient, however, to obtain a divorce. This declaration, with the juridical act of the marriage, is then to be delivered to the woman, who, by virtue of it, is placed in the fame fituation with a woman divorced from her husband, and faved from shame. The marriage of a Noble with a Feafant, which was formerly prohibited, is now allowed, provided the King, or three of the hufband's family, confent to it. A certain part of the fortune of deceased bachelors, above the age of forty, goes to the fand for the relief of the poor. The imple obligation of a banker, merchant, manufacturer, landholder, or the perfuns acting for them, is as good as a bill of exchange. Whoever faves the life of another, at the rifk of his own, is intitled to a letter of thanks and a gratification from the Magif trate. Talking difrefpe&tfully of any of the Royal Family is punishable only by a fhort imprifonment in one of the fortreffes. But the most remarkable Article of the Code is the following: "The Sovereignty confifts in the power "of conducting the actions of the subjects to "the public good: but ibis power appertains EAST INDIA INTELLIGENCE. Eaft Ind.a House, Nov. 23, 1791. The following are the particulars of the information communicated by Mr. Parley; and the publick are defired to place no confi dence whatever in any other account, unti fomething more authentic can be published, and which shall be done when any farther accounts are received. Mr. Parley left Pondicherry the 6th of July, in the Beauty, Capt. La Belle, arrived in twenty-four days from the lile of France, and from thence, in two months and eleven days, in the Medusa frigate, to Europe. He has brought with him the Madras Couriers ; but, being packed up with his baggage, they are at prefent on the road. From the best of his recollection, it doth not appear that Lord Cornwallis ever recaived the flighteft check from Tippoo during his march from Bangalore towards Seringapatam. That, during his march, Lord Cornwallis had been joined by the Maliratta horie, from 12,000 to 15,000 in number. That, ou Lord Cornwallis's approach to Seringapatam, he prepared for attacking the out-works on the -, at two o'clock A.M. but, the rain falling with great violence, the army did not reach the endezvous till between ten and cleven A.M. by which means the enemy had time to prepare. The attack, however, immediately commenced, and the ort-works were carried by ftorm. Tippoo and his army were compelled to fhelter themfelves in Seringapatam, where, it was reported, a famine prevailed. The rains continuing to fall, Tippoo's army was thereby faved, and Lord Cornwallis, being under the neceflity of retreating, had reached Bangalore; nor doth Mr. Parley recollect that Tippoo made any attempt to harrafs him during his march. The lofs is fuppofed to have been confiderable; the 36th regiment, in particular, has tinguished itfelf on every occafion. The mortality amongst the cattle must have been great in confequence of the rains; and Lord Cornwallis was obliged to leave part of his heavy artillery behind, after having rendered them ufeiefs. In the Madras Couriers are the General Orders iffed by Lord Cornwallis, which contained the strongest exprettions and effufions of gratitude towards every part of the army for their conduct. |