parliament, there was no other power exifting which could lawfully grant either. This was accordingly, in a very great degree, diftafteful to that affembly. It was indeed but too true, that Paris was faft affuming the fhape of an independent republic, and making alarm ing frides, towards the poffeffion of power; and it was no lefs true, that the national affembly, though fully aware and apprehenfive of the danger, yet, whether through want of fpirit, or through whatever other caufe, did not venture to attempt confining that turbulent capital within due bounds of fubjection; but they were by no means pleafed or fatisfied that her independence or power fhould be formally acknowleged by a minister of state.

The fecond fault was his addreffing the electors of Paris as a legal body, when their proper functions extended no farther than to the choofing of reprefentatives; and the new command with which they were entrusted by the people on the 13th proceeded merely from there being no other body of men in whom they could immediately confide; but that refractory populace, who abhorred every degree of fubordination, were already heartily tired of the government exercifed by the electors, and were befides become much diffatisfied with, and extremely jealous of them on the very grounds of Neckar's fpeech; fo that when he probably thought he was highly flattering and pleafing the people by the compliments he paid, and the powers which he attributed to their council at the Hotel de Ville, his eloquent harangue was producing a directly contrary effect, and exciting the utmost difguft and averfion in the

§

minds of the crowd. For the council having already given a promife that Bezenval fhould have his liberty, and having likewife fent a proclamation for general pardon and peace round to the different municipalities for their approbation, the people confidered this as a flagrant invafion of their most facred rights, and reftriction upon their new powers of determination on the queftions of peace or war, as well as on their favourite exercife of administering fummary juftice; and being now further irritated by this direct and public appeal to an authority which was become in the highest degree odious, they grew outrageous, and a fecond general tumult was expected and threatened.

The council at the Hotel de Ville foon perceived their danger, and having immediately retracted the two obnoxious measures, the committee of electors, finding that they were confidered and to be treated as ufurpers, endeavoured to fave themfelves by as speedy a refignation of their feats. The whole government of the tumultuous capital was then placed in a body which was called the reprefentative affembly of the commons of Paris, with the mayor, M. Bailly, at its head.

The more violent of the malcontent diflricts in Paris were fo inflamed at the very mention or thought of an amnesty, that they fent a deputation to the national affembly, partly to complain of the attempt, and partly to warn them againft adopting or giving a fanc tion to fuch a meafure. The af fembly, who were not much more difpofed than themselves to approve of it, declared that a tribunal should

foon

foon be appointed to try the late minifters, and other delinquents, and a committee appointed in the mean time to examine into the accufations against them. The affembly likewife decreed, that Bezenval fhould be kept under fafe guard at Brie Comte Robert, the town where he was then confined. This was to him the most fortunate claufe that ever was or could be penned; for the writers on both fides acknowledge or declare, that no human power could have prevented another public murder if he had been brought to Paris. This opinion was indeed fully confirmed by the following fact, that thirty thoufand frantic Parifians waited for him a whole day at the Place de Greve, and had, with favage pleafure, all the inftruments of infult and death prepared for his reception.

Indeed it was evident that things were now arrived at fuch a pitch,

that no fecurity for liberty, property, or life could be found in the country, unless fome effectual curb was fpeedily placed upon the revengeful and cruel fpirit of the people; for it had already fpread with dreadful difplay into the provinces, where they had generally taken up arms as foon as they heard of the revolution at Paris. Every bad man (and that order was at least as numerous as ufual) made the public good a pretence for wreaking his malice upon his private enemies. The tenants thought this a happy opportunity for fhaking off all dependance on their landlords, and converting their farms into eftates; and petty wars were thus generated in various parts between the former and the landed proprietors. Numerous other fources of difcord were invented or found, and details of crimes and cruelties were echoed from every quarter.

CHRONICLE.

for was opened by the bifhop of Nova Scotia; the magiftrates and principal gentlemen of the county of Hants attended, which added much to the folemnity that was observed on an occafion fo truly pleafing as the opening of the first public feminary in this province.

The bishop began with prayers, and then delivered a Latin oration, in which he pointed out the many advantages the public would derive from the inftitution, and feverally addreffed the magiftrates, the tutors, and the ftudents.

He next read over the regulations that were established by the gentleman appointed to undertake the general government of the academy. Thefe regulations are well calculated to preserve order, to enforce diligence in the tutors, and to promote application and improvement in the ftudents. The bufinefs of the academy being finished, the magiftrates and gentlemen of the county of Hants prefented an excellent addrefs to the bishop, to which he returned a fuitable answer.

Mrs. Helen Bettenfon, of Sevenoaks, in Kent, an opulent maiden lady, lately deceafed, among many legacies, has left to the Rev. Mr. Hetherington's charity for blind perfons 10,000l. three per cent. confolidated annuities; to St. Luke's Hofpital, the fame; to Bromley College, the fame; to St. George's VOL. XXXI.

Hofpital, 500l. to Mr. Gregory of Clifford's Inn, 200l.; to his wife 100l. and zol. per annum more, in confideration of taking care of her Italian greyhound; to all her fervants 10l. a year for life; to her executors 1000l. to erect a monument

in Westminster Abbey, with a fuitable infcription (which is to be read and approved at a meeting of the Royal Society), for the late Martin Folkes, efq; who was prefident of the Royal Society; all the refidue of her eftate to earl Stanhope, lord Amherst, and Multon Lambard, efq; fhare and share alike, whom she appoints the executors and trustees of her will.

December. Hiftory, fays a French meteorologist, does not afford us an example of fo long and cold a winter as the prefent. The frost began on the 24th of November, with a N. E. wind, and continued increafing night and day till the 24th of December, when a temporary thaw came on, which lafted only two days, after which the froft. returned, and continued till the fecond of January. The Seine was frozen over entirely.

Lover Rhine, Dec. 27. Sad accounts are received from all parts of Germany concerning the fudden and fevere froft. Many perfons and animals have been found frozen to death in the roads, which the great fall of fnow has rendered impaffable. This age affords no example of fo extreme a froft as there was in many places on the 17th inflant; in the morning of that day Fahrenheit's Thermome [N]

ter