which has since been printed and is to be found in M. NECKAR'S Work on the French Revolution.

To all this body of contradiction, nothing is opposed but the bare assertion of the Anonymous Editor of DEBRETT'S State Papers. It should here be observed, that no Collection of this description can claim the smallest credit, or bear even the semblance of impartiality, unless care be taken to refer the Reader, in every instance to the Authority on which each Paper is inserted in it. This usual attention to accuracy has not, however, been omitted without design, in the Work in question, containing so many garbled Papers, and so many which are wholly spurious.

From that Work, or from some other source of equal authority, this pretended Treaty of Pavia has been transcribed, as an authentic document of History, into the New Annual Register. The good sense of the Public revolted at it; and the Editors were universally censured for giving sanction and currency to so shameless a fabrication. They were however unwilling to retract it, because it served the Party purposes of that most partial and wretched of all Compilations. To support it by argument was impossible:they, therefore, in their next Volume, † had resource to a new and curious expedient: they assumed that SOME Treaty of Pavia must necessarily have existed, because they had published one which never could exist; and they called upon the Combined Powers, as they were pleased to style them, to declare in their own defence what were the contents of the real Treaty. These

See New Annual Register for 1792, p. 119.

+ See ditto for 1793, P. 7.

Gentlemen

Gentlemen publish a groundless Libel on their own King, and on all the principal Sovereigns of Europe. The charge is proved to be absurd, inconsistent and false: not a tittle of evidence is found to support it. Instead of disavowing the Forgery, and apologizing for its insertion, they modestly demand that, for the important purpose of confuting their calumnies, the EMPEROR of GERMANY, the EMPEROR of RUSSIA, the KING of ENGLAND, and the KINGS of SPAIN and PRUSSIA, should publish to the world the tenour of all Secret Engagements they may have contracted with each other. In default of which, or if, as in the present case, there should be none such to produce, all the said EMPERORS and KINGS are to stand convicted of having signed any Treaty which the Writers of the New Annual Register think proper to publish as genuine. This is true JACOBIN Justice;-the justice of Revolutionary Tribunals, or the "Hellish Justice" (as, I think, Lord COKE calls it) of VIRGIL'S Rhadamanthus, who first punishes the Defendant, then hears him, and then compels him to plead guilty to his Charge.*

Your Readers will probably think, that much more has been said than was necessary, to disprove the authenticity of this pretended Agreement between POWERS, who, it is well known, were at the time alledged, not only not acting in any concert, but several of them on the very point of declaring War against each other. Unfortunately, every day's experience shows, and in no instance more than in the artifices used to palliate or disguise the Aggressions of France, that the gross absurdity or manifest inconsistency of a calumny, affords no security against its pre

Castigatque, auditque dolos, subigitque fateri.

valence;

valence; and that even those who reject the story in detail, still suffer the repeated and hardy assertion of it to leave some impression on their minds.

Atrociter calumniando aliquid hæret, is the ruling principle of all the apologists and adherents of France; and it is against the effects of this system, that the lovers of Truth, Order, and British Liberty, are particularly called upon to direct their utmost efforts.

I am, &c.

DETECTOR.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLONEL TATE.

WE are happy at having it in our power to present our Readers with a very singular Curiosity: an Extract from the Official Orders of Colonel TATE, delivered to him by General HỌCHE, preparatory to his landing in Wales.

We pledge ourselves for their authenticity; the originals, signed by HOCHE, and found in the possession of TATE, are now before us.

It is not our design to enter into an examination of these Instructions. If we did not know that the French had constantly succeeded, more by the baseness and treachery of their opponents, than by their own courage and conduct, we should be inclined to treat them with levity; but when we recollect that more than half the States of Europe have been convulsed by means apparently inadequate to the end proposed, we cannot too seriously call the attention of our Countrymen to the great Lesson af

forded

forded them, by the termination of this extraordinary

event.

They will find that the enemy placed their chief reliance on the assistance they expected to derive from the Inhabitants. Experience on the Continent, unfortunately, had convinced them that this was no improbable speculation. But they had now to contend with BRITONS! with men attached to their Country, and resolute in its defence. The consequence was inevitable: "La Seconde Legion des Francs," "all resolute determined men," "who were to undertake every thing;

--

to

spread death and desolation through the Country, to burn our Dock-yards, to annihilate our Commerce, and to disarm our Military ;-finding that no one repaired to their Standard, laid down their arms without firing a single shot, to about three hundred Militia hastily assembled.

Instructions for Colonel Tate.

There will be placed under the Command of Colonel TATE, a body of troops completely organized, to the number of One Thousand and Fifty, all resolute, determined men, with whom he may undertake any thing:They are to be called "La Seconde Legion des Francs."

The destruction of Bristol is of the very last importance, and every possible effort should be made to accomplish it. For this purpose, it will be proper to reconnoitre the Mouth of the Severn in the day time, and to sail up the Avon at night-fall, within five miles of the town, where the landing should be made, on the right bank, in the greatest silence. And, the Troops being supplied with combustible matter, Colonel TATE is to advance rapidly

VOL. I.

rapidly in the dark, on that side of Bristol which may be to windward, and immediately to set fire to that quarter. If the enterprize be conducted with dexterity, it cannot fail to produce the total ruin of the Town, the Port, the Docks, and the Vessels, and to strike terror and amazement into the very heart of the Capital of England.

The Expedition under the command of Colonel TATE has in view three principal objects; the first is, if possible, to raise an Insurrection in the Country; the second is, to intercept and embarrass the Commerce of the Enemy; and the third is, to prepare and facilitate the way for a Descent, by distracting the attention of the English Government.

In all Countries, the Poor are the Class most prone to Insurrection; and this disposition is to be forwarded by distributing money and drink, by inveighing against the Government as the cause of the public distress; by recommending and facilitating a rising, to plunder the Public Stores and Magazines, and the Property of the Rich, whose affluence is the natural subject of envy to the Poor.

It is, notwithstanding, to be observed, that however defective may be the Morality of the English People, they have still a respect for the Laws and their Magistrates, even in the moment of Insurrection; it will be therefore adviseable to spare, as much as possible, the Property of those who may be in any Civil Function, and even of the Country Gentlemen: and all impositions should be laid on the Peers, the Men of Rank and High Fortune, the Clergy, those who serve as Officers in the Army, Navy, and especially in the Militia; of all such, the Country Seats, Farms, Woods, Cattle, and Corn, should

5