the Explosion) correspond in every particular with the intelligence which we were the first to communicate to the Public in our last Number. The measures which have since been taken by the predominant party, are such as might be expected from a Faction raised to power by the influence of France, holding that power under the direction and controul of a French Ambassador, and enforcing obedience to it by the Bayonets of a French Army.

That the whole plan of this Revolution was arranged at Paris, and that the first object of LA CROIX's mission was to carry it into effect, are so obvious on the face of the Events, that it would only be wasting time, and tiring the patience of our Readers, to enter into the particulars. The French Papers, and the Official Paper of the Directory in particular, have, notwithstanding, the impudence to assert, that France took no part in the transaction.→→ The Official Journal, however, concludes his elaborate defence of LA CROIX rather aukwardly, by avowing that “his business on this occasion was to watch over the "Revolution, to weigh its principles and its consequen"ces, to leave it full scope (if properly regulated) to "moderate whatever might be excessive, and to calm "every thing which could give room for the operation of "beadlong violence." So that, under the new Law of Nations which the Directory aims to establish, the first and acknowledged duty of its Ministers to other Independent States, is to be constantly upon the watch for a Revolution in those States, and, according to circumstances, either to give it full scope, or to restrain its excesses, by their interposition.

With this new principle, Europe can no longer be at a loss to understand, or the French to justify, the changes

they

they have produced in Italy and Holland, the late events at Rome and in Switzerland, and the probability of approaching Revolutions in Spain, Sardinia, Naples, Tuscany, and, in succession, in every State which, from whatever motives, lending a hand at present as the Accomplice, must soon expect to bend the Neck, as a Victim to the Jacobin Rulers of France. How long these last-mentioned Countries will be allowed to retain their present Governments, or which of them is first to be revolutionized and plundered then bartered away, or incorporated with some other are questions that have probably engaged the attention of the Directory. We do not pretend to be acquainted with their determination, or with the measures they may have taken for carrying them into effect, but, if we may hazard a conjecture from the appointment of General AUGEREAU to the Command of the Army at Perpignan, the crisis of the Spanish Monarchy cannot be very distant; for should the Court of Madrid persist in that blind and degrading submission to the insidious Councils of France, which it has hitherto manifested, we are persuaded AUGEREAU will soon enter Spain, under the pretext of marching against Portugal only; but, in reality, with the intention of subverting both these Kingdoms.-The Ambassador of the latter, in the mean time remains, apparently forgotten, in the Com mon Jail of Paris, where he and his Full Powers are probably kept in reserve by the Directory, until they may find it convenient to compel him, in imitation of that detestable Traitor, OCHS (the Envoy of Basle at Paris) to dictate, in an insolent Letter to his Sovereign and to his Country, a new system of Government, and the conditions of mercy imposed by the Directory. And this,

in

in the sense of Republican France, is the Law of Nations!

Under the sanction of this novel Law, War, it appears, is now regularly declared against Switzerland. The refusal of a Swiss Commandant in the Pays de Vaud, to surrender a Fortress committed to his care and fidelity, upon the first summons of a French Aide-de-Camp, demanding it, on behalf of Men, then in open rebellion against the State from which he held that sacred trust and the Senate of Berne having hesitated to release from prison an instigator of the Rebellion, taken with arms in his hands, are the reasons openly assigned to justify this Aggression. A French Army occupies Lausanne and the Pays de Vaud; but we still entertain hopes, that the remainder of Switzerland may maintain its Independence; or, if it is to be erased from the List of Nations, that in the struggle, it will appear not unmindful, and in its fall, not unworthy, of the character and glory of its an

cestors.

Mr. THOMAS PAINE, the "much-injured and calumniated friend" of Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, the Hero of the Corresponding Society, the steady and old Ally of those new Allies of Mr. Fox and the Whig Club (we mention it to the credit of all those Illustrious Characters) has subscribed 100 Livres for the Invasion of England, accompanied, at the same time, with a hint, that he was in no small want of a Subscription for himself. The Council of Five Hundred having unfeelingly accepted his money, without taking his hint, we presume they rely on the gratitude of his Friends, the Jacobins in England.

The Intelligence we gave in our last, respecting the State of Parties, and the probability of an explosion at Paris, is, in our opinion, greatly confirmed by a variety

of

of Articles in the Papers received on Friday. These Articles, published certainly not without authority (for they first appeared in the Rédacteur) and the notice that has been taken in the two Councils, of the supposed division in the Directory, and of the alterations intended by one Party in the Constitution, have, we know, been purposely thrown out by the adverse Party, with a view to intimidate BARRAS and BUONAPARTE; to sound the temper of the public mind; and to prepare it, in some degree, for the projects they have in view against them. MERLIN, the most enterprising man of that Party, is now actively employed in establishing Ambulatory Jacobin Clubs (Circles Constitutionels Ambulatoires) on which he places great reliance for gaining over the Army. — The Revolution of Holland is also an event favourable to his views; whilst, on the other hand, the appointment of AUGEREAU (consented to by the majority of the Directory, with a view to the Revolution of Spain) to command at Perpignan, is reckoned an advantage to his opponents at Paris. - AUGEREAU, it is understood, has quarrelled with BUONAPARTE, and had he remained at the head of the Army of the Rhine, he might have proved a formidable check to his views at Paris.

We shall not enter into farther observations upon this subject for the present; not from want of materials, but because the information we possess is not so particular and connected as to warrant us in drawing any precise inferences; at the same time, however, it is fully sufficient to strengthen the general conclusion of our last, that between parties so circumstanced, there can be no durable conciliation, nor even sincere compromise. They are in presence- their respective power and means may be so balanced, as to suspend the blow for some time; but the

opinion

opinion we have already hazarded, that it will take place before the Election, is rather strengthened than otherwise, by all we have since heard upon the subject.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

AN unexpected circumstance reluctantly obliges us again to defer the valuable Paper on NEUTRAL NAVIGATION.

The PRIZE EPIGRAMS are again deferred. We certainly miscalculated either the Poverty, or the Stupidity, of the Jacobins, or probably both; for the Competitors for the FIVE SHILLING Prize of Dullness are innumerable. We must now beg leave to close the Contest; and if, by any human art or industry we can wade through what we have already received, by Monday next, we shall not fail to announce the Successful Candidate.

VOL. I.

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N°