and the archives which it contained burnt and deftroyed. The republicans have been affaflinated, and frightful fcenes are paffing under your eyes. These are nevertheless the inhabitants of Belgium, who have thus defpifed the laws of the French republic. Whatever may be their fenfelefs project, whoever have been the perfidious agents who incite them, I declare the place of Malines in a state of fiege, as well for the purpose of preventing the effects of this dreadful infurrection, as to grant protection to the peaceable inhabitants against all attacks of the ill-difpofed. I'direct in confequence that the well-difpofed retire peaceably into their houses after night-fall, unlefs they fhould be provided with lights. Thofe who thall be found without them thall be conducted to the commandant of the gendarmerie. I confequently require that the municipal adminiftration of the canton of Malines fhall cause the prefent proclamation to be printed, published, and pofted up in both languages, to the number of two thousand copies. Head Quarters, Malines, the 1f Brumaire, 7th year of the French republic, 22d of October. Buonaparte, Commander in Chief, to the Pacha of Cairo. THE intention of the French republie in taking poffeffion of Egypt has been to expel the Mamelukes, who were at once rebels against the Porte, and avowed enemies of the French go vernment. At this moment that fhe finds herself mistress of it, in confequence of the fignal victory obtained by her army, her defign is to fecure to the Pacha of the Grand Seignior his revenues and his existence. I entreat you, therefore, to affure the Porte, that it shall experience no lofs, and that I fhall take care it fhall receive the fame tribute which was previously paid to it. Arrété of the Executive Directory, on the 8th Brumaire (O&. 29). THE Executive Directory, in confequence of the report of the minifter of foreign relations, obferving that the fquadrons, privateers, and fhips both of England and of Rulla are in a great measure equipped by foreigners; Seeing moreover, that this violation is a manifcft abuse of the law of nations, and that the European powers have taken no iteps to check it, decrees: Art. Art. I. That every perfon, either native or originally from the countries in amity or alliance with France, or in a state of neutrality, who is bearer of a commiffion granted by the enemies of France, or who compofes a part of the crews of the fhips of war or others belonging to the enemy, fhall, by virtue of this act alone, be declared a traitor, and treated as fuch, without his being permitted, in any cafe whatever, to plead that he was compelled into fuch fervice by force, threats, or otherwife. Art. II. The Executive Directors of the Batavian, Ligurian, Cifalpine, and Roman republics, shall be informed of fuch threat. Art. III. The provifions contained in the first article fhall be notified to neutral, and to the powers allied with the French republic. Art. IV. The minifter of foreign relations is charged with the execution of the prefent arrêté, which fhall be published in the bulletin of the laws. Arrété of the Executive Directory. THE Executive Directory, defirous of determining the mode in which its arrêté of the 8th of Brumaire is carried into execution, has refolved as follows: Art. I. In execution of the 3d article of the arrêté of the Executive Directory, of the 8th of this month, the allied or neutral powers fhall be invited to adopt the neceffary measures to recall within a certain fixed time thofe feamen of their respective nations, who are actually employed on board fhips and other vessels belonging to England. Art. II. The ambaffadors, minifters, and envoys of the republic with the faid powers, fhall receive peculiar inftructions on this fubject. Art. III. The epocha of the execution of the arrêté of the 8th Brumaire fhall be fixed by a fubfequent arrêté. Art. IV. The minifter for foreign affairs is directed to attend in concert with the minister of the marine to the execution of this prefent arrêté. PARLIA PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. IRISH PARLIAMENT. Speech of his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant from the Throne, on the 16th Jan. 1798, at the Meeting of Parliament. My Lords and Gentlemen, I HAVE his Majefty's commands to affemble you in Parliament at this important period, and to refort to your deliberation and advice. When I reflect on the tranquillity which attended the late general election, I have juft ground to believe that the wifdom and firmness which were manifefted by the late Parliament were felt and approved by the nation at large, and that your conduct will be actuated by fimilar principles in defence of our happy confti tution. It must have given you great concern to learn that his Majefty's endeavours to restore the bleffings of peace have been again fruftrated by the defperate ambition of the French government. I have his Majesty's commands to lay before you his royal Declaration, and the various papers which paled in the course of the late negotiation, in which the magnanimity and moderation of his Majefty were fo eminently displayed, as to leave no pretext or colour for the infidious conduct and fallacious flatements of the enemy. His Majefty relies with confidence on the fpirit of his people of Ireland, who are fenfible of their duty to their God, their fovereign, and their country. He knows they are incapable of being intimidated by any threats, or deluded by any offers; and he implicitly depends on the valour of his regular and militia forces, the active loyalty of the diftrict corps, the courage of the nation, and the prowefs of his fleets and armies, for defeating every hoftile attempt which may be made on this kingdom. The late fignal victory of Admiral Lord Duncan over the Dutch fquadron, achieved on their own coafts with fuch profeffional skill and heroic gallantry, has not only added fresh luftre to the glory of his Majefty's navy, but has given new ftrength and fecurity to all his Majefty's dominions. Gentlemen Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, I have ordered the public accounts and the estimates for the enfuing year to be laid before you. I lament that additional burdens are ftill neceffary, in order to maintain the honour and fecurity of the empire in the prefent exigency; and although from the ftate of preparation in which this kingdom ftands, fome of the demands of former periods will not recur, yet I fear the general experfe of the enfuing year will not admit of any confiderable reduction. When you reflect on all you have to preferve, and all you have to expect from the enemy you have to combat with, I doubt not the fupplies will be cheerfully granted. I fhall endeavour, oh my part, that they fhall be faithfully applied. My Lords and Gentlemen, In confequence of the addreffes of the Houfes of Lords and Commons in May laft, I directed immediate and vigorous meafures to be taken for reprefling difaffection in the northern parts of the kingdom, and for rettoring fecurity and confidence to the loyal and well-difpofed; the effect of which has been manifested in the return of fubordination and induftry in that quarter. Other attempts have fince been made by the leaders of the dif affected in fome parts of the midland and fouthern districts with too much fuccefs, and emiffaries have been employed, and publications have been circulated by them, to revive religious animofities, and to open profpects of plunder, by which means the lower claffes have been excited to commit acts of the most horrid cutrage and barbarity. I have to lament that the diligence and activity of the magiftrates, though affifted by the troops which have been ordered into that part of the kingdom, have not yet been able entirely to put a stop to thofe difturbances. Conftant vigilance and unremitting exertions continue to be neceffary when all means are tried to excite the people to rebellion and revoltwhen a fyftematic plan of affalination is adopted and encouraged, and when the most audacious attempts are made to impede and prevent the adminiftration of justice. Amidit your exertions for the defence of the kingdom, I muft not omit to recommend to you not to relax your attention to its commerce, its agriculture, and its manufactures, and efpecially to that of the linen; nor will your liberality be lefs confpicuous in continuing that protection to the Protestant charter fchools, and the other charitable inftitutions under which they have fo long flourished. His Majefty has commanded me to declare to you, that his firm refolution is taken in the prefent arduous conteft. He will not be wanting to his people, but with them will stand or fall in in the defence of their religion, and in the preservation of the independence, laws, and liberties of his kingdoms. It will be a fource of infinite fatisfaction to my mind, if, in the execution of my duty, I can contribute to fupport the generous determination of my fovereign and maintain the fafety and profperity of his people. I rely upon your advice and co-operation, and, aided by them, I look forward with confidence to a happy iffue of the conteft in which we are engaged. Addreffes were moved in both Houfes, and carried unanimously.] In the Houfe of Lords, on the 19th February 1798, Earl Moira made the following Motion. THAT an humble addrefs be prefented to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, reprefenting that as Parliament hath confided to his Excellency extraordinary powers for fupporting the laws, and for defeating any traitorous combinations which may exift in this kingdom, this Houfe feels it, at the fame time, a duty to recommend the adoption of fuch conciliatory measures as may allay the apprehenfions and extinguish the difcontents unhappily prevalent in this country. [This motion was negatived by a majority of 44 contents against 9 non-contents.] Against this Decifion the following Proteft was entered. BECAUSE that at a moment when Government has thought itself obliged to exert unusual rigour, it appears the extreme of impolicy not to profefs the reluctance with which fuch feverities are enforced, and the with of Government to conciliate the minds of the people by a gentler course. (Signed) GRANARD. CHARLEMONT. ARRAN. W. Down and CONNOR. MOUNTCASHEL, Proxy. In the Houfe of Commons, on the 5th March 1798, the following Motion was made by Sir Lawrence Parfons. THAT a Committee be appointed to inquire into the state of the country, and to fuggeft fuch measures as are likely to conciliate the popular mind and reftore tranquillity. VOL. VII. 4 B [T! |