Act 10. of William III. for preventing the growth of Popery-The Papists not satisfied by such partial ReliefDeclaration of one of their Members on that SubjectPetition of certain English Catholic Dissenters to the House of Commons-They renounce many obnoxious tenets of the Church of Rome-They are not Dissenters merely in name, but in fact-The tenets which they renounced proved to have been enforced by the decrees of general councils, which all Papists are bound to obeyBill for the relief of these Catholic Dissenters introduced by Mr. Mitford (now Lord Redesdale)-Supported by Mr. Windham and Mr. Fox-Mr. Fox defends the Bill, but insists that it does not sufficiently extend the principle of Toleration-Quotes the example of Prussia, Holland, America, and France-Those examples shewn to be irrelevant-Comments on Mr. Fox's notion of Toleration -The Bill passes both Houses without Opposition-The proposed Oath of Allegiance to be taken by the Catholic Dissenters, modified by the Bishop of St. David's-Observations on that Oath-Debates on the Bill for giving a New Constitution to Canada - Mr. Pitt's Speech-Proposes the division of Canada into two Provinces, and the establishment of two distinct Governments - The Bill" passes through its first Stages without Opposition or Debate-Unexpectedly opposed by Mr. Fox on the ReportHe condemns the whole of its Regulations-He reprobates the establishment of Hereditary Honours-Reduces the distinction of such honours, in established Governments, to a mere question of prudence-Mischievous tendency of such Principles-He censures the Provision of the Clergy as too liberal, and recommends the Governments of France and America, as affording better models for a good Constitution Is answered by Mr. Pitt, who deprecates the introduction of Republican Principles into the British Constitution-The Bill is re-committed-Com

resources; that those of France were in a most deplorable state, and that, in the first fifty one days of the year 1790, the deficit, or the excess of the expenditure over the receipts, amounted to fifty-eight millions of livres, or about four and forty thousand pounds sterling, per day! and, according to Mr. Neckar's calculation, the deficit of the year would exceed twelve millions sterling. As this enormous deficiency had been produced by revolutionary measures, the sages of the assembly thought it but just that revolutionary measures should be adopted for its re'moval. It was accordingly resolved, that assignats should be issued to the amount of four hundred millions of livres, above sixteen millions, six hundred thousand pounds sterling;—and that the estates of the church should be sold, which, it was expected, would raise a sufficient sum to provide for their payment. That this was not a measure of necessity (though no necessity could justify the partial plunder of any particular description of subjects) but preferred merely from its tendency to secure success to the revolutionary plans in agitation, is evident, from the offer made by the clergy to advance the same sum, which was refused by the assembly. Profoundly ignorant of every thing connected with the operations of finance, the assembly rendered the receipt of these assignats, at par,

compulsory on the public; and reduced the interest, which they proposed they should bear, from five to three per cent.-The clergy, being thus stripped of their tythes, and of every other species of property, now became stipendiaries of the state; and the assembly, at last, fixed their salaries, from the curate to the primate, from fifty pounds sterling to four thousand!

Tythes, and Armorial Bearings, were the next objects on which the assembly exercised their destructive skill.-Charles de Lameth proposed the suppression of the former; and a Montmorenci did not blush to move the annihilation of the latter! Possibly a sense of humility might suggest to him, that, as he possessed none of the virtues of his ancestors; he could have little claim to their honours or distinctions. -In vain did the Abbè Maury, with his usual good sense, remind these tyrants of liberty that the Romans had orders of knighthood, and were free; that, in France, the nobility was constitutional; and that to destroy it was to destroy the monarchy. The very reason which he urged to deter them from passing such a decree, was the real motive which induced them to propose it.

Proceeding upon this levelling principle, it was but consistent in the assembly to admit deputations of the rabble to address them at

their bar.

On the 19th of June, a body of ruffians, who had the most legitimate claims to the appellation of sans-culottes, but who preferred that of the Conquerors of the Bastille, went to the assembly to claim the reward due to their services. As rebels and assassins, they ought long since to have been consigned to the hangman; but Mr. Camns, having recounted the prodigies of valour which they had displayed at this memorable siege, and expressed his astonishment that they should not sooner have received the recompence which their bravery so richly deserved, proposed, and the assembly, who knew that there was not a syllable of truth in his representation, decreed, after professing their "admiration at the heroic intrepidity of the conquerors of the Bastille," that they should be provided with a suit of regimentals, and arms complete.-Upon the barrel of the musquet, and the blade of the sword, were to be inscribed these words: Given by the nation to a Conqueror of the Bastille.-An honourable certificate was also to be delivered to each of them, expressive of the gratitude of the country. A similar certificate was also to be granted to the widows of those who fell at the siege of the Bastille. A place was to be appointed for them at the approaching federation of the 14th of July, where France might con

template the first restorers of liberty; and their names were to be inscribed on the archives of the nation. But the French and National Guards were so enraged at this proceeding, that the pretended conquerors of the Bastille deemed it prudent, a few days after, to repair to the assembly, and to resign their destined honours.*

Another scene, equally ridiculous, was exhibited during the same sitting.—A Prussian vagabond, one Anarcharsis Clootz, appeared at the bar of the assembly, accompanied by deputies from the various nations of the earth, who had chosen him for their speaker.-This orator pronounced a most virulent harangue, expres

* Bertrand's Annals, Vol. II. p. 461.---One of these conquerors of the Bastille had been apprehended, in the month of January this year, for making a disturbance before the prison of the Chatelet, during the trial of the Marquis de Favres, (who was murdered through fear of the mob) and was carried before one of the municipal officers. This man expressed his astonishment that he should be apprehended, and complained of the mistake: "What! Gentlemen!" said he, " am not I a good citizen? I, who cut off the heads of Foulon and Launay; who tore out their hearts and bowels?". -He then drew a knife from his pocket, with which he had performed the operation, and when it was objected to him, that the instrument was too small for such a purpose, he answered, that he had been a butcher and a cook, and understood amputations !--See the Moniteur of Jan. 15, 1790.