as his wifdom fuggefted, for maintaining his own authority, and fulfilling the obligations he lay under of rendering juftice to his fubjects. That himself has thought proper now, to recal them to the exercife of thofe functions, which they ought never to have quitted; and he defires them, to learn to prize his favours, and never to lofe remembrance of their extent.

The king then informs them, that they are to hear the reading of an ordinance, the feveral parts of which are conceived exactly in the letter and spirit of his royal predeceffors. He declares, that he will not fuffer the fmalleft infringement to be made upon it; that his own authority, the prefervation of juftice, the happiness and tranquillity of his people, all equally require that it fhall be observed inviolate. He concludes, by declaring it to be his will, that all paft grievances fhall be buried in oblivion; declares, that he fhall ever behold with extreme difapprobation whatever may tend to create divifions, or difturb the good order and tranquillity which he wishes always to fubfift in his parliament; and recommends to them, to be folely occupied in the faithful difcharge of their respective duties, and to co-operate with his wishes, which are directed to promote the welfare and happiness of his fubjects.

The ordinance now mentioned, may be confidered as a code of difcipline for the conduct and government of the parliament, and was immediately registered by the king's exprefs command. It confifts of about fixty articles, and reduces the power of that body to limits much narrower than their

former demands.

Among thofe reftrictions, the members are forbid to look upon therafelves as making one body with the other parliaments of the kingdom, or to take upon them the name of class, unity, indivifibility, or any other fynonymous terms. They are likewife forbidden to fend any re- monftrances or arrets, relative to the affairs they may be employed about, to any other parliaments, except in fuch cafes as are permitted by the ordinance. They are alfo forbidden to quit or defert the exercife of their functions, either by virtue of any refolution, deliberation, or other matter, except in cafes of abfolute neceffity, to be recognized by the first prefident, who is answerable to the king for the fufficiency of the caufe. Combined difmiffions are attended with forfeiture, and the guilt of petty treafon; the forfeiture to be adjudged by the king, peers, and council; and the grand council may replace the parliament, without any new edict for that purpose.

The parliament is permitted, before registering edicts, declarations, or letters patent, to make fuch remonftrances or reprefentations as they fhall judge neceffary for the good of the people; provided that they do not deviate from the refpect due to the king and on condition that they fhall be regiftered within a month at farthest, from the day of the publication of fuch edicts; with an exception, however, to a repetition of remonftrances, if the king fhould continue to receive them: but the parliament is forbidden to iffue any arrets which might tend to excite trouble, or in any manner

to

to retard the execution of the king's edicts.

The king concluded the business of this memorable day by a thort fpeech, in which he obferved, that they were now informed of his pleasure, and from their zeal for the public good, and attachment to the true principles of monarchy, he expected they would exactly conform to what he had prefcribed; and promifed them his protection and countenance, as long as they worthily filled the places which they occupied, and did not attempt to enlarge the bounds of the power which was granted to them.

Thus by a fortunate concurrence of circumstances, has Lewis the XVIth. been enabled, not only to hake off the odium which had been incurred by the violent meafures of his grandfather, but to convert it into a fource of popularity for himself; while at the fame time, without deftroying the name of parliaments, he has rendered them, to all appearance, much more fubfervient than before. He has at least drawn a fixed line, which their authority is not to tranfgrefs, whereas before it was indefinite. It remains to be feen, whether the parliament gained more by the evident neceffity the court has been under of reftoring them to their functions; or loft, by the terms on which that restoration has been obtained.

The chatelet, and fome other boards or tribunals appertaining to the parliament, were afterwards reftored. Notwithstanding the fufferings they had undergone, and the ftrict terms to which they were now bound, the recalled members did not forget the fpirit of the VOL. XVII.

ancient parliament. Some bickerings foon took place between them and the king, upon the subject of remonftrating and regiftering, to which the doubtful or different interpretation, which some paffages in the late ordinance were capable of, afforded a foundation. These matters were foon fettled by the king's authority and his anfwer to one of these remonftrances, "That he must be obeyed," was conclufive.

The archbishop of Paris having again begun to renew the troubles which he had excited in the late reign, by the refufal of the facraments, the king fent for him to Verfailles, and is faid to have spoken to him in the following terms-" The king my grandfather "exiled you feveral times for the "troubles you occafioned in the "ftate; I fent for you to tell you, "that if you relapse, I fhall not "exile you, but give you over to "the rigour of the law."

The unfortunate island of Corfica has, during the prefent year, afforded a dreadful fcene of blood and cruelty. The unhappy natives of that devoted ifland have experienced every degree of punishment which the moft determined tyranny is capable of inflicting. Racks, gallies, tranfportation from their country, and all those connexions. that are dear to mankind, with perpetual flavery in the French Weft-India iflands. Thefe cruelties, founded on oppreffion and injuftice, have much difgraced the character of the French, as a civilized and humane nation. For, though the barbarous fierceness of the Corficans fhould be brought in juftification, and fhewn to be reftrained by none of those conven[C]

tions

tions which cuftom has established among mankind, the caufe of its exertion, the defence of their natural rights and liberties, will, in a great measure, exculpate them with respect to its irregularity, while the original flagrant and uncoloured injuftice and ufurpation on the other fide, takes away every claim of the right to retaliation.

It has been given out, that a plot was formed by the natives to cut off all the French in the island on Afcenfion day; but that this horrid defign was fortunately difcovered by a young woman to a Frenchman who was her gallant. As no detail of this plot has been given, which might naturally have been expected as a palliation of the fucceeding cruelties, this circumftance, together with the apparent improbability of its difcovery, and the marks it carries, of being founded on the hiftorical fact of the Sicilian vefpers, all join to render its authenticity very doubtful.

It however appears, that the averfion of the natives to the French is fo invincible, that no benefits can difguife, nor fear reftrain its effects; and the conduct of the latter fhews, that they confider extermination as the only remedy for this mortal antipathy. It would be useless, as well as befide our purpose, if we were even furnished with the means, to enter into any particular detail of the various efforts which have been exerted in the courfe of the year, by thofe intrepid defenders of their country, and affertors of their liberties, whom the lawless ufurpers of their rights ftigmatize under the odious appellation of banditti. It would offer too great a wound to humani

ty to repeat the cruelties that have been exercised..

It will be fufficient to obferve, that a small, but sharp and bloody war, fuch as fuited the weakness of the people, and the nature of the country, has been carried on in all the faftneffes and mountainous parts of the island. That the defection was fo general, that it appears a great part, if not the whole of the Corfican regiment, which had been raised on purpose by France, as a provifion and employment for reftlefs and daring fpirits, and to engage the nobility in its interefts, joined the malcontents. That the loffes of the French were fo confiderable, that they were neceffarily reinforced by feveral regiments, and that their communications between the different parts of the ifland were frequently cut off. And that the war at length finally degenerated, through the weakness and deftruction of the natives, (after many acts of the most defperate valour, which required only a fplendid fcene of action, and learned people, to be handed down to the admiration of future ages,) into the nature and refemblance of a general hunting, in which a large portion of country is furrounded by a great body of armed men, who narrow the circle 'by degrees, until every thing within it becomes an inevitable prey.

We wish for the honour of human nature, that the account publifhed of the conduct of the French in the Pieve of Niolo, might have been a mifrepresentation. The information, however, seems so accurate, and the circumftances are fo particularly specified, befides the declaration of the unknown author,

that

that if any of the facts were controverted, he would establish them by authentic documents, that its being fuffered to pafs without queftion or contradiction, affords too much reason to believe it authen

tic.

It appears that the inhabitants of the Pieve of Niolo, from their courage, averfion to flavery, and the natural ftrength of their country, had continued fingle and unconquered, in the general fubjugation of Corfica. That their central fituation, from which the approaches were tedious and difficult, operating with the caufes we have affigned, had rendered all the efforts of the French for their conqueft, fince that period, equally fruitlefs. And that threats of the fevereft punishments, even of a general deftruction, having been repeatedly applied in vain, to intimidate thefe heroic affertors of the liberties of their country, the influence of religion was at length prostituted, to bring them to a submission.'

For this purpose, Aquaviva, one of their priests, a powerful and popular preacher, was first deceived himself, and then rendered an inftrument to the deception and ruin of his friends and countymen. This man was perfuaded to hold out the olive branch to the people; and his perfuafive eloquence, upon a subject to which religion fo happily applied, and for which eafe and fecurity were prompt advocates with his auditors, was foon productive of the defigned effect, and the Pieve of Niolo, upon the most clear and folemn affu rances, not only of a full and unlimited pardon for their paft refiftance, but of kindness and friendthip for their prefent conduct, vo

luntarily fubmitted to the French government.

A body of troops were accordingly admitted peaceably into the diftrict, who had no fooner taken poffeffion of their natural defences, than they treacherously feized forty-two of the principal inhabitants, and who had formerly been the most active and brave in the defence of their country.

Amongst thofe, who were thus bafely circumvented, were one of the two chief magiftrates and judges of the diftrict, and two nephews of the very meffenger of peace, the wretched prieft, Aquaviva. Of these unhappy victims, eleven, whose names are fpecified, including the judge and the prieft's nephews, expired upon the rack, amidst the weeping eyes and bleeding hearts of their deluded friends, who in vain obtefted heaven and earth to avenge this perfidy.

The furvivors of this devoted number, were fent to augment the groans and increase the afflictions of their countrymen, who already filled the dungeous of Baftia. Nor was the fate of the remaining inhabitants of Niolo much happier. A bitter fenfe of the loffes they had formerly fuftained in various conflicts with this miferable people, unfortunately prevailed with the French, over every fenfe of humanity and juftice. The whole diftrict was ruined and deftroyed, the houfes burnt, and the cattle carried off in triumph by the foldiers, as a prey. One Capracinta was remarkable for defending his house fingly againft his numerous affailants, and after killing feveral of them, perished unfubdued amidst the flames.

[C] 2

A ceffion

A ceffion of the island of Corfica to the King of Sardinia, or fome exchange to the fame purpose, have been much fpoken of during the course of the year. That ifland has certainly been hitherto a bitter morfel to France; and fuch a meafure were much to be wifhed for the fake of humanity. The proceedings we have related do not, however, feem to indicate any fuch intention. Many who confider the

fate of Corfica, Dantzick, and Poland, will obferve with regret, that the spirit and love of liberty, which had for fome ages honourably dif tinguished a very few nations in Europe, no longer furvive, or muft at leaft conclude, that they have loft much of their priftine vigour, as it is evident that thefe events would not have been suffered to have taken place at an earlier pe- . riod.

A Singular war, without an

avowal of ill will, or a pretence of injury, has taken place between Spain and the Emperor of Morocco. In the place of those ufual foundations or colours for a war, the Moorish prince, in a letter which he wrote to

Sept. 19th. the King of Spain has 1774. fubftituted a compliance with the laws of the Alcoran. If he found himself fufficiently ftrong, these laws were fufficiently reconcileable to found policy. He thews, that his fubjects and the Algerines have determined, that no Chriftians fhall poffefs fettlements on their coafts; that they have called upon him, as endowed by God with great power and force, to fulfil that injunction, which requires that the latter fhould not be fuffered to hold territorial poffeffions in Mahometan countries; and that he was bound to a compli

ance with this requeft. He profeffes a continuance on his fide of peace, and of friendship, and takes pains to fhew, that his attacking the settlements in Africa is no contravention of either; thus endeavouring to establish a diftinction, between a war against the

Spanish forts, and a war with the king and nation in general. As a religious obferver of the late treaties of peace, he declares, that he will punctually fulfil their terms; and that the Spaniards thall continue to enjoy a free liberty of trade, intercourfe in his ports, and protection and fecurity in his dominions, unless they force him to a contrary conduct by entering into a war; but even in that cafe, he will grant them four montlis for the removal of their perfons and effects.

Other papers which were published about the fame time by his

order,