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which he is a stranger. War, without doubt, has been the principal cause of the ills of France. History presented not any example of a great nation incessantly precipitated against its will into enterprises constantly increasing in hazard and distress. The world has now seen, with astonishment, mingled with terror, a civilized people compelled to exchange its happiness and repose for the wandering life of barbarous hordes; the ties of families have been broken; fathers have grown old far from their children; and children have been hurried off to die 400 leagues from their fathers. No hope of return soothed this frightful separation; habit had caused it to be regarded as eternal; and the peasants of Brittany, after conducting their sons to the place of separation, have been seen to return to their churches to put up for them by anticipation the prayers for the dead!

It is impossible to estimate the horrible consumption of men by the late government; fatigue and sickness carried off as many as battle; the enterprises were so vast and so rapid, that every thing was sacrificed to the desire of ensuring success; there was no regularity in the service of the hospitals-none in providing subsistence on the marches; the brave soldiers whose valour constituted the glory of France, and who gave incessantly new proofs of their energy and patience, sustaining the national honour with so much brilliancy, saw themselves deserted amidst their sufferings, and abandoned, without resource, to calamities which they were unable to support. The goodness of the French was insufficient to supply this cruel negli gence; and levies of men, which, under other circumstances would have formed great armies, disappeared in this manner without taking part in any engagement. Hence arose the necessity of multiplying levies without number, to replace incessantly by new armies the almost total annihilation of the armies preceding. The amount of the calls ordered since the end of the Russian campaign is frightful11th January, 1813....

...350,000 .... 10,000 1st battal. of national guards......... 80,000 Guards for the coasts. 90,000 24th August.-Army of Spain......... 30,000

3d April-Guards of honour....

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Fortunately, these last levies could not be fully executed. The war had not time to cut off all those who had joined the standards. But this simple statement of the requisitions, enforced on the population during an interval of from 14 to 15 months, suffices to give an idea what the losses of the nation must have been during the last 22 years. Many causes contributed, however, to repair these losses; the improvement of the condition of the country by the division of the great landed properties, the equal distribution of inheritances, and the progress of vaccination, were the most powerful. It was by means of the influence of these causes, and by exaggerating their success, that efforts were made to hide from the nation the extent of its sacrifices. The greater the number of men that were snatched away from France, the more studiously was it endeavoured to prove that she courted this frightful destruction.But, even if the accounts placed under view had been correct, the only result would have been, that the number of births should cause the number of deaths to be regarded with indifference! But another argument was, to point out in the conscription itself a source of increasing population-an impure source which introduced disorder and immorality into marriages concluded with precipitation and imprudence. Hence a multitude of unfortunate families, of ridiculous or indecent connexions; so that many men, of the lower orders of the people, soon become weary of what they had embraced only to shelter themselves from the conscription, threw themselves once more in the way of the dangers they had sought to avoid, and offered themselves as substitutes, to escape misery which they had not foreseen, or to break ties so ill assorted.

How could they, besides, overlook the re

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flection, that although, by multiplying these deplorable marriages, the conscription should have increased the number of births, it took annually away from France a great number of those full-grown men; who constitute the real strength of a nation? The facts prove clearly the truth of so natural a consequence. The population under the age of 20 years fell off, but increased above that age. Thus, while the government attacked the sources of the national prosperity, it displayed incessantly in pompous array those remnants of resource that maintained a struggle against its wasteful measures; it studied to conceal the evil which it did, under the good, not of its production, which was yet undestroyed. Master of a country where long labours had amassed great treasures, where civilization had made the happiest progress, where industry and commerce had for the 60 previous years made a wonderful spring; it seized all the fruits of the industry of so many generations, and of the experience of so many ages, at one time to promote its lamentable designs, and at another to cover the sad waste of its influence. The simple account of the present state of the realm will immediately exhibit the inherent prosperity of the nation struggling against a destroying principle, incessantly attacked, often struck with terrible wounds, and perpetually drawing from itself resources always insufficient.

Under the head of agriculture the prospect is more flattering. The cultivation of land and the breeding of cattle have of late years been better understood. The proprietors of vineyards have suffered dreadfully, however, under the continental system. In the south, many vineyards have been rooted up. The attempts to breed Merinos have totally failed; and the breed of sheep has been deteriorated, by attempting to force the Merino cross into too hasty and unsuccessful use. The breed of horses, until the fatal years 1812 and 1813, was also excellent, and afforded a numerous cavalry. The loss in a few months, in these years, amounted to 230,000 horses, to be replaced at an expense of 105,200,000 francs. The stock was, of course, exhausted. Every horse cost the government at the rate of 400 to 460 francs about 20l. sterling.

The mines in France have very sensibly increased. Our territory now presents 478 mines of every different kind now working, which employ 17,000 workmen, and produce to France a raw material to the value of 26,800,000 francs, and to the state a revenue of 251,000 francs. This revenue has been applied to the payment of the administration of the mines. But this particular fund, which on the 1st of Jan. last amounted to 700,000 francs, has been employed by the government in defraying the expenses of the Yet in the midst of these continual vexations, this changeable and tyrannical legislation, our fields have been cultivated, our mines worked, and our flocks even preserved and ameliorated. Certainly nothing more evidently proves the industry of our nation, and its happy disposition for the first of all the arts, than the progress of its agriculture under an oppressive government.

war.

Our cotton manufactures are stated to employ 400,000 persons, and a capital of 100 millions. Those of Rouen have already considerably revived. The linen manufactures of Laval and Bretagne suffered much by the war with Spain, where they found their principal market. Those of silk experienced the same fate. Their produce also passed through Spain to America and the colonies; but that channel was soon closed; Italy alone remained for them. But what may we not hope to gain by the renewal of our communications with all Europe?

In 1787 the manufactures at Lyons kept at work 15,000 looms; during the late war that number was reduced to 8000; but Lyons has already received considerable orders, and promises to regain its former prosperity. The manufactures of woollens, leather, &c. suffered in an equal degree, from the fatal influence of the continental system, the absurdity of which they strikingly evinced.

Commerce, subject as it was to the caprices of government, and shackled in all its proceedings, suffered immense losses; and the system of licences ruined and discouraged a great number of merchants, by raising hopes that were destroyed in a moment by the will which had fostered them. A long peace, and stable and liberal laws, can alone inspire mei

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cantile men with sufficient confidence to einbark without apprehension in their useful pursuits.

The public exchequer suffered in an equal degree, and it was difficult to meet the expenditure in spite of the contributions. The budget of the minister of the interior for 1812 amounted to 150 millions, and in 1813 to 140 millions, of which the exchequer never contributed more than from 58 to 60 millions, the surplus being raised by special duties and imposts.

The public works have produced some movements of real utility; but most of them originated solely in vain ostentation. The roads were neglected, and the sums destined for their repair were diverted to other purposes. The canals are in a better state, but the works far from finished. That of Burgundy, which has already cost 12 millions, will require five more; and that of the Ouraq, undertaken on too expensive a scale, will yet want at least 13 millions. The works for the embellishment of the capital, though of a less useful description, will not be abandoned; the total expense of them is estimated at 53,500,000 francs, and more than 24 millions have already been laid out on them. All these objects fall under the superintendance of the minister of the interior, the arrears of whose department are not yet ascertained, but are computed at from 40 to 50 millions. As to the department of the minister at war, it exhibits, especially for the last three campaigns, a real chaos. On the 1st of May last, the land forces of France amounted to 520,000 men, exclusively of 122,597 retired, or on half-pay, and 160,000 prisoners returning from foreign countries. The war of 1812 and 1813 destroyed, in artillery and ammunition, a capital of 250 millions; and the fortified places in the countries ceded by France had, since 1804, cost her 115 millions. The expenditure of this department would amount, according to the scale of last year, to 740 millions.

The navy has for 14 years been weakened by the very means which have been used to give it the appearance of strength. The government considered our seamen as merely recruits for the land forces-a system which has led to the annihilation of the population

of our coasts, and the complete exhaustion of our arsenals. The remonstrances of the most enlightened men, and of the most experienced mariners, and the evidence of facts, were incapable of checking those foolish enterprises, those violent measures, which belonged to a plan of domination oppressive in all its parts. Thus, in 1804, the projected invasion of England was pompously announced. Ports which had never yet been entered, ex cept by fishing-boats and packets, were immediately converted into vast maritime arsenals; immense works were commenced on a beach which the winds and tides were incessantly covering with sand; forts, batteries, magazines, workshops, were erected; thousands of ships were built and bought up on all the coasts of the ocean, and in the interior of the rivers, without considering how they should go to the place of rendezvous; Paris itself saw a dock-yard formed within its walls; and the most valuable materials were employed in the construction of these vessels, which were not even fit for their destination.

And what now remains of all these armaments? The wrecks of some of the vessels, and accounts, which prove that for the successive creation and destruction of this monstrous and useless flotilla, upwards of 150 millions have been sacrificed since 1803.All our arsenals are completely dilapidated. The immense naval stores collected by Louis XVI. are squandered, and during the last fifteen years France has lost, in ill-judged expeditions, 43 ships of the line, 82 frigates, 76 corvettes, and 62 transports and packets, which could not be replaced at an expence of 200 millions. As the arsenals were neglected, so the ships also were stripped of real seamen, whose places were supplied with conscripts, while they themselves received the organization of regiments of the line, and lost in camps their professional habits and attachments,

In respect to finances it resulted that the improvidence of the late rulers of France has produced during the last 13 years, a deficit of 1,645,469,000 francs (about 66,800,000%.) Public morals have been neglected, the best institutions have been corrupted, every bad passion has been stimulated, and there exists à general selfishness and egotism. Such was

the dark and gloomy picture drawn by the minister of the interior. This report was succeeded by a message to the chamber of deputies on the subject of national schools. During the time of Buonaparte, almost all the schools in France, at least those which were most patronized by government, were entirely confined to a military education: instruction in the duties of civil life, and of society, as well as in religion, was entirely neglected. Perhaps Louis might have benefited the rising generation much more effectually than by the establishment of ecclesiastical schools. Indeed here in England, where the people do every thing of this kind, and the government nothing, we are apt to consider the interference of government as objectionable in many respects; but in France, where the government has long been in the habit of regulating and interfering in cases where the public mind, if it were independent and enlightened, would act for itself, the case is very different; and we ought to consider the endeavour of Louis for the establishment of ecclesiastical schools, with reference to the habits and opinions prevalent in France. In this view, it was undoubtedly well calculated to supply that country with a well regulated priesthood, and repress the growing irreligion. The protestants, also, were not wanting in their endeavours to restore to France the blessings of morality and religion; and as they now can publicly profess and defend their tenets, much good may be expected.

Another ordinance of Louis was much less objectionable, and at the same time equally necessary: this related to the regulation of the prisons in such a manner as might correct the vicious habits of criminals condemned by the sentence of the tribunals, and prepare them, by order, labour, and moral and religious instruction, to return peaceful and useful members of society, when their periods of imprisonment were terminated. For the purpose of effecting this desirable end, all prisoners condemned for crimes, under 20 years of age, were directed to be collected together in one prison, to be called The Prison of Experiment; the director of which was to be charged with the superintendance of its police, and of the labour and instruction deem

ed necessary for the reform of the criminals; an assistant and six inspectors to be placed under him: these different offices to be gratuitous. The minister of the interior to make a report every month of the state of the prison; and besides that, a commission, composed of a counsellor of state and two masters of request, and another composed of three members of the court of session, to visit it twice a year, and to give in the result of their observations on all the details of its management and effects; the director-general to furnish them with all the requisite aid and information; and also, at the end of each year, to give a moral and detailed account of the state of the prison, and an account of the receipts and expenses: this account, after it had been verified and approved by the minister of the interior, to be laid before the king and the public. This wise and salutary plan seems to have originated with one of the most enlightened and benevolent men in France, the duke de la Rochefoucault, who was appointed director-general of The Prison of Experiment.

In this, as well as in most of the other plans and measures of the new government, there is one feature which deserves particular notice; we allude to the express declaration, that the public should be informed of the effects of all these plans and measures: a proof that the new government considered the people of France of much more consequence than they were ever considered before.

Still, however, notwithstanding the peaceable disposition of Louis, there were in France too many restless spirits, and too great a fondness for national glory::-the consequence was, that the hope of regaining, at least, part of what he had been obliged to give up by the peace of Paris, still animated the public mind. This feeling was so strong and powerful, that it overcame the sense of justice and humanity. By the treaty of Paris, the French were to be permitted to carry on the slave trade for a certain number of years: This clause gave great offence, and excited indignation in England; to such a degree, that the Prince Regent gave instructions to lord Castlereagh, his minister at the congress of Vienna, to endeavour to put a stop to this nefarious traffic immedi

ately. The French ascribed this feeling of the English entirely to interested motives; and thought, if they could fix this imputation upon us, they justified their own continuance of the slave trade. They had, however, other arguments which they adduced; the islands which were to be restored to them were not adequately supplied with negroes; and therefore they wished for the continuance of the trade only till that supply could be obtained. They also looked forward to the conquest of St. Domingo, where Christophe had issued the subjoined admirable proclamation:

"Solicitous to adopt every means for recovering our internal prosperity, at all times attentively observing the events that passed in Europe during the bloody struggle supported there, we never for a single instant lost sight of our military system of defence.

"In that attitude we expected that Buonaparte, the enemy of the world, would attack us, either by force of arms, or by perfidyhis accustomed means. We have not forgot that, after the peace of Amiens, his first object was to enter on that famous expedition for our extermination.

"But the God of armies, who raises and overturns thrones according to his will, did not, in his justice, consent that this oppressor of nations should accomplish his horrible design. We hope that his fall will give repose to the world, we hope that the return of those liberal and re-animating sentiments which influence the European powers, will induce them to acknowledge the independence of a people who require only the enjoyment of peace and commerce, the object of all civilized nations.

"It will be in vain to attempt again, by means of force or seduction, to reduce us under a foreign dominion. The absurd

maxim of deceiving men in order to govern them is no longer dangerous to us. Taught by experience, we have acquired the aid of truth, of reason, and of force. We shall no longer be the victims of credulity; we cannot forget that attempts have already been made to take away our liberty. The painful recollection of the horrible punishments which precipitated into the grave our fathers,

our mothers, and children, will never be effaced from our minds.

"We can never again be deceived: we know the perverseness of our enemies: we have before our eyes the projects of those men named Malouet, Barri de Saint Venant, Pages, Bruiley, and other colonists. The political religion of those traffickers in human flesh-of those counsellors of misfortunes-is well known to us :-it is slavery and destruction. We are not ignorant of the criminal plots, the shameful measures of those apostles of criminality and falsehood; they are even more distinguished by their writings than by the tortures they inflicted on us.

"We call upon all the sovereigns of the world, we call upon the brave and loyal British nation, which was the first, in its august senate, to proclaim the abolition of the infamous trade in blacks; and which, making a noble use of the ascendency of victory, notified its resolution to the other states with which it concluded treaties: we call upon all philanthropists, upon all men, and upon the whole world, and ask what people, after 25 years of conflicts, and after having conquered their liberty and their independence, would consent to lay down their arms, for the purpose of again becoming the sport and the victims of their cruel oppressors? The last of the Haytians will yield up his last sigh sooner than renounce his independence.

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We will not do any power the injustice of supposing that it entertains the chimerical project of establishing its sway in Hayti by force of arms. The power that would under take such an enterprise would have to march for a long time over ruins and dead bodies; and after having wasted all its means, if it could attain its object, what advantage would it derive from the loss of so much blood and treasure? It is not presumptuous to suppose that his majesty Louis XVIII. following the impulse of that philanthropic spirit that reigns in his family, after the example of his unfortunate brother Louis XVI. in his political conduct towards the United States of America, will imitate that monarch in acknowledging the independence of Hayti. This would not only be an act of justice, but a reparation of the evils which we have suffered from the French government.

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