The Columbian informer, or, Cheshire journal — Keene, N.H., 1794-08-26 00:00:00, page 1

No longer referable' /emus attended
by the Graces, (her rtxe , '%" Miner
va followed by the- ate \ ° u m °" ?"'
dor•' ° # iz-.-?-" '> l ^ : viy necrifary to
r , ~. # ' , or to describe the
^^. 3 ^e^ taken place; in
dr^ d^ly: s'ut, in common part
znce, would ue amounted extravagant hy
perbole, that one can express the fixation
of that extraordinary people.
Wherever you move, or to whatever
quarter year attention is turned, nothing
meets the view but warlike preparation,
every cor federation is facrificed to public
exigence, every contribution of property
and service, which the public necefficy re
quires, appears to be cheerfully made, and
io a few inffances, where reluctance may
Cxift, terror (applies th r ibfence of patiiot
ifm, and operates its fc^ effect.
Age and infancy arc employed in ex,
trading from the earth (and, by a late re
fincment in chemiftry,from vegetables) the
thunders, which youth and manhood are to
dired, while the cares of domestic life arc
altogether devolved on the female part of
Society. Fifteen armies forming a force,
which I do rot think exaggerated, 1,200,
ooe men, are now in the a^ual service of
the Republic—and it has been surmised
that a part of the second requisition would
be made before the opening of the cam
paign. Should this additional effort be
deemed necessary, the coalesced nations of
Europe must unquestionably yield to the
momentum of an individual power. Ex
ceeding in numbers and array all that the
tprld has hitherto exhibited.
.Perplexed by the variety of interesting
objects, which attrad my attention, I am
really atalofs where to begin in giving you
details cfthefe formidable preparations.
The firft requisition has been carried in
to complete effed, that is to fay, all the
unmarried men of that extensive nation
from the age of eighteen to twenty-five,
whatever their Situation or fortune, (for
neither money nor substitutes would exempt
them from service) havejoined the Several
armies of the Republic, which they have!
augmented with a force of 600 oco.—
These levies have been incorporated with
the ancientcorps, and have been under a
fri& difeipiine for several months.
The cavalry has been so considerably
encreafed as to require that the swords ex-1
— ceeding thirty inches in blade Should be ra
pken from the infantry for their use. The
augmentation is upwards cf 50,000 and th#
remounted exceeds 30,000 The whole force
in cavalry being at least too,ooo. So
that in this arm, which dating, the haft
Jfttje&Uavy.
.OF FRANCE,
Letter from a gentleman in Lenden to bis
fiend in Philadelphia, dated zdth A
pril, 1794.
SIR,
nrHE flattering reception which you
• a were so good as to give to my Utt
letters, concurs with the occasion, which a
late visit to France has finnilhed to obtain
fops interfiling intelligence refpedingthat
country, to give me a r other opportunity of
renewing to you the affarances of my mott
refpcftful effeem.
France at this moment exhibits such
scenes as the pencil of Salvator-Rofa would
hare been well employed to.dolineate § a
boundieg in light and ihade, which is at
once splendid and awful.
To Me toe language of a more modern
2rti(l,°3nd orie fonder cf guilding than
Salvator, France is in truth," an armed
nation, 7 ' her exertions and firmnefs seem
well proportioned to the refinance, which
her fituition requires, and far exceed the
expectation which our limited acquaintance
with the power and resources of such a na
tion, refolv cd to be free, could have exci
ted.
[No. 22, cf Vol. IL]• TUESDMr, August 26, 1794.
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THE
° 1 ' 4,
Columbian Informer;
Or, CHESHI REJOURNA L.
PRINTED Ax□ PUBLISHED by HENRr BLAKE, & CO. i^KEENE, N^v-Hampsh i re.
The value of the patatoe is known, and
Sufficiently appreciated to remove every
apprehension of want. Indeed so promi
sing is the grain now in the ground, that I
am Satisfied, from my information cf the
prefect Slate of their granaries, the quanti
ty on hand, the enfuirg crop, and the pro
bable importations,will furnifh an advance
of prevision for at least two years.
You may be assured that the idea of
Starving France is as unfounded as it is un
worthy. The variety of foil and climate
in this extensive country reduces the chance
of a general failure in their crops to a very
remote possibility, and the invigorating e
nergies of property and freedom have more
than balanced the deductions from their
agriculture, occasioned by the call of their
pcafantry to the frontiers. Indeed a very
considerable proportion cf their firming
was always done by the women of France,
who Still continue to cultivate the ground.
Take a Single illustration of my suppo
sition that their granaries are well Stocked,
the price of bread in Paris, at this moment
is not half as much as it is in London—
true the bread is browner but it is no less
nutritious.
And yet, amidst all this din and prepa
ration of arms, the country is more care
fully and extensively cultivated than in a
ny former period—you will ask by whom ?
By old men, by women, and the youth 'of
both sexes, under the age of eighteen.—
This I can assure you, from personal obser
vation, wherever I have travelled not a tin
gle spot i, reglcded. The 'very avenues
& approaches to the Chateaux are plough
ed,even walks in the gardens of (he TuiL*
Series are sown and planted,and no country
preleotsa more promising appearance" in
agriculture than France aces, at this mo
ment.
It has become a public care with the fc
v-rzl municipalities to plantthofe grounds,
which were formerly appropriated to plea
surable purposes, with usual vegetables,
and to this end, regular institutions are
established.
compaign, was the weakest part of their
competition, I am persuaded the French
will be superior to the combined forces.
The artillery, so formidable in the lafl
campaign has received an addition nf two
thousand pieces fur field forvice, and judg
ing from its former effea, raull I think
be absolutely irrcfiflable.
The sick whlh is to nourish this im
mense volcano, is, as I have already inti
mated to you, prepared by those hands,
which are otherwise unable to serve their
country—and, under the direction of per
sons, well skilled in the process, faltpetre
is produced in ailoniffiing quantity. I
bad daily opportunity of observing its pro
daft in the fevcral fedions of Paris, and
the operation is the fame throughout the
republic.
The public foundaries and manufafto
r'tes of small arms,aided by the mechanics,
who work in metals, and who, for this
purpefe are all in requisition are conilant;
ly employed, and furnifh imraenfely.
Exterfive manufactures of ufeful fabrics
continue to flourish, and even the molt re
fined articles of luxury arc not neglected.
Os the former, I have attentively observed
the cloth manufactory at Abbeville,which
is in full vigor ; And of the latter, I have
visited the Gobelius, where the most ex
qaifite productions of the needle and the
Shuttle itiH continue to charm and astonish.
This last is continued as a public establish
ment.
Even the palaces and the pleasure
groundsoffhe cidevant royalty are refpeded
as national property, and as such are care
fully prcferved. The greater part of the
furniture has been removed from Versail
les, some of the paintings remain. Those
by the best matters have been sent to the
gallery of the Louvre, which is now the
national museum, and far exceeds any
other collection of the fine arts in Europe.
•. 154,000
rfn addition f this immense force, no
less formidable by the decided superiority
oftheir artillery the improved state of
their discipline, arms and economical ar
rangements of Supplies, than by their num
bers ; the army of the Moselle, may, by a
rapid mevement to"its left,'be brought in
rtfeH er-oxfatiun, andai very Short no
tice, with the army cf the North : for ex
perience has demonstrated, that, they are
capable of forming these Sudden junctions
by trar,fporting their troops in carriages.
That they are disposed to effetl whatever
a profufe application of money can accom
plish, mull be admitted ; and that the
means are in their power, cannot be deni
ed.
Their treasury is, by this time, far the
richest in Europe, perhaps more abundant
than all the rest in Europe ; and, immo
derate as their expenditure appears, the
Sources, of their supplies seem but to in-,
crease with the dreams that flow from
them.
Including the detachments on the fide
rtf Dunki:k, and the garrisons, which
without hazarding their colts may be cab
led into field Service, I do not suppose this
army amounts to less than 154,000 men—
Composed nearly in the following manner,
Brigaded Infantry 70.000
Light Corps ZO,OOO
Cavalry • 44,000
Brigaded Artillery ° 15,000
Artillery attached to Corps 5,000
The operations of the army of the
North appear to engage the greatest de
grec of attention, and from its compe
tition as well as its filiation it seems def
tined to the molt arduous and important
ferviccs.'
The taxes are collected, with the dona
tions, church property, and money recei
ved for emigrant's estates, form altogether
an inordinate mass.
In remarking on the agriculture and
manufaaures 1 have digressed from the
fubjed cf the public force, to which I re
turn.
On this fubjed, also, it is fair to remark,
that the perlons who dire& their fifeal ar
rangements have been longenough in office
to give to them all the advantages which
result from method and eftablilhed order ;
of this a very Strong proof was given some
days ego by Cambon, in his report on the
date of their finances. He therein asserts,
(which, without foundation he dared not
to do) that a diminution ofa hundred and
seventy millions of livers per month had
been effected in their expenditure ; leav
ing the actual disbursement about fifty
fturmillions Sterling, per annum.
Enormous as this sum may appear, e
ven after the deduction, it is not immoder
ate compared with their resources ; for,
ho&ever„extraordinary it is true that inclu
ding the estates of the crown, the clergy
and the emigrants, one third part of the
s hole property of France is in confiscation ;
foch haviig been the tendency of the an
cient regime to absorb and concentrate
the national wealth in the hands of the
few.
It is under the direction of a.cemmittee
appointed to proted the arts and is main
:amed in the very best style.
sh, late Queen's favorite residence cf
S'. C'oud remains as when the occupied
it. The paintings will be fenc to the Mu
feum, and the furniture will be fold.
This fact is well underflood by the men
of property who have remained ia France ;
and the reflections, which arise out of it,
have fully decided them to go with the re
volution, and to support it at all hazards.
They erenow aware of the worst that
can happen to them under the republic,
and they know full well, that the confisca
ted property, is more than competent to
the expences, which have been; or may be
incurred to maintain the war ; whereas a
counter-revolution would not only place
The direction cf their military meafurca
is said to be confided to a committee of
officers of high profefiTMial talents h and
distinguished service, Two of them, I
understand, will go to* the army of the
North ; the others will retain at Paris.
Betides this Board of Officers, there are
Commiffiouert from the Convention with
each of the armies, who superintend the
economy of the Staff arrangements, and
watch over their supplies.
A controuling authority, that may be
termed almeft unlimited, is veiled in the
Comite de Saint Public, which is compos
ed of the following members classed ac
cordingly to the influence which, I think,
they rtfpedively possess:
Roberfpierre, Billaud de Varrennei,
St. Just, Barrere, Jean Bon St. Andre,
Collot d'Herbois,Couthon, Cambon, Car
not, Lindet, and Prieur.
Roberfpierre is certainly the apex of
this Pyramid • Barrere, in point of talents,
may ba considered as its ablest Support ;
Lindet, whose application is diftihguifhed
where all are unremiting, is a member to
whose charge the departments of commerce
and Supplies are devolved ; St. Just is ve
ry eloquent and impressive with the Con
vention ; Jean Bon St. Andre has been
fele&ed for his energy to regenerate their
marine, and is now at Brest. It is said
that Billrud de Varrennes and Carrot are
to go to the army of the North ; Colloc
d'Herbcis and Couthon are very influen
tial with thepopular Societies ; Prieur isiefs
distinguished than any of his Colleagues.
The removal cf Danton, La Croix, ard
the other Deputies, who were executed
with them, and the extinction of Herbert's
party, will give a Stability to the power rs
this all influential Body, which nothing i^ill
be able to Shake, and will enable them to
call forth the remaining resources cf this
inexhaoPablc people, and to direct the
application of them, if possible, more effi
ciently than they have yet done.
Since the recovery of Toulon the ma
rine has obtained great attention, and will,
it is said, in a Short time, be very respec
table—regulations for the government of
a navy, calculated to invigorate the discip
line,have been lately enacted by Conven
tion, and are now in force. Every Sea
faring person, including the £(herman,are
in requisition for public service.
Viewed in the light I have here placed
ft, the picture of France is pleating and
splendid—but there are Shades which ab
ftraCl from its beauty, and which a regard
to truth makes necessary to confefs and ex
pose—They proceed less from native defect
than from accident, and may therefore,
with greater ease, be foftencd> perhaps be
entirely removed.
This deduSitn may on a fi.ft view leem
to be somewhat dogmatic, but, compared
with fads,and analyfed by the test of expe
rience, it will, I think, be found as true,
as it may seem positive.
I would now hate the ftrergth and com
petition of the ether armies cf the Repub
lic ; but, as their operation arc not likely
to be equally interefling or decisive with
that of the north,! have been at lef spains to
obtain particular information rcipeding
them.
That which so intended to a& against
Spain,will,! think, be the next efficient to
force, and imp-effive in its operations.
the expends of the war to their charge,
but proftraie the remainder cf their pro
perty to the indemnity of those who have
emigrated.
The influential considerations cf pro
perty, by which the mere wealthy part of
the people now in France are actuated,
aided by the enthufimfm of f me, the fears
of others, and the refinements of all a
gainst their external enemies, have not
only subdued all fpnit of revolt and con
demned the public opinion in favor of the
revolution, but appear tn me to have de
cided the nation literally to adhere to
their declaration " To live free or &ie '."
[Whole No. 74.]
^^i^^rauxm &^% ^g^