The National Register.
London, England, 1818-03-30 00:00:00

No. 529.—V0L. XI.

romucAL I)ISQU ISITION.

ON THE AFFAIRS OF FR tNCE.

THE news from France this week has liven more
than usually interesting, and we propose to allude to
t more particularly under this head, as it affords us au
oppot tunity of commenting upon it, and various mat-
ters connected with the internal state of the kingdom
with more freedom than in the usual place. Our at-
tention is especially excited by the Report of the Corn-
Mittee appointed by the Chamber of Deputies to exa-
mine the Finance Law for the current year. After a
particular and close examination of the various items
stated by the Minister of Finance u requisite fur the
public service, the Connuittee recommend reductions to
the amount of :22,t291,000 francs, making the grand
tatal, 974,980,000 of francs,. that is, about 40-millions
sterling. in justice to the Committee, we must say
they appear to have been scrupulous in their examina-
tion, and impartial in their recommendations of re-
trenchment ; but, perhaps, after all, this is only a
scene in the graaddrania, which is intended to move to
pity the tender hearts of the Allied Sovereigns. The
Reporter, M. Roy, concluded his. address us follows

" In the moan time we are justly alarmed at the ronsiticcuble in.
creme of the expenditure. All is changed around us, and we pro.
reed as if nothing were changed. The resignation of the country in
this period of misfortune has been great and admirable; it originated
in their love of their king; but though their attachment is immats-
ble, all their resources are e.thausted, and we announce to you this
fiightful truth, that if the extraordinery charges which press upon
tieti shall not cease in the course of this year, it will be impossible
fa: you to establish the budget of 1819."

41' This," we are informed, " produced a strong sensa-
tion in the Assembly "—no doubt of it—so it was in-
tended, and it was intended not only to produce a sen-
sation there, but in other quarters, where it was hoped
these profie.sions of poverty would avail to release them
from the contributions stipulated by the Treaty of
1815. We have too strong a belief in the ingenuity of
the French 'Nation, not to suspect that more is meant
in all this than meets the ear. They arc equally ex-
pert in getting up State tragedies and State tierces; and
what is still more convenient, they can pass from one
to the other with the utmost celerity and composure.
This transaction is of the latter kind ; or, rather, in-
deed, it is Harlequin playing tragedy for his own bene-
fit. We are quite persuaded that the littistry would
never have volunteered these protestations of poverty
and alarm, witl.eet they had seine secret purpose to
answer—and ;hat purpose was, to induce the Allies to
remit the contributions that arc yet due, and withdraw
their troops from France. It; however, the Allied
Courts are satisfied that the tranquillity of Europe de-
pends in any degree upon tl:e continued residence of
their troops in that country, we trust that they will not
suffer themselves to be iupased upon by any pretences
of this description. We woad ask, did they who now
suffer, ever evince any extraordinary compassion for
tlutse who suared fro:a !Lir tyraany ? Was not the
glory of France erected on tle ruins of other nations?
Were not her armies f‘d wi:11 their abundance ? Was
not that abundance, in many it.stances, converted into
famine and national ruin ?—wity then sheuld we pay
attention to their demands, particularly when they may
reasonably be suspected to be founded on fallacy and
desi.:,en. If the general' welfare squire that the articles
of the Treaty should be strictly adhered to, it is the
duty of the confederate Powers to see that it is done.

In treating of this subject, the question will naturally
be put. " Do you then doubt the pacific disposition
cr the strength of the Ron rlsni gor,:roolcot ?" Not the
formerly, certainly—far it is the clear interest of the
I much nation to remain at pew: ; ‘vo!e they to go to
ar, their destruction would inevitably be the result;
1 ut we canact conceal that the Government is weak—
that it has many opponents, mai those oponcats of the