The National Register.
London, England, 1814-08-14 00:00:00

AUG. 14.

he ri ore app;‘retit, when it was considered that 4.sths'of the works on
the subject r.t the public edministration did not exceed '2O sheets. RIO
vnull consequently come under the cognizance of the partial tribunal
whicla it Ives proposed to establish, and which could nit fail to stifle
true and useful ideas, togethr r with such as were false and pernicious.
I' In short, Gentlemen," continued M. Galicia, " the whole sy Stttoof
censorship and restriction established by the plan of the law, both in
regard to larger vemks and the journals, is absolutely contrary to the
principle of a representative Constitution. It tenth to deprive the
nation of the inbrritiarion w hich it has a right to receive on all subjects
of unblic interest, to form its cpinion both respecting that interest and
the pet sons whose duty it is to defend it. Whatever deprives a naticn
of the knowledge of it rights and interests. also deprives the govern-
ment of its real strength ; tor, in a free country, the strength of the
government resi..ics in the pk.Hic opinion, and in that alone; and the
liberty of the press is the it, -.rnmeirt of that opinion."
110. Chamber ordered the speech of M. Gallois to be printed.
M. Gner.Art D Supported th' seutiments of the minority of the Corn-
Mint' e. !ASA us adjourn, said he, that liberty of the press which may
inger the happiness of our country. lie proposed, therefore, that
in the event of a previous censorship being voted by the Chamber, it
should also decide :

Ist. That this'cen,orship shall only include writings of twenty sheets
of print. Qd Thar the Jury charged to examine these wilting, 01011
be pe►menenr, in order that if useful truths he found in these
.writings,
they ►uay be pubished. Sd. That the law shall only be in force till the
next session of the legi,lature, and ►hat ntthut period the same qucs
lion be• again brought fur discussion.

M. Demot.Arto.—Gentlemen, the principle of the liberty of the
press cannot be doubtful to men of good faith. In our modern states,
at the point of civilization which we have reached, the liberty of the
press is the necessary regis of civil and political liberty. To deprive
us of tin' one is to destroy the other. The national wish and the con-
stitutional charter have formed of this principle a fundamental maxim,
ssluch it will be vain to attempt to destroy by an interpretation con-
trars to the truth.

Far is it from my wish to protect licentiousness under the semblance
of liberty; liberty itself is interested in repressing its own abuses.
The system of the plan ordains, generally' speaking, a previous cen-
soiship cm the publication of all kinds of writings. The Ist article
appears to exempt therefrom, works of more than thirty printed sheets;
but tl:e 14th and I,sth articles destroy the effect of this exemption. It
is there said, that no writing can be publishf d before having been de-
clared or deposited, and that the work will he seized, if information is
given against it to the Tributeils. Observe this expression ; it is not
merely an examination, a decision of the tribunal,—it is sufficient,
that it be informed aeainst by the lowest agent of the polices in order
to its publication being delayed for an indefinite time, which it is so
easy to prolong. As well might the law have declared—nothing shall
be published, nothing said in France, but by order. Soon no book
would appear but under the good pleasure of the Ministers—(a laugh.)
We have heard touch of a jury which, pronoureing in the last resort.
Mill remedy the wrongs of the censorship. Reflect u little on tie mass
of writings which will anroially be in waiting for the scissors of the
Censor : view. the Director-General of liookselling sinking under the
mass of writings, the delay of whose publication he shall have an-
j.ined : lastly, there must be three Peers and three Deputies, to read
minutely all these writings, and to decide on the opinion of each
Censor. And where shall he the responsibility of the Director ? Ile
will be only n gigantic fantom ; the Ministers will hug themselves with
impunity on the success of their despotic measures.
The Minister, on presenting the plan of the law, said .that the
character of the French nation was not suited to more liberty : that
we had received from natio e a mobiltv of inn,ination, which must
absolutely be restrained ! Has not some one dared also to calum-
niate our military glory in a pamphlet, whieli was profusely distri•
Lured to yon on the very day when the plan was submitted to yon'
ere there told that that military glory was fouvdcfr only on
lard elfishness. Ah ! the justifieation of our wart i,irs will be
ft,nod iu our history and in our hearts !
Al Fraere is equally tired of servitude .and of licentiousness.
French honour remains untouched ; the Kings of Enrope acknow-
ledge it ; t;:ey vanquished Buotiaparte, but did not pretend to
triumph over the French.
I repeat it, without the Liberty of the Press there can be no civil
liberty. Frenchmen! will you nertnit the statue of liberty to be
covert d with funeral crape ! The King who governs us has promised
the Liberty of the Press, ac one of the blessiegs of hisseign :, it 1s
upon it th tt r:se foundation of the monarchy must be seated.
T'te priiiti:!t; of this discourse was demanded. put to the vote, and
rejected by a small make ity. The astsrmbly then roses and the dis-
cos,ion was orth red to be Collolllled on Monday,

•. . ;

M 5

Note.—The auditors -were very numerous, brilliant, and. attentive.
At one of tllv most vehement passages of M. Dumol.,rd's speech, it
Was apprehended that applauses were about to Intr,t forth from all
parts; bat a proper restraint was observed by the public:

MADRID, JULY €27.—We are assured that the Ecelish Ambassador
has by 110 means read with indifference the preamble of the decree re.
e.taldishinv the Inquisition. The matiner of de,ivating the scats
p.tsed to the I •atholic faith is not very gracious.; and the rather, ustha
S:,aoish people take these things literally. We ought tint 'forget
that the English aided us in reconquering our :independence : besides,
our c,innterce and the state of our cohitnes imposing ii upmi us :is slaw
to keep on terms with England, it is iinpolitr., to f.m,•nt the weds of
hatred and division on • account of religious opinions polessed out of
the Peninsula. • •

It is said !bat the Minister 165 testified his astoni+hmet►t at
this conduct; hut the matter won't go 'farther : our Ministry will sa-
tisfy-him that the preamble of the decree n .a matter of forst, and does
not deserve serious attention.

The expedition deAitied to subdue the insurgent colonies is not yet
ready to sail.

Saragossa has been the theatre of some disa,;:reeahle events:• gever,ll
Frcticlnnen who remained in, that . city have been °bilged to quit it.
'Some ail them arcs arrived at Olernii.

The Duke of Infuntadu still remains President of the Council of
Castile.

TUESDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE.

WAR•OFFICE, AUGUST 9, 13 t 4.
His Royal Highness the Prince Rflent has been pleased-in the
name and OH behalf of his Majesty, to appoint Ljent.-Gen. his Royal
Highness William Frederick Henry Hereditary
.Pi ince of Orange to
be General in the Army, Cummiyaiion dated July 25, 181.1.