The National Register.
London, England, 1817-05-26 00:00:00

FRANCE.

P..Fts Papers of the 20th inst. furnish ns with the
propositions of the States presented to the Kingdom the
Bth inst. and his Majesty's Answer to them.
Among the objects in discussion, the principal are &claret to he
the responsibility of Public Functionaries, the Constitution and per-
manence of the National Representation, the freedom and security
of its Reproteatatises in the exuerritat of their duties, and lastly, the
arrangement of the Finances. In his reply to the Address of the
Stasis. respecting their propo,itions fur the adjustment of difficulties,
the King adopts the declaration that all which refers to the establish-
ment of the r cure Constitution of the Kingdom, shall be tits:hied in
the midst nf die Assembly by A majority of votes, and shall generally
11::ve the efreer of law. I is Majesty next concurs in the necessity of
proceeding to settle the points affecting the. permanence of the Repro.
sent:chin. and the finances. Ile then mutilates the principles which
have influenced tit, conduct in regard to the formation of Cormnittees,
and the regulatit,, of the public purse. " These principles" says the
King, " are r.etph and, will decidedly show they have nut been die-
tiled by a de 're to augment the power of the Sovereign. but fr...n the
purest zeal for the well arenmf the Slate, which never can be considered
as se surest tot t'w people are free ceder the dominion of laws result-
ing from the dolmeratious of their representatives in concert with
their Favemign—laws recognized by the fonver, and sanctioned by
I the:latter; frit, nevertheless, to be enfurced by the Sovereign with a
Newer that notlaas ."

MAY t 6

These Papers also inform us, that the Count de Sar-
ban is gone to take the command of the department of
the Lower Pyrennees.—From Sweden we are now as-
sured that the person upon whose credit the statement
of the late pretended plot in that country rested, could
not adduce a single proof in support of his charges,
which arc consequently declared to be unfinmtled, and
the accuser is himself about to be brought to trial tier
his offence. In the Parisian Theatrical Notices, it is
stated that the young Spanish Prince attended the
Theatre Francaise, where, notwithstanding every pre-
caution to keep his presence a secret, he was soon re-
cognized by the audience—adding, " a Bourbon is soon
discovered by Frenchmen !"
The Sun says—" We understand that there wits
more ' meant than met thecae in the Count De Blacas's
hasty journey from Rome to Paris. The fact, we learn,
was that a Gen. 1) having discovered the existence
of a deep-laid plot against the Bourbons, wrote to the
Minister of the Police at Paris, and not receiving an
answer, he thought the circumstance of this silence
gave more interest to the subject, and he therefore
deemed it his ditty to write to the Count De Illacas,
then at Rouse, the whole particulars of his discovery.
The Count proceeded in consequence to trace the matter
through several towns in Italy ; and considering the
whole affair as well-founded, conceived that it was his
duty to hasten with the intelligence to his Royal Mas-
ter at Paris. The sudden journey of the Count to Paris
•. has beets ascribed to other causes ; but we are assured
that the fact really is as above stated."
Private letter from Paris says—" The whole con-
versation in this capital turns on the intended conspi-
racy which they say was on the point of breaking out
in one of the regiments of the Royal Guard. The facts
are these. Three privates (fourriers) a serjeont and a
corporal, of the second regiment of infhntry, of the
Royal Guard, at garrison at Versailles, having all served
in the old army, had formkal the project of deserting to
a foreign country, not so much from any hatred of Go-
vernment as firom weariness of being no longer employ-
ed in war. One of them was accidentally arrested at
Paris in consequence of a quarrel, in the course of which
he openly resisted an officer. The four others were sub-
sequently arrested after several symptoms of criminality.
It appears to be the result of the interrogatories put to
two of the accused, that they had entertained the inten-
tion, before deserting, of firing on the Princes when
they came to review their regiment. No review, how-
ever of that kind was appointed for any near and deli-
nite period. Ail tl•c.se projects however, or rather these
intentions were still very undecided, and from the best
judgment that can be formed on the subject, cannot be
eousidered as the intentions of the corps."
From the French Ft wilier:, May 7.—Within these
few weeks the importation of German newspapers and
periodical works into France is again permitted. This
liberal measure does honour to the French Government,
which, to the joy of all well-disposed persons, becomes
more and more consolidated, and in the just sense of
its own strength will no longer fetter the intellectual
intercourse between France and fits-vigil countries.

GERMANY.
A llamburgh mail contains the following extraordi.
nary article : _ _

"!MALE SOCIETY.

" The following Circul:lrLettcitntlieilergy in Hungary was is-
sued on tite4sd of December last:

• Considering that the London Bible Association hes caused
the eats:dish/nerd of several affiliated Societies, particularly in tier-
marry, and that several such Associations in the Imperial hereditary
Dominions, particularly among the Protestants, have inure intimate
connexion in view. his Majesty has been graciously pleased to ordain
that care he taken that printed Copies of the Bible be not circulated
gratis, or at a :ow price, by such Porcii,m Associations and Societies
in his Majesty's Hereditary Dominions, nor the establishment of a
Bible Association be allowed. For the rest, his Sacred Majesty is
graciously pleased to allow that the trade with Bibles, as with all
other books by Booksellers, should continue according to the Ordi-
nances published on this subject.
• The Royal (;overninent hereby publishes this his Majesty's re-
solution, that the most punctual care may be taken to observe it in
every point.

Given at Buda, this 23d of December, in the Assembly of the
• the Members of the Royal Hungarian Government.' "
Thus has the Pope's Bull against the general circulc..
tion of the Bibles already taken effect in one of the
largest of the European States unfortunately subject
to his influence. Whut now becomes of the assertion.
that this Buil was not issued by the Pope, or, at least,
not with the formalities required to give it effect ? In
future, we shall probably hear no more of this pre.
tence, or, if we do, it must be uttered with all the
the privileges of mental p eserratian, nod with the full
licence of the papal priesthood in their addresses to
heretics. For ourselves, we know not whether the
temporary evils of this privation, to which the Em-
peror of Austria, in obedience to the Pope, has sen-
tenced his subjects, should be lamented or rejoiced at.
There seems to be something of a providential indiscre-
tion in this conduct of the Pope ; and, wishing, as
we do, that Austrians may look into the motives of
their spiritual Governor, what greater exposure could
we have recommended than this BIM, which defends
the authority of a Pope by forbidding them to read the
word of God ?

WirrEsniEtto.—The Sovereign of this State has
carried his point, which, on the face of the measure.
app,,ars to be equitable and liberaL The inhabitants of
a small State, which receives a considerable accession
a territory, may call the clillubion of rights a loss of

MAY 26.

privileges ; such arguments are used in England every
day ; but it cannot be virtue in a Sovereign to think
in the same wuy. Hume ha.: justly observed, that
communities are inure ungenerous to accessions anal de-
pendencies, than Sovereigns, who understand their own
interest; and according to appearances, the conduct of
the Deputies of old Wurtemherg is a proof of it. They
would not have the majority govern because they no
longer form the majority. This is naturil enough ;
but if the fact is simply so ; it vindicates the King.