The National Register.
London, England, 1817-01-20 00:00:00

The LU.IN to the FRENCH GOeEILyME:N:
—.No— -
THIS transaction► hap excited, nal estmorainary
sensAtions, lath iii France and England_ ne funds
of both countries hare been considerably af:ected by it,
bat in a manner totally opposite ; those df France hav-
ing lit en raised, while those of Eng-lima were depressed.
The degreestowerer to which the termer wereexalted,

much exceeded thollvroportiou b. which the latter have
heen reduced; and the termlttation of the week seems

likely. to re.torti the llritit.h funds, at least to their
furiner level.

it was generally • presumed, that sonic measure of
vital impo:tance to the interests of France had been
recently in the contemplation of our Cabinet. The-
sadden and unexpected arrival of the Duke of Wel-.
lington in this country, the rapidity of his departure,
and the subsequent asietublage of the Russian, •Pros-
sian, and British Staffs in Paris, confirmed this opini,'r..
There was a slight rumour of a loan, and it was also
believed, from the embarrassed condition of the French
finances, that some extensive retrenchment in their
expenditure would be fimnd indispensible. Hence it
wet 'supposed that the numbers of the army of occupa-
tion would be lessened, and this supposition turns out
to hare been well !bonded. The allied army are
to be diminished by 30,000 men, of which number our
contingent finmas six thousand, who are in consequence
returning home. With this measure we arc not in-
clined to dispute. We presume, befere it was adopted,
it was well aseertained that no danger could arise to
the liberties of Europe, from such a concession to the
distresses of France ; and that the fbrVes remaining
nye* her flmatiers, will be sufficient tocheck that wound-
ed and indignant spirit, which still burns within her.
We would sincerely rejoice, if sufficient reasons for the
dislianding of the whole allied army, were found in the
impmved moral state of that unhappy country. If she
b d begun to feel the value of her constitution, to ve-
n ral6 the laws of society, to cherish obedience to her
1 gitimate authorities, and, above all, to recognize and
✓ spect a practical religion, we would repose some con-
fidence in her solemn promises, and feel no necessity to
ensure their fulfilment, by the di..play of our artillery.
We hope, indeed, that some symptoms of such a regene-
ration, have been already perceived, and that in this
instance they operated in no slight degree upon the
councils -of the Allied Sovereigns.
_ _

The rumour of a hem to the French government,
appears also to have been founded in truth. No docu-
ment has indeed. yet transpired to enable us to speak
with certainty of this transaction. But it is well
known, that there was a deficit in the revenue or France
fir the last year, of three hundred millions of francs.
In' other words the expences of that government ex-
ceeded its income to the amount of that sum. The
French Minister had attemped several plans for sup-
plying that deficiency, none of which in the result
appeared practicable. In this situation of affairs a pro-
posal was made for negotiating a loan in England equal
to a large portion of the sum wanted; but the gentle-
men to whom the application was confined in this coun-
try, demanded, in the first instance, the guarantee of
our government. This was wisely refused, and that
negociation was in consequence suspended. In a short
time after, however, it was stated to have re-oeened
upon different grounds. It was proposed that the
forests of Bondi should be vested in Trustees, and
the island of Martinique be left in the hands of this
country as a security fur le millions sterling, the sum
required. It is confidently stated, that this wasagreed
to ; that the entire loan is to be paid up befbre the ex-
piration of two years; that seventy millions of franes,be-
ine about a quarter of the whole amount, are to be
advanced before the month of June next ; that the only
hottses in London connected with this affitir are those of
Messrs. BA reING • and HOPE, who are to contribute three
millions sterling. The houses of Messrs. PA at; n and Co. at
Ilambdres, and a fourth house at Paris are mentioned as
the parties who arc to supply the remaining nine mil-
lions. The negotiation is now said t) ho nearly conclud-
ed, as Mr. BARING left London on Friday fie. Paris, in
oll=l. to effect the ratification of the signatures. Them
it appears that our Government stands altogether dis-
selmected with this important transaction. It belongs
entirely to private individuals, and those individuals
who advance the largest proportion are foreigners. It is
is truth, a commercial speculation, with the benefits,
A! the losses by which those alone are concerned, who
we embarked their capital on the adventure. A cry
has been raised agstinst sending, so much wealth out of
Great Britain in its present state of distress. But to this
it may be replied, that every British subject has aright to
apply his personal property in whatever manner he may
Clint fit. Of this privilege he cannot be debarred by
say proceedings consistent either with freedom or
.jus-
tit.e. In the next place, it is the want of trade ; the
want of an extensive consumption of our manuflictures,
and not tlx want of capital, which has produced our
twat sufferings. If, in these circumstances, Messrs.
and poet: had three millions of capital uneme

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