The National Register.
London, England, 1816-05-27 00:00:00

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POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

COMMOTIONS IN FRANCE.

STiI.T. more inr:ortant considerations than the Alien
Bill, the progress of which has been further delayed,
have arisen to attract our attcattion, and alarm our fears.
The security of the European edifice is once more shaken:
neither are the shocks slight and transient; but threaten-
ing in their violence, and prolonged in their duration.
Whilst earthquakes, in almost every land, give awful
warnings to mankind, the revolutionary volcano heaves
again, and menaces the political world with fresh con-
vulsions. France is at war with herself ; or, to speak
move truly, with her Government. Whatever be the
amuse of this COnteg,—whether the measures of the ose

have been found offensive, or the hostility of the other
irreconcilable, it is not our present purpose to inquire.
Much might, and will be said upon that branch of the
subject, when it comes again under our view. Our task
is now only to look for facts, end to explain them : to
examine their nature; and to calculate their probable

How great must be the surprise of those, who, over- •
looking the annihilation of the liberty of the press in
France, believe the assurances of peace and popular sa-
tisfaction with which the Parisian Journals abounded !
Every assertion to the contrary was regarded as the work
of faction. The French were contented ; the Govern-
ment beloved ; and all France was the seat of tha most
inviting tranquillity. What dispelled this credulity ?
Not the vague reports of travellers, or the exaggerated
statements of private letters. The French papers them-
selves were forced to break their cautious silence, and
suddenly to announce, that, instead of contentment and
peace, the East and the South were in open rebellion.
The assembling of an army of insurgents, the attack of,
we believe, the only fortress in the hands of the French
Government ; and the battle fought under its walls, came
at race, without any preparation, upon the public mind.
It was true, that, for want of cannon, the first effort of
the insurgenta was defeated, but they retired in good
order to the mountains. In vain did the Parisian journals,
as though repenting to have said so much, teem shortly
efter with accounts of the total dispersion of the rebels,
In vain were some suppressed, that dared to mention the
disturbances and risings that had taken place in other
towns and departments. The measures. of alarm, of de-
fence, and of punishment, adopted and announced offici-
ally, revealed, and continue to display, the extent and va-
riety of enterprize tined, and in some parts attempted
with a degree of eagerness which defeated their success.
The arrest of thousands of persons who are not brought
before the tribunals, but are either confined or
secretly executed on suspicion ; the cpuralion of the
national guards, and the march of the epurated divisions
to certain points; the precautions adopted, even in the
metropolis ; where, besides two parks of artillery of CS
pieces of cannon each, cannons are planted in varions
parts, in order to overawe the disaffected: the trebling
of the guards round the Royal Palaces ; all there are
symptoms of peril eminent and extensive. For the mo-
ment it may, and we believe will be, repressed. The con-
spirators, if that name can be given to a large portion
of the people, tbel that they have acted with too great
precipitation. They will therefore shrink back from
action, till their plans are better matured their numbers
better organised, and their means augmented. This
disposititm on their part, joined with the exertions of the
government may produce a general, but, we fear, a de-
ceitfel appearance of tranquillity. The very severities
exercised .eetinst the guilty, will exasperate their friends,
and foster a spirit of revenge, which the execution of
convicted or suspected rebels wil I not damp; for the number
ofthe disaffected appears too great to allow their strength to
be materially impaired by the loss of a few. A future
and not very distant explosion seem therefore preparing, the
effts:t of which may be felt throughout Europe. It may

Our tting, Co

MONDAY, MAY !CT, 1816.

shiver to pieces, or establish for ever, the throne of the
Bourbons. They are warned of their danger ; let them
not slumber in fancied security. But, above all, let them
seek for support in the affections of the people ; let them
keep the solemn promises by which they regained the
crown ; let theca no longer evade their fulfilment ; let
them not withhold from ilte nation her most sacred
rights,—those which even an usurper had left her. They
stand in a situation of deep responsibility to Europe.
Their restoration has been asfistai'l, and effected, because
it was expected they would render France a peaceful and
friendly member of the great fami'y of States. But if
tleir measures be such as to impel the people to rebellion
and to war, let them pause, and consider on whom it is
ikely the crime would first be visited.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT'.
HOUSE OF IA)111)S, MOM DAY, MAY 20.

The Bank Restriction Bill was read a third time and passed.
Earl STANHOPE said, be hail a petition to present from err-
tain tanners andothera in Face*, complaining of various op-
pression. in the collection of Tyttses.—Onc of the *objects
complained of in this, petition was a very serious grievance;
for it stated that the lessees of Tythes would not collect the
tenths of corn, hay, or straw, uphill Ole produce of each kid
were collected in beeps. This was an object that deserved
the attention of Portiament—Ordered to lie on the table.
flu the motion of the Martinis of Lansdowne, the Hill for the
bettor secnrinyt the liberty of the subject was read a second
time. and ordered to be cOmmittell on Wednesday.
The Martinis of LANSDOWNE said, that a Noble Friend of his
(tail Grosvenori had given notice of a motion for Thursday
next, to do away all useless pensions and places; but, Al the
House was not In the habit of sitting en HOlyThursday, he was
anthorised to postpone his Noble Friend's 1410d011 till bloaday
neat.—Adjourned.
TUESDAY, MST 21.
The Reyal Asocnt was given by euminissien to the Rank
Restriction, the Cotton Esport Prohibition, the Wrought
Goods, the Cori Ditty, the War (*tools sad Lathe Duties,
the AtA6linral Tonnage, she Mmehmpter Bills on Mast the *i-
nset lostrinnity, the Two Millions Irish Treasury Bills, the
bosenteen Hundred 'llionsaiid Penults Irish Treasury
the Yeomanry Corps, the Local Militia Ballot. the Innkeepers'
Rates, and the Scotch Etieise ludemnity Bills.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2.
The Habeas C,orpits Amendment Bill avail committed. and
the Coroners' Bill, after u short disenastop, tsar re•eoutmii sled.
On this. Order of the Day fur the second reading of the lii/1
to repeal the Art of Wilituni 111. uhirli inflicts the penalty of
death om the crime of stealing in a shop above the value uf
Lost! Li Lb). ut.4tubtat opposed lt.,ntitt stated the gem' efti C ts,
in the plus itithitt cif crimes, that restified from the salutary
terror.sif earital pouislinuto, eve is where it asps in fact seldom
actually iLnflicted. He moved the second reading of the hill
this day three months, tihith ru carried.—Adjournt till
Friday.
"FP IVAN, MAY 14.
Lord Dalhousie (Earl of Dithituote), i.ord bleldruni (Earl
of Alonyne), and Long Fos.ford (Flirt of Linteric). were Seve-
nth,. int odnecil by Lord of Lttchle‘ett I Earl of Mur-
ton), and Lord Stewart, of Dailies (t.'arl of Oinlov.ity
patents of creation hat hug been riatl
,ut the table, their Lord.
ships took the oaths and their seats,