The Sun.
London, England, 1802-03-15 00:00:00

FROM THE FRENCH PAPERS.

Fox the last hundred and fifty years, Fiance has
attracted the general attention of .Europe, by her
successes and reverses,
,the power of her Govern-
ment, and the glory of her Great Men. At one
time she commanded admiration
,by her exploits,
at another, by her reverses excited the couragvof
her enemies to such a degree as nor to be ..repressed
by her :subsevent viaories,Her language and
'Customs served as a model to other nations, even
while 'they, made war on her. The Revolution,
which destroyed so many of her political connce-
tions,.was, not,however able to efface the impressions
which ensured to France the first rank in. Europe.
Persuaded, that it' is better to live in peace with her
neighbours than to cotiquer•them ; and that confis-
Aence, founded on the principles of justice mid mo-
.deration, is :more powerful than ,fear ; France, -at
this moment, rejoices to see herself considered
abroad, as she was before the Revolution, with this
difference, that at that epoch a disastrous War, and
disadvantageous Treaties, had lessened, her reputa-
tion. The chains which, in .some States, confined
our Citizens, are now broken ; that- aversion which
kept, back our Vessels and Merchants from foreign
soils, no longer exists ; and- from America. to the
Levant, and soon also to the Tndies, every people
will again see and hold Cornmeme with the French,
and become accustomed to treat- them as*they would
the most favoured Nations. These happy changes
-were most difficult to be biought about. It was to be
feared that the Sublime For: confirmed in-its hatred
against us by the success 'of its Allies; would not
listen to'prOpositions of Peace.; and yet it is, at the
'moment when France abandoning Egypt, .and the
Mediterranean deaos to be any longer useful to her,
'that it forgetp -all former wrongs, -recalls only an-
cient friendships, and gives external pledges of its
desire to promote a lasting Friendship and Union.
It is about two years since England replied to the
offers of the French Government, by those famous
Notes which caused such a, sensation in Eur Ope, and
Which seemed io be enfofced. by the 'recent sue-
, cesses-o:f her 'Allies. The reverses of these Allies
still did not inspire England with pacific sentiments,
as she was able, of herself, to prolong the contest.
At present England not only consents to negotiate,
but gives us such marks of confidence—as have sel.:
dom been parallelled in the fast century, by en-
abling us to enjoy the anticipated blessings of
Peace.

Naples shews hospitality \to our Seamen, and
Portugal to our Ambassador; Russia sends an Am-
bassatiot to us, and Austria shews her desire for
'Peace, by pushing forward the Secularizations,
which are to be its pledge.
These happy changes are not all. to be deduced
from our successes., Our return to those liberal
ideas which are common to all nations, the desire
which we. have shewn of being also governed by
Laws and Institutions essential to- the-repose of the
State, the cessation of Revolutionary measures, and
the eagerness of GovernMent to complete Organiza-
tion : 'these are the circumstances which have pro-
cured us Peace,and the Confidence of Foreign Na-
tions. Her Victories give eclat to the present re-
established state of France, but Vidories alone are
not enough to establish national glory.

There was a Power much more 'difficult tb be
dealt with than all the rest ; a Power whose re-
sources even increased with her adversity, and who
alwayi appeared; 'to dietate when she negotiated.
Such was the Spiritual Power. It was easier to.
take -the Capitol, and 'put :he Romans under-the
yoke,-than to render triendly *to Franee-that-Ponti-
fical Power which had so many causes of complaint-
against her. Certainly, the universal resped paid
ru the. Ptipe is to be -wondered at, even in the pre.
sent age. Ir is truly remarkable to see the English,
Germans, French, Turks, and Russians, -all con-
curring to rd-establish' the Pontificate. It is not
the least of the honours of the French Government,
that amidst this universal ieipeet paid ttithe Pon_
tiff, it has obtained the -confidence of-this Supreme
Head of the most perfe& Morality ever known to
mankind. It was proper that-a people which found
'the returning necessity of such a Morality, should
draw near to him who could -so -efficaciously con-
tribute to re-establish it. It was necessary -to
convince the French of this diVosition, and the
glory of succeeding in it did not belong to a virtu.
ous Citizen, but to an able Negotiator.

vine.dresSer, of the name of NOISEL, in the
village of Auhay, near SceaUX, in France, as he
was lately planting some vines on the side of a
sandy hill nem- that place, discovered, a little below
the surface of the ground, several coffins in plaster,
two of which were almost entire ; and at each end
were the remains of fire-pans, in which There was
found a quantity of charcoal. The two heads were
entire, and the bones very large; without how_
ever, exceeding those of men of an ordinary stature.
Coffins of the same description were
.discovered a
few years ago, near Bagneux, on the road to Paris.
It belongs to Antiquarians to ascertain the age and
nation in which .such coffins were used, and of the•
intention of the fire-pans placed under the head and.
feet of the body. •
A most singular robbery has occurred in the Can-
ton do Vaud,. in Switzerland. 'The voluminous
archives of the Castle of Sarray have been carried
off without any one knowing by what means. It,
is supposed to have been done with a view to de-
stroy the title deeds of the Barony, by those against
whom there are claims. on account of tenths and
other Baronial dues. Domiciliary visits have been
made throughout the distritl, and every means
•
adopted to discover the offenders.
Monday last, as a poor country fellow, who
had been. receiving 151. at a Banker's; was gaping
with great anxiety for the giants at St. Dunstan's
Church striking twelve, he was accosted by one.of
the swindling diamond merchants, who inveigled
him to a public--house in the neighbourhood of
Chancery-lane, where he had the honour of being
introduced to two more gentlemen in the same line.
The consequence was, the Countryman parted with
his 151. and they very generously put him in pos-
session,of a diamond ring, valued at 1501.