Star.
London, England, 1802-05-17 00:00:00

FRANCE.

T.F.C;ISLATIVE BODY. 21 Fl °REAL. M
The Counfellors of State, Lac ti E, Baum r, and
DESSOLLES, were introduced. LACUEt prefented
a plan of a law for the recruiting of the army ;
thefubftance of it was as follows :—Sixty thoufand
men are to be raifed from the Confcription of the
ninth and tenth years, for the Pole purpofe of re-
placing thole who are to be difcharged, and for
completing the army on the peace eftablithment.
Sixty thousand more, by a fimilar Confcription for
rererve, in order to carry the army to a war dial
liniment if it thould be necefrary. Thofe recruited
far the referve are to Ray at home, and be exercif-
edin the time of year when they can be belt (pared
from the labours of the country ; they cannot quit
their department, however, without leave from
the Recruiting Captain ; while they are crembled
they (hall receive the regular pay of the at my.—
The difcuffion of the plan was adjourned to the
28th Flom!, May tB.
Lacy ax then (poke in the following manner
:
" Citizens Legifiators—To be able to maintain the
army at its complete peace eftablifhment, and to
carry it artily to the war footing, fhould circum-
tlances reirhire it, (itch is the double objetet that
the Government pmpofes to obtain by the plan of
the law which it now ilibmits to your approbation.
Ought the Government to aim at this double ob-
it& ? Has it obtained it ? Has it employed to ar-
rive at it the means which it ought to ule ? Such
are the qucfions. Citi zenLegilla.ors, which I think
you should now examine. It is not to you, Citizens
Legiflators,
,that it is neceffary to prove that the
Confuls ought to confider it as one of their firft
duties to keep the army coat:lntl y on the complete
peace eflab.ithment. Yon know that this obliga-
tion, impnfed on all the modern governments by
the political fyftem which prevails through Euro
k more peculiarly binding on the French
Go-
vernment, furrounded as it is by powerful and
warlike neighbours, and who keep up conaantly a
numerous war eftablilhment. If the fecond ob-
jed of the care of the Confuls appears les im-
portant ; if then: are perfons who titmice it life-
lefs to form a referee in a nation where all the
citizens arc toldiers, and good foldiers which
contains fo numerous a population, and whofe
peace dtabiilhment prefents to impofing a force,
I mutt anfwer r—Formerly, the army of the line
was as ftrong as it is to-day, and, rotwithftand-
ing, there was always a firoag referve behind it.
All the great powers of Europe have an army
conftantly kept up, and Rill they have auxilia•
rice : the Conftitoent Aftembly (whole opinion
pnuft always have great weight with us) was
not content with a formidable army: it alto
decreed a numerous auxiliary force. And why
Mould we not have our auxiliary force ? A re-
(erre, compofed of men formed to difcipline
and military ezercife, which can, with prompti-
tude and without corifufion, join, if it fhould be-
come necefary, the incomplete regular regiments
which would be ready to receive them. A referve
fuch as this would put us in a fituation, either to
prevent the return of war, or to finifh it with that
happy fpeed, which at the fame time diminilhes
the evils, and increafes the glories of it. It
rs therefore the Government wilbes to pnirefs the
means of keeping eke; iPT PP t FPRIPIO!PciIce