Star.
London, England, 1805-02-01 00:00:00

HOLLAND.

Main, JAW. 24.—Leticia from Rambo*, of
the 18th inli trt, ft.tte that Eogland and France are
reported to have accepted the mediation of Pruflia :
but that the Negf.ciation wuuld probably be very
protraded.

J.N. 27.—Private letters feom Mentz, of the 19th
intl. (late, that there was notch talk of the breaking
up the Camp of Boulogne,
They write from Coatlar.tinople, under date of
December 4, that the troops affembled at Sebaltopol,
which were fuppofed tl be deflined for Corfu, have
unexpeaedly received orders to defer their depar-
ture, for an unlimited time. In the preceding month
two Ruffian (hips, with troops from Sebaftopol, had
failed for Mingrelia.
In the Secret A ftembly of the Batavian Legit(!alive
Body, held on the 2111 intl. in conferptence of the
extraordinary Petition fent t,, from the State Direc-
tory, and the propofal made by the fame, for con-
fenting, in order to cover the deficiency in the Re-
venue, to a third inflalment of the extraordinary con-
tribution on property and income for the year 1804,
Citizen VA,4 Fiesseer delivered the following opi-
nion :—" From the Report of the Committee it ap-
pears, that this Alterably, having found the nullity
of their refillance, mull confekt to the ulterior pro-
pofals of the State Direaory, requiring, (without
adverting to the remen(lrstnce they have returned)
our content to the railing of one per cent. on the na-
tional property, by granting, provifionally, for the
term of three months—upon account of the probable
deficiency in the 16,570,000 florins granted for fun-
dry items ; and alto, on account of the fame defi-
ciency, our content to a third inflalment of the ex-
traordinary contribution for the year 1804 ; and, in
order to compel us thereto, I hear reafons alledged,
which appear to be fuggelted by the molt extreme
neceffity—a flagnation in every department of Go-
vernment and of Adminiftration, an InfurreCtion of
the Army and Navy, a general bankruptcy, and,
moreover, the difpleafure of our high ally.
" I do not doubt for a moment, but the commit.
tee or this Alterably for Financial Affairs, is con-
vinced, after many deliberations and conferences, of
the urgent neceflity, and of the danger of our dread•
ful perplexity. Ido not even doubt for a moment,
but a complete anarchy, introduced conaitutionally
in Iftot, places the State now at the point of entire
annihilation t and I am very certain, that without the
difinterefted zeal and cooperation of individuals (true
lovers of our country), all exet [ions to fare it would
have been fruitlefs long lIIICC.
" Thus, in otder to defer that ruin, fo long pre-
vented, alas ! for three months longer, are we under
the deplorable necetlity of declaring to the Batavian
people, that the (talc is loft, unlefs they give u;:.,
provifionally, for three months, one per cent. of the
value of their property ; that, all maturely con
fidered and pondered, there remains nothing elfe,
no other means than to repeat this expedient over
and over again ; and while we give them to under-
(land pretty plainly, that all this is to be afcribed to
our conneflion with France, through which we are
involved in fo long and ft expenlive a war, by which
we are obliged to fulfil the molt extravagant engage.
ments.

" Senfibly affefied by the ciifmal Rate of our coun-
try, and the fate of a nation, which appears to have
freely made, (hut, alas ! in vain) fuch unprecedented
facrifices for the acquirement and prefervation of its
Liberty and Independence, for no other purport,
than to prrchafe, -at the expence of fuch treafures,
its entire &Nation and erafure from the Mt of
Powers ; I find myfelf obliged, before I give my
vote, in a cafe where another great facrifice is again
demanded from that nation, to afk, whether the
grounds for it do aftually exift ? Whether we can in
confcience declare, that it is impoaible for us to rave
the country by other means? and hill further, whe-
ther we, as honell men, can afcribe this folely to the
confequences of our cot:melon with France ?
" The State Direflory, however, to perfuade us to
grant, for a period of three months, a confiderable ex-
tenfion of the exigencies of the (tate for the prefent
year, and to be enabled to decree provifionally a
third initalment of the extraordinary contribution for
1304., to provide for the deficiency, fay, in their let-
ter of the 7th inflant, which is infulting to this Ail
fembly, that there remains no choice for them, but
either to fulfil the engagements entered into with our
High Aily, or to fee the State ruined paft recovery ;
that the reafons for refuting to grant the extenfion
are weak ; that they do not know what retrench-
ments this Afrembly has in view; and thus, convinced
of the force cf thick at?uments, they threaten this
Aircalbly, that they .v:;1 'leave us to anfwer for the
dreadful conieqirene.es which are to be apprehended
from a further refilled ; and that they will inform our
High Ally that they are unable, from the want of the
nccefrary confent fir, andlthe means'); railing money
to fulfil their engagements. Although this letter has
been retrafted by the Directory, yet the impreflion it
has made on me, and many Members of this Afrem-
bly, has not been effaced ; the grounds, indeed, are
again urged in the prefent propofal. But with what- ,
ever difdain I may regard this letter, yet I am oblig-
ed to contefs, that matters are arrived at an extremity;
I mutt own, that there appears to be no alternative;
it is not a cruel mockery, however, of our oppreired
and impuverithed countrymen, on whom you impofe
this additional burthep, in cold blood, with a pro-
fellion of fincere condolence, in add:Con to the heavy
btu-then which opprefres them already, if, while you
make this profeflion, you feel to whom, and to whore
unaccountable conduft it is owing that the nation has
no other means left, and that no other choice remains,
if you are refolved to fulfil the engagement entered
into with France

" Is the nation, I a(k—are the people already fo
greatly opprefed and impoverifhed, to lubmit to this
command cf the Diralory ? Shall the nation, whole
known and approved faith, and whole readinefs to
contribute to the utmoff of its power, has ever been
moR manifell, and which poffibly endures the more
hardthir, and fullers the greater cruelty on that very
account —than that nation admit that the reafons of
the Dircelory arc well founded ? Shall the nation al-
low it to be laid to its charge, that the Ditedory is
not fatislied, if the Legiilature does not refolve blind-
ly to grant its demand ? Has that nation (offended
and provoked its being declared to the whole
world, that they linger under an Oligarchical Admi-
nillration, without love of their country, under which.
;heir Colonies and Foreign Polreffions have been fold

'and delivered up to the common enemy), no jidl
enure to aflc--‘ are the reafonc given by that Mini-
niltration Inch as can be depended up-in, and ought
to be fubmitted to ?'
• " Will it not afk , how this meafure is to he recon-
ciled with the Diredury's promiie to tile all poffilde
parlimony ? And will it not find, during this invef-
tigation, even without looking into the deeds and
refolutions which prove this more plainly, that Ole
wade of money not only continues, but lint-cafes
every day from different fources ? Will not the na-
tion, on feeing fuch continued negligence, begin to
douht, whether this Allembly, alrenting to the rea-
lons of the Diredory, ads honeilly, or othetwife ?

. •
" It cannot be denied, that the fentence in the
DiredQry's letter, where it affcels rot to know what
this Affembly means by retrenchment, is a mockery,
when their Committee for financial affairs has fo fre
quently pointed it out in their name ; and if the
Dire Rory is really ignorant of it, let them be con-
vinced and (hewn in every page of that fo volumi-
nous Extoftion, what polibility, what certainty there
is, of many important flt,lngs.
44 In cyder to be convinced, that, far from think-
ing of ravings, the exigencies of the Elate fhould
fo extravagantly exceed its income, they rather art
as if the Republic were at its moll fplendid pitch
it will only be neceffary to look into the expences
the 'aft year, and to compare them with the
of the Generality, on the ex;emccs of the alirei ce
of 1792, nay, even with the expolitions of 1799, I 8 e,
and iftot ; whence the progreilive increafe of ex
pence will appear. You have to compare only, ex-
cept the item for the Legiflative Body, all the items
of difburrements, to be convinccd of expences, v:hich
exceed all the preceding ones, without any greater
advantage derived therefrom.
" Will not the nation, tracing this increafe, all:,
why fuch an enormous expence is incurred for the ef-
tenjible defence and guarding of colonies, which ate
declared to all Europe to have beers twice fold :yid
delivered up to the enemy ? The nation .viii six,
whether the different offices, efpecially that of the
Dire:tory themfelves, of the Secretarie, of State for
Foreign Affairs, of War, and of the Navy, (not to
mention the unneceffitry expenceol the Departments
and mias) work better a:11 :larder now than for-
merly, altt,,,ligh they colt a (Urn imiiiitcly greater
The natioe will enquire whether it agrees with our
fituation to meintait; fuch expenfive Minifters every
where ? and it it were not better to follow the ex-
ample of the eteeeican Government, and to keep
only Diplomatic Ageoe. ott filch counts as are of the
greatelt import int: ? :t will b: v bather it ac-
cords with on' n, to maintain iucit a .initeeer
of fortreffes wite magazines aua appurten
as we can never occupy ? and why they are fn much
increafed of tate y tats ? The tett ii it will be alloniiiied,
on perufing the lilt of pennons, at the numb:rids
Officers (to fay nothing rf the innurneea'elc and very
gtiefi enable political petitioners) placed on the pen-
non lift, during the latter yeats, molt of v:hom eerc
fit and willing to ferve I—What occalion i diee.
SchoOls of Artillery, when we have en- t orps
of Artillerymen ? And what wil! fay,
whore dente it is to revive e more :heir ancient
naval fame, on beholding 6-- itnnn sae Turns which
are required for the bull -*.eg art l taintenance of new
(hips of the line, whiltt roofs „rc conttru.led over
thofe we already have, its -rder to preferve them
until peace ? -
" Our countrymen w;11, on tracing the organiza-
tion of the Naval Council, of the high Military Tri-
bunal, and the Colleges, as well as the efpeeial de-
partmental and very expenfive Adminifirations, with
tile appurtenances ; and on afking a thoufand oth::r
quefttons, be convinced, that provided only the, e he
no new polls and falaties created, at their expence,
for individuals and their friends, fav ings enough ni.iy
be made to enable us, in a great meaftire, to fulfil
our engagements as allies ; that the nation need not
remain in dillrefs on that account, provided the Ad-
miniffration only wills it fo—may it not be asked,
whether this has ever been the cafe fince the year
Igor, whether a fingle laving has been made (ince
that time ? Let the Dircelory name it, and let the
nation judge to whom the terrible confequtnets that
are to be apprehended arc to he afcr,bed.
" Have not many circurre!ances rather tended to
fheW fince that period, that the ruin of the Ha:et mutt
refult from the clafhings (It the different r.vereignties,
reftored within our little one and indivifible Repub-
lic, in fuch an expenfive manner, arid that they mutt
increafe the expence and walle of money ; and have
the Direaory. fince that period, ever fetioutly
about introducing one °tithe grca tell ravings, namely,
the eflabli(bment and putting in aflivity of generel
impofis ? Have they ever endeavoured to give great
and gene:al Nitta, y efiabliftiments to the nation
" And 11).11 this ALmbly, by decreeing the pro.
pofal of the Direflory, agree that there are no otheir
means left, than that of trirthening the nation con.
tinually with forced iinpolls ? But if the Alknibli,
in its wifdom, lhould decree otherwifz, and concur
in the mea(ure propol,..d, then I am cf opin:on that
although every thing alledged canoes be cnotro-
verted, that although the State Directory ought long
fince to have propored to our High Ally meafures
for taring the burthcn nl the war, ny abolifhing all
unneceffary expences, by the utmolt parfimony in
government and adminillration ,• and that (although
the Direetort have not done this, but the reverfe)
the neeeffity is now urgent, and the more prefling,
as they did not fufEciently forefee the means for fa-
tisfying the increafed demands, before they granted
them; and that this neceflity is (till more urgent alfo,
becaufe though we fhould now tile the utmoll parfi-
mony, and introduce the general impolis, as the
only means of laving the country, yet this cannot
immediately operate towards a prefent relief; I, tor
my own part, am not at liberty to give my all:truing
voice to the meafure : I mutt alfo declare :Tahiti the
prop..fed anticipation ; becaufe that the former in-
!Urinous of the contribution of 8.e4., ate fir Irnm
being cleared, and the second initalmcnt retrains
nearly all due; toy the employment of which (if :ale
be only taken that it terminate together with (le cx-
penfive Committees of Enquit y), there will be lands
fufficicnt to anfwer the mod pt,dling demands, and
thus it is unneceffary to give away a premium, which
would again leffen the national income of the pro-
poled third infialment : and this is, moreover, a
teafon why I, who do not fee the pretfing nature of
:lie matter, think myklt obliged to declare agaititt
.the pisiptifal of the Direatit y, and [cave one of the
dzugeirotts confequeuces with whi;J: tl.is prciiofal

threatens entirrly to their ns it is
required et this afF•mbir. but of the CN:.•:!,..:re power,
to tAke care, the :.11 fulfil the 14,v oi in tLefc
their erg:igements. _ _

:.ct the Direanry freely fay to 'Lc. F...npernr of
the Fiend!, who nn &obi is very Me 1 inf.,: med of
the Rate of affairs, what the r,:tr.r..i3rs have (lore,
bnrne and ft:ffered, liner the year 1.-,r the reco-
very and prefervation nr their lio::ty and indepen-
dence, in obtaining and being noe to tit: it alliance
with the I-rcuch Itcpub:.c ; let tltrri aflualiy
thew, by the application if the liriften. ccon.'my,
that it is impollible to contiEue tc kid mole
with burden upun bt:rden, la:caure fitoll the courfc
of events, and the pr.:Tore of particnlei circomilances,
the fountain of their prop city and pro:pc:ity is tithed
tip, or iubje6ted to daily exhatillion. Let the Direc-
tory, by an open and magranintous behaviour, as an
enemy ro the g..nzral enclny, prove, in their dealing
with the. Emperor, that rarity ~••; thy o; his pm •
gr.toti chiPolition towards the i;f:teian :
let then:, in cafe any miniletial intsigues haw.: Lceu,
or are hill c ried on, for cornbiniiig side the enealiel;
of the State, the guilty by w:ty Of example.
and I feel adltred, that the very intereft•
cur high Ally take, in en, C;.:-nrrottwealtli
(.t' prefent fn low, to d graded) wiii pi.duce the
heti confequences, still acquire its ellecni, and, in our
lituat;on, procure us relict. fuppret, at d ewe!:
%Till:lnce, by refreting the i iionai independence.
Latll that this raf.:te of the Di:cam y
L.: rendered timicce;lary, atta Chat we Iliall be !c-
-hewed liom the painful tail,: ct decte:ing it."