Jenks's Portland gazette., 1799-09-23

merit careful perufal9
AT the moment when the laft changes in
the nidrpation were efeaed at Paris, we were
not backward nor afraid to deliver our opinion
with regard to their nature, thSf importance,
and probable effects. VIZ faw with uneafnefs
The degree of interef anaexpeaation they had
excited in the public mind, and we felt it in
cnnbent to diilipate hopes 70 fanguine and 70
unfounded. ! esN
far from conildering an intr que Ito be com.
pared only with the revolution of ieragloi) as
OF general or political importance, we applied
ourielyes TO thew that the change which had
taken place was change only of perfons, and
OF perfons only in f-condary or fnbieryien ftu-
atoms. We endeavoured to fatisfy the Public,
that while Barras remained at the head of
affairs, it was of little eonfcquence who occupi.
ed the inferior Offices either IN the Directory or
aaaer it. Whether sieyes or Re~bel podedes
his confidence whether Ramel or another be
his Chancellor of The Exehequer, is beneath our
care, and beneath our curiolity. When Cafar
joined with himfelf feme Gohier or Moulins in
the Confulate, the Romans in deriion called it
the Confulfhip OF julius and of Cafar.
We have had the falisfaaion of obferving our
opinion make its way here, while it has been
coniantly juR,fed and corroborated from
abroad. afa
From the very moment of The recommence.
ment of holtilities in Suabia, it became evident,
that the good fortune of the Republic was no
longer feconded by that ability and dexterity
IN evil which had hitherto upheld it, in fpite of
It's guilt, and In fpite of its weakness. Even
from the day of Carnot's exile, the vigour
which that bold confpirator had impreled upon
the meaiures of the Luxemburgh, appeared
wanting in their Councils We miG.d GER
tain character of greatness, which he famped
upon their wickcdnefs. and the energy with
which he dignied their crimes. Whether it
be true or not, that diiorder in the brain pre-
cedes the dlfolution of The body, or that atHeaven
deranges the intellect of thofe whom it deter
mnes TO dearoy, it is certain, that as the hour
OF .etributlon has approached to the French
Regicides, they have reeeded from the contain
cy and fortitude which difinguihed their early
atrocities, and have dwindled into common
confounded oy their guilt, and
irreiolute from their fears.
AS foon as Barras had taken the refolution
of facrihcing bis Mniaers, and fufering the
Councils to relume part of .he privileges, ef
which he EMERGED them in September 1897, it
appeared to US, we confefs, if the Republic
were to BE- faved, that one of thrfe two couries
would have been taken-eilher that the Coun
eils would have improved the opportunity TO
overthrow the tyranny altogether, and to in
volye Barras in the fate of bis inlruments or
elie, that Barras would have endeavoured by
iomc of ihofe meaiure, (Which during nine
years the French called great ones) to divert
the attention of the Republic from tile Coun.
ells to extinguih their importance 10 the luf.
ue OF victory and TO balance their authority
by the power Of the army
The late commo,ons that have taken place
in the Thuilleres upon the opening of the
Ultra Revolutionary Club, in the Sale du
Manege, will be conGdered Of more or lels i'm
portancc according to the tempers rather than
the judgment of men. In itfef it is very
natural concurrence that the jacobins, whom
Drouet continues to guide, fhould renew their
ancient dfcuGions, and hold the fame furious
orgies over which he and bis friend Babeut
were accuaoned to prefide. When the gov
ernnent allowed the clubs to refume their fit
tings, this circumltance was to be forefeen /; and
it was alfo to be expelled that they would meet
with fome part of the oppoGtion which trium-
phcd over them before, and brought them to
trial. The 1deobin CiuJ appears to caufe no
jealoufy in the Councils, and to be agreeable to
Barras. The Chouans who befieged it were
even ddperfed by the Diret7orial Soldiers. From
hence, alone, we are not induced TO argur any
!, n, N, diata ,er,l,e of innortanre at leaIt any
not previouly concerted with the Government,
of which the club appears at prefent rather an
engine than an enemy.
In Iaa, the good understanding that appears
to exit between the Executive Power, the lie.
g0ature, and the Jacobins, is perhaps one OF
the mot fatal and mott palpsble Ggns of the
weakness of the Republic and of the utter
exlinaion of all principle and energy in the
nation. The prefent tyranny feems TO be pfo-
longed only by that extraordinary late of the