The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-29
Erom q k.tc LanAar Paber.

from
Ths following ; Tranla.ion of the Circular Let
tcr which has been addreed by the Senator Fouche,
Chief of the Police, TO the Biihops of the Empire
aPayis-
"rhere IS more eonnexion, Sir, between my Office
and yours than is generally imagined 1t is my duty
10 prevent crimes avoid the necelty Of punifhiny
them. 1t is YOURS TO c in the hearts of rep all er-
rnal projects and even the very idea of crime Our
obi IS is etablih the feourity OF the Enl-
pre- upon and good order. With the views
and MOE benevolent intentions which you po9els the
fprisua authority with which YOU are inveited would
only be prodata'y Of very limited and uscertan ad-
van,ages, II At ii not ind IN the cooperation of my
office the means Of chafiing all oppofition to it.
a prince ~ the Church This title will be diff
putei with you for Tome time to come, and by in
eonlderabie number OF Biihops of the old Eitabh-
nens, who have abandoned the union of the Church,
syd by iole Priet. whole paions have been ncreaf-
ed, but whole underItandinys have been enlarged
by the Revolution. The hrit would arrogate to them
teyes itrier adherence to the faith of your father.
than you iuppofed profels; the econd aiIert,
that they the Revolution ana its prn-
cples. You placed between thofe extremes. and
your place is that of wiidom and Of truth You are
attacked on de b. the errors OF barbarous and g-
norant ages, and the other yuu are aaed hy thoe
ercefes that infeparahe from period of Revou-
tion.
" What pretexts, however can +hoie BiG,ops have
whohave abandoned the union Of the Church Where
can they ieek for It, hope find il Do they ina
CINE that the trSe worihp NOT reored in orr Tenn
PIES beesue the Bourbons have not been referred TO
the Throne But what other Throne than that of
che Sovereign pontif has ever appeared 20 have ne
ceiiary conneSion with the Catholic Religion In
what lymbo at faith, in what venerated tradition
San the inallet counexion between the Dvnay of the
Bourhons and the pure and fpotefs exifence of the
Caliican Church. be Pointed out The union of our
Church with all other Catholic Churches, and with
the Pope, was not broken by the transfer of the Ro-
man Empire TO the Merevingeau Dynafty frcni that
to Charlemagne, from that to the race of Capes
nor was broken By the change from the Dynaly Of
the Bonrbons to thar of the Bonapartes. PoiricaI
quettions appertaiD Nations, and nor &c RELIGION
and France has always decided them according to hen,
inciinatons, the lef1ons Of experience
You well informed Sir TO rende. il in
ennoen. on me TO fuggef TO you the great recelty
OF attending to the rigorous of thofc Laws
which have for their Object the feoury and he ree1,-
iaton of Public Worhip. If you allow thoie Pafiors
who are ubJecf your authority, either to modify or
infringe them, there will be no longer any bou 20
arbitrary encroachments. The paiions invariably ex-
tend 5eand I'll bounds, hoEe indulgence. yl;ci, ..ey
have ektorted from weakness
Freedom of Religion is a law of the Empire and
one OF the rights of man. and is at prefent etabhed
IN every enlightened tate You are no longer at IL
berty to extend the conquefs of Religion of which
you are the Chief Mnfers, than by your talents and
your Evangelical virtues In the age in which we
live, that may be denominated the be Religion which
mot orcibiy ncacates the principles of Morality and
obedience to the laws The divine impress of Reli-
gon IS TO be IS benefcent ss the Almighty himfelf
g His Majeity the Emperor will acknowledge that
yon have outlined the confidence he has placed in YOU
when, under the influence of your doctrine he f,all
preceive that all hatred and dention have difappear
ed; that the love cfevery thing that can tend to the
advantage Of yoar Country, has been nouried in the
places Of wo-p in the p.elePce of e ir,ages oe she
Divinity, ana the PoPerity OF the Empire become 10
all thoie whoe condolences you direa, she oh GER
tam pledge that they have nerited thofe reward.
which Religion holds out to them
(SigneG "FoucHE."