Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-11-18

in the army, are not selected until the mo-
ment OF examination and to obviate coll
lusion, must belong to district different
from that of the conscript. The final de-
cision of all cases Of exemption is referred to
a commission of higher resort, composed
of the project, the general officers. and
commissaries Of the department. When
these claims are disposed of, lists are form
ed of those who are adiudged competent to
serve, whether present or absent and the
sub-prefect then proceeds to the" drdso'Hs"
orldesignation by lot, of such as are TO con-
stitute the quota of the district Tickets
regularly numbered to the amount Of the
names on the list, are deposited ir an urn and
indiscriminately drawn out by the CO nscripts
or their friends. The lot falls upon those
who draw the numbers below the amount
Of the quota. The higher numbers drawn
Nv the rest are anpexed to their names, in
order that they may be forthcoming IN their
order, should any casualty disable their pre-
decessors. Absentees not presenting them
selves within month after the drawing, are
declared refractory, proclaimed through
the empire and pursued as deserters.
These are the conscripts of "the active
service" But besides these, the law re.
quires an equal number, what is termed in
contradistinction, the CONSUMPTION "ef the
reserve" The members of the reserve are
nominated with the same formalltles, to
march only in case Of emergency; are re-
gularly organized, and carefully disciplined
within their own department., from which
they are not suffered to absent themselves.
A third body is then created, efsutple'nen-
tai conscritts, equal in number to one fourh
of the whole contingent, and destined to
fill up the vacancies which may be OCCASION
ed before junction at head quarters, by
death, desertion, or other causes. 1t the
supplement should not be adequate to this
purpose, the reserve supplies its place /; and
at all events no deficiency is permitted, as
each canton is accountable for its full as
sessment. No Frenchman under the age
of thirty can travel throngh,he empire, or
hold any situation under government, or
Sc rye in anv public office, unless he eau pro-
duce certificate, duly authenticated, at
testing that he has discharged his liability
to the consumption.
Allthe authorities are bound in sohaure
and under the severest sanctions, to observe
| that the conscripts are assembled reviewed
| and dismissed 20 their destination without
| delay. They are marched under an escort
IF gendarmer,e, andn bodies strictly limited
to the number at one hundred, to various
| quarters or depots throughout the empire,
and there first supplied with arms and
cloathing. They are never permitted to
exist in separate battallions, but are indivi-
dually (nominativement) draughted into, or
scattered through, distinct corps of the pre-
existing army, 70 which they are marched
in exceedingly small detachments, and
sometimes from All astonishing distance.
Interpretations are given by the higher mi
| litary tribunal of the project, and.are provi-
sional or de6nitive according to the nature
! of the disability pleaded. For all diseases
pronounced durable, the discharge Is but
temporary. The in6rmties which attend
| to disqualify, are Disseminated with the
incest care, and accompanied by copious
scientific explanations. The minister OF
war reviews the decisions of this tribunal
and if suspicion of Partially arise, orders
the medical inquiry to be renewed. The
party released pay an indemnity to the 60
vernment, the amount of which is proper
toned, by the project, to his taxes, or those
of his parents. No exceptions were origin
ally allowed to the law 6 Of actiue service; >
but at this momeut, the eldest brother OF
an orphan family, the only son of widow,
or of laborer above the age OF seventy, OF
NOTE.
We find on the subject Of dispensations.
two DEGREES which should be noted. On page