The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-01
FOREIGN.

strict blockade of the ports and harbors, &c.
OF the United Kingdom OF Great-Brita and
Ireland, is published in the London Courier
of the 24th December.
Falmouth. Dec. Is.
II. NJ. ship Granicus arrived at Gibraltar
5th inst. brought in the American privateer
Lion, guns and 30 men, captured off Cape
Espechell. The Lion has done much mis-
chief in the chops Of the Channel.
Loadoa. Dee. %.
Paris paper of Dec 10, says, NJ. de Tai
Ieyrand Perigord, Archbishop of Rheims, is
20 preside over the commission OH Ecclesias-
teal affairs.
The London Gazette of Dec. IL, contains
. list of American vessels captured, burnt &
destroyed by the squadron under rear admiral
Hotham, from 9th Aug. to the 9Th Oct. last,
being 63 vessels.
bianiiio, FEB. "a.
\ Volcano of Albay, Province of Curamnes)
The most tremendous rupture commenced
the last day of January. and the lava contin-
ued to issue 10 days: towns destroyed, and
1900 people persisted.
London, Nov. Is.
FRANCE.
1t is asserted, on the authority of private
letters from France, that Soult has express
sed a wish to withdraw from public life, dis
satisfaction with the existing state of things
is supposed to be the cause. Does he dread
. storm, or is he yet SO much attached to Be-
naparte that he feels uncomfortable while
serving under another master? There is no
doubt of a want of unanimity among the
French marshals, & it is very probable many
of them are beginning to speculate on future
events, in manner not perfectly consistent
with their legitimate sovereign, new upon
the throne. 1t will be seen that the future
continental arrangements will occupy much
time, and that where there is much to digest
and regulate, many unforeseen obstacles will
arise The French government, aware of
this, is on the watch, and is, it is said, to have
AN army of 10000 men on the Rhine. They
no doubt would avail themselves of the first
favorable opportunity to renew hostilities, as
we are firmly persuaded that the war party in
France are constantly receiving an accession
of numbers. The government should, now
ever, be cautious how they listen to the mar
shals, who are anxious for war, and those
agitators who would promote troubles and
confusion, regardless of the peace of France,
or the happiness of the people.
Paris, Dec. 8.
An event of some Importance has occurred
within these few hours, in change of the
heads of three leading departments of the
French ministry. To begin with the first in
point of consequence, whether we regard the
Office itself, or the hands to which it is now
entrusted-Gen. Dupont, who held, ever
since the kings arrival, the administration of
the war department., was never popular with
the army since his surrender in Spain. Gen.
Dupont also has necessarily been the organ
of all the reforms and reductions in the COM
position of the army, which, however unavoi-
dable on the part of the government, with
view both to politics, and to the state of the
finances, have produced not little irritation
and discomfort. Besides, the complaint was
very general that the service did not go on
that distractions were daily accumulating Sc
no decisive arrangements making to stop the
progress of these two-fold evils-the unpop-
nlarity and imbeeility of the minister The
King, therefore, determined at once on a
change that should operate effectually on the
morale Of the troops, as well as on the ease of
the public service. He Homnated Marshal
Soult as successor to Dupont
Soult's conduct in Bretagne has gained
him the esteem of his sovereign he has the
entire confidence of the troops. AS man
of general ability, he ranks, perhaps, fore
most of all the French officers though he
is more distinguished for extent than accura-
cy of mind, and notwithstanding his fine orga-
nization of the South ofSpain, his administra-
tive talents are said to be inferior to those of
Suchet, who divides the suffrages of the well
Informed persons here, with regard to his
fitness for the war department. The duke
of Dalmatia is not supposed to consider Tai
ieyrand with much respect.
The next removal is of M. de Beugnot,
from the direction of the Police to tn at Of the
Marine nomination by no means so salts
factory as the former.
M. D'Andre, an able and estimable mem
Der of the Constituent Assembly, succeeds
M. Beugnot az minister of Police. The lat
ter had resigned above fortnight ago, but
from some unknown reason resumed the
Office and it is only this day that he has f.
naIly found successor. M. Lagarde con-
tinues his arduous duties in the police depart
ment.
December a.
Ertracf ofa letter.
Conversation turns at present on the case
of the General of Division, Count D'Excel-
man, to whose petition to the Chambre des
Deputies the newspapers have but very slight
ly alluded. The question is one which has
sometimes occurred in English history, as
it is between the personal freedom of the sub
feet, and the attempts of arbitrary power.
You may recollect that soon after the Kings
restoration, the French Government became
sensibly alarmed at the prodigious influx of
military men to the capital. Order after or
der was issued by the Minister at War.
worded with progressive rigor and severity,
and holding out at length severe punishments
to such officers and soldiers as remained at
Paris instead Of repairing to the head quar-
tiers of their regiments. General Officers,
moreover were invited to aDDIy for Liberty en-