The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-08-23


letter to General TtIeltingfo,l. the contents
of which he requested US TO communicate to
you. The Whole OF this letter breathes that
noble frankness and ardent patriotism, which
is SO characteristic of marshal Davoust.
We visited the troops of Gen. Ragues. and
those Of teu ID Erlon those bodies occupy
the heights OF Beiievllle which are covered
with excellent works. We met with Gen.
y rieau who ssared me that in case Of AN
action, he woulI appear at the head ot ZOO
men, sharp shooters of TIE National Guards
and lie lerates their number is constantly in
ere IS G. Every thing IS to be expected from
Fen hmen, fighting for national honor and M
deepen ence, when led or by one ct the gal
lapt defenders oFSeville.
It would be d iii cult, Gentlemen, to give you
n true picture of what we saw At Beilevlc
The whole of the old guard was assembled
there. At first sight of US they remained 81
lent; uneasness was apparent in their coun-
,enances. Scandalous rurnors had been circu-
lated in the army to our prejudice, by the a
iarmists and the dsaffected add to which
IN apparent indecision in some Of our delibcr-
aeions, has led the army to apprehend that
the words " Safety of the Country" were
used for sinister purposes. AS soon, how
ever, as we assured them that 1t could not be
congenial to the views Of the Representatives.
to infringe their mandates, and that you had
decided to die in defence Of our rights, an ex-
piosioa Of pure Joy Certain pledge OF victory
burst forth on all sides and tho cries of YiUe
Ind, he,ldence ! YiUe Liberty ! Yrpe .Naho-
ieon ! must have resounded to the very
camp of the enemy. The soldiers and the
officers, overjoyed to see again the tri-color-
cd sash in the camp, swore to defend the
NAtional Representation.
Gentlemen-You have sent ambassadors to
the allied powers you have directed them TO
remind those powers of their solemn pie ige,
not to interfere with YOUR independence, but
10 war against Napoleon only. Napoleon is
no longer connected with you, but as an un-
fortunate great man. Prepare yourselves
then to receive an answer favorable to your
liberties, If Gas King once said) good faith
has its last asylum IN the breasts ct Kings
Proclaim the wishes of the immense majority
Of the nation, in order that Your negOciators
may not be told that France wishes for ! com
ter reUo!uticn--Remembs that, in 1914,
when Europe combined, had preciptatcd Ma
poleon from his throne, 1t imposed upon you
government which Russia and Austria had ne
YER thought of.
There is no doubt that an invisible han1 is
endeavoring to influence the negotiation of
your ambasssdors-thi invisible hand has
weighed the interests of Europe, and has
found them opposed to those OK the party
which it serves. 1t knows that Europe can
derive 10 benefit in imposing upon you such
a government rs Ferdinand mas cursed Spain
with. Il knows that Russia ard Austria may
yet speak in favor of Frsn-c {, but this parl'ici-
dai hand would put it out Ci your power to
await the result Of the negotiation. Ii this is
not acknowledged to be correct, II what are
we TO attribute the system of falsehood s. i'm.
position which threatens your very existence ,
You are told that you have no longer an ar
my that all is lost that your discouraged
sold ers are leaving the army and refusing to
fight ; to give more weight to these asser-
tons, they have been reiterated by certain
Generals The reports of YOUR colleagues
prove the failacy of these assertions You
are told Chat 100 900 OF TIE snenies troops
have arrived near us, by forced marches this
is also false. will prove this by a military
proposition the news papers for some time
past have been careful To magnify the strength
of the enemy. The English and prussians
were only 100000 strong before the great uat-
ties of Fleurus and Waterloo, and it is very
strange that those battles should have caused
TO dminution OF tAeir numbers. Those who
have the lsasc military knowledge, must per
Ceivc 1T once that it can only be the heads of
columns that are advancing on Paris. 1t all
events your strength IS equal to that which
tie enemy shews. Ii you will only determine
TO Yield to the WISHES Of the National Guard.
ami add 70 your force the federation Of Par
is, you Will out-number the enemy two TO one.
With such excellent materials as we have,
commanded by the valiant defender of Ham
burgh, may we not at least save the honor of
the French name Far be it from me to wish
to see Paris experiencing the horrors of an
attack, but let us not take humiliating Mt
titude, while we have men who have the
skill the ability, and the disposition to fight
Consider that Paris Is not the whole French
nation.
The endeavors to precipitate the capital in
to a fatal error, proves the conviction of the
invisible agent, Of the necessity of resurting
to the most wicked measures. It is also con.
vinced, that, if you gam respite of only g
days, ali is lost 10 the cause it is engaged n
Do not suffer yourselves to be mlsled, gentle
men. l will tell you what the situation Of
France will be it you suffer the elder branch
of the Bourbon family to be imposed on YOU.
SUPP sing the chief Of this branch was dis
posed to act for the welfare of his country,
the multitude Of sycophants and dependents
by whom he would be- surrounded, would put
it ont Of mis- power. lie would make you rr,a-
my fine promises, no doubt. and would forget
thetn all the moment inc rcius II power
were surrendered 70 him. Al those VINO
have been fighting for the last IS years N the
Cause OF liberty, and particularly those who
fought iH the last campaign, would be treat
ed rebels. Their successes, their r,isfor-
tunes, and their scars would DC titles and
Il. T.