Gazette Of The United States

Notwithstanding the communication from France is much interrupted, we have received the following letter from Boulogne, which contains news of great importance, should the events justify the contents of it.

Boulogne, April 25.

Twelve days ago two Englishmen embarked at this place for England.

This circumstance took place at noon, and with uncommon attention towards them on the part of the Municipality of the town.

An agent from the Executive Council, who accompanied them from Paris, did not fail to excite our attention. The inhabitants in general expected their business was relating to the opening of the passage between England and France, which had been so lately shut.

These two persons arrived here about six days before, accompanied by the agent above mentioned, whose passport said he was charged with a mission. He brought also letters from the Executive Council to the Mayor and Municipal officers, to send these foreigners to their own country, with all proper attention.

This was on the point of being fulfilled, when a Commissioner of the Convention from Arras arrived in the town, to whom the Mayor communicated the affair. The Commissioner, not knowing their errand, and as the defection of Dumourier had just taken place, he suspected the persons, and accordingly ordered them to be arrested, and dispatched a courier to Paris, to identify the passport, and a boat was kept ready, in case the letters of the President of the Council were confirmed. In this situation they remained six days, when orders were returned to send them to England, and these were confirmed by the new committee of Public Safety, consisting of nine of the leading members of both parties in the Convention. The Mayor and Municipality accompanied them to the Quay, where they embarked for England. The object of their mission no one could learn.

This circumstance has of course caused much speculation, and the general opinion is, they were charged with making overtures for a peace. The Government of France having clearly seen the deceptions that had been passed upon it on a former occasion, and seeing that the only prospect of quieting affairs at home was by peace, has unanimously determined upon the measure: In consequence of which, letters to this purpose, we understand, have been written; but owing to the Alien Bill, and not knowing what reception a Frenchman would meet with in England, these letters were thus forwarded to an Agent of the Executive Council resident in London, to deliver to Lord Grenville.