The New Hampshire Gazette

LAW
OF THE 20TH FRIMAIRE, THE 3D YEAR
OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
REMITTING THE
RETURN OF THE
FRENCH SEAMEN WHO ARE IN
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

The National Convention, after having
heard the report of the Committee of
Public Safety and Marine united, do decree:
That the Committee of Public Safety is au-
thorized to take all necessary measures for the
execution of the law of the 2nd of this month,
relative to the returning in France of the petty
officers, sailors and green hands who now are in
foreign countries.
Approved by the Representatives of the People,
inspector of the Verbal Process.
(Signed)
VIOUY.
Compared with the originals, by us, Repre-
sentatives of the People, Secretaries of the
National Convention, at Paris, the 1st
Nivose, the 3d year of the French Repub-
lic, one and indivisible.
(Signed)
J.S. ROVERE,
DUBOIS DUBAIS.
Extract from the Records of the Committee of
Public Safety of the National Convention, the
18th Pluviose, the 3d year of the French Re-
public, one and indivisible.
THE Committee of Public Safety, by virtue
of the law of the 20th Frimaire, by which they
are authorized to take measures relative to the
returning in France of the petty officers, sailors
and green hands who now are in foreign coun-
tries:--Decreed:
ARTICLE FIRST.
That all petty-officers, sailors, green hands,
cabin boys, gunners and tradesmen, who now are
in foreign countries, and especially on the Italian
coast, deserters, either from the ships or
other vessels of the Republic or merchantmen,
from the ports or dock-yards, are at liberty to
re-enter France without fear of being troubled
or pursued directly or indirectly.
II.
Those of the aforesaid seamen and tradesmen
who will show their desire to return in their
country, may present themselves to the Agents,
Consuls or other officers of the French nation,
in foreign countries, who are authorized to fa-
cilitate to them the means to do so; to pay
them the customary charges of travelling to em-
bark them in the merchant vessels bound to the
port of their district, or in the ships of the Re-
public.
III.
The Agents, Consuls or other officers of the
French Republic in foreign countries, shall de-
liver to those sailors or tradesmen who shall pre-
sent themselves to return in their country, a
Certificate, by which they may freely re-enter
in their Department, where after a few days
rest the officers civil of the Marine will employ
them for the service of the ships of the Repub-
lic and at the dock-yards, paying them their ad-
vances, travelling charges and customary por-
tage of their cloth.
IV.
All sailors or tradesmen who shall have re-
turned to their country, shall be placed on the
Ships of the Republic or in the dock-yards, ac-
cording to the share they have in the service;
and they may expect the same proportion and
augmentation of pay as the other citizens, and
in their absence their families shall have part of
the succours granted the families of the defen-
ders of their country.
V.
They will divide as they arrive in the ports
or several vessels and in the divers dock-yards.
VI.
The Agents and civil officers of the Marine,
will send every month to the Commission of the
Marine and the Colonies, a statement of the
sailors and tradesmen so returned, and they will
report to the Committee of Public Safety.
VII.
As to the seamen, who after having fled from
the hand of slavery have been arrested in the
divers ports of the Republic for the general
safety, the Committee of Public Safety refers
to the Representatives of the People, sent in
the ports or at the armies of the Republic, the
execution of the dispositions of the law to that
purpose of the 21st Frimaire last.
The Commission of the Marine and Colonies
is charged to give the necessary orders for the
hasty execution of the present decree.
Signed on the records and present at the de-
liberation,
Breard, Marec, Chazal, Pelet, Cambaceres,
Carnot, Merlin (De Douay) Lacombe, Saint
Michel, Fourcroy, Boissy, Dubois Crance,
A. Dumont.
For Extract, Signed
Cambaceres, Marec, Carnot, Chazal, Pelet,
Merlin (De Douay) Lacombe (Du Thain.)
For copy, Signed
Dalbarade.
For Copy, the members of the Agency to
forward the laws, Signed
Dumont Chaumette.