National Gazette

Dec. 2. -Among the various impediments to the complete and general adoption of the new constitution, not the least seems to be the re-uniting of Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin to the dominions of France. If the decrees of the assembly relative to the German possessions in Alsace and Lorraine, have not already effected that purpose, it is certain that the violent revulsion of these two territories from the popish demesnes will considerably increase the prejudices that already operate among the European powers against the French revolution. The pope has addressed all the powers of Europe on the injustice of this decree of the assembly, in which he accuses them of inconsistency and injustice, and asserts his claim in the stile of an helpless old man who cannot revenge his own wrongs, and therefore humbly implores the assistance of others. The address is in substance as follows:

"By their decree of the 14th of September last, the national assembly in pretending to incorporate the city of Avignon and the Comtat-Venaissin with the French monarchy, evidently betray a determination to dispossess the holy father of property of which he is the lawful and only master. The decree above referred to is no less unjust than false, is evidently designed to impose upon the world, and directly contradicts the assertions of those perfidious movers of sedition, who, after the most solemn protestations, that they for ever renounced all ideas of conquest, have impudently dared to authorize a most criminal and arbitrary usurpation of foreign territory.

"In the short space of eighteen months they have four times attempted, under various pretexts, to incorporate with France, these two provinces, rightfully appertaining to the holy see. At one time they tried to invalidate the pope's title; at another time they brought forward some pretended complaints of the inhabitants, as if they wished to become Frenchmen.—Again, they debated whether these provinces might not be demanded as integral parts of France; and they were not ashamed on all these occasions to have recourse to the meanest sophistry and imposture to support designs, all tending to the completion of this abandoned project.—" Notwithstanding the universal uneasiness occasioned by these insidious steps, and notwithstanding the wicked activity of a party, spurred on by hatred malignity, and premeditated spite against the holy see, the evidence of truth prevailed: this daring attempt became universally odious—the indignation of the public was excited, and at last justice triumphed. On the 24th of May, a decree was published which disavowed every intention of the incorporation above mentioned.

" All the plans of the cabal for seizing the sovereignty of these districts from the pope were frustrated by this decree; and his holiness began to entertain hopes that there would be no further occasion of complaint on this head - The decree, however, of Sept. 14, has again baffled all his hopes, and he cannot possibly reconcile this renewal of the claim on the part of France, with the former protestations of the assembly, which disavowed a'l claim to the territories in question. -It is with astonishment his holiness observes, that the pretended right of France to these territories is founded on a pretense of the free wish of the citizens to be incorporated as a part of that kingdom.

" The date of these claims is as recent as they are unfounded. Discussions on this subject were first held in 1789, and although the claim of France was supported in the assembly by every argument that the most malicious ingenuity could devise, it was notwithstanding rejected. So convinced was his holiness of the justice of his claim, that he never had an idea even of employing a counsel at their bar, incompetent as it was to rescind his right of sovereignty -a sovereignty, depending only upon God himself, established upon titles the most sacred, and secured by a possession of more than five centuries, that has been recognized by all the powers of Europe, confirmed by the tribunal of France, and at all times repeated and protested by the august predecessors of the present monarch of France.—" If Louis 14, and Louis 15, when they possessed themselves of these provinces, at different periods, never formally claimed them as an appendage of the crown, and never attempted to incorporate them with France; and if, in afterwards restoring them to the holy see, they made no reservation, it is certainly very easy to form a proper judgment of the validity of the present claims: In short, the impartial world will judge whether the present assumed right can be put on a footing with the authenticity of ancient records, all which concur in vesting the incontestable sovereignty of these claims in the holy see," &c. [The remainder has not come to hand.]