Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

AFFAIRS OF ITALY.
CORRESPONDENCE,
Between Gen. Buonaparte and the ministers
of his Sardinian Majesty, relative to the
late insurrection which broke out in Pi-
edmont.
FIRST LETTER
From the Chevalier Damien Priocca.
Turin, July 11, 1797.
CITIZEN GENERAL,
Some symptoms of insurrection have just man-
ifested themselves at Fossano and its environs,
the cause of which appears to be accidental, but
which may involve consequences of the highest
importance, unless they be speedily remedied.
In communicating them to you, Citizen Gen-
eral, I am actuated by a double motive: In the
first place, that I may afford you a testimony
of the confidence which his Sardinian Ma-
jesty's government repose in you: and secondly,
to acquaint you that his majesty, tho resolved on
employing lenient measures to restore tranquility,
may perhaps be compelled to resort to rigorous
ones, in order to subdue and bring back to a
sense of their allegiance those who may prove
more stubborn and pertinacious. His majesty
reflects, with satisfaction, that should he be un-
der the necessity of energetic measures, the French
government, far from holding such a conduct
derogatory to the constant esteem which his ma-
jesty entertains for them, would, on the contra-
ry, attribute it solely to the mere desire of stop-
ping the progress of ill-intentioned persons, if
any such exist, and of maintaining in that
country that state of tranquility so necessary to
ends which the two governments are anxious
to accomplish.
The position of Fossano, to the left of the
Stura, may probably make it necessary to ad-
vance some troops beyond the ancient line of de-
marcation, which no longer exists, and to take
position at a distance of less than four miles from the outposts
occupied by the French. As the gen. in
chief is informed of the object of these measures,
he will be, doubtless, induced not only not to op-
pose them, but also to refuse his countenance to
the insurgents, should they apply to him for suc-
cour. Full of confidence in your loyalty and
your sincerity, his majesty hopes that he may be
soon enabled to acquaint you of the perfect re-
establishment of tranquility.
I have the honor to be,
With respectful consideration,
Citizen General &c.
(Signed) DAMIANO PRIOCCA.
Answer of the Gen. in Chf., Buonaparte.
Head-quarters at Milan, 4th Thermidor.
I do not perceive, in, any inconvenience
that can arise from your advancing the ne-
cessary number of troops beyond the line of
demarcation, in order to maintain tranquili-
ty and good order in the states of his ma-
jesty.
I have given the strictest orders to the
garrisons of the different towns we occupy,
not to intermeddle in the slightest manner in
the interior affairs of your country. You
may rest satisfied, sir, of the interest I shall
always take in doing every thing that may
be agreeable to his majesty, and of the de-
sire—I feel to contribute in any shape to the
tranquility of his realms. Mr. Borghese
has mentioned to me his majesty's desire to
draw some corn from the districts occupied
by the French troops: I most readily ac-
quiesce in it, and pray you to believe the
singular consideration and esteem with which
I am, &c. &c.
(Signed)
BUONAPARTE.
SECOND LETTER.
From the Chevalier Priocca.
Turin, July 25.
CITIZEN GENERAL,
The minister of foreign affairs M. Testi,
has acquainted me with the establishment
of the Cisalpine republic, and I immediate-
ly returned him such an answer as was cal-
culated to maintain the best understanding
between the two powers.
As you seemed to have at heart the ac-
knowledgement of that republic, on the part
of our government, I feel eager, citizen
general, to apprise you of it, that you may
thereby perceive how highly I value your
counsels, and the interest you feel for the
happiness of this country.
The affairs of this country unfortunately
begin to take a serious turn; the malcon-
tents pursue their intrigues, and continue
their movements with increased ardour.
If under these circumstances, citizen gen-
eral, you should deem it expedient to ex-
press, by some public writing, how unwi-
lling the French republic is to give any room
to suppose, that the malcontents were au-
thorized to boast of the support of its a-
gents, or of those of the Cisalpine republic.
I should feel highly grateful or that new
mark of your friendship, the continuance of
which I would endeavour to deserve by ev-
ery means in my power.
Mr. Pei will probably have the honor of
giving you more particular accounts rela-
tive to the situation of this country: I
have authorized him to remain at head quar-
ters, in order to keep with you a more di-
rect correspondence: and I entreat you to
receive him kindly, whenever he may have
occasion to entertain you with our conf-
dence in the loyalty of the French, and
with the respectful consideration with which
I am, &c.
(Signed)
PRIOCCA.
Buonaparte's reply to this letter was,
that his letter to the Marquis de St. Maran
might be published, which is as follows:
Letter from the general in chief Buonaparte to the Marquis de St. Marsan.

Head quarters, Milan, 21 Vendemiaire.

I have received M. le Marquis, the letter from M. de Priocca, minister of his Sardinian majesty, which you had the goodness to forward to me.

I, in consequence of it, gave orders to the general of division Souret, and to the general who commands at Cuneo, to allow a free access into the fortresses of Tortona, Alexandria, Cherasco, Ceva, and Cuneo, to an engineer officer whom his majesty may appoint, to inspect in person the works which M. de Priocca supposes are carrying on in these forts: and which, it should appear, occasion him some uneasiness.

The officers who shall be sent by his majesty will be able to assure him, that I carry on no works in the fortresses of Piedmont; that it is impossible to be more pleased than we are with the conduct of his majesty's cabinet towards the French republic; and that so far from wishing to give the least room for any uneasiness, that on the contrary I am ready to do any thing his majesty may require, in order to assure him, and which may contribute to the tranquility and prosperity of a court, that for some months past has given us the most sincere tokens of its kind intentions towards us.

I have sent no troops from Lombardy into Piedmont, because it was never my intention to send any thither. Indeed it were my wish to send a battalion of Poles to Cuneo, in order to unite to the army the 45th demi-brigade. But if his Majesty signifies the least desire that such a measure should not take place, I will give it up; and I am also ready, if his Majesty is displeased with any of the generals or officers employed in his dominion, immediately to displace them.

Being informed, that M. Rana was endeavoring by incendiary publications, to stir up an insurrection in his majesty's dominions; and being likewise informed that he was at Milan, I ordered him to be taken into custody, and to be confined in a castle of this city.

I entreat you, M. le Marquis, to acquaint me before your departure from Milan, with every thing that I can do that may convince his majesty of the friendly sentiments of the French republic towards him; and with the desire I feel to make myself useful, and to contribute to the welfare of his majesty's dominions, and to his own private happiness.

Be pleased to rest assured of the esteem and high consideration with which

I am &c. &c.

(Signed)
BUONAPARTE.

THIRD LETTER OF M. D. PRIOCCA.

Turin, August 1.

Deeply impressed with the interest you take in the internal tranquility of this country, I have to inform you, that it would be perfectly re-established, if the brigands who particularly take refuge in the Genoese territories, did not spread themselves about in all directions, to take advantage of the disorders that may still prevail in some of the neighbouring provinces. As I am satisfied that you will hear with satisfaction, that the Piedmontese have evinced great energy against them, I flatter myself that I shall soon be able to acquaint you, that order and tranquility are restored on the frontiers.—

I beg you may rest assured of the loyalty of the king, and of his friendship for the French republic in all his measures; and of the sentiments of esteem he entertains for you.

I have the honor to be,

With respectful consideration, Citizen General, &c.

(Signed)
D. PRIOCCA.

BUONAPARTE'S ANSWER.

I learn with satisfaction, sir, that the critical situation in which Piedmont has been placed for a few moments, is happily gone by; and that you will hereafter have nothing to alarm you. I make no doubt, but that the wisdom of his majesty and of his ministers will speedily succeed in re-establishing the internal tranquility of the country.

(Signed)
BUONAPARTE.