The New Hampshire Gazette

From FRANCE.

Extract of a letter from a young gentleman in Paris, to his father in New-York, dated 26th of October, 1793.

"I left Havre the 3d day after my arrival there, and arrived at Paris the 17th inst.. I found every thing quiet here, though the Queen of France was beheaded the day before I arrived ——As to the policy of this proceeding I say noth ing ; but the justice of it is unquestionable. She
has been proved guilty of even incest with her young son. The situation of this country is undoubtedly painted horrible in our papers, as they extract much from the English. But these pictures are in a great measure pictures of the imagination. The country, it is true, is surrounded by enemies, and harassed by traitors in its bosom; but both are in a fair way to be repelled and exterminated. The resources of France are amazing. They have lately made a requisition of the young men between the ages of 18 and 25. This requisition, if strictly complied with, as it probably will be, will draw forth an army of 300,000 men. The greater part of these have already embodied themselves. A second requisition will be made, if found necessary, of men between the ages of 25 and 35. To what an immense number such a requisition would increase the French forces, you can judge from the population of the country, which is 25,000,000. The rising of the French en masse, as they call it, is ridiculed in England as visionary: but the subjects of despots forget, that in Republics, every soldier is a citizen, and every citizen is a soldier.

In short, it is my opinion, that these new, but numerous soldiers will effect, what will astonish Europe. The ardor of its citizens is everywhere great, as military spirits pervade every class. The manual exercise is learnt by everyone. Everyone prides himself in being a good citizen and a good republican. If the different parties are once united, and the rebels quelled, France will be invincible, and the prospect of their being accomplished is not very distant. News is this day received of the defeat of the rebels of La Vendee. Lyons is taken, and the army of royalists there cut to pieces and taken. Toulon is yet in possession of the English; but great preparations are making to take it. Finally, there is not the least doubt but the French will establish their liberty. As to the measures of the government, I must not speak; they are to say the least of them, energetic. They may prove, in the event the best that could have been taken. All the English in the country are arrested because that nation is suspected to have secret agents here, and because one of the national commissioners at Toulon has been hung, in derision, on a gallows so high that he was exposed to the view of the French army. I was examined very strictly on account of the difficulty of distinguishing Americans from the English; but you need not entertain the least anxiety for my personal safety, for Americans when known to be such, are treated with the greatest civility and respect."