Gazette Of The United States

Foreign Intelligence.
FRANCE:
NATIONAL CONVENTION.
MARCH 21.
The minister of the interior submitted the propriety of preserving peace with Sweden and Denmark, on account of the advantages of passing the Sound into the Baltic.
He recommended the Convention to order some measures to be taken to prevent American cargoes for France from being stopped by the English.
Referred to the diplomatic and commercial committees.
The committee of finance made a report, stating the necessary expenses incurred in 1792, at 604 millions 937 thousand livres, and the contributions of the same year at 514 millions 500 thousand livres. The expenses of '93 may in some respects suffer a diminution, but again on the other hand must increase in nearly the same proportion.
One of the principal causes of the shortness of receipts arises from the inequality of the distribution among the departments. This inequality has given rise to remonstrances from 60 of the departments. They recommended taking every measure to equalize the public burdens; which are best paid when charged in justice.
Letter from Valence to Dumourier.
"GENERAL,
A violent blow on my right arm prevents my writing myself.
The infantry having, as you know been repulsed twice, I myself charged the enemy at the head of my cavalry: I passed through a body of the enemy, and received three sabre cuts on the head, one of which, that is however, I am told, not mortal, has thrown my scalp over my eyes.
I am going to Brussels, where I hope to learn, that nothing has happened to you. If the left had not given way, the right could have stood firm, I am still in hopes of aiding you if my wound permits me yet to follow you in this campaign. (Signed)
VALENCE."
After the reading of the dispatches from Gen. Dumourier and Valence, Marat cried out, "This is all the artifice of treacherous chiefs: when unsuccessful they attempt to hide their misconduct by calumniating the patriotic soldiery. If faults have been committed, it is because they have been misled by their treacherous officers." Murmurs interrupted Marat: he, however, raising his voice, said, "this is the moment to tear the veil; we have no disciplined troops to give battle"—Murmurs recommenced with more violence. "Let him," said Manzaudier, "vomit the indecencies and the venom which devours him—" My aim," continued Marat, "is to save the republic. We ought to confine ourselves to the defence of our own territory, and I ask to be added to the committee of general defence, to communicate a plan, the execution of which will render us invulnerable." The President observed that every member was at liberty to communicate his sentiments to any of the committees.
Lecontre Puyraveau added: "Observe that the same man who not long since proclaimed, that the convention could not save the republic because part had not the will and the other portion not the power, tells us to day, that we have neither generals nor troops to oppose our enemies. What would he lead us to"
The law against strangers was passed.
March 21 in the evening.
The section of ninety-two, presented to the convention C. Dumay, who preserved Thionville from being surprised; who, attacked by 10 hussars at Sierck, killed 4, and put the other 6 to flight; who, enveloped by 20 musqueteers, and seeing the axe lifted over his head, replied to their menaces by the cry of Success to the French Republic.
The section have decreed him a civic crown and presented him with a sword. The minister at war had rewarded him with a commission; the President of the convention honored him with the fraternal embrace, and he was admitted to the honors of the sitting, amidst universal applause.
A member announced, that recruiting went on with the greatest vigor in the departments of Sevres and Vendee; that the national guards had attacked the rebels; a justice of the peace of the canton of St. Maixent, among others, placed himself at the head of fifty armed men, to march against the rebels. Honorable mention.
Jean Debry was elected President.
After some opposition a letter just received by a courier extraordinary from Marseilles, was read, nearly as follows;
"Ye who voted for an appeal to the people, your perfidy is at its height. It is in vain that you have expected the success of your base intrigues with tyrants, leagued against liberty; the check we have just suffered, only deepens the grave which will swallow up all traitors.
Fly the sanctuary which you have too often polluted with your foul breath. Leave it to the true friends of liberty to save the republic. The administrative bodies of Marseilles, the sections & the popular societies acknowledge in the convention none but that guardian mountain, which will, with us, secure the triumph of the republic. Fly monsters, or dread the effects of the vengeance of a people who rise for a third time, and whose cry is Liberty or Death."
Some called for the printing, others for the rejection of this letter.
Barbaroux speaks in favor of a convocation of the primary assemblies for the re-election of deputies.
Louvet informed, that among the sections of Marseilles, some have declared, that they would acknowledge no law passed with the concurrence of those who voted for the appeal; another section endeavors to prevail on the citizens of Paris to send the appellants to their respective departments in chains.
Louvet moved that these resolves should be annulled.
The convention decreed, "That the petition or letter from Marseilles is rejected or disapproved, & that all the resolves of administrative bodies relative to this letter are annulled, as an invasion of the liberty of opinion, the unity and indivisibility of the republic."
The commissioners sent to visit the ports from L'Orient to Bayonne, write from Rochefort, on the 18th, that the rebels having dared to attack General Mace, at the head of 1300 men with seven pieces of cannon, had been put to flight, leaving one hundred men on the field. We have had but seven wounded. Gen. Mace is about pursuing, with a reinforcement of 2000 men, the rebels as far as Nantes, the communication of which place with Antwerp is still interrupted. The rebels are commanded by Gaston, Saint-Hermaine, and Verteuil. The commissioners announce fresh reinforcements from Bordeaux, &c.
Fabre d'Eglantine informed, that from the knowledge collected by the police of Paris, and committee of general safety, from the exchanges made every day at the mint of a quantity of guineas and dollars, it was evident, that foreign powers have numerous agents in the republic, and especially in Paris; he therefore proposed, in the name of the committee, to place at the disposal of the minister of the interior, a sum of 200,000 livres for secret expenses. Referred to the committee of finance.
March 23.
A member informed, that as soon as the news of the rebellion in the department of Deux Sevres and Vendée reached Bordeaux, 800 men marched to their relief with 4 pieces of cannon, from that city.
TROUBLES in the DEPARTMENT of VENDEE.
The administrators arrive to give an account of the troubles and devastations in the two departments of Deux Sevres and Vendée.
It is not, said the orator, mere partial insurrections, it is not a handful of rebels, that the patriots could easily disperse, but real counter-revolutionary armies. They recruited among us, but it appears that they formed themselves in the department of lower Loire.
They march in two columns, one towards the district of Challans and that of Sables and the other to Montaigu. Between these two main bodies are others less considerable.
One Gaston is the commander in chief. One hundred gallant inhabitants of Fontenay dared to attack at St. Fulgent, 800 of the rebels.
They could not be successful, 17 fell on the spot. The city of Chantenay has been attacked, taken and pillaged by the revolters.
About this time General Macé arrived at St. Hermand. He attacked the rebels and killed 100 men. The 18th his army rested; the 19th he took a bad position, was attacked and put totally to flight. Our defeat was such that we left 74 or 80 wounded to the mercy of the counter revolutionists.
The commissioners of the convention have deposed Macé, and appointed Col. Boulard in his stead, who is busy in endeavoring to gather the scattered remains of our army.
Another administrator adds, that numerous rebels have been landed by English privateers; that they consist of emigrants and non-juring priests, who, the crucifix in their hand, inspire with a spirit of fanaticism the unfortunate inhabitants of the country to such a degree, that they, with no other arms than spades and pitchforks, stand the fire of the cannon, and think they attain a place in heaven by dying in such a cause.
The administrators concluded by asking for officers in whom the national guards can confide, muskets, cannon, ammunition, and provisions and succour for 300 families who have lost their chiefs.
On motion, 1,200,000 livres was decreed to the relief of those departments. As to measures of protection, the subject was referred to the committee of naval concerns & general defence.