HAL Us W I h M I NG T 0 N G AZET T E.
No. 44.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER i797.
Vol. ri.j
tl
Dcfperate Conflitfh
Civita Vecchio, June 3o.---The begin,
iuof the mouth a moft terrible battle was
fought about twelve leagues frpm the point
of Melfina, between an Algerine cruifcr ol
80 guns, full of men, and a (hip of 26 nm
and 12 pounders, belonging te the Kin ; of
the two Sicilies, the conflict began at feven
in the morning, and Tailed till near three in
the afternoon." The Algerine received the
firlt broadfide, which carried away the (tar
board main chains, and much damaged the
ftanding rigging; the falme was immedi
ately returned, and the fight commenced
with the utmolt refolution ; each party fie cm
ed determined to conqueror die; the pi
rate hoitted the bloody ihig, antl run along
fide the frigate, in a (it-nation read-? for
hoarding, and had nearly evapnled herW:
ffrx. Kept ap XUCUa-cuniiaut and well diiec
ted (ire inte the rover, that entirely frultra
ted their intention, and killed a varfct num
ber of their men- yet this liiccels did not
prevent the barbarian making another at
tempt which alio failed with grac Infs ;
this obliged them to fheer olf for a fhort
time, but they foon renewed the combat,
when a molt tremendous cannonade began
on both (ides, which lalted upwards of two
hours without intermillion 1 unfortunately
the frigate's fore malt was carried away
dofe by the board, and fell upon the deck,
which did a confiderable damage, bclides
killing aiyl wounding a number of men.
Notwitbftanding this unfortunate eir
cumltance, the brave Christians, w.lvofe
courage was not in the lealt damped, kept
fighting on, fully determined to link tlie
robbers. During this time a Hoop of war of
16 gnns-, and a cititr of 12, whohad parted
company rront tncawove imp two nays, ne
fore, luckily came up, and played their
parts fu well, that in a Ihorr time the pirare
was all in dimes, but by the exertions of the
crew the fire was got under.--'-'
Notwithstanding the crippled flare and
dangerous (itiutinn the pirate was in, jet
tlnde ruffian foiight with Inch an uncom
mon degree of drfperation, that was allon
lflling, andahnolt beyond description ; .at
tii is juncture he frigate was lb much matter
ed both in hid! ami rigging, that (her ould Ix
hardly kept aboe water and was obtijjed
iPTfciUrW&Tbtli oi thfi action.
In the mean time the Hoop and cutter
kept up f ich an inceH'tnt and well dire if ed
fire into the-rover, till the was totally lif
nblr, her malts, yards ami notngutterlv
deltroyecl, her guns difinoilnre I, and her
port -holes knocked three and tour into one ;
ne.-rthelefj, this defperare crew difdnined
to Itrike.and kept a conltantfire with fmall
arm, fro n which nnny of the balls were
rheve I ; at Ult, when they found they
could not reliit the king's force any longer,
tiuff let (ire to the magazine. and blew them
felvtfj up, together irh a number of Chrif.
tian caprives rhev hod on board, who all pe
1 i.Iied with tlie infidels.
P. S. foe pirue wa; commanded hv Sill
Bedcr, a fellow of invincible courage, very
l A I an I daring; this mm was a creat ter
ror to the Sp.ini.irdH in rheir Ure war with
Sptin ; he has not only funk and captured
leveral (hips which were fitted oot on pur
pof to take him, but would often Und up
on their coaft in open day with his crew, in
fpite of all refilt ince, carry of the inhabi
tants, and ravage whole villages.
FRANCE.
COUNCIL OF FWE HUSdRi:.).
Sitting of Augufl 10.
know, if the I i6t bar tide oi the con ft notion
did not empower the -directory toduecUhe
movements of the arm v beyond the crow
ft itutional boundary ? The lecond, whe
ther the exilting circumffancef would per
mit us to deviate in any degree from the
principles, in order to take into confidera
tion pretended alarms jj I contend tha: al!
thefe combined attacks, tend Only to place
the different authorities at variance to pro
voke the civil war, t6,renev the reign of
circumftances and that of government com
mi-tees. Has it not been proclamed from
this tribune, that an alarming divifionexifl
ed between the -members of the Directory ?
As if the majority of the 'directory did not
pofl'efs thfcx)wt-r given to it by the con-
... TT I 1 t I
ttmmon. nave r.ot tneic .journals who
ration of the laws. Upon what object tpore
important ccuid you require information,
than upon the march of the troops, and
upon the extraordinary events which hav
for Come t me taken place? Nay more,
the directory had fharedyour folicitude, and
had folcmnlv promilcd to examine into the
author ot the order, the name of whom
you had demanded. So far then there is a
perreft agree mem between the two powers.
Bur united to inveftigate the caule of the
extraordinary movemenrs which occailon
ed general anxiety. How then does it
happen that to day a Veprefenraiive of the
people ventures tq aflert, that you have
vUUied the conftitution, If you had rot
viewed with the . mod lerious attention the
movements organize d around' you. N
........... . imii.m.i u aiuuw you. 1 ;Cr
ar m tk p oi the kln'. rti nd fiivenJny ibis conduct you did -not trench Ufy
iothis maioritv the appellation Triuinvi-
Vate? And yet this unprecedented auda
city remains unpunilhfd no. notice, in-
deed, has ever been taken ot it. nave
not fome orators fpoken of attempts aginft
the national representation ! Has not 'the
council permitted that article of the conlti
tut ion. which lavs, that the heads of an
-9 .. :
accufation lhall be fpecitically ftated to have
been violated? I idle ad of purfuingthe
the power of the directory ; and Am tA
nioti, in which yuu all agreed, naturally
leads me to point out the fyftem which has
been alliduoufly purfued to counteract the
legiilative power, by extending uniformly,
and under every pretext, the limits of the
executive authority. Yourare now accus
ed of encroiching upon its, privileges. In
the fame manner were you told, that vou
had not the right to fhut up the popular
a.
(alutary forms of the conUitution we hearr -brieties, to publilh a proclamation in order
TV fttlrviff debate too' pi ice after rtdtiw
fbe Mifjogi of the Executive Direcliry,
relative to the march of the Troops.'
After it wan read, Ilailly moved that it
be printed, referred toa fpecial committee,
cnnliltmg of (even members, and tint it
fhould be communicated by a menage to
the council of elders.
x Limanj-ir oppoled this f The only
complaint he faid, which your cwnmillinn
of infpeclort s imjvi.verc I to ex.imine. is
the fact which vadenouuced to you relative
to the violation of the bouti lary of 1 2 leagues.
Yon hive ickn fledged h.u this boundary
hid D01 been ge vnetn:ally mealured ; thu
h- Ml nee winch the echoes of fa.o ,
nwa lo very conp'.aifantly repeated, m
dontiartr. TMt, indeed, ti proved b
fie rep rt of rmir co n nittee. Why fhen
11 dk ip-eo mm with the m MPmffUfl 0
tlie iroopt beyan-1 the It nm of the c inrti-
iut. ml bJUnry? lt wa neeeT.r
kxvniie many q lefti which h.ve n,v
-veiu-eu wjcteJu,.,!. Ther.l A;1tu
1 J
inen fpeak ot indulgence and eenerofity to
wards the directory, as if the directory
were fuburdinate to the council,'' Mur
murs. BaiUv This is an intuiting error to
the JBlfative body Prefident, call the
fpeaker to order." ;
Lamarque " I obferve tomv colleagues
a voice, lam not your colleague I re
mind thofe who are my colleague's Mur
murs. I move-that ihc.prelidcnt call to
order thofe who are not niy colleagues.
Great noife
Taint. " Prefident tell flip reprcfen
tatives to lileucc their eric?. We cannot
hear."
A number of wWS infill that lalot (by
name) fliould he callrd to order a violmt
altercation enlnes between Talot and the
uiembers near him Greit agitation pre
vails but tranquility is at length rcfhired,
Lnmarque. " Explain the phrale here
employed Ue (a'ul th.n the legdlative body
would neither he generous not indulgent,
it could neither wrelt the law againtl, nor
in favor of the directory."
Lamxgne continued In a report of
tlie 12th Mcuidor, has not the reporter ol
your commillion of auditors to the treafurv
siccufed the general ot the army ol Italy of
ordering ami regulating payments himlelf
and or oppof.ng thedeitinatum ot the funds
regulated by fiiecommifTiry of the trealury.
Why fhould the laurels of that army whicn
nas oy its conquells obtained the fuppliei
of which if flood in need, be thustarnilh-
ed ? The fame reporter alio accufed the
general c;f the Sambre atid Menfe of hav
ing levied a contribution of three millions
and a half which fum, he faid, wiiplac-
en in tne nandi ot tlie etat major, and in
thecaifles of the receivers, out of which fum
general lloche had paid many different ae
ggUllHi yiaimacquc then moved the pre-r
vious queuion, rcianve to the motion for
referring the mellage to a committee.
Vaublane " 1 Humid not have orefent
ad mvfelf to reply without preparations to
a written fpcch, were I n t perhiaded
mat 1 ihntnu be received with indulgence
by my colleaguci ; and were I not addreiT.
ing men, convinced as I am. that the oni.
nians to which we omzht toliilen with the
greeted aticntion, are prccifelv thofe from
wnicn wc di'ienr. pnKeed to the exa
muini ,,i of the dirTerenl peopolition, laid
down in the Ipeech of Lamarque. He mt
Ii !er -diiiKomlirmional.theailcntion whici
you had bellowed upon the event which
have lately taken place, and particularly,
upon the March of the iroops. It would
be difficult more completely to confound
rwo objevls very ddt.net. The d recfory,
,0l,'),lr the right toput the troops
in mition, and to determine the mode in
which they (hall be employed. But does it
follow that their dulinanon mufl never oc
Ctipfj your Itteotlon, efpecially when it is
traced toa point which the troops cannot
pifs without your authority The con.
Itiiution ivei vhe lea;ifl Ufa bJy the right
to req iire infor nation from the directory.
Tuis mfor nation i intended to enlighten
your qo mnif.ees eotrufted with the prep.
to demonflrate to the French neonle the
purity of your intentions feek infor"
mation now becomes necellary, to hear re
ports; require that p drive anfwers fhould
be fubftitnted focorumunications comoletelv
evalivef To trnff the bartirjift nf fnfrh a
fylltm, the legifl.ttive body would loon be
reduced to the impotence of only enacYmg
aws. ( borne membrr.r Uughed ; ftvttal
'Ofcesk " ftwtd be fo." Allow me to
linilh. Two eflential at tributes characterize
your power, yon euntl laws, "but you re
tain the right of (Upef intending their exe
cution. In order to excrcile ih'u fu.jerin-
tendance, you mult invefiioare : vou mufti
hear reports upon the relults of which
you form your opinions and prepare the
aws, which it is your - bufinefs to intro.
luce. Neither wjs I lefs aflonifhed ro
hear it (aid that this tribune had refund
ed with accnfations acrainft fhmf f ,.r
t w 1JI
generals. I . call upon the whole council
to bear witnels to the truth of what I am
about to allert. Never h is any fneaker
omitted an opportunity of beftoing with
in tnoie wail,a ult tribute of praife upon
our generous cbfenders,. and upon theii
glorious chiefs. Hecolled rhat memorable
day, when the preliminaries of peace were
announced. With what fenfihility did be,
who prefided upon that occafion, declare
thit the French armies crowned with vic
tory and with peace, had delerveH well ot
humanity. Tears dreamed from your eyes.
The delicate touches of the orator went to
your hearts, it it true, my colleagues
fl generally " Yes, yes.") Who has
not pronounced with fentiments of affec
tion the illuftrious name of the pacificator
of La Vendee Has that of the hero of
Itly ever been mentioned without excit
ing enthufialm ? Never within thefe walls
did we omit to pay homage to his great
qualities ; -his humanity, even his inodera
tion obi t'med iuft anoloiriflsl W as it not
here that the firft tribute of tha nks (or his
generous conduct towards the niiniflers of
religion, exiled from France, was voted
1 know that abufes which had crept into
the account of certain funds, which appear
to have been diverted, were mentioned.
But ca i it be imagined that it ever entered
into our minds to accufe our iTiirrak n
thefe dilapidation!, to require from the
man who levelled the Aurtnan power, and
difconccrted their military plan-, a me
chanical attention to the drynefs of finan
cial calculations ? No.
We never conceived fuch an idea But
Jrhai could be thought of us if the dil.ipi
daiioiu ol fecondary agents, thoufand
"tnes denounced bv ihe Dnr rati iUtt(u
did not engage our attention ? RftfTlftnV
'pmauona are committed in the army,
tnoll we fhut our eyei ? mull we over
throw the conlluutiouahyflrm of accounts,
and febftjtotiio arbitracy d.ftr.bution in
the room ot the regar ailminidratiofi o
the treafurv ? We have he. rd here of fome
(trange power pr other given to vour com
muree of inlpedors. Behevc me, repre
fentatives, in this refpecl vou have done
no more than your duty. If no conlpira.
citi exifl, fo much the better, my moll ar
dent wifhes are accomplimed. If thev An
you have my fincere thanks ; you have j
checked their progrefs, you have difcon I
certed their eftecls by your wifdom and
by your firm moderation. It is really ne
a iTahen lerioufly to refute ' thofe who
have nd other mode of blaming your con f
duft than by telling vou, Impeach the
uireacry !" Are thele who employ this
language ignorant that (uch a fyHem which
they pretend; is conftitutional, would be
luhverfive of the principles of cur repre
leniative, government. Oppofiiipn in yoilr?
eyes, then muff beunconftituiioiial. Look
at ohr neighbours the Englifli, look at the
Americans ; are you ignorant, that in their
parliament and in their lenate, the mipif
teral powers and tlie royal authority rm
aivked, are cctilUreil, ;n4 that the cen-
r. of rhefe authorities would be their
Qjoft fn-m fupports, if inflead of cenfure U
wis meant to overthrow f h may be ne
cefTary to cenlure what it would be crimi
nal to (libvcrt. We haveheard a oreat
deal alio of the induftry which calumny ex
erts to iilify the republican inftitiitions
and authorities. 1C0 authority, 1 am per
luaded, is more the object of calumny at
this moment than your own. But let a
few wild demagogues, let a few ltupid an
arcliifls' milreprel-nt thefe opinions and
accufe our intentions Of .what impor
tance is it ? Truth is immovable It too i&
a power. Ky the lighrrff-ifs rorch will the
people of France analyze your proceed
ings, and judge of your conduct. It is
laid that the piiefls return. Bur the juft
and la'utary law by wlwch rhey are recall-,
ed, was pa fled unanimoufly by the two
councils. Cnh VOIT rhen acrnfe vrSnrfe1v
j .......
- 1 he ehvfarai ts returned I hear. I
confefs 1 can hardly reflrain my indigna
tion ; cnt.ot conceive how the directory
fpeaU of :hoe returned, their language,
1 heir audacity. Do not the laws exifl
Is it poliible to imanine a rower more
extenlive, more abfolute, more monftroul
than that of the directory with regard t
Migrants? What! We have betraed our
uuty. We have violated the conftimilj-i
n g'ving the diredlorv the rinht A life ar,d
deafh over a Frenchman alh dged to be an
emigrant In a v f;rd, it may ctmfjgn him
to the fcaf old. - . Ym fhrdd-r
rt ith horror, citizens, uhenl remind you
ol a letriflarion Iri htbarmi. t .1,1
Providence ! Is it nm fnffb int fur th rli-
reclory to be tnvefled with an authority fo
monurous, an authority wh.ch ought to
roulc the foul to freedom ? And does the
council impede the execution of tbe law f
Does the council arrefl tfte powers of the
directory ? Has the council fufpended thit
atrocious licence ; no, it has nor, bur itmay
withdraw an aurhoriry which no govern,
meut fhould poffefs : ir miv anihilate a
9 m m
legiflarion, which no free government can
Ijnction, which no humanity can endure
(a number ot voices, yes, yes,
to rhe vote ... The moll lively a.
gitation prevails in the council) Tbe pur
chafers of national nrooertv. it is faid are
intuited, menaced, and aflafTinated. The
flaft fpeskcr and the mtflage fetm fo com-
I Kir... ... f- . A
C cine you 01 not giving lumcienc
guarantee and protection. I will not r. -mind
ou, that their guarantee is confli
"'" nal, rhat they are entitled ro protec
tiou from, the government, but I will tell
vou what you do heir tvtrj day. Do you
not fell the national domains ! Do you not
fupply the trealury with their produce
Would ycu fell what remains, if you in
rended ro di(po(e of the original rmrihaf
ers ? Juch imputations do not require to
he confuted, You may let demagogue! in
r fremy pollute with their foul at hi
latiuns, their impo foned productions ; your
convict is a furacient anfwerto them all.
I am far from reproaching the
lad fpeaker with the indntiarions contain,
fd in h a Ipeech, which are nothing left
than an impeachment of your conduct.'
Lamarque I d da vow them, they ar
foreign to my heart.'
Vaublane. ' 1 know ir cititen, I am
mod perfectly convinced of ir. I firmly
believe, too, rhat yon will be the fir 11 to
oppofe the printing of a fpeecb, which con
uias an mJirect impeachment of the con
dna of the two councils. I oppofe the
pnnt.nR therefore- Our colleague Ballly
his moved, that the meiTage be referred le
3 rn&Ui I Cttpport thi propefitlon.
I