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Fortunately the Houfe is not left to chance in this important decifion; on the contrary, it is moft happily led in its choice, by that fure and unerring criterion, experience. I have a Right Hon. Gentleman in my eye, whom many Members of the prefent will recollect, with every fentiment of gratitude, to have filled the chair of this Houfe, during a part of the laft feffion of the late Parliament. His fervices upon that occafion must be ettimated as of the highest kind, and furely they must challenge the highest applaufe, as they gave the meft ample and fatis. factory earnest of his future exertions in the discharge of his arduous and important duty. His late fervices have given an authentic and decided feal to the late Parliament fufficient to confole them for the lofs they had fuftained in being deprived of the exertions of his predeceffor (Lord Redefdale). The Right Hon. Gentleman to whom I have alluded, is characterised by in duftry moit fevere; attention minute and unbounded; knowledge most extenfive and profound; principles truly conftitutional; private elegance and urbanity of manners; and public dig nified demeanour There is no occafion for me to indulge in panegyric. -He comes forward upon this occafion peculiarly diftinguished by thefe qualifications, fortified and ftrengthened by experience in the chair; deep. ly verfed in the forms of the Houfe; and entertaining the higheft veneration for the ufages of Parliament. I now move, Sir, That the Right Honourable Charles Abbott be called to the chair as Speaker of this Houfe.

Mr. H. Lafcelles, in a thort fpeech, feconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr. Abbott.-Unquestionably, Sir, to be recommended to fill the chair of this Houfe, is the highest honour which can be conferred on any Mem. ber of this affembly. Although fuch recommendation may take place through the kindness of that Member's friends, in fuch a cafe it becomes every man to be diffident of his abili ties. The little experience I have had in the chair, has however taught me the neceility of a deep and comprehenfive knowledge of bufinefs, at the fame time that it has convinced me extreme vigilance is neceflary for defending the rights, ufages, and privileges of Parliament, as the only basis of all true

liberty. It is very true, that in the difcharge of this high office, much matter may be found in the Journals, by which confiderable knowledge may be obtained; but it is a striking remark that no man, however he may be ably qualified for the task, can do the duty of the chair, unless he is fupported by the confidence of the Members. If any man has not that confidence, he certainly ought not to afpire to that dignity; or if he ever fhould obtain it, being deftitute of that firm confidence and reliance, he ought not to retain it for a single hour."

Sir W. Scott and Mr. H. Lafcelles then led Mr. Abbott to the chair.

The Speaker then addreffed the Houfe.-Placed for the fecond time in this high office, I feel penetrated by the deepest gratitude, but I humbly truft that the Houfe will rather feel inclined to judge from my conduct while I retain this honour, than from any profeflions I can make.

Lord Caitlereagh then congratulated the Speaker in a very elegant though fhort speech, upon the choice which the Houfe had juft made, which, he was happy to fay, met with the most cordial approbation. He thould, however, be wanting in refpect to the Houfe, did he not alfo moft fincerely affure them, that the choice they had made, reflected the highest honour on their difcernment. When the late Parliament had been deprived of the talents of their late worthy Speaker (Lord Redefdale), they had called the prefent Right Hon. Gentleman to the chair from a thorough conviction that in every refpect, he was worthy of their choice. The Houfe had this evening adopted the fame line of conduct, and if his Majefty fhould be graciously pleafed to approve of the election just made, the Houfe would certainly feel the moft lively joy. He concluded by moving that this House do now adjourn till to-morrow. The motion was put and carried.Adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 17.

The Speaker (Mr. Abbott) came to the Houfe about two o'clock, but not attired in his robes, and very foon afterwards the Ufher of the Black Rod fummoned the Members to the Houfe of Lords.-They accordingly went up, headed by the Speaker, and on their return, the Speaker acquainted them Ddd 2

that

that he had been in the Houfe of Peers, where his Majesty, through his Commiffion, had given his approbation to their election of a Speaker; that he had, according to ancient ufage, claimed by petition to his Majefty, all the rights and privileges of the Commons Houfe of Parliament, freedom of debate, freedom from arreft in their own perfons, and in thofe of their fervants; that his Majefty fhould conftrue all their proceedings in the most favourable manner, and that they fhould have access to his Majesty's perfon when occafion might require. His Majefty had been graciously pleafed, by his Commiffioners, to give his affent to all thefe demands in the most ample

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moft fincere gratitude for the honous they had done him in placing him in the chair. He must remind them, that the only way for him to discharge his duty with dignity and effect, was by a strict attention and obedience on their part to the forms of Parliament, which, the more they were confidered, would be the more readily obeyed.

A great number of Members were then fworn in, after which the House adjourned.

The Houfe was occupied in swearingin Members till Tuesday, November 23, when the Houfe attended the Houfe of Peers, to hear his Majesty's fpeech.

[In both Houses, the Addrefs paffed unanimously, after a Debate which fhall appear in our next.]

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

The HELVETIC DIET to Citizen BONAPARTE, First Conful of the French Republic.

"CITIZEN FIRST CONSUL,

"TH

HE Proclamation which you did us the honour to fend to us on the 30th of September, by Citizen Rapp, your Adjutant General, arrived at Schwitz on the 6th of October.

"We could have wished that the letter we took the liberty of fending you, General First Conful, on Sept. 30, could have reached you fooner: it contains a faithful expofition of the prefent flate of Switzer land. Permit us to fend you enclosed a duplicate of it, and to entreat you to receive it favourably. It will prove to you, that the movements which have taken place in Switzerland are not the refult of a fpirit of party, and that the Swifs Nation has no other object in view than to make ufe of the right which the claims of giving herself a central and cantonal Conftitution, founded on her pofition and her wants a facred and precious right, which you deigned yourfelf to infure her by the Treaty of Luneville.

"Switzerland would long fince have been tranquil, if the Members of the Helvetic Government, thole obfcure metaphyficians, had confulted the real ftate of affairs, instead of obitinately attaching themselves to theoretic attempts, as erroneous as they are expenfive.

"The violence with which they have tried to impofe their fyltem upon the de

mocratic Cantons, the civil war they. have organized to attain their end, directed at first against thofe Cantons, then against all Switzerland, the unexampled feverity with which they have done it, have produced a difcontent equally general and just, and a determined and avowed will to shake off this infupportable yoke.

"It is not then, General First Conful, an affair of party; it is the facred caufe. of humanity; it is the general with of a whole nation, which has given us our power and our inftructions; of a nation which you yourself wished to free, and which has been ill-treated and irritated contrary to your intentions.

"Yet that nation, we render ourselves guarantees, will never abuse the liberty it claims. The Swifs have nothing more at heart than to attain a state of repole,. in which, under the shield of a mild and juft Government, each inhabitant may enjoy his property and his existence. We are convinced that we shall arrive at that effential object of all social order, from the moment our will and our efforts shall be no longer fettered.

"General First Conful, all Europe. admires in you the Supreme Head of an immenfe power and empire, which, without doubt, according to your own views, will be directed to the good of humanity; your magnanimity affures us, that you will not make ufe of it against a people who only defire what you have made them

hope,

hope, and who only with what they be lieve themselves authorised to do by your

felf.

"Penetrated with eternal gratitude, the Swiss Nation will do its endeavour to deferve the good will of the French Government; and will fulfil all the duties which are impofed upon it by the defire of cultivating good neighbourhood.

"It is with the most diftinguished respect that we remain, General First Conful,

THE DEPUTIES OF THE HEL
VETIC DIET.

Schwitz, O. 8, 1802.

TREATY BETWEEN THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, PRUSSIA, AND BAVARIA.

The First Conful of the French Re public and the Emperor of Rullia having offered their mediation for the arrangement of the affairs of Germany, and having made known to the Imperial Diet, by their declaration of the 18th of Auguft 180z, the Indemnities which they thought fhould be adjudged to each Prince in confequence of the 7th Article of the Treaty of Luneville, the King of Pruffia haftened to conform to the plan presented, and, in taking poffeffion of the States adjudged to him, confined himfelf fcrupulously within the limits affigned in the declaration.

The Emperor of Germany having, on his fide, announced the intention of caufing its different poffeffions to be occupied, the King of Pruffia, the First Conful, and the Emperor of Ruflia, have fpontaneously haftened to make known to him, that it was, not at all becoming that his troops fhould pafs the limits affigned by the declaration, or that they fhould occupy any territory but that appointed for the indemnification of the Archduke Ferdinand.

Yet, without regard either to this declaration, made collectively at Paris to the Imperial Ambaffador by the Minifter of the three Powers, nor to that which has been made at Berlin by the Count de Haugwitz to M. de Stadion, the Auftrian troops have taken poffeflion of Palau, and his Imperial Majesty has informed the Diet, by his Plenipotentiary, that he would not withdraw his troops, unless the countries occupied by the other Princes were in like manner evacuated, which is an indication that his Imperial Majesty fets no value on the declaration of the Mediating Powers, and that he regards it as void.

In confequence, the King of Pruffia and the First Conful engage themselves to reiterate in concert, at Ratibon and Vienna, their efforts to cause the plan prefented to be adopted by the Germanic Body, and to be ratified in its whole extent, but particularly fo far as it guarantees to the Elector of Bavaria the prefervation of his poffedions on the right bank of the Inn, and as far as it fecures to him the town of Paffau.

And if, contrary to their hopes and their united interpofition, the Emperor, taking advantage of the poffeffion of Paffau, fhould refufe to evacuate it within the period of fixty days appointed for the deliberation of the Imperial Diet, the Governments of Pruffia and France pledge themfelves to combine their efforts with thofe of Bavaria, to secure the latter the prefervation of her ancient domains on the right of the Inn, as well as the poffeffion of Paffau, and the entire indemnity which has been adjudged to her.

Done at Paris, September 5, 1802. (Signed) TALLEYRAND.

MARQUIS DE LUCCHESINI.
CETTO.

PARIS, O. 28.-Our papers are principally occupied with details relative to the intended vifit of the First Conful to the different ports of the Republic. The Prefect of the Department of the Seine has published a notice on this fubject, in which, alluding to the Firk Conful, he fays, "It is to him you are indebted for victory, peace, the return of good morals, order, and the laws-to him whofe activity, equally indefatigable in peace as in war, undertakes one labour after another, and who devotes his life to your happiness." Shortly after he adds, "the name of this Hero fills the world; ftrangers flock to fee him from the extremities of the earth. Every where, at home and abroad, his words are received as oracles of wisdom; he has become the common Arbiter of Nations and of Kings !"

The First Conful fet off for Rouen this day, accompanied by his wife. The object of his journey is ftated to be to vifit the manufactures of the Depart ment of the Lower Seine.

The French Committee of Arts and Sciences appointed to prepare a work on the fubject of Egypt, at the expence of the Government, are proceeding in their labours with great activity. The work is expected to be very splendid.

oa.

08. 31. The First Conful arrived at Rouen on the 29th, at half past four in the afternoon. He was met by all the Civil Officers beyond the gates of the city: The carriages of the Minifter of the Interior, the Generals and the Prefects, who accompanied him, led the van of the proceffion; in the Conful's carriage were Madame Bonaparte and General Songis; the cavalry which etcorted them was compofed of eighty young men, natives of Rouen. In the evening the refidence of the Conful, and the avenues to the city, were illuminated. After dinner be walked into the gardens with Ma. dame Bonaparte, and his fuite, when artificial fire works were exhibited at the old Palace. On arriving at that part of the terrace neareft the people, he stopped, and feemed to labour under a grateful emotion on receiving the teftimonies of their affection. On the following day he visited part of the environs of Rouen, in company with fome General Officers, and escorted by a party of the National Guards. During this excurfion he afcended the heights of Mont aux Malades and Mont des Sapins, and after making fome remarks on the civil and military hif tory of Rouen, returned to his palace, where Mafs was performed by the Archbishop. After this religious ceremony had been gone through, the Mayor and his Officers prefented certain prefents, according to ancient custom, on fimilar occations; they confitted of 40 boxes of dried fweetmeats and 40 bottles of wine. prefenting them, the Mayor delivered an Addreis, the object of which was to exprefs the gratitude and admiration of himfelt and his fellow-citizéns, for the advantages which they had derived from the Confular Government. The Addrefs is, of course, couched in the ufual style of French adulation; it praifes the Conful for collecting in the field of victory the olive of peace, re-establishing the edifice of morals on the basis of religion, &c. &c. On addreffing Madame Bonaparte, the Orator faid, "Condefcend to accept, Madam, through me, their fpokefman, the respectful homage of the inhabitants of Rouen. What unlimited right, Madam, have you to our gratitude; you, who difcharge the debt of patriotism by con. tributing to the happiness of the Hero who is dear to us all." Bonaparte

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then gave an audience, when the Mayor of Rouen delivered the keys of the city; on returning which, the First Conful anfwered, "I cannot entrust the keys of the city of Rouen better than to the worthy Mayor who is at its head; but the keys, which I fhall never entrust to any body, are thofe of the hearts of all the inhabitants of Rouen and of this department." The Prefect of the Palace then prefented the different Civil and Military Offcers. He replied to each of the fpeeches that were addreffed to him, and converfed with all the Deputations, particularly with the criminal and civil Tribunals, on the neceflity of fpeedy decifions; with the country Mayors, on the refpect which ought to be paid to the laws, and on the prefervation of good morals; with the Clergy on the virtue of charity, and on the fpirit of peace, moderation, and good will towards men: with the Tribunal of Commerce he entered into fome minute details refpecting the trade of Rouen in particular. This levee lafted fix hours.

The First Conful and his fuite left Rouen on the 5th. Before his departure, he gave 50,000 franks to the Hofpital for the purchase of linen, and 12,000 to form a Soup Establishment on the plan of Count Rumford. He prefented fnuff-boxes, &c. to the dif ferent Mayors and Archbishops.

Lord Whitworth, the British Ambaffador, arrived in Paris on Sunday the 14th.

Don Ferdinand, the Infant of Parma, died of a liver complaint on the 9th October.

By an order from the French Government, the Duke de Choifeul was arrested at Calais on his return to Paris. This unfortunate Nobleman had come to England to give up more than 800l. per annum, which he held a gift from our Government. This is the 4th or 5th time he has been doomed to confinement fince the Revolution.

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excited diftruft amongst the reft, who appear to embrace every occafion to elcape from the power of their new mafters.

Another Black General, named Bellazer, who had fubmitted to the French in St. Domingo, and had been admitted into their fervice and confidence, has revolted, and joined the infurgents. There are accounts, via America, to the end of September, at which period the brigands were increafing in numbers and in confidence. They have burnt fome finall towns about Monto Chrifto, and in the Eaftern part of the and were almost unoppofed.

The difgrace of Bonaparte's private Secretary has been the fubject of much converfation at Paris. The facts which led to this circumitance are thus ftated in a private communication: "Bourrien, the Secretary, whofe paffion for money is fo well known as to have become proverbial, formed a connexion with the houfe of Coulon and Co. and put into the concern one million five hundred thousand livres, for which he was to receive intereit at the rate of three per cent. per month, or 36 per cent. by the year, their being no law in France to prevent ufury. The authority of Bourrien's fituation, his known wealth, and the publicity of his connexion with the house, gave the con. cern great refpectability. After a length of time, B. fuddenly withdrew his money, but left the intereft due on his advances, amounting to upwards of 40,0ool. fterling, in the hands of the house. This was a great blow to the concern: they ftill, how ever, managed to make good their payments, till B. fuddenly demanded his intereft. The creditors then repaired in a body to the Prefect of the Police, to whom they reprefented their cafe, ftating, that they had given credit to the houfe chiefly on the ftrength of Bourrien's itability, who, by with drawing himself, had defrauded the creditors. The Prefect directly fent an account of the tranfaction to the First Conful, who ordered B. to restore the 40,000l. He at first hefitated; but the First Conful told him if he did not inftantly comply, he would fend him to the Bicetre, and there leave him to rot! B. knew too much of French law to h-fitate. The 40,000l. was inftantly re-embarked in the concern. B.'s ditgrace followed, and his erafure from

the lift of Councillors of State will complete his punishment.

Means are taking by the Miffionary Societies for the extenfion of Methodifm in France. Some Miffionaries are now there, and their fuccefs is repre fented as being confiderable.

has been placed at the difpofal of the It appears that the Dutchy of Parma French Republic. This event has taken place, in virtue of a Convention concluded between France and Spain, on the 21st of March 1801, by which the States of the infant Duke were to devolve to the French Republic on his deceafe. This Prince having died on the 9th ult. the First Conful has decided that the exercife of the lovereignty is transferred to him and his coadjutors by right. With this view, he has fuddenly appointed Moreau de St. Mery, the French Minifter at Parma, to act as Administrator-General of the States of Parma, Guastalla, Piacenza, &c. This Minifter has in confequence published the following Proclamation:

I. From the 9th October all the rights and powers attached to the Sovereignty in the faid States of Parma, Piacenza, Guaftalla, &c. belong and remain to the French Republic.

II. The Provisional Regency estab lifhed the fame day that his Royal Highness the Infant Duke of Parma died is fuppreffed.

III. All the Functionaries of the old Government thall continue provifionally, and until a new order express their functions.

IV. The public acts of whatever nature, fhall be made out in the name of the French Republic, and fhail bear a double date, viz. that of the calendar of this Republic, and that of the old calendar.

V. No act of public administration or legiflation, fhall have any validity, unless it emanates directly from us, or is clothed with our approbation.

VI. We enjoin all the public functionaries, without exception. under their refponfibility to increafe their zeal and activity, to labour conjointly with us to maintain good order, and public tranquility, to fecure the triumph of justice, without which there is no fociety, and to preferve among a people, worthy of all our cares, the refpect which it owes to its Magiftrates, as alfo the fentiment of happinefs to be governed by France.

VII. The

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