CIRCULAR.
TO THE FRENCH AMBASSADORS AND MINISTERS
Copy of a Utter frorrythc Minijler of Foreign Affairs, addrejfed by order
of the King, to all (he Ambajjadors and Mn.rjlers oj his Mujefly y in
Foreign Courts.
" SIR,
THE King has charged me to inform you, that it is his will that
you make known his sentiments refpe&ing theßevolution and
the French Constitution to the court at which you refulc. The
fame orders arc tranfmitfed to the ambalTadors and ministers of
France, at all the courts of Europe, to the end that no doubt may
remain with regard to his majesty's intentions, his free acceptation
of the new form of government or his irrevocable oath to main
tain it.
His majcfly had convoked the States General of his kingdom,
and resolved in his council that the commons should, in that as
sembly, have a number of Deputies equal to those of the two o
ther orders ihen existing. This ast of provisional legislation which
the circumstances of the moment did not allow to be more favor
able, fufheiently announced his majesty's wish to restore the nati
on to all its l ights.
The Stares General met, and took the title of the National As
sembly ; and in a short time. a conllitution fitted to fccurc the
happiness of France, and of the monarch, took place »f the anci
ent order of things, under which the apparent power of the king
only served to conceal the teal power of certain aristocratic bodies.
The National Aflembly adopted the representative form of
government, conjoined with hereditary monarchy. The legisla
tive body, was declared permanent ; the choice of the miniflers
of public worship, of magistrates, and judges was given to the
people ; the executive power was conferred on the king, the
formation of laws on the legislative body, and the power of fane- 1
tion on the Monarch. The public force, both internal and ex
ternal, was 01 ganized on the fame principles, and in conformity
"with the fundamental basis of a distribution of powers. Such is
the new constitution of the kingdom.
1 hat which is called a revolution, is no more than the abroga
tion of numerous abuses that have been accumulating for ages,
through theeirors of the people, or the power of the ministers,
which was never the power of the king. Those abuses were no
less prejudicial to the nation than to the -monarch, Authority,
under happy reigns, had never ceased to attack these abuses, bin
without being able to destroy them. They exist no longer; the
nation, now the sovereign, has no citizens but such as are equal
in rights ; no despot but the law ; no organs but public officers,
and of those officers the king if the firft. Such is the French re
volution.
This mull naturally have for its enemies all those who, in the
firft moment of error,regret, on account of personal advantages,
the abuses of the ancient government. Hence the apparent divi
iion which (hewed itfelf in the kingdom, and which is daily be
coming less ; hence perhaps some severe laws and circumstances
which time will correct ; but the king, whose true power can ne
ver be diftinfl from that of the nation, who has no aim but the
happiness of the people, and no authority but that which is dele
gated to hi.m, the king has adopted without hesitation, a happy
constitution, which will at once regenerate the nation, the mo
narchy and his authority. All his powers are preserved to him,ex.
cept the dreadful power of making laws. Jt remains charged
with the power of negociating with foreign nations, with the
care of defending the kingdom, and repelling its enemies; but
the French nation will in future have no external enemies, but its
zggrefTor ; no internal enemies but those who, flill flittering
themselves with vain hopes, believe that the will of twenty-four
millions of men, restored to their natural rights, after having orga
nized the kingdom in such a manner as to leave only the memo
ry of ancient forms and abuses, is not an immoveable and irrevoca
ble conflitution.
I he mod dangerous of those enemies are they who afte& to
difleminate doubts of the intentions of the Monarch. These men
are much to blame, or much deceived. They suppose themfeves
the friends of the King, and they are the only enemies of royalty.
They would have deprived the King of the 1 *ve and the confi
dence of a great nation, if his principles and his probity had been
less known. What has the King not done to shew that he consi
dered both the revolution and the French constitution as his titles
to glory! After having accepted and fanftioned all the laws, he
has ncglc&ed no means of causing them to be executed. Since
the month of Februaiv, of the last year, he has promised \u the
bosom of rhe National Assembly, to maintain them. He has
taken an oath to do so, in the midst of the general federation of
the kingdom. Dignified by the title of the Restorer of French
Liberty, he will tranfmi* to his son more than a crown; he will
tianfmit a constitutional r oyalty.
i he enemies of the constitution are conftantlv repeating that the
King is not happy; as if it were poflibfe for a King to enjoy any
happiness but the happiness of his people. They fay that his
authoi ity is leflened, as if authority, founded on force were not
less powerful, and more precarious, than authority founded on
law. Finally that the King is not free; a calumny atrocious, if
they suppose that his will could be constrained ; absurd, if they
take for a want of freedom the consent repeatedly ex pre fled by
his Majesty to remain among the citizens of Paris, a consent that
was due to their patriotism, even to their fears, but above all to
their love.
Those calumnies however, have reached foreign courts; they
nave been repeated there by Frenchmen, who are voluntary ex
iles from their country, inuead of {baring its glory, and who, if
they are not enemies, have at least deserted their stations as citi
zens. The King, fir, charges you to defeat their intrigues and
their projects. The fame calumnies, while they spread thefalfeft
i£ cas refpe&ing the French revolution, have rendered the inte' , -
tH'ns of French travellers fnfpcftcd by several neighbouring na
tions: ani. the King expressly orders you to protest and defend
ill em. Keprefent the French conflitution rti the fame as
that in which the King views it ; and leave no doubt of his in.
tew,on to maintain it to the utmost of his power. By fecurini
lie libetty and the equality of the citizens, that conflitution
lounds tnc■national profnerity on the molt immoveable bafts- it
confirms the royal authority by the laws; it prevents, bv a Mori
ons revolution, a revolution which the abuses of the old' govern
ment would probnblyfoon haveeffeSed by a dissolution of the
f," 1 ?". o',0', a . fi na "y! it will constitute the happiness of the Kin».
°j A "'i 10 f and to con 'ider it as the rule of your
conduct ought to be your firft duly.
I have frequently before communicated to you his Maicfty's
fenttments on th,s head ; but after the information he has received
of the opinion endeavoured to be cftablifhed at foreign Courts,
refpcaing what is passing in France, he has ordered me to charge
you to nuke known the contents of this letter to the government
which you res.de; and that it may be flill more public, his
Majefry has oraered it to be printed.
(Signed)
ScXite.Si.'S'i"" 1 ' A «- -"»«. -
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State.
Revolution in Poland.
TN different foreign letters, we have already
A laid before our readers details of the events
which have lately taken place in Poland, and
which have entirely changed the Constitution of
that Republic. It cannot, however, prove un
acceptable to our readers to have the whole pro
ceedings laid before them in one connected "view.
At three o'clock in the morning of May 3d, a
number of patriots, who had preconcerted the
great objetfs which they meant to accomplish in
the fitting of the Diet that day, afl'embled in the
King's chamber. There, in the presence of the
King, they engaged to effectuate the Revolution
that day, and they pledged themselves to each
other, by a solemn engagement, not to separate
until they had accomplished their end.
The assembly was opened at the nfual hour.—
The galleries were crowded with fpeclators, and
the House was Wounded with thousands who
could not gain admission. Instead of the Mar
shals, the King liimfelf opened the felfion. He
said in substance, that " notwithstanding all as
" furances to the contrary, there was an alarming
" rumour, confirmed by the advices daily receiv
ed, that the three neighbouring Powers would
" "P and terminate all their jealosies and
" divisions at the expence of the pofleffions of
the Republic; that the only method of aflur
" lr l^> to P° lan{ l the integrity of its pofleffions, and
of preserving it from the ruin which foreign
" politics were preparing for it, was to establish
" a Constitution, which should secure as internal
independence. That in this view there had
" been prepareda plan ofa Constitution, founded
" principally on those of England, and the Unit
"ed States of America; but avoiding the faults
" and errors of both, and adapting it as much as
poifibie to the local and particular circumftan
" ces of the country." In support of the infor
mation relative to the foreign powers, the King
communicated to the Diet some difyatches re
ceived from the Minifies of the Republic at
ioreign courts, Hating how eager they were to
oppose all settlement of the Constitution, and
t hat every thing Teemed to announce their holtile
designs on Poland. The King desired that the
plan, winch he fubnntted to them, might be
read and that they should proceed forthwith to
enact it into a law, if they approved of it. The
plan was accordingly read, and a very long and
important debate cook place.
All the reprefentativesof the Provinces of Vol
liyma and Podolia, declared themselves against
the new form of constitution.
IM.SnchorzewJki, who fp recently distinguished
,n so brilliant a manner L an advocate
ior the people, and who is justly regarded as the
principal author of the movement tIS have
MONTMORIN.
110
FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
ODE.
THE FAREWELL.
HOPE, holy lifter of the cherub Pcace!
Thy path cclcftial thro' the heavens I trace,
As now, reclining on the amber brcaft
Of yor. far-failing cloud.
Thou deirn'd thy hallowed form to reft,
Thy beauties half enshroud.
Yet, tho' thy glories faintly fill the fight,
Fair Q ieen I know thee, and adore thy might.
Thy robes of friowy white I know;
The golden lock that o'er thy (houlder ftr^ys,
And on the skirting of the cloud doth throw
The fplmdor of the solar blaze ;
Thy skyey mantle now I spy,
That, backward floating, on the breezes plays;
The dim mills now thy visage fly,
I meet the comfort of thine eye.
Offspring of Virtue, Consolation's child !
Thy power, thy kindness, and thy love, I blcfs;
And with adoring heart thy care confefs,
Whose conaefcenfion mild,
Hath spread new caJmnefs o'er my Birtha's foul,
Bid new-born transport' thro' her bosom stray,
Their tides frefh spirits thro' her veflels roll,
And sweet Contentment o'er her features play*
Henceforth my idle song (hall ceafc,
No higher comforts can I give
Than those which in her bosom live,
Thy voice serene hath spoke, and all her foul is peacc.
*************************
— -Go little Lyre, unbend thy useless chords,
Untune each speaking firing;
No more my voice of youth shall give thee words,
My feeble touch responsive bid thee ring.
For now severer Study lifts her voice,
And chides the lingering accents of my lay ;
Points to the waiting object of my choice,
That shuddering trembles at each fond delay.
Now cares aw?it me, and the frugal toil v
1 hat builds, of Competence the peacefuj dome,
And gives, it length, the happy haven home.
Pcrchance, in days to come, may Leisure smile,
And fond P.emcmbrance give thee to my fi^ht,
Not all unused thy warblings to awake,
Not unacquainted to arotife delight,
To soothe the fad, the warm to love excite,
And bid, with deepest dread, the foul severely shake.
Aud then, perchance, in happiest union join'd,
Thy chords, kind answering to my song,
May p6ur some happy {train along,
And please, of Wisdom's Sons, the tafle refined.
LONDON, May 19,
brought about the Revolution, opposed this
with great zeal. The patriotic. n' by which \
was animated, was alarmed, by the Crown's bV
ing made hereditary. He advanced, and thr,-
hnnfelf on his ]<nees at the foot of the Thr
supplicating and conjuring his Majesty, «° ne '
"ounce his ideas of the hereditary fucceffio
the Royalry, as it would be the tomb of theV°
berty of Poland." Many Representatives w
were on the fame fide, alledged the inftru'dJ
ot their provinces, which prevented them fV,
agreeing to make the Throne hereditary Tl"™
infilled that at lead the plan lliould be taken 7{
delibtrandum, as every other new law was nken'•
but a great majority of voices refufed to aeree'J 1
this. "We inuft pass the whole this day -
will not depart from this place until the whole
is accoinplilhed." The majority requested th
King to be pleased to unite with them f or tl *
acceptance and support of the new Constitution
in a solemn oath. The King called to him the
Bishop of Cracovia, and took the oath from hi s
hands. They cried out, " All those who deftre
the welfare of their country will join their King
atfift and support him." They surrounded the
throne on all fides. The King, to be seen by i|, e
Affenibly, could not remain seated ; he mounted
on the feat, and swore aloud. A great majority
of the Diet held up their right hand, followed
his example, and swore the fame. " Every man
that loves his country," exclaimed his Majesty
" follow me to the Church, and thanking God'
let us repeat the oath at the altar." All the Bi
shops, all the frcular Senators, with a great
number of the Nuncios or Representatives, ac
companied the King to Church, and there again
solemnly engaged, before the Supreme Being
and their Country, to maintain a Conftitution 5
which, combining liberty with subordination,'
and fubjedting the firft citizen as well as the la ft
to the law, secures to all the means of happiness
and gives to each citizen the true enjoyment of
his rights. It was that time seven o'clock in the
evening, TeDeum was sung, and the new Con
stitution was announced to the people by the dis
charge of 200 pieces of cannon. There were
between thirty and forty Nuncios who did not
follow the King to church. The King, with his
suite, returned to the Afl'embly House, and ad
journed tho Diet to the sth of May, after charg
ing the Marshals to give the oath to all the De
partments. The opposing Nuncios, feeing that
all retlftance was ufelels, resolved to protest
affainft the new Constitution, by the publication
of a Manifefto, after which they retired without
iioife to theiiv own lioufes. There was no at
tempt made to interrupt them, nor was any in-
Cult whatever oft'ered to their persons. Cries of
joy filled the streets, buj. this joy was the ex
pressions of pure and calm patriotism. Through
the whole day there was not the fmallelt confu
fion, nor disorder, nor riot. At eleven o'clock
the streets were so perfectly calm, that one
would scarcely believe that it had been the epoch
of a new order of things.
It is pretended, that on the eve of this menlo
rable day, a certain foreign Minister had endea
voured, by the dextrous application of 50,000
ducats, to avert the revolution ; but all was fore
seen and prevented. The bufijiefs was executed
in every point with as much address as it was
framed. On the 4th inft. eighteen Nunciospub
lifted their Manifefto againlt the proceedings of
the day before; and Mr. Suchorzewlki returned
the Cordon bleu, with which his Majesty had in
verted him fifteen days before. On the ?d May,
the port was flopped, and even foreign Ministers
submitted to the genera] order; but 011 the 4th,
exprefles were sent oft* in all directions.
ELLA
The following is an authentic copy of an ad
dress, presented to W. Wilberforce, Esq. on
I hurlday the sth of lad month, by the Africans
in and about London.
Sir,
WE are sensible that the acknowledgments of
a few humble natives of Africa, can add but lit
tle to the fatisfadtion of a gentleman, who finds
his generous exertions amply recompensed in
the consciousness of worth ; yet we have pre
ftinied to gratify our own feelings at Jeaft, by
presenting this small tribute of thankfulnefs, as
well on our own behalves as on that of our kin
dred in misery and chains.
We are, fir, as you well know, though partici
pating of personal freedom, yet in very low Na
tions, claiming however, and not unworthily we
hope, to be considered as sober, and diligent find
just : with faces of colour indeed, but unknown
to the magistrate, and with names not to be
found in the lift of offenders of any kind ; vet,
lowly as we are, if, upon the queffion lately agi
tated in Parliament (involving the fate of our
whole race) we were without the fenfibi 1 it ies nt
admiration, and gratitude and hope, we should
in good truth not be men.
As concerning rhe event of this question, it
may not, perhaps, become ns to speak ; yet
ilrong an J lively is our hope, that the principles
explained, and the sensations excited by you, can
never befatisfied til] they have obtained theirend.