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PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 41, BROAD-STREET, NEAR THE ExdfiANGE, NEW-YORK
[No. 31, if Vol. ll.j
DISCOURSES ON DAVILA. No. XVI.
Opposant, sans reliche, ai rc n op 4c prudence,
Lcs Cuius aux Ctndis, et la Fiance a (a France.
Toujours piite a j'unir avec f«s enncmis
Et cnangearit d'mteiet, de rivaux, et d'ainis.
THE rivalry, between thehoufesof Guise and
Montmorency, or in other words, the am
bition of the Cardinal de Lorrain, and the Duke
of Guise, to outstrip the Montmorency's, produ
ced a war. Charles the Vth. was preparing with
a numerousariny to lay siege to Metz. It was not
doubted that the conduct ot so important a war,
■would be committed to one of the two favorites.
But the Constable Montmorency, more than fixry
years ot age, preferred arelidence near the per
son of the King, to a rifqne of his reputation, in
new dangers. The Duke of Guife l , on the con
trary, full of courage, and burning with ardor to
<tiftinguifli himfelf, solicited the command, with
the more vivacity, as he law no other resource
than in military fuccefles, to efface the credit , and
cclipfe the glory of theConftable. Me was there
fore charged with the defence ot Met:', with
the consent, or at leait, without tile opposition
ofthe Constable, who, internally, was not dis
pleased to fee his competitor, expose his lite, or
his reputation to danger. The Duke fulfilled
perfetftly, the idea, whicii had been conceived
of his valor and prudence—uncertain as the suc
cess of the enterprise had been, he came out of
it victorious, and covered with glory. This great
atftion did him fomuch honor witll the King, and
the whole nation, that they committed to him,in
preference of all others, the command ot the ar
my, which they sent afterwards to Italy, to re
conquer the kingdom of Naples. Either by the
fault ofthe French, or the inconstancy of their
allies, this expedition failed, or, at !eaft produ
ced little advantage : Yet the ill success was not
imputed to the Duke, who drew from it more
glory than he could have done from a victory.—
for this reason : Philipthefecond Kingol Spain,
upon the abdication of his fcith-r, Charles thaVth.
turned his arms against the frontiers of France,
and entered through Flanders into Picardie, to
make a diversion si oin the war in Italy. Ihe
Conltable as Governor of that Province, was then
obliged to take leave of the King, and, aguinll:
his inclination, run the hazards ol war. rhelofs
of the battle of Sflint-Qnintin, where the Span
iards took him prisoner, l'pread a consternation
through all the neighbouring ptovinces. The
friends ofthe Guiles in council, conhl difoover
no surer means of repelling this invasion ot the
enemy, of repairing the lotl'es, and preventing
the conferences of this defeat, than by recalling
Italy the Duke of Guise. The celerity of
his return, added to the memorable conquetts of
Calais, Guifne, and Thionville.fullyju (lifted these
hopes, and gave him that superiority over the
Conltable, that a Conqueror inuft ever have over
one who is conquered.
TheConftable, however, obtained his liberty,
and returned to court. The King s ailetftion for
him was not abated. Henry, attributing hislate
misfortunes to the lot of arms, and the fortune
of war, conversed familiarly with him, and, still
convinced of his capacity, confided to him the
weight of public affairs. In the critical circuin
ftaiices ofthe Snre, the Duke and the Cardinal,
who had acquired a great reputation, the one by
his exploits, and the other by his abilities, appre
hended that if they could not throw l'ome power
ful obftaclein the way ofthe Conltable, he would
rife higher in favor than ever. They resolved
therefore to gain to their parly, Diana, Dutchefs
<5f Valentinois—to connect their interelts with
hers —and to make her protection and favor (erve
as a foundation of theirelevation. And who was
*li«na ? Of illuftvious birth, defrended from the
ancient liuufe of the Counts of Poitiers, in the
flower of her age, ihe united with uncommon
beauty, a sprightly wit, an acute and fubne un
derltanding, the molt infinuatinggraces of behav
ior, and all the other qualities which in a young
woman, enchant the eyes and captive the heart.
She had married the Senechal of Normandy, who
soon left her a widow, with two daughters. She
took advantage of her lingle state to deliver her
fejf up to the pleafurei and amusements ofthe
Court. Her charms gained the heart of the King,
whom <he governed with an absolute empire. But
ib.e behaved with so much arrogance, and appro
priated to herfelf the riches of the crown, with
i.'« much avidity, that Ihe made herfelf odious and
infjppurrabJe to the whole kingd otn. The Qurcn,
WEDNESDAY, JULT 28, 1790.
full of indignation, to h'ave-a rival so powerful,
behaved towards her 'with, aif exterior decency,
but in her heart bore her an implacable hatred.
The nobility, whom ftie had ill treated in the
persons of feverstl gentlemen, could not with pa
tience, fee themselves trampled under foot by the
pride of a woman—and the people detested her
avarice—to which they imputed <he rigorous im
posts, with which they were loaded.
The Guises, without regard to the general dis
content—sensible only to thafo-jr of losing their
power, fought the friend/hip <5X the Dutchels,
vvho soon declared herfelf openly in their favor,
and by marryingone of her daughters to the Duke
ot Aumale their brother, fupportedthem with all
her credit. The Constable eaflly unravelled the
irttrlgues of the Guises, and, not depending on
the marks-os confidence which he received from
the King, thought to fortify himfelf, equally, with
the prote&iou of Diana. If the Guises had flat
tered her, by the splendor of their birth, he did
not difpair to gain her to hi* int«reft, by satiating \
heravarice,apaffion as ungovernable in her heart,
as ambition. He begun to make his court to her,
and endeavored to gain her by considerable pre
sents. He had lb much at heart the success of
his measures, that in fpiteof hisratural pride, he
did nothefitate to feekalfoher alliance by espou
sing to Henry Lord of Damville, his second son,
Antoinette de la Mark, grand daughter by the
mother, of the Dutchefs of Valsntinois—a reso
lution so much the more imprudeht, 3s Diana was
already ftricftly united with the party of the Gui
ses, andlabor'd sincerely, with all herpower, for
their aggrandizement—whereas she favored but
coldly the designs of the Constable. All the
me_iis which had been employed in opposition to
the elevation of the Guises, became useless. To
the merit of their services—to the intrigues by
which they had continually advanced tiiemfelves
—at the time, when they disputed with so much
vivacity, with their rivals, for the firft rank at the
Court, was added, the marriage ot' Francis, the
Dauphin of France, and the elded son of the King,
with the Princess Mary, sole heir of the kingdom
of Scotland, daughter of James Stuart, lately de
ceased, by Mary of Lorrain, lifter of the Duke
and Cardinal. All alliance of so much magnifi
cence, drew them near to the throne. There re
mained now, to the Constable and his family,
only the friendly sentiments, which the King
preserved for them by habit; and to the other
courtiers, only the offices of linaller importance.
The principal dignities, thefaireft governments,
and the general fuperintendance of affairs, civil
and military, all were placed in the hands of ths
Guises and their creatures.
(To be continued.)
TRANSLATED
TOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
PARIS.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COLONIES,
Prefenttd to the National AJfemHy, in the name of
the Committee appointed Jor that purpose, the 234
March, 1790.
By Mr. Barnave, Depaty from Danphiny.
ADMITTING the ideas that have been detail
ed, and that the colonies are in a state of
tranquility, well administered, . and delivered
from oppression, one thing ftilj r*mains wanting.
They offer themselves to every body, by their
riches, as an objeA of an adfive ambition, but
want the population, and cannot procure within
themselves the maritime and military forces ne
ceflary for their defence.
It is necessary then, that being united and
identified with a great power, they may find by
the disposition of its strength, the security of the
bleflings acquired by means of a good conftituti
on, and good interior laws. _ ,
It is neceflary that this power, interested 111
their preservation, by the advantages gained in
its tranfa<ff ions with them, should coniider it a
duty to fhovv the molt constant equity towards
them, that it fhou)d always present a fufficient
orce for their protection, and that by its iwduf
-1 ry: its prodiuSions and capital, it may be polled
ed of every means neceflary to fonn the most ad
vantageous commercial connexions.
Here then is the whole of what is neceflary
for the poiirical existence of the colonies, by fe
coring the prcfcrvat o;i of every interior advan
ce ; V ts what tluife (he kl Ha e pointed out
537
CONTINUED
10 them, who inspired them with a vvilh for a
good constitution.
Were there persons thoughtless enough to
dare to invite them to a Separate political cxif-
to an abfolnte independence, we would
a!k theni, laying aside faith, engagements, ajid
every thing which great nations can employ to
cnforce them ; we would ask them, what is then
the secret oftheir hopes ? Where are their forc
es to protect them ? Would they take men from
cultivation to make sailors and soldiers of them ?
would they oppose them with any hopes against
thefirft: powers in the world - ?
But, they will fay, we will procure for onr
felves alliances anei guarantees. And do you
think tliey will be disinterested ? Though they
may be for a while, do you think they would be
so long ! Da you not lee that every protection
would be the commencement of a new arbitrary
government over you ? We, with whom you are
connected by so many duties and so many ties,
can we not fay to you, forgetting every thing el fe
except your interelts, behold our principles, re
gard our laws ; choose whether you will be the
tree citizens of a free nation, or whether you
will soon become the IHves of those who should
now offer themselves as yourallies.
And altho they iheuld flatter themselves, that
a dominion eftablilhed on such foundations, may
preserve for some time an appearance of jultice,
we would ltili alk them, where is the nation that
can promise our colonies, more loyalty, wore
fraternal regard, than we now teftify towards
them
Where is the nation that can display for their
protection, greater or more solid ftrengtli than
what we aredifpofed to do, after the crilis of our
regeneration !
Where is the nation to whom nature has given
greater means to carry on commerce with them ?
Which can produce and prepare within itfelf,
more materials fit for their confutnption ? Which
can make a greater ofe of thrirs-#- Whidr jjoitttt
es in fine, beyond us, every thing that can lead to
that point, wherein a mutual exchange is attend
ed with the greatest possible advantages.
They have not, it is true, hitherto drawn in
their fulleft extent, the advantages which these
different considerations give reason to expert ;
but to what other cause was this owing, than the
abuses which we have destroyed ?
The administration of their government was
oppressive ? The answer is in our revolution,
the answer is in the decrees and the inftru<ftions
which we fend to the colonies.
Our naval force has never attained the degree
of preponderance which the extent otour means
and our geographical position assigned it. But
what more than us, had those to boast of, who
with fewer men and lefsriches, have maintained
themselves in the firft rankamongmaritimepow
ers ? They had a constitution—they were free.
In short, the iituation of our commerce did not
present all the superiority of advantages which
the whole of our resources warrant, as soon as
they shall be developed.
But are they ignorant, that hitherto the geni
us of the French nation has alone struggled against
all these initiations, all thele (hackles, all these
prejudices !
Are they ignorant that an unaccountable opi
nion, ranked almost every other profeHion above
commerce, agriculture and produtflive industry,
and thus destroyed in a nation, fond of refped:
and glory, the gem which gives birth to every
kind of perfe&ion ?
Are they ignorant, that people hitherto with
us, betook thenifelves to commerce, in hopes of
soon enriching thenifelves, and that they quit it
asfoonastliey had acquired fufficient fortune t»
prosecute it on such an extensive scale, as would
be like advantageous to thenifelves and those
with whom they tranfa<fted bulinefs.
Are they ignorant that the capitals, which
ought to have promoted ufeful industry, were
ablorbed by a borrowing government, and the
crowd of itockjobbers with which it was sur
rounded !
Are they ignorant that the profits which this
government was obliged to offer in return for the
want of confidence, and thofc of the infamous
traffic which was supported by its profulions,
kept up in France the iatereft ofmoney toaprice
that was alone fufficient to restrain below medi-
ocrity, all the branches of ourinduftry, and to
change every proportion of our competition with
othver people ?
[Whole NO. IJJ.]