RESOLUTION of the PARLIAMENT of

PARIS, May 3, 1788.

The COURT being affembled, and having been apprifed by public report, and by a number of circumstances, of the fatal ftroke which was meditating-concluded that the ill intentions of the Miniftry against the Magiftrates was evidently owing to the refiftance they made against two ruinous taxes in refusing to allow themselves incompetent in matters relating to fubfidies-in foliciting a convocation of the General States, and in laying a claim to the liberty of every individual fubject.-That their endeavours can confequently have no other object than to convert (if poffole) without applying to the General States thofe immenfe fums formerly diffipated, by fuch means as the Court of Parliament could not oppofe;-their duty being to withstand firmly against all plans contrary to law, and to the welfare of the nation. The Court further confidered, that the fyftem of complying with the King's abfolute will, as expreffed in his different anfwers, proves the Minister's deftructive project of annulling the principles of the national, government, which Parliament is bound to maintain, and from which it will never depart. It declares, that France is a kingdom governed by a King according to the laws: That most of thofe laws are fundamental, and are formed to maintain the reigning family on the throne in the male line, excluding female fucceffion: That the nation has the right of raising fubfidies by the vote of the States General duly convened and affembled.

That the Court of Parliament has a right to confirm the King's orders in every Province, and to order them to be enregistered, in cafe they are conformable to the laws, the conftitutional right of the Province, and to the fundamental laws of the kingdom. They have alfo the privilege of not being arrelled by any order whatever, without being immediately put into the hands of thofe judges to which they are connected by their fituation. The Court protefts against any act of violence attempted against the principles herein mentioned, and unanimouly declare they cannot deviate from them by their oath;-that each member is refolved to oppofe all innovations, nor will he adminifter juftice in any place but the Court itself, compofed of the fame perfons, and empowered with the fame privileges.

And in cafe by force they should be compel led to difperfe themselves, and rendered unable to act in their proper capacities, they each declare they will return their privileges and rights into the hands of the King-his family-the Peers of the Realm or the General States-The Court have given orders for the prefent refolutions to be fent to all the courts of the kingdom.

But the immediate caufe which produced the general diftrust to kindle into a flame, was from the following circumftance :

In the night of the 4th and 5th of the prefent month, the King iffued his orders to ftop M. Duval d'Efpremevil and M. Gaulard de Monfambert, Counsellors of the Principal Affembly of Parliament. Before the orders could be put into execution, they had both efcaped; but returned on the fame evening to the palais. A meeting of Parliament was immediately convened the peers prefent were twelve, who wrote the following oroteft, dated May 5, and a deputation was fixed on to prefent it to the King.

"The COURT, having deliberated on the relation made by M. Duval and M. Gaulard, of the meafares taken the preceding night to arreft them in their houses, confiders, that the advisers of his Majefty in this act, fo far from adhering to the principles of Monarchy, are fubftituting every refource which Defpo tifm can fuggeft, to overturn the fundamental laws of the kingdom. That, in this advice, they have made an attempt on the liberty of two members of Parliament, whofe only trefpafs has been, fhewing an earneft zeal in the defence of the most facred laws of the nation.-The Court confiders that thefe orders, which violate the rights of citizens, place them beyond the poffibility of having recourfe to the laws of the land, which enfure to every fubject the right of being tried before a competent judge. That thefe laws afford an equal protection to M. Duval and Goulard as to any other citizen or magistrate, and that they have a right te claim it. They therefore refolve that a deputation should immediately attend his Majefty with their remonftrance, and reprefent to him the evils that muft attend the nation at large by fuch proceedings, and beseech him to difcharge thofe perfons who advised him to the measures; as a profecution of them would bring the public liberty and the lawful authority of the King into fuch difficulties, as to render it impoffible for the Magiftrates to extricate them, and purfue their duty."

On the deputation announcing themselves to his Majesty, he refused to receive them; and immediately ordered a regiment of guards to furround the Palais, and to fuffer no perfon to depart. M. Degout, commander of a regiment, fhortly after entered the chamber where the Parliament was fitting, and in the King's name demanded the two magiftrates whom he had given orders to be arrested, but who had efcaped, to be delivered up to him. A filence enfued for fome time, and no one would point them out; when the Prefident of the Parliament faid, with the acclamations of the whole Court, that every perfon prefent was a d'Espremevil and a Monfambert, and that the Court coincided with their opinion. On this M. Degout re turned to his Majesty, to receive fresh inftruc

tions j

tions; and the Parliament remained locked up, and furrounded by the guards, for twenty hours, before any anfwer was returned. On M. DEGOUT's return, he fummoned the affembly, and defired them to point out M. d'Efpremevil and Monfambert, on pain of being guilty of high treason. Thefe members then requested the permiffion of the Court to deliver themfelves up. Before they retired, M. d'Efpremevil made a very affecting fpeech to the Court, which was received with the most profound attention and respect.

He was then conducted to the state prifon of the islands of St. Marguerite, and M. de Monfambert to that of Pierre encise.

On the 7th of May the following addrefs was read in Parliament, to be presented to his Majefty the following day, at the Affembly of the bed of justice. On Thursday the 8b, on the King's entering the Court, the Prefident delivered him the addrefs. After entering their formal protests against the confinement of the two magistrates, they addrefs his Majesty as follows:

"SIRE,

Your Parliament is confirmed, by every proceeding, of the entire innovation which is aimed at in the fyftem of Monarchy. At the moment even when your Parliament was offering their fufpicions and remonstrances at the foot of the throne, an act of abfolute authority is exercised in your name againft two magiftrates, whofe conduct is irreproachable, and who fhould rather deferve your Majefty's protection for their fupport of the rights of Monarchy. At the time that the Deputies of Parliament were foliciting an audience at the foot of the throne, which public circumftance feemed to require, the feat of fovereign juftice was invested by a body of armed people, who committed acts of violence in the middle of the night, and at the time your Parliament was fitting. Your Majefty has been advised not to receive the Deputation of your Parliament, becaufe you had not been made acquainted of their coming by a special meffage. The efforts that have been made to conceal truth from your knowledge but too plainly indicate the changes in the conftitution which the enemies of Magiftracy have endeavoured to effect fince 1771; and which they flatter themselves to attain by a fpecious plaufibility. Your Majefty, in fummoning your Parliament to the throne, was about to conciliate the love of your people by a measure fo conformable to ancient practice. But, SIRE, the French nation will never adopt the defpotic meafures which you are advised to, and whose effects alarm the most faithful of your Magiftrates. We shall not repeat all the unfortunate circumftances which afflict us; we fhall only represent to you, with respectful firmness, that the fundamental laws of the kingdom must not be trampled on, and that your authority can only be esteemed

fo long as it is tempered with juftice. It is the interefts of the nation which have determined each and every member not to take any part, either as a body or as individuals, in any functions which may be the confequences of new regulations; nor will they affif in any measures which are not the unanimous refolutions of Parliament, endued with all its privileges. Such is the nature of the French Monarchy; and we beseech your Majesty net to fufter apparent or momentary advantages to divert your attention, as they may only produce unhappy confequences. This objection is of fuch importance to the public tranquillity, that the confideration of it abforbs every other fentiment, and carcely leaves us power to beleech your justice in favour of the two magiftrates who have been recently torn from us, attended by circumftances which we dare not defcribe. Your MAJESTY Will fooner or later difcover the juftice of our reprefentations; and, in whatever fituation your Parliament may find itfelf, it will feel the pleafing and confcious fatisfaction of having ufed its belt endeavours for the SERVICE OF THE KING AND THE NATION."

On the opening of the Bed of Justice in the Affemby des Notables the fame day; his Majefty made the following speech, as a prelude to the REFORM OF GOVERNMENT he was about to inftitute. By a minute enquiry into its merits, it will be found to contain a complete reverfion of the whole fyllem of Government.

"It is now twelve months paft, that my Parliament of Paris has continued to comunit the greatest exceffes. lis members have not only endeavoured to place themselves on a level with my authority, but they have even dared to affert, that no act had force, if not enregistered. They have declared that they were not obliged to do it, although the na tion fuffered by their refufal. The Provin cial Parlaments have followed their example in their pretenfions and undertakings, -the confequence has been, that the most neceffary laws have not been executed,→ that all the most useful operations of Go vernment have been stopped, and that public cr dit is diminished,-that justice has been futpended, and in thort that the national tranquillity is overthrown. The fuppreffion of thofe exceffes is what I owe to my lubjećtsto myself-and to my fucceffors. I might have punished them, but I rather chufe to prevent their effects. I have been obliged to punish a few of the Magiftrates; but, though it was indifpenfable, I have done it with reluctance. I will not then anpihilate my Parliament; but I will bring them back to their duty, and the limits of their inftitution. I mean to avail myself of converting this momentary tempeft, to a falutary epocha for my people; to begin the reformation of judicial proceedings by the tribunals on which they are to be founded; to

procure

fhall call you together before the ordinary time of your fitting, if the good of the fervice, and the neceffity of the state, require it."

The fame evening at eight o'clock the PARLIAMENT again met at Verfailles, and delivered in the following memorial:

"The MEMBERS OF THE COURT perfift in all their refolutions, particularly in that of the 3d of May: they further proteft, and again declare, that they will not affift at any deliberations in the Supreme Affembly which his Majefty is about to inftitute.That as it is not in their power to deliver this proteft to the perfon whofe former province it was to receive it, and fearing that it will not be prefented to his Majefly, they have charged one of their members to carry it to a notary, in order that it may be formally depofited; and they have given him orders to print off as many copies as may be neceffary to make it publicly known and authentic."

dated

EAST INDIA INTELLIGENCE.

Extract of a letter from an officer of rank, Arcot, 08. 2, 1787. "Tippoo is at this inftant preparing to enter, or has already entered, the Trevencore bounds, although the King of that country was guaranteed by us in a very pointed manner in the last treaty of peace. And to fhew us how listie ceremony he means to treat us with, he has ftationed feveral bodies of horfe in the Cuddeph and other northern countries, with a view of entering the Carnatic; at the fame time knowing that we cannot fee Trevencore attacked without lending fome affistance.

"Already they have ftopped several of our traders in the Cuddeph country, and plundered them of all their effects, and make no fecret of their intentions, faying, that they expect orders very foon to enter our northern provinces-that is, Ongole and Nellour.

You fee, my friend, I have been but too prophetic! The rooted averfion that the villain has to the English will never fuffer him to fleep in peace, until he does bis best to extirpate us. He very openly declares thefe to be his intentions. I am therefore for being before-hand with the gentleman, if I could. But, alas! the people in England will not, I fear, fee this matter in its true light, until it thall be too late.

"Let me conjure you, my dear Sir, to fpare no pains to imprefs the minds of your friends and acquaintance with the abfolute necefity of breaking off our unnatural connection with this monster, and openly and ayowedly proclaiming him an enemy to Great Britain. For it is impoffible, in the nature of things, that we can ever fleeep in peace in the Carnatic, whilft he is in exience as Nabob of Mytore, or rather Sul

tan of the Decan, as he proudly ftyles himfelf.

The Ofterley Indiaman met with a very extraordinary circumftance, in navigating the Chinese feas. On the 20th of Sept. laft, in lat. 10 N. long 110 E. a large fhip fpoke with them about noon under French colours. She hailed, but nobody under❤ ftood a word they faid. She paffed them very fast, and at fome diftance a-head began to run out her guns. They faw on her ftern the words LA CALYPSO. They were much aftonished; had various conjectures, the most prevailing, that he was a pirate. Orders were inftantly given to prepare for defence, which was as inftantly obeyed, their ten guns loaded, matches lighted, and every man at his quarters; all filent; and in this fituation waited the event; while the feeming enemy was bearing down upon them, her tops manned, netting ftuffed, 32 guns run out, tompions taken out, and men crowded at all quarters. She hailed us again. They could just make out the was a King's fhip, and, among others, the word respecte. Capt. Clarkfon lowered the top-gallant fail, and the Frenchman took his leave. The captain has been blamed.

The prefent Governor General of Bengal has iffued an order, "That all new papers fhall be liable to the fame poftage as private letters." This duty took place on the 31st of October laft.

WEST INDIA INTELLIGENCE.

King on Jamaica, March 1. Monday laff, puríuant to public notice, iffued by the Rev. Middleton Howard, Provincial Grand Mafter of all the ancient regular lodges in this inland under the conftitution of Scotland, brother Thomas Cockburn, Efq. Mafter of the Mother Lodge, affifted by his officers, and preceded by the brethren of the different ancient lodges, with the town guard, in due order (Thomas Cockburn, Efq, as Grand Mater), went in proceffion from Mafonshall, in Por: Royal-freet, to a lot of land oppofite to the established church in ChurchAtreet, for the purpofe of laying the firft ftone of an intended chapel, to be dedicated to the fervice of Almighty God, under the minary of the Rev. Brother Yeaman. When they arrived at the fpot, the ceremony commenced, and was finished in little more than half an hour. A filver plate was depofied under the foundation ftone, embellished with the emblems of mafonty; on which was engraved the following infeription: "The Foundation-tone Of Saint Andrew's Chapel

Was laid on the
25th of February, 1788,
In the 28th year of George III.
and of Matonry,
V. 5783.

Reverend Middleton Howard,
Provincial Grand Mafter."

During the ceremony of laying the foundation- ftone, the mufic accompanied the choirifters in the anthem, &c. 1. An anthem. 2. Solemn mufic. 3. A prayer. 4. An anthem. 5. Mufic during the laying of the foundation-ftone. 6. Thanksgiving, and prayer for the architect. 7. An ode. The bofnefs concluded with the honours of maforry, and the band ftruck up "God fave the King." They afterwards returned to Mafons hall in like order, and clofed the Lodge, and departed with that friendly and brotherly love which always diftinguishes that ancient and honourable fociety.

Letters from Jamaica, of the 15th of March, mention a tiger-fhark taken by fome negro filhermen in Green Bay, at the mouth of Port Royal harbour, which meafered 14 feet fix inches from the tip of the fnout to the extremity of the tail, and was of proportionable thickness. The monfter was towed athore near Fort Small, and upon opening its maw it was found to contain three leopards teeth tipped with gold, a confiderable quantity of coloured glass beads, and feveral half-digefted bones fuppofed to

be human.

AMERICA.

Accounts have been received from Philadelphis, of the arrival of two fhips, in the month of January laft, at that port, from Canton in China, laden with teas and other Eaft India goods; that their voyages had turned out profperous; and that there are at prefent 15 American fhips employed in the trade to the Eaft Indies.

IRELAND.

The following memorable tranfaction lately engroffed much of the attention of the gentlemen of the long robe in this country, and was for fome time the chief topic of converfation in England.

A record was made up for the trial of a caufe of confiderable importance in the county of Limerick. The judge of affize, who tried civil caufes in the circuit in which Limerick lies, was Mr. Hamilton, one of the Barons of the Exchequer. When the cause in queftion was called, the Counsel for the plaintiff opened it, and flated to the Court and Jury the nature and particulars of the evidence that be intended to produce in fapport of the claim fet up by his client. The Judge, after having foffered him, without interruption, to lay open his own cafe, faid, He perceived the trial would take up more time than he was at firft aware of, or than he could fpare; and therefore he dirested the Sheriff to withdraw a juror, and fo let the caufe ftand over to the next alize.

This was a proceeding in the Judge, which, lawyers fay, was very illegal, and unwarranted either by the commiffions of justices of affize, or the practice of the courts in cir

cuit. To perfons who are not of the learned profeffion, it must appear a delay of juftice, and confequently an injury to the fuitors, but more particularly to the plaintiff, as his counfel, under the idea that he was proceeding immediately to the trial, had been fuffered to difclofe the nature of his evidence, and the names of his witneffes; circumftances of which the defendant might avail himself before the next affize, by tampering with the witneffes, if it fhould fo pleafe him, to the great prejudice of the plaintiff.

Whether this conduct was legal or not, was the question brought before the Parliament of this kingdom for decifion; and, it must be owned, was very candidly given up. It was brought forward, by way of petition, from the party aggrieved; and fupported by the counfel employed in the cause, who faid, he felt for the plaintiff at the time, and endeavoured to avert the refolution of the Judge; but the Baron had made up his mind, from the neceffity of going into the criminal trials, with the view of clearing the gaol. He faid, he meant himfelf to have brought the matter before a fuperior Court; but did not think it of importance enough to come before a Committee of the Houfe.

The Attorney General rofe next, and frankly declared, that as to the discharging of a jury without the confent of the parties, there is no man of profeffional character that will defend or justify it; it was an illegal act, it was without precedent, and he trufted never would be repeated; but it was an error in judgement, an error arifing from a good motive, a wish to difcharge the gaol; and as it is not attempted to be juftified, and as upon reflection the learned Judge has altered his opinion, he wifhed to have the matter buried in oblivion, because there was no charge of any corrupt or difhonourable motive; if there was, our refolution fhould be, to addrefs for the removal from the bench of any Judge that could be guilty of corruption; but, in the cafe before the Committee, the motive of the Judge was moft pure, though much mistaken; therefore wifhed the matter for ever buried in oblivion; and, that it might, he moved, that the chairman do leave the chair. The queftion being put, it paffed unanimoufly.

Dublin, April 18. This day his Excellency the Ld. Lieutenant put an end to the Seffion of Parliament by a very conciliating fpeech.

War Office, Dublin Caffle, May 5.

Letters patent have been paffed under the Great Seal of this kingdom, conftituting and appointing the Right Hon. Lieur. Gen. William Auguftus Pitt, Commander ia Chief of his Majefty's forces in this kingdom, or the Commander in Chief of his Majefty's forces for the time being; the Right Hon. James Cuffc, Ponfonby Mcore, William Handcock, and Robert Langrishe,

Efgrs.