tinguished as whites, and people of colour, without poffeffions, we would say to them, that in a free state, all hands ought to be employed; that every one ought to make a choice of a kind of labour which, in concurring to the general welfare, would procure to the labourer not only existence, but the conveniencies of life; that the colonial system being altered, they muft no more eftablith their hopes of fortune on SLAVERY, for it is FOR EVER ABOLISHED 'on the whole territory of France. Let every one, therefore, make the best of his industry, devote himself to agriculture. Let not any ill founded thame keep him in inactivity, which is as dangerous to himself, as it is ruinous to the common weal. Let him be convinced, that no occupation debafes man; let him know, that with the wifeft people of antiquity, agriculture was confidered as the first of all occupations. Let them, therefore, renounce that state of vagrancy which the laws of the republic will punish. In fine, we would repeat to them, that as all the inhabitants of the colony from this instant will form but one class, every citizen will have the same rights, and enjoy the fame advantages; and that the republic establishes no other diftinction among them, than those of virtue and vice, of talents and ignorance. In the name of the republic, in the name of humanity, in the name of the f cred love of our country, we invite all citizens to concur with us in the restoration of order and agriculture; we invite them to forget their respective wrongs and quarrels, to make it now their fole business to expel the enemies of the republic from the territory they have invaded, and foon to repair the evils and devastations which have been occafioned by hatred, paffion, and civil war. Done at the Cape, the 25th Floreal (May 15) the fourth year of the French Republic; one and indivifible. The prefident of the commiffion, SANTHONAX. The general fecretary, PASCHAL. Proclamation of the Executive Directory to the Armies of the Sambre and Meuse. NEW cries of war are heard on the banks of the Rhine. What rage is it thus goads on our cruel enemy, who, amidst his disasters and our triumphs, has the temerity of breaking an armistice which he himself demanded, and you granted him, in hopes of a speedy peace? -Guided by the ferocious English, he receives their gold and contempt as the price of his fubmiflion, and of the blood of his braveft warriors. Let then the republican bayonet reach the tottering thrones of the monsters coalefced against the human race, and strike terror into their bosoms! let your irrefiftible valour within a few days put a period to that struggle of the liberty of the people againft tyranny, which has lasted but too long; and let the haughty defpots, who ftill dare to fight against that liberty, at laft bow fubmiffive at the aspect of the republican banners! THE French republic, while it has sworn hatred to tyrants, has fworn fraternity to nations. This principle, fanctioned by the conftitution of the republic, is as much a principle of the army. The despotism which for so long a time has held Lombardy under its yoke, has been the cause of great calamities to France; but the French know that the cause of kings is not the cause of the people. The victorious army of a monarch are infolent, and spread terror among the nations where they carry their victories; but a republican army, though forced to carry on a deadly war against the kings with whom it contends, promises friendship to the people whom its victories deliver from tyranny. Respect for the perfons and property, and respect for the religion of the people, are the sentiments which actuate the government of the French republic, and their victorious army in Italy. Of this the good order which they have obferved from the first moment of their entry into Lombardy, is no unequivocal proof. If the victorious French confider the inhabitants of Lombardy as brethern, the latter ought to entertain a reciprocity of affection. The army must pursue its victories, and drive entirely out of Italy that defpotism which has held Lombardy in chains. The independence of this country, and its good fortune, depend upon the fuccess of the French enterprizes. Lombardy then ought to second them by all the means in its power. To affure the march of the troops provifions are necessary, which they cannot receive from France, 1 from which they are separated; they ought to find then there in Lombardy, where they are making their conquests. The rights of war give them security for obtaining them, and friendship ought to be eager to offer them. Twenty millions of French money are imposed as a contribution for this purpose; the divifion will be made among the different provinces of Austrian Lombardy. The terms of payment, which admit of the least possible delay, will be fixed by particular inftructions. It is certainly a moderate contribution for fo fertile a country, particularly when we reflect upon the advantages which must refult from it. The divifion might have been fettled by agents of the French government, and this mode would certainly have been reasonable; but the French republic, not wifhing to referve to itself this right, has left it to the local authorities, and to the affembly of the state. It only points out to you, as the basis upon which you ought to levy this contribution, that it ought to be proportionably divided among those provinces which formerly paid imposts to the tyrant of Auftria, and that it ought to fall upon the rich and the ecclefiaftical bodies, who too long thought themselves privileged, and withstood all taxation; do not oppress the poorer class. If some requifitions be made in kind, the general in chief, and the commiffary of the government, declare, that there thall be no furcharge upon the contribution. They will afterwards settle the price of the articles required, which they will pay to the venders with the produce of the contribution bution fixed as above, or with the receipts which they will give, inftead of ready money. Proclamation of Commissary Salicetti. 1 ART. 1. THE council establish ed on the 9th May last by the archduke, at the moment of his flight, on which he devolved, by an edict, the exercise of the fupreme power, is suppressed. The president of the supreme tribunal, the two prefidents of appeal and of the first instance, and the prefident of the magiftracy, who were appointed by the archduke to compose this council, are prohibited from continuing their functions. 2. The general council of decurions, concentrated into privileged claffes, whose functions were referved for extraordinary occafions, having become useless by present circumstances, is also suppreffed; and the fame prohibition is extended to the nobles and patricians who compose it. 3. The magiftracy, known by the name of mogistrat politique de la chambre, whose complicated functions having alfo become useless, tend only to throw obstacles in the way of the fimple course of government, is likewise suppressed; and those who exercised the office are forbidden to affemble, except it be to replace, after receiving other inftructions, the members of this body, when their functions shall be rendered subservient to the happiness of the people. 4. The authorities thus fupprefsed thall be provifionally replaced by a military agency, composed of citizens Maurin, Reboul, and Patrain. 5. The affembly of the state, 2 composed of thirteen members, to whom the government of all Lombardy is committed, is provisionally retained in the functions allotted to it by its institution. It shall exercise these functions in the name of the republic of France, under the inspection and controul of the military agents to whom it shall be accountable. 6. The municipal administrations are also retained in all the communes of Lombardy. 7. The municipal assembly exifting at Milan, composed of thirteen members and a syndic, is alfo provisionally retained under the name of the municipality of the town of Milan. 8. The commandant of the fort of Milan shall be prefident of the municipal council, and shall exercife in it a military police, and also all the functions delegated by the French laws to the commandants of forts in a state of fiege. 9. The members compofing the municipality of Milan are Francois Vifcanti, Antoine Caccianini, Galeas Serbelloni, Felix Laticada, Charles Bignami, Antoine Corbetta, Fidele Sopranfi, Gatean Porro, Pierre Verri, Joseph Violtini, Jean Baptifte Sommarina, Paul Sangiorgio, Antoine Crespi, Cæfar Pelagata, Charles Ciani, Charles Parea. 10. The acts and deliberations of all the authorities created or preserved by the present decree, shall be in the name of the French republic. Proclamation by Buonaparte, Commander in Chief of the Army of Italy, to his Brothers in Arms, dated HeadQuarters at Milan, Prairial 1, (May 2c.) SOLDIERS, SOLDIERS, you have precipitated yourselves like a torrent from the heights of the Appenines; you have routed and dispersed all who have oppofed your progress: Piedmont, delivered from Austrian tyranny, displays its natural fentiments of peace and friendship for France. Milan is our's, and the republican flag flies over all Lombardy. The dukes of Parma and Modena owe their political existence to your generofity. The army that with so much pride threatened you, has no barrier of protection against your courage : the Po, the Teffin, the Adda, have been unable to stop you a single day; those boafted bulwarks of Italy have been infufficient to delay your progress; you have furmounted them as rapidly as you passed the Appenines. So much fuccess has carried joy to the bofom of our country; your representatives have ordained a fête, dedicated to your victories, which will be celebrated in all the communes of the republic. Your fathers, your mothers, your wives, your fifters, your lovers, will enjoy your fuccess, and boaft with pride that they belong to you. Yes, foldiers, you have done much; but does there remain nothing more to be done? Though we have known how to vanquish, we have not known how to profit of our victories. Pofterity will reproach us with having terminated our course in Lombardy; but already I see you run to arms; a flothful repose fatigues you. Let us depart! We have yet forced marches to make, enemies to fubdue, laurels to gather, injuries to revenge. Let those tremble who have whetted the poniards of civil war in France, VOL. XXXVIII. who have basely affaffinated our minifters, and burnt our ships at Toulon: the hour of vengeance and retribution is near at hand. But let the people remain tranquil; we are friends to all the people, and more particularly the descendants of Brutus, of Scipio, and the great men we have taken for our models. Re-establish the capitol, and place there, with honour, the statues of the heroes that rendered it celebrated; awaken the Roman people, debased by many centuries of flavery: such will be the fruit of your victories; they will form an epoch for posterity; you will have the immortal glory of changing the face of the finest country in Europe. The free French people, respected by the whole world, will give to Europe a glorious peace, which will indemnify them for the facrifices they have made during fix years; you will then return to your homes, and your fellow-citizens will say, shewing you, this man was of the army of Italy. (Signed) BUONAPARTE. Worn down by the yoke of iron which presses on our heads, we never should have been able to succeed in relieving ourselves. Always courageous, and yet always debafed, we have lived in expectation of the happy moment of your arrival. Oh! most delightful moment! The time is at length arrived. Here are Frenchmen, our brothers and our friends: in our arms, in our houses, they are willing cordially to partake of our joy, to ratify our vows, and to fly with us to the deftruction of the infamous throne of our tyrant. The proclamation to the people and clergy of Piedmont and Lombardy, and to the Neapolitan and Piedmontese troops, prove to you our republican spirit, and the right which we have to a well-founded reliance on your generous protec tion. Citizen general, behold all Italy extending forth its arms to your embrace, and calling you its deliverer. In giving it the bleffings of liberty, you grant to this beautiful part of Europe its greatest luftre; your name will be rendered glorious and immortal in its history. Our fons, and our lateft pofterity, will have it engraved in their hearts; and they will not have in their mouths a name more dear than that of general Buonaparte. Respect, health, and fraternity, (Signed) IGNACE BONAFOUX, Albe, JEAN ANTOINE, Ramea of Verfeil, Deputed commiflaries. Buonaparte to the Republic of Venice. Brescia, 10 Prairial, (May 29.) IT is to deliver the finest coun try in Europe from the iron yoke of the proud house of Auftria, that the French army has braved obstacles the most difficult to furmount. Victory, in union with justice, has crowned its efforts. The wreck of the enemy's army has retired beyond the Mincio. The French army, in order to follow them, passes over the territory of the republic of Venice; but it will never forget, that antient friendship unites the two republics. Religion, government, customs, and property, shall be respected. That the people may be without apprehenfion the most fevere difcipline shall be maintained. All that may be provided for the army shallbefaithfully paid for in money. The general in chief engages the officers of the republic of Venice, the magiftrates, and the priests, to make known these sentiments to the people, in order that confidence may cement that friendship which has so long united the two nations faithful in the path of honour, as in that of victory. The French foldier is terrible only to the enemies of his liberty and his government. (Signed) BUONAPARTE, The general of divifion, chief of the etat-major of the army of Italy. |