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GENEVA.

THE power which had been vested in the aristocratic partisans, under the auspices of France, by the regulations of 1782 had been exercised with moderation, and had been the mean of preserving an unusual degree of quiet during a period of seven years; but it was the quiet of constraint, not of cheerful content; it was the quiet imposed by janissaries, not that which results from a sense of happiness.—Though freed from those tumults which had formerly disturbed the city, the citizens could not but regret the loss of that freedom which had given occasion to them, and, with it, the loss of that national importance which is attached to independency.Those who considered the character of the people, and reflected on their history, therefore, did not depend on the permanency of the present state of things; but expected that the spark of liberty, which was still alive in their breasts, would again blaze forth, whenever circumstances should be propitious to it.

The change in the administration of France which had placed M. Necker at the head of affairs in that kingdom, in the room of de Vergennes, who had plumed himself on the accomplishment of the revolution at Geneva, appears to have given the people a disposition to reclaim their lost rights. An edict to raise the price of bread, on account of an extreme scarcity of grain, exasperating the minds of the people, occasioned a violent tumult in the city. city. When the insurgents were guilty of great outrages. towards the bakers, and had proceeded to seize on the bridges and the gates of the city, the garrison was called out to suppress them. But these were repulsed by the multitude with fire-arms, stones, and boiling water poured upon them from two fire engines brought out for the purpose, and considerable slaughter was made among them.-The magistrates perceiving that further resistance was useless, appeased the people by lowering the price of bread and granting a general amnesty.

This measure, however, was not eventually effectual.-The multitude felt their present superior strength, and determined to avail themselves of

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it. Disgusted with an appearance of mistrust which the magistrates had betrayed towards them, they again flew to arms, drove the troops from their posts, and gained possession of the city gates; and, in the event, they so intimidated the magistrates that they were glad to purchase peace with them by publishing an edict, which again new modelled the government in favour of the people. -By this all the rigours of the former edictment were abolished-the elections were replaced on their former footingthe powers of the adjuncts were enlarged-and the garrison was reduced to its former establishment. "

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GERMANY AND TURKEY.

IN the midst of embarrassment and distress, several circumstances concurred to bring about such a fortunate change in the state of the emperor's affairs in Hungary as might, by cheering his spirits, have been a means of restoring him to health, had it not been too far declined to admit of a recovery. One of these was the death of sultan Achmet the Fourth, and the succession of his nephew, Selim. The fluctuation which ensued in the Turkish councils was productive of its usual effect of weakness: and the subsequent change in the administration by which the grand vizier was dismissed, under whom the Turks had fought with such distinguished valour in the late campaign, was very prejudicial to their affairs.—Another was the nearer approach of the Russian and Austrian armies, which enabled them to act with greater effect by co-operating with each other.-There was a third circumstance which certainly contributed to the emperor's success; although his vanity shielded him from the mortification which he must have suffered had he seen it in its true light-his absence from the army freed his generals from the embarrassment which his self-conceit, and his interference in all their plans, had occasioned; it left them at liberty to follow their own judgment in the execution of them; and animated them with the prospect of the honour which would be the reward of success.

February 9.

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Planta. 2. 366. Wood, 306.

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The Austrian forces were still divided into four armies.-Marshal Haddick was placed at the head of the grand army, on the Danube; a general whose signal services to the Austrian house entitled him to that honourable repose which is the just reward of military merit; but whose very advanced age disqualified him for adding to the fame he had already acquired.—The prince of Saxe Cobourg continued to command in Moldavia.-The prince of Hohenloe in Transylvania.-And marshal Laudohn in Croatia.

The Turks attempting an irruption into the Bannat early in the campaign, the veteran Haddick took a position at Weiskirchen, which enabled him to guard that province, where he remained on the defensive.

Saxe Cobourg, mean-time, was achieving those exploits which acquired him the high repute which he afterwards enjoyed. Being informed that a Turkish serasquier was encamped with 30,000 men near Foczani in Walachia, which he was fortifying, as his chief magazine for those parts, he attacked him with an inferior force,t and gained a complete victory. The serasquier and 5000 of his troops were taken prisoners, and the remainder of his army slain or dispersed; in consequence of which, the fortress with its stores fell into the hands of the victor.-This was a prelude to a more signal achievement. On intelligence of the serasquier's defeat, the new grand vizier crossed the Danube with 90,000 men, and encamped at Martinesti in Walachia. In that position he was attacked by Saxe Cobourg and Suworow with no more than 30,000. His forces, unconscious of their superior strength, and forgetful of the fame which their intrepidity had acquired them in the late campaign, were soon put to flight; 7000 of them were slain on the field of battle and in the pursuit; and the allied generals, together with a complete victory, which disabled the vizier from rallying during this campaign, and contributed to the successes of the other Austrian armies, took possession of the Turkish camp, filled with every kind of spoil.

During these exploits in Walachia, the Austrian arms were crowned with success in other quarters. General Dorfelden defeated a body of Turks on the Sereth river.-Prince Hohenloe gained a victory over a Turkish army

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in the Bannat of Temeswaer.-And general Vecsey routed 14,000 cavalry near Czernitz. §

Laudohn, in the mean-time, was equally successful in his operations on the south side of the Danube.-After he had repulsed the enemy in an attempt to invade Croatia, he invested Gradisca, on the Save; and made himself master of that fortress, which is of great importance on account of its situation with respect to Belgrade. †-Being afterwards honoured with the command of the grand army, he invested Belgrade.‡-The approaches were made with the judgment worthy of so experienced a commander. When informed of the decisive victory of Martinesti, he made every possible advantage of it by pressing the siege whilst his enemy were dispirited by ill fortune. And the event corresponded with his most sanguine wishes. No sallies were made by the garrison. Their outworks were carried by assault in a few days. And the governor, finding it impossible to withstand a bombardment with red-hot balls and shells from the extensive batteries which Laudohn had filled with his heavy artillery, only one hundred and fifty yards distant, offered a capitulation. With the reduction of this fortress, which had been the first object of the war, Laudohn finished his military career, and completed the signal services which he had rendered to the house of Austria.

These successes were celebrated with great demonstrations of joy by the emperor's subjects; not because they were interested in a war of ambition which, if successful, did not promise to contribute to the national welfare, but as a prelude to an advantageous peace. But they afforded small consolation to the emperor himself, who was rapidly approaching his end, and whose joy, had he been capable of such feeling, would have been damped by the distracted and alarming state of affairs in the Netherlands; where extreme oppression had, at last, produced its usual effects; and discontent, disaffection, and civil disorder, were at length ripened into rebellion.

It may be considered as one of the evils arising from the great military establishments at this time in Europe, that they give the governments under which they are formed a delusive idea of the strength and security afforded

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by them. The revolt of the French guards, who became instruments in the hands of the popular party in effecting the revolution in France, is an example of the truth of this observation. And notwithstanding the Austrian troops did not revolt against the sovereign power, yet the ill success of the emperor's arms in suppressing the malecontents in this country proves the insufficiency of any armed force in opposition to the sense of a whole nation, and that too of a nation who had ever shewn themselves one of the most warlike in Europe, and the most warmly attached to their freedom.

Dalton, perceiving the growing disaffection, agreeably to his sovereign's instructions, persevered in his coercive measures; sending out parties of troops to patrole through the districts where the malecontents most prevailed, and to arrest suspected persons. But this only served to increase the evil, by betraying more fully the emperor's despotic principles, and the absolute military government which he wished to establish. Great numbers now daily emigrated to the Dutch frontier, and other free countries, where a commiseration of their misfortunes secured them a kind reception. The most peaceable and loyal became malecontents. And the sovereign authority was supported only by a few persons, who, being evidently actuated by mercenary views, and these, too, hostile to the constitution of the states, must be deemed a faction.

The emperor was persuaded that the clergy, having been the chief sufferers by his innovations, were active in cherishing the spirit of revolt. Blind to conviction, even where experience lent her aid to reason, he, therefore, regardless of the influence which these had with the people, as well as of the principles of justice, issued a decree to sequestrate all the abbeys of Brabant.

The events which ensued on these measures, all manifesting the same arbitrary maxims of government, were such as must have eradicated his prejudices, had they not been deeply rooted, and guarded by their proper barrier of self-conceit. The first of these was a conspiracy for blowing up the houses of count Trautmansdorff and general Dalton at Brussels, and giving the conspirators possession of the arsenal and the gates of the city, by the admission of some bodies of emigrants who were ready to co-operate

Annual Register. 1791. 5.

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