Civil And Mechanical Engineers' Society.

unal , iinously passed a vote of thanks to the proprietor for his kindness in granting permission to the society , and also to Mr . n Waite , who had , at considerable inconvenience attended to explain the various working 8 of the establishment .

The next Session of the Society Avill commence in December , Avhenthe President will deliver his Inaugural Address , and the Enrolment of NOAV Members Avill take place at the close of the Meeting .

Contemporary Letters On The French Revolution.

CONTEMPORARY LETTERS ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION .

Paris , August . 6 th , 1790 . ALTHO' the appearance of tumult and discontent continued for some days after my last , all is UOAV perfectly quiet , and the calm Avhich exists I can only compare to the Lethargy ancl Stupor Avhich often in desperate cases follows the A'iolence of the fever .

I can not think that any Progress is making to a fixed and stable Government , and altho the excesses Avhich desolated every part of the Empire are at present subsided , AH Exercise of Law or PoAver is impossible , and to the popular propensity to crimes , and insurrection , may be applied the famous line or Messalina that if they are peacable it is Lassata non Satiata Tecessit .

No tax is paid , or will any tax be submitted to , the Barriers of Lyons are not , nor cannot he re-established and the Creditors of that City as Avell as its Public Establishments look up to the Assembly for the replacement of an animal income of o Millions of livres .

Yet this moment have ihe Assembly chosen as the most proper for an Act of hulenmit y to all those whose cruelty have disgraced their Revolution , and Avhose crimes have devasted their Provinces . Shapelier last night proposed and Avithout

opposition , a general pardon to the criminals confined in the different prisons for aU the murders , plunders and incendiaries which the avidity of freedom have occasioned , and Oppression sanctified . . -let the proposer of this Decree is firm "J . his attachment to Mirabeau , and that ; V hrabeau equally adheres to the present

Administration cannot for a moment be doubted . The attack on the Prince de Conclc Avas intended to divert the attention of the Assembly from the Ministers , it succeeded , and they escaped the storm Avhich threatened them not only from the popular

fury , but the Indignation of the Assembly . The conduct of M . de Montmorin has naturally excited all the hatred of the Aristocratic Party , yet his influence with his Master is certainly great . I begin to believe that imbecillity and irresolution

are not the only qualities of the king , but that a sensual selfishness has hitherto dictated and still directs his conduct . That he regrets more the pleasures , than the PoAver he has lost , has always been my opinionbut that a desire to obtain a

, speedy repossession of them , should induce him to proscribe his family and sacrifice the Interests of his Country ancl his croAvn at first exceeded the utmost stretch of my ideas . Yet Montmorin is his chosen

servant—the friend and companion of his youth , and , hoAvever he may he inclined , had never dared denounce the Prince de Conde without the King ' s consent , It Avas he who persuaded the King to issue the . proclamation commanding all to Avear the National Coeacleand

unneces-, sarily censuring those Avho disapproved of the Conduct of the National Assembly . When the Proclamation was made public , the people in the Thuilleries surrounded the Palace AA'ith Vive le Roi . The Queen , astonishedasked the cause of this

exulta-, tion ; the King stuttered an ansiver that he did not knoAV , unless it Avas the proclamation . What proclamation 1 He then , for the first moment showed her a Avriting so contrary to her sentiments and Avhich probably even her prudence deemed

unnecessary . She retired immediately Avith Madame Elizabeth to her apartment Avhere the King folloAved her , and found her in tears . On her complaining that she had too many causes to shed them he said it is only your having Avaited too long for your

supper . The Party de la Fayette are again obtaining their superiority in the Assembly . . The letter of the Ambassador of Spain declaring that she Avould seek HCAV allies willwut exception amidst the other Nations of Europe produced much sensation , and 0