795] POLITICAL REGISTER.-Exposition of the Minister of the Interior. [796

by the enemy had considerably suffered, but they were already re-established.

WORKS.-Uuder this head Count Reguant enumerated the great monuments founded or or dered by his Majesty; they should be continued, though they were seen suspended even in time of peace; but they should in future be exclusively reserved for France, and if existing circum

MINES. This head presented nothing remarkable.

blages on our frontiers, by hostilities com-vity. The hospitals in the departments invaded menced in full peace, by landings effected on our coasts in order to encourage civil war, and, in fine, by the refusal to listen to any proposal for the maintenance of peace. All these circumstances must give a precise idea of the justice and moderation of our enemies: it is the same as instances did not permit them to receive that ex1792, when the Duke of Brunswick pub- tent which were to be wished, they should soon lished the famous manifesto of which the be accelerated by the arms which would be no longer necessary for the defence of the country. insolent pretentions converted the French WORKS AT PARIS.-The Minister here gave into a nation of soldiers. Representatives an acccount of the various constructions which of the nation, you know the French peo-have been commenced in the capital, and which ple, essentially good and generous, and should be continued. always ready to contribute to the wants of the country, provided the whole extent of these wants be fairly made known to them. You have already assumed that wise and imposing attitude which is the finest guarantee to our liberty and independence; and you have a right to know, without the least disguise, the state of our wants and resources. The former are doubtless great, but sufficient means exist to provide for them without oppressing the people; and with the energy which you share with the people who elected you, we shall be certain of repelling the most unjust aggression against an independent people, of which the political annals of cabinets have ever preserved the recollection. I am charged to present to you the following details on our internal situa-perity. tion:

COMMUNES.-Under this head, Count Reg nault stated, that the communal administrations had been almost totally abandoned under the government of the Bourbons; that the communal fands, so essential to the movement of troops, the equipment of the national guards, &c. had been delapidated by the journies of the Princes, by the restoration of woods to emigrants, and by any other malversations; but that the Emperor was taking pains to restore order in this important

branch of internal administration.

HOSPITALS. These asylums of suffering hn. manity had at all times excited the solicitude of the Emperor. At the commencement of 1814, these establishments had been exposed to considerable additional expences from the number of sick and wounded soldiers. Under the late government, however, they were on the point of losing one of their principal resources, by the restitution of property of emigrants, with which they had been endowed by solemn laws. The Emperor had restored it to them. He had also doubled the funds of the Maternal Society which he founded; which, on this account alone, was neglected, and of which the august protectress is invited back by the wishes of all Frenchmen. The depots of mendicity, created also by the Emperor, were equally abandoned; but these establishin.cuts were about to resume new acti

MANUFACTURES.-Count Regnault here did justice to the superiority of our manufactures, which all the merchants of Europe could attest from the experience furnished them by the short time during which it had been in their power to trade with us, He saw, like every statesman, that France, at once agricultural and manufac turing, could alone dispense with the assistance of its neighbours, and that a liberal government could not fail to give all possible spring to national industry, formerly compressed by Gothic prejudices. He ammounced that varions new manufactures had been improved, and others introduced; that the manufacture of sugar from the beet-root, in spite of all the efforts made to destroy it, promised shortly to render Europe independent of the New World for that article; that the indigo of woad, without having reached India; and that, in fine, a number of useful dis the same perfection, already rivalled that of coveries presented new sources of national pros

COMMERCE. The report expressed nothing but hope upon this article, and by the absurd ambition of sovereigns all the nations of Europe are placed in the same condition. INSTRUCTION.- Under this title the Minister exhibited all the vicissitudes to which the corps of teachers had been subjected. The result of the enquiry shewed that the number both of col leges and scholars had been diminished, but that the university of Paris still numbered under its direction 325,554 pupils, and that the lycennis, stimulated by the new encouragement of the Emperor, displayed the best spirit.

PUBLIC WORSHIP.-In speaking of the clergy, the Minister did not attempt to disguise the er rors they committed under the last government, in giving way, from the lure of a restitution of church property, to the influence of emigrants, in stigmatizing as plunderers the owners of na tional property, whose titles had been recognised as legitimate by the Pope himself, and in at tempting, in the name of the Almighty, whose servants they are, to light up civil war among men. The Emperor, however, was always dis posed to protect, and even favour the ministers of the church, so long as they confined them selves within the bounds of their duty, and had already conferred on the curates an augmentation of 150 franks, which had been vainly promised to them by the last government. The Emperor was, besides, the only sovereign who, aving no

further interests to arrange with the Pope, had it in his power to put an end to those interminable negociations, commenced by the last government with the Court of Rome, and to re-establish, upon the basis of the concordat, the liberties of the Gallican church.

JURISPRUDENCE. This article of the report was extremely short. The Minister merely stated, that those civil judges who felt themselves unworthy of their functions, had done justice by abdicating their offices; and that as far as respected the administration of the criminal law, the establishment of the trial by jury every day merited new approbation; but that in the mean time, some organical institutions were necessary to regulate the duties and diminish the labours of those judicial citizens.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.-It was absolutely impossible to follow M. le Comte Regnault through all the details which he furnished on this important topic. The result is, that on the 1st of April, 1814, the army consisted of 450,000 men, exclusive of 150,000 prisoners, all veteran -soldiers, and of 115,000 conscripts of the levy of 1815, of which 45,000 only, out of 160,000, had been raised. The last government, at once prodigal and avaricious, alarmed at its own strength, and essentially hostile to the army, had taken | every possible means of diminishing it.--The orator then described the various oppressions to which the army had been exposed, particularly by the introduction of the emigrants, and which had reduced its number to 175,000 meu. Since the 20th of March last, its number had been raised to 375 000 combatants of every description; and before the 1st of August, it would amount to 500,000 independent of the national guards.

THE IMPERIAL GUARD.-This surest bulwark of the throne in times of war, and its finest ornament in time of peace, had a separate article allotted to it in the official report. The Minister condemned the injustice with which it was treat. ed by the last government, and announced that it already amounted to 40,000 men.

ARTILLERY.--The losses in this arm has been in a great measure repaired; they were occa sioned chiefly by treachery, and especially the delivering up of all the strong places, by order of the Count d'Artois in his capacity of Lieute nant-General of the kingdom. By this single act France had lost 12,000 pieces of cannon, mostly

of brass, the value of which is estimated at 200,000,000 of francs. This loss, however, had been entirely supplied: the arsenals, magazines of powder, and armories, were in full activity and after having armed the national guard and associations, there would remain in the magazines 600,000 muskets in reserve.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS. PARIS, JUNE 12.-Yesterday, (Sunday the 11th) the Emperor being on his throne, surrounded by the Princes his brothers, the Grand Dignitaries, Ministers, &c. received at the Thuilleries, before mass, a Deputation of the Chamber of Peers. On this occasion, the Prince Arch-Chancellor, president, presented the following address :

Sire,-Your anxiety to submit to constitutional forms and rules, the absolute power with which circumstances and the confidence of the people had invested you, the new guarantees given to the rights of the nation, the devotedness which leads you into the midst of the dangers the army is about to brave, penetrate all hearts with profound gratitude. The Peers of France come to offer your Majesty the homage of this sentiment, You have manifested principles, Sire, which are those of the nation: they must also be our's. Yes, all power springs from the people, is instituted for the people; the constitutional mo narchy is necessary to the French, as the gnarantee of its liberty and independence. Sirz, while you shall be on the frontiers, at the head of the sons of the country, the Chamber of Peers will zealously concur in every legislative measure which circumstances require, to compel foreigners to acknowledge the national independence, and to cause the principles, consecrated by the will of the people, to triumph in the interior. The interest of France is inseparable from your's. Should fortune fail your efforts, reverses, Sire, shall not weaken our perseverance, and shall redouble our attachment to you. If events correspond to the justice of our cause, and to the hopes we are accustomed to conceive of your genius, and to the bravery of our armies, France desires no other fruits from them but peace. Our institutions guarantee to Europe that the French nation cannot be drawn on by the seduc. tions of victory.

His Majesty replied :

-

It is

M. President, and Gentlemen Deputies of the Chamber of Peers.-The contest in which we are engaged is serions. The seduction of prosperity is not the danger which threatens us now. under the Caudine Forks that foreigners wish to make us pass! The justice of our cause, the public spirit of the nation, and the courage of the army, are powerful reasons for hoping success; but should we have reverses, then especially i shall delight to see called forth all the energy of this great people; then shall I find in the ChamiMILITARY EXPENDITURE. The administre.ber of Peers, proofs of attachment to the country tive details on this subject were little susceptible of abridgment, The Minister, however, asserted that the necessary funds would be easily pio. vided, and no new taxes be required.

NAT ONAL GUARD.-This article furnished no information of which the public is not already in possession.

THE MARINE presented considerable resources, notwithstanding the evils produced by treachery, which had not, however, cast any stain upon its honour.

and me.-It is in difficult times that great nations, like great men, develope all the energy of their character, and become objects of admira tion to posterity. I thank you, gentlemen, for the sentiments you have expressed to me in the name of the Chamber.

This audience being finished, the Emperor proceeded to mass. After mass, having again taken his place on the throne, he received a deputation of the

Chamber of Representatives, headed by a people who carry to the highest pitch the enCount Lanjuinais, the president, who pre-less, among the communications which your Mathusiasm of liberty and independence. Doubtsented the following address:

Jesty promises us, the Chambers will find proofs of the efforts you have made to maintain the peace of the world. If all these efforts must remain useless, may the calamities of war fall upon those who shall have provoked them.-The Chamber of Representatives only waits for the documents announced to it in order to contribute with all its power to the measures which the success of so legitimate a war will require. It delays pronouncing its resolves only till it knows the wants and resources of the state; and while your Majesty, opposing to the most unjust aggression the valour of the national armies and the force of your genius, will seek in victory only one means of attaining a durable peace, the Chamber of Re presentatives will deem that it marches towards the same object, by incessantly labouring on the compact, of which the improvement must cement the union of the people and the throne, and strengthen, in the eyes of Europe, by the amelio ration of our institutions, the gurantee of our cu gagements.

His Majesty replied:

Sire The Chamber of Representatives received with profound emotion the words which proceeded from the throne at the solemu sitting, when your Majesty, laying down the extraor dinary power which you exercised, proclaimed the commencement of the Constitutional monarchy. The chief basis of that monarchy, the protectress of liberty, equality, and the hap piness of the people, have been recognized by by your Majesty, who, rising above all scruples, as anticipating all wishes, has decla ed that the care of collecting our scattered constitutions, and of arranging them, was one of the most im portant occupations reserved for the legislature. Faithful to its mission, the Chamber of Deputies will perform the task thus devolved upon it; it requests that, to satisfy the public wish, as well as the wishes of your Majesty, national deliberation should rectify, as speedily as possible, any thing defective or imperfect, that the ur gency of our situation may have produced, or left to exist in our constitutions considered as a whole. But at the same time, Sire, the Chamber of Representatives will not shew itself less anxious to Mr. President, and Gentlemen Deputies of the proclaim its sentiments and its principles as to Chamber of Representatives,-I recognise with sathe terrible contest which threatens to cover tisfaction my own sentiments in those which you Europe with blood. In the train of disastrous express to me. In these weighty circumstances events, France invaded, appeared for a moment my thoughts are absorded by the imminent war, listened to as to the establishment of a constitu. to the success of which are attached the indepen rion, only to see herself almost immediately sub-dence and the honour of France. I will depart this jected to a royal charter emanating from abso-night to place myself at the head of my armies; Inte power, to an ordinance of reform always the movements of the different hostile corps revocable in its nature, and which, not having render my presence there indispensible. During the expressed assent of the people, could never my absence I shall see with pleasure a commission be considered as obligatory on the nation. Re-appointed by each chamber engaged in delibe suming now the exercise of her rights, rallying rating on our constitutions. The constitution is around the hero whom her confidence anew in our rallying point; it must be our pole-star in vests with the government of the state, France these stormy moments. All public discussion, is astonished and afflicted at seeing some Sove- tending to diminish directly or indirectly the con reigns in arms call her to account for an internal fidence which should be placed in its enact change, which is the result of the national will, ments, will be a misfortune to the state; we; and which attacks ueither the relations existing should then find ourselves at sea, without a com with other governments, nor their security. pass and without a rudder. The crisis in which France cannot admit the distinctions with the we are placed is great. Let us not imitate the aid of which the coalesced powers endeavour to conduct of the Lower Empire, which, pressed cloak their aggression. To attack the monarch on all sides by barbarians, made itself the langh of its choice, is to attack the independence of ing stock of posterity, by occupying itself with the nation. It is armed as one man to defend abstract discussions, at the moment when the that independence, and to repel, without excep. battering ram was skaking the gates of the city tion, every family and every prince whom men Independently of the Legislative measures res shall dare to wish to impose upon it. No ambi- quired by the circumstances of the interior, you tions project enters the thoughts of the French will probably deem it useful to employ yourself people; the will even of a victorious Prince on organic laws destined to put the constitution would be insufficient to draw on the nation be in motion. They may be the object of your pub yond the limits of its own defence: but to guard lie labours without any inconvenience. The sen its territory, to maintain its liberty, its honour, timents expressed in your address sufficiently de its dignity, it is ready for any sacrifice. Why monstrate to me the attachment of the Chamber are we not still permitted to hope, Sire, that to my person, and all the patriotism with which these warlike preparations, formed perhaps by it is animated. In all affairs my march shall be the iritation of pride, and by illusions which straight forward and firm. Assist me to save the every day must weaken, may still disperse before country. First representative of the people, I the want of a peace necessary to all the natious have contracted the engagement, which I renew, of Europe, and which shall restore to your Ma. of employing in more tranquil times, all the pre jesty a spouse, to the French the heir of a throne? rogatives of the Crown, and the little experience But blood has already flowed, the signal of com- I have acquired, in seconding you in the amelio bats, prepared against the independence and ration of our Constitutions. Liberty of France, has been given in the name of Printed and Published by G. HOUSTON, No. 192, Strand; where all Communications addressed to the Editor, are requested to be forwarded.

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VOL. XXVII. No. 26.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1815. [Price 18.

801]

LETTER VL.

To LORD CASTLEREAGH.

[802

overtake his companions, I went homeward with a mind far from being so completely

On the Overthrow of the Emperor Na- made up as that of the Gipsey and his

poleon.

black-coated and white-wig'd benefactor. I had, when I came to see the news-papers; when I came to read the insolent language of the TIMES and the COURIER, no doubt of what would follow; and, there appears now very little room for doubting, that

sale, or a Como non, va a Com vittée de Salut Public, the Juke and his victory would prove of little avail. But, to defend France now requires all the energy of 1792, 3, and 4; and, that energy appears to be fled for ever; or, at least, till time and opportunity shall again call it forth. It is very evident, that Napoleon, from the hour of his return to Paris, perceived, that it would not do merely to reassume his title and authority; that he' would, in that case, have no friends in the republicans, and all enemies in the roy

MY LORD, The intelligence of this grand event reached me on Saturday last, and in the following manner. I had been out very early in the morning, and, in returning home to breakfast, I met a po-" the paternal authority" will very soon pulous gang of gypsies. At the first view be restored in France by the force of the of them, I thought of nothing but the rob- bayonet and the cannon ball. There is a beries which they constantly commit talk of making a stand for the independence upon us, and I began to plan my measures of France; but, there does not appear the of defence; but, upon a nearer approach to stuff for making such stand. The attempt them, I perceived the whole caravan deco- at a mixty maxty government deprived the rated with laurel. The blackguard ruffi-state of all zeal. If, indeed, we were yet, ans of men had laurel hongly in here yet, to see a Directory, or a Con hats; the nasty ferocious looking women, with pipes in their jaws, and straddling along like German trulls, had laurel leaves pinned against their sides. The poor asses, that went bending along beneath the burdens laid on them by their merciless masters, and that were quivering their skins to get the swarm of flies from those parts of their bodies which the wretched drivers had beaten raw, had their bridles and hal-ters and pads stuck over with laurel. Somewhat staggered by this symbol of victory, I, hesitating what to do, passed the gang in silence, until I met an extra-alists. But, besides, there is no reason to ordinarily ill-looking fellow, who, with believe, that he was not perfectly sincere two half-starved dogs, performed the of- in his professions relative to the liberties fice of rear-guard. I asked him the mean- of France. Still, the Empress! "The ing of the laurel boughs, and he informed august spouse." The "august son." me, that they were hoisted on account of These hung about him; and he could not glorious victory obtained by the bring himself to say: Up again with the Duke of Wellington over Bony;" that" Republic, and I will again be her Gethey were furnished them by a good gen- "neral Bonaparte." He could not screw tleman, in a black coat and big white wig, himself up to this; and hence, doubtless, whose house they had passed the day be- his want of enthusiastic support from fore, between Andover and Botley, and many of the republicans, who, if they who had given them several pots of ale, must have a king, claiming an hereditary wherein to drink the Duke's, health. right to rule over them, did not think it "And, to be sure," added he, "it is glo- worth their while to commit themselves "rious news, and we may now hope to in the quarrel: while, on the other hand, he had all the kings, all the nobles, and all the priests of the whole of Europe against him; together with an army of a million and eleven thousand of regular troops! 20

the

see

the gallon loaf at a grate again, as ❝twas in my old father's time."

Leaving this political economist, this "loyal man and friend of social order," to

66

thumb of the right hand of the male inhabitants of France, I know not. But, I think, we shall hear them propose the anni

and, which we shall by-and-by find to have been of greater weight than all the rest put together, FIFTY MILLIONS OF OUR MONEY, voted by the Ho-hilation of the fleet of France; the surnourable House. This is the key of ca- render of her frontier towns; the abolition binets; the powder, ball, swords, and of all the new nobility; the disbanding bayonets of armies. This it is that will of the whole of the army; the restoration decide the fate of France now, as it did in of the papal territories in Provence; the 1814. In the times of the Republic, in- giving up of something to Spain; the redeed, our millions had no effect. There establishment of the feudal rights and were many very cruel men in power, du- courts; and, I shall be very much surring those stormy times; but, those men prised if we do not hear it forcibly recomwere sound as towards their country. menced to Louis te Desirée to re-establish There was little of moderation, to be sure; the monasteries and the tythes. but, there was a great deal of fidelity.

However, those times are passed. The men, who have declined to go back to revolutionary measures, have now to make their peace as they can; or, rather, I take it, to submit to their fate. They will know, in all human probability, before this day week, whether the pensioned BURKE spoke truth, when he said, that Kings had long memories as well as long arms. Our TIMES newspaper already has marked out some hundreds for the gallows. He is for "hanging them up at once." And, really, I think his advice very likely to be followed. Blood, blood, is the cry on every side; and, those in power, at Paris, will now see what is the consequence of doing things by halves, when they have to deal with kings, nobles, and priests! They will now see what is to be gained by their moderation!” They will soon see, that power must be maintained, if at all, by the same sort of means as those, by which it has been acquired. Their fate and that of Napoleon, whose name will always be pronounced with admiration of his warlike deeds, will be a warning to future revolutionists how they place kings upon their thrones, after having dethroned them. I do not say, that it is to be regretted; but, it has astonished every one to see the Royal Family of France suffered to escape so tranquilly, even after some of them were taken in arms! Napoleon, will scon find, that this was not the way to insure the safety of his own person.

On what conditions Louis may be restored, we cannot yet say; but our newspapers insist, that he ought to be compelled 4o adopt such measures as the safety of Europe, and particularly of England, may demand. Whether these writers mean to propose the drawing out of the fore-teeth and the cutting off of the fingers and Dfeons. 4

There will be some work to accom. plish all this; yet, all this would not answer the end in view, unless the French pay a share of our NATIONAL DEBT, the annual interest of which will now be forty-three millions sterling; and, unless we could, besides, make them pay their share towards the support of our PAUPERS. Unless these can be accomplished, people will not live here to pay part of this debt, if they can avoid it by going to France. Their loyalty will not keep them at home to live meanly, while they can live in affluence by only crossing the channel. If France were a republic, less rich people would go, than will go, France being a monarchy. Our old ma lady will return with the Bourbons, to restore whom we have so loaded ourselves with debts, that many of our people will be compelled to go and live under them.

All is not over, therefore, when Louis is up again. By disabling France for war, we shall compel her to set about the arts of peace. We shall make France a country to live in; a country that the arts of peace will seek. She will, do what we will, soon become our rival in manufactures. Commerce will revive with her very quickly. Amongst all the fighting nations she is, after all, the only one that is lightly taxed; and, I repeat, that, unless we can make her pay a share of the interest of the debt, contracted in the subduing of her, we shall, with all our successes and all our boastings, have only accelerated the destruction of our own system. In short, unless we can make France tributary to us, to the amount of 20 millions sterling a year, we shall live to mourn the triumphs, at which we now rejoice.

I am, &c. &c.

W. COBBETT