Star. — London, England, 1809-12-28 00:00:00

FR4NCE. PARIS, DEC. 13. On the 11th of this month the Emperor went with all his Court to Gros Bois, where the Prince of Neuf. ' chatel and Wagram gave a magnificent entertain meat. All the Kings and Foreign Princes now at Paris were present. The King of Saxony, who had fixed his departure from the capital on the 11th, has retarded it one day an order to be present at the fete of Gros Bois. Last Sunday the Emperor and King being on the Throne, surrounded by the Princes, the Ministers, the great Officers of the Empire, the Members of the Senate, and by those of the Council of State, received before mass, at the Palace of the Thuilleries, a deputation from the Legislative Body. Thi.. deputation was conducted to the audience of his Majesty by a Deputy Master of Ceremonies, introduced by the Grand Mas ter of Ceremonies, and presented by his Serene High ness the Prince Vice Grand Elector. The deputation being admitted to the foot of the Throne, the deputa tion spoke in the following terms the address which bad been voted to his Majesty : " Stitt—The Legislative Body beholds you greater every time it has the honour of approaching your Majesty's throne. Each year is for you an age of glory—each return to your capital is a fresh triumph. When you were at a distance from France your genius did not abandon her, it still continued to dwell in the center of us; on the first appearance of the enemy, your people, whom you regarded from the banks of the Danube, have fled with precipitation in crowds to the threatened frontiers. The enemy hastened to flee away as if you really had been present ! Your last exploits, and the happy peace which has followedthem, will aggrandize the tertitories of tjae Princes your allies. Impor tant reunions are on the eve of accomplishing the system of this vast Empire. of which they are members, and which regards you both as its head and its founder; but whilst he reassumes all his ; power, respects those rights which are not his own, he himself • points out with wi.tiom the limits of priesthood and of the empire. Religion will not cease to lean upon the throne which has esta- blish - ed her ; and the Successor d St. Peter will be to us dearer stsd more revered, by blessing the Successor of Charlemagne, in • the name of the God of Peace, whose will changes the Empires, but whose worship never changes. All which is attached to you aggrandizes, all that seeks a foreign influence is threatened by an immediate fall. We must obey your ascendency, it is at once the iunsel of heroism and of politics. Sire, you said a few days ago, that your first pas.ion was the lON% of France. This word re sounded in all hearts. This day you announce that victory will not cost any fresh sacrifices. The Legislative Body, thanks you for it. But it does not fear to be contradicted by a brave and generous nation, when it replies, that nothing is impossible to Frenchmen towards a Sovereign who covers them with so much glory, and who has so amply requited them, by paying their sa crifices with all his love. His Majesty replied to their address in the follow ing terms : " GENTLE/A EN, " President and Deputies of the Legislative Body, I accept the sentiments which you express, I know the attachment of your Bogy to my person. France sands in need of a moderate but' strong monarchy ; the present epochs ought to be distinguished, not only by the glory of the French arms, but also by the pros perity of its commerce, the wisdom of its laws, and the brilliancy of arts, of sciences, of letters. I have overcome many obstacles to conduct France ao its actual situation ; both myself and family will always sacrifice even our dearest affections to the interests and welfare of this great nation. With the assn-ante of GOD and the constant love of my people, I shall overcome whatever shall oppose my great designs. I wish still to live for 30 years, that I may serve 30 years more my inflects consolidate this vast Em pire, and see this dear France embell ished by all the prosperities ' which I have conceived." DEC. 17.—His Majesty the Emperor and King set I out at four o'clock this day for Trianon ; her Majesty the Empress Josephine is at Malmaison. SITTING OF THE CONSERVATIVE SENATE, DEC. 16. At eleven o'clock in the morning the Members of the Senate assembled in full dress in the Palace, in virtue of the Act of Convocation, of the following tenor : " Palace of the Thuilleries, Dec.ls. " Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, and Pro tector of the Confederation of the Rhine, we have decreed, and do decree as follows— " The St',ate Alall atitible the 16th of the present month, at ekvcn Cclock, in the usßal Hall of their Sitting. (Signed) " NAPOLEON." His Serene Highness the Prince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, was received with the usual honours. His Majesty the King of Westphalia, his Majesty the Ki.ng of Naples, Grand Admiral, his Imperial' Highness the. Prince Vice-Roy of Italy, Arch Chan cell •r (4 State, and their Serene Highnesses the Prince Vice-Constable, and the Prince Vice-Grand I..cetor, were present. The Sitting was opened by reading the Act of Designation, to the following Affect ; f' At the Palace of the Thuilleries, Dec. 15, 1809. " Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhino. We have decreed, and do decree as follows : " Our Cousin, the Prne... Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, shall preside in ehe Senate, which shalt meet on the 16th of the pre- Sent month. (Signed) " NAPOLEON." By the Emperor. " The Minister Secretary of State. (Signed) " H. B. Duke of BASSANO." The Prince Arch-Chancellor of State had the ; power to take the oath of Senator. His Imperial Hi-filess, previous to that ceremony, expressed him- I self as follows :.,-- " PRINCE, SENATORS—From the time when the goodness of his Majesty, the Emperor, had called me to sit among you, testimonies of - ihis confidence have kept me continually distant from Paris ; and I have this day, for the first time, the pleasure to ap pear in the midst of you. lam happy in being able to s:iy, that among the benefits which his Majesty has incessantly showered upon me, I have bees par tic:darly c...nsible of the honour which was granted Die of forming a part of the first p u bli c body- in the Empire. Accept, Senators, this expression of my feelings, and my asuirance of the happiness I expe rience in pronouncing, in the midst .of you, this oath, which is to me, that of duty, of love and gratitude. I swear obedience to the Constitutions of the Empire, and fidelity to the Emperor." The Prince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, Presi flent, replied as follows to the speech of the Prince Viceroy : 46 PittscE—When his Majesty the Emperor and t King conferred on you the high dignity whereof you have just exercised one of the most essential preroga tives, th 2 Senate applauded this act of justice. They congratulated thetnsAves on counting among their members a Prince whose brilliant qualities excited sti.7ll just hopes. Now that these hopes are reP i lized by the glory of your last campaign, and by the wis dom ct your administration, the Senate experience great satisfaction in seeing you in its bosom to con cur in the important deliberation it is about to enter upon ; you shew yourself truly the adopted son of the hero who governs us ; like him, in silencing pri- affection before the interests of {cations, your first - steps within these walls could not be mere worthily signalized than by this great testimony of patrio tism, of devotion, and fidelity. I'rejoice in being the organ of the sentiments of the Senate toward your Imperial Highness, and in expressing to yqu their wishes for your prosperity." The Orators of the Council of State, Counts Reg nault de St. Jean de Angely and Defermont, Mini sters of State, Members of the Council of State, be ing introduced, the Prince Arch-Chancellor spoke as follows :- 41 Gaimetacx—The Project which will, in this sitting, be submitted to the deliberation of the Senate, contains an arrangement which embraces our dearest interests. It is dictated by that imperious voice which apprizes Sovereigns and nations, that to secure the safety of States, we must listen to the counsels of a wise foresight, incessantly call to mind the past, exa mine the present, and extend our views to the future. It is under such high considerations that, in these ever memorable circumstances, his Majesty the Emperor has caused all personal considerations to disappear, and silenced all his private affections. The noble and affecting attachment of her Majesty the-Empress is a glorious testimony of her disinterested affection for the Emperor, and secures to her an eternal right to the gratitude of the nation." Count Regnault (St. Jean de Angely) submitted a project of a Senates Conn/tem, dissolving the mar riage between the Emperor Napoleon and the Em press Josephine. The orator explained the motives of this project, as follows : ‘1 Mr Lotto--SeLtvons, The solemn act fully set forth in the Senates Con:whom now read, contains all its motives. What could we add ? What words could we address to the Senate of France, but would be far below the affecting sounds received from the mouth of these two august consorts, of whom your deliberation will consummate the generous resolu tions ? Their hearts have coincided in making the noblest sacrifices to the greatest interests—they have coincided to make policy of sentiment—speak lan guage the most true, the most persuasive, the most adapted to move and to convince. As foreigners and as consorts, the Emperor and Empress have done all —there only remains for us to love, to bless, and to admire them. 'Tis henceforth for the French nation to make themselves heard ; their memory is faithful as their hearts ; they will unite in their grateful thoughts the hope of the future with the remembrance of the past, and never will Monarchs have received more respect, admiration, gratitude, and love, than Napoleon, in immolating the most sacred of his al/idiom to the wants of his subjects—than Josephine, in sacri ficing her tenderness for the best of husbands, through devotion to the best of Kings, through attachment to the best of Nations : accept, Gentlemen, in the name of Fr'ance, in the sight of astonished Europe, this sa crifice, the greatest ever made on earth; and fall of the' profound emotion which you feel, hasten to carry to the foot of the Throne, in the tribute of your senti ments, of the sentiments of all Frenchmen, the only Prince that can be worthy of the fortitude of our So vereign, the only consolation that can be worthy of their -hearts." The Prince Viceroy spoke as follows : " PRINCE—SENATORS, You have heard the project of Senatus Consuhunt submitted to your deliberation : I feel it my duty, under these circumstances, to ma nifest the sentiments by which my family are ani mated. My Mother, my Sister, and myself, owe all to the Emperor : he has been to us a father; he will find in us, at all times, devoted children and obedient subjects. It is important to the happiness of France, that the Founder of the Fourth Dynasty should in his old age be surrounded by direct descendants, who I may prove a security to all, and a pledge of the glory of our country. When my . Mother was crowned, before the whole nation, by the hands of her august consort, she contracted an obligation to sa crifice all her affections to the interests uf France. She has fulfilled with fortitude, noblenessl and dignity this first of duties ; her soul has often been moved at behold. ing exposed to painful struggles, the heart of a man, accustomed to conquer fortune, and advance with a firm step to the accomplishment of his great designs. The tears which this resolution has cost the Empe ror suffice for the honour a la gloire of my mother.— In the situation she will now fill, she will be no stran ger, by her wishes, to the_feelings of the new prospe rities which await us, with a satisfaction mingled with pride, that she will behold the happiness he: sacrifices will produce to her country; to her Emperor." This speech concluded, Count Gamier, Annual President, proposed to refer the Senatus Consultum to a Special Committee of nine Members to report thereon during the sitting.—Agreed to. The Prince .Archchancellor, President, then named by lot; as scrutineers, the Senators Barthelemy and Le Mercier ; and the following Senators were elected on the Committee, Gamier, Lacepede, Semonville, Beurnonville, Chaptal, Laplace, Marshal Dnke of Dantzick, Marshal Serrierier, and Monge. The sit ting was suspended till their return. At, half past four it was resumed, and Count Lacepede spoke as follows : " MY LORD, SENATOR S— YOU have referred to your Special Committee, the projet of Senatus Con sultum presented to you by the orators of the Coun cil of State. You have heard, Senators, the memo. rable act annexed to the projet of the Senatus Con sultum which history will transmit to posterity as a monument of the most tender affections, the most ge. nerous sentiments, and the most absolute devotion to the primary interest of an hereditary monar chy ; these memorable a words, by the greatest of Sovereigns, and his august and well beloved consort, will long re echo through the hearts of all Frenchmen. This day more than ever has the Emperor proved, that he only , 1 wishes to reign to serve hit &yetis ; the Empress has deserved that posterity should associate her name Pwith that of the immortal Napoleon. Such then, is the condition of those whom the throne raises above others, only to impose on them obligations more se vere ; how many Princes, who only consulting the happiness of their subjects, have been obliged to re. nounce connections the most dear to them ! To look no further than the predecessors of Napo leon, we find thirteen Kings, Whose duty as Sove reigns obliged them to dissolve the bond which bound them to their consorts ; and, what is well worthy of remark, among these thirteen Princes four of them we must reckon were French Monarchs, admired the mos.. and cherished, Charlemagne, Phillip the August, Louis XII. and Henry IV. Ah 1 May he, whose glory and self-devotion surpwas their selllieyotiop qtri their glory, long reign for the prosperity of Trance and of Europe. May his life continue far Wpm d the thirty years he has desired for the stability of his em pire. May he see around his Throne Princes from his blood, educated in his spirit as in his sentiments, and worthy of their august origin ; secure for our latest posterity, the continuance of all the blessings our country owes him May the image of the hap piness of the French, which the present and the fu- cure will offer to his view, be the reward of his la bours, and of his sacrifices ! " Your Committee, Senators, unanimously propose to you to adopt the projet of Sonatas Consukuns pro posed to you ' • 2dly, To adopt also two Addresses , which I shall have the honour to lay before you, to be presented, one to the Emperor and King, the other to the Empress Queen." An immediate ballot was demanded, and gave the number of votes in its favour, required by Att. 56 of the Constitutional Act of the 4th of August, 1802; its adoption was consequently deelared by the Prince Arch-Chancellor, President, who pronounced it to be converted into a South's Consultant of the following tenor. [Then follows the Extract from the Register of the Conservative Senate, given in our paper of yesterday.] ADDRESS OF THE SENATE TO HI) MAJESTY THE EMPEROR AND ZINO. " The &amebas adopted the projet of the Senatus . Consultum, which has been presented to it in the name of his Imperial and Royal Majesty. " Your Majesty, Sire, could not give a greater proof of the absolute devotion to the duties which an hereditary throne imposes. The Senate feels in the most lively manner, the necessity of expresshtg to you how much it is penetrated with all the great soul of your Majesty experiences'; the most extensive power, the most illustrious glory, the admiration of the most remote posterity cannot, Sire, compensate the sacri fice of your dearest affections. The eternal love of the French nation, and the profoundest sense of all you have done for them, can alone cpnsole your Ma jesty's heart." ADDRESS OF THE SENATE TO HER MAJESTY TUE EM PRESS AND QUEEN. " MADAME—Your Imperial and Royal Majesty has , made to France the greatest of sacrifices. History will preserve an ever lasting remembrance of it. " The august Consort of the greatest of Monarchs could not unite herself to his immortal glory by a more hercie act of self devotion. " Long have the French Nation, Madune, revered your vir tues !—they revere that affecting goodness which inspires all your words and directs all your actions : they will admire ,your sublime self devotion : they will for ever decree td your knperial and Royal Majesty an homage of gratitude, romped, and love ! " The Senate orders 'the two above Addresses to be presented the one to his Majesty the Emperor and King, the other to her Majesty ' the Empress Queen, by the President and Secretaries of State. (Signed) 46 CAMBACIRLS, Itrince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, President. " SIBIONVILLI, } Secretaries." " BZURN•NVILL, The Orators of the Council of State withdrew, and the Prince Arch-Chancellor terminated the Sitting. When his Serene. Highness withdrew, he was escorted with the same honours shown him on his arrival. iItENCH EXPOSE. (Continued front yesterday': SrAz.) WAR. gg While the Emperor was thus preparing all the imProvements, which every year of his reign secures to France ; while the annual execution of the laws, which relate to the conscription, without any difficulty or obstruction, kept our legions complete ; our ene mies, who are his, were about to try his gigantic ef forts. But we have already called to your recollec tion, that shortly after having opened your Session of 1808, the Emperor defeated the Spanish armies, entered Madrid, and placed his brother on the throne. By a sudden and skilful march he induced the English troops to advance, and then pursued them, without allowing the least breathing time, to the frontiers of Gallicia, made a great number of prisoners, and took their hospitals, baggage and ammunition. He then obtained the knowledge of the treaty, by which the Court of Vienna engaged to supply the Juntas of the insurgents with 100,000 stands of arms. He also learned that Austria was taking up arms, and that her armaments had already spread the utmost con sternation through the States of the Confederacy. He immediately suspended his triumphant march, left his armies in Spain, and thought that his presence would be sufficient to destroy his enemies. , 4 Surely, his Majesty never gave to Europe a more striking proof of the greatness of his cha racter , an d the power of his ge nius. Eighty regiments of those veteran troops, who had conquered at Ulm, Auster litz, Jena, and Friedland, remained in Spain, and he put himself at the head of the troops of his allies, and his recruits. es You recollect, Gentlemen, the uneasiness which we all felt, and which gained so much ground, when Europe supposed, for a moment, that a nation which had been so frequently defeated, and whiph owed its existence to the generosity of our Sovereign, would defeat our allies, and penetrate into our territory.— The Emperor of Austria, with an army of 500,0001 men, the prodigious and miraculous effort of paper: money, fancied he was marching to a certain victory. Bavaria and Italy were invaded, without any decla ration of war, and men were slain without knowing that they had enemies to combat ; a conduct, which will be branded with the severest censure by posterity. , g The Emperor left Paris on the 18th, without guards, without equipage, and without troops ; his armies hastily assembled firm the different parts of Germany, felt astonished at the unforeseen aggres sion, and at the multitude of enemies who surrounded them on all sides. Ratisbon had been taken, with one of the finest regiments of the army ; but the news of his Majesty's arrival reached the troops, and flew through all the ranks. The Emperor having, by his accurtaivedssaisauvre, separated two corps of the enemy's 3l: army, beat them on the 20 t h near Abensberg. the 21st, he marched against Landbhut, rendered himself master of that town, and of the bridge across the Iser, the head quarters and central point of the enemy's operations ; he intercepted, by this move ment, the communication of the enemy's army, and took his baggage, his pontoons, and his hospitals.,On the 22d, he marched to Echmul, turned the left of the ATcl4tiltlCh4rlee4 armYi redOced to four sores by the , - separation of the tap others, routed that army, t•, 80,000 prisoners, with 100 pieces of cannon, and same evening arrived in the plain of Ratisbon, who he rested in the head quarters of Prince Charles, the 28cl, he closely pursued the enemy, destroyed Austrian horse, and took Ratisbon, and the 12,0( men, whom the enemy had left in that place. i n hours the Austrian army, struck, as it were, by thunder-bolt, saw its fate decided. Of six corp. -which composed it, each 40,000 strong, five us:r e a ready defeated, reduced to half their number, an separated from each other, The remains of the fo corps were driven to the Danube, and the twu , t h e to the Inn, without bridges, magazines, and Valle hospitals. The rumour of these disasters soon reach e the ears of the Sovereign of Austria, and in less tha , two days the most profound consternation sticceetle the most foolish presumption. di In the mean time, the Bth and 9th corps, vli;c formed the Austrian army in Italy, had surpri;t:,l oL t troops, who were far from expecting such tre:ttlio. ous proceedings, blockaded Palma, Nova, and Venic, and reached, on the 28th of April, file Adige. The Emperor's plan was no longer doubtiiii A ter having defeated the grand army of the Ard,du Charles, and driven four of the corps to Bohei, t, h pursued the two corps which fell back to tit. marched to Saltzburgh, Lintz, Upper Amnia, Styria, in order to turn the Austrian army of Ital;-, secure his own army and his dominions in Italy, are so dear to his heart. One month had elapsed since the unjust aggressi on of th eAus ti ;an i, in when Vienna was bombarded and compelled to opt its gates, and bow to our victorious arms. Tl,‘: Au trian army of Italy soon perceived that its we uncovered, and 'felt the necessity of falling hack. The Viceroy who defeated the enemy on the banks the Piave, on the Noric Alps, and in Carniol pushed on to the frontiers of Stpia, and formed junction with the Grand Army. Shortly after ha d feated"the enemy in the interior of Hungary. TI battle of Raab was the celebration of the memorab Anniversary of Marengo and Friedland, which it duced the Emperor to write to his adopted soa. Tsar victory it a grand daughter .1 Marengo.---T!1 scattered remains of the different enemy's corps cou not have rallied, and would have been taken ani di armed, had not a fortuitous event, the rise of Danube, which overflowed its banks, arrested French army • the genius of war, and the effects art overcame ;hose unforeseen obstacles. In the p fession of arms, it is at times necessary to join ti courage and force of the lion, to the cunning an prudence of the fox, The battle of Wagram, fq lowed by the Armistice of Znaim, made the arrt drop frinn the hands of our enemy ' • he had no oth hope left than the generosity of the Conqueror, whi. he had so often slighted. " By the Peace of Vienna, France and her All' have obtained considerable advantages, and the Co tinent-of Europe has regained tranquillity and peac Let us hope, that this peace will be more permane than that of Presburgh ; and that the men, who luded the Cabinet of Vienna, after the Peace of Pre burgh, will not succeed in deceiving it again, aft that of Vienna. They would pronounce the doo of their master ; for France, ever great, powerful, a strong, will always know how to destroy and ccu ter-act the combinations and intrigues aber enemies. the mearvime England, seeing that our armies we employed in Germany, and being always ill-informe notwithstanding the immense treasures she wastes paying spies, fancied that our veteran troops had le Spain, and that the weakened French army N yc o ' not be able to withstand their efforts. Forty sand men were disembarked in Portugal, whets joined the insurgents, and flattered themselves t should be able to march to Madrid; they gathere nothing but disgrace from their enterprise. TM. were met by armies in all places where they finje to find only divisions. Forty thousand men la:ide at the same time in Walcheren, and without nir.in commenced the siege, by means of a shirt bonlar• ment they rendered themselves, in a fortnight, masse of Flushing, which was defended its a cowarcli manner. His Majesty ordered a report to be made to hi, on this subject. The Emperor generossly rewar• those, who animated with his sentiments, and sensib of what they owe to the honour of France, are faithf to glory and their country—but he severely punish those who calculate the danger when victory alon should occupy their mind, and prefer a disgracef flight to a glorious' death. " In the .mean time, all the departments were i arms-150,000 men of the national guard put the selves in motion, while at same time 25,000 aop. drawn from the depots assembled in Flanders, an the gens-d'arms formed a corps of 8000 choice c valry. The English Commander-in,Chief, as a iris. and prudent man, would not expose his army to d ger more destructive than the plague ; he returned England. All the departments gave striking proo • el their attachment to the Government and Empere • districts only in the department of the S wed it contrary disposition. *Commissioners ha been appointed to enquire into *their conduct, ' districts and private individuals, who have raison ducted themselves, shah b e deprived, during the spa • of 2.5 years, of the rights of citizens, and subjected t a double contribution. Over their doors shall be wri ten the words—" this is not a French Commune." His Majesty has also ordered to be laid befe him designs of monuments to be erected at Arra Bonger, and Lisle, tending to preserve the tnemor of sentiments, whi c h have givers him so much satis faction. " But the momentous influence of events of thi year 1809 on the face of the world, attracts all 01 attention. POLITICS, , " The Duchy of Warsaw bap ben enlarged wit a part of Galiicia. It would have-been easy RI the Emperor to unite all Gallidi with that State but he would not do any thing which should BXcit , the least uneasiness in the s mini of his Ally th Emperor of Russia. Nearly all Gallicia, of the fin partition, has been left to Austria. His Majesty neve entertained, the idea of restorieg the kingdom of Po land. What the Emperor bee dose for New Gallici was prescribed -to him by sound policy as well as he noun. Be could not surrender to the vengeance c an implacable Prince people asho bad displayed suc fervent zeal in the cause of France. '4 A young Austrian Prince, the same who con 41 21 1de4 in Uim in 1805 1 as arrogant as be is ignorant