The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

descendant of Maria Theresa, that princess worthy of the son
of fit. Louis, worthy to share his crown and his martyrdom.
Gad alone had heard the vojett or the l lug queen: her august
daughter did not collect the expression of her last wishes.
Tweets-three years have passed ais av singe that writing was
traced at the last hear of the most beloved, as well us the most
unfortunate of sovereigns. But Provideoce Las at length per-
mitted that it shoold be presented to the august daughter of
our kings. and bring sow consolation to her sorrows, even
while it renews them. This letter is recognizable by the hand-
writing of the queen, the characters of which were never more
firmly and correctly formed, as if to show the calmness of her
soul at that awful moment. It is not signed, but its atithen-
ticity is guaranteed by a testimony which inspires horror. The
Testament oldie victim is signed by her murderers.
" This testament breathes the tenderness of a mother, the
dignity of a queen, the firmness of a philosopher. It is worthy
of being heard, along witu that august and sacred testament,
which merited the being read in the pulpit of truth after the
word of God."

Count Carrs here read the following :
LETTER FROM THE 111 FFN OF FRANCE, MANIc ANTOINETTE,
TO HER SISTER, MADAME ELIZA/MTH.
" Half-pain. Four.
_ . . . .

" I write to you, sister, for the last time ; I have just been
condemned, not to a shamctul death, it is only so to the guilty ;
but to gn and rejoin your brother, innocent as he was. I hope
to show the same fortitude as be did in these last moments.
" I am calm ns one is when one's conscience does not re-
proach us. I feel deep sorrow at abandoning my poor children
—good and tender sister, you know I lived but Mr them and
you—by year affection you have sacrificed every thing to be
with us. yln what a situation 110 I leave yon! I karat, by the
pleadings in my case, that my daughter was separated from
you. Alas ! poor child, I dare not write to her—she would nut
receive my letter. I know not whither this even will reach
you. Receive for them both my blessing.
" I hope one day, when they w ill be older, they will be able
to rejoin you anti enjoy all your tender care. Let them both
rellect upon what I have never ceased to instil into them, that
the principles aml exact execution of their duties are the first
bases of lice, and that affection and mutual confidence will con-
stitute the happiness of it. Let my daughter feel that at the
age she is, she might always to assist her brother with the coun-
sels which the greater experience she will have and her affec-
tion may suggest to her: let my son, in his turn, administer to
his sister all the solicitude and services which affection can in-
spire: filially, let them feel that in whatever position they may
he, they cannot be truly happy but by their onion. Let them
take CNllittple by us—how oat n in our miseries has our infection
afforded as consolation—in happiness we have a double enjoy-
ment when we can share it with a friend. Aud where can any
be fomill more dear and tender than in one's own foully?

" Let my son never forget the last words ofhis father, which
I repeat expressly. Let him never seek to revenge our death?
" I have to speak to yon of something very painful to my
heart. 1 know how much pain this child has given you. For-
give hint, my di ar sister; think of his age, how easy it k to
make a child say what one pleases, stud even what he does not
understand. A day will come, I hope, when he only will feel
more deeply the value of your goodhess and tenderness fur
both. _

" It remains for me to confide to you my last thoughts. I
would have written them at the commencement of the process ;
but. besides that they would not sutler me to write, the march
of events has been so rapid, that I have out had in reality the
time.
" I die in the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion—in
that of my father's, is which I was brought up, and which I
have always professed, having no spiritual consolation to ex-
pect—not knowing if there still cxistauy priests of our religion;
and even the place where I uu would expose them too much,
if they once entered it.
" I sincerely ask pardon of God for all the fanits I may have
committed since I was born. I hope that in his goodness he
will receive my last wishes, as well as those I have long put up,
that he will receive my soul in his mercy and goodness. I ask
pardon of all I know, and of you, sister, in particular, for all
the pain I myy, without meaning it, have caused von.
" I forgive all my enemies the ill they have done me I bid
adieu here to my aunts, and all my brothers and sisters.
" I had friends; the idea of being separated from them for
ever and their troubles, are one of the greatest griefs I have in
dying. Let them know, ut least. that, to my last moment, 1
thought of them.
" Good and tender sister, farewell! May this letter reach
you! Always think of me! I enibrace yon with all ray heart,
as well as my poor dear children. Oh, my God ! what agony
it is to quit them for ever. Adieu! Adieu!
" And now I will resign myself wholly to my spiritual duties.
As I am not free in my actions, they will bring me perhaps a
priest ; but I protest here I will not say a word to him, and
that T will treat him as a perfect stranger."
Conformable to the original writing, entirely in the hand-
' writing of the Queen, Marie Antoinette. The Minister of Po-
lice, (Signed) Comte de GAZES.
After the letter had been read, it was long tsefore the Minister
was able to proceed. His own emotion as well as that of the
assembly prevented him. A long silence intervened before he
was able to resume his disci arse.
" Gentlemen," said Count C.rzcs, " the King, in (Erecting as
to make this ccumnunicatiou, has authorised us to state, that in
marking choice a.us fur that purpose, it was his desire to honour
the Deputy as notch as the Minister. His Majesty wishes dna
you should see, on this communication, a proolof his desire to
mix all his feelings with those of his people, and to make you
participate in the consolations he receives as he shares your
hopes and your cares.
" I deposit on the Bureau a certified copy of the Queen's
Testament. His Majesty has directed me to state, that be has
ordered a for-siosik to be taken, a copy of which will sue deli-
vered to each of the Members of the Chamber." _ . _

At these words the whole assembly rose up, amidst cries of
Vice is Iloi. - _

Laine, " Gentlemen, what an affecting interruption has
the communication which has just agitated our hearts made in
our• political discussions ! and how much cause have we pi put
a rem on those passions which subvert states, and which plunged
France into all the calamities of which the rending of this royal
letter recals the remembrance! The emotion I feel is too
powerful to allow me to pursue this idea. However, the ex-
pression of the last sentiments of our Queen raises us to ideas
►flarh higher than than an connected with po'..ics ; it elevates
our souls towards religion, anti reminds us drat religion is along
capable of being the imitst powerful support of government.
What a security for nations, when it fills tile hearts of kings!
What peace, what happiness rm sovereigns, if it penetrate into
the hearts of the people as well as into royal harts! But I
perceive I anticipate the expression of your sentiments: we
ought to be less moved, and to have more time to express them
w,riLily. I provv,v, Ge.,!l;•rt,:t, o:4' an 111:11He ad•lre•s

:..,, ~.

MARCH 4.

sled not to hitu by a depista im of Ti Member% Did the trans-
port ut your hearty requirs an example, I should tell you, what,
I have just been informs:!, that thcCisambes of Pet.r. has voted
an address to the king, which is to he presented by a grand de-
putation.
A general cry of— To the role ! to the rote I—The ‘N hole assem-
bly quickly wood up.
'The President repeated the motion of M. Laiae, which was
fulassimouslt atiopfod, with cries of Keck. Rot!
President then gave the Ministers an acknowledgment
of the colinnimic.ition having WM; made to the chamber: and
a certified ropy of the letter was ordered to be deposited in the
arebkves Of the chamber.

President.—lt does not appear to be the wish of the
chamber to emitinue the discussion with which it wits previ•
ously occupied.
A cry from all sides—No! no!

The Premident then announced that the interrupted dives-
'lion should be resumed to-morrow, at noon ; and proposed that
the rhamher should now resolve itset into a secret comrnittea,
in order to give elket to M. haloes !notion.

The chainber went into a secret committee accordingly.
CHAMBER OF PEERS.
1111.1.FTIN OF THE. SITTING OF WEISNESDAT, FEB. 22.
The Minister for Foreign Atfairs, President of time Council of
Ministers, and the Minister for Geaeral Police, were iatroduct d.
The first of these ministers communicated to the chamber,
on the part of the King, a letter written to Madame Elizabeth
by the unfortunate Queen Niarle Antoinette five hours before
her death. This letter, entirely written in the queen's hand,
was found among the papers of the ex-conventionalist Courtois.
His Majesty wishes that the chamber of peers should rei!eive
the first comumniention of this interosting document (for which
see the chamber of deputies). A fac simile of it has been en-
graved, copies of which will to-morrow be delivered to the
peers and deputies.
Viscount Chateashriand expressed with equal animation and
dignity the sentiments which this melancholy communication
excited in the assembly. He proposed to transmit to the king,
by a grand deputation, the homage of the sentiments of the
chamber.

The Duke of Choiseul, in seconding this metion, paid a just
tribute of respect nud admiration to the ani:i.st compaiiitm of
Louis XVI.

The motion was unanimously agreed to, and the speeches of
Viscount Chateaubriand and the Duke of Choiseul were ordered
to be printed.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MONDAY, Fen. 26.

The Royal Assent was given by Commission to the Cochineal
and Indigo Importation Bill, and Lord Gower's Indemnity !till.
file Cul ttttt isNioners were, the Duke of Alontrose, the Lord
Chancellor, and the Earl of Shaftesbury.
After a few remarks from Earl Stanhope, Lord Holland, and
the Earl of Liverpool, the House Adjourned.