The National Register.
London, England, 1815-10-15 00:00:00

THE

contained in it) it cannot be denied that this claim was
annihilated by this negotiation.
Those who negotiated for tha French Government
judge►l that the victorious armies had a right to take the
Works of Art from the Museum, and they, therefore, en-
deavoured to save them by introducing an article into the
Military Convention. This article was rejected, and the
claim of the Allies greatly advanced by the negotiation on
their side, and this was the reason that the article was re.
Jetted. Not only then was the possession of them not
guaranteed by the Military Convention, but the above.
mentioned negociation tended the more to weaken the
right ►►f the French Government to the possession, which
was founded on the silence of the Treaty of Paris of
May, 1814.

The Allies having the contents of the Museum justly in
their power, cannot do otherwise than restore them to
those from whom they had been taken away, contrary to
the usages of civilized warfare, during the dreadful pe.
riod of the French Revolution, and the tyranny of I3o-
naparte.

The conduct of the Allies with respect to the Museum
at the time of the Treaty of Paris, may be ascribed to
their desire to conciliate the French army, and to con-
firm the reconciliation with Europe to which the army
seemed at that time to be disposed.
But the circumstances are now entirely different ; the
army disappointed the just expectations of the world, and
embraced the first opportunity of rebelling against their
Sovereign, and
,of serving the general enemy of humanity,
with a tiew to the renewal of the frightful times that
were passed, and of the scenes of pillage against which
the world has made so many gigantic efforts.
This army having been defeated by the armies of Eu-
rope, it is dissolved by the united Council of the Sove-
reigns, and there can be no reason why the Powers of
Europe should do wrong to their own subjects, in order
to again conciliate this army; indeed it never appeared
to me to be necessary that the Allied Sovereigns should
neglect this opportunity to do justice and favour to their
own subjects, in order to please the French nation. The
feelings of the French people upon this subject can be no
other than national vanity.
They would desire to retain these works of art, not be-
cause Paris is the properest place for them to be preserved
in (for all artists and connoisseurs who have written on
the subject agree that they ought to be sent back to the
places where they originally were); but because they have
'Lice!' acquired by conquests of which they are the
trophies.

The same feeling that makes the people of France wish
to keep the pictures and statues of other nations, must
naturally make other nations, now that victory is on
their side, to restore those articles to the lawful owners,
:Ind the Allied Sovereigns must feel a desire to promote
this object.

It is besides to be wished, as well for the happiness of
France as of the world, that if the French people arc not
already convinced that Europe is too strong for them,
they may be made to feel, that however extensive for a
time their temporary and partial advantages over one or
more of the Powers of Europe may bet the day of retri-
bution must at length cum..

661

In my opinion, it would not only be unjust in the So.
vereigns to gratify the French people, but the sacrifice
they would make would be impolitic', as it would deprive
them of the opportunity of giving the French a great
moral lesson. I amt my dear Lord, &c.
WELLINGTON'.