The National Register.
London, England, 1815-10-22 00:00:00

OCT. e 2.

TH E NAT

tula , ing• i hem saiitfte pp,v' t tiesilt6 Gilts liti4 itisi:f
jog thal their deliverance 'is doubtless .principatiy o.ving to
the poiection of the matt Italy Vitgin If the Rosary, to
whom 'hey had m st fervently proyed.:Trhile in prison, slid
whrise festival is Jut now cetehlatirog. They therefore pro:
pose ti, he present at the fete on the Ist of October, and in.
site tilt their taitlitlal• neighbours to accompany them, (of
zs'el't 30.)

One of the 00th September, by the Captain General, M.
We Saint Maicci, io the inhabitants of the kingdom of Galicia,
thank atid congratulating them, promising to ac-
rititiot ,he king with all the circumstances, that h:s Majesty
may confer ..n them the distin-Ctii:n which they so'vra merit.
A nnt:ce of the tit October flom M. Josef Pesci, Gover-
nor of Santiago, contains 62 copy of a letter from the Mi-
nister at War, °rale t ith September, in which he annowtces
the huh satisfaction of his Majesty with the behaviour oflhe
public authorities, the officers and troops, and assuring.them
of his Majesty's gratitude for ;heir services.

•.

LOUIS AlVd.llls- L74l* 'iwNi,srszts.

LETTER OF TILL LATE FRENCH MINISTERS TO THE KING,
EXILATNING THy MOTIVFS FOR THEIR RETIRING.
SIRS—Yon,: Majesty:deigned to confide to us the admi-
nistration of our Empire, when the whole of Europe in
arms occupied the Northern provinces, when they menaced
those of the Fas' and the South, and when civil war was
kindled and diffused over the West. A Itiempliant faction
which was restrained, but not discouraged g• portions of the
population who had he'come indifferent 'from the excess of
their fears or their sufferings to avy events which might
visite ; equal4e readrto 'support attern,tely the tyranny of
the faction and the yoke of foreign arms, until some greatct
inkfortunet • should at lehgth unite them against their IT-
preskorii: sul.:h has been the situation of the kingdom since
your Majesty's return. The love of our• country was no
longer to. be found, but under the tri-colOured flag. The
Party Which called- themselves Itoiyalists, proscribed, in their
;projects, both the laws and the men who did not encourage
the subversiois of social order. Were France buried beneath
er own rhini; and 'your Majesty reigned only over desert
frovinces; this party -would prefer the destruction of the
glory,' the strength, and the political existence of France,l
to seeing her consoled for her misfortunes, and regaining her
I%nies Under 'the wise and liberal laws vouchsafed by your
Majesty. • This party became hostile in the West, in the
FOutb, and -in the North, because it believed itself sup--;
ported by authority. 'Good citizeni waited, 'in silence, to'
hear (he voice of 'your Majesty. •At present they arc prepay-
itig tifeit arms in Auvergne, in the Ceeennes, in the Vosges,:
in Franche Comte, and in Alsace. You cannot, Sire, .be
ignorant what was our devotion to your sacred person :
we had partaken of your dangers, your Misfortunes, and your
exile ; we know the wisher- and the wants of the French
people ; we expressed them to your Majesty 'with a respect-
ful candour. - You seemed to listen' to us; and nOw that
we are quitting your councili, we hope that you will permit
us 'to recall them to your recollection.
Successive revolutions have changed the conditions of fa-
ruilles,, have overthrown
_the fcr•unes which they had amass- •
ed, have closed up the paths which they had opened. hive
tarnished the national glory which they had. exalted ; but
those revolutions have also taught the people, that there is'
no *whim, for• tkkfai cfcgt 11.9.der 4.6244 stud steady. Go-

rAL

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6?9

,ternau n,, because that WlllizeflkettbStitonditions of families
in a state of harmony with tutileinr manners, because it will
consolidate existing fortunes, because the white flag•floats
only over ruins I • They despot/ Ili •of 'our • public moptt-
inetats,.the tokens of our •formes glory; they seize the monu-
ments of art, which atone remain to us after €0 years of eon.;
quest. It is dishonour', Sire, which 'the people:are most re-
luctant to p irdon, and your Niajesty has -remained silent its
the midst of all these attacks tyro the national honour! :Wit
were.. far a long time. ignorant that. secret treason Lad
netted you with foreigners--your Majesty wished to ,nego-
tiate yourself—we could not prevent the disbandment of• the
army, and this measure being tompleted. left France and
your person in:the power of foreignerst What • had your
illriuseto fear from that army ? Napoleon no longer existed
fin- France. The national colour* granted; and some can.'
cessions made to-public opinion, that army would have be-
come yritirs-,--it world have served you •to resist the ainbi-
.tions projects of vont Allies. Was every thing to be aban.
dotted to the cornbinationsfand the seductions of your Court
and of fir eign •Ptirkea? Yottr•Court is led astray by prejtv=
diteslthe.foreign-Sovereigns•have interests opposed to rum
The Emperor of Russiavras,-•perhaps; the only one whom
you Coillti believe sineete• In his promises. The Allies at
this moment [oppose the recruiting .of the departmental
legions.

Such are the misfortunes of the situation in which unwis,n
Councils heye:pla.ced pint Majesty. Your subjects are al-
most every where in opposition or in arms against each
other. and almost every where the jartisans of your !louse
are the smallest number. The French, huiniliated and dis-
contented,.are ready to proceed to the last exti entity. Your
Majesty has no longer the means of opposing the pretensions
of foreigners. They have presented a treaty which would
consummate the ruin of the nation, and which would cover
it tvitb eternal shame. We have not thought it became us tcs,
give an assent which would have rendered us culpable towards
that nation, which may be humiliated, but which cannot be
beat down. Since your Majesty has confided authority to
our bands, we have constantly been without the power of
doing,good, without the power of
.preventing evil. Our opi7
nions have no influence; the cabals of your Court have pro.
sailed. We have to obey, through respect to your Majesty.
and to sanction by our signature, acts which we dtsapprove.. •
We would have sacrificed our Jives to save your Majesty' and
the Country, but those who are near your Majesty know
that the revolution which they would excite, would surround
the vessel of the state with new perils; that they would giro:
to factions, to whom you are opposed, the means of seeing a
resting place beyond the legitimate authority of your Majesty
that they would raise pretenders to the thioue where you are
seated. It is not by means of a factiou that your Majesty
' ought to reign. but by a constitution, by a royal prerogative.
recognised and established. Let that faction tremble, and
suspend their efforts to substitute passion io their place.—
Their agents would he the first victims, and they would
cause the greatest misfortunes to your Majesty. We are
therefore, convinced, that we can no longer contribute to
the welfare of your subjects, that we cannot govern the state
in the spirit of the Councils which direct your Majesty.
IYour wisdom will dotibtless do more than our zeal and oar
efforts to remedy the evils which afflict the State; we there-
fore venture to supplicate you to believe in the regrets
that we experience, in not being able any longer to contri-
bute toserve you, and in the wishes that we have formed fur
• the prosperity .of • your :How, iu .for.,Vitc,*(toty of.Oae-
ccPusos6. . - *.rt . :

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