The National Register.
London, England, 1814-04-10 00:00:00

SECOND EDITION.

FORMAL ABDICATION OF BUONAPARTE.

THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.

SATI7IIDA.Y NICVT, APRIL 9, 1814.

Foreign o.ffie.e, April 9, 1814, Eight P. M.

Dispatches have been this day received at this Office
from General Lord Viscount Cathcart, K. T. announcing
the abdication of the Crown of France and It: 1, by Na-
poleon Buonapaite: in terms of which the follJwing is a
t ranslation

" The Allied Powers having proclaimed that the Em-
peror Napoleon was the only obstacle to the re-establish-
went of the peace of Europe, the Emperor Napoleon,
fuithful toh:s oath, declares that he renounces for himself
and his heirs, the Thrones of France wild Italy, and that
there is no personal sacrifice, even that of life) which he
is Aot retdy to nsake to the interest of France.
" Done at the Palace of Fontainebleau, the
1811,"

April,

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

THE BOURBONS.

The long Westing wounds of tlie. world are aloud.., Ts a
few.weeks even the scars will be smoothed away.; Europe will
resume her health and betuaty, and of so many terrific storms
that have desolated her fields, only the memory will remain ;
like the drops after the rain, or the smoke after the confla•
;ration. Happy are those whose existence has been suffi-
iently protracted to behold the days of .Heavenly retribu-
tion ; to hail the return of loyalty and honour among men, of
fi-ictuiship amongst nations ; to enjoy the reign of universal
peace I Repose is sweet after toil; but how much swretrr is
peace after the long labours and desperate chances of a re •
volution ? Even when partially diffused and precariously
secured, its blessings are valuable. When founded on fn4-
tual confidence and the offspring of sincerity, granted with
magnanimity and received with gratitude, and nniting all
nations in fraternal bonds, it must become still more .pre
cious, and cannot fail of being lasting. Such is the peace
which is now preparing. The arms of all Europe have con-
quered, the downfall of the Usurper has secured it. As long
er; he possessed imperial power, even the cprtailment of his
dominions could not render him harmless to mankind. He
would profess I'm:laity and moderation whilst he would se-
cretly prepare the means of reviving his influence.to oppress
and devastate Europe. His dethronement by the Senate,
with his consequent abdication, have therefore remo

only cause that could render peace insecure. It is

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. X

he who lately declared that he could not live on a degraded
throne, now consents to accept his life in a degrading man-
ner, Vnder the pretence of being- faithful to his oath, he
resigns the crowns of France and -Italy, when he finds then)
departing from him. With his usual sincerity he endeavours
to hide the motive of this action, and to make it appear that
he is ready to sacrifice, not only his Thrones, but his life, if
the happiness of France requires it. Fallen in fame, in for.
tune, and in power, however deserving of death, he is her
come too contemptibie '0 receive it at the hands of the Al-
lies. Avengers of the world, they have dom.-led him to a
more severe punishment than deprivation of existence, if he
possesses
.the feelings of a man. They have left him to feed on
torturing reflections. Dreams of past grandeur will haunt his
•mind. Ile will be torn by the conviction, that he, had it in his
power to make France and the world happy, and thus tp eeta,
blish his dynasty on a solid basis, and that to visionary hope,
of universal empire he sacrificed millions of his fellow crea-
tures, and all the harvest of success and glory which ley
ripening before him. From the contemplation of what be
has lost, he
.will turn to what he has gained. will see
scorn, mockery, and reproach, pouring from every quarter
upoo him. He will find himself a solitary being in the unt-
verse, loaded with universal hatred, with a family, condemned
by the Unbridled excess of his ambition to share tine ignominy
of his lot, instead of ascending a Throne secured to his nos-
' terity by the virtues of Its pralsessor,-.- If, after sucla
_face-
tions, *hid) it Will not be In. his power to drive amay, life
still hat cbarmS for him, then indeed will the Alpe; and the
French nation•have been too merciful towards him. in our
opinion, however, they have treated him with due seytrity.
They have denied him the quiet of the grave, avd`cprisigned
him to the rentlitig tortures of Fon4siente. .
The hour of universal peace is at hand; but to obtain that
boon, fresh exertions must be made. Not, indeed, of a rni!
Mary nature, fur not a foe remains in arms to retard or oh-
struct the tranquillity of Europe. The exertion,. that are
required arc those of self-denying and* conciliatory spirit
on the pact of those illostriout Exiles, who are now so rap-
turously recalled to the bosom of their wive land. They
must not expect to find their country in the state in which
they left it. Twenty-five years of tgy9intiou have swept
away all _tine distinctions pf- property, and thPugti every
claim will he satisfied tq the fullest Went possible, they
must feel the necessity of submitting tp a considerable re,
duction of the income they once possessed ; which, even in
its curtailed state, will be much greater than that which tho
sympathy of our Gqvernment ha; been able to allme them,
duting the long period of tht it haaishment. This is no .4"t!')
;►e ;st to sacrifice
it. When they see tht 1,4 is to A
,ful necessity, but the Lni)!A ,P7r.lnple of their Monarch

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