The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-03 00:00:00

PROCLAMATION

feelings have burst forth ; from one end of the country
to the other, flocking on your steps, hastening from all
parts, to salute the man of their hopes and of their faith,
our people have sufficiently made known to the world
that you were their Emperor, the Emperor chosen by
the people ; and that you have with you that national
spirit which, on the day marked out by Providence,
Legislative Wednesday evening, at seven o'clock, the • in
s new dynasties and seats them the place of
Legislative Body met, for the important purpose
of making • , its official declaration of the number of ~ Taking
tchroovsniewhich it no longer animates.
shelter under an immense souvenir of glory,
votes given on the plebiscite for re-establishing the under what it holds most precious—its honour abroad,
-Empire in France. Th,9 tribunes were crowded, its security at home, and those immortal principles of
and all the persons occupying them apparently be- 1789, the firm basis of the new French society so power-
longed to the higher classes of society. The num- fully organised by the Emperor, your uncle—our nation
ber of deputies present was 240, and all wore their I again raises up with proud love that dynasty of the
grand official costume. A solemn silence took Bonapartes, which sprung from him, and which was
place when M. Billault, the President, preceded not overthrown by French hands. But while preserv-
ing a proud remembrance of the great events of war, it
by the messengers of state and the ushers, and ac-
hopes to find from you the great things of peace. Hay-
cempaniccl by the Vice-Presidents and Secretaries,
, ing alreadyt seenayodu at
fruitful government.
it expectts.fro? youd ar
teentered the house. The President, after having
re-
taken his seat, proceeded to read the official de- '
• prompt,asluyeo,uinit, itnsurrountd' s g-oouvemirlh eanll its snymopratehies,
claration of the Legislative Body, to the effect that it delivers itself wholly up to you ; take then, Sire, take
the French people had, by an immense majority, I
from the hands of France, that glorious Crown which
Called Louis Napoleon to be Emperor of the she offers to you ; never has a royal brow worn one
French. Scarcely had M. Billault terminated more legitimate or more popular."
reading the declaration of the Legislative Body, The words of the honourable president were
when cries of " Vive l'Empereur" burst out from frequently interrupted by applause, and followed
every part of the Chamber, tribunes and all. The by cries of " Vive Napoleon III.," and " Vive
Whole assembly then rose, and again shouted " Vive
l'Empereur !" The following is the official docu- l'Empereur." M. Billault afterwards handed to
his Majesty the declaration of the Legislative Body
went read by M. Billault :____ with the result of the votes.
" DECLARATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. M. Mesnard, Vice-President of the Senate, ad-
" The Legislative Body,— vancing to the right of the Emperor, addressed to
"Having taken into consideration the Senatus-Con- him the following speech :
sultum of Nov. 7, 1852 ' • "Sire—The Legislative Body has made known the
"Having considered the decree of the same day, sovereign will of France.
calling on the French people to vote on the acceptance "In re-establishing the Imperial dignity in the person
or rejection of the plebiscite proposed by the Senate • and in the family of your Majesty, in giving you the
"Looking at the decree of Nov. 7, 1852, convoking crown which she placed half-a-century ago on the brow
the Legislative Body for the purpose of verifying the of the conqueror of Marengo, France loudly expresses
regularity of the votes, of summing them up, and of what are her wishes, and how, in connecting the present
declaring the result ; with the past, she mixes up her hopes with her souvenirs.
"After having examined and verified in the sittings "This throne on which your Majesty is about to
of its bureaux of Nov. 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, and of seat yourself, by whatever force and whatever splen-
Dec, 1, the proces-verbaux of the votes given in the dour it may be surrounded, finds in the power of public
eighty-six departments and Algeria, and by the land and opinion its most solid foundation.
sea forces • " L'Empire, c'est la pair, said your Majesty on a
" After having heard, in its sittings of Nov. 30 and memorable occasion. The voice of the country adds:
Dee. 1, the reports made to it in the name of its bureaux, The Empire is the maintenance of international relations
and having confirmed by a vote after each of these re- in all the dignity of amicable reciprocity ; it is religion
Ports the regularity and exactitude of the figures ex- honoured as it deserves to be ; it is the condition of the
sanined, such as they are set down in the table annexed working and suffering classes become the object of con-
to the present delaration ; stant solicitude ; it is discipline in the army, and in the
" Considering that, in the presence of the immense heart of every soldier the ardent sentiment of honour and.
majority of votes already ascertained to be given in of national independence ; it is commerce and manufac-
lavour of the plebiscite, there is no necessity for waiting tures developing themselves and fertilising public pros-
/or the few proces-verbaux drawn up in distant localities, perity ;in fine, it is the pacification of parties ;it is a
and of which the verification will be made hereafter and wide and free scope given to all capacities and to all in-
that it is fitting, in order to comply with the national telligences, from whom it will now be only asked
will, to proclaim without delay the great event which whither they go, and no longer whence they come.
riles the destinies of France; "This, Sire, is why so many millions of votes present
" Declares : to you that imperial crown promised to your birth, re-
" Ist. That the operations of the vote have been every- conquered by your merit, and rendered to your name by
Where freely and regularly accomplished ; the most solemn act of the sovereignty of the people.
" 2d. That the general summing-up of votes given on "We beg your Majesty to receive with kindness the
the pldbiscite has given : homage and congratulations of the Senate."
_ "_Seven millions eight hundred and twenty-four thou- Cries of " Vive l'Empereur ! " followed the
Zand one hundred and, eighty-nine (7,824,189) bulletins speech of M. Mesnard. These having subsided, it
bearing the word ' Om
".' was amidst the most profound silence that the
Two hundred and fifty-three thousand one hundred
Emperor, in a firm voice, replied as follows to the
and forty-five (253,145) bulletins bearing the word
410/4. two great bodies of the State :
" And sixty-three thousand three hundred and twenty- " Gentlemen,—The new reign which you, this
i.x bulletins null ; day, inaugurate, derives not its origin—as so many
"In
consequence the Legislative Body declares : others recorded in history have done—from vio-
" That the French people, convoked to vote in its lence, from conquest, or from fraud. It is, you
nnizitia, on the 21st and 22d of Nov., 1852, has accepted
the following plebiscite :— have 'just declared it, the legal result of the will of
a whole people, who consolidate in calm that which
`` 'The French people wills the re-establishment of the
Imperial dignity in the person of Louis Napoleon Bona- they had founded in the midst of agitations.
Parte, with succession to his direct descendants, legiti- "I am penetrated with gratitude towards the
mate or adopted, and gives him the right to regulate nation which, three times in four years, has sus-
!e order of succession to the throne in the Bonaparte tained me by its suffrages, and each time has
family, as is set forth in the Senatus-Consultum of Nov. only augmented its majority to increase my power.
t, '852.' But the more that power increases in extent
1"A unanimous cry of Wive l'Empereur,' greeted and in vital force, the more does it need en-
iis declaration, and the Legislative Body decided lightened men, such as those who every day
Yacclamation that it would proceed the same surround me independent men, such as those
to4._evening, at eight o'clock, to the Palace of St. Cloud whom I address—to guide me by their counsel, to
u present to his Majesty the Emperor the result of the
Dotes bring back my authority within just limits, if it
of the French people. could everquit them.
"Given at the Palace of the Legislative Body, in q
Public sitting, this Ist day of December, 1852. " I take, from this day, with the Crown, the
"BILLAULT, name of Napoleon 111., because the logic of the
"President of the Legislative Body, people has bestowed it upon me in their acclama-
"DALLoz, the DUKE DE TARENTE, BARON tions ; because the Senate has legally proposed it ;
ESCHASSERIEUX, DUGAS, Secretaries." and because the whole nation has ratified it.
The President left the Chamber with the same "Is it, then, to be inferred that in accepting this
f-eremonial as he had entered, and was followed by title I fall into the error imputed to the Prince who,
.:_lhe Deputies, who proceeded to take their places returning from exile, declared null and void all that
tin
carnages ready in the Court of Honour, to take had been done in his absence ? Far from me be such
them to St. Cloud. . awild mistake. Not only do I recognise the Govern-
The
Ushers,
cortege advanced in the following order. ments which have preceded me, but I inherit in some
the Messengers of State, the carriage
of the President, manner all that they have accomplished of good and
hero
President, then those containing the seven
repoe evil; for Governments which succeed one to another
Leers of the bureaux, namely, MM. Bavoux, are, notwithstanding different origin, liable for their
uxon,tet Delamarre (Creuse), Reveil, Lemercier, predecessors. But the more completely that I no-
and Fauguer ; the Vice-Presidents ;
Deputies.
Secretaries.. ; the Questors ; and lastly, the cept all that, for fifty years, history transmits to us
.ueputies. with her inflexible authority, the less it is permit-
The whole number of carriages was ted to me to pass in silence ver the glorious reign
nywards of 100, and a long line of torch bearers of the head of my family, and the regular, though
accompanied them on both sides The re,'
.ent
of the 7th Lancers
served *
as escort to the Deputies. ephemeral, title of his son, whom the two Cham-
bers proclaimed in the last burst of vanquished pa-
ths The cortege passed along the rue de l'Universite, triotism.
liif Esplanade des Invalides, the Quai d'Orsay,
" Thus, then, the title of Napoleon 111., is not
4- assY, Auteuil, Boulogne, and St. Cloud. A con-one of those dynastic and superannuated preten-
aiderable crowd was collected along the line of pro-
sions which seem to be an insult to good sense and
,e'ession. At Auteuil, the M • 'e was illuminated,
to truth. It is the homage of a Government which
,-.Q,d four eagles of fire, with the words " Vive Na-
was legitimate, and to which we owe the brightest
reon 111 !" above, decorated the front. At Bou-
pages of our modern history. My reign does not
tsi),grie many of the houses were illuminated, as was
date from 1815—it dates from this very moment
etc long avenue from Auteuil to Boulogne. St.
4:17°..11(1. was even more brilliant than the other parts when you have announced to me the suffrages of
the nation.
11„une route, and a vast crowd was collected in the
'ahbourhood of the palace. " Receive, then, my thanks, Messieurs les De-
The deputies arrived at St. Cloud at eight o'clock, putes, for the eclat that you have given to the
i;ing been preceded only a few minutes by the manifestation of the national will by rendering it
1171nberS of the Senate, and of the Council of State. more evident by your supervision, more imposing
e Legislative Body was shown into the Salon de by your declaration.
6(`_-!s, the Senate into the Salon de Venus, and the " I thank you also, Messieurs les Senateurs, for
passe
of State into that of Diana. After a short having been the first to address congratulations to
ee"32, Count Bacciocchi, Grand Master of the me, as you were the first to give expression to the
the'etl,lonies, assisted by M. Feuillet de Corches, popular wish.
the
_.,teputy-master, introduced the senators into " Aid me, all of you, to set firm in this land, up-
-1; blallery of Apollo, one of the finest in Europe, set by so many revolutions, a stable Government,
ll' up-
Vice Mesnard, Troplong, General Count which shall have for its bases religion, probity,
oarae lay-d'Ailliers, the Grand Referendary, and love for the suffering classes. -
erolerai Count d'Hautpoul, and Baron de La- " Receive here my oath, that no sacrifice shall be
Tb." 6, the Secretary, marched at its head. wanting on my part to insure the prosperity of my
kr:is,Ca,rdinals, Marshals, Admirals, and the country ; and that, whilst I maintain peace, I will
kenzishop of Paris were with the Senate, the yield in nothing which may touch the honour or
04 theers of which immediately took their places
at , right of the throne erected for the solemnity g•
the dignity of France."
took
end of the gallery. The Legislative Body is Majesty, after several times bowing to the
~,,'4 their places on the left, the two bodies sitti persons assembled, withdrew with the same cere-
mony as he entered.
eiit'Posite each other. The Council of State next The members of the Senate and of the Legisla-
ed, conducted by the Presidents of section, tive Body returned to Paris at 10 o'clock.
,AW:t• Rouher, de Parieu, Bonjean, General A series of decrees appears in the Moniteur,
rd, Vice-Admiral Leblanc, and f. Boudet.
RideY were seated opposite each other along the which, now bears the second title of Journal.Officiel
eil, M. Baroche, being a member of the Co de l Empire Francais. The decrees which are
of mi •
to the throne.
sat immediately behind them, closeun- headed—". Napoleon, by the Grace of God and the
national will, Emperor of the French—to all pre-
to 'le throne. The Procureur-General Defan le sent and to come greeting,"—are as follows :
rai. -,.," Royer, Baron Brenier, M. Heurtier, Gegne'
akft-Lanmas, M. Greterin, d. de Sibert Cornillon, 1. A decree proclaiming Louis Napoleon Bona-
cm_ -at Darricau, were seated amongst the Conn- parte as Emperor of the French, by the title of
1,118 of State. Napoleon 111.
111,14.
eee
Lmaster of the ceremonies having informed 2. A decree, elevating Generals de St. Arnaud,
Magnan, and de Castellane, to the dignity of Mar-
'ivat ouis Napoleon, who was at the time in his
at_ e apartment, that the great bodies of the shals of France.
N,,ithe had arrived, entered the gallery of 'Apollo 3. A decree determining the form for the pro-
tke.all- his household, military and civil. Count mulgation of laws, judgments, and proceedings of
kid then
and M. Feuillet de Conches led the way; courts of justice. Each is to be preceded by the
440:41en followed the orderly officers, Captain Ex- words above quoted.
Towalls, Commandant Lepic, Commandant de 4. A decree declaring that in future the Cour
IlevargCaeon, Commandant Fave, Captain de Men- d'Apel A
decree, shall be called Crantiour Imperial.
fain 6 ptain de Berkeim, Captain Petit, Cap- 5. gng a pardon to all persons
Li arabriels Captain Tascher de la P • d g found guilty of offences of the press, and declaring
1\ elite_ ,agene, an
all past avertissements null.
Rant de La Tour d'Auvergne ; M. Mocquart,
"r• co
of th noeau, and M. C. Sure, intendant-general 6. A decree pardoning members of the National
No e household •; then came the aides-de-camP, Guard convicted by the Councils of Discipline.
Generals
Fleury, Edgar Ney, de Beville • and 7. A decree re-establishing the second section of
teb Vaudrey, Espinasse, de Lourmel, de Mon- the general staff of the army.
Roo ,de Goyon, de Cotte, Canrobert, and 8. A decree relative to the retirement of general
t. officers, and declaring that general officers norai-
fli • Pole
viA• oil 111, in the uniform of a general of nated senators can be employed though beyond the
kingl°4 legal age.
a , next entered, having on his right the ex-
(lf Ai do next
Napoleon Bonaparte, in the uniform The Moniteur announces that a day's pay is
granted to all the subalterns, corporals, and soldiers
the
.of France ; on his left Prince. Jerome
of the army and navy, on tho occasion of the
.h e iyii • e, in coloured clothes ; and behind him
4. rek, empire.
;-1141ter of State, Ministers, M. Baroche, Vice-
Two hundred and ninety of the political convicts
Pre ..",..,
feetu' of the Council of State, and M. Berger
The of the eine. ' have been pardoned.
The seal of the Emperor is to be a crowned Im-
Nnted moment Louis Napoleon appeared he was
penal Eagle reposing on thunder (reposant cur /a
reur ,„ with loud acclamations of " Vive l'Empe-
foudre). All official seals are to be after the same
11 • eve
e sal 17 person present rising at his entrance.
procee'atnd.rt)he various bodies of the State, and then model.
2e1ri4,47,_,1e nto the throne, which he ascended,
" robtku on Jerome on his right, and Prince
ding,°l:l his _ left. Louis Napoleon remained
The
placed
No_ tainisters
the "4' and t • themselves behind the three
liis ter h he aides-de-camp, orderly officers and
tera. onsehold, at the bottom after the rai-
„,k giiin._,
7',
evap oe:,7anult_,
.President of the Legislative Body,
'll on_.`i_ . ci, in a firm and emphatic voice, read
„ Sires ownig speech :
PreBsi owen bring to your Majesty the solemn ex-
trvatio°„-- the Lional will. In the midst of the
I,si.a3aar,3,Bo:Bhhicehwew_ere decreed to you by popular enthu-
6110111°frered You d no anxiety to assume a crown, which
ir_ have
time
on all sides, but wished that'France
(11!°prelne de eision for reflexion ; you wished that that
e_o,9Bee SOVerei by which a people, master of itself,
the
05 and open t ire,
'',!....,,,,:i in
e.prety.of its destiny, should only be taken
Reel.: °lir Z iber9r,
is accomplished ; a ballot free,
all, has been loyally examined under
votes 37" °f all °
the
established.
Nvideetit gives to thsumming
they collecte_deufort up in one, eight millions of
ever basis on
which
legitimacy of your government the
ich any government in the world was
yreurehrey he dgaeyvernwhmeenntsixitbmeifilliwonhsieohf
~,e, called
o replace, deposited in your hands the
; al the coYontr
its ditionai _ 10, France, at each new ballot, marked
kittecerdencelin ns of votes the continued increase of
' fetYo
3u. Without as within her com-
et her
ae in her votes, everywhere her

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.!

LATEST FROM PARIS.

SEVEN O'CLOCK.
PARIS, THURSDAY EVENLNG,
The proceedings of this memorable day com-
menced. with the promulgation of the Empire at
the Hotel de Ville, by the Prefect of the Seine.
Three battalions of infantry, and the 13th Bat-
talion of National Guards occupied one side of the
square, while the other was filled with deputations
from different classes of workmen, or trading cor-
porations, bearing appropriate banners. The mass
of the people stood on the quay : and. when M.
Berger, surrounded by the municipal body, read
the decree proclaiming the Empire, a loud shout
of " -Vivo l'Empereur ' pierced the fog in a very
gallant style.
As soon as the ceremony was over, the troops
and National Guards marched towards the Champs
Elyseos to unite with their comrades in giving a
worthy reception to the Emperor.
The Arch of Triumph was the grand feature of
the whole. The wide circle in which the Arch
stands was lined with soldiers and National Guards,
while fin the centre of the Arch itself ware grouped
a maErs of generals in the old Imperial costume—
green coats, white breeches, and boots above the
knee; and, with their aide-de-camps made a bril-
liant group. By this time the whole of die Champs
des :Klysees and the Neuilly road, as :far as the
Bois de Boulogne• were lined 011 one side with