The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-13 00:00:00

BELGIUM.

The King of the BELGIANS gave an audience on
Sunday to M. QUINETTE, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic.
M. QUINETTE, in presenting his credentials, spoke as
follows :

" Sire,—l am charged by the chief of the Executive
Power to express, in the name of the French Republic,
the sentiments of concord and friendship which have
always united, and ought always to unite, two nations
drawn close together by numerous interests and great
historical reminiscences. The principle of independence
and of the individual liberty of nations, of which the
French nation has by so much energy and so great sa-
crifices ensured for itself the triumph—these principles
it admits and wishes to respect amongst other States.
This declaration, which the Republic made when esta-
blished, and which the Executive Power has renewed in
the national Assembly, remains the basis and rule of
the foreign policy of France. The instructions which
have been given to me, and the sentiments which the
Government of your Majesty has had expressed to the
Executive Power of the French Republic, impart to the
mission which I am called on to fulfil a character and an
object which cannot but bind closer the relations of con-
fidence and of good neighbourhood between the two na-
tions and their Governments. Allow me to express,
Sire, all the satisfaction which personally I feel in re-
ceiving such a mission. Neither the head of the Execu-
twthheant
iit:ibivl(ei
gt
heobliged Power
other
ottimes
eoeestk• ttaihuerrelfteuexgpeiul,ebdfl iocuf
anitidho
eri
rnsmt
inssedl
country
hospi-
tality for which we shall always preserve a profound
ocuarns eflovregas:
re-
ineintlaece of gratitude towards the generous Belgian
nation."

The KING replied—
" Monsieur le Ministre,—l receive with a lively satis-
faction the expr, asion of the sentiments of concord and
friendship which you offer to me, in the name of the
chief of the Executive Power of the French Republic.
Be convinced that we shall not neglect anything to con-

solidate more and more the relations of friendship and
good neighbourhood which are so hapidly established
between the two countries and their Governments. The
French Republic may reckon on the loyalty of our sen-
timents anu the sincerity of our wishes for the welfare
of France. Happy in her pacific relations with all w.L-
tions, Belgium only wishes to continue in calm and se-
curity, to enjoy her independence, her political neutrality
and LT institutions. I congratulate
myself, Mensieur
le Ministre, on seeing you plaoed at my Court as the re-
presentative of France. The kind remembrance which
the head of the Executive Power of the Republic and
you have preserved of Belgium as a land of hospitality,
the numerous friends which you find there, will contri-
bute to ensure more and more in the relations of the
two countries that character of cordiality and stability
which is so desirable in the interest of the two coun-
tries."

After the audience, General DE SIEM, aide-de-camp
to the KING, who had gone with the Court carriages
for the representative of the French Republic to the
Hotel de Bellevue, took him back to the hotel with
the swine ceremonial.