Star.
London, England, 1830-08-24 00:00:00

THE DUKE OF ORLEANS FIFTEEN YEARS AGO.

From the Spectator.
The following document, which at the preient moment is a curiosity
in its way, has been pointed out to us by a friend, who took the trouble
to copy it from an old newspaper.
At the time of the second Restoration, and for some time before, there
Was a party in France (and had it spoken earlier and more boldly, it
might have carried ifs point) which strongly urged that the Duke of
Orleans, and not Louis XVIII. should 611 the throne. The Duke does
not appear in any way to have encouraged thii party ; but ate tuachina-
dons exposed him nevertheless to the dislike Of the reigning house,
which was pretty impartially evended to him and his family as long, as
they remained in France. The disclaimer of the Duke, however ho-
nourable to himself, thus feU abort of its obfect. It put down the party,
but it did not conciliate the .King. The document was published here
on the 22d of June, 1815. It is &dart/Wed to the French nation.
" am under the necessity of breaking the silence I had
imposed on myself, and since some, have had the audacity to connect
my name with guilty wishes and perfidious insinuatiOns, my honour
dfc-
ates to me, in the face of all Europe. a most solemn protest which my
duties prescribe to me.
" Frenchmen, they deceive, they mislead yon ; but those among you
especially deceive themselves who arrogate the right of choosing another
master, and who out gc by Seditious bet a Prince, the most faithful
subject of the Tang of France, Louis XVIII.
" The irrevocable principle of legitimacy is now the sole guarantee of
' paste in France and Europe. Revolutions have only made its force and
importance More strongly felts Consecrated by a warlike league, and by
a pacific congress of all the Princes, this principle will become the in.
variable rule of reigns and successions.
" Yes, Frenchmen, I should be proud to govern you, but solely in
the event of my being unfortunate enough to have my seat on the throne
open to me by the extinction of an illugrious branch. I would see then
only that I should alio make known intentions far different, perhaps,
from thoie which some ascribe to me, or which they choose to suggest
to me.
" Fretichmetr,—l addresi myself to none but a few ridded men.
Become 'Ourselves again, and.prOclairn yourselves the faithful subjects
of Louis XVIII. and of his natural heirs, with one of your princes and
fellow-citizens."
It is amusing to see the principle of legitimacy, so strongly insisted
on by Louis Philip. There is, however, more apparent than real in.
consistency between his language 15 tars ago and his tannage on
Tuesday fortnight. "In the absence of all public power," said he on
the latter occasion, " the wishes of my fellow-citizens turned towards
me." Legitimacy had, in fict, run the coUntry--abfil, exalt, erupt&
It was impossible to cling tothst which could not longer uphold itself.
The question was not, should the Duke of Rondonia be supported ?
that was utterly impossible; latt should " persons, • rights„
every thing that was most valuable and dear to men a to citizens, con.
tinue-exposed to the most census, lan pe r still it wanted not the
Duke's example to prove the dangerediffaring tbo sweepingly for ge•
anal maxims, especially. on pchangeable a aubject as politics. He
could hate said all that was necessary to exculpate himself, and have
left legitimacy to look after its own infertile ; but it was the watchword
of the day, and he used it as thereat did.
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