Star.
London, England, 1831-01-20 00:00:00

BELGIUM.
MANIFESTO OF TBE PRINCE OF ORANGE.

The following Manifesto is addressed by the Prince of
Orange to the Belgic nation. It is a document which will be
read with interest, though the decision of the Congress ap-
pears to forbid all hope to the House of Nassau. The tone
is sufficiently humble :

The late events in Belgium have been attended with misfortunes for
myself, fur my family, and for the people.
These misfortunes I have never osesed to deplore; yet in the midst
of my regret I have never abandoned the consoling hope that a day will
come when justice will be rendered to the purity of my intentions,
and when 1 shall be able to aid personally in healing your intestine
divisions, and restoring peace and happiness to a country to which
I shall ever be attached by the sacred ties of duty and affection.
The choice of a Sovereign, since the separation of Belgium from
Holland, has been a source of difficulties which it would be need-
less to recapitulate.
May I, without presumption, still entertain thi hope, that the
choice of myself to that station will of the best possible 'elution
to the difficulties which surround you ?
It is impossible to doubt that the five Great Powers, who have united
their efforts so disinterestedly to release us from the evils that oppress us,
and whose confidence it is so necessary to preserve, see in this arrange.
ment the best means of securing our internal tranquillity and the general
peace of Europe.

I still retain the affection of a large proportion of the population.
Recent and numerous communications from the principal cities in the
country have afforded convincing proofs of it, and I am happy to believe
that this sentiment will gain strength when my intentions shall be ade-
quately understood. It is from this belief that I feel a strong desire to
acquaint you with my views.

The:past, m far as concerns myself, shall be buried in oblivion. I
will recognize no personal &inactions in referenat to former polideal
conduct. All my efforts will be accompanied with the maintenance, in
the offices of Government, of those whose talents and experience have
merited such distinction.

I promise the protection of Government to the Catholic Church, and
to her Ministers. I shall be ready to co-operate in all measures for
guaranteeing religious liberty. It shall also be my first desire, as it
will be my first duty, to join my efforts to those of the Legislature, in
order to consolidate the institutions founded on national independence,
and to afford all possible satisfaction u regards our external volition.
For the realization of these views, I await with confidence the aid of
those Powers whose:whole conduct tends to the maintenance of the Es.
ropean balance, and of the general peace.
It is to their interest to render Belgium strong, independent, and
happy. They will have there the surest guarantee for the security of
other nations. Whatever may tend to delay the solution of your difli-
culties muse necessarily paralyse if not destroy the salutary effect that
would otherwise attend their exertions. In considering the means
which may insure to Belgium, with the establidunent of its inde-
pendence, the benefits of a durable peace, it will be worse than super-
fiuous to think of any method whatever, which, under factual dr-
eumstances, can in the smallest degree procrastinate the final ded-
sion ; for delay can but increase the difficulties and dangers et your
situation.

I have expressed myself with all the frankness that my situation de-
manded. Placed as lam before the Belgic people, all my bore rest
oa their enlightened manner of viewing the Interests of their County,
and their attachment to their independence. I conclude by mining
them that in the step I have taken, I have been less actuated by con.
.I.leastions of my individual interest, than by a lively and sincere desire
to witness the termination of the evils that a>oiet their cannily, by We-
t r y measures of peace and conciliation.