Star.
London, England, 1809-12-28 00:00:00

steps within these walls could not be mere worthily
signalized than by this great testimony of patrio-
tism, of devotion, and fidelity. I'rejoice in being the
organ of the sentiments of the Senate toward your
Imperial Highness, and in expressing to yqu their
wishes for your prosperity."
The Orators of the Council of State, Counts Reg-
nault de St. Jean de Angely and Defermont, Mini-
sters of State, Members of the Council of State, be-
ing introduced, the Prince Arch-Chancellor spoke as
follows :-
41 Gaimetacx—The Project which will, in this
sitting, be submitted to the deliberation of the Senate,
contains an arrangement which embraces our dearest
interests. It is dictated by that imperious voice which
apprizes Sovereigns and nations, that to secure the
safety of States, we must listen to the counsels of a
wise foresight, incessantly call to mind the past, exa-
mine the present, and extend our views to the future.
It is under such high considerations that, in these ever-
memorable circumstances, his Majesty the Emperor
has caused all personal considerations to disappear,
and silenced all his private affections. The noble
and affecting attachment of her Majesty the-Empress
is a glorious testimony of her disinterested affection
for the Emperor, and secures to her an eternal right
to the gratitude of the nation."
Count Regnault (St. Jean de Angely) submitted
a project of a Senates Conn/tem, dissolving the mar-
riage between the Emperor Napoleon and the Em-
press Josephine. The orator explained the motives
of this project, as follows :
‘1 Mr Lotto--SeLtvons, The solemn act fully set
forth in the Senates Con:whom now read, contains all
its motives. What could we add ? What words
could we address to the Senate of France, but would
be far below the affecting sounds received from the
mouth of these two august consorts, of whom your
deliberation will consummate the generous resolu-
tions ? Their hearts have coincided in making the
noblest sacrifices to the greatest interests—they have
coincided to make policy of sentiment—speak lan-
guage the most true, the most persuasive, the most
adapted to move and to convince. As foreigners and
as consorts, the Emperor and Empress have done all
—there only remains for us to love, to bless, and to
admire them. 'Tis henceforth for the French nation
to make themselves heard ; their memory is faithful
as their hearts ; they will unite in their grateful
thoughts the hope of the future with the remembrance
of the past, and never will Monarchs have received
more respect, admiration, gratitude, and love, than
Napoleon, in immolating the most sacred of his al/idiom
to the wants of his subjects—than Josephine, in sacri-
ficing her tenderness for the best of husbands, through
devotion to the best of Kings, through attachment to
the best of Nations : accept, Gentlemen, in the name
of Fr'ance, in the sight of astonished Europe, this sa-
crifice, the greatest ever made on earth; and fall of the'
profound emotion which you feel, hasten to carry to
the foot of the Throne, in the tribute of your senti-
ments, of the sentiments of all Frenchmen, the only
Prince that can be worthy of the fortitude of our So-
vereign, the only consolation that can be worthy of
their -hearts."

The Prince Viceroy spoke as follows :
" PRINCE—SENATORS, You have heard the project
of Senatus Consuhunt submitted to your deliberation :
I feel it my duty, under these circumstances, to ma-
nifest the sentiments by which my family are ani-
mated. My Mother, my Sister, and myself, owe all
to the Emperor : he has been to us a father; he will
find in us, at all times, devoted children and obedient
subjects. It is important to the happiness of France,
that the Founder of the Fourth Dynasty should in his
old age be surrounded by direct descendants, who I
may prove a security to all, and a pledge of the
glory of our country. When my . Mother was
crowned, before the whole nation, by the hands of
her august consort, she contracted an obligation to sa-
crifice all her affections to the interests uf France. She
has fulfilled with fortitude, noblenessl and dignity this
first of duties ; her soul has often been moved at behold.
ing exposed to painful struggles, the heart of a man,
accustomed to conquer fortune, and advance with a
firm step to the accomplishment of his great designs.
The tears which this resolution has cost the Empe-
ror suffice for the honour a la gloire of my mother.—
In the situation she will now fill, she will be no stran-
ger, by her wishes, to the_feelings of the new prospe-
rities which await us, with a satisfaction mingled with
pride, that she will behold the happiness he: sacrifices
will produce to her country; to her Emperor."
This speech concluded, Count Gamier, Annual
President, proposed to refer the Senatus Consultum
to a Special Committee of nine Members to report
thereon during the sitting.—Agreed to.
The Prince .Archchancellor, President, then named
by lot; as scrutineers, the Senators Barthelemy and
Le Mercier ; and the following Senators were elected
on the Committee, Gamier, Lacepede, Semonville,
Beurnonville, Chaptal, Laplace, Marshal Dnke of
Dantzick, Marshal Serrierier, and Monge. The sit-
ting was suspended till their return. At, half past
four it was resumed, and Count Lacepede spoke as
follows :

" MY LORD, SENATORS—YOU have referred to
your Special Committee, the projet of Senatus Con-
sultum presented to you by the orators of the Coun-
cil of State. You have heard, Senators, the memo.
rable act annexed to the projet of the Senatus Con-
sultum which history will transmit to posterity as a
monument of the most tender affections, the most ge.
nerous sentiments, and the most absolute devotion to
the primary interest of an hereditary monarchy ;
these memorableawords, by the greatest of Sovereigns,
and his august and well beloved consort, will long re-
echo through the hearts of all Frenchmen. This day
more than ever has the Emperor proved, that he only ,
1 wishes to reign to serve hit &yetis ; the Empress has
deserved that posterity should associate her name
Pwith that of the immortal Napoleon. Such then, is
the condition of those whom the throne raises above
others, only to impose on them obligations more se-
vere ; how many Princes, who only consulting the
happiness of their subjects, have been obliged to re.
nounce connections the most dear to them !
To look no further than the predecessors of Napo-
leon, we find thirteen Kings, Whose duty as Sove-
reigns obliged them to dissolve the bond which bound
them to their consorts ; and, what is well worthy of
remark, among these thirteen Princes four of them
we must reckon were French Monarchs, admired the
mos.. and cherished, Charlemagne, Phillip the August,
Louis XII. and Henry IV. Ah 1 May he, whose
glory and self-devotion surpwas their selllieyotiop qtri