The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-13


peace.
From this time, with that view of futurity
which outruns events, and diinguiihcs them
from the caufes by which they are produced, he
bad feen all the blood which was to flow on the
Held OF Marengo, on that of Hohenlinden and
Regardless of the preflges which promifed 10
France and to her brave armies new laurels and
new conquens, he lifened but to the dictates nc
wlfdom and humanity, which legalize glory. b,,,
command iacrifces.
The fame principle infpired him, The fam.
magnanmity, when, being called to take tbe
reihs OF government, he united the title of Fra
Coniui to the fame of his generahip, and m.
powers OF the tirft magiftrate to the immenle ia
husnce OF the glory he had acquired. Ever,
where. ne addreiled the words Of peace. and h.
iucceeded in making hinfelf heard. The CO..
,.nent Paclhed, there remains vet and enemy 70
France. On the 5th Ventore, year 9 b. 49, ~
fed peace to the King of England. P'op"-
The generous conqueror of the wear a..
Fit Conul, pacifcator ofthe year 8, were 90,
to he found with the fame magnanimons ~.
ration IN the augut iovereign to whom be,vs,
has entruited our deftines The DEGREES ae
power, the diveriity of fituations, chance non.
of thofe eminent qualities, which might iuffIv h.
termed virtues OF character; and the Emneror
owed 1t to himfeIfto propofa prace the third
time' 70 prove thatit was not in vain he had ufed
lNfe.a
preiions: "Soldier and Frf Conful. b,,.haI
but one thought Emperor, have no otber. :,
For theie two years War is declared. and
could not yet be begun. All have been rr.-,,,
atlons End projects: but the moment beinp COME
when their execution was to bring on real event.
and give birth to the mott terrible hazards. m.
Emperor has thought that it was in the princi-
nes OF that polite religion, which no doub,
draws down upon the thoughts and the efforts
OF Jut and generous princes the afIiftance of hea
ven, to do every thing in his power TO prevent
great calanities by making peace.
Ian ordered TO communicate TO Won the Iet-
ter, which, in that view of moderation and bu.
mainly, his M.jeffy the Emperor has JUDGED II
proper to write to his majcay the King of Eng
land.
Leffert''o"' the Emperor TO TIE King afEnglamd.
SIR MY BROTHER,
=. Called to the throne of France bv Pro-
violence, by the fuffrages ofthe Senate, the peo-
pie and the arny, my fiIft fentment is the
with OF peace. France and England are wear.
ing on. their PROPERTY they may contend for
ages. But their governments, do they fulfil
faithfully the mott hcred of their duties and
10 much blood fhed unnecefIarily and without
any protpect of an end, does it not accufe them
in their own confcienc /? ] attach no dirhon-
our upon making the firft tep. have fnfici
emily, think, proved to the world that fear
not any of the chances of war it offers me no.
thing OF which ought to be afraid. Peace is
the with OF my heart but war has never been
adverie to my glory. l coniure your maiefy
not to refufe to yourf-lfthe happinefs of giving
peace to the world let not this fweet faiisfac
ton be left TO your children. For, in Gtort,
there never exilted fairer opportunity or =
more favourable moment to put an end to all
the paiiions, and to lifen only to the fentiment
OF humanity and of reafon. This moment once
oit, what term of duration can be aligned to
war which all my efforts fhall have been una
bic to bring to clofe ? Your maiehy has
gained more in territory and in riches during
the lait ten years than the whole extent of En-
rope your nation IS at The highef point of
PROPERTY. What is flie TO expect from war
to coalefce fome of the powers of the Cont
nent the continent will remain TRANQUIL A
coalition would only increafe the preponderauce
and continental grandeur of France. To re-
new the troubesin the interior 1.-The times
are no longer the fame. To deRrov orr 6na,~
ces Finances founded upon good agricnl-
fure can never be deftroyed. To deprive
France of her colonies? The colonies are with
France onlya fecondary object and does not
your majefty pof1efs already more than Won can
maintain Ifyour majety will think feriously.
you will perceive that the war is without an
object, and without any prefumable refult. A.
49, whdt Heiahchply proiPect, to make men
tight for the fake of fighting The world is
large enough for our two nations TO live in, s.
reafon is Efficiently powerful to find ont the
means of reconcilement if fnitabIe dfpcfition
to be reconced exits on both fides. I have
meanwhile fulfilled duty holy and preciousto
my heart. May your maiefy believe in the fin
cerity of the fentiments have iuff expreGed
to you, and in my defire of giving You proofs
oft. Paris, the 19tb Mve)e, gear 8 red ian.
1867
Signed, NAPOLEON.
In calculating the advantages of orr petition,
and in thinking upon that unanimous burR of
affection and of refped which in the late cir
cumftances have fhewn to us all France difoo-
fed to devote itfelf to maintain the honour of
the French name, the glory of the throne, and
the dignity ofthe empire, fhall not conceal
that being the only one admitted, as minifer,
to the confidence of fIch a determination, if
was my duty TO appreciate it wholly, confider-
ing it lefs in itfelf than in its heroic principle,
and to view it rather as confquence of charac-
ter than as the application ola maxim of fate.
Had any other prince manfefied TO me fuch
difpoiition, would have thought that the no.
nour of my place, and my perfonal devoted
nefs, would have indifpeDfably required me to
oppofe it by my counfeIs.
A mi. in frutb If 10 f,,r ,oG4;o, - 80.