Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-09-14

rem in my Palace.
I should be, nevertheless, a wit
Tess of every thing that might be going
On, without being able TO do any thing
for my people, responsible for all oc-
without the power to pre-
vent the m or their influence. Ishould
have exposed myself to the compla nts
of both sides and perhaps have occasi-
oned great misfortunes; by doing
which, I should have BETRAYED my
nv people, and my duty.
l have for long time forester the exc
to which / am now reduced,
but could not inexperienced it wi h
out sacrificing MY most sacred duties,
without ceasing o havS at heart the
Interest of my people, and withou.
to connect my fate with that
Of the country. Now that Holland
is reduced to that condition, l hav {, as
a King of Holland, but one course to
take, and that is, to abdicate the throne
in favor Of my children. Any other
course would have only augmented the
misfortunes of my reign. 1 should
have perhaps seen often, The peacea-
BILE inhabitants victims to contentious
of governments destroyed at once.
How then could an idea of resistance
ever enter my minds My children,
born Frenchmen like myself, would
have seen in a Just cause, but which
they would not have believed solely
mine, the blood of their countrymen
flow. i had then but one course to
take.
!" My Brother, so violently irritated
against me, is not so against my chill
dren; and doubtless he will not destroy
what he has done, and deprive them
of their inheritance, since he has not,
nor can have any subject of complaint,
who will not, for long time to come
reign himself. His Mother, to whom
the regency appertains by the consti-
tuition will do every thing that shall
he agreeable to the Emperor my Bro
Their, and will succeed better than my
self, who have had the misfortune ne
yer to be successful In my endeavors
of that kind and at the conclusion of
the maratime peace, perhaps before,
my brother, knowing the state Of things
in this country, the esteem its inhabi.
tants merit, how much their welfare
accords with the interest we'll UNDER
stood of his empire, will do for this
country all it has right to expect, as
the reward of its numerous sacrifices
to France, of it's idelity, and the inte-
rest with which it cannot fail to inspire
those who judge of it without preju.
dice. Perhaps / am the only obs,a-
Gle TO the reconciliation of this coun-
try with France, and should that be
so, might find some kind of consola-
ton in dragging out the remainder of
wandering and languishing life at
distance from the first objects Of my
whole affection, this good people, and
my SON. These are my principal mo-
tives; there are others equally power
full, with respect to which must be ST.
lent, but they will easily be OWNED.
The Emperor, my brother, though
strongly prejudiced against me, must
feel that | could not act otherwise.
He is great, and he ought to be JUST.
" As to you, gentlemen, should be
much more unhappy even than ! am.
i possible, could ] imagine that YOU
would not do justice to my intentions.
May the end of my career prove to the
nation and to you, that have never de-
;eived you; that I have had but one
i'm, the true interest Of the country
hat the faults / may have committed,
ire solely to be attributed to my zeal,
which caused me to employ not always
he best, but the most practicable means
IF overcoming the difficulty of circum.
stances. / had never proposed to N.Y.
elf 20 govern Nation SO interesting,
'e' so difficdlt as yours. Be, Gentle.
men my advocates for the Nation in
'pire 1t with an attachment to the
Prince Royal, who deserves it, if NAV
Judge from his happy natural disposi-
ion. The Queen has the same inter.
,sts as myself. ] cannot, Gentlemen,
withoutrecommending to Won
n the most earnest manner, and in the
,sme of the interest and OF the exis-
ance of so many families, whose lives
md properly would be infalli5lv COM
promised, to receive the French with |