The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1815-12-20
BONAPAk'IE'S LETTER.
Prom he Lendyp Siuie,mqa. Oct. i3.
AApQLEON TO THE aFREA cH PEo

Porfs, Ocf. 9.--Tbe following 10 the trans
la,iou Of an address 10 the F,ebch people,
which is generally circulated in FraUce, and
which Is believed 10 be an a0,henIic doaoment,
written by Napoleon OIL board the Beilero-
phoR 49,
"The Vaccinations Of treason have Obliged
me to seperste aesin fron, you but vicnms
Of the same treason, Ilainsnt only your mis-
fortunes
81 converted The sceptre but TO sway il tor
your glory and welfaic! The knowledge OF
my devotion TO your honor and prosperity ex-
cited the hatfe ed Of the Sovereigns OF Europe
n I'D ! soagh, to reign without regard to The
interests dfmy pcopls, should nave sslsb-
lisbed In their eye, the Legitimacy OF my l'fe
= 10 the throne. Iisd agriculture been ne
elected, had msnnfactories languished, he'd
debt accumulated, and public spril been &c.
graded, then had assured the ffieDdship OF
rival Potcntmes had cireumscr'bed the
prosperity Of the empire 10 the embeilish'
nent Of its palaces, or sacrificed The maJesiy
Of The throne to the preservation of.the ieyai
authority, then my dynasty might have pos
sesscd the ingiorious inheritance.
+" The sovereiens OF Europe confedera'ed
against me as a Legislator whose establish
meors nurtured aud aniira,ed the talents anu
industry Of the community ci which had
been elected the Chief MAgistrs'e, and they
prescribed my person as the shield OF the
power and indie pendence OF the State. he
enc mics Of revolution which had triumphec
oyer ihc abuses tba, occassloned II, aud n'cr-
cenayy traitors in.ensibIe 10 the caiami'irs oil
an invaded county, associated their efforts TO
paralyze national exeriion, and 10 make you
10 believe that war was my poioy, snc peace
the boon which The Governments oi Europe
solicited from France. UnwiliDg 10 sacfihee
the illustrious remntn, Of yohr defenders
thus isolated from their couniry, yielded 10
the wishes Of y,ur representatives. hns, To
consumate your secuii'y, surtendenu my
self into lhe hands of my enemies.
History offered no example where repose
aud lode pc ndence were the rewards OF SUB
mission but many Of individual devotion e.
the hopes Of a patton Since the faiai mo-
mcnt when France announced that she ceased
TO combat for her liberties and ssietlcs, wha,
misfortunes, crimes, aud humiiaions lave
devastated and degraded the empire. War
with all It's deva a.tations, conquest with all It's
violences, tyranny with all its abuses, and
subfec,ion with all its shamcs, have o'er-
whe,med you Outrage and pe,hdy have but
---rroo, evcu my lore e0odiugs Inc pe'hdy
of, Austtia, which uncovered my line, and oc-
casioned my disasters in Rus sia--which BAR
tered Poland, violated The Military Conven-
tion of Dresden, and negoc lated but 10 beIroy !;
the perfdy of Prussia, whose monarchy |
preserved, when cowafdico and treason had
rendered the kingdom dsfepeeiess. and trea-
son had Undetermined its throne Of Russio,
whose civil, military, and political history is a
series OF vstematic rnntemDt of faith and
equity; Of Bavaria, whose unparalleled tur-
pitude obliged me 10 fight a, I.eipsic for pre-
servation, and not for conquest, of Swnzer-
land, who, for pal,,y bribc, sold The tranquil
ity Of her Cit zeos, tie safety Of her county,
and the sanciiy OF her ne Otrali,y OF Engla
whose sophisms have annibilated pobl;c law,
and whose policy, since the. era OF PHI, had
uoblushingly substituted power for principle,
and oxpedient for justice !--po, the recoilec
ton OF all these recent perhdics had prepared
me for those which have now been emuonsy
perpetua,ed by Sovereigns, VINO protessed
that they bore their arms against France only
so long as was seated on her throne The
most lawlcss barbarars have never manifest
ed such coniemp, of solemn engagements.
The darkest ages have never presented such
scenes of treachcry and icentious direction
OF force in an unresis,ing country.
The miserable king who was content to
surrender France as their prey. has even
his wrongs TO plead ! The mockcry Of his
sway dcsecrates the divinity OF his tight, and
he trembles lest the ,enge ance OF the nation
should sweep him and the Gcspoiers from
the soil before the work Of ruin is accom-
plishcd.
"Frenchmen you are now told, that not
only my ambition, but your concorrent spirit
OF conquest, demands punishment; even the
acquistions Of former Sovereigns sod epochs
are now ci,cd us your crimes !. And BY whom
are these charges advanced BY Sovereigps
whose empires have been forned by success
fol cncrcachrenis on the independence and
existence Of nsishborine States What was
Russia in the Elector Of Brandenburg mon.
arch of a powei ful Kingdom Has Aos,ria
absorbed no Kingdom, disme mbered no pro.