Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-12
y = - = 7|l7-----7- =
TDOU DrFUL.1
NApOLEONIO THE FRENCH PEG
pr l.


address to the French people, which is
generally circulated in France, and which
Is believed 20 be an authentic document,
written by Napoleon on board the Bellero-
phon:
g The Vaccinations of treason have OBJ
liged me t, separate again from you bnt
victims Of the same treason, / lament only
your ni3sortunes
Z" I coveted the sCeptre but tn sway it
for your glcry and we,farc The know
ledge Of my devotion TO your honor and
prosperity excited the hatred OF the sove-
reigns of Eurcpe. Had I sought only to
reign without regard to the interests of my
people, | should have established in their
eyes the legitimacy OF my title to the
throne. Had agriculture been neglected,
had manufactures languished, had debt
accumulated, and public spirit been degra-
del, then had assured the friendship IF
rival potentates had I circumscribed the
prosperity OF the empire To the embell;sh-
ment of its palaces, or sacrificed the ma
jesty Of The throne 70 the preservation of
the royal authority, then my dynasty might
have possessed the ingorious Inheritance.
" The sGvereigns OF Europe COME iera-
tel against me as a legislator whose esta-
blishments nurtured aud animated the Ia
Tents and industry of the community Of
trate, and they prescribed my person as
the shield OF the power and Independence
of the state. The enemies OF a revolution
which had triunpded over the abuses that
casionedit i, and rncrccnary traitors, in
SENSIBLE TO the calamities of an invaded
country, associated their efforts to paral-
yzse national exertioa, and t. IN Ike you
believe that gar was my policy and peace
the boon which the governments of Europe
solicited from France. Unwilling to sa-
ASrfice the iilustrious remnant OF your de-
1a.-s-Jsolated from their country,
1+yicIced - the wishes OF your represent
satives; aud, TO coasan.nate your securi-
~, | surrendered myself into the hands OF
Jay enemies.
" History offered no example where re-
pose and independence were tue rewards
OF Submission but many of individual de-
Votion 10 the hopes of nation Since the
fatal moment when France announced that
she ceased to combac for her liberties and
s'.fety, what nisiortunes, crimes, and HUI
mutations have devastated end degraded
the empirc! War, with all its devastati-
ons, c0uQu st with all its vloiences, ty-
ranny with all its abuees, and subsection
with all lis shames, have overwhelmed
you Outrage and pcrhdy have out-step
ped, even my fotebodings The perfidy
cccasioued my disasters in Russia--which
battered Poland, violated the military con-
venton of Dresden, and negotiated but to
bctray the perfidy Of Prussia, whose mo-
narcby preserved, when cowardlce and
treason had undermined its throne; of
Russia, whose civil, military, and political
history is series OF systematic contempt
OF fifth and equity; of Bavaria, whose un-
paratlslcd turpitade obliged me to fight at
L.eipsic for preservation, and not for con
quest; of Switzerland, who, for a paltry
bride, sold the tranquility of her citizens,
the safcty Of her country, and the s9nctity
Of her neutrality of England, whose So
phisns have annililatsd public law, and
whose policy, since the ARA of Pitt, had
unblushingiy substituted power for princi-
pie, and expedient for justice not the re-
collection of all these recent periidies had
preDared me for those whch have now
been enulous'y pcrpetuatel by sovereigns,
who protested that they bore their arms
against France only, so 10 as was seated
ON her throne Tine most lawless barba-
Ii.ns have never manifested such contempt
Of soiersH eng agemcnts. The darkest a
sss have meyer presented such scenes Of
treachsrg affdli, entious direction Of force
IN an unrcsistinE country.
" The miserable king who was content
TO surrender France as their prey has &
ven his wrongs to plead The mocl,ery Of
Ia sway desecrates the divinity Of his
right, and he trembles lest the vengeance
of the nation should sweep him and the
despoilers fron the soil before the work Of
- ruin is accomplished.
{" Frenchmen! you are now told, that
AoDly my ambition, but your concurrent
Aof conquest, demands punishment /;
acquisitions Of former soycreigns
~ are now cited as your crimes I
~ are these charges advanced!
Il & whose empires have been
ASsful Entertainments on the
xistencc Of neighboring
Russia ia the begin
q y How became the
NroVfnces, and