Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-28
LOUIS XVIII.
Extract Of genuine letter from French
nobemaTl, dated Paris, May 6.

II i : 4 p
Extract Of genuine letter from French
| nobleman, dated Paris, May s.
The best answers | can give to ques
ltions about Louis XVIII, is to relate, as
nearly as possible, his own remarks, al
an audience with which / was honored
Hast week, after my return from an exile
Iofs4 years. To my congratulations on
ibis majesty restoration he said,
g My friend, | wear indeed the crown
|ef my ancestors, but it is changed into a
Grown of Thorns, the pangs of which are
only known to, as they are only felt, by
Its unfortunate bearer. The most abused
|of my predecessors have been praised for
some gbod traits, while | am blamed with
'out mercy by every one, though it is the
study Of my life to do nothing bat what
my conscience approves as just 4 praise
worthy. If [ select my councillors "a
mong The Revoutionists, because think
them best acquainted with the present
state of France, | an reproached by the
Royalists With worse than insratitude.-
If appoint a Royaiist council, the Re-
vuutionists create an alarm by accusing
me OF az intention to subvcrt the Censti-
tuition. If have a mixed ministry. as at
present. their jealousy and disunion leave
me no qaiet; and to thwart each other,
they display either an untlmeiy severity
or dangerous weakness. Having firm
belief in the religion OF my aocestsrs. |
tonly Do sny duty il observing strictly It's
,preccpts bat having solemnIy promised
"a religions liberation, also leave all my
,ubiects q full liberty OF Conscience
I Well. the Catholics therefore suspect me
jof iuddeity, while the protestants re-
sspect NE as a superstitious bi3ot. Tho
II an unable to satjsfy al once ali the SUI
terers 10 my cause oy the Revolution, all
are impatient for immediate reward -
those whom | caa remunerate, blame me
tor not doisg enougl, while tho other
s}eteniers hold me OUT AS unjust and TN
:iec,iug. Ii l think All particular merit
de.er particular distinction, favo itism
is the general cry: While, when disre-
gard some uumerited Claims, AN &C.
cused either Of envy or ignorance, or ne
gIcct. Ny situation is cot Jess uatortu-
lDate with regard to foreigners. Russia
has one idea OF governing france, Eng
and has another, Austria differs from
botA. and Prussia differs irhm tue three
other allies.
When therefore | please ore | am
sure to di,pIease the other, ana / am e I
quatly tormented win Their projects and
humhleh by their menaCes anj FFetentl3ns.
From acme and Madrid | am reproached
for not introducing religious intolerance:
while am Iheied IN Engl2ad ana a.
,ae,!ca iar not admitting democratic Ii,
Righteousness under the name OF liberty,
|and anti social doctrines uluer the name
Iol liberty OF the press. Ii punish a tr&i-
tor, am styled mercIless tyrant, II L
pardon him am ridieuied as a Trembling
llm5ecie.-Eiad | paidoncd the three
'Ensiishmen, Other Is elgncrs wonld have
reproacned me with partianty to ,1ngianu:
white the French and Eagiisn factions
would have asserted, that lear and hdl
ciemency was my motive. Even IN my
own family, opnlonsafe dV'ded ao'nt mJ
public acts: some IF ny felatiVeo seem
10 think that sway too nuch IKE sue
cessor OF q revolutionary upStayt: while
on the otat hant, the Huhe OF y -
aud his party appear d'scontented, be-
cause CO uot spyotn enough like revo-
,aiionary usurper. Alter these iament-
able !ac,s, YOU cannot doubt ot my oln-
cer,ty when aiiIrn, that long Tor Fhe
moment when my Creator will retaKe
tins my Cconn o! ihorus, by exchanging
N, throne III the palace OF the ihuiiereo
Tor my toalD Ill III aDbey OF St. beams"
I" Durtng the whole tlme Ills MAJESTY
thus condecendea sp,aNIng 10 me. Gears
were IN hiSeyes, ~ hs Nhoie colntenanceI
bespoke agrlet which must nave been
so much the mere poignant, as pohcy
must gc;eraily require us cnnce&imeot.
am convinced tins good Prince would
never have relsned So long, had he not
consldered II as duty Providence has
Imposed On han by his birth"
FREEMASONRY.