Year: 1861

InterestinG Royal Correspondence The
Emperor Napoleon and tho King OF
Naples. ti.H f-"'


2 The following correspondence took place
just before the surrender Of the fortress Of
Gaeta by the King of Naples:


EMPEROR NAPoLEoN TO THE RING OF NAPLES.


have not written for some time to your
Majesty, because / wished TO see whether
events would assume a character sufficiently
clear TO enable me, from knowledge Of
causes, 70 express my perfect opinion to your
Majesty. When the unjust aggression Of
Piedmont came TO the aid Of revolution In
your States, and forced you TO retire to Gaets,
l resolved to prevent the blockade by sea, in
order to give your Majesty proof Of my SYM
pathy, and avoid the affecting spectacle for
Europe Of beholding struggle a oUtrdHcs
between two allied sovereigns, in which
right and Justice was on the side Of him who
must succumb; but while leaving, by means
Of my feet, the sea open TO your Majesty, it
could not enter into my policy to interfere
actively ia the dispute. Thus Admiral De
Tinau is bound to observe the most strict
neutrality between the two adversaries
Now, while the incidents of the war every
day complicate the position OF my fleet at
Gaeta, it will soon be on the point Of acting
against the Piedmoptese, whose attacks





in order TO maintain its neutrality, to pre-.
vent the chips of your Majesty from exer.
cising just reprisal against the Piedmontese
vessels. lff OH ~


8 This position can not endure for an indefi-
mite term, the more as tits, believe, in the
interest, well understood, of your Majesty,
to retire with the honoTs of war, before be.
ing forced TO do so by an inevitable cAtas.
tropbe, You showed laudable frmness
y, r. -al.
throne. Your duty was to support your
right by y,arms; but now, / say it with re.
gTet, the blood which is shed flows uselessly; !;
your duty as a man and a sovereign is to
stop the effusion of it, l know not what
the future may reserve to your Majesty, but
/ am persuaded that Italy and Europe will
regard as perfect both the energy that You
have shown and the decision you will have
come to 10 prevent numerous evils falling
upon your people now. pray you to be-
1ieve that the language address to your
Majesty is dictated by the most perfect dis
interestedness toward both parties, and by
the regret which should feelif circumstan-
ees becoming more grave should no longer
enable me to maintain my feet in position
in which the strictest neutrality would be
come impossible. | pray your Majesty, &c.


REPLY OF THE KING TO THE EMPEROR.


The letter which yonr Msjesty has done
me the honor to write to me, and which Ad-
miral de Tinan has Just transmitted to me,
places me, must avow, in the most cruel
embarrassment. My decided intention was
to resist and save my honor at the price of
the greatest sacrifices, if circumstances pre-
vented me from saving my States from un-
just aggression. But the affectionate coun.
sells which your Majesty gives me, and the
prospect of the withdrawal of your squadron,
strike me and make my mind vaeilate. In
this situation your Majesty will neither be
surprised nor offended if l take little time
before adopting a de6nitive resolution. Al
though know that the French fleet will not
indefinitely remain in this gulf, my official
intelligence, and private assurances which
are given to me, make me hope for the pro-
longation of its stay, or at least the presence
OF the French flag on vessel OF the Imperial
marine. Approaching the motives of your
Majesty, and acknowledging your efficasious
sympathy, can not but deplore the recall
of fleet which leaves the sea free to my
enemies, and considerably aggravates my
situation r-i ~


1t will be necessary for me-in order to
know whether it will be possible for me,
without that support, TO make a long resist
ance--to examine with greater attention my
resources. What desire sincerely 70 do IS
to avoid two rocks, on which either my bark





temerity or weakness. You know it, Sire,
that kings who leave their thrones return to
them with difficulty, unless the rays of glory
have gilded their misfortunes and their fall.
Iknow that, after the intoxication of tri-
umph due rather to the pusillanimity or the
treachery of my Generals than to their own
power, the rayishers Of my kingdom will fad
immense difficulties in inducing my subjects
to adopt ideas which are equally repugnant
N4N thniV. fr,Nn III.
difficulties which are increasing in Europe,
your high capacity, and the authority which
your Majesty enjoys, make me hope that the
day is not far distant when the principles OF
law, of duty and of justice, will cease to be
trampled under foot by Piedmont. If these
hopes are dreams, there is one point, at least,
which admits of no discussion: That is, in
combating for my right, in succumbing with
courage and falling with honor, l shall be
worthy OF the name which bear, and shall
leave an example to the Prince who shall
succeed. " 10 H


i am here asovereign in principle, but a
general in fact. | have no longer any States;
l only possess fortress and faithful band.
Ought then to abandon, at the prospect OF
personal dangers, from fear of the effusion
Of blood which / have sought to avoid at
whatever cost, an army which wishes to
preserve the honor of its hag-a fortress
which my ancestors made so many efforts to
! defend as the last bulWark of the monarchy ?
fonr Majesty, who is an excellent judge in
such matters, can decide, better than any
other person, whether, in retiring, without
being assured, of the insufficiency of my
resources, | shall have reformed to the
utmost my duty as soldier. may die |
may be made prisoner. That is true. But
princes ought 10 know how to die in proper
manner, and Francis / was prisoner. He
did not defend, as am doing, q kingdom and
its people, and, Notwithstanding this, cotem-
poraries and history have recorded how he
exposed his person, and bore his sufferings
in captivity. 1t is not passing exaltation
OF feeling that inspires me to use such
language is the result of long reflection,
and your Majesty, who is o man of resolu-
tion, intelligence and courage, will compre-
hend better than any one else the sentiments
which animate me- | must then struggle
against this current of ideas and sentiments
before can change my resolution.


Permit me to take time to reflect, and If in
the mean time, against my wishes my inter.
ests, and, dare to add, my prayers, the in
terests and the policy of your Majesty force
you TO recall your squadron, shall regret it
without doubt but shall always do justice
to your motives, and, above all, l shall pre-
serve profoundly engraven on my heart the
proof OF sympathy which you have given
me, and the remembrance of the service
which you have rendered me In assuring me
during 50 long a period the liberty of the
seas, in circumstances In which no power in
Europe could have come to my succoF; and
if succumb on account of the abandonment
of your feet, shall sincerely pray to God
that your, Majesty may not have 70 regret,
instead of a grateful and faithful ally, a hos.
tile revolution and an ungrateful sovereign.
Whatever may be my decision in such grave
circumstances my duty will be, without de-
lay, to- acquaint your Majesty Herewith
and l avail myself Of this occasion 70 testify
once moreto your Majesty my gratitude for
your support for your counsels, and, above
Aall, for the7interest which you have been
pleased to take in my favor..F hs'7 ~


- / pray your Majesty, sc. st