1806;] 



Slaieqf Public A fairs vxAiiguJi^ 1806. 



181 



nerally known, which have fince taken jjlace 

 in the Germanic empire, have cunvinced us 

 that it will be im|>oir}bIe, under thele cir- 

 cunnftances, to continue tlie obligations con- 

 trafleJ by the capitulation of clcclion ; and 

 ev,en if, in refledVing on thefe political rela- 

 tions, it were pollible to iVnagine a change of 

 affairs, the convention of the 12th of July, 

 limned at Paris, and ratified by the contraft- 

 ing parties, rel.itive to an entire feparation 

 of feveral confiderable ftates of the empire, 

 and their peculiar confederation, has entirely 

 dc;iri>yeil every fuch hope 



" Being thus convinced of the impoffibility 

 of bei:^g any longer enal.led to fulfil the du- 

 ties of our impel ial funcVions, we owe it to 

 OUT principlei and to our duty, to renounce a 

 crown which was only valuable in our eyes 

 whilft we were able to enjoy the confidence 

 of the Elcftors, Princes, and other ftates of 

 the Germanic empire, and to perform the 

 duties which were impofcd upon us. We 

 declare, therefore, bv thefe prcfents, that 

 we, confiJering as diflblved the tics which 

 havj hitherto attached us to the ftates of the 

 Germanic empire ; that we, conddering as 

 extinguiflied by the confederation of the ftates 

 of the Rhine, the charge in chief of the 

 empire ; and that we, confidering ourfelves 

 thus acquitted o'i all our duties towards the 

 Germanic empire, do refign the imperial 

 crown and the imperial government. \\'e ab- 

 folve, at the fame time, tliC Eleftors, Princes, 

 and .States, and all that belong to the empire, 

 particularly the members of the'fuprcme tri- 

 bunal, and other miagiftrates of the empire, 

 from tliofe duties by which they were united 

 to us as the legal chief of the empire, ac- 

 cording to the conftitution. 



We alfo ahfolve all our German provinces 

 and ftates of the empire from their reciprocal 

 duties towards the Germanic empire; and we 

 dofire, in incorporating them with our Auf- 

 trian ftates as Kmpcror of Auftria, and in 

 preferving them in thofe amicaiile relations 

 j'ubfifting with the neighbouring powers and 

 ftates, that they ihould attain that height of 

 profperity and happinefs which is the end of 

 all our defires and the o'jjert of our deareft 

 wiflies. 



Done at our refidence, under our imperial 

 feal. Francis." 



Vienna, the 6th of Auguft, 1006. 



WE, FRANCIS SECOND, &C. 



In abdicating the imperial government of 

 the empire. We, confidering it as the laft 

 cft'ort of our care, and as an abfolutc duty, 

 do exprefs thus publicly a defire equally rea- 

 fonable and juft, that the perfons who have 

 hitherto been employed in the adminiftration 

 of jullice, and in diplomatic and other af- 

 fairs, tor the good of the whole empire, and 

 for the fervice of the chief of the empire, 

 fliould be fuitably provided ibr. 



The care vi'hich all the ftates of the empire 

 twok^of tliofc perfons who lolt their places by 



the affair of the indemnity In 1fi03, indaccs 

 us to hope that the fame fentiments of juf- 

 tice will be extended to thofe individuals 

 who have hitherto been employed in the ge- 

 neral fervice, who have been chofcn in all 

 parts of the Germanic empire, and many of 

 whom have quitted other profitable places, 

 looking forward to an honourable fubfiftcnce 

 fur life, and which fliould not be wanting t9 

 them on account of their fidelity, and the in- 

 tegrity and capacity with which they have ex©- 

 their functions. 



We have, therefore, taken the refolutioa 

 of preferving to thofe of our imperial fervants, 

 who have hitherto drawn their filaries froai 

 our chamber, the fame appointments, re- 

 ferring to ourfelves to place them in cm^iloy- 

 mentsin the fcrviceof our herc.litary ftates; 

 and we hope, with fo much the more confi- 

 dence, that the liiectors. Princes, and ftates 

 will provide for the imperial chamber of juf- 

 tice of the empire, and the chancellcrie of 

 the chamber of jultice, by charging ihem- 

 felves voluntarily with this expence, as it 

 will be trilling in amount, and willdiminiii 

 every year. 



As to the chancellerie of the aulic councij 

 of the empire, the funds deftined for its fup- 

 port will be employed to provide for the 

 v/nnts of thofe individuals who ha«e liitiierto 

 drawn from thence their falaries, this will 

 ferve them until other nieafures may be 

 taken. 



Done in our capital and refidence of Vi- 

 enna, under our imperial feal, the (Itli of 

 Auguft, 1806. Fkanciis. 



T!mt i^iilhuit and iMitcrpnliiig ofijc'r 

 Sir .Sichicy Smith, a iiiuii whole genius 

 and at'tivii^y pnrticulai-ly (|nality iiim t» 

 command asjaim't fuch an enemy us the 

 French, havinp: taken the command of 

 the BritiUi fquadrou on the coafls of Na- 

 ples, has commenced liis operations, and 

 lent home a detailed account of tliem ia 

 a copy of the f'olh>\vinii; interefting letter 

 to Admiral Lord Cyliini;\\ ood, Commau- 

 der-in-C'hicf on the Meditenaneau fta- 

 tion. 



" Pompt'c, at anchor off Scaleay 

 May i:-l, IBOti. 

 *' My Lord, 



♦' I arrived at Palermo in the Pompee on 

 the 21ft of laft montii, and took on me tlic 

 command of the fquadron your LordiTiip had 

 done me the honour to place under my or- 

 ders, I found things iri the ftate that m^y 

 be well ima!;ined on the Government beinj 

 difplaced from its capital, with t!ie lofs of one 

 of its two kingdoms, and the difperlion of the 

 army allcmbled in Cal.ibria. The judicious 

 arrangement made by Captain Sotheron of the 

 fhips under his orders, and the pofition of the 

 Britifh army under Sir James Stuart at Medi- 

 na, liad however prevented further mifchief. 

 « I had 



