202 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
cruel tragedies of despotism. The 
instant that the house of Austriasaw 
she could no longer govern us for 
her purposes, it was then that she 
became our enemy. 
It was Austria that had stirred 
up against France the restless nor- 
thern potentate, whose tyrannical 
phrenzy had at last made him fall 
under the sword of anassassin. It 
was Austria, who in office, of which 
Europe shall judge, advised one 
party of Frenchmen to take up 
arms against the other. The note 
of the court of Vienna, of the 18th 
of February, was in truth a decla- 
ration of war: M. Kaunitz there 
avows the league of the powers 
against France. The death of 
Leopold ought to have made some 
change inthis restlessand ambitious 
system ; but we have seen the con- 
trarv. 
The note of the 18th of March 
is the ultimatum of the court of 
Vienna. This note is more pro- 
voking still than the former. ‘The 
King of Hungary wishes that we 
should submit our constitution to 
his revision; and he does not in 
any degree dissemble the project of 
arming Frenchmen against French- 
men. 
Sire, continues the minister, in 
charging me with the administra- 
tion of foreign affairs, you have 
imposed on me the telling of you 
the truth: I proceed to tell you 
the truth. It results from this 
measure, that the treaty of 1756 is 
broken in fact on the side of Aus- 
tria; that the maintenance of a 
league of the powers is an act of 
hostility against France ; and that 
you ought this instant to order 
M. Noailles, your ambassador, to 
quit the court of Vienna, without 
taking leave.—Sire, the Austrian 
troops are on their march — the 
camps are marked out—fortresses 
are building. The nation, by its 
oath, on the 14th of July, has de- 
clared, that any man who shall ac- 
cede to an unconstitutional nego- 
tiation, is a traitor. The delay 
granted to Austria is expired—your 
honour is attacked—the nation is 
insulted ; therefore, there remains 
for you no other part to take, but 
to make to the National Assembly 
the formal proposition of war 
against the King of Bohemia and 
Hungary. 
[The minister having read this mi- 
nute, the King then resumed his 
speech. ] 
You have heard, Messieurs, th 
deliberation and the decision of my 
council. JI adopt their determina- 
tion. It is conformable to the wish, 
many times expressed, of the Na- 
tional Assembly, and to that which 
has been addressed'to me by many 
districts of France. It appears to 
me to be the wish ofall the French 
people. Frenchmen prefer war 
to a ruinous anxiety, and to an hu- 
miliating state, which compromises 
our constitution and our dignity. 
Ihave done every thing to avert 
war—but I judge it indispensable ; 
I come, therefore, in the terms of 
our constitution, ‘ to propose to 
you formally to declare war against 
the King of Bohemia and Hun- 
gary.” 
The President answered, 
Sire, 
THE Assembly will proceed to 
deliberate on the great proposition 
which your Majesty has made to 
them. They will address to you, 
by a message, the result of their de- 
liberation, 
Decree 
hoa & 
