STATE PAPERS. 
the King of Prussia, addressed tothe 
Inhabitants of France.” This pa- 
per exhibits nothing: that can be 
considered as a proof of its authen- 
tivity. It hasnot been transmitted 
by any of my ministers at the seve- 
yal courts of Germany near our 
frontiers... The publication of ‘it, 
nevertheless,seems to meto require 
a new declaration of my sentiments 
and my principles. | 
France is menaced by a great 
combination of forces. Let us all 
recollect the necessity of union. 
Calumny will not easily believe the 
sorrow I feel in considering the dis- 
sentions that exist among us; and 
the evils gathering round us ; but 
those who know of what value in 
my eyes are the blood and the for- 
tune of the people, will give credit 
to my uneasiness and my grief. 
ad Secingit with me pacific senti- 
ments to the throne, because peace, 
the first blessing of nations, is the 
first duty of kings. My former 
ministers know what efforts I have 
made to avoid war.’ I felt how ne- 
cessary was peace; it alone could 
enlighten the nation on the new 
form of her government ; it alone, 
by sparing the sufferings of the peo- 
ple, could make me support the 
character I undertook 'in this revo- 
Jution, But 1 yielded to the una- 
nimous opinion of my council, to 
the wish manifested by a great part 
of the mation, and several times ex- 
pressed by the National Assembly. 
| When war was declared, I ne- 
__ glectednoneofthemeans ofassuring 
> itssuccess. My ministers received 
_ ofders to concert measures with the 
committees of the National Assem- 
q and with the generals.’ If the 
_ €venthas not yet answered the hopes 
_ Of the nation, ought we not'to lay 
the blame on our intestine divisions, 
* 
233 
the progress of the spirit of party, 
and, above all, on the state of our 
armies, which wanted to be more 
practised in the use of arms before 
being led to.combat ? But the na- 
tion shall see my efforts increase 
with those of the hostile powers; 
I shall take, in concert with. the 
National Assembly, ‘all means to 
turn the evils inseparable from war 
to the advantage of her liberty and 
her glory. 
I have accepted the constitution ; 
the majority of the nation desired 
it; Isaw that the nation considered 
it as the foundation of her ‘happi- 
ness ; and her happiness is the sole 
object of my life. Ro eit ay 
From that moment, I imposed it 
as alaw upon myself, to be faithful 
to the constitution; and I gave or- 
ders to my ministers to make it the 
rule of their conduct. I wished not 
to substitute my knowledge for ex- 
perience, nor my opinion for my 
oath. It was my duty to labour for 
the good of the people. I have 
discharged that duty ; and to have 
done so is enough to satisfy the con- 
science of an honest man.’ Never 
shall I be seen compounding the 
glory or the interests of the nation ; 
receiving the Jaw from foreigners 
or from a party: it is to the nation 
that I owe myself; I am one and 
the same with her; no interest shall 
separate me from her; she alone 
shall be listened to 3 1 will maintain 
the national independence with my 
last breath. Personal dangers, cons 
pared with public dangers, are no+ 
thing. | Ah! what are personal 
dangers to a King from whom it is 
attempted to alienate the love of 
the people! There lies the real 
wound of my heart. The people, 
perhaps, will one day know how 
dear to me is their happiness, how 
much 
