STATE PAPERS. 
dufted, with the blessings of peace. 
Whoever, also, shall duly consider 
the strenuous exertions made by 
his Imperial majesty, during the 
last three years, the armies he has 
brought into the field, the treasure 
he has expended, furnished prin- 
cipally by his hereditary dominions, 
cannot entertain a doubt of his pa- 
ternal care and anxiety for the 
welfare of the empire, and that all 
his wishes tend to a conclusion of 
the miseries of war by a speedy re- 
éstablishment of peace. But when 
we proceed to consider by what 
means, and on what terms, this 
peace, in itself so desirable, is to 
be obtained, numerous and unex- 
petted difficulties will be found to 
present themselves, which have 
been rather overlooked than ex- 
amined suitably to their great im- 
portance. Nothing, at least, could 
have given greater pleasare to his 
Imperial majesty, than that the 
diet showld have precisely stated 
the terms on which a just, honour- 
able and durable peace, might be 
established ; especially, since the 
eleétors, princes, and states of the 
empire, have thought it consistent 
with the present situation of affairs, 
with the present position of Ger- 
many, and with the general wel- 
fare, to discuss the subject in a 
public debate, and to declare their 
wish for peace. 
His Imperial majesty, however, 
is far from intending to represent 
the wishes of the diet as unattain- 
able, or in any manner very diffi- 
cult: nor does he wish to prolong 
the execution of the subjeét in the 
¢onclusum, until the general opi- 
nion of the diet has pointed out 
the manner in which it is to be ef- 
fected ; but, on the contrary, his 
Majesty is determined to take every 
223 
opportunity to second the views of 
the diet, and the states in general, 
With respe&t to the cessation of 
arms, mentioned in the same de- 
cree of the diet, his Imperial ma- 
jesty, ever attentive with unremit- 
ting paternal care to the good and 
happiness of his subje€ts, certainly 
agrees with the diet that it would 
be for the general benefit of the 
German empire, were it to be of 
such a kind as to lead to a safe, 
honourable, and lasting peace; and 
whenever there may be reason to 
believe that it may have so desi- 
rable a consequence, he will ua. 
doubtedly employ every means in 
his power, as head of the empire, 
for its procurement. 
But since, in consequence of the 
extraordinary success of our ene- 
mies in the late campaign, it is 
not a little doubtful, whether they 
will be so willing as many may 
hope, and believe, to accept of 
such terms as shall not be disho. 
nourable to us; how much soever 
a peace may be desirable for the 
sake’ of suffering humanity, and 
how much soever it may be the 
wish of his Imperial majesty, it 
vill be incumbent on the empire 
to make the most ardent and unre. 
mitting preparations for the pro. 
secution of the next campaign, 
should an invincivle fate, or the 
obstinacy or extravagant demands 
of France render abortive all our 
hopes ,and wishes. : His Imperial 
majesty thinks this intimation the 
more necessary, since, according to 
resolutions taken by the diet of 
Oétober 28, it was determined that 
the first of February should be the 
last term in which the increase of 
forces and armaments were to be 
furnished. to the commander gene- 
ral of the united army of the em. 
, 
pite 
