§ TATE 
ciptes of honour—those nobles, 
against whom every effort is made 
to excite your hatred, will not for- 
get that they are destined. to en- 
lighten, to assist, to support the 
people; they will place their glory 
in their magnanimity; they will 
énnoble the numerous sacrifices 
they have made by the sacrifice of 
their resentment ; and that class of 
emigrants who are their inferiors 
in birth, though their equals in 
virtue; those worthy Frenchmen, 
whose fidelity is the more deserv- 
ing of praise from. the additional 
temptations they had to resist, 
would, if it were necessary, offer 
themselves to you as pledges for 
the sincerity of those generous sen- 
timents which they have so often 
witnessed. Whowoulddaretoinflict 
vengeance when the king forgives ? 
But the mercy which will signa- 
lize the first days of our reign, will 
be invariably united with firmness : 
that love of our subjects which 
Jeads us to be indulgent, teaches 
tobe just. We shall forgive, with- 
out regret, those men, criminal as 
they are, who haye led the people 
astray ; but we shall treat with in- 
exorable rigour all those who may 
hereafter endeavour to seduce them 
trom their duty,, We will open 
our arms to those rebels who may 
be induced by repentance to return 
to us; but if any of them should 
persist in rebellion, they will find 
that our indulgence will stop at the 
limits which justice prescribes, and 
that force, will reduce those whom 
{cindness has proved inadequate to 
attach, 
That throne, which the revolu- 
tion has twice deprived of its law- 
ful sovereign, is not to me an ob- 
ject of ambition or enjoyment !— 
PAPERS. 
Alas! still smoking with the blood 
of our family, and encompassed 
with ruins, it can promise us ng~ 
thing but sorrowful recolleétions, 
labours, and pains. But Providence 
261 
orders us to ascend it; and it is our 
duty to obey. We are called thi- 
ther by our rights, and we know 
how to defend them,. We may 
there be able to promote the hap- 
piness of France, and that motive 
gives us courage to proceed. If 
we should be reduced to the neces- 
sity of conquering our country, 
confiding in the justice of our cause, 
and in the zeal of true Frenchmen, 
we will advance to the conquest 
with . indefatigable perseverance, 
and with undaunted courage ; 
we will advance to the conquest, 
should it be necessary, through the 
cohorts of rebels, and the poniards 
of assassins. The GodofSt, Louis, 
that God whom we call to witness 
the purity of our intentions, will 
be our guide and our support. 
But no—we shal! not be reduced 
tothe necessity of using arms against 
deluded subjects. No! to them- 
selves alone, to their regret, to their 
love, shall we be indebted for the 
re-establishment of our throne; and 
the mercy of heaven, moved by 
their tears, will make religion once 
more flourish in the empire of the 
most christian kings. 
This pleasing hope revives our 
heart. Misfortune has removed 
the veil which was placed before 
your eyes; the harsh lessons of ex- 
perience have taught you fo regret 
the advantages which you have lost. 
Already do the sentiments of reli. 
ion, which shew themselves with 
eclat in all the provinces of the king- 
dom, present to our sight the image 
of the glorious ages of the church! 
33 
