STATE PAPERS. 



391 



establishment of his legitimate au- 

 thority, the only pledge of union, 

 peace, and happiness, which his 

 promises have so often guaranteed 

 to his oppressed subjects? 



Being neither able, nor inclined 

 to obtain, but by their efforts, 

 that throne which his rights and 

 their affection can alone confirm, 

 what wishes should be adverse to 

 those, which he has invariably en- 

 tertained ? what doubt can be start- 

 ed with regard to his paternal in- 

 tentions ? 



The king has said in his preced- 

 ing declarations, and he reiterates 

 the assurance, that the administra- 

 tive and judicial bodies shall be 

 maintained in the plenitude of 

 their powers ; that he will preserve 

 their places to those who at pre- 

 sent hold them, and who shall take 

 the oath of fidelity to him ; that 

 the tribunals, depositaries of the 

 laws, shall prohibit all prosecutions 

 bearing relation to those unhappy 

 times of which his return will have 

 for ever sealed the oblivion ; that, 

 in fine, the code polluted by the 

 name of Napoleon, but which, for 

 the most part, contains only the 

 ancient ordinances and customs of 

 the realm, shall remain in force, 

 with the exception of enactments 

 contrary to the doctrines of reli- 

 gion, which, as well as the liberty 

 of the people, has long been sub- 

 jected to the caprice of the tyrant. 



The senate, in which are seated 

 some men, so justly distinguished 

 for their talents, and whom so 

 many services may render illustrious 

 in the eyes of France, and of pos- 

 terity — that corps, whose utility 

 and importance can never be duly 

 appreciated till after the restora- 

 tion — can it fail to perceive the 

 glorious destiny which summons it 



to become the first instrument of 

 that great benefaction which will 

 prove the most solid, as well as the 

 most honourable guarantee of its 

 existence and its prerogatives? 



On the subject of property, the 

 king, who has already announced 

 his intention to employ the most 

 proper means for conciliating the 

 interests of all, perceives in the 

 numerous settlements which have 

 taken place between the old and 

 the new land-holders, the means of 

 rendering those cares almost super- 

 flous. He engages, however, to 

 interdict all proceedings by the 

 tribunals, contrary to such settle- 

 ments, to encourage voluntary ar- 

 rangements, and, on the part of 

 himself and his family, to set the 

 example of all those sacrifices 

 which may contribute to the repose 

 of France, and the sincere union of 

 all Frenchmen. 



The king has guaranteed to the 

 army the maintenance of the ranks, 

 employments, pay, and appoint- 

 ments which it at present enjoys. 

 He promises also to the generals, 

 officers, and soldiers, who shall 

 signalise themselves in support of 

 his cause, rewards more substan- 

 tial, distinctions more honourable, 

 than any they can receive from an 

 usurper — always ready to disown, 

 or even to dread their services. The 

 king binds himself anew to abolish 

 that pernicious conscription, which 

 destroys the happiness of families 

 and the hope of the country. 



Such always have been, such 

 still are the intentions of the king. 

 His re-establishment on the throne 

 of his ancestors will be for France 

 only the happy transition from the 

 calamities of a war which tyranny 

 perpetuates, to the blessings of a 

 solid peace, for which foreiga 



