STATE PAPERS. 



72? 



was overturned, Ave became sensible 

 to the misfortunes to which you 

 were a prey. Thanks to the invin- 

 cible bravery of our armies, '.ve made 

 afl appearance in Milan, when our 

 people of Italy supposed us still on 

 the shores of the Red Sea. Our 

 first wish, whilst yet covered with 

 the dust and blood of battles, was 

 the reorganization of the Italian na- 

 tion. — The statutes of Lyons com- 

 mitted the sovereignty to the con- 

 sulta and the colleges, in which we 

 had concentrated the different ele- 

 ments which constitute nations. 

 You then believed it for your 

 interests that we should be at the 

 head of your government ; and still 

 persevering in the same opinion, 

 you now will that we should be the 

 first of your kings. The separation 

 of the crowns of France and Italy, 

 which might be advantageous to in- 

 sure the independence of your pos- 

 terity, would at the present moment 

 be fatal to your existence and tran- 

 quillity. I shall keep this crown ; 

 but only so long as your interests 

 shall require ; and I shall with plea- 

 sure see the moment arrive, when I 

 can place it on the head of a youiiKcr 

 person, who, animated by my spirit, 

 may continue my work, and be on 

 all occasions ready to sacrifice his 

 person and interests to the security 

 and the happiness of the people over 

 whom Providence, the constitutions 

 of the kingdom, and my wish, shall 

 have called him to reign. 



After this audience, marshal Brune 

 was presented to the emperor : he 

 took the oath as grand officer of the 

 legion of honour, and received from 

 the hands of his majesty the grand 

 ribbon of the legion of honour, and 

 the staff of a marshal of the empire. 

 General Bacciochi, senator, and gen. 

 Victor, envoy extraordinary and mi- 

 Distcr plenipotentiary to Denmark, 



were introduced, ind received from 

 his majesty, the grand ribbon of the 

 legion of honour. — The emperor 

 having descended from his throne, 

 withdrew to his cabinet, whither he 

 summoned the vice-president, and 

 the members of the Italian consulta, 

 and held a council which lasted an 

 hour and a half. — The emperor at 

 two o'clock proceeded from the 

 Thuilleries to the senate, to commu- 

 nicate the deliberations of the stats 

 consulta of the Italian republic, 

 which calls him to the throne of 

 Italy. The procession was the same 

 as at the consecration : the weather 

 was bright, the crowd immense, 

 and the acclamations of joy uni- 

 versal. 



Official Account of the Coronatmi of 

 the Emperor of the French, as 

 King of Italy, at Milan, on the 

 26th of May, 1803. From the 

 French Official Paper ^ the Mont- 

 teur. 



On the 25th of May his excel/ 

 lency the cardinal Caprara, archbi- 

 shop of Milan, legate-a-latere of his 

 holiness, to his majesty the emperor 

 of the French, was admitted to a 

 private audience, and delivered to 

 the emperor the new credentials of 

 the holy father, accrediting him also 

 in the same dignity, to his majesty 

 as king of Italy, for the transacrion 

 of all affairs in which the holy sec 

 is interested in that kingdom. Be- 

 sides these new credentials, his emi- 

 nence delivered on the jjart of his 

 holiness, the following congratula- 

 tory letter to his majesty: — " Pins 

 " VII. to our dear son in Jesus 

 " Christ ; greeting and apostolical 

 " benedictions. Your imperial' aurf 

 " royal majesty is not uuacquaint- 

 " ed with all the sentiments with 

 3 A 2 " Vhick 



