STATE PAPERS. 



725 



of the royal household, followed the 

 emperor and king. The cardinal 

 archbishop came with his clergy to 

 receive his majesty at the portal, 

 burned incense before him, and ad- 

 dressed him as follows : " Sire, 

 "' with that clemency and goodness 

 *' which so eminently distinguish 

 " your imperial and royal majesty, 

 " you condescended to receive the 

 " homage which I had the honour 

 *' to oft'er you, in the name of the 

 " clergy and people of Milan, on 

 " the memorable day of your en- 

 " trance into this capital. Deiga 

 " also to accept the same in this sa- 

 " cred temple, chosen by your ma- 

 " jesty for the solemn ceremony of 

 " your coronation ; and look with 

 " the eyes of a tender father, on the 

 " assembly of cardinal, bishops, 

 " and clergy, who this day unite 

 " with me to celebrate that august 

 " event, and to implore the author 

 *' of all good to shower down upon 

 " your imperial and royal person, 

 " an abundance of all heavenly 

 " blessings." Afterthis speech the 

 cardinal archbishop conducted his 

 majesty under the canopy to the 

 .sanctuary. The shouts of applause 

 which involuntarily burst forth at 

 the sight of so grand a retinue, and 

 so great a hero, almost drowned the 

 sounds of a vast band of music, 

 which announced, by the triumphal 

 march, the arrival of his imperial 

 majesty. The emperor seated him- 

 self in the chair, upon a throne, 

 having upon his right the honours of 

 the empire, upon his left tho^c of 

 Italy. Tlie honoi^rs of Cfiarle- 

 magna were at the entrajice of the 

 ••■anctuary, in front of the altar. 

 The cardinal legate was upon an 

 arm chair, with the gospel at his 

 side. The grand civil officers were 

 behind his majesty, the grand mas- 



ter, and the masters of the ceremo- 

 nies, upon the right and left of the 

 altar.,, and the civil ofBcers in the 

 choir. After the prayers and usual 

 interrogations, the grand officers of 

 Italy laid upon the altar the royal 

 ornaments delivered to them by his 

 majesty, and the cardinal blessed 

 them. The emperor then went to 

 the foot of the altar, to receive from 

 the hands of the archbishop the 

 ring, the mantle, the sword, which 

 he delivered to his highness prince 

 Eugene, the sceptre, and the hand 

 of justice; and finally he ascended 

 the altar, and took the crown of 

 iron. Placing it on his head with 

 an air of defiance, he said, in a loud 

 tone of voice, these remarkable 

 words : — " Dieii me la domie^ ow-g 

 " a qui la louche !" — " God gives 

 " it to me, woe to him who touches 

 " it !" Having then laid this crown 

 upon the allar, he took that of 

 Italy, and placed it upon his bead, 

 amidst thunders of applause from, 

 the spectators. All-^rthis ceremony, 

 the emperor, preceded by the- same 

 procession which had conducted 

 him to the choir, crossed the church, 

 receiviiiii at every step numerous and 

 lively acclamations, evident proofs 

 of the love and respect he inspired. 

 His majesty placed himself at the 

 bottom of the nave, upon an ele- 

 vated and magnificent throne. The 

 honours of Italy were placed behind 

 the throne. His highness prince 

 Eugene was seated upon a chair on 

 the right of the emperor. Below 

 him, on the same side, were the ho- 

 nours of Charlemagne, and on the 

 left of the throne the honours of the 

 French empire. Uelow them, to 

 (he right and left, were the great 

 military officers, the members of the 

 counsel, and the counsellors of state, 

 on seats raised one above the other. 

 3 A 3 Uefor' 



