STATE PAPERS. 



725 



never be brought to think that the 

 Engh'sh government had determin- 

 ed to wage perpetual war with 

 France; it was because it could 

 never be brought to think that the 

 Austrian government to which 

 peace was so important, so neces- 

 sary — that that government to 

 which a liberal and unexpected 

 peace had been granted, had a right 

 to copeagain with the Frencharmies, 

 directed by Napoleon the Great, 

 and electrified by his presence. 



" Our emperor, therefore, cal- 

 culating upon a speedy and long 

 peace, was willing to divide the 

 weight of the war among several 

 classes, in order that it might press 

 the lighter upon each of them. He 

 was also desirous that the French, 

 who constituted these two classes, 

 and who, accorJ.ing to the proper 

 estimate of public duties, might 

 have been deprived of their share 

 of military glory, should be furnish- 

 ed with an opportunity of acquiring 

 it. Disappointed in his first ex- 

 pectations, the emperor had re- 

 course to those supplies of men, 

 which he had, from principles of 

 prudence, left in reserve. Twice 

 did he apply for succours, and twice 

 were the contingents which he 

 deemed necessary furnished with 

 rapidity. Our moderation had 

 thrown a veil over our strength, but 

 our moderation is desirous now of 

 manifesting our strength. Let us 

 put an end to an error so fatal to 

 our enemies, and which may be- 

 come still more disastrous to them ! 

 When they shall be well acquainted 

 witli our resources, they will, no 

 doubt, be convinced that a frank 

 and solid peace is the only part, the 

 only post in which they can find 

 safety. It belongs to weak govern- 

 mcuts to beck fui: security in the 



concealment of their weakness, and 

 the exaggerations of thrir strength. 

 It is the duty of Franco to make 

 known to her friends and enemies 

 her true situation ; that situation is 

 such as to inspire the former with 

 more energy, and to warn the latter, 

 that in taking up arms, they must 

 expose themselves to certain loss. 

 " The following, senators, is the 

 precise state of the conscriptional 

 force of France, and I can pledge 

 myself for its accuracy : The class 

 of 1806 consisted of 4-23,000, ac- 

 cording to the lists of conscription. 



Thatclasscomprising fifteen 



months, 423,000 



That of 1807 352,000 



1808 .-. 361,000 



1809 362,000 



1810 362,000 



Total 1,867,000 



Of these classes until the present 

 moment, there have been raised but 

 520,000 men. 



1806 102,500 



1807 102,500 



1808 102,500 



1809 102,500 



1810 110,000 



Total 520,000 



There consequently remains still at 

 home, of the five classes, 1,317,000 

 men." 



The orator next proceeds to show 

 the great facility with which the new 

 levy must be raised, leaving an im- 

 mense number still behind, and ar- 

 gues that such resources will be the 

 most efficacious means of reducing 

 the English to the necessity of de- 

 manding a peace, which, however 

 necessary to France, isindispensable 



to 



