750 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



interests of France, I am pleased to 

 give him the greatest proof of at- 

 tachment and devotion which has 

 ever been given on earth, I pos- 

 sess all from his bounty, it was his 

 hand which crowned me, and from 

 the height of this throne I have re- 

 ceived nothing but proofs of affec- 

 tion and love from the French peo- 

 ple. I think I prove myself grate- 

 ful in consenting to the dissolution 

 of a marriage which heretofore was 

 an obstacle to the welfare of France, 

 which deprived it of the happiness 

 of being one day governed by the 

 descendant of a great man, evident- 

 ly raised up by Providence to efface 

 the evils of a terrible revolution, 

 and to re-establish the altar, the 

 throne, and social order. But the 

 dissolution of my marriage will in 

 no degree change the sentiments of 

 my heart ; the emperor will ever 

 have in me his best friend. 1 know 

 liow much this act, demanded by 

 policy, and by interest so great, has 

 chilled his heart ; but both of us 

 exult in the sacrifice which we 

 make for the good of the country.' 

 " After which their imperial ma- 

 jesties have demanded an act of 

 their respectivedcclarations, as well 

 as of their mutual consent contain- 

 ed in them, and which their majes- 

 ties gave to the dissolution of their 

 marriage ; as also of the power 

 which their majesties conferred on 

 us to follow up, as need shall require, 

 the effect of their will, we, prince 

 arch-chancellor of the empire in 

 obedience to the orders and requisi- 

 tions of their majesties, have given 

 the aforesaid act, and have in con- 

 sequence executed the present /jro- 

 ces verbal, to serve and avail ac- 

 cording to law, to which j^roces ver- 

 bal their majesties have atfixed their 

 signature, and which, after having 



been signed by the kings, queens, 

 princes, and princesses, present, 

 has been signed by us, and counter- 

 signed by the secretary of state of 

 the imperial family who wrote with 

 his own hand. 



" Done at the palace of the Thu- 

 illeries, the day, hour, and the 

 year aforesaid. 

 (Signed) Napoleon. 

 Josephine. 

 Madame. 

 Louis. 



Jerome Napoleon 

 Joachim Napoleon. 

 Eugene Napoleon. 

 Julie, 

 hortense. 

 Catherine. 

 Pauline. 

 Caroline. 

 Cambaceres, Prince Arch- 

 Chancellor. 

 Count Regnault (de St. 

 Jean d'Angely.)'' 



Having seen the project of the sena- 

 tus consultuni, drawn up in t!)e 

 form prescribed by the 57th article 

 of the act of the constitutions of 

 August 4th, 1802; after having^ 

 heard the motives of the said projet, 

 the orators of the council of state 

 and report of the special commis- 

 sion appointed in the sitting of this 

 day ; the adoption having been 

 discussed by the number of mem- 

 bers prescribed by the 56th articfe 

 of the act of the constitution of 

 August ith 1802; 



DECREES, 



Art. I. The marriage contracted 

 between the emperor Napoleon and 

 the empress Josephine is dissolved. 



II. The empress Josephine shall 

 preserve the title and rank of em- 

 press queen crowned. 



III. 



