STATE PAPERS. 



753 



" Prince Senators ; — You have 

 heard the projet of the senatus 

 consuhum submitted to your deli- 

 beration. I feel it my duty, 

 under these circumstances, to 

 manifest the sentiments by which 

 my family are animated. 



" My mother, my sister, and my- 

 self, owe all to the emperor. He has 

 truly been to us a father. He will 

 find in us at all times devoted chil- 

 dren and obedient subjects. 



'* It is important to the happi- 

 ness of France, that the founder of 

 the fourth dynasty should, in his 

 eld age, be surrounded by direct 

 descendants who may prove a 

 security to all and a pledge of 

 the glory of our countrj'. 



" When my mother was crowned, 

 before the whole nation, by thehands 

 of heraugust consort, she contracted 



an obh'gation to sacrifice all her 

 atl'ections to tlie interests of France. 

 She has fulfilled, with fortitude, 

 nobleness, and dignity, this first 

 of duties. Her soul has often 

 been moved at beholding exposed 

 to painful struggles, the heart of 

 a man accustomed to conquer 

 fortune, and advance with a firm 

 step to the accomplishment of 

 his great designs. The tears which 

 this resolution has cost the em- 

 peror, suffice for the honour 

 (a la gloirej of my mother. 



" In the situation she will now 

 fill, she will be no stranger, by 

 her wishes and her feelings, to the 

 new prosperities which await us ; 

 with a satisfaction mingled with 

 pride, she will behold the happi- 

 ness her sacrifices will produce to 

 her country and to her emperor." 



Vol. LI. 



3 C 



CHARACTERS. 



