STATE ‘PAPERS. 
try. One single day should dissi- 
pate all the misfortunes of many 
years. The most sacred, the most 
invariable pledges of moderation, 
of gentleness, of reciprocal confi- 
dence, and of entire union will be 
the guarantees of your tranquillity. 
Neapolitans, second with all 
your efforts an enterprize whose 
object is so great, so just, so be- 
nevolent, and which enters into 
the common cause of Europe, 
of which all enlightened nations 
have undertaken the defence with 
immense forces. 
I promise you that I will not 
preserve the least recollection of 
all the faults committed by what- 
ever person, without any excep- 
tion, against the duties of fidelity 
towards me, during my absence 
from this kingdom, at whatever 
time committed, whether after 
my first or second departure. An 
impenetrable and eternal veil shall 
coverall past actions and opinions. 
With this view I promise, in 
the most solemn manner, and on 
my sacred word, the most com- 
plete, most extensive, and general 
amnesty, and an eternal oblivion. 
I promise to preserve to all in- 
dividuals, Neapolitan and Sicilian, 
who serve in the armies by land 
or sea, all the pay, the rank, and 
military honours which they now 
enjoy. 
May God, the witness of the 
rectitude and sincerity of my in- 
tentions, deign to bless them with 
success. FERDINAND. 
Palermo, May 1, 1815. 
DECLARATION. 
Louis, by the Grace of God, 
King of France and Navarre.— 
379 
To all our subjects greeting,— 
France, free and respected, was 
enjoying, by our care, the peace 
and prosperity which had been 
restored to it, when the escape of 
Napoleon Buonaparte from the 
Island of Elba, and his appear- 
ance on the French territory, se- 
duced to revolt the greatest part 
of the army. Supported by this 
illegal force, he has made usurpa- 
tion and tyranny succeed to the 
equitable empire of the laws. 
The efforts and the indignation 
of our subjects, the majesty of 
the throne, and that of the na- 
tional representation, have yielded 
to the violence of a mutinous sol- 
diery, whom treacherous and 
perjured leaders have seduced by 
deceitful hopes. 
This criminal success having 
excited in Europe just alarms, 
formidable armies have been put 
in march towards France, and all 
the Powers have decreed the de- 
struction of the tyrant. 
Our first care, as our first duty, 
has been to cause a just and ne- 
cessary distinction to be recog- 
nised between the disturber of the 
peace and the oppressed French 
nation. 
Faithful to the principles which 
have always guided them, the So- 
vereigns, our Allies, have declared 
their intention to respect the in- 
dependence of France,and to gua- 
rantee the integrity of its terri- 
tory. They have given us, the 
most solemn assurances, that they 
will not interfere in the internal 
government, and it is on these 
conditions we have resolved to 
accept their generous assistance. 
The usurper has in vain at- 
tempted to sow dissentions among 
them, and, by a feigned modera- 
