STATE PAPERS. 
provement, which experience and 
further study may shew to be ne- 
cessary. 
However, before we proceed to 
introduce the new fundamental 
law, we desire to convince our- 
selyes of the assent of our sub- 
jects to its principal regulations. 
For this purpose, Deputies (no- 
tables) shall be assembled from 
every arrondissement, in the pro- 
portion of one for 2,000 inhabi- 
tants. We have ordered that the 
choice shall be made with impar- 
tiality among the persons most 
estimable, and most worthy of the 
confidence of their fellow citizens. 
But in order to be certain that 
our intentions in this respect have 
been fulfilled, and that those who 
are going to be named Deputies, 
are really deserving of the honour 
of being the organs of the general 
opinion; we further order that 
the lists shall be published and 
deposited for eight days in the 
chief towns of the respective dis- 
tricts. 
At the same time registers shall 
be opened, in which every in- 
habitant, who is the head of 
a family, may come and insert 
a simple vote of rejection of 
one or more of the Deputies 
named. 
It is according to the result 
which these registers shall afford, 
that the lists will be finally deter- 
mined on, and the Notables con- 
voked in each arrondissement to 
vote upon the plan of the funda- 
mental law which will be laid 
before them. Each of these as- 
semblages shall send its process 
verbal to Brussels, and shall de- 
pute three of its members to at- 
tend in a general meeting at the 
' Opening of those process verbaux 
397 
(journals ‘of proceedings), and at 
the collecting of the votes of the 
Notables. 
Such, Belgians, are the mea- 
sures which we have judged the 
most proper for the establishment 
of a compact which is to fix your 
destinies, and to hasten the mo- 
ment when your Sovereign will 
be surrounded by a representa- 
tion faithfully constituted. 
Happy to reign over a free, 
brave, and industrious people, we 
are sure of finding in it that cha- 
racter for openness and sincerity 
which has always so eminently 
distinguished it. All our efforts 
will be directed to cement the 
foundations of its prosperity and 
glory, and the citizens of all class- 
es,and all the provinces shall have 
in us a benevolent and impartial 
protector of their rights and their 
welfare. In particular we guaran- 
tee to the Catholic Church its esta- 
blishment and ‘its liberties, and 
we shall not lose sight of the ex. 
amples of wisdom and modera- 
tion in this respect, which have 
been left us by our predecessors, 
your ancient Sovereigns, whose 
memory is so justly revered among 
you. 
Given at the Hague, July 18, 
1815, and the second year of our 
reign. (Signed) 
By the King. WILLIAM. 
For the Secretary of State in 
his absence, the Cabinet Secre- 
tary. (Signed) 
P. De CromBRUGGE. 
(A true Copy). 
The Clerk to the Secretary of 
State, 
L. Van GopBELSCHROY. 
