110] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



those expenses will entirely cease ; 

 and tliiit our country will resume 

 among nations the rank and re- 

 nown due to the valour of French- 

 men, and their noble attitude in 

 adversity. 



To attain this end, 1 shall more 

 than ever stand in need of unani- 

 mity between tiie people anl the 

 tlnone ; of tliat vigour, without 

 which authority is powerless. In 

 proportion as that authority is 

 smmg, will the necessity be di- 

 minislied of displaying itself in 

 acts of severity. The manner in 

 whicii thedepositariesof my power 

 have used what the laws intrusted 

 to them have justitied my confi- 

 dence. However, 1 feel great sa- 

 tisfaction in announcing to you, 

 that 1 do not consider it requisite 

 to continue the Prevotal Courts 

 beyond the term fixed for their 

 existence by the law which es- 

 tablished them. 



I have digested, conformably to 

 the charter, a law for recruiting. 

 I wish that there should be no 

 room left for invoking privi- 

 leges ; that the sjtirit and dispo- 

 sitions of that cliarter, our true 

 compass, which calls all French- 

 men indiscriminately to offices and 

 employments, should not be illu- 

 sory : and tiiat the soldier should 

 find no other limits to his honour- 

 able career, than those of his ta- 

 lents and of his services. If the 

 execution of this .salutary law 

 should demand an augmentation 

 in the budget of the war minister, 

 you, as tiie interpreters of the 

 sentiinents of my people, will not 

 hesitate to sanction arrangements 

 which secure to France that inde- 

 pendence and that dignity, with- 

 out which there can be neither 

 king nor nation. 



I have detailed to you our diffi- 

 culties, and the measures which 

 they require : in conclusion, 1 

 shall direct your attention to ob- 

 jects of a more pleasing descrip- 

 tion. Thanks to the peace re- 

 stored to the churcii of France, 

 religion, that eternal basis of irll 

 felicity even on eaitli, will. I 

 doubt not, flourish amongst us ; 

 tranquillity and confidence begin 

 to re- appeal'; pubfic credit is con- 

 solidating; agriculture, commeice, 

 and in(histry, resume their acti- 

 vity ; new master-pieces of art 

 excite admiration. One of my 

 children is traversing, at this mo- 

 ment; a part of the kingdom ; and 

 in return for sentiments so deeply 

 engraven on his heart, and mani- 

 fested by liis conduct, he is every 

 where greeted with benedictions ; 

 while I, who have but one feel- 

 ing — the happiness of my people; 

 who am desirous, for th«:ir good 

 alone, of that authority which 

 I shall defend from all attacks, of 

 whatever kind — know that 1 am 

 beloved by them, and find in my 

 heart the assurance that this con- 

 solation will never fail me. 



PROJECT OP A LAW FOE 

 THE PRESS. 



On Nov. l/th. Baron Pasquier, 

 keei)er of the seals, made a speech 

 relative to the liberty of the press, 

 introductory to the project of a 

 law on the subject proposecl by 

 the King to the Chamber of De- 

 puties, and contained in the fol- 

 lowing articles. 



Louis, by the grace of God, &c. 



We have ordained that the pro- 

 ject of a law of the following ten • 

 dency shall be presented in our 

 name to the Chamber of Depu- 

 ties, 



