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ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. [Apr. 



Iwnourable manner, the last 

 struggle for the independ^ce of 

 Germany, my allies are endea- 

 vouring to tear from me my 

 finest provinces, and are dispos- 

 ing, during my life, of my suc- 

 cession. 



" In the various negotiations 

 that have taken place, I think I 

 have proved to the whole world 

 the insufficiency of the reason 

 alleged to excuse this violation of 

 my most sacred rights, and pub- 

 lic opinion has already decided 

 in my favour, even before the 

 full extent of the injustice was 

 known of which it is intended to 

 make me a victim. If it is morti- 

 fying to my heart to see how 

 many persons, who have declared 

 in the face of the whole world, 

 that they took arms wholly to 

 destroy the dominion of arbitrary 

 power, to introduce into Europe 

 a political system founded on the 

 basis of morality, sufferthemselves 

 to be influenced by false repre- 

 sentations that are made to them, 

 that their debts are to be paid 

 with provinces that belong to me, 

 and the preservation of which 

 has been purchased with the 

 blood of my subjects, what a 

 painful feeling must it excite in 

 me, when I see my nearest rela- 

 tions at the head of those who 

 seek to oppress me, and who, not 

 contented with accepting that of 

 which 1 am to be robbed, urge 

 the execution of measures to 

 which they ought never to have 

 given their consent. 



" I am embarrassed in my 

 mind when I endeavour to recon- 

 cile the continually renewed of- 

 fensive steps of your Majesty's 

 Cabinet with the expressions of 

 attachment which you continue 



to bestow on me. In so serious 

 an affair, I find it impossible to 

 separate the Government from 

 its head, so as to fiijd in the latter 

 my relation and friend, while the 

 former shows itself my bitter 

 enemy. 



" I at length owe you my con- 

 fession of faith. It is time that 

 the affair should be decided one 

 way or another, or I must declare 

 to your Majesty, that as I believe 

 myself to have more than ful- 

 filled my engagements, as well 

 by the exertions which my 

 country has made for the com- 

 mon cause, as by the last conci- 

 liatory proposal which my Am- 

 bassador delivered at Frankfort, 

 I am now irrevocably resolved 

 not to consent to any thingfurther. 

 I am not blind to the situation in 

 which I,' am. Nothing stirprises 

 me; lam prepared for everything; 

 but I declare to you, Sire, that if 

 there should be an intention of 

 tearing from me by force what 

 never will be obtained voluntarily, 

 I appeal, for my support, to 

 public opinion, and your Majesty 

 will hardly find a more powerful 

 allv. 



" To the King I have now 

 said enough. The feelings of my 

 heart call on me to add a word td 

 my brother-in-law and friend. I 

 therefore conjure you, Sir, by 

 the ties of blood which unite us, 

 put an end to a negotiation which 

 has too long attracted the anxious 

 eyes of Europe ; and which, by 

 the establishment of the principle 

 on which it is founded, may have 

 as dangerous consequences for 

 your Majesty as for me. — I am, 

 &c. (Signed) 



" Charles." 

 " Carlsruhe, March 18, 1818.' 



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