2 ite 
mitted of the equipment of a single ship of 
war. To p:ovide for the armament ordered 
tn 1810, and which is the minimum of the 
naval force necessary fer the defence of Ho}- 
land, triple that sum would be fequisite. The 
war budget has scarcely afforded a sufficiency 
for maintaining the fortresses and 16 battalions; 
and whilst two branches of such importance 
are so far from having what is necessary for 
supporting the honowr and dignity of irde- 
pendence, the interest of the public debt has 
ceased to be paid. [t is more than a year and 
ahalfinarrear. If, in sucha state of things, 
your Majesty maintain the recent dispositions, 
by assigning to Holland a provisional govern- 
‘ment, you will only be prolonging her painful 
agony. If the government of a Prince, in 
the vigour of life, has left the country in so 
_ distressed a situation, what can be expected 
from a long minority? It cannot, therefore, 
be saved but by a new order of things. The 
period of the power and prosperity of Holland, 
was when it formed part of the greatest mo- 
narchy then in Europe. Her incorporation 
with the great empire is the only stable con- 
dition in which Holland can‘henceforth re- 
pose from her sufferings and long vicissitudes, 
and recover her ancient prosperity. Thus 
ought your Majesty to decide in favour of such 
an union, for the interest, ney more, for the 
salvation of Holland, She ought to be asso- 
ciated in.our blessings, as she has been asso- 
ciated in our calamities. But another interest, 
still more imperious] indicates to your Majesty 
the conduct which you ought to adopt. Holiand 
is, in fact, a shoot from the French territory ; 
it constitutes a portion of soil necessary to 
complete the form of theempire. Tobecome 
full master of the Rhine, your Majesty should 
advance to the Zuyder se2. By this means, 
all the rivers which have their source in 
«France, or which wash the frontiers, will be- 
“ long to you as far as the sea. To leave the 
mouths of your rivers in the possession of 
strangers, would, in fact, sire, confine vour 
power to an ill-limited monarchy, instead of 
erecting an imperial throne. To teave in the 
power of foreigners the mouths of the Rhine, 
the Meuse, and the Scheldt, would be tanta- 
mount io submitting your laws to them ; it 
wouldrender your manufactures and commerce 
dependent onthe powers who should" be in 
possession of those mouths; it would admit a 
foréten influence in that which is most im- 
‘portant to the happiness of your subjects. 
She annexation of Holland is still necessary 
to complete the system of the emp're, parti- 
cularly since the British Orders in Cuuncil of 
November, 1807. Twice since that period 
your Majesty has been obliged to close your 
‘custom-houses to the trade of Holiand, in 
consequence of which, Hoiland was isclated 
from the empire and the continent. After 
the peace of Vienna, it was in your Maiesty’s 
‘contemplation to-annex this kingdom. You 
were incuced to abandon this idea from cen- 
siderations that no longer exist. You agreed 
State of Public Affairs in Sulif. 
[A ug. Ts 
with reluctance to the treaty of the 14th 
March, which aggravated the calamities of 
Holland, without meeting any one view of 
your Majesty. The obstacle which prevented 
it, has now disappeared of itself. Your Ma- 
jesty owes it to your empire to take advantage 
of a circumstance which so naturally leads 
tothe union. There can be none more fa- 
vourable for the execution of your projects: 
Your Majesty has -established at Antwerp a 
powerful arsenal.. The astonished Scheldt 
swells with pride to behold 20 vessels of the 
first rate bearing your Majesty’s flag, and pro- 
tecting its shores, that were formerly scarcely 
visited by some trading vessels. But the 
great designs of your Majesty in this respect, 
cannot be fully accomplished except by the 
union of Holland. It is necessary to compiete 
so astonished a creation. Under your Majes- 
ty’s-energetic government, the ensuing year 
will not terminate before, by calling into ac- 
tion the maritime resources of Holland, a 
fleet of 40 sail of the line, and a great num- 
ber of troups, shal} be assembled in the Schelde 
and Texel, to dispute with the British govern- 
ment the sovereignty of the sea, and repel its 
unjust claims. So that it is not the interest 
of France alone that calle for this union: it 
is that of continental Europe, who applies to 
France to repair the losses of her marine, and 
combat, on her own element, the enemy of 
the prosperity of Europe; whose industry it 
has not been able to stifle, but whose come 
munications it obstructs by its insolent claims, 
and the vast number of its ships of war. 
Finally, the union of Holland augments the 
empire; in rendering more close the frontiers 
she defends, and in adding to the security of 
its arsenals and docks.. It enriches it by an 
industrious, thrifty, and laborious people, 
who will add to the stock of public wealth, 
in increasing their private fortunes. There 
are no. people more estimable, or better adapte 
ed to derive benefit from the advantages which 
the liberal policy of your government affords 
to industry. France could nut have made z 
move valuable acquisition, ‘The annexation 
ef Holland to Fiance, is the necessary con- 
sequence of the union of Belgium. It com- 
pletes your Majesty’s empire, as well as the 
execution of your system of war, politics, 
andtrade. [tis the first, but a necessary StEDs 
towards the resto:ation of your navy ; in fact, 
it is the heaviest blow which your Majesty 
could inflict upon England. As tothe young 
Prince, who is so dear to your Majesty, he has 
already felt the effects of your good will, 
You have bestowed on him the -grand duchy 
of Berg. He has therefore no occasion for 
any new establishment. I have the honour 
to propose co your Majesty the project of the 
fo.iowing decree. I am, &c. 
** CHAMPAGNY, Duxe of Cadore.” 
Extract from the Registers of the Ojpice of the 
Secretary of State. 
Palace of Rambewuilict, July 9, 1810. 
We, Napoleon, Emperor of the French, 
King 
