1810.] os 
ake 
STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN JAN 
TARY. 
Containing official Papers and wuthentic Docwuents. 
ee 
FRANCE. 
Report of the Prince Avch-Chancellor to the 
Conservative Scnate. 
1% the year 1809, and on the 15th day of De- 
cember, et nine o’clock in the evening, 
We,- Jean Jaques Regis Cambaceres, Prince 
Arch-chancellér of the empire, Duke of 
Parma, exercising the functions prescribed to 
us by title the ¢nd of the 14th article of the 
statute of the Impérial family, and in conse- 
quence of orders addressed to us by his Ma- 
jesty the Empe ror and King, in his private 
Tetter, dated that day; of the fol lowing tenor: 
Paris, Deceniber 15, 1809. 
e¢ My Cousin—Our desire is, that you 
repair this day, at nine o’clock in the even- 
ing,.to our grand cabinyt of the palace of the 
Thuilleries, attended by the Civil Sec “etary 
of State of our Imperial family, to receive 
from us and from the Empress, our dear con- 
sort, a Communication of great Importance. 
For this purpose, we have ordered this pre-_ 
sent private letter ‘should b# stat to you. 
We pray God to have you, my cousin, in 
his holy and blessed keeping.” 
On the back is written :—* To onr Cousin 
the Prince Arch-Chancellor, Duke: of 
Parma.’ 
We accordingly proceeded to the hall of © 
the throne of the palace of the Thuillertes, 
attended by Michel Louis. Etienne Regnault 
(de St. Jean d’Angely), Count of the expire, 
Minister of State, andSecretary of State to the 
Imperial family. A quarter of an hcur af- 
terwards, we were introduced to the grand 
Cabinet of the Emperor; where we found his 
Majesty the Emperot and King, with her 
Majesty the Empress, attended by their Ma- 
jesties the Kings of Hotland, Westphalia, 
and Naples, his Imperia! Fishes the Prince 
Viceroy, the Queens of Holland, 
poalia, Naples, and Spain, Madame, and her 
Imperial” Highness. the Princess Paulinas 
His Majesty the Emperor and King conce- 
scended to address us in‘these terms: 
“: My Cousin, Prince Arch-Chancellor— 
I dispatched to you a private letter, dated 
this day, to direct you to repair to my cabi- 
net, for the purpose of, communitating to you 
the resolution which [ and the Empress, my 
dearest consort, have taken. It gives me 
pleasure that. the kings, queens, ang prin- 
cesses, my brotiers and Sisters, my brothers 
West-' 
and sistefs-in law, my daughter-in-law, and 
my son-in law become my. adopted son, as 
well as ‘my mother, should witness what I 
am going to communicate to you. 
‘© The policy of my monarchy, the interest 
and the wants of my people, which have con- 
stantly puised all miy actions, require, that, 
after me, 1 Shoulti leave to children, inheritors 
of my love for my elie that throne on 
rach Providence has ‘pi laced mej; notwith- 
‘ 
standing, for several years past, I have lost 
the hope of having children by my. marriage 
with my well- beloved consort, the Empress 
Josephine. This it is which induces me to 
Sacrifice the sweetest afiections of my heart, 
to attend te nothing but the good of. the 
state, and to wish the dissolution of my mar- 
riage. 
‘¢ Arrived at the age of forty years, I may 
indulge the bope of living long enough to 
educate in my views and sentiments: the 
children. which it may please Providence to 
; 
_ ever been given on earth. 
five me. God knows how much such a Te~ | 
solution has cost my heart; but there is no 
sacrifice beyond my courage, when it is 
proved to me to be necessary for the welfare 
of France. I should add, that far from having 
reason to complain, on the contrary, qt have 
had reason only to ‘be satished with the at- 
tachment and the affection of my. well-be- 
loved consort: she has adorned fifteen years” 
of my life, the remembrance of which will 
ever remain engravea on mv Heart: she was” 
crowned by my hand. I wish she should 
vreserve the raik and title of Empress, but 
above all, that she shouid never doubt my 
sentiments, and that:she should eyet seed 
mezs her best and dearest friend.” 
“His Majesty the Emperor and King ha aving 
ended, her Majesty the Empress and Queen 
spoke as follows : 
“« By the permission of our dear and august 
consort, I ought to declare, that not presei ving 
any hope of having children, which may fule 
fil the wants of his policy arid the interest of 
France, [ am pleased to give him the greatest 
proof of atreciment and aewoe ion, which has 
I possess all from 
his bounty: it was his hand which crowned 
me; and, from the height of the throne, I 
have received nothing but proofs of affection 
and love from the French people. I think 
I prove myself grateful, in consenting to the 
dissolution ofa marriage, which heretofore 
was an obstacle to the welfare of France ; 
which deprived it of the happiness of being 
one day governed by the descendants of a 
great man, evidently raised up by Providence, 
to eff.ce the evils of a terrible revolution, 
and to re-establish the altar, the throne, and 
social order. _ But the dissolution of my mare 
riage will in no degree change the sentiments of 
my heart the Emp: ror will ever have in me 
his best frisnd. | | know how muca this act, 
demanded by policy, and by ioterests so great, 
has cuilied his heart ; but both of us exuit in 
the sacrifice owhich we take for the good of 
the country.’ 
After which, their Imperial Majesties 
having demanoed an act of their respective 
declarations, as well as of the mu<ual Conscn€ 
contained in them, and which their Majesties 
gave to the dissolution of their marriage, as 
‘alse 
