"to us his family and existence. "It is not to himself, it is to us, "that he ought to devote himself. "What you propose in the ardour "of enthusiasm, the senate will "consider with cool deliberation. "Citizens tribunes, we are the "corner stone of the social edifice, "but it is the government of an he66 reditary chief that must constitute "the key-stone of the arch. You દ repose in your bosom the wish "that this arch may be at last con"solidated. In receiving this wish, "the senate does not forget that "what you solicit is not so much a "change of the state of the repub lic, as the means of perfecting "and establishing it, and this cer"tainly is what we are most inte"rested in. In this national temple "the constitution ought to repose, "in some measure, on the god "Terminus. If we are induced to "interfere in any respect with this "sacred compact, the guardianship "of which is intrusted to us, it is "only to add to its strength, and "to extend its duration." The senate then replied to Bonaparte's speech of the 25th April, in an address signed by the vice-president Francois de Neufchateau, Moreau de Galles, and Joseph Cornudet, secretaries, and the chancellor of the senate, Laplace. But as it is of great length, and contains no new matter, we forbear its insertion. This measure was finally adopted by the senate of the 18th May, on which day a decree, donominated an "Organic Senatus Consultum" was passed, conferring the title of emperor on the first consul, and establishing that dignity hereditary in his family. It was likewise decreed, that the members should immediate "Sire, the decree which the se"nate has passed, and which it "takes the earliest opportunity of "presenting to your imperial majesty, is only the authentic ex 66 pression of a will already mani"fested by the nation. This de66 cree, which confers on you a new "title, and which, after you, se66 cures the dignity hereditary in your race, adds nothing to your dignity or your rights. The love "and gratitude of the French peo"ple have, for some years, entrust"ed to your majesty the reins of government, and the constitu ❝tions of the state reposed in you "the choice of a successor. The "most august denomination, de"creed to you, is then only a tri"bute which the nation pays to its ❝ own dignity, and to the necessity it experiences of giving to you "daily testimonies of respect and "of attachment, which every day "increase. How could the French "people find bounds to their grati"tude, when you place none to "your care and solicitude for them? "Preserving the remembrance of "the evils which they suffered when "abandoned to themselves, how "could they reflect, without enthu"siasm, on the happiness they have "felt since Providence inspired "them with the idea of throwing "themselves into your arms? Their "armies "armies were defeated; the fi- "of free and mature deliberation, to a path suited to their genius. "They make a free use of their rights, to delegate to your impe "rial majesty a power which your "interests forbids you to exercise by yourself. They stipulate for "future generations; and, by a so"lemn compact, entrust to the off spring of your race, the happiness "of their posterity. The latter "will imitate your virtues, the former will inherit our love and our "fidelity. "nances were in disorder; public" "credit was annihilated; factions "were disputing for the remains of ❝our ancient splendour; every "idea of morality, or even of reli"gion, was obscured; the habit of giving and resuming power, ❝left the magistrates without con"sideration, and even rendered "odious every kind of authority. Your majesty appeared; you re"called victory to our standards; "you established order and economy "in the public expences; the na❝tion, encouraged by the use you "made of your authority, resumed "confidence in its own resources; 66 your wisdom allayed the rage of "party; religion saw her altars ❝raised up; ideas of justice and injustice were awakened in the "minds of the citizens, when they "saw.crimes followed by punish-ciples of our constitution, and al"ment, and virtue signalized and "rewarded with honourable 'dis❝tinctions. In the last place, and "it is, no doubt, the greatest of the miracles operated by your "genius, that people, whose civil "effervescence had rendered them "impatient of every restraint, and "hostile to every authority, were, by your means, made to cherish and respect a power which was "exercised only for their glory and 66 repose. The French people do "not pretend to establish them"selves judges of the constitutions "of other states; they have no "critical remarks to make; no,ex"amples to follow; experience, in future, will become their guide. "They have tasted, for ages, the ❝advantages attached to hereditary 66 power; they have made a short, " but painful, trial of the contrary "system; they return, by the effect Happy the nation which, after so much trouble and "uncertainty, finds in its bosom a man worthy of appeasing the "tempest of the passions, of con"ciliating all interests, and uniting "all voices! Happy the prince who "holds his power by the will, the "confidence, and the affections of "the citizens! If it be in the prin "ready several examples of this "kind have been given, to submit "to the sanction of the people that "part of the decree which concerns "the establishment of an hereditary government, the senate have "thought that it ought to entreat 66 your imperial majesty to consent "that the organic dispositions "should be immediately carried "into execution; and that, for the "glory as well as for the happiness "of the republic, Napoleon may be "immediately proclaimed emperor of the French." The emperor replied in the fol.. lowing terms: 66 "Every thing that can contribute "to the good of the country is essentially connected with my "happiness. I accept the title which you think necessary to the glory of the nation. I submit to "the sanction of the people the 4 hope France will never repent of "having surrounded with ho(< nours my family. In all cases << my spirit will cease to be present "with my posterity, the day on "which they shall cease to deserve "the love and confidence of the "Great Nation." But as the measure of adulation was not yet quite filled, the senate requested an audience of her majesty the empress, and, on being admitted, the president addressed her as follows: “Madam, we have just presented "to your august spouse the decree "which confers on him the title of 66 emperor, which establishes the << government hereditary in his fa"mily, and associates future gene"rations in the happiness of the 66 present race. A very agreeable "duty remains to be performed by "the senate-that of offering to 66 your imperial majesty the homage "of its respect, and an expression "of the gratitude of the French. "Yes, madam, fame proclaims the "good which you are constantly "doing; it says, that being always "accessible to the unfortunate, governing nations; the living re"membrance of your goodness, "will teach their august consorts, "that the care of drying up tears, "is the most effectual means of pre"serving an empire over all hearts. "The senate thinks itself happy in "the opportunity of being the first "to salute you empress, and he "who has the honour of being its organ, takes the liberty to hope, "that you will deign to reckon "him among the number of your "most faithful servants." The "organic senatus consultum" was then proclaimed by the emperor. It consisted of 151 articles, forming a totally new constitution: As the insertion of the whole of this curious performance would cause too great an interruption in the thread of our narrative, we shall, in this place, limit ourselves to the substance of the principal points relating to the emperor and his family, and refer our readers, who may be desirous of further information on that head, to another part of this work*. The government of the republic shall be confided to Napoleon Bonaparte under the title of emperor, and justice shall be administered in his name by officers appointed by him. The imperial dignity shall be hereditary in the family of Bonaparte, in the direct line of descent by order of primogeniture to the exclusion of females. The power is given to Bonaparte, provided he have no male issue, to adopt an heir from amongst the children and grand children of his brothers, provided they have attained the age of eighteen years. On the Vide "State Papers," p. 664. failure failure of this limitation, the imperial dignity is to devolve first to Joseph Bonaparte and his male issue; and, on failure of those, to Louis Bonaparte and his male issue; and finally, on failure of those branches, an emperor is to be nominated by the senate. The members of the imperial family, in the order of inheritance, shall bear the title of prince, and the eldest son of the emperor that, of imperial prince. The education of those princes is to be under the direction of the senate. They are prohibited from marrying without the consent of the emperor. Any marriage so contracted incurs the privation of the right of inheritance, both of the individuals and their descendants. The minority of the emperor ceases at the age of eighteen. Until he arrives at that age, his functions shall be administered by a regent, the rules for whose appointment are prescribed, and his powers limited, from which office females are excluded. The first exercise of the imperial authority was the nomination of his imperial highness prince Joseph Bonaparte to the dignity of grand elector: his imperial highness prince Louis Bonaparte to that of constable of France: consul Cambaceres to be arch-chancellor of the empire: consul Lebrun to be arch-treasurer. These persons then took the prescribed oaths, in presence of the emperor. The arch-chancellor then presented the ministers and the secretary of state, who likewise took the oaths. The constable presented generals d'Avoust and Bessieres. General Murat, governor of Paris, was also presented; and general Duroc, who took the oaths, as governor of the imperial palace. On the same day a letter had been addressed to each of the consuls, Cambaceres and Lebrun, notifying to them the change in their titles. It was likewise ordered that the French princes and princesses should be addressed by the title of their imperial highnesses, and the sisters of the emperor are of that number. The great officers of the empire are to receive the title of their serene highnesses; and they, as well as the princes, are to be addressed monseigneur. The secretary of state and the ministers shall have the titles of their excellencies. The functionaries of the departments, and those who present petitions, are to address them by the title of monseigneur. The president of the senate shall have the title of excellency. And the marshals of the empire, when addressed in writing, are to have the title of monseigneur. On the 20th May, the generals Berthier, Murat, Moncey, Jourdan, Massena, Augereau, Bernadotte, Soult, Brune, Lasnes, Mortier, Ney, d'Avoust, Bessieres, Kellerman, Lefevre, Perignon, and Serurier, were promoted to the rank of marshals of the empire. Bonaparte them notified his elevation to the bishops of France, by letters of a similar tenor to the following, addressed to the arch-bishop of Paris. 66 Cousin, the happiness of the "French has always been the dear"est object of my thoughts, and "their glory that of all my labours. "Called by Divine Providence, and "the constitution of the republic, ❝ to the imperial power, I see, in "this new order of things, only greater means of assuring, both 66 at at home and abroad, the prospe"rity and dignity of the country. "I repose with confidence in the "powerful succour of the Most High. He will inspire his minis"ters with the desire of seconding me by all the means in their power. They will enlighten the people "by instruction, in preaching to "them the love of their duties, obe"dience to the laws, and the prac❝tice of all the christian and civil "virtues. They will call down the "benedictions of Heaven, upon "the nation, and upon the supreme "chief of the state. I write you "this letter, that, as soon as you have "received it, you will cause Veni "Creator and Te Deum to be sung in all the churches of your diocese, and that you may invite to "the prayers at your church, those "authorities that have been in the "habit of assisting at ceremonies "of this kind; and that you may "order a sermon to be preached in "all the churches of your diocese, "on the subject of the organic se"natus consultum of the 28th Flo"real last and assuring myself "that you will, by your own ex"ample, excite the zeal and piety "of all the faithful in your diocese, "I pray God to have you, my "cousin, in his holy and worthy "keeping." And a circular letter was addressed to them, on the same occasion, by cardinal Caprara, legate a latere, resident in France, which was thus::- "My lord, Napoleon Bonaparte "having been appointed emperor "of the French, you are to make << use of the following prayer. Regulations for the coronation were laid down by an imperial decree, dated from the palace of St. Cloud, July 9th. This ceremony was then appointed to take place in the month of November following (the 18th Brumaire), and certain of the public functionaries from the several departments, together with detachments from the different military corps (all which are particularly specified), were summoned to attend at Paris on the occasion."* Whilst the French government was thus seriously engaged in making arrangements for placing the crown The novelty and extraordinary nature of the above transaction, has induced us to be more particular in our relation of it, than the subject, perhaps, merits, or VOL. XLVI. N than |