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on the part of the king of Sweden against the conduct of France, in violating the neutrality of the German empire, in the instance of the duc d'Enghien.

The part which Sweden had taken in these transactions, was reflected upon in language the most offensive and personal to his Swedish majesty, in a paper which appeared in the French official journal, the Moniteur, of the 14th August. He is there accused of inconsistency and folly; of intermeddling in a thankless office, when he could do neither good nor harm; of insulting his father-in-law in his capital of Carlsruhe, and of acting in a manner highly prejudicial to the interests of his brother-in-law the elector of Bavaria, during his residence at Munich; and of having abandoned his allies, the Danes, to their fate, before the bombardment of Copenhagen. That France was perfectly indifferent to all his steps; but that she knew how to discriminate between a loyal and brave people, justly called the French of the North, and a young man, led astray by false notions, and unenlightened by reflection*.

The effect of this indecent attack was an immediate notification to M. Caillard, French chargé d'affaires at Stockholm, that his Swedish majesty could not, consistently with his own dignity, and the honour of his crown, after such an insult had been offered to him, wherein a line of separation was perfidiously attempted to be drawn between his majesty and his subjects, permit any further diplomatic intercourse, either public or private, to subsist between the French legation

at Stockholm, and his majesty's government.

An order was likewise forthwith issued, wherebyall French journals, of every description, and all future French publications, were strictly prohibited from being imported into Sweden.

It might well be observed that "the "French government had taken the "determination invariably to adopt "for its conduét, a line absolutely "contrary to the principles of jus "tice, and the law of nations :" for, every remonstrance addressed to that upstart cabinet, really seemed an additional motive for trampling upon all established principles of right. An adherence to the rules of justice and decorum was considered beneath the attention of that domineering power; as the attribute o weakness and pusillanimity; and unbecoming the energy and greatness of the regenerated nation. No opportunity was neglected where they could be set at defiance.

The recent expostulations, far from producing any change in their offensive system, served only to provoke further enormities. They had scarcely been expressed, when the neutrality of another independent member of the Germanic body was infringed, in the person of an accredited minister.

On the night of the 25th of October, a party of French troops passed the Elbe, (in consequence, as it was insultingly explained, of orders given. by the minister of police at Paris). and seized sir George Rumbold, the British chargé d'affaires to the Circle of Lower Saxony, at his country house in the vicinity of Hamburgh,"

* This latter observation was evidently intended to disseminate that discord, which has so frequently subsisted between the crown of Sweden and the people. N 4

under

1

under the pretext that he was concerned in plans, similar to those attributed to Mr. Drake, and Mr. S. Smith.

This gentleman, together with the papers found in his possession, was forwarded, without delay, to Paris. On his arrival there he was confined in the Temple, and detained two days and as many nights. At length, on his being induced to sign a parole, not to return to Hamburgh, nor to within a certain distance of the French territories, and having in vain demanded the restitution of his papers, he was conveyed to the coast, and embarked at Cherbourg, in a vessel carrying a flag of truce, which put him on board of his majesty's frigate Niobe, whence he was landed at Portsmouth.

This act of violence was the subject of an official note from lord Hawkesbury to the cabinet of Berlin. But it appears, that that court had previously made a remonstrance on the subject to the French go. vernment, to which the release of sir George Rumbold is chiefly to be attributed.

While the French government was thus invading the liberties of the Northern States, it was not unmind. ful of its schemes of encroachment in the south of Europe. On the 20th of October, a convention was concluded with Genoa, by which France engages to procure a peace for the Ligurian Republic, with the Barbary States. Should her endeavours in that respect fail, she promises to allow the vessels of the republic to carry French colours for their protection, and to permit the importation of Ligurian commodities, subject to certain duties, into Piedmont, Parma, and Placenza ; and, in return for these equivocal advantages, the Ligurian republic

engages to furnish six thousand seamen to France, during the present war: she likewise cedes the harbours, dock-yards, arsenals, &c. and places them at the disposal of the French government. And, as it is intended to construct, in the said dock-yards, ten ships of the line for France, the Ligurian republic engages to enlarge, at her own expence, the bason, sufficiently to receive those vessels. A new ship of the line, a frigate, and two corvettes, all complete, are, at the same time, placed at the disposal of France.

The period appointed for the coronation now approached. The preparations for that ceremony were framed upon an immense scale.-France was to be dazzled by its splendour and magnificence: the accomplishment of the measure itself was to establish the belief, throughout the world, in the solidity and permanence of Bonaparte's dominion. The arrogance of his conduct whilst this affair was pending, his defiance and contempt of other powers, might flatter French. men with the idea of their importance under his government; and, at the same time, convey a more general impression of his conscious security: and, the better to impose upon the ignorant and credulous, the pope was summoned to Paris, to place the imperial crown upon his head.

This humiliated potentate, on the 29th October, previously to his departure from Rome, addressed an allocution to a consistory, wherein he extols the merits of Bonaparte, for having by the "Concordat" restored the catholic religion over his vast and populous territory. "The same "most powerful prince (continues

his holiness) our dearest son in Christ, Napoleon, emperor of the

French,

"French, who has so well deserved of the catholic religion for what he has done, has signified to us his "strong desire to be anointed with "the holy unction, and to receive "the imperial crown from us, to the "end that the solemn rights which are to place him in the highest "rank, shall be strongly impressed "with the character of religion, "and call down more effectually "the benediction of heaven *."

The necessary limits of this work, even if the subject merited a minute description, prohibit us from entering into a detail of the long ceremony of the coronation. Suffice it to say, that, on the 19th Novem ber, Bonaparte, attended by a numerous military escort, and followed by an immense train of equipages, as brilliant as could be procured, filled with persons of the highest rank in the government, accompanied by the pope, proceeded through streets strewed with sand, and lined by a prodigious concourse of curious spectators, to the cathedral church of "Notre Dame," which edifice was decorated, for the occasion, both within and without, with all the sumptuousness which French ingenuity could devise. There his holiness performed a solemn service, anointed the emperor with the sacred unction, and placed the crown upon his majesty's head. To this ceremony, in the evening, succeeded plays, pantomimes, singing, music, dancing, fire-works, illuminations, fountains flowing with wine; in short, every thing that could amuse and divert a giddy, inconsiderate populace. Impartial persons, however, who were eye-witnesses of this exhibition, pretend that it was far

from exciting that degree of enthusiasm which so shining and costly a spectacle might be expected to produce on a people who, more than any other, delight in public shows: that none seemed to take a sincere interest in it, but those in power, or who were immediately benefited by the existing order of things; and that the lowest classes made merry, and danced, apparently from no other motive, than because they found themselves supplied, free of expence, with the means of indulging in their favourite recreations.

To put the seal to this transaction, and to stamp it with still greater weight, the conservative senate, in pursuance of a former resolution, presented themselves in a body, on the 1st December, at the palace of the Thuilleries, and their president, François de Neufchateau, addressed the emperor in a prolix and turgid. complimentary oration, in point of style and matter much resembling those pieces which we have already thought proper to cite, by way of specimen. To which his imperial majesty replied:

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* Vide State Papers, p. 636,

"providence and the will of the na❝tion have raised me, be dear in my eyes, it is because that throne

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can only defend and maintain the "most sacred interests of the French "people. Unsupported by a vi"gorous and paternal government, "France would have still to fear "those calamities by which she has "been afflicted. The weakness of

"diers of the army, sacrificing their "lives for the defence of their coun66 try-as magistrates, they will ne"ver forget, that contempt of the "laws, and the confusion of social "order, are only the result of the "imbecility and uncertainty of "princes. You, senators, whose "counsels and support have ne"ver failed me in the most diffi"cult circumstances, your spirit" the supreme power is the deepest "will be handed down to your suc❝cessors; be ever the props and "first counsellors of that throne so 66 necessary to the welfare of this "vast empire."

The tribunate having assisted at a similar solemnity, thus concluded this memorable event.

The session of the legislative body opened on the 26th December. On that occasion, the members were assembled in extraordinary state, to receive the emperor, who was scated on a throne erected for the purpose; and, in his presence, an oath, in the following terms, was administered to each of the legislators, separately:

I swear obedience to the constitu"tions of the empire, and fidelity to "the emperor."

The emperor then rose, the legis lators uncovered themselves, and his majesty addressed them as fol

lows:

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"misfortune of nations. As a sol"dier, or first consul, I entertained "but one thought-as emperor, I "am influenced by no other-and "that is, every thing which contri. "butes to the prosperity of France. "I have had the good fortune to "illustrate France with victories, "to consolidate her by treaties, to "rescue her from civil broils, and "to revive among her inhabitants "the influence of morals, of social "order, and of religion. Should "death not surprise me in the

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midst of my labours, I fondly hope I may transmit to posterity "a durable impression, that must "serve as an example or reproach "to my successors. The minister "of the interior will submit to you

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a statement of the situation of the << empire. The deputation from my "council of state will present to

66

you different objects that are to "occupy the legislature. I have

given instructions that there be "laid before you the accounts "which my ministers have given me "of their respective departments ; "I am fully satisfied with the pros

66

perous state of our finances; "whatever may be the expenditure, "it is covered by the revenue.— "How extensive soever have been "the preparations imposed upon us, by the exigencies of the war "in which we are engaged, I call

66

upon

This paper states that the internal situation of France is what it was in the calmest times-every where the improvements of public and private property attested the progress of confidence and security

upon my people for no new sa"crifice. It would have been highly 66 gratifying to me, on so solemn an "occasion, to see the blessings of << peace diffused over the world; "but the political principles of our "enemies, their recent conduct to--that all classes of the community, "wards Spain, but too strongly "speak the difficulties that oppose "it. I am not anxious to enlarge "the territory of France, but to "assert its integrity. I feel no am"bition to exert a wider stretch of "influence in Europe, but not to "descend from that which I have 66 acquired. No state shall be in"corporated with the empire: but I "shall not sacrifice my rights, or "the ties which bind me to the "states that I have created. In "bestowing the crown upon me, "the people entered into an engage"ment to exert every effort which "circumstances may require, in or"der to preserve, unsullied, that "splendour which is necessary for "their prosperity, and indispensi"ble for their glory, as well as for "mine. I am full of confidence in "the energy of the nation, and in "the sentiments it entertains for

me; its dearest interests are the "constant object of my solicitude. "Deputies from the departments "to the legislative body, tribunes, "and members of my council of state. "Your conduct, gentlemen, during "the preceding session, the zeal with which you glow for your 66 country, your attachment to my person, I hold as pledges of the "assistance for which I call upon you, and which, I trust, I shall "receive from you during the "course of the present session."

On the 31st, the annual report, on the state of the nation, was made to the legislative body.

both military and civil, had testified
their love of order, even during the
absence of their immediate chiefs,
(adverting to their attendance at the
coronation)—that the sovereign
pontiff had, from the banks of the
Fo, to those of the Seine, expe-
rienced a religious homage, the ef-
fect of attachment to the ancient
doctrines, on the part of a people
revering a sovereign raised to the
throne by his piety and virtues-that
the discovery of a plot, laid by an
implacable enemy, had awakened
the nation to her true interests, and
taught her the value of hereditary
power. After expatiating on the
flourishing state of the empire, both
at home and abroad, and constru
ing, agreeably to their wishes, the
dispositions of various other pow
ers, this representation concludes,
with observing, that, "whatever
"may be the movements of Eng-
"land, the destinies of France are
"fixed: strong in her union, strong
"in her riches, and in the courage
"of her defenders, she will faith-
"fully cultivate the alliance of her
"friends, and will not act so as either
"to deserve enemies, or to fear
"them. When England shall be
"convinced of the impotence of
"her efforts to agitate the conti
"nent-when she shall know that

she has only to lose by a war "without end or motives-when "she finds that France will never

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