this result, that my minister of finances will direct your attention.

"It is possible that the first duty of a Prince may soon call me to the head of the sons of the nation, to fight for the country. The army and myself will do our duty.

"You, Peers and Representatives, give to the nation an example of confidence, energy, and patriotism, and like the Senate of the great people of antiquity, swear to die rather than survive the dishonour and degradation of France. The sacred cause of the country shall triumph."

In the sitting of the Chamber of Representatives on June 8, M. Lepelletier proposed, "That as the title of Louis le Desire" was given to Louis XVIIIth. the title of "Sauveur du Patrie"- Saviour of the Country, should be given to Napoleon, but this proposition was rejected. On June 11, the Arch-Chancellor presented the following address to Napoleon :

"SIRE,

"Your anxiety to submit to constitutional forms and rules, the absolute power with which circumstances and the confidence of the people had invested you; the new guarantees given to the rights of the nation, the devotedness which leads you into the midst of the dangers the army is about to brave, penetrate all hearts with profound gratitude. The Peers of France come to offer your Majesty the homage of this sentiment.

"You, have manifested principles, Sire, which are those of the nation: they must also be ours. Yes, all the power springs from the people, is instituted for the people; the constitutional monarchy is necessary to the French, as the guarantee of its liberty and indepen

dence.

"Sire, while you shall be on the frontiers, at the head of the sons of the country; the Chamber of Peers will zealously concur in every legislative measure which circumstances require, to compel Foreigners to acknowledge the national independence, and to cause the principles, consecrated by the will of the people, to triumph in the interior.

"The interest of France is inseparable from yours,

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should fortune not grant success to your efforts; reverses, Sire, shall not weaken our perseverance, and shall redouble our attachment to you.

"If events correspond to the justice of our cause, and to the hopes we are accustomed to conceive of your genius, and the bravery of our armies, France desires no other fruit of them but peace. Our institutions guarantee to Europe, that the French nation cannot be misled by the seductions of victory."

To this address Bonaparte replied as follows:

"M. President, and Gentlemen Deputies of the Chamber of Peers. The contest in which we are engaged is serious. The seduction of property is not the danger which threatens us now.

"The justice of our cause, the public spirit of the nation, and the courage of the army, are powerful reasons for hoping for success; but should we have reverses, then especially I shall delight to see called forth the energy of the people: then shall I find in the Chamber of Peers proofs of attachment to the country and to me. "It is in difficult times, that great nations, like great men, develop all the energy of their character, and become objects of admiration to posterity.

"I thank you, Gentlemen, for the sentiments you have expressed to me in the name of the Chamber."

The Chamber of Representatives, preceded by M. Lanjuinais, presented the following address:

"SIRE,

"The Chamber of Representatives received with profound emotion the words which proceeded from the throne, at the solemn sitting, when your Majesty, laying down the extraordinary power which you experienced, proclaimed the commencement of the constitutional monarchy.

"The chief basis of that monarchy, the protectress of liberty, equality, and the happiness of the people, have been recognized by your Majesty; who, rising above all scruples, as anticipating all wishes, have declared, that the case of collecting our scattered constitutions, and of arranging them, was one of the most important occupations reserved for the legislature. Faithful to its mission,

the Chamber of Deputies will perform the task thus devolved upon it; it requests that to satisfy the public wish as well as the wishes of your Majesty, national deliberation should rectify as speedily as possible, any thing defective or imperfect, that the urgency of our situation, may have produced, or left to exist, in our constitutions, considered as a whole.

"But at the same time, Sire, the Chamber of Representatives will not shew itself less anxious to proclaim its sentiments and its principles, as to the terrible contest which threatens to cover Europe with blood. In the train of diasterous evenis, France invaded, appeared for a moment listened to, as to the establishment of a Constitution, only to see herself almost immediately subjected to a Royal Charter, emanating from absolute power, to an ordinance of reform always revocable in its nature, and which not having the expressed assent of the people, could never be considered as obligatory on the nation.

"Resuming now the exercise of her rights, rallying around the hero whom her confidence anew invests with the government of the State, France is astonished and afflicted at seeing some Sovereigns in arms to call her to account for an internal change, which is the result of the national will, and which attacks neither the relations existing with other governments, nor their security. France cannot admit the distinctions with the aid of which the coalesced powers endeavour to cloak their aggression, To attack the monarch of its choice, is to attain the independence of the nation. It is armed as one man, to defend that independence, and to repel without exception, every family and every prince, whom men shall dare to wish to impose upon them. No ambitious project enters the thoughts of the French people; the will even of a victorious prince, would be insufficient to draw on the nation beyond the limits of its own defence; but to guard its territory, to maintain its liberty, its honour, its dignity, it is ready for any sacrifice. Why are we not still permitted to hope, Sire, that those warlike preparations, formed perhaps by the irritation of pride, and by illusions which every day mnst weaken, may still disperse, and peace so necessary to all the nations of Europe, restore to your Majesty a spouse, to the French the heir of a throne. But blood has already flowed, the signal of combat against the independence and liberty

of France has been given in the name of a people who carry to the highest pitch the enthusiasm of liberty and independence. Doubtless among the communications which your Majesty promises us, the Chambers will find proofs of the efforts you have made to maintain the peace of the world. If all these efforts must remain useless, may the calamities of war fall upon those who shall have provoked them.

"The Chamber of Representatives only wait for the documents announced to it, in order to contribute with all its power to the measures which the success of so legitimate a war will require. It delays pronouncing its resolves only till it knows the wants and resources of the State; and while your Majesty opposing to the most unjust aggression, the valour of the national armies, and the force of your genius will seek in victory only one means of attaining a durable peace; the Chamber of Representatives will deem that it marches towards the same object, by incessantly labouring on the compact of which, the improvement must cement the union of the people and the throne, and strengthen in the eyes of Europe, by the amelioration of our institutions, the guarantee of our engagements."

Bonaparte made the following reply.

"Mr. President, and Gentlemen Deputies of the Chamber of Representatives:

"I recognize with satisfaction my own sentiments in those which you express to me. In these weighty circumstances, thoughts are absorbed by the imminent war, to the success of which are attached the independence and honour of France.

"I will depart this night to place myself at the head of my armies; the movements of the different hostile corps render my presence there indispensable. During my absence, I shall see with pleasure a commission appointed by each Chamber, in deliberating on our Con

stitution.

"The Constitution is our rallying point; it must be our pole star in these stormy moments. All public discussion tending to diminish, directly or indirectly, the confidence which should be placed in its enactments, will be a misfortune to the State: we should then find

ourselves at sea, without a compass, and without a rudder. The crisis in which we are placed is great. Let us not imitate the conduct of the lower Empire, which, pressed on all sides by barbarians, made itself the laughing-stock of posterity; by occupying itself with abstract discussions, at the moment when the battering-ram was shaking the gates of the city.

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Independently of the legislative measures required by the circumstances of the interior, you will probably deem it necessary to employ yourselves on organic laws, destined to put the Constitution in motion. They may be the object of your public labours without any inconvenience.

"The sentiments expressed in your address sufficiently demonstrate to me the attachment of the Chamber to my person, and all the patriotism with which it is animated. In all affairs my march shall be straight forward and firm. Assist me to save my country. First representative of the people, I have contracted the engagements, which I renew, of employing in more tranquil times, all the prerogatives of the crown, and the little experience I have acquired in seconding you in the amelioration of our Constitution."

In the sitting of the Chamber of Representatives on June 15, M. Malleville gave a projet of certain restrictions on the press, but which was not adopted.

Bonaparte set off from the Palace of the Thuilleries on June 13. On the 16th, he put his army in motion, and attacked the position of the English army between Nivelle and Genappe. Napoleon collected the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th corps of the French army and Imperial guard, and nearly all the cavalry on the Sambre, and between that River and the Memse; and on June 15, he attacked the Prussian posts at Thuin, and Lobez on the Sambre, at break of day. His Grace the Duke of Wellington being apprized of this circumstance, ordered the allied troops to prepare to march. The enemy drove the Prussian posts from the Sambre on that day: and General Luten, who had been driven from Charleroi, retired upon Fleurus, and Marshal Prince Blucher concentrated the Prussian army upon the Sambre, holding the villages in front of his position of St. Amand and Ligny.

The enemy continued his march along the road from