they will complain on the one part, and not make any plain proposals on the other, it will be impossible to get forward. The en- voys from England and Russia, at Vienna, must be able to say, at the same time, make a defensive alliance with us, in case the consequences of the treaty cause a war with France see here the number of Russian troops which you may calculate upon; here you have the plan of the campaign; there, what we propose, if successful, and here the subsidies which England will give. If no overtures can be made sufficiently explicit and positive to obtain a clear answer, it cannot be hoped that Austria will be obliged to declare herself. Another year will elapse with proposals on the one part, and rejections on the other; so that resistance, always supposed fruitless, will at last become so indeed. Although we dare not press Russia to proceed immediately to active measures; yet if, contrary to our expectation, she should be inclined to proceed, you will take care not to oppose it, especially if Prussia should be inclined to take a part with her. All our friends are well. I am going to Bath for a fortnight, &c. me to assem Blockade of Cadiz.-Downing Street, April 25, 1805. The King has been pleased to cause it to be signified by the Right Hon. Lord Mulgrave, his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to the ministers of neutral powers, residing at this Court, that the necessary measures have been taken, by his Majesty's command, for the blockade of the Ports of Cadiz and St. Laicar; and that from this time all the measures authorised by the Laws of Nations, and the respective treaties between his Majesty and the different neutral powers, will be adopted and executed with respect to all vessels which may attempt to violate the said blockade.! addressed the Emperor in the following terms: es grib SIRE,You have ordered m ble together the consulta of state, and the deputation of the Italian republic, and to th vite them to take into consideration the b ject most important for their present and fu ture destinies, the form of their government I have the honour, Sire, to present to you, in the result of their labours, the wish they he formed. The first consideration that struck the minds of the assembly produced a consi tion, that it was impossible to preserve longer the present form without the peril of maining far behind the rapid course of events that characterises the epoch in which we hire. The constitution of Lyons had all the chara teristics of being provisional. It was but the effect of circumstances, a system constitu tionally too weak to answer the views of dorability and preservation. The urgent neces sity of changing it, is demonstrated to reflection as it is generally felt. In setting out from this point, every thing was simple. The system of a constitutional monarchy wa pointed out to us by the progress of enlight ened reason, and by the conclusive results of experience, and the Monarch was pointed out by all the sentiments of gratitude, love, and confidence. Sire, in a country that you have conquered, reconquered, created, organized, and governed hitherto, in a county where every thing recals your exploits, attests your genius, and breathes forth your bene fits, but one wish could be formed, and that wish has been expressed. The assembly hu not neglected to weigh with strict attendon the ulterior views to which your profound wisdom had directed. But though these views were universally important and per fectly concordant with our dearest interests, it was not difficult to convince ourselves that things were not yet sufficiently mature for the attainment of this last degree of political independence. It is consonant to the natu ral order of things, that the Italian republic should feel during some further time of the condition of all states newly formed. The smallest cloud that appears on the horizon inust necessarily create solicitude and excite alarm, and in this situation where could be found a better pledge of our tranquility Yesterday at one, his Majesty, being seat- happiness, a more solemn guarantee of the ed on his throne, surrounded by the grand consolidation and existence of our state dignitaries, the ministers, and great officers, Sire, you are still a condition of necessity to and the members of the council of state, the it. It belongs only to the counsels of your grand master of the ceremonies, introduced high wisdom to fix the term of it, to disarm M. Melzi, vice-president of the Italian Re- all foreign jealousy. It belongs only to the public, attended by M. Mareschalchi, ambasmost generous moderation to consent to find sador of that republic, and the representa- that time exactly in the monent of our da tives of its principal public bodies M. Melzigers. The assembly penetrated with FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS. NAPOLEON, KING OF ITALY.- -The following is an Account of the Proceedings relative to the Assumption of the Crown of Italy by Napoleon, Emperor of the French. PARIS, IS MARCH, 1805. due to the proofs of your kindness which have mark-glory, as long as the French troops occupy ed the preceding communications, has given the kingdom of Naples, as long as the Rusway to that full confidence which sian armies keep possession of Corfu, as the you; and its last wish, and its last prayer, British forces hold Malta, and the Peninsula demand of you constitutions in which the of Italy is threatened with becoming at every principles you have already proclaimed shall instant the field of battle of the greatest be consecrated, principles, which eternal rea-powers of Europe. 6 That the separation of the crowns of France and Italy will be incompatible with the surety of the state, only when these circumstances shall have ceased. son calls out for, and without which the fate of nations would be abandoned to the passions of men. Deign, Sire, to accept, deign to perfect the wish of the assembly. That the point most important for over which I have the honour to preside. The interpreter of all the sentiments which animate the hearts of the Italian citizens, it brings to you in this wish the most sincere homage. It will report to them with joy, that in accepting it you have doubled the force of the ties which bind you to the preservation, the defence, and the prosperity of the Italian nation. Yes, Sire, you wished that the Italian republic should exist, and it has existed. Wish that the Italian monarchy should be happy, and it will be so. M. Melzi then read the following instrument: The consulta of state, the vice president in the chair, and the deputies of the colleges, and the constituted bodies of the Italian republic, considering the situation of Europe, and that of their country, are unanimously of opinion; nations, for the nature and stability of the supreme power being regulated, the Emperor Napoleon be requested to repair to Milan to take the crown; and after hearing the consulta of state and the extraordinary deputations of the colleges to give to the kingdom a definitive constitution, which shall guarantee to the people its religion, the integrity of its territory, the equality of its rights, political and civil liberty, and the irrevocability of the sales of national property; to the law alone the power of imposing taxes; and to the natives the exclusive powers of being called to the employments of state; principles which the Emperor Napoleon has consecrated by the laws he has already given to Italy, the proclamation which was the first cry that resounded from the summit of the Alps, when he twice descended from them to conquer and free our country.-8.That finally Europe will remain persuaded, that all the parts of the kingdom of Italy are consolidated for ever, and that no one part can be separated from the rest without threatening the very principle on which the whole has been founded.-Paris, 15th March, 1805, year 4.-(Signed) MELZI, MANSCHALCHI, CAPRARA, &c. 1. That the moment is arrived for placing 5. That the Emperor Napoleon shall have the His Majesty replied in the following terms: From the moment of our first appearance in your country, we have entertained the desire of establishing the Italian nation free and independent; we have prosecuted this object in the midst of the uncertainty of events. In the first instance, we formed the inhabitants of the right bank of the Po into the Cispadane, and those of the left bank into the Transpadane republic. More fortunate circumstances have since enabled us to unite those states, and to form of them the Cisalpine republic. In the midst of the manifold objects which then engaged our attention, our people of Italy were affected by the interest which we felt in every thing that could secure their prosperity and happiness, and, when, a few years after, we learned on the banks of the Nile, that our work was overturned, we became sensible to the misfor tunes to which you were a prey. Thanks to [746 MAY, 18, 1905-Talleyrand's Report to the Emers " thorities, and numerous assemblages of in- price on the separation of M. de Mareschalchi, the minister of foreign affairs of the Italian republic, the mounted the tribune, and read the constitu tional statute in the following words: NAPOLEON, BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE CONSTITUTION, KANG, OF ITALY, TO ALL THOSE TO WHOM THESE SHALL COME GREETING."Extract from the re gister of the council of state, of March 17, 1805. THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATUE Having read the 60th article of the cont tution, respecting the constitutional initia tion, decrees: Napoleon, by the Grace of God and the Constitutions, Emperor of the French, and King of Italy, to all those whom these presents may concern, greeting CONSTITUTIONAL STATUTE, MARCH 17. The Consulta of State, in consideration of the unanimous opinion of the Consulta, and of the deputation assembled on the 15th, in consideration of the sixtieth article ofe |