III. Her dowry is fixed at an annual income of two millions of francs, on the revenue of the state. IV. All the assignments which may be made by the emperor, in favour of the Empress Josephine, on the funds of the Civil List, shall be obligatory on his successors.

V. The present Senatus Consultum shall be transmitted by a mes sage to his Imperial and Royal Majesty.

The two Addresses proposed by the Commission were afterwards put to the vote, and adopted.

- CONSERVATIVE SENATE.

Sitting of the 16th Dec. 1809.

At eleven o'clock in the morning, the members of the Senate assembled in full dress, in their palace, in virtue of the Act of Convocation:

His Serene Highness the Prince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire was received with the usual honours. His Majesty the King of Westphalia, his Majesty the King of Naples Grand Admiral, his Imperial Highness the Prince Viceroy of Italy, Arch-Chancellor of State, and their Serene Highnesses the Prince ViceConstable, and the Prince ViceGrand Elector, were present. The sitting was opened by reading the Act of Designation.

The Prince Arch-Chancellor of State had the parole to take the oath of Senator. His Imperial High ness, previous to that ceremony, expressed himself as follows:

"Prince, Senators-From the fime when the goodness of his majesty the emperor has called me to it among you, testimonies of his VOL. LI.

confidence have kept me continual ly distant from Paris, and I have, this day, for the first time, the pleasure to appear in the midst of you. I am happy in being able to say, that among the benefits which his majesty has incessantly showered upon me, I have been particularly sensible to the honour which was granted me, of forming a part of the first public body in the empire. Accept, Senators, this expression of my feelings, and my assurance of the happiness I experience in pronouncing, in the midst of you, this oath, which is to me that of duty, of love, and of gratitude. I swear obedience to the constitutions of the empire, and fidelity to the emperor."

The Prince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, President, replied as follows to the speech of the Prince Viceroy:

"Prince--When his majesty the emperor and king conferred on you the high dignity, whereof you have just exercised one of the most essential prerogatives, the Senate applauded this act of justice. They congratulated themselves on counting among their members a prince, whose brilliant qualities excited such just hopes. Now that these hopes are realised by the glory of your last campaigns, and by the wisdom of your administration, the Senate experiences great satisfaction in seeing you in its bosom, to concur in the important deliberation it is about to enter upon. You shew yourself truly the adoptive son of the hero who governs us; in like him silencing private affection, be fore the interests of nations. Your first steps within these walls could not be more worthily signalized, than by this great testimony of pa triotism, of devotion, and of fideli3 G

ty.

ty. I rejoice in being the organ of the sentiments of the Senate towards your Imperial Highness, and in expressing to you their wishes for your prosperity.

The Orators of the Council of State, Counts Regnault (de St. Jean d'Angely), and Defermont, Ministers of State, Members of the Council of State, being introduced, the Prince Arch-Chancellor, President, spoke as follows:

"Gentlemen--The Projet, which will, in this sitting, be submitted to the deliberation of the Senate, contains an arrangement which embraces our dearest interests. It is dictated by that imperious voice, which apprises Sovereigns and nations, that, to secure the safety of States, we must listen to the counsels of a wise foresight, incessantly recal to mind the past, examine the present, and extend our views to the future. It is under such high considerations, that in these ever memorable circumstances, his majesty the emperor has caused all personal considerations to disappear, and silenced all his private affections. The noble and affecting conduct of her majesty the empress is a glorious testimony of her disinterested affection for the emperor, and secures to her an eternal right to the gratitude of the na

we address to the Senate of Fran but would be far below the affe ing sounds received frota the mot of these two august corsorts, whom your deliberations will ce secrate the generous resolution Their hearts have coincided in ing the noblest sacrifices to greatest of interests. They ba coincided to make policy and sent ment speak language the most fru the most persuasive, the most ad ed to move and to convince. A sovereigns and as consorts, the en peror and empress have done all have said all. There only remain for us to love, to bless, and to ad mire them.

""Tis henceforth for the French nation to make themselves heard. Their memory is faithful as their heart. They will unite in the grateful thoughts the hope of the future with the remembrance of the past; and never will monarch have received more respect, admira tion, gratitude, and love, than Na poleon, immolating the most sacred of his affections to the wants of his subjects; than Josephine immolat ing her tenderness for the best of husbands, through devotion for the best of kings, through attachment to the best of nations. Accept, gen tlemen, in the name of all France, in the sight of astonished Europe, this sacrifice, the greatest ever made on earth, and, full of the profound emotion which you feel, hasten to carry to the foot of the throne, in the tribute of your sentiments, of the sentiments of all Frenchmen, the only price that can be worthy of the fortitude of our sovereigns, the only consolation that can be worthy of their hearts." The Prince Viceroy (the son of Josephine) spoke as follows:

" Prince,

"Prince Senators-You have beard the Projet of the Senatus Consultum submitted to your deliberation. I feel it my duty, under these circumstances, to manifest the sentiments by which my family are animated.

"My mother, my sister, and myself, owe all to the emperor. He las truly been to us a father. He will find in us at all times devoted children and obedient subjects.

"It is important to the happiness of France, that the founder of the fourth dynasty should, in his old age, be surrounded by direct descendants, who may prove a securit to all, and a pledge of the glory of our country.

"When my mother was crowned, before the whole nation, by the hands of her august consort, she

contracted an obligation to sacrifice all her affections to the interests of France. She has fulfilled, with fortitude, nobleness, and dignity, this first of duties. Her soul has often' been moved at beholding exposed to painful struggles, the heart of a man accustomed to conquer fortune, and advance with a firm step to the accomplishment of his great designs. The tears which this resolution has cost the emperor, suffice for the honour (a la gloire) of my mother.

"In the situation she will now fill, she will be no stranger, by her wishes and her feelings, to the new prosperities which await us: with a satisfaction mingled with pride, she will behold the happiness her sacrifices will produce to her country and to her emperor."