Alexandria Daily Advertiser

SPEECH
Of the Emperor Napoleon, on opening the French Legislative Body.

"Gentlemen, the deputies from the Departments to the Legislative Body; Gentlemen, the Tribunes, and members of my Council of State. Since our last session, the greatest part of Europe has entered into a coalition with England. My armies have never ceased to conquer, except when I ordered them to combat no longer. I have avenged the rights of the feeble States, oppressed by the strong. My allies have increased in power and consequence. My enemies have been humbled and confounded: the house of Naples has irrecoverably lost its crown; the whole of the peninsula of Italy forms a part of the great empire." I, as supreme head, have guaranteed the sovereignty, and the constitutions that governed the different departments.

"Russia only owes the return of the wreck of her army to the advantages of the capitulation which I granted it. The conduct of the cabinet of Vienna will be such as will prevent posterity from reproaching me for any want of foresight, I have yielded an entire confidence to the protestations which have been made to me by its sovereign—Besides the high destinies of my crown do not depend upon the sentiments and dispositions of foreign courts. My people will always support my throne against the efforts of perfidy and jealousy; and no sacrifice will be painful to them to secure that first interest of the country."

"Bred in camps, and in camps that have been always triumphant, I ought to acknowledge, that, in the late event, my soldiers have exceeded my expectations. It is pleasant also for me to declare, that my people have also fulfilled the expectations of their duties. In the heart of Moravia, I never ceased, for an instant to experience the effects of their love and enthusiasm. Never have they given me any marks of their attachment, which have penetrated my heart with sweeter emotions."

"Frenchmen! I have not been deceived in my hopes. Your love more than the extent and the riches of your territory constitute my glory. Magistrates, clergy, citizens, all have shewn themselves worthy of the high destinies of that admirable France, which has for two years past, been the object of the leagues, and the jealousies of its neighbors."

"My minister of the interior will inform you of the events which have taken place in the course of the year. My council of state will lay before you plans of laws to incorporate the different branches of the administration. My ministers of finance, and of the public treasury, will lay before you the accounts which they have presented unto me. You will perceive by them the prosperous state of our finances. Since my return I have been incessantly occupied in giving to the administration, that spring and activity, which gave life to the extremities of this empire."

"My people will have no new burdens to bear, but new plans will be proposed to you respecting the system of the finances, the basis of which were established last year. I intend to diminish the immediate impositions which bear upon the territory alone, and to replace a part of these charges by indirect duties."

"Through the elements we have lost some ships after an engagement imprudently undertaken. I cannot praise too much the greatness of soul and the attachments which the king of Spain has shewn in these circumstances for the common cause. I wish for peace with England. On my part it shall never be retarded for a moment. I shall always be ready to conclude it, in adopting, for its basis, the stipulations of the treaty of Amiens."

"; 7
"Gentlemen, Deputies to the Legislative Body, the attachment you have shewn to me, the manner in which you have seconded me in your late sittings, leave me no doubt of your assistance. Nothing shall be proposed to you, but that which is necessary to guarantee the glory and safety of my people."