Kentucky Gazette

FROM FRANCE.

Paris, October 7.

This day, the 7th of October, the King opened the chamber of deputies. His Majesty set out at half past twelve from the castle of the Thuilleries. His retinue marched in the order that had been prescribed.

At his majesty's entrance, the whole assembly arose, crying Vive le Roi! The assembly was standing and uncovered; the King ordered the peers to be seated, and the chancellor having given, in his majesty's name, permission to the deputies to seat themselves—a profound silence reigned—when his majesty pronounced the following discourse:

Gentlemen—When, last year, I assembled the two houses for the first time, I felicitated myself upon having by an honorable treaty, restored peace to France: she began to taste the fruits of it; all the resources of public prosperity were re-opened—a criminal enterprise, seconded by the most inconceivable defection, came to stop its course. The evils which that ephemeral usurpation have caused to our country, afflict me deeply. I ought, however to declare in this place, that if it had been possible for them to have affected me only, I should bless Providence for them.

The tokens of love that my people gave me, even in the most critical moments, alleviated my individual sufferings; but those of my subjects, of my children, oppress my heart—and in order to put an end to that state of things, more grievous than war itself, I have deemed it my duty to conclude with the powers, who after having overthrown the usurper, at present occupy a great part of our territory, a convention which settles our present and future relations with them. It shall be communicated to you without reserve, as soon as it shall have received its last form. You will know, Gentlemen, and all France will know, the great pain that I must have felt; but the very safety of my kingdom rendered that great determination necessary; and when I took that determination, I felt the duties that it imposed upon me.

I have ordered that this year a considerable portion of my revenue be taken from the treasury of my civil list, and paid into that of the state. My family on being informed of my resolution, offered me a proportionate donation. I order similar retrenchments from the salaries and emoluments of all my servants without exception; I shall always be ready to unite in the sacrifices which imperious circumstances impose on my people. The account of expenses will be delivered to you, and you will know the importance of the economy that I have directed in the departments of my ministers & in all parts of the administration. Happy will it be if those measures can be adequate to the burthens of the state! In every event I rely on the devotion of the nation, and the zeal of the two chambers.

But, gentlemen, other cares more pleasing and not less important, assemble you this day. It is to give more weight to your deliberations, it is in order myself to have the assistance of additional talents, that I have created new peers, and that the number of the deputies of departments has been augmented. I hope that I have succeeded in my choice and the assiduity of the deputies in this difficult conjuncture, is also a proof that they are animated with a true affection for my person and an ardent love for the country.

It is, therefore, with pleasing joy and a perfect confidence that I assemble you about me. Certain that you will never lose sight of the fundamental basis of the felicity of the state, the frank and loyal union of the chambers with the king, and respect for the constitutional charter: that charter which I meditated with care before giving it, to which reflection attaches me every day more and more, which I have sworn to maintain, and which you are all, beginning with my family, about to swear to obey, is, without doubt, like all other human institutions, susceptible of improvement; but none of us ought, to forget, that the danger of innovating, is not far removed from the advantage of meliorating it. Many other important objects offer themselves to your attention; to make religion again flourish, to restore the purity of morals, to establish liberty upon respect to the laws, to render the laws more and more analogous to those great objects, to give stability to public credit, to recompense the army, to heal the wounds that have too much rent the bosom of our country, to secure in short internal tranquility, and thereby to cause France to be respected from without; those are the objects to attain which all our efforts should be directed. I do not flatter myself that so much good can be the work of a single session; but if at the close of the present legislature, it is perceived that we have made approaches to it we will have reason to be satisfied with ourselves; I shall spare nothing to attain the end; and I rely, gentlemen, upon the most active co-operation on your part.