Elizabeth Town Gazette

DECLARATION OF THE ALLIED SOVEREIGNS.

"Now that the pacification of Europe is accomplished, by the resolution of withdrawing the foreign troops from the French territory; and now that there is an end of those measures of precaution which deplorable events had rendered necessary, the ministers and plenipotentiaries of their Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the King of France, the King of Great-Britain, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of all the Russias, having received orders from their Sovereigns, to make known to all the courts of Europe, the results of their meeting at Aix-la-Chapelle, and with that view to publish the following declaration: The convention of the 9th of October, which definitely regulated the execution of the engagements agreed to in the treaty of peace of November 20, 1815, is considered by the Sovereigns who concurred therein, as the accomplishment of the work of peace, and as the completion of the political system destined to ensure its solidity. The intimate union established among the Monarchs who are joint parties to this system, by their own principles, no less than by the interests of their people, offers to Europe the most sacred pledge of its future tranquility. The object of this union is as simple as it is great and salutary. It does not tend to any new political combination—to any change in the relations sanctioned by existing treaties. Calm and consistent in its proceedings, it has no other object than the maintenance of peace, and the security of those transactions on which the peace was founded and consolidated. The Sovereigns in forming this august union, have regarded as its fundamental basis, their invariable resolution never to depart, either among themselves, or in their relations with other States, from the strictest observation of the principles of the right of nations; principles, which in their application to a state of permanent peace, can alone effectually guarantee the independence of each government and the stability of the general association. Faithful to these principles, the Sovereigns will maintain them equally in those meetings at which they may be personally present, or in those which shall take place among their ministers; whether it shall be their object to discuss in common their own interests, or whether they shall take cognizance of questions in which their governments shall formally claim their interference. The same spirit which will direct their councils, and reign in their diplomatic communications, shall preside also at these meetings; and the repose of the world shall be constantly their motive and their end. It is with such sentiments that the Sovereigns have consummated the work to which they were called. They will not cease to labor for its confirmation and perfection. They solemnly acknowledge that their duties towards God and the people whom they govern, make it peremptory on them to give to the world, as far as in their power, an example of justice, of concord, of moderation; happy in the power of consecrating from henceforth, all their efforts to the protection of the arts of peace, to the increase of the internal prosperity of their states and to the awakening of those sentiments of religion and morality, whose empire has been but too much enfeebled by the misfortunes of the times.

"Aix-la-Chapelle, Nov. 15, 1818.
Signed,
Metternich,
Hardenberg
Richelieu,
Bernstorff,
Castlereagh,
Nesselrode,
Wellington,
Capo d'Istria."