-The 9th Title of the Senatus Consultum therefore supposes that the Empresses, if the Emperor should authorize it, have the right of being consecrated, crowned, and proclaimed, are capable, so to say, of exercising the Regency. In this august solemnity, Gentlemen, you will find intermixed the strength of remembrance, the grandeur of interests, the force of attention, the extent of hopes, even to the possibility of misfortune, and to providing against regrets. From this moment the double adoption of the nation by the sovereign, and of the sovereign by the nation, will be consecrated by whatever is most holy in religion, august in human power, and the most consoling Providence, and if possible to render this source of profound reflection and touching emotions still more fruitful. The last title of the Senatus Consultum promises the nation to see, as in other epochas of the monarchy, the hereditary Prince King of Rome, anointed and crowned under the auspices of his august Father, take beforehand the holy engagements which he is called to fulfil towards him and the state, and become thus more especially entitled to the love and devotion of the French.As I have said enough, Gentlemen, in this short exposé to make you appreciate, in all its extent, the importance of this Senatus Consultum, a fresh monument of the constant solicitude of the Emperor for the duration of his institutions, the security of his subjects, the glory of his dynasty.- -This is the manner, Gentlemen, in which it is proper to reply to mad projects-anarchial hopes-I almost said, to the murderous wishes of our enemies. The People and the Governments which they attempt to deceive, will acknowledge their error, in seeing on the one side, battalions, squadrons, already arrived, or ready to march wherever the safety or glory of the Empire calls them; and on the other, wise prudence guarding the future against improbable misfortunes, and still more strengthening a Government already secured by the affection of all, and defended by the interests of all.

made a long Report on the Projet of the Organic Senatus Consultum, (which will be given to-morrow, -The Senate unanimously voted the Projet.

SENATUS CONSULTUM. NAPOLEON, &C.-The Senate, after hay.. ing heard the Orators of the Council of State, has decreed, and we ordain, as, fol lows: i

Extract from the Registers of the Conserva tive Senate, Friday, Feb. 5. The Conservative Senate assembled to the number of Members prescribed by Art. 90 of the Act of the Constitution of the 13th Dec. 1799;- -Having seen the projet of the Organic Senatus Consultum drawn up in the form prescribed by Art. 57 of the Act of Constitution of the 4th of August, 1802;-After having heard on the mo tives of the said projet the Orators of the Council of State, and the Report of the Special Commission appointed in the Sitting of the 2d of this month. The adoption having been deliberated, to the number of voices prescribed by Art. 56 of the Act of the Constitution of the 4th August, 1802, decrees:

TITLE I.
Of the Regency.

Art. 1. The case occurring, in which the Emperor ascends the throne a minor, with out his Father having disposed of the Regency of the Empire, the Empress Mother unites of right to the guardianship of her Son the Regency of the Empire.—2. The Empress Regent cannot marry a second. time.-3. In case of the failure of the Empress, the Regency, if the Emperor has not otherwise disposed of it, appertains to the first Prince of the Blood, and in default of him, to one of the other French Princes, in the order of succession to the Crown.

-4. Should there not be any Prince of the Blood capable of exercising the Regency, it passes of right to the first of the Princes Grand Dignitaries of the Empire in function at the moment of the decease of the Emperor, to one in default of the other, in the following order, viz. The first, the Archchancellor of the Empire; the second, the Arch-chancellor of State; the third, the Grand Elector; the fourth, the Constable; the fifth, the Arch-treasurer; the sixth, the Grand Admiral.-5. A French Prince, seated on a foreign Royal throne, at the moment of the Emperor's decease, is incapable of exercising the Regency.6. The Emperor not appointing Vice Grand Dignitaries, except when the Titulars are

called to foreign thrones, the Vice Grand
Dignitaries exercise the rights of the Titu-
lar, whose places they supply, even in what
regards the entrance into the Council of
Regency.- 7. The Titular Princes of the
Grand Dignitaries of the Empire, who, ac-
cording to Article 51 of the Act of the Con-him the exercise of the Regency.
stitution of the 18th May, 1804, were de-
prived of the exercise of their functions at
the moment of the decease of the Emperor,
cannot resume their functions till they are
recalled by the Regent.-8. To be ca-
pable of exercising the Regency, a French
Prince must be of the age of 21 years com-
plete. All the Acts of the Regency are in
the name of the minor Emperor.

-The

the Constitution, retains the Regency till
the majority of the Emperor.
French Prince who is prevented by any
cause whatever from exercising the Regency
at the moment of the Emperor's decease,
cannot, that impediment ceasing, take on

TITLE IV.

I.-Of the Formation of the Council'
Of the Council of Regency.
of Regency.

Section

TITLE II.

Of the manner in which the Emperor disposes of the Regency.

19. The Council of the Regency is composed of the first Prince of the Blood, of the Princes of the Blood, uncles of the Emperor, of the Princes Grand Dignitaries of the Empire.-20. If there is no Prince, uncle to the Emperor, the nearest kinsman of the Emperor, in the order of succession, has entrance to the Council of Regency. 10. The Emperor disposes of the Re-21. The Emperor, either by letters or gency, either by an act of his will, accord-by will, adds to the Council of Regency ing to the forms established by the statute the names of such members as he judges of the 30th March, 1806, or by letters pa- proper. -22. None of the Members of the Council of Regency can be removed from his functions by the Empress Regent, gent, or the Regent, preside in the Council or the Regent.23. The Empress Reof Regency, or delegate, to preside in their place, one of the French Princes, or one of the Princes Grand Dignitaries.

tent.

TITLE III.

Of the extent of the power of the Regency,
and of its duration.
11. Until the majority of the Emperor,
the Empress Regent, or the Prince Regent,
will exercise for the minor Emperor all the
Imperial power.-12. Their functions
commence at the moment of the decease of
the Emperor.13. The Empress Regent
appoints to the Grand Dignities and great
Offices of the Empire, and of the Crown,
which are or become vacant during the Re-peror.-2,
gency.-

Sect. 2.-Of the Deliberations of the Coun-
cil of Regency.

24. The Council of Regency deliberates necessarily by the absolute majority of voices.-1. On the marriage of the Em

-14. The Empress Regent, or on the si On the declarations of war, and

of treaties of alliance;

Regent, may appoint or dismiss all the Mi-3. On every alienation or disposition to nisters without exception, and may raise form new dotations of immoveable property, citizens to the rank of Senators conformably composing the extraordinary domain of the to Art. 57 to the Act of the Constitution of Crown.-4. On the question whether the the 18th of May, 1804.15. If the mi- Regent nominates to one or more of the nor Emperor dies, leaving a brother heir Grand Dignitaries of the Empire, vacant, to the throne, the Regency of the Empress, during the minority?-25. The Council or of the Prince Regent, continues without of Regency shall exercise the functions of any new formality.-16. The Regency the Privy Council, as well in matters of

of the Empress ceases, if the order of inhe-grace and favour as in the drawing up Senatus Consultum.26. In case of disagreement, the voice of the Empress or of the Regent shall give the preponderance. If the Presidency is exercised by delega tion, the Empress Regent or the Regent shall decide, -27. On all other affairs referred to its examination, the Council of Regency shall have only a consultative voice.- 28. The Minister Secretary of State shall hold the pen at the sittings of the Council of Regency, and he shall draw up the proces verbal of its deliberations.

ritance calls to the throne a Prince who is not her son. It is provided, in this case, for the exercise of the Regency conformably to Art. 4.17. If the minor Emperor dies, leaving the Crown to a minor Emperor of another branch, the Prince Regent shall retain the exercise of the Regency till the majority of the new Emperor.-18. The French Prince, or the Prince Grand Dignitary, who exercises the Regency from defect of age, or other impediment, in the Prince called before him to the Regency, by

TITLE V..

shall take, within three months after the decease of the Emperor, the following oath, in the same manner, and before the persons appointed to receive the oath of the Empress:-I swear fidelity to the Emperor; I swear to conform myself to the Acts of the Constitution, and to observe the dispositions made by the Emperor concerning the exercise of the Regency, and faithfully to return to the Emperor, on his coming to age of majority, the power confided to me. I swear to maintain the integrity of the territory of the Empire; to respect, and cause to be respected, the equality of rights, the civil liberty, the irrevocability of the sale of National effects, not to raise any impost, nor establish any tax, but for the use of the State, and conformable with the fundamental laws of the Monarchy; to maintain the institution of the Legion of Honour, and to govern with a sole view to the interest, welfare, and glory of the French People.

-36. The Prince Arch-Chancellor, assisted by the Minister Secretary of State, shall form à proces verbal of this oath. The Act shall be signed by the Empress or the Regent, by the Princes, the Grand Dignitaries, the Ministers, and the great Officers of the Empire.

Of the Guard of the minor Emperor. 29. The Guard of the minor Emperor, the superintendence of his Household, and the care of his education, shall be confided to his Mother.―30. In default of a Mother, or of a Prince designated by the deceased Emperor, the care of the Emperor is confided by the Council of Regency to one of the Princes titulated the Grand Dignities of the Empire.-31. This choice shall be made by a scrutiny, and carried by an absolute majority of voices; in case of being equal, the Regent shall decide. TITLE VI.

២ | t

On the Oath to be taken by the Empress Re-
gent, and that of the Prince Regent, for
the exercise of the Regency.
Section I.-Of the Empress Regent's Oath.

32. If the Empress Regent has not taken
the oath during the Emperor's life-time,
for the exercise of the Regency, she shall
take it within three months next following
the Emperor's decease. 33. The oath
shall be taken by the minor Emperor,
seated on his throne, assisted by the Prince
Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, the French
Princes, the Council of Regency, the Cabi-
net Ministers, the great Officers of the Em-
pire and the Crown, the Ministers of State,
and the Grand Eagles of the Legion of Ho-
nour, in presence of the Senate and of the
Council of State.- -34. The oath to be
taken by the Empress is conceived in these
terms:-I swear fidelity to the Emperor;
I swear to conform myself to the Acts of
the Constitution, and to observe the dispo-
sitions made by the Emperor, my Consort,
for the exercise of the Regency, not to con-
sult in employing my authority, aught else
than my love and devotion for my Son and
for France, and faithfully to return to the
Emperor on his coming of
the powers
confided to me. I swear to maintain the
integrity of the territory of the Empire; to
respect, and cause to be respected, the
Laws of the Concordat, and the Liberty of
Religious Worship; to respect, and cause
to be respected, equality of Rights, Civil
Liberty; and the irrevocability of the Sales
of the National Effects; not to raise any
Imposts, nor establish any Tax, but for the

age

Section 2. Of the Private Domains. 39. When the decease of the Emperor shall take place, the Prince Arch Chancellor of the Empire, or in default of him, the first in rank of the Grand Dignitaries, shall cause seals to be put on the chests of treasure of the Private Domains, by the Se

use of the State, and according to the fun-cretary of State to the Imperial Family, in damental Laws of the Monarchy, to main- presence of the Grand Judges, of the Chantain the Institution of the Legion of Honour, cellor of the Senate, and the Intendant Geand to govern with the sole view of the in-neral of the Private Domains.-40. It terest, welfare, and glory of the French shall be proceeded with according to the People. orders of the Family Council, to take inventories of the funds and articles of moveables, by the Secretary of State to the Im→

Sec. 1. Of the Regent's Oath. 35. The Prince called to the Regency

TITLE VIII,

of the Administration of the Imperial Domains, and of the Disposition of the Revenue in case of a Minority and Regency.

Section 1.-Of the Crown Funds. 37. During the Regency, the administration of the Crown Funds shall continue according to the rules established. The use to which the revenues are to be employed is fixed in the usual forms, under the authority of the Empress Regent, or of the Regent. 38. The expense of their house-keeping, and their personal expenses, shall form part of the Crown Budget.

perial Family, assisted by the persons nominated in the preceding article. 41. The Council of the Family will attend to the execution of the dispositions of the Senatus Consultum of the 30th Jan. 1810, concerning the Partition of the Effects of the Private Domains. The funds belongSec. 3.-In cases not foreseen. ing to the Emperor, after this partition, 51. If in the absence of the Emperor, shall be thrown by the Treasurer of the major or minor, or in the absence of the Private Domains into the Imperial Trea- Regent, the Government being in the hands sury, under the care of the Family Coun- of the Council of Ministers, presided over cil, and placed in the most beneficial man- by a Grand Dignitary, there should be ner. 42. The produce of the same shall sented, for resolving any questions not debe successively added to the principal, and cided by the present Act, the said Council the whole remain in reserve until the Em-of Government, performing the functions of peror become of age. 43. Account a Privy Council, shall put in form the proshall be rendered of all these operations by jet of the Senatus Consultum, and cause to the Family Council to the Empress Re- be presented to the Senate by two of its gent, or Regent, who will give the defini- Members. tive authorization for placing them out. Sec. 3. Of the Extraordinary Domains.

pre

52. The Empress Mother of the Heredi

44. The Empress Regent, or the Prince Regent, shall dispose of, if they judge convenient, all the funds of 50,000 franks in-tary Prince, King of Rome, may be anointterest and upwards which have been made ed and crowned. -53. This prerogative before the minority, without having been shall be accorded to the Empress by letters disposed of, or caused to be returned to the patent, published in the customary forms, Extraordinary Domains of the Crown dur- and which shall be besides addressed to the ing the Regency.45. The other funds Senate, and entered in their registers.remain in reserve until the Emperor comes 54. The coronation shall take place in the of age. 46. The Administration of the Basilique of Notre Dame, or in any other Extraordinary Domains shall continue, ac- churcli desiguated in the letters patent. cording to the established rules, as is said TITLE X. before, concerning the Domains of the Crown. 47. The funds which may be found in the Treasury of the Extraordinary Domains, at the time of the Emperor's decease, shall be thrown into the Treasury of the State, and there remain till the Emperor comes of age.

the commencement of a minority, without its having been foreseen by the Emperor previous to his decease, the powers of the Ministers shall be prorogued till the Regent's arrival, as is before mentioned in Article 48.

TITLE VIII.

In case of the Emperor or Regent's Absence. Sec. 1.-In case of the Emperor's Absence. 48. If, at the moment of the Emperor's decease, his successor is out of the territory of the Empire, the powers of the Ministers shall be prorogued until that the Emperor is arrived in the territory of the Empire. The first in rank of the great Dignitaries shall preside in the Council which governs the State, under the form of a Council of Government. The deliberations there shall be taken by an absolute majority of votes ; the President having a casting vote in case of being equal.49. All the Acts shall be made in the Emperor's name, but he shall not commence exercising the Imperial power until he is within the territory of the Empire.

Sec. 4.-In case of the Regent's Absence. 50. In case of the Regent's Absence at

TITLE IX.

Of the Anointing and Coronation of the
Empress.

de

Of the Anointing and Coronation of the
Prince, Imperial King of Rome.
55. The Imperial Prince, King of Rome,
may in his quality as Heir to the Empire,
be anointed and crowned in the Emperor's
life-time. -56. This ceremony cannot
take place but by virtue of letters patent, in
the same form as those relative to the coro-
nation of the Empress.--57. After anoint-
ing and coronation of the Prince Imperial
King of Rome, the Senatus Consultum laws,
regulations, Imperial statutes, decrees, and
all other acts emitted by the Emperor, or
made in his name, shall bear, besides the
indication of the year of his reign, the year
of the coronation of the Prince Imperial
King of Rome.-58. The present organ-
ized Senatus Consultum shall be transmitted
by a Message to his Majesty the Emperor
and King.

The Presidents and Secretaries.
(Signed) CAMBACERES.
The Count de BEAUMONT.
Count de LAPPAUNT.

(Seen and Sealed) The Chancellor of the Senate.

(Signed)

Count LAPLACE.

279]

speech:

We do hereby command and ordain that the Emperor delivered the following these presents, furnished with the Seal of the State, inserted in the Bulletin of the Laws, shall be addressed to the Courts, Tribunals, and other Administrative Authorities, for the purpose of being inserted in their Registers, to be observed and caused to be observed by them; and our Grand Judge, Minister of Justice, is charged with superintending the publication of the same. Given at our Palace of the Thuilleries, the 5th Feb. 1813.

(Signed)

NAPOLEON.

By order of the Emperor,

The Minister Secretary of State,
(Signed)

Count DARU.
Seen by us, the Arch-Chancellor of the
Empire,
(Signed) GAMBAGERES.

"Gentlemen, Deputies from the Depart-
ments to the Legislative Body.
"The war again lighted in the North of
Europe offered a favourable opportunity to
the projects of the English upon the Penin-
sula. They have made great efforts. All
their hopes have been deceived. Their
army was wrecked before the citadel of
Burgos, and obliged, after having suffered
great losses, to evacuate the Spanish ter-
ritory. I myself entered Russia. The
French arms were constantly victorious, in
the fields of Ostrowno, Polotsk, Mohilow,
Smolensk, Moscow, Molairadslavitz. The
Russian armies could not stand before our
armies. Moscow fell into our power!·
Whilst the barriers of Russia were forced,
and the impotency of her arms acknow-
ledged, a swarm of Tartars turned their
parracidal hands against the finest pro-
vinces of that vast empire, which they had
-They in a few
been called to defend.-
weeks, notwithstanding the tears and de-
spair of the unfortunate Muscovites, burned.
more than four thousand of their finest vil-
lages-more than fifty of their finest towns;
thus gratifying their ancient hatred, under
the pretext of retarding our march, by
surrounding us with a desert. We tri-
umphed over all these obstacles! Even
the fire of Moscow, by which in four days:
they annihilated the fruits of the labours
and cares of four generations, changed in
no respect the prosperous state of my af-
fairs.But the excessive and premature
rigour of the winter brought down a heavy
calamity on my army; in a few nights I
saw every thing change! I experienced
great losses! They would have broken
my heart, if, under such circumstances, I
could have been accessible to any other
sentiments than those of the interest, the
glory, and the future prosperity of my
people.On seeing the evils which
pressed upon us, the joy of England was

C

Paris, February 14.~ To-day, Sunday the 14th of February, His Majesty the Emperor and King departed at one o'clock from the Palace of the Thuilleries, in grand state, to proceed to the Palace of the Legislative Body. Salvoes of artillery announced the departure of His Majesty from the Thuilleries, and his arrival at the Legislative Body.[Here follows the route the procession took.]The President of the Legislative Body and 25 deputies received His Majesty at the bottom of the staircase, and conducted him to the apartment prepared to receive him. -The Deputation from the Senate and Council of State having taken their places, and Her Majesty the Empress being seated on the throne, in front of the Emperor's throne, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen Hortense, and surrounded by the Officers of her Household, the Diplomatic Corps occupied a Tribune to the right. The Emperor, after having rested himself in his apartment, went to the hall of the Legislative Corps, preceded by his suite. On the entry of His Majesty all the Deputies arose. His Majesty seated himself

upon his throne, the Princes, Grand Dig-great-her hopes had no bounds; she of nitaries, &c. having taken their places ac- fered our finest provinces as the reward of cording to their rank. The Emperor treason-she made as the conditions of being seated, the Grand Master of the Ge- peace the dismemberment of this vast emremonies took His Majesty's orders for pire: it was, under other terms, to pro-The energy of opening the Sitting.The Prince Vice- claim perpetual war.Grand Elector, demanded His Majesty's my people under these great circumstances; permission to present to him the Members their attachment to the integrity of the emof the Legislative Corps lately elected, and pire; the love which they have shewn me, allow them to take the oath.- One of the have dissipated all these chimeras, and Officers called over the names, and the brought back our enemies to a more just oath was taken. This being finished, consideration of things.The misfer

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