STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN JANUARY. Containing official Papers and authentic Documents. IN the year 1809, and on the 15th day of December, at nine o'clock in the evening, We, Jean Jaques Regis Cambaceres, Prince Arch-chancellor of the empire, Duke of Parma, exercising the functions prescribed to us by title the 2nd of the 14th article of the statute of the Imperial family, and in conse quence of orders addressed to us by his Majesty the Emperor and King, in his private letter, dated that day, of the following tenor: Paris, December 15, 1809. "My Cousin-Our desire is, that you repair this day, at nine o'clock in the evening, to our grand cabinet of the palace of the Thuilleries, attended by the Civil Secretary of State of our Imperial family, to receive from us and from the Empress, our dear consort, a communication of great importance. For this purpose, we have ordered this present private letter should be sent to you. We pray God to have you, my cousin, in his holy and blessed keeping." On the back is written: To our Cousin the Prince Arch-Chancellor, Duke of Parma.' We accordingly proceeded to the hall of the throne of the palace of the Thuilleries, attended by Michel Louis Etienne Regnault (de St. Jean d'Angely), Count of the empire, Minister of State, and Secretary of State to the Imperial family. A quarter of an hour afterwards, we were introduced to the grand cabinet of the Emperor; where we found his Majesty the Emperor and King, with her Majesty the Empress, attended by their Majesties the Kings of Holland, Westphalia, and Naples, his Imperial Highness the Prince Viceroy, the Queens of Holland, Westphalia, Naples, and Spain, Madame, and her Imperial Highness the Princess Paulina. His Majesty the Emperor and King condescended to address us in these terms: "My Cousin, Prince Arch-Chancellor I dispatched to you a private letter, dated this day, to direct you to repair to my cabinet, for the purpose of communicating to you the resolution which I and the Empress, my dearest consort, have taken. It gives me pleasure that the kings, queens, and princesses, my brothers and sisters, my brothers and sisters-in law, my daughter-in-law, and my son-in law become my adopted son, as well as my mother, should witness what I am going to communicate to you. "The policy of my monarchy, the interest and the wants of my people, which have constantly guided all my actions, require, that after me, I should leave to children, inheritors of my love for my people, that throne on which Providence has placed me; notwith ទ standing, for several years past, I have lost the hope of having children by my marriage with my well-beloved consort, the Empress Josephine. This it is which induces me to sacrifice the sweetest affections of my heart, to attend to nothing but the good of the state, and to wish the dissolution of my marriage. Arrived at the age of forty years, I may indulge the hope of living long enough to educate in my views and sentiments the children which it may please Providence to give me. God knows how much such a resolution has cost my heart; but there is no sacrifice beyond my courage, when it is proved to me to be necessary for the welfare of France. I should add, that far from having reason to complain, on the contrary, I have had reason only to be satished with the attachment and the affection of my well-beloved consort: she has adorned fifteen years of my life, the remembrance of which will ever remain engraven on my heart: she was crowned by my hand. I wish she should oreserve the rank and title of Empress, but above all, that she should never doubt my sentiments, and that she should ever regard me as her best and dearest friend." His Majesty the Emperor and King having ended, her Majesty the Empress and Queen spoke as follows: "By the permission of our dear and august consort, I ought to declare, that not preserving any hope of having children, which may fulfil the wants of his policy and the interest of France, I am pleased to give him the greatest proof of attachment and devotion, which has ever been given on earth. I possess all from his bounty: it was his hand which crowned me; and, from the height of the throne, I have received nothing but proofs of affection and love from the French peuple. I think I prove myself grateful, in consenting to the dissolution of a marriage, which heretofore was an obstacle to the welfare of France; which deprived it of the happiness of being one day governed by the descendants of a great man, evidently raised up by Providence, to efface the evils of a terrible revolution, and to re-establish the altar, the throne, and social order. But the dissolution of my marriage will in no degree change the sentiments of my heart The Emperor will ever have in me his best friend. I know how much this act, demanded by policy and by interests so great, has chilled his heart; but both of us exult in the sacrifice which we make for the good of the country." After which, their Imperial Majesties having demanded an act of their respective declarations, as well as of the mutual consent contained in them, and which their Majesties gave to the dissolution of their marriage, as also also of the power which their Majesties conferred on us, to follow up, as need shall require, the effect of their will-We, Prince Arch-Chancellor of the empire, in obedience to the orders and requisitions of their Majesties, have given the aforesaid acts, and have in consequence executed the present proces verbal, to serve and avail according to Jaw; to which proces verbal their Majesties have affixed their signatures, and which, after having been signed by the kings, queens, princes, and princesses, present, has been signed by us, and countersigned by the Secretary of State of the Imperial family, who wrote it with his own hand. Done at the palace of the Thuilleries, the day, hour, and the year aforesaid. (Signed, &c.) Having seen the projet of the Senatus Consultum, drawn up in the form prescribed by the 57th article of the Act of the Constitution, of the 4th of August, 1802-After having heard the motives of the said projet, the orators of the council of state, and the report of the special committee appointed on the sitting of this day-the adoption having been discussed by the number of members prescribed by the 56th article of the Act of the Constitution, of the 4th of August, 1802, the Senate decrees that: I. The marriage contracted between the Eniperor Napoleon and the Empress Josephine, is dissolved; II. The Empress Josephine shall preserve the title and rank of Empress Queen crowned; Ill. 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 message to his Imperial and Royal Majesty. At the sitting of the Legislative Body, December 12, Count Montalvet delivered in the Emperor's name, an exposé of the situation of France, up to the 1st of that month, After having introduced his important narra tive, by observing the signal victories, generous pacification, the results of the most profound political combinations, and the maintenance of order in the interior, form the prominent features of the history of the year which has just elapsed-he enumerated, under the different heads of public labours, in particular in Paris, charitable establishments, public institutions, sciences, letters and arts, agriculture, manufactures and industry, mines, commerce and trade, finances, religious worship, war and politics-the progress made,advantages obtained,and changes effected, in the course of the said year. Under the head of commerce and trade, he expressed himself in the following manner: Commerce in general applies itself to draw the greatest possible advantage from the pro ducts of agriculture and industry. Our trade undoubtedly suffers from the present extraordinary state of affairs, which form, as it were, two masters-one of the European continent; the other of the seas, and of countries from which these leave no communication with France. Our relations with the United States. of America are also for the present suspended but, as they are founded on mutual wants, they will speedily resume their former course." Under the head of religious worship, after having declared, that "in France ali religi ons are not only tolerated, but honoured and encouraged," he makes the following obser vations: "No well-informed person is ignorant of the mischief which the temporal sovereignity of the Popes has done to religion. But for this mischief, one moiety of Europs would not be severed from the Catholic church. There was but one way to free it for ever from such great dangers, and to reconcile the interests of the state with those of religion: it was necessary the succesor of St. Peter should again besome, undisturbed by worldly concerns, merely a pastor, like St. Peter." Under the article of war, a description is given of the advantages obtained in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Spain; which is terminated by the following remarks :" "By the peace of Vienna, France andher allies, have obtained considerable advantages; and the Continent of Europe has regained tranquillity and peace. Let us hope that this peace will be more permanent than that of Presburg; and that the men who deluded the cabinet of Vienna, after the peace of Presburg, will not succeed in deceiving it again, after that of Vienna. They would pronounce the doom of their master; for France, ever great, powerful, and strong, will always know how to destroy and counteract the combinations and intrigues of her enemies. In the mean time, England, s-eing that our armies were employed in Germany, and being always ill-informed, notwithstan ding the immense treasures she wastes in paying spies, fancied that our veteran troops had left Spain, and the weakened French army would not be able to withstand their efforts. Forty thousand men were disembarked in Portugal, where they joined the insurgents, and flattered themselves they should be able to march to Madrid. They gathered nothing but disgrace from their enterprise. They were met by armies in all places, where they fancied to find only divisions. Forty thousand men landed at the same time in Walcheren, and without having commenced the siege, by means of a short bombardment, they rendered themselves in a fortnight masters of Flushing, which was cowardly defended. His Majesty ordered a report to be made to him on the subject The Emperor gene rously rewards those, who, animated with his sentiments, and sensible of what they ewe to the honour of France, are faithful to gtory and their country; but he severely punishes those who calculate the danger when victory alone should occupy their mind, and prefer a disgraceful flight to a glorious death. In the mean time, all the depart ments were in arms: 150,000 men of the national guard put themselves in motion, while at the same time 25,000 troops drawn from the depôts assembled in Flanders, and the gens d'armes, formed a corps of 8000 choice cavalry. The English commander in chief, as a wise and prudent man, would not expose his army to dangers more destructive than the plague: he returned to England. All the departments gave striking.provis of their attachment to the Government and. Emperor; some districts only in the departmentor the Sarthe showed a contrary disposi tion. Commissioners have been appointed He commands to inquire into their conduct. that private individuals, who have misconducted themselves, shall be deprived, during the space of twenty-five years, of the rights of citizens, and subjected to a double.comtribution. Over their doors shall be written the words: "This is not a. French citizen.?" .. Under the head of general policy, the changes are enumerated which were the re ult of the peace of Vienna; and the EmpeTor's views are developed with regard to future important arrangements. "It would have been an easy task for the Emperor to. unite all Gallicia with the duchy of Warsaw; but he would not do any thing which should excite the least uneasiness in the mind of his ally, the Emperor of Russia. His Majesty never entertained the idea of restoring the What he has done for kingdom of Poland. New Gallicia was prescribed to him by sound policy and honour: he could not surrender to the vengeance of an implacable prince, people who had displayed such fervent zeal for the cause of France." He then proceeds: The Hanse towns shall preserve their independence; they shall serve as a medium of the reprisal of war with regard to England. Peace shall immediately be concluded with Sweden. Nothing shall be changed in the political relations of the Confederation of the Rhine and the Helvetic Confederacy.-Holland is, in fact, only a part of France. A de finition of that country may be given, by saying that it is a continuation of the Rhine, the Meuse, and the Scheldt-that is to say, of the great arteries of the French empire. The absolute inactivity of her custom-house, the disposition of her agents, and the sentiments of its inhabitants, which tend incessantly to a fraudulent trade with England, has rendered it necessary to exclude them from all commercial intercourse with the Rhine; and thus, placed in a state of morbid compression between France and England, Holland is deprived both, of the advantages which clash with our general system, and which she must relinquish, and of those which she might enjoy. It is time that alf this should be set right. The Illyrian previnces cover Italy, give her a direct commu nication with Dalmatia, and procure us a point of immediate contact with the empire of Constantinople, which it must be the wish and intention of France, for many reasons," to support and protect-Spain and l'ortugal The are the seat of a ferocious revolution. numerous agents of England keep up the conThe flagration which they have raised. force, the power, the ilm moderation of the Emperor, will restore to them peaceful days. Should Spain tree her colonies it would be through her own fault. The Emperor will never oppose the independence of the conti nental nations of America. That independence is in the natural order of events: it is just, it agrees with the true interest of all European powers. Should the people of Mexico and Peru wish to raise themselves to the elevation of a noble independence, France will never oppose them, provided they enter France is into no connexion with England. not under the necessity of vexing her neigh bours, or imposing upon the tyrannic laws, to secure her prosperity and trade.-We have lost the colony of Martinique, and that of Cayenne. They were both badly defended. The circumstances which led to their loss form the object of a strict enquiry; although it is not of any weight in the general balance or affairs, since they will be restored to us, in a more flourishing condition, at the general peace." AMERICA. The disputes between Great Britain and the United States of America, have been exasperated by some late corrcspondence between the American Secretary of State and Jackson, the new British minister. The consequence has been that Mr. Jackson has been forced to. take a hasty departure from the United States; and great apprehensions have been entertained of a rupture taking place between the two countries. CIRCULAR FROM MR. JACKSON. "Washington, Nov. 15, 1809. SIR.I have to inform you, with much regret, that the facts which it has been my duty to state in my official correspondence with Mr. Smith, have been deemed by the President of the United States, to afford a sufficient motive for breaking off an important negotiation, and for putting an end to all communication whatever with me, as the minister charged with that negotiation, so interesting to both nations, and on one most material point of which an answer has not been returned to an official and written overture.* One of the facts alluded to has been ad This overture is on the affair of the Chesapeake. mitted mitted by the Secretary of State himself, in his letter of the 19th of October, viz. that the three conditions forming the substance of Mr. Erskine's original instructions were submitted to him by that gentleman. The other, viz. that the instruction is the only one in which the conditions were prescribed to Mr. Erskine, for the conclusion of an ar, rangement of the matter to which it related, is known to me by the instructions which I have myself received. "In stating these facts, and in adhering to them, which my duty imperiously enjoined me to do, in order to repel the frequent charges of ill faith which have been made aast his Majesty's government, I could not imagine that offence would be taken at it by the American government, as most certainly none could be intended on my part; and this view of the subject has been made known to Mr. Smith. "But as I am informed by him, that no farther communication will be received from me, I conceive that I have no alternative left, which is consistent with the King's dignity, but to withdraw altogether from this city, and to await elsewhere the arrival of his Majesty's commards, upon the unlooked for turn which has been given to his affairs in this country. "I mean, in the interval, to make New York the place of my residence, where you will henceforward please direct your communications to me, as I shall be accompanied by every member of his Majesty's mission. "I am, with great truth and respect, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, "F. JACKSON." GREAT BRITAIN. The Imperial Parliament of Great Britain commenced its Session on the 25d of January, with the following Speech from the Throne, read by the Lord Chancellor, owing to his Majesty's continued blindness. "My Lords and Gentlemen, His Majesty commands us to express to you his deep regret that the exertions of the Emperor of Austria against the ambition and violence of France have proved unavailing, and that his Imperial Majesty has been compeiled to abandon the contest, and to conclude a disadvantaleous peace. Although the war was undertaken by that monarch withoutencouragement on the part of his Majesty, every effort was made for the assistance of Austria which his Majesty deemed consistent with the due support of his allies, and with the welfare and interest of his own dominions. "An attack upon the naval armaments and tant objects of reinforcing her armies on the Danube, and of controuling the spirit of re sistance in the north of Germany. These considerations determined his Majesty to employ his forces in an expedition to the Scheldt. "Although the principal ends of this expedition have not been attained, his Majesty confidently hopes that advantages, materially affecting the security of his Majesty's dominions in the further prosecution of the war, will be found to result from the demolition of the docks and arsenals at Flushing. This important object his Majesty was enabled to accomplish, in consequence of the reduction of the Island of Walcheren, by the valour of his fleets and armies. "His Majesty has given directions that such documents and papers should be laid before you, as he trusts will afford satisfactory information upon the subject of this expedition. "We have it in command to state to you that his Majesty had uniformly notified to Sweden his Majesty's decided wish, that in determining upon the question of peace or war with France, and other Continental Powers, she should be guided by considerations resulting from her own situation and interests; while his Majesty therefore laments that Sweden should have found it necessary to purchase peace by considerable sacrifices, his Majesty cannot complain that she has concluded it without his Majesty's participation. It is his Majesty's earnest wish that no event may occur to occasion the interruption of those relations of amity which it is the desire of his Majesty, and the interests of both countries, to preserve. "We have it further in command to communicate to you, that the efforts of his Majesty for the protection of Portugal have been powerfully aided by the confidence Majesty, and by the co-operation of the local which the Prince Regent has reposed in his Government, and of the people, of that country. The expulsion of the French from Portugal, by his Majesty's forces under Lieut. General Lord Viscount Wellington, and the glorious victory obtained by him at Talavera, Contributed to check the progress of the French armas in the Peninsula during the late campaign. His Majesty directs us to state that the Spanish Government, in the name and by the authority of King Ferdinand the Seventh, has determined to assemble the general and extraordinary.cortes of the nation. His Majesty trusts that this measure will give fresh animation and vigour to the councils and the arms of Spain, and successfully direct the energies and spirit of the Spanish people to the maintenances of their legitimate mo establishments in the Scheldt allorded at once the prospect of destroying a growing force, which was daily becoming more formidable to the security of this country, and of divert-narchy, and to the ultimate deliverance of ing the exertions of France from the impor their country. "The most important considerations of policy and of good faith require, that as long As this great cause can be mamtained with a prospect of success, it should be supported, according to the nature and circumstances of the contest, by the strenuous and continued assistance of the power and resources of his Majesty's dominions; and his Majesty relies on the aid of his Parliament in his anxious endeavours to frustrate the attempts of France against the independence of Spain and Portagal, and against the happiness and freedom of those loyal and resolute nations. "Ilis Majesty commands us to acquaint you, that the intercourse between his Ma. jesty's Minister to America and the Government of the United States has been suddenly and unexpectedly interrupted. His Majesty sincerely regrets this event: he has, however, received the strongest assurances from the American Minister resident at this Court, that the United States are desirous of maintaining friendly relations between the two Countries. This desire will be met by a corresponding disposition on the part of his Majesty. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, "His Majesty has directed us to inform you, that he has ordered the estimates for the current year to be laid before you: his Majesty has directed them to be ormed wi all the attention to economy which the support of his allies and the security of bis dominions will permit. And his Majesty relies upon your zeal and loyalty to afford him such supplies as may be necessary for those essential objects. "He commands us to express how deeply he regrets the pressure upon his subjects, which the protracted continuance of the war renders inevitable. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "We are commanded by his Majesty to express his hope that you will resume, the consideration of the state of the inferior clergy, and adopt such further measures upon this interesting subject, as may appear to you to be proper. "We have it further in command to state to you, that the accounts which will be laid before you of the trade and revenue of the country, will be found highly satisfactory. "Whatever temporary and partial inconvenience may have resulted from the measures which were directed by France against those great sources of our prosperity and strength, those measures have wholly failed of producing any permanent' or general effect. "The inveterate hostility of our enemy continues to be directed against this country, with unabated animosity and violence. To guard the security of liis Majesty's dominions, and to defeat the designs which are meditated against us and our allies, will require the utmost efforts of vigilance, fortitude, and per most effectual support, under the continued blessing of Divine Providence, from the wis dom of his Parliament, the valour of his forces, and the spirit and determination of his people." In the Lords an amendment of the Ad dress was moved by Lord Grenville, and on a divison there appeared, for it 92; against it 144. In the House of Commons an amendment was moved, by Lord Gower, and there divided for it 167, and for the Address 263. In the present alarming state of the country, the City of London has done great honour to itself by its spirited proceedings. The following is a copy of the late Resolutions and Petition of the Livery in Common Hall. SMITH, MAYOR. In a Meeting or Assembly of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Liverymen, of the several Companies of the City of London, in Common Hall assembled, at to: Guildhall of the said City, on Tuesday, the 9th of January, 1810. e solved unanimously, 1. That it is the undoubted right of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery, of the City of London, to present their Ptitions to the King sitting upon his Throne; that out of personal feelings towards their Sovereign they did at the last Common Hall wave the exercise of this right. 2. Resolved unanimously, That it appears, that the Secretary of State informed the Sheriffs, that the Petition of the Livery could be received only through his Office, that they have been denied not only the usual access to his Majesty, by a personal audience; but the undoubted right of presenting the same when they had actual access to his Majesty at the Levee, where they attended to present, and did present, a Petition from the Court of Coamon Council. 5. Resolved unanimously, That such denial is not only subversive of the Rights of the Livery, but a flagrant violation of the Right of Petitioning, claimed, demanded, and insisted upon, and confirmed to them by the Bill of Rights. 4. Resolved unanimously, That all com plaints of the misco.uuct and incapacity of his Majesty's Servants are most likely to be nugatory, if such complaints must pass through the hands of those very servants, and the People can have no security that their complaints are heard. 5. Resolved, That whoever advised his Majesty not to receive the Petition of the Livery in the accustomed and established mode, have committed a scandolous breach of their duty, violated one of the first principles of the Constitution, and abused the confidence of their Sovereign. 6. Resolved unanimously, That this Com |