1 546 ) DIGEST OF POLITICAL EVENTS. GREAT BRITAIN. THE interesting documents relative to the proceedings of the Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle having, for want of room, been omitted in our last number, and their importance, as state papers, being in no wise lessened by the delay, we shall introduce them to the notice of our readers without any remarks of our own, as they are too clear to be misunderstood. OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. Copy of the Note addressed to the Duke of Richelieu by the Plenipotentiaries of the Courts of Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, on the 4th of November, 1818. "The undersigned Ministers of the Cabinets of Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, have received orders from their august masters to address to his Excellency the Duke of Richeliea, the following communication: "Called upon, by article five of the treaty of the 20th of November, 1815, to examine, in concert with his Majesty the King of France, whether the military occupation of a part of the French territory, stipulated by the said treaty, might cease at the end of the third year, or ought to be prolonged to the end of the fifth, their Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of all the Russias, have repaired to Aix-la-Chapelle, and have charged their Ministers to assemble there, in conference with the Plenipotentiaries of their Majesties the King of France and the King of Great Britain, in order to proceed to the examination of this important question. "In this examination, the attention of the Ministers and Plenipotentiaries had for its particular object the internal situation of France; and had to be also directed to the execution of the engagements contracted by the French government, with the co-subscribing powers to the treaty of the 20th of November, 1815. "The internal state of France having long been the subject of serious deliberations in the cabinets, and the Plenipotentiaries assembled at Aix-la-Chapelle having mutually communicated the opinions which they had formed in that respect, the august sovereigns, after having weighed these opinions in their wisdom, have recognised with satisfaction, that the order of things happily established in France, by the restoration of the legitimate and constitutional monarchy, and the success which has hitherto crowned the paternal care of his most Christian Majesty, fully justify the hope of a progressive consolidation of that order of things so essential to the repose and prosperity of France, and so intimately connected with the great interests of Europe. [Jan. 1, "With regard to the execution of the engagements, the communications which, since the opening of the conferences, the Plenipotentiary of his most Christian Majesty has addressed to the ministers of the other powers, have left no doubt on this question, fulfilled, with the most scrupulous and hoas they prove that the French government has nourable punctuality, all the clauses of the treaties and conventions of the 20th of No vember; and propose, with respect to those clauses, the fulfilment of which was reserved for more remote periods, arrangements which are satisfactory to all the contracting parties. "Such being the results of the examination of these grave questions, their imperial and royal Majestics congratulated themselves at having only to listen to those sentiments and those personal wishes which induced them to put an end to a measure which disastrous circumstances, and the necessity of providing for their own security and that of Europe, could alone have dictated. "From that moment, the august sovereigns resolved to cause the military occupation of the French territory to be disconnued; and the convention of the 9th of October sanctioned this resolution. They regard this solemn act as the completement of the general peace. "Considering now, as the first of their duties, to preserve to their people the benefits which that peace assures to them, and to maintain in all their integrity the transactions which have established and consolidated it, their imperial and royal Majesties flatter themselves that his most Christian Majesty, animated by the same sentiments, will receive, with the interest which he attaches to every thing tending to the welfare of mankind, and to the glory and prosperity of his country, the proposition which their imperial and royal Majesties address to him, to unite henceforth his councils and his efforts to those which they will not cease to devote to so salutary a work. "The undersigned, charged to request the Duke of Richelieu to convey the wishes of their august Sovereigns to the knowledge of the King his master, at the same time invite his Excellency to take part in their present and future deliberations, consecrated to the maintenance of the peace, the treaties on which it is founded, the rights and mutual relations established or confirmed by these treaties, and recognized by all the European powers. "In transmitting to the Duke of Richelieu this solemn proof of the confidence which their august Sovereigns have placed in the wisdom of the King of France, and in the fidelity of the French nation, the undersigned are ordered to add the expression of the unalterable attachment which their Imperial and Royal Majesties profess towards the person of his most Christian Majesty and his family, and of the sincere interest which they never cease to take in the tranquillity and happiness of his kingdom. "They have the honour, at the same time, to offer to the Duke of Richelieu the assurance of their very particular consideration. "Aix-la-Chapelle, Nov. 4, 1818. "METTERNICH. Copy of the Note of M. the Duke of Richelieu, in Answer to that of the Plenipotentiaries of the Courts of Austria, of Great Britain, of Prussia, and of Russia. "The undersigned, Minister and Secretary of State to his most Christian Majesty, has received the communication which their Excellencies the Ministers of the Cabinets of Austria, of Great Britain, of Prussia, and of Russia, did him the honour of addressing to him on the 4th of this month, by order of their august Sovereigns. He hastened to make it known to the King his master.His Majesty has received with real satisfaction this new proof of the confidence and friendship of the Sovereigns who have taken part in the deliberations at Aix-la-Chapelle. The justice which they render to his constant cares for the happiness of France, and above all to the loyalty of his people, has deeply touched his heart. Looking back to the past, and observing that at no other period, no other nation has been able to fulfil with a more scrupulous fidelity, engagements such as France had contracted, the King has felt, that it was indebted, for this new kind of glory, to the influence of the institutions which govern it; and he sees with joy, that the consolidation of these institutions is considered by his august allies to be no less advantageous to the repose of Europe, than essential to the prosperity of France. Considering that the first of his duties is to endeavour to perpetuate and augment, by all the means in his power, the benefits which the complete re-establishment of general peace promises to all nations; persuaded that the intimate union of governments is the surest pledge of its duration; and that France, which could not remain a stranger to a system, the whole force of which must spring from a perfect unanimity of principle and action, will join the association with her characteristic frankness; and that her concurrence must add strength to the well-founded hope of the happy results which such an alliance must produce for the benefit of mankind, his most Christian Majesty most readily assents to the proposal made to him of uniting his councils and his efforts with those of their Majesties the Emperor 547 of Austria, the King of Great Britain, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of all the Russias, for the purpose of accomplishing the salutary work which they have in view. He has, therefore, authorised the undersigned to take part in all the deliberations of their Ministers and Plenipotentiaries, for the object of consolidating the peace, of securing the maintenance of the treaties on which it rests, and of guaranteeing the mutual rights and relations established by these same treaties, and recognized by all the states of Europe. "The undersigned, while he begs their Excellencies to have the goodness to transmit to their august Sovereigns the expres sion of the intentions and sentiments of the King his master, has the honour of offering them the assurance of his highest consideration. Aix-la-Chapelle, Nov. 12, 1818. (Signed) "RICHELIEU." PROTOCOL, Signed at Aix-la-Chapelle, on the 15th Nov. 1818, by the Plenipotentiaries of the Courts of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia. "The Ministers of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, as a consequence of the exchange of the ratifications of the convention signed on the 9th of October, relative to the evacuation of the French territory by the foreign troops, and after having addressed to each other the notes, of which copies are subjoined, have assembled in conference, to take into consideration the relations which ought to be established, in the existing state of things, between France and the co-subscribing powers of the treaty of peace of the 27th of November, 1815relations which, by securing to France the place that belongs to her in the system of Europe, will bind her more closely to the pacific and benevolent views in which all the Sovereigns participate, and will thus consolidate the general tranquillity. "After having maturely investigated the conservative principles of the great interests which constitute the order of things established, under the auspices of Divine Providence, in Europe, by the treaty of Paris of the 30th of May, 1814, the reces of Vienna, and the treaty of peace of the year 1815, the courts subscribing the present act do, in consequence, unanimously acknowledge and declare "1. That they are firmly resolved never to depart, neither in their mutual relations, nor in those which connect them with other states, from the principles of intimate union which have hitherto decided over all their common relations and interests-a union rendered more strong and indissoluble by the bonds of Christian fraternity which the Sovereigns have formed among themselves. 2. That this union, which is the more real and durable, inasmuch as it depends on no separate interests or temporary com bination, can only have for its object the maintenance of general peace, founded on a religious respect for the engagements contained in the treaties, and for the whole of the rights resulting therefrom. "8. That France, associated with other powers by the restoration of the legitimate monarchical and constitutional power, engages henceforth to concur in the maintenance and consolidation of a system which has given peace to Europe, and assured its duration. "4. That if, for the better attaining the above declared object, the powers which have concurred in the present act, should judge it necessary to establish particular meetings, either of the Sovereigns them selves, or of their respective Ministers and Plenipotentiaries, to treat in common of their proper interests, in so far as they have reference to the object of their present deliberations, the time and place of these meetings shall, on such occasion, be previously fixed, by means of diplomatic communications; and that in the case of these meetings having for their object affairs specially connected with the interests of the other states of Europe, they shall only take place in consequence of a formal invitation on the part of such of those states as the said affairs may concern, and under the express reservation of their right of direct participation therein, either directly or by their Ple nipotentiaries. 5. That the resolstions contained in the present act shall be made known to all the courts of Europe, by the subjoined declaration, which shall be considered as sanctioned by the Protocol, and forming part thereof. "Done in quintuple, and reciprocally exchanged in the original, by the subscribing Cabinets. "Aix-la-Chapelle, Nov. 15, 1818. (Signed) METTERNICH. "RICHELIEU. 46 CASTLEREAGH. "WELLINGTON. "HARDENBERG. "BERNSTORff. "NESSELROde. "CAPO D'ISTRIA." DECLARATION. "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, have received orders from their Sovereigns, to make known to all the courts of Europe the results of their meeting at Aixla-Chapelle, and with that view to publish the following declaration : "The convention of the 9th of October, which definitively regulated the execution of the engagements agreed to in the treaty of [Jan. 1, peace of November 20, 1816, 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 tranquillity. "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 transac actions 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 take cognizance of questions in which other 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 labour for its confirmation and perfection. They solemnly acknowledge, that their duties towards God and the people whom they govern, make it peremptory in 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 acts 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 misfortune of the times. "Aix-la-Chapelle, Nov. 15, 1818. "METTERNICH. "HARDENBERG. "BERNSTORff. "NESSELROde. "CAPO D'ISTRIA.” The public mind has been consider ably agitated in consequence of the late acquittals at the Old Bailey sessions for uttering of forged notes. The question in itself is one of the highest importance to a commercial nation; but latterly, the concerns of the Bank have been so mixed up with politics, that it has not obtained that cool and dispassionate investigation which it so well deserves. It is the misfortune of this country, that political prejudices, feelings, and opinions, are so constantly excited in the minds of every one, that scarcely any question of public interest can arise where it is not viewed more or less through their medium. We seem to be almost incapable of abstract investigation upon such topics, and are more eager to ascertain what individual, or what body, will be thwarted by a deviation from ordinary practices, rather than what common good may be attained. For our own parts, we always disapproved of the conduct of the Bank in its prosecutions, the low and artful schemes which it resorted to, by first causing the parties to err, and then prosecuting to death by the very witnesses who had been the trepanners. Upon what principle of justice, we would ask, has the Bank abstained till they are compelled, from affording all the evidence in their power in cases of forgery? We would ask, what motives of delicacy can the Bank have had in not bringing forward, on every occasion, the same evidence that they have lately produced? The answer is clearly this, that they were convinced of its inefficiency to satisfy a British Jury. And we cannot help remarking the futility of sending their inspectors into court with an attempt to prove, that the water-mark is given to the paper while in liquid state, and at the same time one of them (Mr. Lees) declares, upon oath, that he never saw paper made in his life, and that he never saw an engraver or printer at work; and yet he shews, or attempts to shew, the difference betwixt impressions from stereotype and moveable type, when applied in aid of the copper-plate in working off a bank note.Nor are we more satisfied with the evidence of their signing clerks, as it pears to us nearly impossible that a man can swear to his signature at the foot of any instrument where his writing does not appear in the body of it, and more particularly the Bank clerks, who, from Tabor's confession, have a thousand notes per day to get through, and of course cannot take the same time to each signature as a merchant does to a check ap 549 upon his banker. Independently of all this, we have taken considerable pains In comparing a note deemed a forgery with the genuine one, as far as it respects the signature, and feel confident that the one is literally traced over the other, and therefore cannot differ. The Bank have exhibited a great degree of indifference to the alarming increase of forgeries, which has roused an indignant feeling throughout the coun try. We can never be persuaded that a sincere desire on their parts to secure their notes from imitation would have been without success. The question is, not that they should issue notes which no one can imitate, for that is impossible, but that they should issue notes of such a character, that the time, the trouble, and the skill necessary to forge them, would place the task utterly beyond the reach of common artists and common rogues. This might and ought to be done. FRANCE. The French funds have sustained considerable fall, in consequence of a new arrangement made with Mr. Baring respecting the new loan, by which it ap pears he only takes one half, the French government negociate the remainder.The allied sovereigns having quitted Paris, the inhabitants begin to turn their attention more immediately to their own concerns, and to the raising of funds for the current expenses of the year. The King's speech, which we subjoin, is eminently judicious and constitutional. "Gentlemen, "At the commencement of the last Session, at the same time that I deplored the evils which afflicted our country, I had the satisfaction to give reason to consider the termination of them as near at hand. A generous effort, and of which I have the noble pride to say no other nation has afforded a fairer example, has enabled me to realise these hopes-and they are so. My troops alone occupy all our strong places: one of my sons, who hastened to join in the first transports of joy of our eastern provinces, has, with his own hands, and amidst the acclamations of my people, hoisted the French standard on the ramparts of Thionville: this standard now floats on all the territory of France. "The day on which those of my children, who have borne with so much courage the burden of an occupation of more than three years, have been delivered from it, will be one of the finest days of my life; and my French heart has enjoyed no less the end of their distresses than the liberation of the country. The provinces which have so painfully occupied my thoughts till this day deserve to fix those of the nation, which has admired, as I have done, their heroic resig nation. "The noble unanimity of heart and of sentiments, which you manifested when I called upon you for the means to fulfil our engagements, was a brilliant proof of the attachment of the French to their country, of the confidence of the nation in its King: and Europe has eagerly received France replaced in the rank which belongs to her. "The declaration which announces to the world the principles on which the union of the five Powers is founded, sufficiently shews the friendship which prevails among the sovereigns. This salutary union, dictated by justice and consolidated by morality and religion, has for its object to prevent the Scourge of war by the maintenance of treaties, by the guarantee of existing rights, and permits us to fix our eyes on the long days of peace which such an alliance promises to Europe. t "I have awaited in silence this happy epoch, to turn my thoughts to the national solemnity, in which religion consecrates the intimate union of the people with their King. When receiving the royal function in the midst of you, I shall take to witness the God by whom kings reign, the God of Clovis, of Charlemagne, of St. Louis: I shall renew at the altar, the oath to confirm the institutions founded on that charter, which I cherish more, since the French, by a unanimous sentiment, have frankly rallied round it. "In the laws which will be proposed to you, I shall take care that its spirit shall be always consulted in order to secure more and more the public rights of the French, and to preserve to the monarchy the force which it must have to preserve all the liberties which are dear to my people. "In seconding my wishes and my efforts, you will not forget, Gentlemen, that this Charter, delivering France from despotism, has put an end to revolutions. I depend on your concurrence to repel those pernicious principles which, under the mask of liberty, attack social order, conduct, by anarchy, to absolute power, and whose fatal success has cost the world so much blood and so many tears. "My Ministers will lay before you the Budget of the expenses which the public service requires. The protracted effects of events, the consequences of which we have been found to bear or to accept, have not yet allowed me to propose to you a diminution of the burdens imposed upon my people: but I have the consolation to perceive, at no great distance, the moment when I shall be able to satisfy this desire of my heart. From this moment a limit is fixed to the increase of our debt: we have the certainty that it will diminish in a rapid progression. This certainty, and the loyalty of France, in the fulfilment of her engagements, will establish, on an immoveable foundation, the [Jan. 1, public credit, which some transitory eircumstances, common to other States, had seemed to affect for a moment. "The French youth have just given a noble proof of love to their country and their King. The Recruiting Law has been executed with submission, and often with joy. While the young soldiers enter the ranks of the army, their brothers, who are released, remain in the bosom of their families; and the veterans, who have fulfilled their engagements, return to their homes: they are both living examples of fidelity, henceforth inviolable, in executing the laws. "After the calamities of a scarcity, the remembrance of which still affects my soul, Providence this year, lavish of its benefits, has covered our fields with abundant harvests. They will serve to revive commerce, whose vessels visit every sea, and shew the French flag to the most remote nations. Industry and the arts also extending their empire, will add to the sweets of general peace. To the independence of the country, to public liberty, is added private liberty, which France has never so entirely enjoyed. Let us, therefore, unite our sentiments, and our expressions of gratitude, to the Author of so many blessings, and let us know how to ren der them durable. They will be so, if, banishing every sad remembrance, and stifling every resentment, the French thoroughly persuade themselves that their liberties are inseparable from order, which itself rests upon the Throne, their sole palladium. My duty is to defend them against their common enemies: I shall fulfil it; and I shall find in you, Gentlemen, that support which I have never yet invoked in vain." Several meetings of peers have taken place, within the last few days, to consider and discuss the address to be made to the king's speech. It appears that in the meetings of deputies, every thing passed in simple conversation. SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. The disturbed state of Spain opens a wide' field for political conjectures, but depend upon the firmness and decision at present all is uncertainty; all must of its governors. The public journals mention that new regulations are about to be circulated by the minister of the interior, for the organization and gorendered more complete than formerly, vernment of the police, which is to be in consequence of the numerous bodies of banditti that have of late infested the great roads of this kingdom, robbing and maltreating all travellers. We learn from the Portuguese consul at Gibraltar, that the plague has made considerable ravages in the city of Tangiers. No less a number than 407 deaths have taken place in 20 days. The c con |
