coins, are brought to a close by the last regulations, without on any point having given real cause for complaint.

The issuing of new coins goes on steadily; and, for the greater convenience of common use, and much wishing it, I propose to lay before you a plan for increasing our series of gold coins, by adding one additional kind.

The industrious application of the states' commission to the framing of the National code of law, will afford me an opportunity of again laying before your assembly an important measure of legislation.

Several other subjects will require the attention of your high mightinesses during your present sitting. I open it with the persuasion that it will not in any degree tend less to the good of the country than former sessions. I experience the most heartfelt satisfaction at the manner in which our countrymen confide with true love in us, and support the throne of the Netherlands; and thus supported, high and mighty Sirs, our united efforts, under the support of God, and the continued blessing of peace, cannot fail to promote the glory of our beloved country.

With the greatest joy I hail the long-wished for moment when I could assemble the people of my much-beloved kingdom of Hungary about my throne, to consult with you on the best means of promoting the welfare of the country, and by the solemn coronation of the queen, my most beloved consort, to unite a faithful people, as it were by a new bond, still closer to my heart.

Important events have taken place since we last met here. The most sanguinary wars had to be waged in order to obtain for Europe the enjoyment of the peace which it had so long desired in vain. During the whole continuance of this struggle, I, for my own person, have thought no fatigue too great-have shunned no cares no exertions — which I thought calculated to protect the rights of my kingdom, and to leave the honour of the monarchy, in

herited from my ancestors, and the dignity of the crown which I wear, unimpaired to my successors.

And my honest exertions were not fruitless-they were crowned by happy victories, and the wishedfor termination of the evils of war. I openly declare, that this must be ascribed first of all to God, the arbiter of all fates, and then to the love and fidelity of my peoplethe unshaken perseverance of the allied monarchs-the valour of my armies-and, lastly, the sacrifices which my subjects have made with so much perseverance, and to their eternal honour.

What share Hungary took, with what zeal it has proved its fidelity, its attachment, and that innate elevation of mind which has always been distinguished as the support of the throne, and the inheritance of your fathers, is proved by deeds which gratitude has engraven on my heart in imperishable characters.

But while by the happy success of my arms the monarchy was preserved and the possibility obtained of re-uniting with the kingdom of Hungary the countries that had been torn from it, the people subject to my sceptre have, in the most recent times, obtained a glorious victory of another kind -a victory which will produce for them and their posterity the most salutary fruits. All of them, and among them my Hungarians, have repelled from them that dangerous spirit which has plunged several countries in Europe into the greatest distresses; justly considering that hope built on the wisdom of the Almighty, and inviolable fidelity to the sovereign, confirmed by reciprocal confidence, and the scrupulous observance of the ancient institutions, which are consecrated by age and the experience of many centuries, constitute their true fidelity and an immoveable barrier under all circumstances.

It is evident to every body that the finances of the state must have made many and great sacrifices in the vicissitudes of the late years. But a system matured by long discussion introduced with firmness, and prosecuted with unwearied zeal, has in a manner now created and confirmed public credit, and already healed many wounds. It remains for a prudent legislation to heal the remainder, and to consolidate the permanent welfare of Hungary.

I ask from you nothing but zeal for your own good; but I expect from your wisdom, fathers of the country, that you will propose the means best adapted to obtain it, which will not fail either of producing their desired effect, or of gaining the entire approbation of me, your king. If, animated solely by zeal for the general good, you will join your efforts with mine to promote the lasting prosperity of the kingdom, and thus to merit the grateful remembrance of posterity. The certain hope of continued peace greatly favours those salutary deliberations: there is besides another reason for engaging in them without delay. My age advances, and the days of mortals are in the hand of the Almighty. But I ardently wish to live long enough to enjoy the happy confidence that I leave to my successors, and to the Hungarians themselves, my dearly beloved children, your prosperity increased by civil laws and ordinances, which shall at the same time strengthen the constitution of the kingdom.

Lastly, the faithful estates will perceive, from the propositions which I herewith present to them, that my paternal views are solely directed to the good of the state, and to the interest of all the inhabitants of my kingdom of Hungary; and I assure you of my imperial and royal favour and affection.

Representatives of the kingdom of Poland,-When I parted from you four years ago, lamentable

events had produced a general agitation in Europe, which threatened the welfare of all nations. I have

desired to have time for opinions to become fixed, and for the passions to become more cool. Your third meeting has been deferred; but this delay I am certain will have the good result of more effectually preparing your labours, and it is with real pleasure and with feelings of that regard of which I have already given you so many proofs that I am now again among you. In the period that has elapsed since the last diet, faithful to my duties, and to the resolutions which I announced to you, as soon as I perceived the germ of destruction, I have opposed its developement. In order to consolidate my work, to ensure its duration, and to afford you the peaceable enjoyment of the fruits expected from it, I have added an article to the constitution of the kingdom. This measure, which prevents every necessity of exercising an influence in the elections of the deputies, or in your deliberations, proves the interest I feel in the consolidation of your constitution. This is the only object that I aim at attaining by the measure I have adopted; and the Poles, I am convinced, will duly appreciate this object and the measures employed to attain it.

My minister of the interior will lay before you an account of the state of the kingdom, as well as of the measures of administration that have been employed in the last four years. You will enjoy the rapid progress of industry, and acknowledge that if the public welfare has not reached the point to which my wishes and the care of the government might hope to bring it, the cause is to be entirely attributed to the general stagnation of commerce in the productions of agriculture. In other re

spects, great results have been attained. The national debt is near to being wholly paid. Two conventions determine the share of this debt which is to be borne by Austria and Prussia. A new law on the finances will soon determine all revenues and expenditure of the state. A ruinous deficiency had endangered your dearest interests: it has vanished. The excess of the revenue shall be spontaneously employed in paying off the national debt.

Negotiations with the court of Berlin to regulate the commercial relations between Poland and Prussia have been crowned with the happiest success by a series of friendly regulations, which serve as the basis of my relations with my ally. The convention ratified by me opens new channels to your foreign commerce. Your trade with Russia daily becomes more active and extensive. The facilities afforded to trade are doubly salutary, by the mutual prosperity which it promotes, and the new bonds which it creates to unite the two nations.

My special attention has been directed to the debts with which private estates are burthened. A plan will be laid before you for an association of the land-owners. It is the result of many discussions, and of the opinion of your Waiwodes.

Religion, the source of all virtues, the indispensable basis of all human institutions, seems to require the revisal of a part of your civil code. A committee chosen from among yourselves has undertaken this important task, and the project of the first book which it has discussed will be communicated to you.

My thoughts will accompany

you in the performance of your functions, and you will find me ready to accept the improvements proposed to me, but resolved to refuse every concession that can be injurious to your prosperity.

Representatives of the kingdom of Poland! Free from all influence, may you proceed calmly to

your labours. The future fate of your country is in your hands. Consider only its welfare, its real advantage; render it all the services that it expects from your assembly, and second me in the accomplishment of the wishes which I have never ceased to cherish for it.

Representatives of the kingdom of Poland,-Your third session offers results on which I cannot sufficiently congratulate you. You have deliberated with calmness and prudence, fulfilled the expectations of your country, and justified my confidence.

Religion has received from you a legitimate and judicious homage. Its rights have been reconciled with the institutions and forms, the maintenance of which was required by the public interest; and the first book of your new civil code has laid down the bases of a system of legislation appropriated to the state, the wants, and the manners of the society which it is to govern. Your future meetings will finish this important work.

In the laws on mortgages, and in several parts of your penal code, experience had pointed out some inconveniences: you have removed them.

Your long misfortunes had burthened landed property with debts: this property, the real support of the state, required an indispensable relief. You have felt the necessity of assisting it. The obstacles which might check the developement of the law on the territorial association will be remov

ed; and by means of its influence, of the active solicitude which will direct its execution, of the particular assistance which the government has guaranteed for cases in which even the benefits of the law would be insufficient, you will, as I love to believe, see the last traces of your misfortunes effaced.

I have readily adopted all the amendments which you have proposed to me. On your side you have adopted all the projects of law which I had laid before you. This exchange of wishes and information-this mutual agreement, the only means of confirming the institutions which you enjoy-are at once the chief object, and the essential advantage of them.

To cement so happy an unionto keep up the communications of which it is the fruit, in the interval which will elapse till the next diet a committee, taken from your own body, will continue to take part in drawing up the projects of law.

You have presented several wishes to me: I will take them all into consideration, and you will learn the motives, the decisions which I shall make respecting them: they shall be complied with, as far as circumstances will allow.

Representatives of the kingdom of Poland;-I quit you with regret, but also with the satisfaction of having seen you co-operate to your happiness according to your interests and my wishes. Partake this sentiment; spread it among your fellow-citizens, and believe that I shall know how to acknowledge the confidence, the marks of

which have distinguished your session. They will not be lost: I preserve a profound impression of them, which will always be united with the desire of proving to you how sincere is the affection which I bear to you, and how great an influence your conduct will have on your future situation.

By the grace of God, Nicholas I., Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias

In the grief of our heart, amidst the general pain which oppresses us, our imperial house, and our beloved country, we can only bend before the impenetrable decrees of the Almighty, and we can only seek for strength and consolation with him. It has pleased him to call before him the emperor Alexander 1st, of glorious memory, and we all have lost a father, a ruler, who, during twenty-five years, was the happiness of Russia and of us.

When, on the 27th of November, the information of this disastrous event reached us, we has tened, even in this moment of the most acute grief, to fulfil a sacred duty; and listening only to the dictates of our hearts, we rendered the oath of fidelity to our elder brother, the cesarowitsch grand duke Constantine, as legitimate heir to the Russian throne in virtue of primogeniture.

Scarcely had we discharged this sacred duty, when we were apprised by the senate that there had been deposited in their hands, on the 15th of October, 1823, a letter, with the seal of the deceased emperor, and with the superscrip

tion in the own hand-writing of his imperial majesty- To be preserved by the senate until my further commands; in case of my death, however, this packet is to be opened in an extraordinary sitting, before any other act is proceeded in:' that this most gracious command had been complied with, and that the following documents were contained in the packet :

1. A letter of the cesarowitsch grand duke Constantine, dated 14th of January, 1822, addressed to his majesty the deceased emperor, by virtue of which his imperial highness renounces the succession to the throne, belonging to him by primogeniture.

2. A manifesto, dated August 16, 1823, bearing the autograph signature of his imperial majesty, whereby his majesty, after the ratification of the deed of abdication of the cesarowitsch grand duke Constantine, establishes that we, the next in age, are heir to the crown, according to the fundamental laws of the empire.

We were further informed that documents of the same tenour had been deposited with the directing senate, with the holy synod, and in the cathedral church of the Ascension at Moscow.