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so great constancy by the able and courageous minister whose loss we deplore. Already the happy effects of this system are everywhere felt. Within, confidence revives; commerce and industry have resumed their course; Providence has spread its treasures over our fields; the scourge which so cruelly desolated us, has gone from us, and every thing promises us the prompt reparation of the evils by which we are afflicted.

Without, the pledges of national prosperity are not the less secure.

I have every reason to reckon on the pacific dispositions of foreign powers, and on the assurances which I every day receive.

The intimate union which has been formed between France and Great Britain, will be to both nations a fertile source of welfare and of strength, and to all Europe a new guaranty of peace.

One question alone, might have prolonged in Europe some uneasiness. Notwithstanding the efforts of my government, the treaty of the 15th of November, 1831, which was to consummate the separation of Belgium and Holland, remained unexecuted; the means of conciliation seem to be exhausted; the object was not obtained. I considered that such a state of things could not continue without compromising the dignity and interests of France. The moment was come to provide for the execution of treaties, and to fulfil the engagements contracted towards Belgium. The king of Great Britain has participated in my sentiments. Our two flags wave together at the mouths of the Scheldt; our army, whose discipline and good spirit equal its valour, has arrived at this moment under the walls of Antwerp. My two sons are in its ranks.

In giving to the king of the Belgians my dear daughter, I have strengthened by a new tie the alli. ance of the two nations. The act which consecrated this solemn union, will be laid before you.

I have also given orders to my ministers to communicate to you the treaty concluded on the 4th of July, 1831, between my government and that of the United States of America. This transaction puts an end to the reciprocal claims of the two countries.

You will also be informed of the treaty by which Prince Otho of Bavaria is called to the throne of Greece. I shall have to request of you the means of guaranteeing efficiently with my allies, an indis. pensable loan for the consolidation of a new state, founded by our care and assistance.

I request that our fundamental legislation may be promptly com. pleted. The laws announced by the 69th article of the Charter, will be presented to you in the course of the session.-You will have to delibe. rate on the responsibility of minis. ters, on the departmental and municipal administrations, on the organi zation of public instruction, and on the condition of officers.

Several other laws of less political importance, but of great interest to the affairs of the country, will also be presented to you.

I regret that I am not able at present to propose to you any reduction of the public charges; our duty towards France, and the circum. stances in which we are placed, impose on us still heavy sacrifices; but the general position of Europe permits us to anticipate their conclusion. The future appears to us under favourable auspices; credit is sustained and is strengthened, and indubitable signs attest the progress of national wealth,

A few efforts more, and the last traces of the anxieties inseparable from a great revolution will disappear. The feeling of confidence in the future; and then will be realized the most cherished of my

wishes-that of seeing my country raise itself to the height of prosperity, for which it has a right to aspire, and of being able to say, that my efforts have not been useless in the fulfilment of its destinies.

SPEECH OF THE KING OF HOLLAND.

The session of the states-general of Holland was opened at the Hague on the 15th Oct. 1832 by the king in person, when his majesty delivered the following speech.

High Mightinesses

During the last months of the session that has just closed, I had some hope of being able, at the opening of this session, to announce to you the cessation of the state of disquietude in which the country has been kept for these two years, in consequence of the Belgian revolution. My hopes have not been fully realized; the forbearance which North Holland has displayed, and the sacrifices I imposed upon my. self, instead of leading to a reasonable solution, have of late only in creased the exactions it is sought to force upon us.

The communications that will be made to you by my orders, respecting the state of the negotiations, will convince you that the condescension of which we have given proofs, has reached its utmost bounds-those which are fixed by the honour, the independence, and the safety of the country. In the meanwhile I am happy in being able to announce to you, that I have received from the foreign powers fresh marks of interest. I am equally happy to be able, in this state of things, to assure your high

mightinesses, that the means of defence organized along our frontiers are on the most satisfactory footing, and that our land and sea forces merit the greatest praise for their discipline, their warlike ardour, and their fidelity, and fully answer to the care that has been constantly bestowed upon them.

If, contrary to all expectation, the interest of the country should require a greater display of forces, I am even now prepared for that purpose with all the necessary means, fully relying on the assent of the nation.

The provincial and communal administrations have terminated their labours relative to the levy of the militia and communal guards (Schuttereyen,) for the present year; these labours have been executed with promptitude and perfect order. The young conscripts manifest the greatest eagerness in joining their corps, and rival our old soldiers in faithfully performing their duty. The fate of the defenders of the country has excited my anxious solicitude. All the supplies of the war department are ensured by the generous gifts of the Netherlanders.

Amidst the internal and satisfactory tranquillity of the country, our colonies are supplied with the troops and ships necessary for their defence. The fisheries and commerce have

received the requisite protection. Tranquillity also prevails in our possessions beyond sea. A more economical administration, which we have established in the East Indies, and the great extension given there to agriculture, the salutary influence of which is already felt, inspire us with a hope that our possessions in the East Indies will soon supply our commerce with a new element tending to the prosperity of the country. Our commerce and our navigation, have experienced an increase rather than a diminution, thanks to the activity and intelligence of the mercantile classes, and ship owners. If the force of circumstances has diverted them from their primitive directions, new openings for enterprise have been made, and they have considerably extended.

Thus your high mightinesses will perceive that we still occupy among commercial nations the rank that belongs to us, and which I hope to preserve to my beloved and loyal subjects, in spite of all violent and treacherous attempts. (Here the king mentioned the flourishing state of agriculture, the order now prevailing in every branch of the administration, the excellent state of the canals and dykes, the improvement of literature and the sciences, and the appearance of the cholera in Holland.)

Several important laws will be presented to you.

Several questions for modifying the civil code are ready to be laid before you. I even entertain a hope that during the present session, you will be able to revise the whole of the civil code.

Following up the measures already adopted, I shall submit to your high mightinesses a statement

of the increase in the wants of the state for next year, and the means that have been thought most efficacious to supply them.

As to the extraordinary expenses which may result from a prolongation of existing circumstances, I wish to continue the use of the means which you have found eligible for some time past, and which the persons interested have adopted without hesitation. Thus the necessity of forced contributions is removed; public credit is improving, and the treasury, managed with order and economy, remains in a state to answer every demand.

Nevertheless the burthens which the nation has to support continually are heavy, and the prospect of the future is still gloomy; but the Netherlanders, animated with a sense of honour and a spirit of patriotism, bear them with resignation, and gladly bring their gifts for the defence of their fellow citizens.

These sentiments are tranquilizing for us. A nation who call to mind the glory of their ancestors, and who, in the present day, distinguish themselves by their love of order and submission to the laws, has a right to the respect of other nations.

It is in the approbation of the nation and in the sentiment of our just rights, that we find the most powerful support for the consolidation of the interests of the kingdom, as well as the well-grounded hope that, strengthened by measured confidence in the decrees of the Almighty, we shall enable our compatriots, when the time shall come, to gather the fruit of the most noble persever

ance.

HOLLAND

Embargo on Dutch vessels taken off.

AND BELGIUM.

At the court of St. James's, the 20th day of May, 1833, present the king's most excellent majesty in council-It is this day ordered by his majesty in council, that his majesty's order in council of the 6th of November last, directing that no ships or vessels belonging to any of his majesty's subjects be permitted to clear out for any of the ports within the dominions of the king of the Netherlands until further orders; and that an embargo be laid upon all ships and vessels belonging to the subjects of the king of the Netherlands which then were, or which should thereafter come into any of the ports, harbours or roads within any part of his majesty's dominions; and that the commanders of his majesty's ships of war should detain and bring into port all merchant ships and vessels bearing the flag of the Netherlands, be revoked, and the same is hereby revoked accord. ingly; and it is hereby further ordered, that the said embargo be taken off, and that all such ships and vessels be permitted to depart with their cargoes to their respective ports of destination; and the right hon. the lords commissioners of his majesty's treasury, the lords commissioners of the admiralty, and the lord warden of the Cinque Ports, are to give the necessary directions therein, as to them may respectively appertain.

W. L. BATHurst.

Convention between his majesty and the king of the French on the one part, and the king of the Netherlands on the other part; together

with an explanatory article thereunto annexed. Signed at London, May 21, 1833.

[TRANSLATION.]

Their majesties the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the king of the French, and the king of the Netherlands, grand duke of Luxemburg, being desirous of re-establishing the rela tions between them as they existed before the month of November, 1832, have for that purpose resolv. ed to conclude a convention, and have named as their plenipotentiaries, viz.

[Here are recited the names and titles of the 'plenipotentiaries—who having exchanged their full powers, &c.]

Art. 1. Immediately after the exchange of the ratifications of the present convention, their majesties the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the king of the French, will take off the embargo which they have placed upon the ships, vessels and goods belonging to the subjects of his ma. jesty the king of the Netherlands; and all the vessels detained, together with their cargoes, shall be imme. diately released, and restored to their respective owners.

In like manner, his majesty the king of the Netherlands will revoke the measures taken in his states with respect to the English and French flags.

Art. 2. At the same period the Netherland troops, both of the royal navy and army, at present detained in France, shall return to the states of his majesty the king of the Netherlands with their arms, baggage,

carriages, horses and other effects belonging either to the corps or to individuals.

Art. 3. So long as the relations between Holland and Belgium shall not be settled by a definite treaty, his Netherland majesty engages not to recommence hostilities against Belgium, and to leave the navigation of the Scheldt entirely free.

Art. 4. Immediately after the exchange of ratifications of the present convention, the navigation of the Meuse shall be open to com. merce; and until the definite arrangement shall be made in this respect, it shall be subject to the provisions of the convention signed at Mentz the 31st of March, 1831, for the navigation of the Rhine, so far as those provisions may be applicable to the said river.

The communications between the fortress of Mastricht and the frontier of North Brabant, and between the said fortress and Germany, shall be free and without impediment.

Art. 5. The high contracting parties engage to occupy them. Selves, without delay, about the definitive treaty which is to fix the relations between the states of his majesty the king of the Netherlands, grand duke of Luxemburg, and Belgium. They will invite the courts of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, to become parties thereto.

Art. 6. The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifi'cations shall be exchanged at London in ten days, or sooner if possible.

In witness thereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed their

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Explanatory Article.

It is agreed between the high contracting parties, that the stipulation relative to the complete cessa. tion of hostilities, contained in article 3 of the convention of this day, comprehends the grand duchy of Luxemburg, and that part of Limburg which is provisionally occupied by the Belgium troops. It is more. over understood that until the conclusion of the definitive treaty, of which mention is made in the said article 3 of the convention of this day, the navigation of the Scheldt shall take place on the same footing as before the first of November, 1832.

The present explanatory article shall have the same force and vali. dity as if it were inserted word for word in the convention of this day. It shall be ratified, and the ratification exchanged at the same time as those of the said convention.

In witness thereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms.

Done at London, the 21st day of May, in the year of our Lord 1833.

(L. S.) PALMERSTON, (L. S.) TALLEYRAND, (L. S.) DEDEL.

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