Napoleon and Marie-Louise, 1810-1814; A Memoir (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 Excerpt: ... APPENDIX. PIECES JUSTIFICATIVES. No. 1. A Report made to the Corps Legislatif, by the Extraordinary Commission appointed by that Body, on the 28th of December, 1813: --Gentlemen, The Extraordinary Commission which you have appointed, in virtue of the Emperor's decree of the 20th of December, 1813, presents the Report which you are expecting under these grave circumstances. It is not for the Commission only, it is for the Corps Legislatif as a whole, to express the sentiments which are inspired by the communication of the original documents in the custody of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by command of his Majesty. That communication has taken place under the presidency of his Serene Highness the Arch-Chancellor of the Empire. The documents which have been placed before us are nine in number. Among these documents are notes, by the French Minister and the Austrian Minister, which date back to the 18th and 21st of August. They also include the speech delivered by the Regent to the English Parliament, on the 5th of September. The Regent said--"It is not within the intentions of his Majesty, or within those of the Allied Powers, to demand from France any sacrifice which may be incompatible with her honour and her just rights." The present negotiation for peace begins with the 10th of last November. It was arranged by the agency of the French Minister in Germany. Having been present at an interview between the Ministers of Austria and England, he was commissioned to carry back the words of peace to France, and to make known the general and compendious bases upon which peace might be negotiated. The Minister of Exterior Relations, M. le Duc de Bassano, replied, on the 16th, to this communication from the Austrian Minister. He stated that a peace founded on the ...