other, to make the constitutions of our empire in every respect congenial to the wishes and national necessities, as well as to the state of peace, which we wish to maintain with Europe, we have determined to submit to the people proposals tending to modify and perfect its constitutional acts--to protect the rights of the citizens by guarantees--to give a representative system its full effect-to invest the intermediate bodies with all due consideration and proper power, in a word, to combine the highest degree of political liberty with individual safety, with the force and concentration necessary to make the French people and the dignity of our crown respected by foreigners'. After this, follows the different articles of this act, which certainly imparted as high a degree of liberty to the people as they were capable of enjoying.-

The 31st of May, was the day fixed for accepting the new Constitution. A spacious temporary amphitheatre had been erected for this purpose in the Champ de Mars, connected with the facade of the military school, in the centre of which 15,000 electors were seated and covered by an awning. The sloping banks which arise round the Champ de Mars, were covered with a vast population; and its immense plain was filled with cavalry. Here an elevated altar was placed opposite the throne, which was erected within the amphitheatre. Never said the Moniteur was a more interesting national fete than that of the Champ de Mai. All which elevates the soul, a great compact sealed between a monarch and his people---France, represented by the chosen of its citizens, farmers, merchants, magistrates, soldiers, assembled round the throne, revived the recollection of the most memorable events.'

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The emperor Napoleon, arrived at the Champ de Mars at one o'clock, accompanied by his three brothers, Joseph, Lucien, and Jerome, and was received with loud acclamations. The ceremony began by high mass, which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Tours, assisted by Cardinal

de Bagarie, and four other bishops. The mass ended, the members of the deputation, about five hundred in number, ascended the steps of the throne, when M. Dubois d'Angers addressed the emperor, assuring him of their attachment, and predicting the failure of the impending invasion. The moment the orator ceased, the whole Champ de Mars resounded with cries of Vive la Nation! Vive l'Empereur! The arch-chancellor next proclaimed the result of the votes, declaring the acceptance of the new constitution, with the exception of only 4,207 votes. The herald of arms then declared the acceptance of the new constitution by the French people. The grand chamberlain having placed before the throne a table, on which the constitution was placed, the arch-chancellor presented the pen to Prince Joseph, who gave it to the emperor, and his majesty signed it. The table being removed, the Emperor thus addressed the meeting:

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'Frenchmen,-As Emperor, Consul, Soldier, I hold every thing from the people. In prosperity, in adversity, in the field of battle, in council, on the throne, and in exile, France has been the only object of my thoughts. I sacrificed myself like a certain king of the Athenians, in the hope of seeing the promise which was made me kept inviolate-that the natural integrity of France should be preserved, as well as its honour and its rights. The indignation which was created by seeing those sacred rights, acquired by twenty-five years of victory, on the point of being lost for ever, has, however, again placed me on the throne, which is more dear to me, because it is the palladium of the rights of the people.

Frenchmen! In traversing France, in the midst of that public joy which accompanied me to the capital, I counted on a long peace. My thoughts were solely turned on the means of consolidating our liberty, by a constitution founded on the will and interests of the people, and I convoked the Champ de Mai. I learn, however, that those Princes who had annihilated the dearest interests of the people, wish to make war upon us. They intend to take from us all our northern fortresses to add to the new kingdom of the Netherlands, and to reconcile their own quarrels by dividing between them Lorraine and Alsace. We must prepare for war. In the mean time, before I go personally

to encounter the hazard of war, my first anxiety is to secure the liberties of the nation.

'Frenchmen! When we have repulsed these unjust invaders, and when Europe will have been convinced of what is due to twenty-eight millions of Frenchmen, a solemn law will unite all existing differences relative to our former Constitutions.

'Frenchmen! You are about to return to your departments, tell your fellow citizens that circumstances are critical; but that with union, energy, and perseverance, we shall come victorious out of this contest of a great people against its oppressors. Generations to come will scrutinize our conduct. A nation loses all which loses its independence. Tell your fellow citizens that those foreign monarchs whom I made kings, or preserved as such, who in the time of my prosperity besought my alliance, and the protection of the French nation, now direct all their power against my person. If I were not convinced that it is in fact our country at which they aim, I would place at their mercy that existence against which they are so much enraged: but tell to our fellow citizens, that, while the love they show for me continues so ardent, the rage of our enemies will be powerless.

Frenchmen! My will is that of the people.My rights are theirs. My honour, my glory, my happiness-can be but the honour, the glory, and the happiness of France!"

It would be difficult' says the French demi-official account of this fefe, to express the emotion which displayed itself on all countenances, during this oration of the emperor, or the acclamations which succeeded it.

Then the grand almoner, the Archbishop of Bourges, approached the throne, and presented on his knees the Holy Evangelists to the emperor, who took the oath in these words,---“I swear to observe, and to make to be observed, the Constitution of the empire."

The prince arch-chancellor, advancing to the foot of the throne, pronounced the oath of fidelity to the Constitution; the whole assembly then repeated it with acclamation. The assembly, instead of returning to their seats, crowded round the emperor, who was then encircled like the father of a family, They did not retire until after the singing of the Te Deum, when the presidents of the electoral colleges advanced to receive the eagles destined for the national

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guard of the respective departments. The emperor, then throwing off his imperial mantle, thus addressed the assem bly:"Soldiers of the national guard, of the troops of the land and of the sea, I confide to you the imperial eagle, which you swear to defend at the expence of your blood, against the enemies of your country."

'Universal shouts of "we swear it" continued for a length of time, during which the emperor placed himself on the elevated throne in the midst of the Champ de Mars, as colonel of the national guards, and delivered the eagles to the presidents of the departments---Count Chaptal, president of the electoral colleges of Paris; and Count Durossel, lieut.-general, received the eagles of the national guard; and Count Friant, that of the imperial guards; the troops then encircled the throne, and the Emperor thus addressed them :---" Soldiers !---I confide to you the imperial eagle.You swear to perish, if necessary, in defending it against the enemies of the country."

"The immense army, which surrounded the throne, interrupted the emperor by thunders of applause, "we swear it." Silence being again obtained, the emperor continued, "You, soldiers of the national guard of Paris, swear never again to allow the strangers to pollute with their presence the capital of the great nation." He was again interrupted by continual shouts of "we swear it." He continued, "And you soldiers of the imperial guard, you swear even to surpass yourselves in the campaign about to open, and to die rather than allow the invaders to dictate laws to your conntry!"

The whole Champ de Mars now resounded with indescribable acclamations. Then the troops, amounting to upwards of 50,000 men, of whom 27,000 were national guards, defiled before the emperor, amidst cries of Vive l'Empereur! and the shouts of the people, who were collected in all directions. The Emperor then returned on foot to the

military school, in the midst of an immense crowd, who pressed round him so as almost to prevent his passage.

On the 7th of June, the emperor went in high military pomp to instal the legislature. In his speech he congratu lated the members on the commencement of a constitutional monarchy, and urged them to imitate the Senate of a great people of antiquity, by swearing to die rather than survive the dishonour and degradation of France.' This event was celebrated in Paris by illuminations, fire-works, &c.

The first act of the chamber of representatives, was the nomination of M. Lanjuinais as president. This choice clearly proved the independence of the assembly, for M. Lanjuinais had always evinced the most rooted aversion to Bonaparte, even when in the zenith of his glory. The emperor however acceded to the choice, and having received addresses from both houses, he set out for his northern army, which had been concentrated on the Sambre.

M. Carnot, who had so frequently organized victory,' in his report on the military state of the empire, estimated the troops of the line at 500,000; and the numerical amount of the army at 850,000 men. Admitting that this statement was exaggerated, yet the exertions made to recruit and equip the army were truly astonishing, and could not have been effected without a considerable degree of co-operation on the part of the people. The disasters that might probably accompany the impending contest were also anticipated; and several thousand workmen were daily employed in fortifying the heights around Paris, on which 300 cannon were placed.

The prize which was now to be contested for, was of no ordinary worth, the leaders who were about to meet in hostile array, bore names of no vulgar renown, and the world hung in dread attention on the deep tragedy which was about to be represented. The armies most dreaded by Bonaparte were those hanging on the northern frontier, particularly that under English orders. It was therefore against this part of the allies that the restored Emperor directed his