of power in Europe, to insure the repose and independence of the different powers, and to prevent the arbitrary violations of the rights and territories of other states, by which the world has suffered for so many years together, the contracting powers have agreed to fix the duration of the present treaty for 20 years, reserving it to themselves, if circumstances should require it, to proceed to the prolongation of it three years before its expiration. Art. XVII. The present treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications exchanged within two months, or sooner if possible. In testimony whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed these presents, and affixed their seals. Done at Chaumont, March 1, (Feb. 17, 1814.) (Signed) Prince de METTERNICH. [The treaties sigued the same day with the King of Great Britain, and the King of Prussia, are word for word the same as the above. The first is signed by Lord Castlereagh, his Britannic Majesty's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; the second by Baron Hardenberg, Chancellor to his Prussian Majesty.] DUTCH POLITICAL TION. Invited to the Sovereignty of these States by your confidence and your attachment, we from the first declared, that we would undertake the same only under the guarantee of a wise constitution, which might secure your freedom against all possible abuses; and we have ever since continued to feel the necessity thereof. We regarded it, therefore, as one of the first and most sacred of our duties, to summon together some men of consideration, and to charge them with the weighty task of establishing a fundamental code, built upon your manners, your habits, and corresponding to the wants of the present time. r They cheerfully took upon themselves this office, performed it with zeal, and have submitted to us the fruits of their uninterrupted labours. After a careful examination of this work, we have given it our approbation. But this does not satisfy our heart. It respects the concerns of the whole Netherlands. The whole Dutch people must be recognized in this important work. That people must receive the strongest possible assurance, that their dearest interests are sufficiently attended to therein; that religion, as the fountain of all good, is thereby honoured and maintained, and religious freedom CONSTITU disturbed by nothing of temporal The Hague, March 3, 1814. We, William, by the grace of God, Prince of Orange Nassau, Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands, &c. To all whom these presents come, greeting! concerns, but secured in the most ample manner; that the education of youth, and the spread of scientific knowledge, shall be attended to by the Government, and freed from all those vexatious regulations which oppress the genius and subdue the spirit; that personal freedom shall no longer be an empty name, and dependent on the caprices of a suspicious and crafty police; that an impartial administration of justice, guided by fixed principles, secure to every man his property; that commerce, agriculture, and manufactures be no longer obstructed, but have free course, like rich springs of public and private prosperity; that, therefore, no restraint be imposed on the domestic economy of the higher and lower classes of the state, but that they be conformable to the general laws and the general government; that the movements of the general government be not palsied by too great a zeal for local interests, but rather receive from it an additional impulse; that the general laws, by means of an harmonious co-operation of the two principal branches of the Government, be founded on the true interests of the State; that the finances, and the arming of the people, the main pillars of the body politic, be placed in that central point, upon which the greatest and most invaluable privilege of every free people,-their independence, may be firmly fixed. Which of you can doubt of this truth, after the terrible experience you have had of a foreign tyranny, which acknowledged no right when it wanted means for its own maintenance by violence; after having sighed, of late years, under the most oppressive yoke that ever was imposed since the Spanish times? Now at least you know the true value of those precious rights for which our fathers sacrificed their property and blood; of that happiness which they bequeathed to their descendants; and which we saw lost through the adversity of the times! Following, therefore, and deriving encouragement from their example, it becomes my duty, in imitation of those whose name I bear, and whose memory. I honour, to restore that which is lost it is your duty to support me therein with all your efforts, that under the blessing of Divine Providence, who summons us to this task, we may leave our beloved country completely re-conquered and reestablished to our children. ་ In order to be enabled to judge whether the constitutional code thus framed, as before stated, be a means of attaining the above great object, we have thought it right that the said code be submitted for maturer consideration, to a numerous assembly of persons the most considerable and best qualified among you. We have for that purpose appointed a special commission, who are to choose, out of a numerous list given into us, six hundred persons, in due proportion to the population of each of the now existing departments. Honoured with your confidence, they shall, on the 28th of this month, assemble in the metropolis of Amsterdam to come to a determination upon this weighty business. They shall in like manner, with the letter of convocation, receive the plan of the constitution, that they may be able to prepare their decision thereon with maturity and calmness of deliberation; and for the more effectual attainment of this object, a copy of the same shall be sent to each member previously. most prejudicial influence from the shutting of the continental ports, which was represented as one of the means for obtaining a general peace. The annexation of the Hanse Towns and contiguous provinces to the French empire, became afterwards a most heavy burthen, with regard to the commercial intercourse with Germany. Its effects extended even to lite rary connections. Earnest professions, which were frequently renewed, had given hopes that these obstacles, which were so directly contrary to the good understanding which his Majesty did all in his power to remain in with the French goverment, would have been removed, but these hopes always remained unfulfilled. Whilst the French army was retreating in the winter between 1812 and 1813, the imperial troops, which, according to a particular agreement, were to have remained for the protection of the frontiers of Holstein, were drawn away. As the French government had at the same time declared its intention of entering into negocia tions for peace with all its ene mies, the King deemed it important for him to make overtures of peace to Great Britain. The alliance with France was now be come of no utility. The King would willingly have prevented the cities of Hamburgh and Lubeck from again falling into the hands of the French, in order to keep the war from his own frontiers, and save from destruction those cities whose interests stood in such direct connection with those of his subjects; but his Majesty was obliged to desist from the prosecution of this plan: his interests, therefore, required that he should accept the offer made bim, of renewing the alliance with France, and to give it a larger extension, in order to assure him of a powerful assistance against those sovereigns who had not hesitated to declare that they would support the demands of Sweden, which were so inimical to the integrity of his States. The King, on his part, conscientiously performed the stipula tions of the treaty. Whilst his auxiliary troops were fighting by the side of the French, they recieved only a part of the pay, which, according to the agreement, was their due; and his Majesty's subjects suffered a considerable loss, as well by the embargo laid on their property, which was deposited in the cities of Lubeck and Hamburgh, of which the French government took to itself the privilege of disposal, as by taking away the funds of the Bank in the last-mentioned city. The promises of restoration given, in consequence of the complaints thereon made, remained, equally with the reclamations made on the subject, without effect. It was assured by the treaty, that 20,000 men should be in readiness, to protect the Duchies and Jutland; but Marshal d'Eckmuhl quitted the position which covered those provinces, and retreated with all the troops under his command to Hamburgh, leaving the King's troops to their fate, and who were not able to withstand the superior force which was moving forward to effect an entrance into the country. The enemy's irruption into the Duchies, together with the loss of the fortresses, was followed by the King's being forsaken by an ally, on whose assistance he had reasonable grounds for placing a reliance. His Majesty has been under the necessity of consenting to the to the greatest sacrifices, to protect the remaining part of his states from invasion, with which they were threatened by the combined troops of several Powers, and for the purpose of again recovering possession of those provinces which had fallen into the enemy's power. He recalled his Minister at the Court of the French Emperor, and declared to the Minister of his Imperial Majesty residing at his Court, that he could no longer consider him as being in that capacity, and that opportunity should be given him for his return to France. His Majesty likewise declares, that he will join the Sovereigns united against France, in order to assist in bringing about a general peace, for which all the nations of Europe are languishing, and which is so necessary for the Danish States. Middelfart, Jan. 17, 1814. ment which has entertained the ignominious thought that flattering words and vain promises could induce you to infidelity towards your King; even so, as when they in the midst of peace, wantonly exercised the barbarous enmity of endeavouring to starve you, and thereby shake your courage, which they knew ever to have been undaunted. She now conceives you capable of the weakness, that you would expose yourselves to the same unfortunate fate and yoke under which Sweden's sons groan, to answer the ambition of a stranger, and fight abroad for foreign money! But the free, people of Norway can fix their own destiny Swear to found the independence of Norway! Call God to witness your sincerity, and supplicate the benediction of heaven on your dear country. It is God's will, loyal Norwegians, that I, the Hereditary Prince of Denmark's throne, should be at this conjuncture amongst you, that through the harmony which reigns in your hearts you may be saved. I have the public voice for inde pendence, for serious and unlimit ed resistance against foreign violence. Inspired as I am for Norway's happiness and honour, it is a sufficient inducement to me to remain amongst this faithful peo ple as long as I can be useful to their independence, and maintain tranquillity and order. Appointed by Providence to conduct at present the reins of this realm, I shall protect, with a firm hand, and without regarding dangers or difficulties, the security of Norway and its laws. An independent assembly of the most enlightened men of the na- ̈ tion shall, by means of a wise con20 stitution, give renewed strength to this country, in order to withstand its public and private enemies; and it will depend upou them whether I shall continue the trust now reposed in me by the wish of the nation. Beloved people of Norway, I have already received numerous proofs of your attachment and confidence. I shall ever feel my self happy and safe amongst yon. I shall strive to revive your commerce, the sources of opulence. Nothing will be nearer to my heart than to keep far from you the scenes of raging war; but when foreign force attempts to violate the liberty aud independence of this State, then we shall evince that there is sufficient power within us to revenge insults, and courage to prefer death to shameful subjugation. Grief and affliction we will readily overcome, if implacable enemies refuse us peace. Within this State but one sentiment must prevail,—to make every sacrifice for our country,-to preserve Norway's honour, and give it its ancient brilliancy. Our efforts will then be crowned by God with success, and Norway will again confirm the truth, that that nation is invincible which fears God and adheres with zeal to his native country. PROCLAMATION der it as a great favour on the part of King Frederick V1., that before he absolved us from our oaths, be established peace between us and Great Britain. It shall always be my aim to maintain it with that and with other nations, and it is therefore solemnly declared, that 1. Norway is at peace with all Powers. That Power only is its enemy which may violate the independence of the nation, and invade with arms in their hands the borders or coasts of Nor way. 2. Free access to the kingdom of Norway is allowed to the ships of war and merchant vessels of every nation. 3. The regulations respecting privateers and their prizes, of March 28, 1810, and supplements of 27th of August and December, are hereby annulled, and to be considered as having not been in effect since the 14th of January last. Any thing done since then, founded on these regulations, is revoked. 4. All prizes, or property, condemned or confiscated, since the 14th of January, shall immediately be restored. 5. All the privateers of foreign Powers shall leave our ports within fourteen days immediately after these presents are known in the respective ports. All prizes shall be restored. 6. All prisoners shall be delivered up en masse, and the private debts of the prisoners of Norway shall be paid. 7. Ships of any nation whatsoever, importing in the kingdom of Norway two-thirds of their cargoes in grain, or other provisions, are allowed (any law or regulations to the contrary notwithstanding) to import any merchandizes they |