A tour through Holland : $b along the right and left banks of the Rhine, to the south of Germany, in the summer and autumn of 1806Carr, John, Sir
History
A tour through Holland : $b along the right and left banks of the Rhine, to the south of Germany, in the summer and autumn of 1806
Carr, John, Sir
Netherlands -- Description and travel; Rhine River Valley -- Description and travel
When the procession reached the palace of their high mightinesses, their
majesties were received at the door by four deputies from the assembly.
They ascended the great staircase, passed through the chamber of the
national library, and were received at the door of the anti-chamber by
the president of their high mightinesses, and two other deputies. Having
entered the hall of the assembly, her majesty was conducted to her
tribune by two deputies. The king seated himself on his throne, and put
on his hat. On the right side, and behind his majesty, sat the grand
chamberlain, and the aid-de-camp general; on the left, the master of the
horse, and the grand master of the civil list. All the other officers of
state were ranged in proper situations. The members of the assembly
stood up in their places uncovered on the entrance of the king; but when
his majesty covered himself, they followed his example. The president
placed himself in his chair, directly opposite to the king. After the
king was seated on his throne, he directed the grand master of the
ceremonies to administer the oaths of allegiance to their high
mightinesses. The oaths were accordingly first taken by the president,
and afterwards by the other members, in the order of their seniority.
Each member approached to the foot of the throne, and was sworn on the
Holy Evangelists. When all the members were sworn, his majesty delivered
the following speech to the assembly:
“GENTLEMEN,
“When the national deputies came to offer me the throne which I ascend
this day, I accepted it, under the conviction that it was the wish of
the whole nation; that the confidence and the necessities of all
called me to it.
“Relying on the intelligence, zeal, and patriotism of the principal
public functionaries, and particularly on yours, gentlemen the
deputies, I have fearlessly weighed in my mind the misfortunes of the
nation in their fullest extent. Animated by the strongest desire to
promote the welfare of this good people, and entertaining a hope that
I should one day attain that end, I stifled those sentiments which,
till then, had been ever the object and happiness of my life. I have
consented to change my country, to cease to be solely and entirely a
Frenchman, after having passed my whole life in performing, to the
best of my ability, those duties which that name prescribes to all who
have the honor of bearing it.
“I have consented to separate myself, for the first time, from him
who, from my infancy, has possessed my love and admiration: to lose
the repose and independence which those whom Heaven calls to govern
cannot have: to quit him, the separation from whom would fill me with
apprehension, even in the most tranquil times, and whose presence
precludes danger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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