DECREE. We, William, by the Grace of God, King of the Netherlands, &c., considering that, according to reports which have been received, slaves are now and then imported into the colony of Surinam from certain foreign colonies, where the slave trade with Africa direct is still permitted; referring to the treaty concluded between the Netherlands and Great Britain on the 4th of March, 1818; to the law of 20th November, 1813; and having examined the reports of our Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Public Instruction, National Industry, and Colonies, by the advice of our Privy Council, have thought fit and determined to prohibit the importation of slaves into the colonies of our

kingdom, and especially into that of Surinam, from those colonies where the direct slave trade with Africa is still permitted, as we do by these presents, and under the same penalties as are denounced against the importation of prohibited goods there.

Our Minister of Public Instruction, National Industry, and Colonies, is charged with the execution of this decree, of which communication is to be made to our Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice, and to the Council of State, and this our resolution is to be inserted in the official journal. (Signed) WILLIAM. By his Majesty's command, (Signed) J. G. D. MEY VAN STREEFKERK. Brussels, April, 16.

"Noble and mighty lords; I experience a lively satisfaction at the opening of the present session in being able to inform you that our relations with all the powers continue to be maintained with reciprocal good understanding. Although the troubles in the Levant have created uneasiness, a well-founded hope of preserving the peace is still entertained. May Providence bless the efforts which tend to this object may the Divine Goodness re-establish tranquillity where trouble now reigns, and allow us to enjoy without interruption a VOL. LXIII.

able influence of several years of peace, the situation of our manufactures does not present in all its parts an aspect equally prosperous; yet several of the most important among them have increased in activity, and almost no-where does the want of employment give ground for wellfounded complaints.

"In the report presented recently to your lordships, you will have found proofs of the ardour with which the sciences are cultivated, and of the rapid developement among the less wealthy classes of the community of the blessings of an education suited to their wants.

"More than one honourable competition-more than one exhibition attest the progress of the fine arts.

"The administration assumes every where in the provinces, as well as in the cities and rural communes, a more regular and more secure march. Improvements which experience recommends to my care become the objects of my serious deliberation. The communication between different parts of the king dom becomes more and more easy. That between the two seats of the court has been considerably ameliorated, and I entertain the hope that, with the co-operation of the provinces most interested in the result, there will be opened a new source of prosperity to trade, to agriculture, and to industry, by the construction of a canal between Bois-le-duc and Maestricht.

"Among the improvements on which the happiness of my subjects fixes my attention, I regard as most important the changes made in the direction of the

waters of the Rhine for the purpose of preventing the disasters to which a considerable portion of the kingdom is exposed during the season of thawing or high tides. This object is at present subjected to a particular examination.

"For a long time the discipline of the prisons has appeared to me susceptible of useful modifications, having caused the subject to be examined in its details. The report which I have received has confirmed me in the opinion.

"If the system which, in consequence of the inquiry, is at present the object of my deliberations, and some provisions of which I have already adopted, is capable of being put into full execution in all its parts, the result will be not only an improvement in the moral condition of the prisoners, but a diminution in their demands on the public treasury. I shall endeavour to realize these ideas in the trials which I shall successively make.

"Unforeseen calamities have afflicted some parts of our transmarine possessions, but it is easily seen that they will surmount their consequences; and we have reason to flatter ourselves that the importance of the relations of the mother country with the East Indies will continue to increase.

"It is not less agreeable to me to announce to your assembly than for you to hear, that the view of the receipts and expenses on the second division of the budget presents a desirable equilibrium. This result, of which the nation will reap completely the advantages as soon as the new system of finance shall be

put in execution, has been prepared in a great part both by the retrenchments which are introduced wherever the well understood interests of the state permits, and by the plan which I have to propose to your lordships to meet the wants which must otherwise have been provided for in the budget, and to cover the arrears and extraordinary expenses, with particular means which will introduce no augmentation of the public burthens and no charge on the inhabitants.

"The special ordinances which were to be passed in consequence of the last law of finance are already, for the most part, drawn up; and will as soon as possible be presented to your assembly. In drawing up these ordinances, we have constantly kept in view the object of reconciling the efficient collection of the revenue with as great an alleviation as possible of the public burthens.

"The produce of the revenue during the present, announces

results similar to those of the preceding year. If the produce of certain taxes is improved, others, on the contrary, have been less productive; and the experience of this year establishes anew how necessary is the revision of our financial system, if we wish to put an end to an annual deficit, which would in time destroy the best constituted state.

"I am pleased to have seen disappear in the last session the difficulties which at first arose on the mode of examining the projects of the civil code. I have endeavoured on my part to facilitate on this subject our common agreement. In a short time new projects relative to important points which belong to this code, on which you have already deliberated, will be presented to your lordships. I rely on your constant co-operation in promoting the public welfare in this as well as in the other objects which during the session will be submitted to your deliberations."

different descriptions of force is regulated according to the principles of modern military tactics.

"3. The army of the confederation is formed even in time of peace, in order to be prepared, if it should be necessary, to march. Its strength and its internal division are regulated by particular resolutions of the diet.

"4. The army of the confederation consists of complete armycorps, partly unmixed, partly composed, divided into divisions, brigades, &c.

"5. No state of the confederation whose contingent forms

"6. With regard to the mixed army-corps and divisions, the states of the confederation which that object concerns shall arrange among themselves the manner of forming the necessary divisions, and giving them a complete or ganization. If they do not agree, the diet will decide.

"7. In organizing the military force, regard shall be had to the interests resulting from the particular relations of the different states in as far as the same shall appear reconcileable with general objects.

"8. Pursuant to the legal and fundamental equality of rights and duties, all supremacy, even in appearance, of one state of the confederation over another, shall

be avoided.

"9. In each state of the confederation the contingent must always be maintained in such a state as to be within the shortest delay after the summons of the confederation, completely equipped in all respects, ready to march and to take the field.

"10. The force and the assembling of the army to be put on foot are regulated by particular resolutions of the diet.

"11. Measures are to be adopted for keeping the army of the confederation complete, and ⚫ for re-enforcing it if necessary. For this purpose there must be a special reserve.

"12. The military contingents of the confederation form one army, under the command of a general-in-chief.

"13. The general-in-chief shall be elected by the confederation

assembling of the army shall be decided.

"14. The general-in-chief shall take an oath to the confederation before the diet, which is the sole authority.

"15. The formation and execution of the plan of operations are left entirely to the generalin-chief. He is personally re sponsible to the confederation, and may be tried by a court martial.

"16. The general-in-chief must treat all parts of the army with the most perfect equality in as far as depends on him. He cannot change established divisions. He is, however, at liberty to make detachments for a cer tain time.

“17. The commanders of par ticular divisions are appointed by the states to whom the troops belong. When divisions are com posed of the troops of several states, the commanders are chosen by the respective governments conjointly.

18. The rights and duties of these commanders in their relations with the confederation are analogous to those of the commanderin-chief. They must exact implicit obedience from the inferior officers, and must themselves obey their superiors.

19. Jurisdiction belongs to the commanders of divisions, ac cording to the limits prescribed to them by the states of the confederation.

20. Provision shall be made for the subsistence of the army of the confederation by commissaries for all the army-corps under the direction of the commanderin-chief, and in the interior of states of the confederation, în

concert with the commissaries of the respective countries.

21. There shall be formed by a special resolution of the diet, a particular war-chest to receive the contributions of all the members of the confederation according to the matriculation,

"22. The indemnifications for expense of passage, cantonment, and all other general allowances in the states of the confederation, shall be fixed according to a

reasonable rate, and the inhabi tants must be paid in money as speedily as possible.

"23. The principle of an equal repartition of burthens and bene. fits, as well for the divisions of the army as for the states of the confederation, shall be made an invariable rule of conduct.

"24. A cartel shall exist be tween all the states of the confederation."

"Gentlemen Deputies;-In seeing myself surrounded a second time by the worthy representatives of this heroic nation, which has given so many proofs of its love and its attachment to my royal person, my grateful heart cannot resist rendering thanks to the Almighty, who, having re-established me on the throne of my ancestors by the valour and constancy of my faithful subjects, has deigned to consolidate it, in giving it as a basis, the constitution, sanctioned by the extraordinary Cortes, and to which, conformably to the wish of the nation, I have freely sworn.

"The happiness of the people that Divine Providence has confided to my care, which is, and always shall be, the object of my most ardent wishes, alone decided me to adopt a system which -the nation desired, and which, besides, the lights and advancement of the age imperiously demanded.

"The effect has corresponded with my hopes, and I have seen, with the greatest satisfaction, Spanish loyalty rallying firmly

round the throne of its king, manifesting every where, and by unequivocal testimonies, its adhesion to the new institutions, which are to found the future grandeur and prosperity of the nation, and which are, at the same time, the best support of my throne, and give the highest lustre to the splendour of my crown.

"The measure taken by the Cortes in the preceding legislature to give life to a nation nearly extinguished by its sacrifices, to relieve the people from charges which weighed heavily upon them, to make credit recover and industry flourish, and, in fine, to make all the different branches of administration prosper-all these dispositions, united to admirable moderation, to the spirit of peace and unanimity which reigned in all the councils, and to the testimonies of respect and of attachment manifested by such worthy representatives for my person,have filled my heart with the liveliest satisfaction.

"I know well that, in spite of so many efforts, the wounds of the nation cannot be cicatrized but