Manifesto of His Most Christian Majesty, December 1745


The following declaration was authored for Louis XV of France by the great man of letters, François de Voltaire, who, having lived in exile in England from 1726 to 1729, was not unfamiliar with British affairs.

A printed version of the French text can be found on pages 240 and 241 of F.J. McLynn, France and the Jacobite Rising of 1745 (Edinburgh: University Press, 1981).


Le serenissime prince Charles Edouard ayant débarqué dans la Grande Bretagene sans autre secours que son courage; et toutes ses actions lui qyant acquis l'admiration de l'Europe et les coeurs de tous les véritables anglais, le roi de France a pensé comme eux. Il a cru de son devoir de secourir à la fois un prince digne du trône de ses ancêtres et une nation généreuse dont la plus saine partie rappelle enfin le prince Charles Stuart dans sa patrie. Il n'envoie le duc de Richelieu à la tête de ses troupes que pace que les anglais les mieux intentionnés ont demandé cet appui, et il ne donne précisément que le nombre des troupes qu'on lui demande, prêt à les retirer dès que la nation exigera leur éloignemnt. Sa Majesté en donnant un secours si juste à son parent, au fils de tant de rois, à un prince si digne de régner, ne fait cette démarche auprès de la nation anglaise que dans le dessein et dans l'assurance de pacifier par-là l'Angleterre et l'Europe, pleinement convaincu que le Sme Prince Edouard met sa confiance dans leurs bonnes volontés, qu'il regarde leurs libertés, le maintien de leurs loix et leur bonheur, comme le but de toutes ses entreprises, et qu'enfin, les plus grands rois d'Angleterre sont ceux qui éléves comme lui dans l'adversité, ont mérité l'amour de la nation.
 

     

The most serene prince Charles Edward, having landed in Great Britain without any assistance except his courage, and all his actions having won for him the admiration of Europe and the hearts of all true Englishmen, the King of France has thought as they thought. He believed it his duty to help, at one and the same time, a prince worthy of the throne of his ancestors and a noble nation of which the most sound part at last calls back the Prince Charles Stuart to his country. He sends the Duke of Richelieu at the head of his troops only because the best intentioned Englishmen have asked for this support, and he only gives precisely the number of troops which were asked of him, ready to withdraw as soon as the nation calls for their removal. His Majesty in giving such just assistance to his kinsman, to the son of such kings, to a prince so worthy to reign, only takes this step towards the English nation with the intention and the confidence of thereby bringing peace to England and to Europe, fully convinced that the most serene Prince Edward [sic] places his trust in their goodwill, that he looks to their liberties, the maintenance of their laws and their happiness, as the goal of all his ventures, and that, in fact, the greatest kings of England have been those who, raised like him in adversity, have deserved the love of the nation.
 

C'est dans ces sentiments que le roi secourt leur prince qui est venu se jetter entre leurs bras, le fils de celui qui nâquit l'héritier légitime de trois royaumes, le guerrier qui malgré sa valeur n'attend que d'eux et de leurs loix la confirmation de ses droits les plus sacrés; qui ne peut jamais avoir d'intérêts que les leurs, et dont les vertus enfin ont attendri les âmes les plus prévenues contre sa cause.
 

     

It is with these sentiments that the King aids their prince who has just cast himself into their arms, the son of that one who was born the legitimate heir of three kingdoms, the warrior who notwithstanding his bravery only waits for them and for their laws of confirmation of his most sacred rights, who can never have interests other than theirs, and whose virtues in fact have touched the hearts of those most prejudiced against his cause.
 

Il espère qu'une telle occasion réunira deux nations qui doivent réciproquement s'estimer; qui sont liées naturellement par les besoins mutuels de leur commerce, et qui doivent l'être ici par les intérêts d'un prince qui mérite les voeux de toutes les nations.
 

     

He hopes that such an occasion will reunite two nations which must hold each other in high esteem, which are naturally bound by the mutual requirements of their commerce, and which must be here for the interests of a prince who deserves the good wishes of all nations.
 

Le duc de Richelieu, commandant les troupes de Sa Majesté le roi de France, adresse cette déclaration a tous les fidèles citoyens des trois royaumes de la Grande-Bretagne, et les assure de la protection constante du roi son maître. Il vient se joindre à l'héritier de leurs anciens rois, et répandre comme lui son sang pour leur service.
 

     

The Duke of Richelieu, commanding the troops of His Majesty the King of France, addresses this declaration to all the faithful citizens of the three kingdoms of Great Britain, and assures them of the constant protection of the King his master. He comes to unite himself with the heir of their ancient kings and to pour out his blood in their service.
 


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© Noel S. McFerran 2000-2003.