23. A French envoy notifies to the Prussian Government a declaration of war. The Emperor issues the follow ing proclamation, throwing the whole responsibility ofthewaruponPrussia:—

“ Frenchmen, there are in the life of a peo ple solemn moments, when the national honor, violated and excited, raises itself irresistibly above all other interests, and applies itself to a single purpose of directing the destinies of a nation. One of (these decisive hours has now arrived for France. Prussia, to whom we have given evidence during and since the war of 1866, of the most conciliatory disposition, has held our good will of no account, and has

returned our forbearance by encroachments; she has aroused distrust in all quarters, neces sitating exaggerated armaments, and has made of Europe a camp, where reigns disquiet and fear of the morrow. A final incident has dis closed the instability of the’ international un derstanding, and shows the gravity of the i situation. In tne presence of her new preten sions, Prussia was made to understand our terras ; they were evaded and were followed with contemptuous treatment. Our country manifested profound displeasure at this action, and quickly a war cry resounded from one end of France to the other. “There remains fo us nothing but to con fide our destinies to the chance of arms ; we do not make war upon Germany, whose indepen dence we respect. We pledge ourselves that the people composing the great German nationality shall dispose freely of their desti nies. As for us, we wish to conquer a durable peace, based on the true interests of the people, and to assist in abolishing the precarious con dition of things when all nations are forced to employ their resources in arming against each other. The glorious flag of France which we once more unfold in the face of its challengers, is the same which has been bom of Europe’s civilizing ideas by our great revolution ; it. represents those principles ; it will inspire the same devotion. Frenchmen, I go to place myself at the head of that valiant army, which is animated by a love of country and devotion to duty; that army knows its worth,- for it has seen victory follow its footsteps iii ; the four quarters of the globe. 