which I have made to him of them; and above all, my sincere repentance for having put my name (though against my will) to acts that may be contrary to the discipline and faith of the catholic church, to which I have always been sincerely and faithfully united.  I pray God to accept my firm resolution, if he grants me life, to make use as soon as possible of the ministry of a catholic priest, that I may accuse myself of all my sins, and receive the sacrament of penance.  I beseech all those whom I may have inadvertently offended, (for I do not remember to have knowingly given offence to any person) and those to whom I may have given bad examples, or caused scandal, to forgive the injuries they think I may have done them.

I implore all charitable persons to join their prayers to mine, to obtain from God the pardon of my sins; I, with all my heart, forgive those who are become my enemies, although I have not given them any reason to be so; and I beseech God to forgive them, as well as those who, through a false or mistaken zeal, have brought many misfortunes on me.

I recommend to God, my wife and children; my sisters, my aunts, my brothers, and all those who are attached to me, either by the ties of blood, or in any other way whatever.  I particularly beseech God to cast a merciful eye on my wife, my children, and my sister, who have long suffered with me, to support them by his grace, if they should happen to lose me, and as long as they remain in this perishable world.

I recommend my children to my wife; I never doubted her maternal tenderness for them.  I above all recommend to her to make them good christians, and honest people; to make them consider the grandeurs of this world (if they be condemned to possess them) only as dangerous and perishable possessions, and to direct their attention to Eternity, the only solid and durable glory.  I beg of my sister to continue her tenderness to my children, and to be a mother to them, if they should have the misfortune of losing her who is such.

I intreat my wife to forgive me all the afflictions she suffers for my sake, and the sorrows I may have given her in the course of our union; as she may be certain that I have no fault to find with her, even where she may think she has cause to reproach herself.

I earnestly recommend to my children, after what they owe to God, (which is the first of all duties) to live always in harmony with one another, to be submissive and obedient to their mother, and grateful to her for all the care and trouble she takes for them out of regard to my memory.  I desire them to consider my sister as their second mother.

I recommend to my Son, if he has the misfortune to become King, to remember that he owes himself entirely to his fellow citizens; that he must forget all hatred and resentment, and particularly all that relates to the misfortunes and afflictions that I endure; that he can only make the people happy by reigning according to the laws, but at the same time, that a King cannot make himself respected, and do all the good he wishes, without having the necessary authority; and that otherwise, being restrained in his operations, and not inspiring respect, he is rather hurtful than useful.