The National Register.
London, England, 1812-10-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

In

This ee.)arture from the contract, although founded on

very plausible grounds, revived a spirit of mistrust in our
Cabinet, that expressed its unwillingness to return to a mode
of assistance which had hitherto invariably proved vain.
The Assembly of the States took place at that time in
Sweden, and BZRNADOTTE. in his speeches to the-various
Orders, markedly abstained from noticing what the whole
Dation confidently expected he would announce—approach-
ing hostilities with France. He, indeed, intimated an inten-
tion to arm, in case he should be attacked; but promised to
use his best endeavours to maintain peace. This declara-
tion had its desired effect. It alarmed both ALEXANDLR
and our Government, who- anticipated the most important
results from the proposed diversion ; and whilst it made the
former urge the necessity that we should extend our subsi-
dizing liberality to Sweden, it disposed Ministers to accede
to a request, the rejection of. which, they perceiyed,
wouldbe attended with total inactivity on the part of the
CROWN PRINCS. A subsidy, we are credibly informed, was
then g, anted, and the- movements .of troops re-commenced.
A few transmrts were collected at Stockholm,and the whole
garrison of Finland, consisting of about 30,000 Russian
troops, who had been kept in that province to join the
Swedes, held itself in readiness to effect that purpose. But
the Swedish Expedition did not quit its ports. A few men
and guns bad been embarked; they were re-landed, and for
a time the enterprise appeared to be entirely abandoned.
The public reason given for this delay, was a pretended offer
of the King of DEN rt ARK to unite with the Allies ; which had
rendered an expedition, destined, it was said, to subdue that
kingdom, useless. The true cause, however, was a new diffi-
culty started by BERNADOTTE, who now insisted, as the'
price of his aid, on the restitution of Finland to the Swedish
Crown. This demand could not be very agreeable to a
Prince who had just reluctantly given up some of his most
fertile provinces to his enemies; and who, therefore, must
have found it particularly hard to be also plundered
by his friends. ALF.XANDER hesitated; our Minister at
Stockholm exerted all his ingenuity in vain; and instead ef
the instant departure of the Expedition, at the sole time
when it could be useful, a Congress was appointed at Abo,
where ALEX•NDER, BERNADOTTE, Lord CATHCART and
RobtANZOrt met. Here the point in question was dis-
cussed ; but what arrangements were made has not hitherto
publicly transpired. .Some accounts state, that a promise of
the restitution of Finland was given; others, that 'it was
agreed ButriaroorTg should indemnify himself by uniting
Norway to his Crown. However, all parties separated with
a seeming understanding, that all difficulties were settled,
and that the Swedish Expedition should at last set sail.
How far that expectation has been realized, all Europe has
sow seen. The CROWN PRINCE, on his remit, marched
his troops backwards and forwards, from one part of the
country to another. embarked and disembarked some divi-
*lona, received our transports, and, after amusing us for two
months with his evolutions, once more relapsed into inac.-
tivity. Such is the faithful history of this long-promised
Expedition, which attracted the eyes of mankind, only to
disappoint evert hope its preparations had excited. The
Swedish troops are now once more divided : one portion,lt
is said, is marching to occupy Finland, and,sthe other to
make a demonstration against Norway ; for as to a real
Attack, the nature of the Cduntry, and the severity of a polar
winter, will resider
_tilt impossible. Meanwhile the French
have reached Moscow without any interruption from an
invasion of the counties in their rear, and the season is so
far advanced, that even should,. all the Swedish tromps at last
F•C411,41 elders le-ssiabatit, it not isuprobable that befit*

OCT. 18.

they are read for sailing, they will fitid probably themselves
ice-bound within the harbour of Stockholm. •
From this brief but correct sketch of the conduct of
Swedenb ever since the renewal of hostilities in the North,
it may be seen, that had the CRowN PRINCE been sincere
in the cause which he professed to espouse, and promisill to
uphold, he would have -seized the repeated omortuniiks
which occurred, of making a timely and efl'ectual diversion
in favour of Russia. When the French entered Lirllitinia,
and the rapidity of their advance ou two chosen points corn-
pelled the cordon formed by the Russian armies to break
asunder and fall back hastily to avoid being penetrated, hid
the Swedish Expedition appeared oil Dantiick. which con-
tained all the magazines and bartering artilleev of the ene-
my, his march would have instantly been suspended. Or, if
he resolved to proceed, he must have dispatched sin h a force
to raise the siege of that city, then of vitae importance to his
support, as must have considerably weakened his invading
army. In the former case, therefore, the Russians Would
have gained time to effect their re-union within their lines
on the Dwina, which* could not have been forced without
inflicting such a loss on their adversary, as might have dis-
abled him from further hostilities. In the latter, they would
have had an opportunity of attacking him successfully, at
the hour of his weakness, and repelling him from their terri-
tory. Occasion once lost, returned again, but-to be equally •
neglected. When Smolensko had fallen, and the issue of
the sanguinary battle of Valentina bad decided NAPOLEON
to march to Moscow, Prince WIT GENST EIN fought several
actions with the division covering the left flank of the grand
French army, in most of which he had the advantage. Had
BERNADOTT es Expedition landed at irtga then, and joined
this brave and active Russian Commander, it would have
given him a superiority of force which would have enabled
him to drive his opponent back across the Dwina, and to
effect A junction with TORMASOW'S corps from %Trilby uia, in
the rear of BUONAPARTE, who must have stopped short in
his progress, if not returned to restore his commuoic Along
with Lithuania and Poland. But ere he could have erfected
that purpose, might not the• Russian armies, which would
then have completely hemmed ;iim in round, have attacked
him with a decided advantage ? Then Moscow would have
been safe, and Europe would. not have to mourn the destiue- •
tion of one of the most ancient and superb capitals that
adorned her bosom. . Nay ; .the war might have perhaps
been finished at one bloW. But not only did BERNADOTT
tardiness, or insincerity, let the golden hoar pass by unim-
proved; not only did he not make any diversion in behalf of
Russia, but he produced one most effective in ,favour of her
enemy. By his repeated promises, and vain demonstrations,
he kept in Finland a Russian division of 3(1,000 men, who
were to join his Expedition, and who, had they not been de-
tained by his delays and artifice, would have been united
two months ago with the corps of NVI T OENSTEIN, which they
would have swelled int, a powerful army, able of itself to
engage that under the immediate command of NAPOLEON,
and not compelled, as it now to remain idly on the defen-
sive, whilst he ravages and destroys tire fairest cities io the
Empire.
From this statement of farts, and from the forbearance
of Islarot.ton, in not expressing the least doubt of the fi-
delity of Sweden. or taking any precautions against her
threatened hostility, may not a suspicion be entertained,
that a secret understanding existed all along between them ?
May not some communication, to the following effect, have
been made isy tie Gallo-Swede, previous to the actual com-
mencement of the Russian war, to BUONAPARTE, and
V e reduced the pbroomerk eve have &scribed ? Vf*

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