The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-04 00:00:00

SWEDEN.

The following is the text of the speech delivered
by King Charles XV. at the opening of the Swedish
Diet on the 23d ult., as briefly announced by tele-

gram :

" Gentlemen,-1n seeing you again assembled to
deliberate on the measures calculated to secure the
public welfare, I greet you with that satisfaction
with which your presence always inspires me. My
relations with foreign Powers continue to bear that
impress of friendship and confidence which I have
always at heart to maintain intact.

In consequence of the wishes you expressed
during your last session with regard to a regularisa-
tion of the relations between Sweden and Norway,
I announced in a council, at which the Ministers of
the two kingdoms were assembled, my opinion that
the revision of the Compact of Union was equally
called for by the well-understood interests of both
nations, and my hope that the two representations
would unite their efforts to mine, in order to bring
about a happy solution of that affair. I now renew
to you, gentlemen, the expression of that opinion
and of that hope.
" We are all convinced that the forms of re-
presentation of the Swedish nation are defective.
The present period, offering us the advantages of
security abroad and tranquillity at home, appears
particularly propitious for taking into considera-
tion those imperfections which impede warm rela-
tions between the Government and the people, and
the existence of which is as important to one as to
the other. A special representation of the Swedish
Church, devoting itself exclusively to the sacred
mission confided to it, appears to be loudly called
for. I intend to present to you a bill for ecclesias-
tical Synods.

"The communal laws which have just been pro-
mulgated authorise us to hope for a prosperous
future for the people and for the country. In con-
formity with the bills which you submitted to me
last session, I have sanctioned a thew law relative
to bankruptcies, as well us other measures relative
to affairs of credit. I shc,ll order to be laid before
you the draft of a new Penal Code, and I am having
a new Maritime Code prepared in a constitutional
manner, a revision having appeared to be indis-
pensable in the old one.

"Commissions composed of competent persons
have been appointed to examine into the state of
our means of defence, as well as the improvements
of which they stand in need. The formidable in-
crease of armaments in other countries will impose
on us considerable sacrifices,

" The incessant progress of society in all its
branches constantly gives rise to new exigencies
which you will be called on to satisfy. I have
thought that they ought to remain circumscribed
within the limit which you might have at your dis-
posal without having recourse to fresh taxes. The
Budget which will be presented to you will prove
that, over and above the sums required for the most
essential affairs; you will be enabled to devote a
considerable surplus both for other objects of public
utility and for securing a rapid increase in the con-
struction of railways. Those which have been
already completed, and which unite the two seas
which surround us, are about to open rich sources
for the increase of the general welfare.
"The abundance of the late harvest ought to in-
spire us with lively gratitude to Divine Providence,
which has also deigned to lately spare the country
from afflicting trials. The constantly increasing
influx of young persons to the public schools pro-
mises us the fruits of the progress of intelligence
disseminated among all classes of society, whilst the
arms which voluntarily devote themselves to the
defence of the country prove to our great satisfac-
tion that, in the midst of all the blessings of peace,
there still
of Sweden.
still exists as formerly a love of the indepen&
dente

" Calling for the protection of the Almighty on
your labours, I declare the present Diet to be
opened, and I renew to you, gentlemen, the assurd
ante of my kind feeling and of my affection."