The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-16 00:00:00

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t) r 471 '''.lAl'lll t n

SUN OFFICE, Sic o'Clock.

THE KING OF SWEDEN'S

SPEECH.

The following is the text of the speech delivered
by the King of Sweden, on the cloning of the Diet,
on the sth :

" Gentlemen, —Your labours are terminated. In dis-
missing you, I feel a real satisfaction at the manner in
which you have employed the thne, upwards of a year,
which you have passed in deliberation. The country
has derived as much advantage as renown from it ; its
situation inspires confidence and respect both at home
and abroad. After a careful examination, I thought right
to lay before you bills relative to the manner in which,
in certain given cases the Government of the united
kingdoms is to be constituted, and relative to the press.
Whilst preserving in the fundamental law the principle
of the liberty of the press, as one of the most precious
rights of the Swedish people, I have proposed to you to
insert therein the principal points which consecrate it, and
to place in the general enactments of the civil code the
subsidiary rules for the application of it. These
questions, which can only be solved in the next
assembly of the States-General, cannot fail to obtain
from them the serious and patriotic appreciation
which their importance and the interests of the
country demand. I have seen with satisfaction that you
have occupied yourselves with solicitude with the amelio-
rations to be introduced into the Commercial Code. This
grave question will be to me a subject of incessant at-
tention. In consequence of propositions which I have
addressed to you, you have 'adopted decrees relative
to the consolidation of public credit, the adoption of
uniform postage for letters in the interior, and the adop-
tion of a decimal system of money, weights, and mea-
sures. You have accorded large sums for productive
objects, and principally for the participation of the State
in great railway lines—these resolutions will no doubt
be very advantageous to the country. I thought it
my duty to communicate to you at the beginning
of the session a bill for circumscribing the manu-
facture and consumption of a spirituous liquor, the
disastrous effects of which on the morality and wel-
fare of the people have been too well proved by long
experience. I have learned with pleasure the serious
and patriotic zeal which you have displayed in this
question of general interest ; and I shall derive there-
from a strong inducement to adopt the measures
which it is necessary for me to take, in order to assure
the execution of the laws which you have voted,
The principles which you have laid down with respect
to the customs' legislation constitute a marked progress
in a more liberal sense. The prosperous situation of the
commerce and manufactures of the country presents si
favourable moment for the changes to be introduced
on that point. You have adopted my propositions
to simplify the collection of the taxes, and to re-
lieve the tax-payers in several important branches ;
and in spite of new allocations, necessary for the
regular march of the administration, you have found
means to diminish the additional imposts by more than
one-third of their former amount. I cannot but warmly
recognise your adherence to the measure by which
the fund for the alleviation of the sufferings, which
may arise in consequence of a want of food, has been
considerably augmented. The generous munificence
which you have shown in favour of establishments of
education and of public health, has not escaped
my notice. In addition to the sums set apart for the
fine-arts and sciences, you have voted considerable sums
for public buildings and hospitals, and for the ameliora-
tion of the condition of several classes of persons employed
by the state. The sums which you have voted for the
army and navy show that you have formed a just
appreciation of the wants of the country with regard
to its means of defence. In approving of my proposition
for fixing the credits intended for unforeseen cases,
you have put me in a position to take such measures
as might become urgent in consequence of circumstances
impossible to be determined on in advance. I fully ap-
preciate your confidence, and am penetrated with a
sense of the obligations which it imposes on me. The
Diet, which is new at an end, will hold a prominent
place in the annals of our history. In pronouncing its
close, I indulge in the firm hope that its results will
contribute to the happiness and glory of our country,
and I perform a sacred duty in expressing to you my
gratitude for the good that you have done. I renew to
you, gentlemen, the assurance of all my royal affection
and kind feeling."