The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-07 00:00:00

SWEDEN.

The close of the session of the States of Sweden
took place on the 30th ult., with the usual ceremo-
nial. In the morning the Four Orders lofted, were
present with the King and Royal family at Divine
service, after which the clergy, burgesses, and
peasants went to the Hall to await the arrival of
his Majesty, who soon after appeared clothed with
the royal mantle, with the crown on his head and
sceptre in hand. His Majesty was accompanied by
his brother, Prince Oscar, and followed by the
Ministers, the knights of the Order of the Seraphim,
and other high personages. The King having taken
his seat on the throne, the Minister of the Interior
read a report of the labours of the session, and his
Majesty delivered the following address :
" Gentlemen—A period of more than a year has
elapsed since the opening of this Diet, but that time
has been usefully employed, and the country may
expect to see the results of this laborious session
exercise a salutary influence on the progress of our
institutions. You share, lam well convinced, in
the lively satisfaction I feel at the hopes which the
pregnancy of my well beloved sister-in law, the
Duchess d'Ostrogothia, allows us to cherish. The
united kingdom, thanks to the protection of the
Almighty, continues to enjoy the most complete
tranquillity, both at home and abroad. Our indepen-
dence and security, founded on the recognition and
application of a wise and legitimate liberty are
maintained, and our relations with foreign Powers
continue to bear the impress of the most friendly
character. On a proposition which I made, you
have adopted a law, which applied conform-
ably to the spirit that presided over its wording,
and according to the principles of perfect tolerance
must satisfy the legitimate pretensions of liberty of
conscience, hitherto denied to religious sects differ-
ing from our own. The care which you have devoted
to the improvement of the code of our laws, which in
several respects did not respond to the spirit of our
times, has contributed to cause the more general re-
cognition of the principles, on the adoption of which
legislative reform depends. The bills which have
been submitted to you for the changes to be intro-
duced in the municipal institutions of the towns
and country districts have, I am happy to declare,
led to such serious examination on your part; and,
on my part, I shall not fail to devote a careful soli-
citude to a satisfactory settlement of that important
question. In conformity with the bill presented
for your consideration, you have voted, for the
continuation of the State railways, considerable
sums which enable me to carry on, with the same
rapidity as heretofore, the execution of those works
so indispensable for the development of our mate-
rial re sources, while you have at the same time,
by wisel y combined measures with regard to the
loans contracted for the object in question, con-
tributed to consolidate the National Bank. In
order to respond to the want which is more and
more generally felt of credit establishments for
landed property, you have by adopting my views
on the subject, decided on the establishment of a
general mortgage bank, guaranteed by a fund
granted by the State, and in simultaneously
fixing new principles for private mortgage esta-
blishments in the kingdom. I am convinced that
agriculture, which is the principal industry of the
country, will reap the advantages resulting from
this decision. You have not thought proper, at
the present time, to note some of the credits which
I consider indispensable for the national defences,
but I have learnt with pleasure that the changes
which I had proposed to you with regard to the
principles which regulate the system of military
conscription, have met with
your approbation.
Agriculture, as well as other branches of national
industry, have been favoured, at the same time.
that primary instruction and the means of dissemp.
nating useful knowledge of a higher order, have
received proofs of your generous interest. In now
declaring your session to be closed, I renew to
you, gentlemen, the assurance of my Royal consi-
deration."
At the termination of this address, the four Pre.