The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-05-01 00:00:00

THE STAT4SMAN.

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Sr. PHILLIP AND JAMES—Holiday at the Public gi

THE STATESMAN.

Sicily. Besides the Address of the KING to the Diet,
the Swedish Journals contain the reply of BERN ADcrrrt
to the States of the Kingdom, on the 18th of April
last.

His Royal Majesty's Speech to the Estates of the
Kingdom, in the Parliamentary Chamber, on open.
ing the Diet, at Orebro, the 20th of April, 1812:
HONOURABLE, NOBLE, AND RESPECTABLE ; WORTHY,
LEARNED, INSTRUCTED, AND. WELL-BELOVED WOR•

SIIIUUL AND TRUSTY GOO. GENTLEMEN AND SWE-
DIOS MEN :--
"krhe great concerns of our native country have
agait called me to apply to you for counsel before
the time fixed by the forms of Government for your
usulMeeting is expired. Since I last saw you as.
senaed before my Throne, several of the Acts by
you passed, and whereon the safety and welfare of
the Kingdom were indubitably dependant, have been
put to the proof, and their value proved by the lessons
of experience. If it is the lot of humanity to join with a
warm desire for what is right, the possibility of erring
in the choice of the means to effect it, it must be highly
satisfactory both to you and myself to be enabled
timely to prevent such misfortilnes, which the pres. !
sure of the times have brought forth, and which
alone, by a longer continuance, might possibly have !
brought with them deplorable circumstances for the
interior government of the country. In the propo-
sitions for amendment, which will now be laid before
you, I am convinced, good Gentlemen and Swedish
Men, that you well perceive I have always acknow-
ledged that sincere reliance which I ever have, and
always shall remember, of your sentiments towards
me and the kingdom. I have called you together at
a moment when great and important occurrences,
out of our native country, seem to threaten Europe .1
with new misfortunes. Guarded by her situation
from the forced obligation of paying obedience
to foreign sway, which possibly might not accord
with her own interest, Sweden has every thing
to hope from unity, valour, and conduct ; every ;
thing to lose if she gives herself to intestine di. ,
visions and unwise fear. It is by the bond of unity
between me and you, by my Son's sword, rich in
honour, by the valour of our youth in arms, by the
powerful will of the peoi le, that the pros. '
perity of your laws and the honour of your liberties '
are secured. It is by the true and valuable example
of an undisturbed confidence between the King and
subjects, by firm and manly decisions in the midst of
tempestuous times, that the powers of Europe should
be convinced that the independence of Sweden is not I
solely defended by the seas which surround her coasts;
at such a decisive moment for preiing the general
sentiments, when it may be probable that foreign
calculations have been made, with intent to destroy
my exertions and your's. I ought to eudeavour to
shake off every thing that might have effect on the
freedom of your deliberations. Different causes, of !
great moment, confirmed me in the resolution of
transferring the Extraordinary Meeting of the Diet,
which was to have been holden at Stockholm, to this
place. If the situation of doubt and suspense which,
about two years since,was the chief occasion of taking I
a similar step on my side, has now given a greater
space for steady order, and that the loyalty and at-
tachment which the respectable citizens of Stockholm
have at all times, as well as in the before-mentioned
circumstances, shevv ti for their King and la w s an attach-
ment w hich, with equal pleasure and truth, I find my-
self obliged to give the inhabitants of my capital. I
nevertheless feel assured, that every unpreju-
diced man, only by referring to the circumstances
of the time, will perceive the reasons that have given
cause for removing the seat of the Diet, and find
their intention to be the security and dispatch of bu-
siness by the Estates of the kingdom. It now re-
mains with you, my good Lords and Swedish Men,
; to decide on my reasonable expectations towards the
`labours of the PRINCE, who, being equally near to
my heart as the throne, guided the concerns of the
country during the period when my infirm state of
health would not permit of my participating in them.
Who then, with a powerful hand, knew how to
I restore order and tranquillity at home, recal the
erring mind, awaken the slumbering national spirit,
put life and motion into the general business of the
" state, conficleuce and hope into the hearts of his
I fellowecitizens, who restored into my hands a king-
! dom peaceful and respected, were only for my ho-
nour, and that of his foster country to which he
always attached lus own, who has laid on me and
1-you the joint and second obligation of not deceiving
his noble hopes, to take from him the great example
of self-denial, and that power of mind which is sue
perior to dangers. My good Lords and Swedish
Menem I judge of the feelings which fill your
heart, by those I myself am possessed with at
this solemu hour. • You should be guided by
the same warm love for your natural country,
as that which Juts always filled-your aged King
in times of peace, anti in the vicissitudes and destruc-
tion.of warfare. Yon will show
.yourselves worthy
of the support give* you and the kingdom by a
guardian Providence, in the Noble Prince who stands
by my side. You Will follow his steps and Weed to
his voice, for his sole object is your honour and your
liberty. You will put aside from your Council* all
party passions, all party inclinations, lig incompatible
with thegeneral demands of the stater You will circum-
scribe your ambition, tind think of poyeer within'the
commouheunderies of deteratinati on,to live and die Ilk e
Swedish men. It is only by such i mode of thinking
that Sweden, restiag in sesmsity .on the valour of her !