280 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



faithful people^ whom he had called 

 together to consult with them in 

 confidence and harmony on the af- 

 fairs of the kingdom, and this at a 

 time when a fanatical fury convul- 

 sed almost every country, which af- 

 terwards laid waste and destroyed 

 some of them in the most licentious 

 and inhuman manner, and dissolved 

 even the most sacred ties and con- 

 nections. 



He also said, that few in a simi- 

 lar station would expose themselves 

 to the ferments which are often oc- 

 casioned by large assemblies. — 'But 

 I,' these were his own words, 'did 

 not dread them, relying on your 

 attachment, and on the frankness 

 with which I shall lay before you 

 the affairs on which we must deli- 

 berate; and if your confidence 

 meets mine, the general good can 

 only result from it, the kingdom 

 will become strong, and gain the 

 esteem and veneration of foreign na- 

 tions." He then expressed his sin- 

 cere love for his people, and his 

 hopes that, at the conclusion of the 

 diet, he might be able, with similar 

 pleasure, to communicate his satis- 

 faction on the harmony which 

 guided your deliberations. He then 

 did not think his death to be so near, 

 which he had so often braved on 

 the field of battle against the ene- 

 mies of his country, but which he 

 had no reason to expect from some 

 of hiy own treacherous subjects. 



It is a melancholy and painful 

 duty to me, that, on addressing my 

 faithful subjects for the first time 

 from the throne, I must renew the 

 recollection of a crime which ought 

 to have remained unknown, and 

 considered impossible in this coun- 

 try. This recollection, however, 

 would excite still more horrid sensa- 

 tions within me, had I not the con- 



solation of being surrounded by 

 faithful subjects, who, as much as 

 myself, abhor such a crime, and 

 who still bewail the loss of a just 

 and gracious king and father. The 

 happiness, honour, and indepen- 

 dence of the kingdom were the ob- 

 jects of his endeavours; and we 

 must hope that the purity of his in- 

 tentions is no longer misconceived ; 

 the time in which we live, and the 

 events which we have witnessed, 

 must convince us more and more of 

 the wisdom of his measures, and the 

 sincerity of his endeavours. As I 

 have inherited the throne of my 

 father, together with his love for 

 his people, I wish to experience 

 from you the same fidelity and at- 

 tachment for me, which you have 

 shewn for him ; and that that har- 

 mony might reign among you, du- 

 ring the diet, to the maintenance 

 of which he has so often admonish- 

 ed you, as without it an independent 

 country cannot exist. 



Thus reminding you,my faithful 

 subjects, of the fulfilment of your 

 duties and connections, with respect 

 to myself and you, I ought not to 

 forget the vast extent of the diffi- 

 culties concerning me. On as- 

 cending the throne from which so 

 many great kings have governed 

 Sweden, I had reason to fear that I 

 might not be able to fulfil my sacred 

 duties as I wished it; but when I 

 considered, on the other hand, my 

 sincere endeavours to do justice to 

 those duties, since I have prayed 

 for the assistance and the grace of 

 the Almighty, and hope more and 

 more to be convinced that I reign 

 over subjects who, as well as my., 

 self, without any private views, 

 make the welfare of the country the 

 sole object of their endeavours; 

 who voluntarily meet me in support- 



