STATE PAPERS. 



281 



ing the kingdom with every thing 

 requisite for repairing the hreach, 

 which, if not speedily remedied, 

 might undermine its welfare — I 

 have in that conviction, in the 

 course of the last three years, faced 

 Avith intrepidity all difficulties and 

 ohstacles, in searching myself after 

 the means, hy useful arrangement 

 and strict economy, to increase the 

 revenues of the kingdom, in full 

 confidence thus to discover the ge- 

 nuine source for the stability and 

 the dignity of an independent 

 country. 



The revenues and expenses, toge- 

 ther with the wants of the state, I 

 have caused to be estimated, that 

 they may this day he laid before 

 the members of the diet, to prove 

 what I have been able to effect for 

 the benefit of the empire, and what 

 farther measures may be necessary 

 for fulfillingour first and mutual en- 

 deavours to ameliorate and fix the 

 standard of the price of money. 

 The low course of exchange, arising 

 from the pressing debts of the em- 

 pire, have always thwarted my best 

 designs and plans for the welfare of 

 the state. Every individual feels 

 this oppressive evil, more or less, 

 but the government feels it more 

 sensibly ; for it has not only dimi- 

 nished the revenues of the state, but 

 opened a wide field to selfishness 

 and usury, than which nothing can 

 operate more prejudicially to the 

 fellow-citizens of greedy specula- 

 tors, who ought to be shunned and 

 detested by every honest man. 



Two oppressive and disastrous 

 years have not a little contributed 

 to the present high prices of corn 

 and provisions ; and the state, as 

 much as the individual, has felt the 

 deficiency of crops, and other heavy 

 losses. I shall, nevertheless, find 



great consolation in any efficacious 

 means to enable me to succour my 

 distressed subjects, and to furnish 

 them with farther proofs of my soli- 

 citude for their welfare. 



I have thus purposely called this 

 diet, to advise with you how to ob- 

 viate the existing evils, and how to 

 prevent similar ones in future. To 

 effect this important end, it is ne- 

 cessary that I should be crowned 

 king of Sweden, in order to cement 

 the sacred bonds of union in the 

 most solemn manner, which ought 

 ever to unite the sovereign with the 

 nation. I conceived the most pro- 

 pitious period for this solemnity 

 would be that after the birth of my 

 beloved son Gustav, the fruit of 

 my happy union with my beloved 

 consort. I want words to express 

 to you the joy I felt, on seeing the 

 throne of Sweden, by the grace of 

 the Most High, still more fortified 

 than before ; and this happy sensa- 

 tion was mixed with the natural sa- 

 tisfaction of being a father. And 

 if I this day recall those unspeaka- 

 ble sensations to my bosom, it is in 

 the fond hope, the perfect convic- 

 tion, that my beloved and faithful 

 subjects here assembled partake 

 them with their prince. 



When I gave a name to my son, 

 which in so many respects must be 

 dear to us and our common country, 

 I was in great hopes to educate 

 him in such a manner as to render 

 him worthy of that name ; that, 

 whenever I shall be no more, he 

 may render his people happy. I 

 shall ever represent to him the great 

 destiny of Providence, in order 

 that, from his infant days, he may 

 be impressed with the great impor- 

 tance of his future duty ; and that 

 he may never forget that he is bom 

 and dciitiued to rcigu over a free. 



