4.66 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



been totally annihilated in Sweden, 

 so that the people, inconsequence, 

 were but imperfectly acquainted 

 with the state of Europe. The 

 King had all along been very po- 

 pular with the people, who, igno- 

 rant of his real character, ascribed 

 all his errors in Germany to the 

 want of capacity in his ministers. 

 Even the commencement of the 

 Russian and Danish war did not 

 alter their sentiments, and the 

 losses sustained in Finland served 

 only to irritate the minds of the 

 people. Popular enthusiasm was 

 raised to the highest pitch, and the 

 most glorious results would have 

 taken place had the throne been 

 filled by a prince who understood 

 how to profit by the disposition of 

 his subjects. But the management 

 of the war in the summer and 

 autumn of 1808, opened the eyes 

 of the whole Swedish nation. The 

 deplorable state of the finances, 

 the detcrmmation of the King never 

 to make peace, and the absurd 

 plans which he liad projected for 

 the next campaign, awakened in 

 the mind of every thinking man 

 the necessity of tzkmg some imme- 

 diate step to save their tottering 

 country. 



Colonel Adlesparre, who com- 

 manded the western army, con- 

 ducted his troops to Carlstadt, 

 harangued the different regiments 

 in succession in the m?irket-place, 

 informed them of the hazardous 

 enterprize which he had under- 

 taken, and the necessity of such 

 measures for the safety of their 

 country. The troopsunanimously 

 entered into his views, and offered 

 to sacrifice their lives for the sal- 

 vation of their country. A detach- 

 ment was sent to take possession of 

 Gottenburg, while colonel Adle- 



sparre marched with the rest of his 

 army to Orebro. 



The conspirators, at Stockholm, 

 were sensible that the King's re- 

 treat ought, at all hazards, to be 

 prevented, and, therefore, resolved 

 upon attempting to seize his per- 

 son next day, the 13th of March, 

 before he should have leisure to 

 put any of his plans in execution. 

 Baron Aldercreutz, who had come 

 to Stockholm on purpose, and who 

 had acquired reputation by his 

 conduct in the Finland war, agreed 

 to take the lead on this occasion. 



Baron Aldercreutz, count Kling- 

 spor, colonel Silfversparre, and 

 many other officers who were in 

 the secret, assembled in the pa- 

 lace by eight o'clock in the morn- 

 ing. The number of conspirators 

 within the palace amounted to 

 about fifty. 



Baron Aldercreutz now went 

 round and desired those who were 

 stationed at the gates and the other 

 parts of ihe palace to be vigilant 

 on their parts, and having collect- 

 ed a number of officers he entered 

 the King's room. When the door 

 opened, the King seemed surpris- 

 ed ; the baron immediately ap- 

 proached and said, '• That the 

 public mind was in the utmost 

 irritation from the unfortunate state 

 of the country, and particularly 

 from his majesty's intended depar- 

 ture from Stockholm : that the 

 higher officers of state, the troops, 

 and the most respectable citizens, 

 had encouraged him to represent 

 the consequences to his majesty, 

 for which purpose" — here the 

 King loudly exclaimed, " Trea- 

 son ! you are ail corrupted and 

 shall be punished !" The baron 

 answered, " We are no traitors, 

 but wish to save your majesty, and 



