GENERAL HISTORY. 



[39 



leges of the ceded countries on both 

 sides. The King of Sweden fur- 

 ther promises to use his best endea- 

 vours with the Allied Powers, to 

 procure for Denmark, at a general 

 peace, a full equivalent for the ces- 

 sion of Norway. In the treaty 

 with Great Britain, the articles in 

 substance were, that all conquests 

 were to be restored, with the ex- 

 ception of Heligoland, which was 

 to remain in the possession of Eng- 

 land ; that the prisoners of war on 

 both sides were to be liberated ; that 

 Denmark was to join the allied 

 arms with 10,000 men, on the 

 condition of a subsidy from Eng- 

 land, of 400,000/. ; that Pouierania 

 was to be ceded to Denmark in 

 lieu of Norway ; that Stralsund 

 was to continue a depot for British 

 produce ; that Denmark was to do 

 all in her power for the abolition 

 of the slave trade ; and that Eng- 

 land was to mediate between her 

 and the other allies. The effect of 

 these treaties, as far as related to 

 the co-operation of the Danish 

 troops with the army of the Crown 

 Prince of Sweden, has been already 

 noticed. 



But all difficulties with respect 

 to these compacts were not over- 

 come by the acquiescence of the 

 King of Denmark. The people of 

 Norway are well known to possess 

 a high and independent spirit ; and 

 though they have long ceased to 

 constitute a separate nation, and 

 have been annexed to a monarchy 

 which circumstances have render- 

 ed nearly absolute, they have been 

 able to preserve constitutional pri- 

 vileges which, combined with their 

 detached situation from the seat of 

 government, have secured to them 

 a considerable share of practical 

 freedom. It was scarcely to be 



expected that such a people would 

 readily submit to be transferred, 

 without asking their consent, to a 

 new master ; especially to the So- 

 vereign of a country against which 

 that national enmity had been long 

 fostered, which usually exists be- 

 tween bordering neighbours. This 

 dislike too, had recently been ag- 

 gravated by the severe policy of 

 Sweden, in intercepting all supplies 

 of provision to Norway after a year 

 of scarcity, the consequence of 

 which is said to have been the 

 death of 5,000 persons, in the dio- 

 cese of Drontheim, of famine and 

 disease. Their governor at this 

 juncture was Christian Frederic, 

 hereditary Prince of Denmark, and 

 Duke of Schleswig Holstein, a 

 Prince apparently of an active and 

 enterprising character. On Jan. 

 18, an officer having arrived with 

 the ratification of the treaty con- 

 cluded between Sweden and Den- 

 mark, the Prince repaired to the 

 country-seat of the Chamberlain, 

 Mr. Carsten Anker, near Chris- 

 tiana, and on the 28th he assembled 

 the most considerable persons, ci- 

 vil, military, and ecclesiastical, to- 

 gether with the merchants and de- 

 duties who were met to regulate 

 the affairs of the national bank. 

 After layingbeforethem the treaty, 

 he asked if it was their opinion 

 that the people of Norway were 

 disposed to assert their ancient in- 

 dependence against the claijns of 

 Sweden. Their answer was, una- 

 nimously, in the affirmative; and 

 they earnestly besought the Prince 

 to remain at the head of the Go- 

 vernment, resolving, at the same 

 time, to effect his nomination to the 

 title of Prince Regent of Norway. 

 The Prince, who doubtless had al- 

 ready settled his plans, iramedi* 



