4.34 



ANNUAL REGISTER, IS 14. 



var which I should have occasion- 

 ed by outraging the constitution 

 in the eyes ot the whole nation by 

 a crinainai weakness. If the King 

 of Sweden wish an amicable union 

 and not war, he will not insist on 

 this, and will accede to the i)ro- 

 posal which 1 have made to him of 

 leaving the two fortresses of Fre- 

 derickstein and Frederickstadt in 

 the custody of the citizens of these 

 cities. The evacuation of these 

 two fortresses by the Norwegian 

 troops, which leaves them without 

 the necessary defence, will give 

 every military advantage to the 

 Swedes ; and when I consider the 

 generous sentiments which should 

 guide his Swedish Majesty, I trust 

 that that monarch will at the same 

 time be satisfied to fix the neutral 

 ground on the east bank of the 

 Glommen to a circle of three 

 leagues around these fortresses. 



With respect to the third basis, 

 I must also observe to you, that 

 the proposed raising of the block- 

 ade of Norway, which I consider 

 as a condition inseparable fiom the 

 truce, and as an unequivocal mark 

 of the humanity and benevolence 

 of the allied powers towards tlie 

 people of Norway, must also be 

 extended to all points of the coast, 

 if it is wished that it be regarded 

 as a real benefit. Any other con- 

 dition would give rise to embar- 

 rassments and perpetual quarrels, 

 which might too easily lead to a 

 rupture of the armistice, and of 

 the negociations consequent there- 

 on. I have also demanded this of 

 the King of Sweden, and I hope 

 that he will acknowledge the truth 

 of all these observations on the 

 subject of the raismg of the block- 

 ade, if it be wished to avoid every 

 thing thai might yet bring on a 

 disastrous war in the North. 



I will furnish Major-Generai 

 Peterson, and my aide-de-camp 

 Captain Holsteen, with my full 

 powers to conclude the truce at 

 Fiederickshall, or at Swinemund ; 

 and 1 sincerely wish that this ne- 

 gociation may be happily termina- 

 ted, and be only preliminary to 

 reconciliation and amicable union. 



I demand the guarantee of the 

 allied powers for the truce, and 

 for the propositions regarding the 

 basis of union, to which his Swed- 

 ish Majesty shall please to accede. 



On the subject of the King of 

 Denmark's letter, as to which I 

 abstain from all reflection, I shall 

 beg of you to take charge of my 

 reply. It will contain in few words 

 the declarations which my present 

 position and my honour have re- 

 quired my making to you, and of 

 which you have acknowledged the 

 weight. It will show his Majesty 

 that it is impossible for me to 

 follow his orders until the Diet 

 the fate of arms shall have 



or 



decided the future condition of 

 Norway ; and for the rest I must 

 leave it to his wisdom and his con- 

 science whether he judge it pro- 

 per to carry into e£Fect his threats 

 against me and the Danish officers, 

 which, however, would change 

 greatly ray personal situation, and 

 the line of conduct which 1 have 

 resolved to pursue. 



This note being the last which 

 I shall have to hand over to you. 

 Gentlemen, envoys from the allied 

 courts, 1 seize this opportunity of 

 begging you to be persuaded of the 

 very particular consideration with 

 which I subscribe myself. 



Your very affectionate. 



Christian Frederick. 



(Signed) HoLTRN. 



Christiana, July 13, 1814. 



