STATE PAPERS. 



6 87 



and Denmark, incessantly engaged 

 in pursuits tending to promote the 

 prosperity of their people, will not 

 disturb the peace and tranquillity of 

 a nation which merely desires to 

 live or die independent. 



We have seen with sorrow the 

 most important concerns of Sweden 

 managed in a manner which was as 

 destitute of any well conceived plan 

 as of success. 



Might not the remaining strength 

 of Sweden have been wasted by fol- 

 ly? but, if directed by wisdom, 

 may it not be employed for the real 

 benefit of the country ? Such are 

 our wishes for our country, and we 

 shall readily sacrifice our lives to 

 obtain their fulfilment. It is of the 

 utmost importance for Sweden, that 

 every Swede should at length be al- 

 lowed to return to a peaceful home, 

 as far as it can be done without any 

 disparagement to the honour and 

 independence of Sweden. 



The frontiers of the kingdom are 

 for a short time left without de- 

 fence, on account of our depar- 

 ture from thence ; but should the 

 enemy, contrary to his solemn pro- 

 mise, avail himself of our absence to 

 attack them, we shall speedily re- 

 turn, take a severe revenge, and 

 convince him of the difference of a 

 warfare carried on by personal ha- 

 tred of the rulers, and a war urged 

 by a nation, anxious and determined 

 to assert its independence. 



We implicitly confide, that all mi- 

 litary commanders will readily co- 

 operate with us, to secure, by 

 speedy and vigorous exertion, the 

 restoration of our lost prosperity, 

 in the destruction of our foreign 

 foes. 



To conclude, we venture to ex- 

 press the wish, that our beloved 

 countrymen and fellow-citizens of 



every rank and description may sus- 

 pend their judgment on all further 

 proceedings, until the decision of 

 the states of the realm shall be 

 known. 



(Signed) 

 The Commander of the Troops 

 stationed in Weimland. 



Letters Patent and Proclamation 

 of his Royal Highness the Duke 

 of Sudermania, Regent of the 

 Swedish Kingdom, to all the 

 Estates ofthe Realm, concerning 

 a General Diet to be held on the 

 \st of May, in the present year : 

 Given at the King's Palace, at 

 Stockholm, March lith, 1809. 



We Charles, by the grace of 

 God, assure you, estates of the 

 realm, counts, barons, archbi- 

 shops, bishops, nobles, clergy, 

 burghers of cities, and common- 

 alty, of our particular favour, gra- 

 cious intentions, and kind affection, 

 under the protection of Almighty 

 God. 



Since we, according to our gra- 

 cious proclamation of the 13th in- 

 stant, have found ourselves called 

 upon to take the reins of govern- 

 ment as regent, in order to save 

 our beloved native country from 

 unavoidable destruction, we have 

 considered it of the highest import- 

 ance to deliberate with the states of 

 the realm, upon the means which 

 may procure and confirm the fu- 

 ture ihappiness of the Swedish na- 

 tion. We wish, therefore, and 

 command that all the states of the 

 realm may assemble in the capital 

 of the kingdom before the 1st of 

 May next, and that not only the no- 

 bility may regulate their conduct 

 by the laws for the house of nobles 



given 



