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ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



given on the 6th of June, 1626, by 

 the king Gustavus Adolphus, of 

 glorious memory, &c. and revived 

 and confirmed by king Gustavus 

 III. on the 9th of November, 1778, 

 but that the other states, which, as 

 usual, send deputies, may observe 

 the following order: From the cler- 

 gy are expected to appear the arch- 

 bishop, every bishop from his dio- 

 cese, the first pastor in Stockholm, 

 together with so many from each 

 diocese as usual, and of the other 

 states as many as usual, all provid- 

 ed with necessary letters of deputa- 

 tion, in order that we may be able 

 to begin the diet, and after its being 

 fortunately finished, give you per- 

 mission to return ever}- one to his 

 province. Which every one must 

 respectfully observe, and we are, 

 &c. &c. 



Address of his Royal Highness the 

 Duke of Sudermania, to the Peo- 

 ple of Sweden, dated Stockholm, 

 March 15th, 1809. 



His royal highness, the duke 

 of Sudermania, deems it right and 

 conformable to the duties of his 

 high station, publicly to lay before 

 the Swedish people, the motives and 

 causes which produced the import- 

 ant change, which has lately taken 

 place in the government of this 

 country. 



The archives of the state con- 

 tain a great variety of ducuments, 

 which will prove the necessity of 

 that measure, both to the present 

 age and posterity. 



For this long time past the pub- 

 lic opinion condemned a system of 

 warfare, which so little suits a coun- 

 try, the commercial concerns of 

 which claim that neutrality, which 



her fortunate geographical situa- 

 tion, which seems tosecure Sweden, 

 demands, and that was sacrificed 

 by the government. As early as 

 1805, Sweden, joined by other 

 powers, entered into a war with 

 France, which from local circum- 

 stances, was then, however, confin- 

 ed to the loss of her trade with 

 nearly all the states of Europe; a 

 loss which, although not to be com- 

 pared with that she has since sus- 

 tained, was yet of great moment. 



Soon after difterences with Prus- 

 sia, arose, which, however, were not 

 attended with consequences equally 

 important. In 1807, the share 

 which Sweden took in the coalitioa 

 against France became momentous, 

 and its influence on the dearest in- 

 terests of the country more detri- 

 mental. Swedish Pomerania was 

 occupied by foreign troops, and 

 Stralsund besieged ; yet one pro- 

 spect of more fortunate times yet 

 remained. 



A continental peace was on the 

 point of being concluded at Tilsit, 

 and Sweden invited to form one of 

 the contracting parties; Sweden re- 

 fused ; and in consequence of this 

 refusal she was compelled to fight 

 France, and her numerous allies, 

 single-handed on the continent of 

 Europe, and the siege of Stralsund 

 was carried on with increased vi- 

 gour. Even during that siege, nay, 

 after the conclusion of the conven- 

 tion, which stipulated the evacua- 

 tion of Pomerania and Riigen by 

 our troops, oflFers of peace were 

 made by the enemy, and rejected; 

 and the German possessions of Swe- 

 den, the last remains of the con- 

 quests of Gustavus Adolphus the 

 Great, were lost. Sweden had, 

 however, to sustain losses still more 

 severe. In the winter of 1 807, and 



the 



