STATE PAPERS. 



C&9 



the following year, serious appre- 

 hensions arose of an impending 

 rupture with our neighbours, both 

 on the east and west of our em- 

 pire. 



These apprehensions and dan- 

 gers might have been warded off a 

 few months before by the Swedish 

 government, by its accession to the 

 peace of Tilsit; a peace which 

 Sweden was not prevented from 

 concluding by her only ally, which 

 was offered on terms by no means 

 irreconcileable with the public in- 

 terest of Sweden. 



The war broke out in Finland, 

 and its gallant defenders, at the end 

 of a severe and honourable conflict 

 with an enemy far superior in num- 

 ber, were obliged to give up to him 

 their beloved country. This mis- 

 fortune, the most calamitous event 

 ■which has befallen Sweden for cen- 

 turies past, might have been avoid- 

 ed, if the powerful preparations of 

 defence, winch the situation andna> 

 ture of the country admitted, had 

 been conducted with wisdom and 

 skill, and if the plans of resistance, 

 no sooner adopted than relinquish- 

 ed, had been conceived and carried 

 into eifect, with unity and firmness. 

 Finland, which, in point of popu- 

 Jation and intrinsic value, formed 

 one-third part of the Swedish em- 

 pire, was lost, and this loss bore 

 with the most destructive pressure 

 on the two remaining thirds. 



In this state of affairs, the means 

 of waging war against such numer- 

 ous enemies could not prove suffi- 

 cient for any length of time, and no 

 other resource was left than to bur- 

 then with new taxes a people unable 

 to bear them. The public necessi- 

 ties increased in proportion as the 

 means and resources of the state 

 were destroyed. Trade and navi- 



Vol. LI. 



gation were at a stand; our mines 

 and agriculture were unproductive 

 from want of hands ; universal ruin 

 was spreading wide and far ; and 

 yet it was universally known that 

 his royal majesty had again re- 

 peated his former firm and unalter- 

 able determination not to conclude 

 a peace with the present govern- 

 ment of France, witiiout which, 

 however, no reconciliation with 

 Denmark and Russia could take 

 place. 



In this situation of affairs a consi- 

 derable part of the Western army 

 formed a resolution to march to the 

 capital with the patriotic view which 

 appears by the proclamation issued 

 on their part. Similar movements 

 took place among the rest of the 

 Swedish troops, and it was in this 

 critical position his royal majesty 

 came to the unfortunate resolution 

 of leaving Stockholm, and directing 

 his family and several officers of the 

 state, to follow him. The garrison 

 was ordered to file off, and it was 

 intended to assemble an army in 

 the south, to oppose the troops who 

 were approaching from the north 

 and west. Two distinct govern- 

 ments were thus to be formed, two 

 armies to be assembled, and a civil 

 war was to fill up the measure of 

 our calamities and distress. 



The king's departure was, how- 

 ever, postponed until the 13th 

 March, at noon. An universal con- 

 sternation prevailed. The most re- 

 spectful remonstrances against his 

 majesty's determination were re- 

 jected, and no other means remain- 

 ed even to secure the safety of the 

 king's own person, than to prevent 

 him from carrying his unfortunate 

 resolve into efl'ect. In these cir- 

 cumstances all the officers of state, 

 in conjunction with the states of the 



2" Y empire, 



