STATE PAPERS. 



707 



herein as to them may respectively 

 appertain. 



Stephen Cottrell. 



Proclamation issued by the new 

 King of Sweden on his ascend- 

 ing the Throne. 



t We, Charles XIII. by the grace 

 of God, king of Sweden, &c. to 

 all our faithful subjects, &c. &c. 

 greeting, 



When, under Divine Providence, 

 we assumed some time ago the 

 provisional government of our be- 

 loved native country, committed to 

 us by the states of our realm, we 

 immediately called the attention of 

 the diet to the indispensable and 

 important task of framing a new 

 constitution calculated to promote 

 the prosperity, tranquillity, and 

 welfare of the country, by an irre- 

 vocable union between the mutual 

 rights and duties of the king and 

 people of Sweden. 



The states having informed us 

 that they have not only performed 

 the important task committed to 

 them by us, and the confidence of 

 their fellow subjects, but also that 

 they have chosen us king of Swe- 

 den and of the Goths and Van- 

 dals, requesting our approbation of 

 that choice, the cordial and loyal 

 manner in which that election was 

 made, did not allow us to decline 

 its acceptance. Relying on the 

 Omnipotent, who explores the in- 

 most recesses of the human heart, 

 and knows the sincerity and purity 

 of our sentiments, moved by the 

 most fervent love and zeal for our 

 native land, which can only cease 

 with our existence, and trusting we 

 shall be most powerfully supported 

 by the loyal attachment of the 



noble Swedish nation, we have 

 therefore accepted the crown and 

 sceptre of Sweden. 



It is far more gratifying to our 

 feelings, to have been called upon 

 by the free and uncontrolled voice 

 of the people to become their 

 king, protector, and defender, 

 than if we had ascended the an- 

 cient Swedisli throne merely by 

 right of hereditary succession. 

 We shall govern the kingdom and 

 people of Sweden, as an indulgent 

 parent does his children ; with im- 

 plicit confidence in the honest ; 

 with forbearance towards those 

 who err undeliberately ; upright- 

 ness towards all ; and when the 

 day arrives, the near approach of 

 which is announced by our advan- 

 ced age, which shall put an end to 

 our worldly cares, we will hail our 

 last moments with the pious resig- 

 nation of the just, and close it by 

 blessing you all. 



(Signed) Charles. 



Gust. Suydsjelkd, Aulic 

 Chancellor. 

 Council hall, Stockholm Castle, 

 June 6, 1809. 



King's Sjjeech in ike House of 

 Lords, Wednesday/, June 21, by 

 Commission. 



" My Lords and Gentlemen ; 



" We are commanded by his 

 majesty to acquaint you, that his 

 majesty has great satisfaction ia 

 being enabled, by the state of the 

 public business, to release you from 

 your laborious attendance in par- 

 liament. 



" His majesty doubts not that 

 on your return into your respective 

 counties, you will carry with you a 

 disposition to inculcate, both by in- 

 struction and example, a spirit of 



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