Feb- 



CHRONICLE. 



17 



independence of the kingdom. 

 Providence crowned our endea- 

 vours with success. In the present 

 melancholy hour it was therefore 

 our first duty, as well as our first 

 thought, to implore its powerful 

 support in our future actions. 

 From your unanimity and pa- 

 triotism we expect the most 

 powerful assistance. In faithful 

 union with your king, who is 

 bound to you by the laws, you 

 will continue to be free and inde- 

 pendent ; in this manner you will 

 most worthily honour the memory 

 of the Prince whom we lament, 

 and may his blessed spirit for ever 

 protect a happy people who can 

 say upon his grave, with pure 

 heartfelt gratitude, ' Through 

 him we possessed the laws which 

 we ourselves made, the free soil 

 which covers the bones of our 

 fathers, and the brightened pros- 

 pect of our future lot, which his 

 virtues and his self-denial have 

 prepared for us.' We remain 

 well affected to you all and each, 

 with our Royal favour, and re- 



» commend you to God the Al- 



1 mighty. 



" Charles John. 



J " G. Von Wetterstedt. 



I *' Palace at Stockholm, 

 Feb. 5, 1818." 

 The postponement of the 

 Queen's Drawing-room is occa- 

 sioned by the state of her Ma- 

 jesty's health, which has been 

 very indifferent during the last 

 three weeks or a month, although 

 she takes her accustomed exer- 

 cise. — Morning paper, Feb. 10. 



This is the first intelligence we 

 have received respecting the dis- 

 ease which has proved so fatal to 

 her majesty. 

 10. The Mary, Captain Ca- 

 Vol. LX. 



theroe, arrived in the river from- 

 Leghorn, on Thursday, and is 

 now in the London Duck. Dur- 

 ing her voyage she touched at 

 Alexandria, where the Captain 

 took in about 60 pilgrims, to 

 convey them to Tunis. At the 

 time of embarking, no symptom 

 of disease appeared amongst 

 them, but on the passage one of 

 them was taken ill and died. No 

 suspicion was then entertained 

 by the crew, that the unfortunate 

 man had died of the plague ; but 

 shortly after, a boy belonging to 

 the ship was seized with the com- 

 plaint, and also died. It then 

 communicated to the Captain, his 

 son, and two of the sailors, who 

 soon fell a sacrifice to the disor- 

 der. Four more of the pilgrims 

 shortly after died. The sufferings 

 and fatigue of the remaining part 

 of the crew, from the few hands 

 left to work the vessel, was great 

 in the extreme. The only officer 

 left was Mr. Welch, the mate, 

 and two or three sailors ; these 

 worked the ship until she had 

 nearly reached Tunis, when the 

 sailors caught the infection and 

 perished. The mate was now the 

 only European on board, but was 

 so fortunate as to get the vessel 

 safe into port. The passengers 

 were immediately landed, and the 

 ship and cargo taken under the 

 care of the British resident at 

 Tunis. Mr. Welch was after- 

 wards attacked by the disorder, 

 and lay for nine days insensible ; 

 he was put on board an hospital 

 ship, where he continued for se- 

 veral weeks before he had reco- 

 vered strength to resume his 

 duties. During this time the ves- 

 sel, put under quarantine, was 

 completely fumigated, and every 

 C- precaution 



