204 anecdotes of F. F. Ankerstroem. June 27. 
As he advanced farther in life, this cruelty of disposi- 
tion developed itself in another way. He farmed an 
estate called Thorsaker. In Sweden the*peasants belong 
to the lord of the manor, and are not at liberty to leave the 
estate without his consent, or that of the person he sub- 
» Stitutes in his stead. It chanced that one of the pea- 
sants on that estate had.incurred, for some unknown cause, 
the particular displeasure of Ankerstroem. This poor 
fellow he treated on all occasions with such remarkable 
severity, that he could no longer bear it. He therefore 
proposed to find another able man in his stead, requesting 
that he himself might be permitted to go elsewhere. 
To this Ankerstroem objected, and in spite of every ef- 
fort, the poor fellow was obliged once more to return to 
the estate. He was now treated with additional severity. 
His case became so intolerable at last, that he found 
means to petition the king for relief, who ordered, that if 
he found another able substitute, he fhould no longer be 
obliged to work in person, 
Perhaps this slight put upon him by the king, apd 
others of a similar nature, might have operated on his 
irritable disposition, and point him out to other disaffected 
nobles as a proper tool to perpetrate the afsafsination in- 
tended. However that might be, he had the fortitude to: 
prove true to his afsociates ; and though upon his trial, 
his own guilt was undeniably establifhed, yet he could 
not be prevailed on to discover his accomplices. 
After a fair trial, carried on before the supreme tribunal 
in Stockholm, he was condemned to be degraded from — 
the rank of a noble and citizen of Sweden,—te stand on 
tke pillory in the market place, for three succefsive days, 
clothed in a bear-fkin gown. His hand to be afterwards. 
‘cut off, and then hanged. All this was executed on the © 
17th of May last. The regent has granted, we are 
