$792' en the king of Sweden. 123 



to ^ give general satisfaction to the lower orders 

 of the people, whose welfare and prosperity he has 

 found it his interest to promote, and to prevent 

 even the machinations of his humbled aristocratics 

 from disturbing the tranquillity of the state. One 

 feeble attempt of the nobles to oppose his will, was 

 so easily reprefsed, as scarcely to deserve to be 

 noticed. Thus do they enjoy for the present, a 

 beneficial change in their circumstances ; and it 

 is to be hoped, that the enlightened state of Eu- 

 rope, will teach the monarchs to know in future, 

 that their own true interest is so intimately 

 connected with the prosperity of the people, as not 

 to admit of being disjoined from it with safety. 



croachments have been prod'gil of oaths to bind those to their 

 cause who they suspect are not hearty in it. They seem not willing to 

 advert, that Oitbs never can bind the unpriiicipled clafs of mankind, who 

 alone are the persons in thefe ca es ;o be most dreaded. They seem also 

 to forget that people, who find it their interest to bicak an oath where a 

 )jigh stake is at hand, will always find casuists in abundance to s..t.isfy 

 their consciences that tliey have only done right, when they disregirded 

 these oaths. Piobably Custavus was thus satisfied, that he committed no 

 crime when he one day swore, in the most solemn marmer, that he never 

 wojld infringe the constitution that existed before his ?ccefsion to the 

 throne; though only two days afrerw.irds be totally overturn- i that contltu- 

 t'oi. "These," he would probably saytohim e!f, "arc a parcel of tyrants, 

 who have afsu ned an unjust authority over both me and my peiple to op- 

 prefs us. I have no way of freeing my people from this thr.iKiom (a most 

 merit')rious en:erpri:e) but by complyirg for the prticnt with their orders. 

 1 therefore submit to it, that I may be enibled to scrue my couiftry." 

 Could I, by thus (bowing the a' surdity of imposing such oaths, ia any res- 

 pect prevent their being so univevsilly resort; d to, at they arc in the prr- 

 «»nt day, I (hojld tliiiik that I served the cuse of liumanity a good deai J 

 i always suspect it is a bad ciuse, where oaths are pro.ligdly requested j 

 and thoie who arc most f)iv i.d in taking them, I : ould often suspect had 

 farmed a plan, like the g and kina of Sweden, to break them as quickly at 

 pofsible. 



