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ORIGINAL ANECDOTES AND REMAINS 
} 
OF .- 
3 EMINENT 
PERSONS, 
| This Article is devoted to the Reception of Biographical Anecdotes, Papers, Letters, (&c. and 
we requeft the Communications of fuch of our Readers as can affift us in thefe odjeéts:| 
AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE OF THE 
ASSASSINATION OF THE LATE 
KING OF SWEDEN, GUSTAVUS 
1Il.# 
ON the king’s return from the diet at 
Gefle, when his majefty had every 
reafon to be fatisfied with the proceed- 
ings of the affembly, a grand bail was 
given at the Opera Houfe. This was 
{ucceeded by feveral familar entertain- 
ments, the laf&t of which was fixed for 
the 15th of March, 1792. 
The king, according to cuftom, dined 
at one of his ‘feats, called Haga, about a 
league diftance from Stockholm, on the 
road to Upfal. At four in the afternoon 
he returned to the capital, and alighted 
at the apartments which he had caufed to 
be fitted up for his reception contiguous 
to the Opera-Houfe. The royal palace 
had been long deferted by the Swedifh 
Anoharch, his place of aétual refidence 
being Haga. 
Precifely at two o'clock, a note had 
been delivered to one of the pages, 
fealed with a wafer, and bearing the 
impreffion of a coat of arms, which were 
afterwards recognized, for the arms of M. 
de Lilienhorn, an officer in the guards. 
It was direéted * To the divy.”” Scarcely a 
day paffed, but fome myiterious note or 
other was addreffed to his majefty. The 
ge, through forgerfulnefs, kept this 
etcer in his pocket, till ix in the even- 
ing, when he delivered it into the hand 
of the monarch. 
From the hour of four -to fix his -ma- 
jefty was engaged in familiar converla- 
tien with many gentlemen of-rank, who 
were prefent at the delivery of this note. 
It was written with crayon, and ran as 
follows: “Iam ftill among the gumber 
of your friends, though I have reafons to 
be fuchno longer. Do not gotothe ball 


- * This account of the affaffination of the late 
\'* king of Sweden, differing materially from any 
_ ftarement we have hitherto jeen, we have been 
Induced to give it to our readers. It is ex- 
tratted froma Narrative of the Affoffination of” 
j 
Bis late Swedi/fh Majeffy, Guffavus IL. lately 
“publifhed on the continent, by a Polith officer, 
who was an eye-witnefs of the whule tranf- 
pttion. li, 
» 
‘ 
this evening. Your life will be ata 
tempted,” Bie 
After reading this laconic epiftle, the 
king returned it with a fmile into his 
pocket. He then adjourned ro the 
Opera, where he ftaid the whole time in. 
his box. The performance being finifh- 
ed, the king fhowed the nete he had 
jaft received to baron Von Effen, his 
equerry, regarding it in the light of a. 
malicious forgery, The baron, 
ever, was of a very different opinion, 
and, infiead of partaking the fecurity of 
his royal matter, employed his utmoft 
rhetoric to perfuade him to fift this affair 
to the bottom, and to avoid the threaren- 
ed danger, by returning tmmediately to 
Raga. The king, however, continued 
firm in his determination to be prefent at 
the bail: “ At Icaft, let me beg of your 
majetty (replied the baron) not to come 
without a cuirafs.”” Unfortunately the 
king was deaf to all prudent remon- 
firances. He regarded fuch meafures of 
precaution, as ani aét of pnfillanimicy. 
Warnings of a fimilar nature, had of 
late been frequently fent him, but he 
imagined, that the malcontents only 
aimed at keeping him in continual alarm, 
and would never have the temericy to 
carry their threats mto execution. 
After fupper, the king deicended into 
the lobby belonging to the frft range of 
boxes. An old French, foldier, named 
Delan, formerly a corporal im the revi 
ment of Royal Swedes, in the pay. sf 
France, having retired to Stockho! 
had obtained permiffion to vend fy 
meats and_ refrefhments in this lobby, 
This veteran had cunciliated the good 
graces of the monarch, and indeed of 
the whole court, by his good humour and 
military franknefs. It was a commor 
thing with the frequenters of the Opera, 
to divert thenifeives witn making him 
talk Swedifh, of which he had a very im- 
porfeét. knowledve; his°anfweis, of 
ceurfe, never failed to excite laughter. 
The king amufed himfeif, afew minutes, 
with this facetious corporal, and feemed 
highly entertained with his replies ; then 
taking the arm of baron Von Effen, who 
had kept clofe to him the whole evening, 
he 
how. - 

