ApoB Memoirs of Gustavus Adolphus IV. King of Sweden. 
scatel in the regency before the creas 
tures of Russia, (a power ever hostile to 
Sweden), retired to various other coun- 
tres. Amoagst the most turbulent was 
the Baron von annerela, who, by his in- 
trigues with the comrt of St. Petersburgh, 
was very active i endeavourmg to de- 
prive the duke of the regency, and even 
of hie. The Court of Sweden was not ig- 
norant of his plots; all his steps were ob- 
served by spies; and an opportunity was 
seized to take his papers from him; they 
Were sent to Ripe Rin and laid bef ore 
the proper tribunal, who arrested all-his 
nae C ompi: ces. .that 
The greater part of the documents relative 
to this trial were published, and proved 
incontrovertibly to the world, that the 
conspiracy was managed by the court of 
Russia. 
The Duke of Sudermania sche to 
unite his royal ward with one of the 
young Princesses of the house of Meck- 
ienbure. The marriage was even agreed 
on, and the princess publicly announced 
as the future Queen of Sweden. At the 
news of this measure the Empress of 
Russia shewed great displeasure, pre- 
tending that Gustavus the II. had pro- 
mised her the hand of his son for one 
of her grand-daughters. The regent 
would not hearken to her message, abil 
was couched in terms rather of command 
than expostulation; and the misunder- 
standing between Sweden and Russia 
seemed ready to assume the most se-~ 
rious appearances, when a French emi- 
grant, named Christin, arrived at Stock- 
holm. He had come from England, and 
gave out that he was charged with a 
mission from Count d’Artois to the Nor- 
therm Powers. But this was only a 
pretence, for it was well known after- 
wards, that he was a secret messenger. 
from the Tzaritza to incline the regent 
to her views. His negociation was at- 
tended with success; and, in the course 
of a few weeks, General Budberg arrived 
in Sweden, with the title of Ambassador 
from Russia. 
The regent having been completely 
gained over by the artifices of the impe- 
rial court, took the name of Count von 
Vasa, and repaired with young Gustavus 
(who concealed his royalty under the, 
appellation of Count von Haga) to St. 
Petersburgh. The pride of the Empress 
was at its: ‘height ; her policy had gained 
one victory, and her presumption led her 
to anticipate another. 
The most. spléndid entertainments 
were devised ‘and given; and the Grang- 
were in the kingdom. 
319 
Duchess Alexandra was introduced, in 
the full blaze of youthful charms and 
regal attire, to the young monarch, 
The sight of her easily made him forget 
the Princess of Mecklenburg.  Propo- 
sals of marriage being instantly offered ; 
they were readil: y accepted, and a day 
was fixed for the ee All now was 
congratulation and joy. , 
When the contract was presented to 
the king to sign—(to the astonishment of 
the imperial assembly, who with wonder 
and disappointment at so much conscience 
and wisdom in a lover and a youth of 
nineteen) he said, that the princess must 
previously change her religion; for, till 
she complied with that condition, he 
could not set his hand to the contract. 
Catherine at first had recourse to per- 
suasion, flattery, and promises, to pre- 
vail on him to sign the deed; but still 
the young king, though often regarding 
the lovely Alexandra with a sorrowful 
and pleading look, remained firm to his 
purpose.—“ ‘he laws of* my country 
command me, (continued he), and none 
can I make Queen of Sweden who refuses 
to comply with whatthey require.”—Upon 
these last words, which were delivered ina 
calm aud determined tone that declared 
them to be irrevocable, the empress rose 
sternly from her chair, and> followed by 
the grand-duke and his imperial sisters, 
left the room. 
Gustavus was steady; and in defiance 
of the threats of Russia, and his love for 
the princess, the next morning, with 
the regent and his whole retinue, quitted 
St, Petersburg for Sweden. Disgusted 
with the designs of Russia, which were 
too apparent in the plot to separate the 
religion of the queen from the king’s (for 
_ did the young arch-duchess possess any 
thing like the ambition of her imperial 
crand-mother, Sweden might one day 
have been forced to exchange the simple 
worship of Luther, for the pageantry 
of the Greek church); and devoting his 
mind entirely to the welfare of his coun- 
try, the virtuous young monarch soon 
conquered his regrets for the lovely Alex- 
andra;* and married the no less beau- 
tiful aud amiable Princess of Baden-Dur- 
lach, sister to the present Empress of Rus- 
sia. Before the expiration of a twelve- 
month, the young Queen gave birth to a 
son; ee in unison with the most. distant 
provinces, as wellas those nearer the royal 
— 
This princess, in 1799, married Ferdi. 
nand Arch-Duke of Austria; and died in 
shild-bed, March 6, 1S01, 5 
residence, 
