1808.]  AMemoirs of Gustavus Adolphus IV. King of Sweden. 323 
‘Ing so necessary to the general warfare; 
and that, in consequence, the mediation 
of foreign powers in an ailairy which ex- 
clusively relates to the internal concerns 
of the Empire, will be declined, as such 
mediation would be contrary to the inde- 
pendence and the dignity of the Empire, 
and might give birth to an idea that the 
Emperor andthe Empire are two ditferent 
powers while in fact they form but one 
and the same power, and are united by 
the most sacred and inviolable duties. 
No other mediator therefore was, accord- 
ing to hisMajesty’s conviction,required;but 
the maintenance of the constitution, and 
the application of the laws, of the Empire. 
A\bout seven months after the presen- 
tation of this note, it was made the 
foundation of a flippant and insulting at- 
tack, inserted inthe Momiteur, upon the 
conduct of his Swedish Majesty. As 
these observations, witha just alarm at 
the spreading ambition of France, occa- 
sioned the cessation of all diplomatic in- 
tercourse between the French legation at 
Stockholm and the Swedish government, 
it may not be improper to repeat them 
here, in the precise words in which they 
appeared. It is also to be remarked, 
that they are drawn up ina style mani- 
festly intended to establish an insidious 
distinction between Gustavus and_ his 
subjects. 
After asserting that nothing could be 
more striking than the inconsistency of 
the steps which the King of Sweden had 
taken, if the stamp of folly whieh is im- 
pressed on them did not strike still more 
forcibly; and dwelling upon the former, 
and present state of Sweden, with re- 
spect to the relations of that power 
with France ;—the observations proceed 
in the following indecent and_ frantic 
style—a style better adapted to the stalls 
of Billingsgate, than to the grave deci- 
sions of a First Consul and bench of Se- 
nators. 
‘* How (continue these insolent ques- 
tioners, addressing the hing of Sweden) 
does it happen, that you are the only 
power that does not perceive how disa- 
greeable are your proceedings at Ratis- 
bon, even to the Germanic body itself? 
Whilst you sell your cities, you engage 
in a fantastic discussion of concerns in 
Germany; whilst you enjoy hospitality 
at Baden, you insult your father-in-law. 
There has-not been a day of your resi- 
dence at Carlsruhe, in which Me have 
not given just cause of complaint to 
that-prince. Lastly, during your abode 
with your brother-in-law the elector of 
L ides 
©» 
Bavaria, you sign and date from Munich 
a note contrary to his interests. This 
prince was then weakened by the war; 
he was surrounded by armies; he was on 
the point of being invaded: he would 
have wanted your assistance, if your arm 
could have given him any; and’ it is at 
that moment, and in the very heart of 
his. capital, tnt you write against him! 
You are yet young; Mae when you sha:l 
have attained the age of maturity, if you 
read the notes you now issue as impromp- 
tus while travelling post;. you will surely 
repent of not having followed the advice 
of your exper ienced and faithful minis- 
ters 5 you will then do that which you 
ought always to have done: you will re- 
gard only the welfare of your subjects 
and the sood of your country. What it 
has done for yon, and for your ancestors, 
requires that you should not sacrifice 
its interests to vain and irregular passions, 
You will then attempt no more than you 
can perform; and you will not drive ‘the 
Gerinanic body into a war, to the success 
of which you could contribute nothing ; 
and in which your father-in-law, and 
your brother-in-law, would probably 
make @ common ue with Fr ANCE, 
And then, if the interest of the Baltic in- 
duces you to unite with Denmark, you 
will feel ‘that this interest is truly yours; 
that it is connected with the safety of 
your states, with the dignity of your 
crown, and the glory of your nation. 
You should have taken your precautions 
so as not to have left your coast unpro- 
tected; or to have suffered an enemy’s 
fleet to pass with impunity, within half 
acannon shot from your shores, to bom- 
Lard Copenhagen. It is not by such tro- 
phies that your ancestors acquired glory, 
and adorned the page of history. In 
short, you will not make, from the in- 
ducement of a pitiful subsidy, what no 
nation in Europe has yet made, a treaty 
so unworthy of your rank, as to be near- 
ly tantamount to an abdication of your 
sovereignty. We really think that if you 
read t his advic e, it will be lost upon you; 
but we believe at the same time, that you 
will not receive any other lesson from 
France. She is very indifferent to all 
your steps; indeed she does not call you 
to account for your conduct, because she 
cannot confound aloyaland iwire nation, 
and a people who, being her faithful 
ally for centuries, were justly called the 
French of the North; nay, she does not 
confound them with a young man led 
astray by false notions, and unenlighten- 
ed by reflection. Your countrymen will 
be 
