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it of leading consequence in the balance of Germany-if such a thing can be mentioned as still existing. At the beginning of this year, the states composing the Rhenish confederacy were said to contain a territory of 5703 square leagues, with a population

of near 15 million souls; and the contingent of troops, furnished by its 39 members, was fixed at 118,682 men. This body was taken in the autumn into the pay of France, and an army composed from it was assembling in the neighbourhood of Mentz.

CHAP

CHAPTER XVII.

Sweden.-Denmark.-Italy-Sicily.-Turkey-Massacre of the Ma

melukes.

F the other northern states, the expected conflict between

ipal object of political interest on account of the peculiarities of her situation. Under the nominal rule of a native king, but declining in years and constitution, she was really governed by an adopted successor, a Frenchman, formerly one of Napoleon's officers, and generally supposed to have been elected to the station of crown prince through his influence. It was therefore natural to expect that Sweden through his means would be wholly devoted to the French interest; and the declaration of war against England, with the exclusion of its commerce, were apparent proofs of this subserviency. But these measures were manifestly unpopular with the Swedish na tion; and Bernadotte, the crown prince, soon began to exhibit symptoms of looking more to the honour and security of a crown which he was destined to wear, than to the gratification of a former master--in short, to be changed from a Frenchman to a Swede. It is true, all demonstrations of this kind were long suspected to be hypocritical, and to be intended to enable him with the greater facility to subjugate his adopted country to the will of the despot; but the 'consistency of his conduct at length gained him credit for sincerity. In

dently inclined to the cause of the latter, doubtless perceiving more danger to its independence from the overbearing power and dictatorial spirit of the French ruler, than from the moderate temper and defensive views of the court of Petersburgh. To proceed, however, to particulars. A jealousy on the part of the French of an intercourse between the Swedes and the English appeared early in the year, fioma complaint transmitted to Stockholm by the French consul at Gottenburgh, importing that the governor of that town connived at a clandestine communication with the British shipping; and although upon an inquiry the allegations were declared to be unfounded, it was thought proper to remove the governor. Soon after, a peremptory order arrived from Paris for the return of all the French officers in the suite of the crown priace, which was regarded as an indication of some displeasure conceived by Napoleon against Bernadotte. The prince was at this time so unpopular in Sweden, that an attempt was made on his life, from which he narrowly escaped.

A royal proclamation was issued at Stockholm, dated March 17th, apprizing the public that his Ma

jesty,

jesty, on account of ill health, had thought it necessary for the present to withdraw from the management of state affairs, and had appointed the crown prince to administer the royal authority in his stead and in his name, but under the restriction of not creating any noblemen or knights. A conscription voted by the late diet was at this time putting into execution, by virtue of which, 20,000 men were to be raised and incorporated with the regular army. The English fleet under Sir J. Saumarez being in the Baltic in the month of June, a negotiation took place between him and the Swedish government respecting some detained ships with colonial produce, and the taking possession of the ships was explained as being merely a measure of retaliation against Prussia, which had detained Swedish ships in her ports. The conduct of the English admiral to the Swedes was highly satisfactory to that nation, as he not only suffered their coasting vessels to pass unmolested, but even gave them all the protection in his power.

The internal state of Sweden was by no means tranquil during this summer. The military conscription, now so general an object of dread throughout Europe, had occasioned insurrections among the peasantry in various parts. In the neighbourhood of Malmoe a body of inen from 1200 to 1500 assembled on June 17th and 18th, armed with forks, scythes, and other rustic weapons, where they plundered the stores of Count Morner, and insulted persons of rank and the crown officers. It became necessary to call in the military, and a number of the peasants were

killed and wounded, and more made prisoners. Similar outrages took place in other parts of the kingdom, several of the perpetrators of which were delivered over to the rigour of the law. A remaining attachment to their deposed king, is supposed to have joined with aversion to the conscription, in exciting these disturbances among the common people.

The terms upon which Sweden stood with some of its neighbours are shewn by a royal order to the magistrates of Carlsham, dated June 27th. It declares all cargoes with colonial goods belonging to the subjects of Prussia and Denmark to be confiscated; and orders that cargoes belonging to other foreign nations, those of the North American states alone excepted, be not allowed to leave the kingdom, nor the ships having them on board, to set sail. It further directs that the captains, owners, or commissioners, who are not disposed to wait the determination of his Majesty respecting those cargoes, may deliver them to the custom House, where they shall lie under strict guard till his Majesty has decided upon them.

It is stated as a certain fact, that a demand of 8000 men to serve in the armies of Spain was made by the French court upon that of Sweden; and that the answer returned was, that Sweden, not being a member of the Rhenish confederacy, was under no obligation to furnish a quota of troops, and that it maintained no more than were necessary for its own security. From this reply it would seem that it was called upon only on account of its possessions in Pomerania.

The

The general state of Sweden, and the system of policy determined upon by its government, will be elucidated by a speech of the crown prince addressed to the king on January 7th, 1812, upon his resumption of the royal authority, an event, it may be observed, which falsified the predictions of those who conceived that Bernadotte would never again lay down the power with which he had been invested. The prince stated to his Majesty, that by adopting the continental system, and declaring war against England, the produce of the customs had been ruined, and the Swedish commerce reduced to a mere coasting trade; that the Danish cruizers had given just cause of complaint, and those under the French flag bad practised great injuries, which the French emperor had promised to redress; that Sweden was upon the most amicable footing with Prussia, Russia, Austria, and Turkey; and that its intercourse had entirely ceased with South America, owing to the civil war raging there. He then adverted to the measures of his own administration to encourage the manufacture of linen, the growth of hemp, &c. to recruit the army, repair the fortresses and fleet, clothe the soldiers, and suppress the disturbances in Scania. He concluded with saying, "Your Majesty will perceive from this statement, that notwithstanding the calumniators of Sweden have asserted that it would require sixty years to organize an army of sixty thousand men, she could accomplish it before next April. The object of this augmentation is purely defensive. Sweden has no

other wish than that of being able to preserve her liberty and laws."

DENMARK retained too strong a feeling of indignation against England, and was too apprehensive of the power of France, now become a close neighbour in consequence of the annexation of the northern coast of Germany, to make any change in its political system. Having lost its navy, and suffered a great part of its seamen to enter the French service, its maritime exertions were limited to attacks upon the English trade by privateers and gun boats, in which it obtained success enough to be a troublesome adversary. With the view of avoiding occasions of quarrel with Sweden, the Danish court issued a decree early in February, containing several immunities from detention or capture to Swedish ships which had been engaged in communication with England; as it is, however, difficult in all countries to restrain the predatory habits of corsairs, the Swedes had reason during the course of the year to complain of the hostilities practised upon their commerce by the armed vessels of Denmark.

The Americans likewise found cause for similar complaints. Papers were laid before the congress of the United States, consisting of, a correspondence between Mr. Erving, at Copenhagen, and M. De Rosencrantz, the Danish minister, which took place in June and July last, relative to the capture of American vessels by the Danish gun-brigs in the Baltic. Mr. Erving, at the commencement of the correspondence, transmits to the Danish minister the names of twelve vessels which had been condemned

condemned by Denmark as lawful prizes, under the 11th clause of his Danish Majesty's Instructions for Privateers, issued on the 10th of March, 1810, which declares to be good prizes "all vessels which have made use of British convoy, either in the Atlantic or the Baltic." Mr. Erving endeavours to convince his Excellency of the injustice and unfairness of the principle, situated as most of the vessels in question were; which, as he states, had paid the regular dues in the Sound, and, after being examined, were suffered to proceed on their voyage; in the course of which they were obliged to join the British convoy. In that situation they were attacked by the Danish gun brigs, when they made no attempt to escape, so unconscious were they of having infringed the maritime laws of his Danish Majesty. At the period of issuing the Danish instructions to the privateers, the vessels in question were in Russia on the point of sailing, and were totally ignotant of the regulations until after their capture. Mr. Erving argues at length on the injustice of condemning American ships on the supposed infringement of the Danish instructions; and also censures the principle on which the said instructions are founded. M. Rosencrantz combats Mr. Erving's doctrines, by defending the principle; and by maintaining, that the ships condemned had clearly committed a breach of the Danish maritime laws, by being under the protection of a British convoy when captured, no matter how they came to be so. The correspondence closes without any final

decision. The Danish government continued to refuse the restoration of the American property.

The most considerable enterprize undertaken by the Danes in this year, was their attempt to recover the island of Anholt, which had been captured by the English, and rendered a station whence they were much incommoded. On March the 27th, a Danish flotilla with troops ou board, constituting a force of near 4000 men, arrived off the isle of Anholt, garrisoned by no more than 350, and effecting a landing without opposition, made an attack upon the English works and batteries. Though their efforts were vigorous and frequently repeated, they were repulsed in every point, with the loss of their commander, and a number of men killed and wounded; and a body of 500, unable to get back to their boats, was obliged to surrender prisoners. The particulars in this action are given in the London Gazette, for which see Appendix to Chronicle. Though the event of this attempt affords no high idea of the military skill of the Danes, yet there appears to have been no want of courage either in the officers or

men.

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