milar courage, and led on with equal skill, Bonaparte would have been more successfully opposed.

But the emperor Francis was again compelled to make peace, and, as one of the articles of that peace, not only to give up the Tyrolese, but even to send one of her generals to assist the French and Bavarians in persuading or compelling them to submit. The cruelties of the French, and the exactions of the Bavarians, however, had made too deep an impression on the Tyrolese for them to yield themselves up to the yoke without resistance. And their resistance was most formidable: some of the most experienced generals of Bonaparte, at the head of some of his best troops, were repeatedly defeated and driven back with great loss, even after they had penetrated into the centre of the Tyrol. At the head of the mountaineers appeared a man worthy of being a leader among a nation of heroes:--the

brave Hoffer. This man animated and directed the actions of his countrymen; and before him, unaccustomed as he was to war, the most experienced troops of Europe fled.

In vain did Bonaparte for a long time pour in fresh forces, block up the passes of the Tyrol, and forbid all communication between the inhabitants and the neighbouring countries. All his 'schemes were foiled; and if for a short time the Tyrolese fled before his armies, or appeared not to oppose their progress, it was only to attack them to more advantage in the passes of the mountains, or when they were unprepared. On the conquest of the country Bonaparte was determined and at length he effected it (if conquest that can be called, where every inhabitant possesses an unsubdued spirit) by pouring in continued reinforcements, and by the capture and infamous execution of the gallant Hoffer.

CHAP.

TO part of Europe, with the

exception of the British Isles, Jay more completely beyond the reach of Bonaparte's power than the kingdom of Sweden; while at the same time his enmity and hatred were directed against the Swedish monarch almost in an equal degree as they were against the government and inhabitants of Britain. After France had stript Sweden of her German dominions, the only mode by which she could further weaken and reduce her was by in citing the Russian emperor to attack her on the side of Finland. In the last volume of our Register we gave an account of the war which was carried on between the two powers on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Bothnia: the contest was long and arduous; and though Russia by the immense superiority of her forces, and from the circumstance of the scene of war lying so much nearer her own territories, at last succeeded in wresting the whole of Finland from Sweden, yet she found herself unable to double the head of the Gulf of

Bothnia, and direct her march against Sweden Proper.

The war would probably have been renewed with similar obstinacy as soon as the spring of the year 1809 would have permitted the respective armies to march and act, had not a revolution in Sweden for a time suspended hostilities, and ultimately brought about a peace. In order to trace the origin and cause of this revolution (which, in an age that had not witnessed the extraordinary changes and overthrow of empires, which France has accom plished, would have been deemed and narrated as an historical object of prime importance,) it may be proper briefly to sketch the conduct and state of Sweden from the commencement of her hostilities with France. The result of the first coalition into which Sweden entered against France, was the loss of her trade; of the second coalition, the loss of Pomerania, a province to which she was obliged in a great measure to look for the supply of her inhabitants with corn. When the conferences were held at

Tilsit,

Tilsit, Sweden was invited to join in them; but Gustavus, who possessed a mind endowed with more pertinacity than became the monarch of an impoverished nation, and who looked more to what he conceived to be his own honour and consistency, than to the happiness of his people, absolutely refused to become a party in the conferences. To the loss of Pomerama succeeded the loss of Finland,-a province which the more favoured states of Europe would have regarded as of little moment or utility, but to which the cold and barren regions of Sweden were considerably indebted for the necessaries of life. In point of population and intrinsic value, Finland might justly be considered as forming one third part of the Swedish empire.

Still the Swedish people perceived their monarch determined to prosecute the war with Russia; a war by which so much territory had been already lost;—which had nearly destroyed the whole trade of the kingdom;--and to support which they were compelled to bear the most oppressive taxes, while their means of paying them were proportionally reduced. If they looked forward, they anticipated only an increase of misfortunes and evils, without the most distant prospect of any advantage, or even alleviation. That Russia had leagued herself to France, contrary to all rules of justice and maxims of policy;-that the government of France was built on oppression and cruelty, and aimed at the conquest or desolation of all Europe, were to them insufficient reasons, why they, a comparatively fceble people, and fortunately placed out of the reach of her power, should sacrifice every thing to endeavour

to save Europe, and punish or repress the ambition of France.

In the midst of the poverty and want occasioned by the loss of Pomerania and Finland, a dreadful infectious disorder broke out in Sweden, which, from the inability of the poorer order of the inhabitants to procure the necessary medical advice and assistance, or even the proper food and attendance, made great ravages amongst them, Nor were causes of discontent confined to the people: the army, finding that their sovereign was resolved again to lead them to a war, in which defeat, loss, and extreme hardships were certain, and which they thought might be avoided if he looked more to the good of his subjects, and dismissed from his mind the quixotic idea of opposing France, manifested unequivocal signs of discontent. A considerable par of the western army determined to march to Stockholm. The other armies vinced a imila" determination. As soon as these things were known to the king, he resolved to proceed to the south of Sweden, and endeavour to collect troops, for the purpose of opposing the revolted armies. The nobility in Stockholm presented strong remonstrances against this plan: but the king continuing obstinately fixed to his purpose, they judged it necessary to make him a prisoner. In this situation of affairs, the duke of Sudermania was cailed upon to assume a temporary government, till final measures were taken respecting the king,

Steps were immediately taken to assen bie the dict; and after considerable discussion, it was determined to depose the king, and to place the duke of Sudermania on the throne. A new constitution

was

was formed, consisting of 114 articles, the most important of which are to the following purport:-The government is declared to be monarchical and hereditary, with limitation to the male issue:-the king is wholly exempt from responsibility, but the members of the council of state, appointed by him, are to be responsible for the advice they give. The privilege of deciding upon all business before the council is vested in the king, who may assent or dissent, in opposition to all the members: to them is allowed only the liberty of remonstrating; and they are to record their dissent from the opinion of the king: if they do not, they are to be deemed guilty of abetting the king in his decision, if it should be unconstitutional. No person can be deprived of his life, liberty, honour or property, without trial:-no person can be harassed or persecuted for his religious opinions.— No judge can be removed from his office by the king, without just cause and proof of criminality. The diet is to be regularly assembled, but no diet is to sit longer than three months. No officer of the crown is to use his influence in the election of the members of the diet. No man, while a member of the diet, can be accused or deprived of his liberty, for what he may have done or said in his respective state, unless the state to which he belongs shall require it. The king cannot impose any taxes without the consent of the diet.-The liberty of the press is to be superintended by a committee.

As soon as the revolution which had taken place in Sweden was known in Russia, an armistice was concluded between the two powers: this however was not of long dura

tion. The particular causes which terminated it are not well understood: but there is ground for sup posing that Russia was auxious to interfere in the settlement of the Swedish government to a greater extent than the duke of Sudermania and the Swedish nobility were willing to admit. Some difficulty might also arise from the express declaration of the new king, that he was determined not to consent to any peace with Russia, which should be disgraceful to Sweden, or compel her to take up arms against her faithful ally Great Britain. The war between Russia and Sweden was accordingly renewed; but misfortune still attended the armies of the latter; and as the former receded from some of her demands which were considered most harsh and dishonourable, peace was at length concluded between them on the 17th of September. Great sacrifices of ter ritory were necessarily made by Sweden: the sea of Aland, the gulf of Bothnia, and the rivers of Tornea and Meconio were fixed as the future boundaries between the two kingdoms. The islands at an equal distance from Aland and Finland were ceded to Russia, while Sweden was permitted to retain such as were nearer to her own coast. Sweden obtained some relaxation with respect to her com, mercial intercourse with Great Britain: she promised to adhere to what Bonaparte is pleased to denominate the continental system, under certain modifications which the necessities of the country absolutely required. The king of Sweden engaged to shut his ports to the ships of Great Britain, and not to allow the importation of any thing from that country, except salt and

colonial