BOOK public scaffold; and the queen, against whom it XVII. was for some time a subject of doubt whether a 1776. capital process should not be instituted, was allowed, through the powerful interposition of England, to retire from the Danish dominions, and found an asylum in the city of Zell, where, after residing some years, she died in neglect and obscurity. The events which passed nearly at the same time in Sweden were of a nature, in a political view, far more important and interesting. High disputes had for many years subsisted between the king and the senate. At length, in consequence of a refusal of the senate to convoke an extraordinary diet, which the king declared to be absolutely necessary to remedy the evils which distracted the state, an instrument was signed by the king, and delivered by the prince royal to the different colleges of justice, of finance, and of war, by which the king notified to them in form, that until the states were convoked he found himself under the necessity of abdicating the government. This was a measure of deep policy, and at the same time of great popularity, the senate having rendered themselves universally odious by the abuse of the powers entrusted to them by the constitution. The different executive departments of the state refusing to act after this notification, the senate most reluctantly XVII. 1776. convened the diet, which met at Norkioping BOOK in the month of April 1769. The secret committee in a short time brought twenty-four articles of accusation against the senators, and allowed them forty-eight hours only to prepare for their defence; and they were in the result degraded from their offices. The court nevertheless failed in the grand point of effecting an extension of its powers. On the question being put, "Whether it be proper to make any innovations in the fundamental constitution of the kingdom," it was carried in the negative, in the orders of nobles, by 457 to 431 voices. The orders of burghers and peasants also severally decided against any alterations of the existing political system. Things continued therefore nearly in the same state till the death of the king, which took place early in the year 1771. He was succeeded by his son Gustavus the Third, who was at that period absent at the court of Versailles. On his return to Sweden, he passed some days at Berlin; and at these two courts the project of a revolution in the government of Sweden was undoubtedly concerted, although the king, in his letter to the states, gave them the most solemn assurances that he would inviolably adhere to the constitution or formula of government settled in the year 1720. In his speech at the opening of the diet in June, XVII. 1776. BOOK he declared, that he considered it as his greatest glory to be the first citizen of a free country; and at his coronation, which took place in the month of February, 1772, he not only took the customary oath, but by a voluntary declaration, he formally absolved the states from their allegiance should he ever attempt any infringement of the capitulations to which he had then sworn. All this however was the result of a studied and consummate hypocrisy. After a long train of the most artful preparations, he at length determined, on the morning of the 19th of August 1772, to throw off the mask. Summoning the officers of the royal guard, he insinuated to them that his life was in danger from the machinations. of the senators, painted in strong colors the wretched state of the kingdom, and declared, that his only design was to banish corruption, establish true liberty, and revive the ancient lustre of the Swedish name. "Will you," said he, be faithful to me as your forefathers were to Gustavus Vasa and Gustavus Adolphus? I will then risk my life for your welfare and that of my country." The officers expressing in warm terms their attachment to the king, and their readiness to concur in his designs, a detachment of grenadiers were posted with bayonets fixed at the door of the council chamber, where the senators were actually engaged in delibera XVIL 1776. tion, to prevent all ingress or egress. Other BOOK principal leaders of the aristocratic party were also at the same time put under an arrest; and the king, mounting his horse, followed by his officers and soldiers, rode through the streets of Stockholm, addressing himself to the innumerable crowds which were gathered together, and pro-testing "that he only meant to defend them, and: save the country from ruin; and that, if they: could not confide in him, he would resign his sceptre and his kingdom." The deluded people, with loud acclamations, applauded his pa-: triotism, and entreated him not to abandon them. No symptom of resistance any where appeared; and the diet being in a few days convened, the king addressed the states in a long harangue, in which, after describing in forcible language the disorders and misfortunes in which party divisions had plunged the nation, he ordered the new formula of government to be read, which he now proposed for their acceptance. By one article of the new constitution, the king was vested with the power of assembling and dissolving the states at pleasure. By another he was to have the sole disposal of the army, the navy, the finances, and all employments civil and military. By a third, all existing taxes were made perpetual; and the king, in case of pressing necessity, might impose new taxes till the states BOOK should be assembled. 1776. And by a fourth, the XVII. states, when assembled, were to deliberate only on those questions which the king thought proper to refer to them. The instrument of government being read, the king demanded whether they approved of it? Cannon being planted in the court facing the hall where the states were assembled, and matrosses standing over them with lighted matches, the assembly declared with one voice their entire assent to these articles; and the oath of fidelity was immediately administered to them. After which Te Deum was sung by his majesty and the assembly, in devout commemoration of this most happy event. And thus was a revolution accomplished, which converted one of the most limited monarchies in Europe into one of the most absolute, without shedding a single drop of blood; and the nation at large, which had been grievously oppressed under the former aristocratic constitution, and which had never attained to true and rational ideas of liberty, were delighted with the present change of government, from which they hoped to enjoy tranquillity and security at least, if not the felicity and advantages of political freedom. It is now necessary to revert to the more proper subject of the present history, and to resume the narration of military operations in America. It has been before remarked, that the siege or |