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COBBETT'S WEEKLY POLITICAL REGISTER.

VOL. XXIII. No.25.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1813.

865]

TREATY WITH SWEDEN.

[Price 1s.

[866

who, not content with defeating their enemies, extended vastly the dominions of

To the "Most Thinking People" in the France.

World.

Most thinking People,

Though I, who have had the misfortune not to reside amongst you during a very considerable part of my life, do not, of course, pretend to be so "thinking" as the rest of you, or, at least, as the greater part of you, you will, I am sure, excuse me for thinking upon the subject of the Treaty ❘ with Sweden, and also for expressing my thoughts to you thereon.

Before I come to speak to you of this precious document in detail, let me call your recollection up a little as to some historical facts. The war, in which we now are with France, was, in reality, begun in 1793; the interval, called peace, being, in reality, no peace at all. This war was entered into in order to save what was called regular government, in Europe, from destruction. The French people, weary of the burdens which they had to bear, and having imbibed the principles of freedom from the writings of Rousseau, Voltaire, and others, having also the example of the United States of America before their eyes, rose upon the government of the Bourbons and destroyed it. The other governments of Europe, taking the alarm at so dangerous an example, combined, for the most part of them, against the French people, who had then formed themselves into a republican people, governed by an Assembly of Deputies of their own choosing. In this league against France, or, as it was termed, the Democracy of France, all the other Powers of Europe entered the field, irst or last; and this "mad democracy," as it was called, without any King or other Chief, without Nobility, without Clergy, vithout Old and experienced Officers of ny kind, had to contend against England, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, Russia, Holand, Switzerland, Sardinia, the Empire of Germany, the Dukedoms of Italy, the Pope, Naples and Sicily, Spain, and Portugal. One after another all these Powers made heir peace with the Republicans of France,

But, during this memorable conflict, the grandest and inost interesting that was ever read of by us of this age, the people of France themselves were hurried into numerous acts of folly and cruelty. All the passions were let loose; and, while the love of glory led to conquest in the armies, the base passions were at work at home. So that, at last, it became necessary to contract the focus of power, in order to enable the government to yield protection to the weak against the strong. To one change, in this retrograde way, another succeeded, till, in the end, the man who had shone most in arms, was chosen the sovereign of the country, and was called Emperor of France. He has been at peace with all Europe, except England; but, now again, other Powers have raised their heads, and, by the aid of English money, are now leagued against him in war.

The fact, however, to be borne in mind, is, that the war originated in the openlyavowed motive of preventing the democratical and disorganizing politics of the French from spreading over the rest of Europe. It was a league of the old governments of Europe for their mutual protection, against insurrections of their several peoples against them. The league did not answer its purpose; for, of the numerous potentates of Europe, there remain, at this hour, but two, that I can think of, whose governments have not been overthrown. Look about you, most Thinking People, and see where are now the Kings of Sweden, Prussia, Naples, Sardinia, Spain, and Portugai; the Stadtholder of Holland, the Emperor of Germany, the Pope, the Electors of Germany, the Swiss Aristocracy, the Doge of Genoa, the Dukes of Modena and Tuscany; see where they all are, most Thinking People, and particularly see where are the old Royal Family of France; and, then consider, that, in this war, you have added six hundred millions to a debt, of which you have to pay the interest, whether you now have peace or war.

Having thus refreshed your most Think- | of Charles XIII. Great Eagle of the Legion ing Minds; having called to your recollec- of Honour of France; and Gustavus Baron tion, the fact, that this long, and, apparent- de Wetterstedt, Chancellor of the Court, ly, endless war, arose out of the alarm of the old governments for the safety of the settled order of things; having reminded you of the time when you were called upon to make a voluntary offering of your money in this cause, we will now, if you please, read over this famous treaty together; and, when we have so done, let us give way to that disposition for deep thinking, for which the sinecure placeman, Lord Stormont, said we were so remarkable.

Commander of the Order of the Polar Star, one of the Eighteen of the Swedish Academy; who, after having exchanged their re spective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE I.-His Majesty the King of Sweden engages to employ a corps of not less than thirty thousand men, in a direct operation upon the Continent, against the common enemies of the two high contracting parties. This army shall act in concert with the Russian troops placed under the In the name of the most Holy and Undi- command of his Royal Highness the Prince vided Trinity,

TREATY OF CONCERT AND SUBSIDY BETWEEN HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY AND THE KING OF SWEDEN; - SIGNED AT STOCKHOLM, MARCH 3, 1813.

His Majesty the King of the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and his Majesty the King of Sweden, equally animated with the desire of drawing closer the ties of friendship and good intelligence which so happily subsist between them, and penetrated with the urgent necessity of establishing with each other a close concert for the maintenance of the independence of the North, and in order to accelerate the so much wished for epocha of a general peace, have agreed to provide for this twofold object by the present Treaty. For this purpose they have chosen for their Plenipotentiaries, namely, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Honourable Alexander Hope, Major-General of His Majesty's Armies; and Edward Thornton, Esquire, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to his Majesty the King of Sweden; and his Majesty the King of Sweden, Lawrence Count d'Engestrom, one of the Lords of the Kingdom of Sweden, Minister of State and for Foreign Affairs, Chancellor of the University of Lund, Knight Commander of the King's Orders, Knight of the Royal Order

Royal of Sweden, according to stipulations to this effect already existing between the Courts of Stockholm and St. Petersburgh.

II. The said Courts having communicated to His Britannic Majesty the engagements subsisting between them, and having formally demanded His said Majesty's accession thereto, and his Majesty the King of Sweden having, by the stipulations contained in the preceding article, given a proof of the desire which animates him to contribute also on his part to the success of the common cause; His Britannic Majesty being desirous in return to give an immediate and unequivocal proof of his resolution to join his interests to those of Sweden and Russia, promises and engages by the present Treaty to accede to the conventions already existing between those two powers, insomuch that His Britannic Majesty will not only not oppose any obstacle to the annexation and union in perpetuity of the Kingdom of Norway, as an integral part, to the Kingdom of Sweden, but also will assist the views of his Majesty the King of Sweden to that elfect, either by his good offices, or by em ploying, if it should be necessary, his nava co-operation in concert with his Swedish Russian forces. It is nevertheless to be understood, that recourse shall not be f

to force for effecting the union of Norway to Sweden, unless his Majesty the King of Denmark shall have previously refused to join the alliance of the North, upon the conditions stipulated in the engagements subsisting between the Courts of Stockholm and St. Petersburgh; and his Majesty the King of Sweden engages, that this union shall take place with every possible regard and consideration for the happiness and liberty of the people of Norway.

III.-In order to give more effect to the engagements contracted by his Majesty the King of Sweden, in the first article of the present Treaty, which have for object direct operations against the common enemies of the two powers, and in order to put his Swedish Majesty in a state to begin without loss of time, and as soon as the season shall permit, the said operations, His Britannic Majesty engages to furnish to his Majesty the King of Sweden (independently of other succours which general circumstances may place at his disposal), for the service of the campaign of the present year, as well as for the equipment, the transport and maintenance of his troops, the sum of one million sterling, payable at London monthly, to the agent who shall be authorized by his Swedish Majesty to receive the same, in such manner as not to exceed the payment of two hundred thousand pounds sterling each month, until the whole shall be paid.

IV.- It is agreed between the two High Contracting Parties, that an advance, of which the amount and the time of payment shall be determined between them, and which is to be deducted from the million before stipulated, shall be made to his Majesty the King of Sweden for the "mise en campagne," and for the first march of the troops; the remainder of the beforementioned succours are to commence from the day of the landing of the Swedish army, as it is stipulated by the two High Contract

ing Parties in the first article of the present Treaty.

V. The two High Contracting Parties being desirous of giving a solid and lasting guarantee to their relations, as well political as commercial, His Britannic Majesty, animated with a desire to give to his ally evident proofs of his sincere friendship, consents to cede to his Majesty the King of Sweden, and to his successors to the Crown of Sweden in the order of succession established by his said Majesty, and the StatesGeneral of his kingdom, under date the 26th of September, 1810, the possession of Guadaloupe, in the West Indies, and to transfer to his Swedish Majesty all the rights of His Britannic Majesty over that island, in so far as his said Majesty actually possesses the same. This colony shall be given up to the Commissioners of his Majesty the King of Sweden in the course of the month of August of the present year, or three months after the landing of the Swedish troops on the Continent; the whole to take place according to the conditions agreed upon between the two High Contracting Parties, in the separate article annexed to the present Treaty.

VI.-As a reciprocal consequence of what has been stipulated in the preceding article, his Majesty the King of Sweden engages to grant, for the space of twenty years, to take date from the exchange of the ratifications of the present Treaty, to the subjects of His Britannic Majesty, the right of entrepot in the ports of Gottenburgh, Carlshamn, and Stralsund (whenever this last-mentioned place shall return under the Swedish dominion), for all commodities, productions, or merchandise, whether of Great Britain or of her colonies, laden on board British or Swedish vessels. The said commodities or merchandise, whether they be of such kind as may be introduced and subject to duty in Sweden, or whether their introduction be prohibited, shall pay

with His Britannic Majesty, and to ex-
ecute all acts conformable thereto.

without distinction, as duty of entrepot, ❘ the cession before-mentioned, every en-
one per cent. ad valorem, upon entry, and gagement which may be judged necessary
the same upon discharge. As to every
other particular relating to this object, the
general regulations existing in Sweden shall
be conformed to; treating always the sub-
jects of His Britannic Majesty upon the
footing of the most favoured nations.

3. To grant to the inhabitants of Guadaloupe the same protection and the same advantages which the other subjects of His Majesty the King of Sweden enjoy, conformably always to the laws and stipula

VII.-From the day of the signature of the present Treaty, His Majesty the King |tions actually existing in Sweden. of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and his Majesty the King of Sweden, reciprocally promise not to separate their mutual interests, and particularly those of Sweden which are referred to in the present Treaty, in any negociation whatever with their common enemies.

VIII. The ratifications of the present Treaty shall be exchanged at Stockholm within four weeks, or sooner, if possible.

In faith of which, we the undersigned,
in virtue of our full powers, have
signed the present Treaty, and have

affixed thereto the seals of our arms.

Done at Stockholm, the third March,
in the year of our Lord one thou-
sand eight hundred and thirteen.

ALEXANDER HOPE. (L. S.)
EDW. THORNTON. (L.S.)

LE COMTE D'ENGESTROM. (L.S.)

G. BARON DE WETTERSTEDT. (L. S.)

SEPARATE ARTICLE.

As a consequence of the cession made by His Britannic Majesty, in the fifth article of the Treaty signed this day, of the Island of Guadaloupe, His Majesty the King of Sweden engages

1. Faithfully to fulfil and observe the stipulations of the capitulation of the said island, under date the 5th of February, 1810, so that all the privileges, rights, benefices, and prerogatives, confirmed by that act to the inhabitants of the colony, shall be preserved and maintained.

2. To take for this purpose, previous to

4. To forbid and prohibit, at the period of the cession, the introduction of slaves from Africa into the said island, and the other possessions in the West Indies of His Swedish Majesty, and not to permit Swedish subjects to engage in the slave trade, an engagement which His Swedish Majesty is the more willing to contract, as this traffic has never been authorized by him.

5. To exclude, during the continuance of the present war, all armed vessels and privateers belonging to States at war with Great Britain, from the ports and harbours of Guadaloupe; and not to permit in any future wars in which Great Britain may be engaged and Sweden remain neutral, the entrance into the ports of the said colony of the privateers belonging to any of the Belligerent States.

6. Not to alienate the said island without the consent of His Britannic Majesty; and,

7. To grant every protection and security to British subjects and to their property, whether they may choose to quit the colony, or to remain there.

This separate article shall have the same force and effect as if it were inserted, word for word, in the Treaty signed this day, and shall be ratified at the same time.

In faith of which, we the undersigned, in virtue of our full powers, have signed the present separate article. and have affixed thereto the sealse

our arms.

Done at Stockholm, the third March,
in the year of our Lord one thou-
sand eight hundred and thirteen.

ALEXANDER HOPE. (L. S.)
EDW. THORNTON.
(L. S.)

LE COMTE D'ENGESTROM. (L. S.)

G. BARON DE WETTERSTEDT. (L. S.)

Now, most thinking People, you see, that this treaty is made "in the name of "the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity;" that is to say, in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, who are not three Gods, but one God; and, you will observe, that this takes place too, while there is a Bill before Parliament, the object of which is, in fact, to enable men with impunity, to speak and write against all belief in this same Trinity. Well; but here is the Holy Trinity invoked to witness the good faith of the parties to this treaty; and, as we shall presently see, this treaty recognizes the right of succession to the Swedish Crown and territory to be in "His Royal Highness," the present Crown Prince, who is a Frenchman, who was a French revolutionary soldier and general, who was promoted and ennobled by Buonaparte, and who is, in fact, now our Ally.

Most thinking People, you were told, that the French Democrats were Atheists; that is to say, that they believed in no God at all; that they were wholly without religion; and, that, unless you, by the means of your purses, enabled the government to make war against them, they would destroy your religion too. This was what Old George Rose told you in a pamphlet, written for the purpose of encouraging you to go on with the war; or, rather, to back the government in carrying it on. He, in his winding up, put the thing to you in this way: that you had your choice, either to part with your money for what he called the support of government, or, to "change the blessed comforts of religion " for the gloomy despair of Atheism." He did not, indeed, stop to show you how the French Atheists could possibly force you to become Atheists; he did not point out to you how they could go to work to deprive you of your belief in the Trinity, or in any other article of faith; but he did assert, that you would be so deprived, if you did not freely and largely contribute your money; and, really, as far as my discernment can reach, you appear to have believed him.

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But, now, behold, we find, that the French, so far from being Atheists, are a most devout people; that, upon every occasion of triumph, they flock to their churches (of which, I assure you, they have not a few) to sing praises to God, and to ascribe their victories to Him; that they go to Mass as regularly as we go to Church, and, I believe, a little more regularly than the greater part of us, that the Emperor Napoleon himself is remarkably pious, never writing a letter without thrusting into it some religious sentiment; that he has made a sort of bargain with the Duke of Friuli to meet him in heaven, but that the Duke, though full of confidence in the meeting, was generous enough, for the good of Europe, to express his readiness to wait in heaven thirty years before the meeting should take place; and lastly, that the Crown Prince of Sweden, whom we have now acknowledged to be a most worthy Gentleman, but who was a revolutionist in France, is now actually in the field, at the head of an army, on our side, in virtue of a treaty made " in the name of the Most "Holy and Undivided Trinity."

Where, then, my dear Countrymen, and Most Thinking People; where was the ground of Old George Rose's alarm, that the French Atheists would come and take from you "the blessed comforts of reli"gion?" We now find that the French are full as religious as you are; and, therefore, I do hope, that neither John Bowles nor George Rose, nor any body else, will again call upon us to subscribe voluntarily for the carrying on of the war in order to preserve " our Holy religion."

In the opening of the Treaty we find, that COUNT D'ENGESTROM," one of the Swedish Plenipotentiaries, has, amongst his other titles, that of "Great Eagle of "the Legion of Honour of France;" which, as you know, is an order of Knighthood emanating from the Emperor Napoleon, whom, however, our stupid canting news-papers have the folly as well as the audacity to call an Usurper and all manner of vile names. If he be an usurper, and if our government viewed him as such, they ought to resist this title of Mr. D'Engestrom; for, to suffer it to be inserted in a treaty, made " in the name of the Most "Holy and Undivided Trinity," does, it seems to me, amount to something very nearly approaching to an acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the source whence it has proceeded.

The FIRST ARTICLE of the Treaty stipulates, that Sweden shall send 30,000 men

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