FORTIa’s TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.

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fervance of which tended to the perpetuation of abufes, ought not to be binding, forthinking with reafon that the good of his people ought to be above an illufory oath, thatthe government of a Angle man, fuperior to events, were preferable to that of a cove-' tous multitude, a prey to their paffions, to intrigue, the Haves of foreign powers, andever ready to fell themfelves to the higheft bidder.

It is poffible that the affair of the diet of 1789 offended thefe nobles more than anyother part of the conduct of the King; they have never been able to forgive him thepalling of the act offecurity, the lefs for their having placed their deareft hopes, theirftrongefl reliance on reducing His Majefty, during its feflions, to the hate he held in1771. They ought, however, to feel greatly obliged for his forbearance, fince by hisafcendancy over the people he could have made them forely repent their conduct.They complain of the King’s extorting their conceffion ; but, had he not obtained itin the Houfe of Lords, that affembly can but know that he would hill have had it palsby force, and at the price of blood; not his blood, not the blood of the people, butthat of the nobles : they owed him gratitude for his mercy, and how was it fhewn ?

The death of this great Prince, the lofs of whom is already felt in Sweden ; thiscrime, an eternal (lain on the character of the Swedifh nobility, deferves that we fhouldfpeak of it at fome length : we fhall confequently make it the fubject of the followingchapter.

The young King is very forward for his age, he promifes much, and we dare pledgeourfelves for his performance : he poffeffes the cafe of the perfect fovereign ; far frombeing intimidated in a circle of half a hundred, which would but be natural in a youthof thirteen (he was not indeed fo old when we faw him), he unaffe&edly contrives to-,fpeak of fomething to all entirely free from embarraffment: it is worthy of remarkthat when Prince-royal he had three court days every fortnight. His education isvery nicely attended to, and his hours of ftudy exa&ly regular. We have no doubtthat he yet continues as laudably attentive to his duties as when we were in Sweden, .Although a monarch now he is convinced that his youth requires yet fome years of toiland ftudy to fit him for the ftation which providence has affigned him. Althoughvery young this Prince muft fenfibly feel his lofs: what pity that thus a prematuredeath fhould fo foon have robbed him of a tender father, a model, and a guide ! Shutbe his ears to the counfel given if not in unifon with the leffons of Guftavus; nevermay he forget that he has to hand down the fceptre to his child as free as it del'cendedto himfelf; that it is a property which is but his for life, and for which he is refponfi-ble: let him beware of perfidious infinuations, tending to limit his authority, prefen tedunder the fpecious but deceptive mafk of philofophy. Yet again, in adhering to thisadvice, let him not run counter, let him not feek to add to the power he now enjoysits limits are irrevocably fixed : wifdom itfelf prefided at the eftablifhment of the pre-fent conftitution; protect it Guftavus Adolphus; call to mind the princes whole glo-rious name you bear, Guftavus Vafa, Guftavus Adolphus, Guftavus III. ; be theyever prefent in your thoughts ; and however crooked, however difficult the path youhave to tread, but take them for your guide you never can go wrong.

Prince Charles Duke of Sudermania, the King’s brother, is at prefent regent..The confidence repofed in him by his brother, his friendfhip for him, which ever wasunchanged, led us to imagine that the intentions of Guftavus would be refpe&edafter his deceafe; to our great regret muft we ftate that we have been deceived. Themotive of the Regent’s conduct is to us a problem: many prefent themfelves to ourimagination, on which to fix we know not. Could it be contempt or indifference to-the will of a dying brother ? either feems to us incredible, the firft fhocking ; hopes of