FORTIA's TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.

5 11

Extract from the verbal proofs at the Ca file of Drottningholm , on the i $th Auguf

1792, in prefence of

Bis Royal Highnefs the Duke o/Sudermania.

His Excellency Count Wachmeifter Rickfdrots.

His Excellency Baron Sparre, Grand Chancellor . \

Prefident Baron de Kurck.

Prefident Baron de Reuterholm.

Prefident Count de Ruuth.

Senefchal Rogberg.

Senefchal Ulner.

On the above day, the report of the commiffion being called for, and the two proi-tocols of the 4th July being read, the fecretary of the commiffion, Iferhielm, prefentedthe definitive conclufion of the high tribunal, upon the revifion of the decrees of theparliament, on the 24th of May of the prefent year, againft the former Counts Hornand Ribbing, lieutenant-colonel Liliehorn, and lieutenant Baron Ehrenfverd, as well asagainft the other perlbns implicated in the horrible crime committed on the pejrfonof the late King; after which His Roval Highnels was pleafed thus to exprefs him-felf:

“ All the prefcriptions of law having been exactly followed, none of the advantageswhich it affords the criminals having been withheld, and the confirmation from thehigh tribunal, of the decree of the parliament made on the 24th May, having been pre-fented to us, we have nothing more to do than to make known our fentence and willupon the occafion.

A prey to grief, to thofe afflicting fenfations which agonife our heart, while thememory of a refpefted King and much beloved brother is united with the anguilhwhich the unhappy and deplorable manner in which he was taken from us occafions inour bofom, we have neverthelefs, in conformity to our painful duty, caufed reprefenta-tion of all the occurrences of this horrible affair to be laid before us, with the fubftanceof the different acts as they regard the fame.

“ It is not without the rnoft lively emotion that we perceive, by thefe elucidations,that an unheard-of confpiracy has exifted againft the life of our revered monarch, andbeen executed in fuch a'(hocking manner as makes humanity fliudder, in a manner thatnever could we have thought poffible in our days and in Sweden. - This flain, not uponthe nation, known in all ages for its honour and fidelity, but upon a fmall number ofguilty perfons, ought to be waffied away and expiated according to the rigour of thelaw ; and this is our duty to effect. Our heart, torn by the moil cruel remembrance*feelsfenfibly the horror fuch an atrocious deed is calculated to excite; but thefe feel-ings, although fatisfaftory for our grief, are not the only ones that afflift us. Whatadds to our trouble is, that we are under neceffity of rendering the juft feverity of thelaw (which we are far from defirous of mitigating in favour of criminals of this defcrip-tion,) compatible with the facred -promifes extorted from us by the prayers and injunc-tions of a dying brother, our King.

“ The inftant is at hand which is to decide and make public the fate of thefe unfor-tunate men, who, by the nature of their crime, are more unhappy than they poffiblycould be in undergoing the puniflunents they have merited. The law has pronouncedtheir fentence, and we feel perfuaded that the axe falling on their heads, would be tothem, in their frightful fituation, the firft and greateft of favours. Our confirmation

of