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58] ANNUAL REGISTER  
to the success of which nothing contributed so much as the admirable silence and secrecy with which they were conducted. Things were however arrived at a crisis, which did not admit of any longer disguise. The arrival of the two regiments, which had been sent for the senate, might have overthrown the whole project; and it was perhaps fortunate for the King, without derogating in any degree from his ability, that the circumstances, which attended his receiving a dispatch from prince Charles, precipitated matters to so immediate a conclusion, as to prevent that dangerous hesitation, which from its nature operates in the most critical moment, and has thereby frequently proved fatal to the greatest undertakings. 

It would be impertinence or assentation, except in those who had a considerable share in the transaction, or who by office or connection had opportunities of direct information, to pretend, so near the time, to give a regular detail and exact account of the circumstances which attended the late revolution. The mere lookers on, upon such an occasion, can only, with justice, recount the small part which they have seen, or relate that which they have heard from what they think good authority; besides the doubtfulness of the latter, they are too apt, in respect to the former, hastily to conclude upon those things which they do no know from the little which they do: so that independently of the prejudices of others, having formed an early system of their own, they generally warp all better information into a conformity with their favorite ideas. As to the parties immediately concerned or interefled in this tranfaction, thofe on the one fide dare not speak the truth if they were so inclined, and from those on the other, it is not the be expected. All we can do, in such a situation, is to give such a general abstract of those confused acounts which have appeared, as seems the most reasonale confifient in it's parts; to point out some passages in which they totally disagree; and to give our opinion in favour of that which seems to us the more probable. 

It is said that the King, having received dispatches from his brother prince Charles in the evening, summoned a meeting of the senators early the next Aug. 19th. morning, when he exposulated warmly with them, upon the orders they had fent to Schonen, and the other measures they had taken, without his consent; and that the assembly, without taking any notice of the King's complaints, insisted that he should shew them the letters which he had received from his brother; that the King having peremptorily refused to comply with this extraordinary demand, and expressed his indignation at the proposal, count Kalling, the minister, went to far as to tell him, that, in the present circumstances, he should not have opened any letters, except in the presence of the senate, or at least of himself; that both sides growing more warm, and the King persisting in his refusal, some of the senators cried out, it was full time to secure his person, and accordingly attempted to seize his sword. The King, upon this insult, immediately drew his sword, and appalled them to effectually, both by his resolution and looks, that he had an opportunity of quitting the room without opposition, and having hone down a few steps, returned hastily, locked the door of the senate room, and put the key in his pocket. 

That he then went immediately to the grand guard, and having assembled the officers, he made a speech, complaining of the arbitrary aristocritcal faction, under which they, and the nation in general, had so long groaned; that this cruel tyranny become everyday more intolerable; that he was determined to run all hazards to get rid of it, and asked them, weather they would assult their King, in shaking off so ignominious a yoke, and restoring the nation to it's ancient liberty. To this proposal, the officers in general, and all the soldiers, assented with great readiness; upon which the King assured them, that he never would endeavor after the sovereignty, and then asked weather they would confirm upon oath their engagement to support him; which being also agreed to, was immediately put in execution. The revolt being thus openly begun, the King tied a white handkerchief round his arm, as a mark and signal to those who were disposed to espouse his cause, and, being, joined by several of the nobility and others marched at the head of the guards to the arsenal and admiralty, where the same measures being taken, were attended with the same success. 

The foregoing account corresponds in general with those that seem to have been published by the friends to the revolution. Some parts of it seem liable to exception. If the King knew, as these accounts pretend, all the particulars of a plot which the senate had laid against him, and by which they intended to seize his person, and to make him responsible for all the rouble, misfortunes and oppression of the nation, it cannot be supposed, which we consider his character and abilities, and that such a prince would have centered his person alone amongst them, without some necessary and essential precaution. Nor can it on the other hand be imagined, that, when the senate had hazarded every thing by so desperate and attempt as that of feizing his person, which was an insult that they knew could not be forgiven, they would then have stoped short, when things were already at the worth, and have suffered him finely in his own person to have made his way from them; or that the circumstance of drawing a sword, which they must have originally foreseen to have been the inevitable consequences of the attempt, could have had any effect upon the determined resolution of so many persons. It is also as unlikely, that the simple locking of a door, without any other force or guard to refrain them, could have kept the senators confined for several hours in so critical and dangerous a season. 

Another account, which seems to come from a different quarter, explains some of there passages, and carried an appearance of probability. At least, by comparing them, we may possibly form a near judgment of the real facts. By this is said, that the dispatches from prince Charles were intercepted in the evening by count Kalling,