Viewing page 147 of 285
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
240] ANNUAL REGISTER [[2 Columns]] me to virtue, and an encouragement to merit, after the example of a father so sincerely regretted, your attachment and confidence, by clemency and goodness. I shall say nothing here about the transactions of government, since your last meeting. You will be informed of them by the pieces that shall be communicated to you. My absence did not permit me to effect any thing for the public good; however, if we have the happiness now to see peace reign at home and abroad; friendship preserved, and confidence securely established with the neighbours and oldest allies of this kingdom, these are the fruits of the prudence and wisdom of an administration, to which I am glad to testify publicly here my acknowledgment. As to the object of the present assembly, I think I need not say any thing about it. you know what the great change that has happened in this state, requires of you; you know your rights, and it is to exert them that you are here convoked. For that end, I wish you the blessing of heaven, that peace and unity may preside in all your counsels, and lead them to a happy issue. Born and educated among you, I learnt from my earliest youth to love the country, to consider it as the greatest happiness to be a Swede, and as the greatest glory to be the first citizen of a free country. All my desires will be fulfilled if the resolutions you are going to pass, contribute to strengthen the felicity, glory, and independence, of this nation; to see it happy, is the first object of my wishes; to govern it free and independent, is the last end of my ambition. Do not think, my dear Swedes, that these are empty professions, belied perhaps by the secret motions of my heart; they are the faithful expressions of what that heart feels; too upright not to be sincere; too haughty to be ever false to its engagements. I have seen several countries; I have endeavoured to attain a knowledge of their morals, their form of government; the situation more or less advantageous of their people; I have found, that it is neither arbitrary power in the hands of the prince; nor luxury and magnificence; nor treasures amassed by ceconomy, that can render the subjects happy; that they can become so only by concord, and the love of the country. It then depends solely on yourselves to be the happiest nation on earth. Let this Dyet be distinguished for ever in our annals by the sacrifice of every private view; of every rancour or personal jealousy, to the grand interest of the public weal. I shall on my side contribute to the utmost of my power to conciliate your divided minds; to re-unite your hearts alienated from each other, that this assembly may become, with the blessing of the Most High, the aera of a permanent felicity to this kingdom. I assure you all, and every one in particular, of my royal goodwill and protection. ————————————————————————————————————— Contents of the Act of Bond or Obligation, which was signed and sworn to by his Swedish Majesty, on the 28th of February, 1772. IN the beginning of it his majesty obliges himself to an uninterrupted For the YEAR 1772. [241 [[2 Columns]] interrupted reign. this expression was brought in well considered, and means that the king shall not, after the example of the late king in 1768, lay down the government. Art. I. The king obliges himself, during his whole life, to remain in and maintain the Lutheran religion, according to the Augsburgh confession, with his whole family, and all his subjects. II. He shall not allow any person whatsoever, who does not profess the said religion, to hold or enjoy any place under the government; in particular such persons as are known to be free-thinkers, irreligious, impious, and wicked persons. III. Contains the repetition of the foregoing article, concerning the established religion; and that all officers, both military and civil, shall strictly be bound to observe that it is firmly kept and adhered to. IV. His majesty obliges himself to refrain from buying or endeavouring to get to himself or his family, any principality, province, castle, or hotel, &c. which belong to any of his majesty's subjects, and who have regularly paid the revenue to the crown, without the consent of the states. V. The king declares before God, that he will hold principally and preferably the administration of the kingdom; maintaining the rights of the states, the liberty and security of the subjects; and reign with mildness and justice, according to the form instituted in this kingdom, anno 1720, in the bond or obligation act. VI. The king condemns and despises all such persons as traitors to the kingdom, according to the declaration of the states, who openly or secretly do bring, or intend to bring, into this kingdom any sovereignty; for which purpose, every subject is to take the oath of allegiance, before he or they can hold any place under the crown. VII. Concerns the cabinet and the states; that the king shall not do any thing concerning the crown, unless a plurality of voices of the states have been previously given, and never without their approbation, and against their counsel to reign. VIII. The king promises further, never to intermeddle with the election of the deputies of the diet, the marshals, and the speakers, and not suffer any other person to do it. IX. Concerns the election of the counsellors of the states and the posts which the king gives in the presence of the states, and not in the cabinet; that is, from field marshals to colonels, both inclusive. X. No person in this service, shall be cashiered before he is first condemned, nor put into any other employment against his will. XI. No privilege shall be given to any of the states, without the consent of all the four orders, nor any thing altered without the consent of the whole four. XII. The revenues of the crown to be disposed of according to the conventions of the states. XIII. No foreigner shall be naturalized, of what condition soever, without the consent of the states; nor shall any foreigner be admitted to a place in the senate, nor at court. XIV. The king is not permitted to go out of the kingdom, except in defence of the crown; the same restriction is likewise laid on the prince, unless so required to do by matters of importance. XV. In absence of the king, or in case of sickness, the privy-council shall sign all dispatches. XVI. The sense [["VOL. XV." is listed at the bottom of the first column; "[R]" is listed at the bottom of the second column]]
