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242] ANNUAL REGISTER [[2 Columns]] sense of the convention of the states, from the 23d of June, 1743, concerning the heirdom to the crown of Sweden, and the heirs mentioned therein, to remain unaltered. XVII. The king shall not commence war, nor make new laws, nor alter the old ones; but if the frontiers of the kingdom should be attacked by an enemy, he shall defend them; and with the consent of the senate, levy the necessary supplies till the diet can meet. XVIII. His majesty promises to preserve the gold and siver [[silver]] specie in their intrinsic value, to maintain the bank of the counsellors of state, and confirm the privileges thereof. XIX. The king engages himself to support, according to the tenor of the laws, the ecclesiastic state in general, and in particular whatever concerns its dignity, authority, prerogatives, and privileges, as also all the societies and communities which depend on it. XX. The king promises to take care, that the donations made by the monarchs his ancestors, or by private persons, for the benefit of the young students, be administered and employed conformably to the intentions and ordinances of the founders. XXI. All the towns of the kingdom are protected according to the form of regency, in regard to their rights, prerogatives, and immunities, both common and particular. XXII. The fabrics and manufactures actually established, and such as may be set up hereafter, shall be maintained and cultivated, under promise of supporting, not only the societies of the mines, relatively to their rights and privileges, but also to encourage, by virtue of the ordinances of the states, the peasants to improve agriculture. XXIII. In order that the counsellors of state may be the more convinced of his majesty's inviolable intention, and of his sincere love for the general welfare, he declares them entirely disengaged from their oath of fidelity, in case he should premeditately infringe his oath, and his capitulation, or what the counsellors of state should judge necessary to prescribe further, concerning the form of regency and its security, the maintenance of the free and sure exercise of their religion. XXIV. Lastly, The king menaces with his high displeasure, whosoever should be so inconsiderate as to dare to propose one degree of power and splendor more than is contained in this present act of capitulation, inasmuch as his majesty desires nothing on the one hand, but to gain the hearts of his faithful subjects; and on the other, to be their powerful defender against all attempts on their legal liberties. The king has solemnly confirmed these articles by oath, and his signature. ————————————————————————————————————————————— The King of Sweden's Speech to the States, on the 1st of June, 1772. YOU are this day assembled, in order to confirm, in the manner of your ancestors, the band of union which ties you to me, me to you, and you to the whole commonwealth: we must therefore remember, with the most sensible gratitude, the benevolence of the Almighty, who has ordered things so, that this very ancient kingdom of the Swedes and Goths, is still existing, after so many foreign, as well as national shocks; and that I For the YEAR 1772. [243 [[2 Columns]] I, on the throne of my ancestors, can yet address free and independent states. Assured of your hearts, most sincerely purposing to merit them, and to fix my throne upon your love and felicity, the public engagement, which you are going to enter into, would, in my opinion, be needless, if ancient custom, and the law of Sweden, did not require it of you; unhappy the king who wants the tye of oaths to secure himself on the throne; and who, not assured of the hearts of his subjects, is constrained to reign only by the force of laws, when he cannot by the love of his subjects. I need not put you in mind of the weightiness of the engagement you are going to take; the states of Sweden know best the extent of their duty to themselves and the commonwealth: may concord and harmony ever unite your hearts; may foreign views, and private gain, ever be sacrificed to public interests; may this alone be a perpetual band of union amongst you; and may the ambition of any part of you never raise any such disturbances, as may endanger the freedom and independency of the whole commonwealth. Gentlemen of the House of Nobles, Preserve always the honour and intrepidity of your ancestors; be an example to your fellow-citizens; and, as you are the first order of the kingdom, be also the first in virtue, and love of your country. Good Men of the Reverend Order of the Clergy, May mutual friendship, and peace, obedience to the laws, reverence to God, and the king, bear witness to me, and the country, of your zeal in the execution of the sacred office with which you are entrusted. Good Men of the Reverend Order of burghers, Strive always with your fellow subjects, who shall contribute the most to the public good: may the fruits of the extensive share which belongs to you, be a general credit and confidence, useful institutions, frugal living, and moderate gain; which leads to sure and certain wealth. Good Men of the worthy Order of Peasants, May piety, diligence, temperance, and old Swedish faith, and modesty, be the strongest confirmation of the honour always due to that order, which gives subsistence to all the others; an honour which the Swedish peasants have in all times attained. this is all that I ask of you: when you observe this, you perform, in the best manner, that duty to me and your country, which, according to the Swedish laws, I now call upon you to confirm by oath. ————————————————————————————————————————————— The Speech of the King of Sweden, to the States, assembled in the Great Hall, at Stockholm, August 21, 1772. Nobles, and People of Sweden, &c. &c. INWARDLY filled with the most true concern for the situation of our parent country, and under the necessity that I am to lay the [["[R] 2" is listed at the bottom of the second column]]
