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205] ANNUAL REGISTER

united those many breaches, which
had for more than a whole cen-
tury, shook the fabrick of the 
kingdom, and by that union has
made, of a divided nation, a free,
a powerful, an unanimous, an in-
dependent people, zealous for their
country's good, and careful of its
proper interests. In such a state
is the kingdom now delivered up
by you into my hands: liberty is
confirmed, the laws are fixed, and
concord is once more re-established
among you.

It is easy for you to conceive the
tender sensations with which I now
behold you, assembled before the
throne. The few days that have
passed since this important change 
has been established, have given 
me the most abundant, and the 
most affecting proofs of your love,
and your unbounded confidence in
me: I have seen those virtues re-
vive in your hearts. and those great
qualities shine forth in your actions,
with which your ancestors honoured
their periods: virtues which all
the while had lain concealed in
your hearts, and which the condi-
tion of the times has now again
disclosed.

That vigour, that unalienable 
attachment to king and country,
for which the Swedish nobility have
for ages been distinguished, has at
this time shone forth again, and
given me its effectual support.

In order or clergy are reviv-
ed, submission to the decrees of the
Most High, and zeal for his ho-
nour; obedience to the govern-
ment, and a tender love for con-
cord and the public good. Culti-
vate these sentiments with the 
? care among your breathren.

The zeal and care of the House
of Burghers for preserving the com-
merce, and the dignity of the king-

dom, have again disclosed them-
selves, as soon as their real good,
their well-being, and prosperity,
have been permitted to make a
stronger impression upon them.

In the order of peasants, a reverence for God and government has
also appeared: as soon as they were
left to themselves, they consulted
nothing but that love for their
country, which has at all times
been the character of the Swedish
husbandmen.

I part with you to-day, therefore,
with the most joyful, and the most
grateful heart, since you have, with
me, revived the ancient Swedish
liberty; fettled it on ground never to be shaken, and established a form of government which promotes it; since you, united with me by the strongest ties, may look forward to succeeding happier ages.  My care, and my endeavours, I assure you, shall be unlimited, in answer to your confidence; and while you, by an union among yourselves, by wise economy and moderation, support my endeavours for the general good, the improvement of the kingdom will be sure, and my home accomplished, that I may, at the end of six years, receive you here again, in peach and in tranquility; a loyal, happy, and united, a free and independent, and a generous people.

I wish you now a happy return to your several provinces:  and I remain to all, and every one, affectionate, with all kingly grace and favor. 
______________
Manifesto, in the names of the Empress of all the Russias, the King of Prussia, and the Empress-Dowager, Queen of Hungary, etc. delivered by the respective ministers of the said

For the YEAR 1772. [251

said Powers, at the Court of Warsaw, the 18th and 26th of September, 1772.

THE powers which border on Poland of so often been involved in the troubles, which almost every vacancy of the throne has excited, that the remembrance of what had heretofore happened, made it necessary for them to give the most serious attention to the affairs of that kingdom, as soon as, by the death of the late king, Augustus III. the throne was become vacant.

Urged by these considerations, and desirous of preventing the dreadful effects of those dissensions, which, as in former instances, might have arisen at this last vacancy of the throne, the court of Petersburgh hastened to take all possible measures to unite the citizens of Poland in favour of the candidate, who should appear to be most worthy of the throne, most agreeable to his fellow-citizens, and neighbouring powers.  

This court applied herself at the same time, and with equal zeal, to the rectifying of many abuses and defects in the constitution, which had been equally prejudicial to Poland, and her neighbours.

The court of Berlin seconded the attempts of her ally.

And the court of Vienna, desirous on her part of contributing to the success of so laudable views; but willing, at the same time, to avoid the danger of augmenting the difficulties and intricacies, which might arise from multiplying the number of those, who undertook openly, and directly, to settle the affairs of Poland, thought proper to observe the most exact neutrality, with regard both to the arrangement of the affairs of Poland; and the war, which was afterwards kindled on this subject, between Russia and the Porte.

The immediate consequences of these measures were the free and legal election of Stanislaus, reigning king of Poland, and the forming of many useful and salutary establishments.  In a word, every thing seemed to promise to Poland and her neighbours, a firm and lasting tranquillity.

But unhappily, in the midst of these promising appearances, the spirit of discord seized upon one part of the nation:  citizen armed against citizen; and the sons of faction seized the reins of authority; and laws, and order, and public safety, and justice, and police, and commerce, and agriculture; all are either gone to ruin, or stand on the brink of destruction. And the excesses of every kind, natural consequences of such an anarchy, which bring on the total dissolution of the state, if not timely prevented.

The connections between nations, which border on each other, are so intimate, that the subjects of the neighbouring powers have already felt the most disagreeable effects from these disorders.  These powers are obliged, at a great expence, to take measures of precaution, in order to secure the tranquillity of their own frontiers:  they are exposed to the uncertain, but possible consequences of the entire dissolution of Poland; and to the danger of seeing their mutual harmony and good friendship destroyed; the maintenance of which, at the same time that it secures their own peace and tranquillity, is a matter of the highest importance to all Europe. 

From this view of things it will appear,