the resources of the loan bank, and to regulate it in a manner suitable to its destination, in order, by the united influence of those establishments on the strengthening of private credit, to contribute to the extension of agriculture, of industry, and of commerce, and in general to the advantage of our dearly beloved country, in whose prosperity we place the reward of our exertions and our glory. ALEXANDER.

It was announced ir. the month of August, that the Emperor was preparing to quit his capital on the first of September. His absence was intended to be from fifteen to sixteen months. His Majesty was first to proceed to Witepsk, in order to inspect the troops of General Barclay de Tolly; whence he was to arrive at Moscow in November. Remaining in that quarter till June, he was then to visit the southern provinces of his empire. From Astracan he was to go to the Crimea, and inspect the troops of General Bennigsen; and then cross into Germany, to assist at the assembly fixed by the allied Sovereigns in 1815, to be held either at Frankfort on the Maine, or at Aix-la-Chapelle. After pay'ing a visit to Warsaw, he was to return to Petersburgh.

Before the Emperor's quitting Russia he published the following ukase concerning the settling of foreign colonists in the country.

1. Not only every noble proprietor, but every individual who, according to the decree of the 12th of December 1801, has the power of acquiring land by purchase or other title, may invite foreign cultivators.

2. That these colonists, who are ignorant of our laws and language, may not incur the danger of contracting too onerous engagements, and that, on the other hand, the proprietors may not be exposed to the exaggerated pretensions of the former, we ordain that all contracts made between them, and founded on principles already existing and authorized, shall, after being examined by the competent authority, be submitted to the revision of the Minister of the Interior, who is charged with the duty of watching over the colonists in general, and is required in particular to protect against every kind of vexation those who are established on the lands of the nobility.

3. These contracts are not to exceed the term of twenty years. They must clearly specify the conditions to which planters submit, as well as the annual rent which they engage to pay to the landlord in money or kind.

4. The reciprocal payments which at the term of the contract shall be exigible by the consent of the contracting parties, on the supposition that then the planter quits the land, or the proprietor refuses to retain him, shall be determined with clearness and precision.

5. On the death of the proprietor, his contracts shall be binding on his heirs, who shall not have the power of making changes, except with the consent of the planters, and the permission of the authorities.

6. The planters who may be established on the lands of the nobility shall enjoy during their residence in Russia a full and entire liberty of conscience, and shall

be

be exempt from all civil and military service, except by their own

consent.

SWEDEN.

In the month of March a conspiracy was formed against the life of the Crown Prince, the particular purpose of which appears little understood, though it cannot be doubted that the focus of it was chiefly among the nobility. The prince, however, met with the warmest attachment from the general representatives of the nation, and from the citizens of Stockholm; and his answer to an address presented by the latter deserves attention, from the spirit by which it is distinguished. The following were some of the most remarkable passages.

"For some months loose reports have been circulated in the country. Sometimes they said that the king was dead; then my son was dying; then my life was in danger this was done to alarm the country. Some later denunciations have attracted the attention of the police and the government. Judicial inquiries are instituted; and the criminals, or the false informers, will be punished. I could forgive the authors of these reports if they only aimed at my life; but they seek to overturn your liberty, your constitution, your national honour; in short, every thing that is most sacred to the honest citizen.

"They have ventured to mix the names of a family which you have excluded from the throne. You know yourselves, Gentlemen, that I did not cause their fate. When, in the distressed state to which a series of misfortunes had reduced you, you cast your eyes

on such princes as were known by the services they had done to their country, and your choice was fixed on me; I resolved to accept it. The very idea of the dangers that surrounded you, made me feel myself greater, and capable of the mightiest plans to merit your confidence. For you I consented to renounce the pleasures and tranquillity of private life, to which I had destined the rest of my days. I gave myself wholly up to a people once so renowned, then so unhappy. I came among you, and brought, as title and pledge, my sword and my deeds. If I could have brought you a series of ancestors from the time of Charles Martel 1 could have wished it only on your account: for myself, I am equally proud of the service I have done, and of the glory which has raised me. These pretensions are still increased by the king's adoption, and the unanimous choice of a free people. On these I found my rights; and as long as honour and justice are not banished from this earth, these rights must be more legal and sacred than if I had descended from Odin. History shows that no prince ever mounted a throne except by the choice of the people, or by conquest. I did not open a way to the Swedish succession by arms the free choice of the nation called me; and this is the right on which Ilean. Remember our condition at my arrival, and see what we are now. There are ill-disposed men in all countries; but in Sweden their number is so small, that no extraordinary measures are necessary to repress them.

"The interior peace of the country is undisturbed : from without there is nothing to fear [K 2]

We

We do not meddle with the concerns of other countries, and are certain that they will not meddle with ours. Your rights are therefore secured within and without; and every thing announces, that we shall not for a long time be obliged to defend them: but should the honour of the nation require it, I will go at the head of a faithful, tried, and disciplined army, supported by the will of the king and the people, and accompanied by the omens of victory, to meet the enemy, and shed all my blood in the defence of the country. I cannot express myself as I could wish in the Swedish language, but my son speaks it for me. He is educated among you: on him your hopes must repose: but I speak the language of honour and freedom; and every Swede who truly loves his country understands me."

A long proclamation was made public by the King of Sweden, respecting the necessity of limiting the use of foreign articles of luxury. His Majesty observes, that the use of such articles far exceeds the ability of the nation to pay, which has occasioned an unexampled depreciation of the course of exchange, and consequent dearness of goods: that it is important to find means to supply the kingdom entirely from its own resources: that this end may be in future greatly promoted by encouraging establishments to promote internal industry that this, however, requires time, and therefore extraordinary measures are necessary to limit the expenses caused by the importation of foreign goods. His Majesty alludes to his decree of the 31st of March, on the sub

ject of prohibiting many foreign articles, and of his decree of the same date as this proclamation, forbidding the sale of boiled coffee, and of various foreign wines. He then observes, that notwithstanding he sees with pleasure how much the sentiments of the nation corresponds with his own principles, yet he willingly avoids imposing any regulations on the dress and way of living of private persons, and trusts in the patriotism of the Swedes for their doing their utmost to second his paternal intentions. He expects that the higher classes in particular will set a good example, and that every reasonable head of a family, who has been as it were compelled by the prevailing fashion to take a part in the expenses of luxury, will be glad of the opportunity of retrenchment which his gracious invitation affords them. The magistrates are bound to encourage those who in certain places may wish to form societies against the use of foreign articles. His majesty will regard with especial favour the zeal and exertions of every well-disposed subject to promote his gracious intentions, and will be highly gratified at being thus dispensed from the necessity of enforcing his gracious will by express commands.-This proclamation is dated Stockholm, 30th April 1817.

His Majesty, on July 14, having sent for the Hereditary Prince Oscar, in order to take his seat next to himself in the council of state; and in future to be present at its deliberations, addressed him in the following remarkable and pathetic speech:

My Grandson! It is a solemn

and

me,

and affecting moment for when I see you take the place at my side in which you are to witness the deliberations upon the welfare of the people whose future fates Heaven has destined to be your care. My age and infirm health do not allow me to say on this occasion all that my tenderness for you, and my long experience, make me desirous of expressing. I will merely remind you, that you will one day become the chief of two free nations. Show them, by your respect for their rights, how you would have them respect yours. It is the constant equipoise between these rights that in free states produces order and strength; and it is the part of the sovereign, by justice, humanity, courage, and judgment, to direct and develop this principle, for the highest object, the general welfare. Never forget, my grandson, that I this day impose upon you a sacred and cherished duty, namely, that of paying, when I shall be no more, my debt to your father, for all the warm love, the kind attention, and the unwearied tenderness which he has shown me, from the very first hour of his connexion with this kingdom. Be to him what he is to me; be his support, as he is mine; press your heart to his as he presses himself to mine: my country, your father, and you: this, my son, what you shall read in my coun-tenance as long as my heart shall beat; but when my voice, already faint, shall have become for ever silent, may the Almighty protect thee; may he guide thy steps according to his laws, and permit thee, in the course of ages, to behold from higher regions, thy

is

name the honour and the delight of the earth!"

The Crown Prince also made on this occasion a solemn address to the King, and to the Prince his

son.

OPENING OF THE DIET.

Nov. 28.-Yesterday, as had been announced, the solemn opening of the Diet of the kingdom took place. The Court, the Supreme Tribunal, the Council of State, &c. after attending Divine service in St. Nicholas church, proceeded to the hall of the Diet, in the palace, where the Minister of State, Count Engstrom, read a Royal letter, announcing that his Majesty, on account of indisposition, was not able to attend the opening of the Diet, but that he commissioned the Duke of Sudermania (Prince Oscar) to read his speech, by which his Majesty intended to give a new proof of his love to that Prince, and his confidence in his people.

The Hereditary Prince Oscar hereupon read the speech, which contained a concise view of all that his Majesty had done for the good of the country, and what he still intends to do; and what related to the support of agriculture and commerce, of the manufactories of cloth, &c. His Majesty has aimed at improving the condition of the troops by sea and land; he has endeavoured to open the way to promotion to those who shed their blood for their country, and to remove all the obstacles which must oppose the soldier whose fortune did not admit of his obtaining the rank of colonel, or lieut.colonel. The pay of the general has been increased, and provision

made

made for their widows, as well as the widows of other officers. The lazarattos and hospitals, the academies of music and the fine arts, have received sums of money for their support; and the capital has been adorned with several new buildings. His Majesty has constantly endeavoured to follow the general opinion and the spirit of the times, not to suppress them. His Majesty, proposing to the consideration of the Diet a new and very detailed plan of finance, is far from thinking it so perfect as he could wish, but he thinks the means he proposes are, for the present, best adapted to circumstances, and that it will be proper to make a trial of them till the next Diet. His Majesty will be happy if this project can be useful to the Diet; and if their own determinations should be found superior, he will thank Providence for having given their meditations on this important subject a more advantageous direction. "Let the slave," says his Majesty, "who sinks beneath the weight of temporary embarrassment, seek in hope alone the possibility of relief; the free citizen himself, the founder of the laws which he obeys, himself the defender of the rights to which he appeals, meets the most difficult conjunctures with composure, sure of conquering them, as his fathers have done before him, sure of leaving the fruit of his exertions, and of his fulfilled duties, as an inheritance to his posterity."

Hereupon the Chancellor, Baron Wetterstedt, read the Royal proposals, of which the Land Marshal, and each of the speakers, received copies from the hands of

the Crown Prince: they then replied to his Majesty's speech, anď kissed the hand of the Crown Prince.

VIENNA.

An article dated from Vienna, May 28, announces officially from the Lemberg Gazette, that his Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Gallicia and Lombardy, has resolved to establish, with some modifications, the representative government of the kingdoms of Gallicia and Lodomeria in Austrian Poland, on the footing on which it was placed by Joseph II. There will be, as formerly, four orders of the kingdom, namely, the Prelates, the Barons, the Knights, and the Deputies of the cities. The last, and one of each of the three higher orders, will be elected for six years, the three others for three years. There will be besides a secretary, and an archivist, who will be appointed by government, and for life. The deputies will be elected by the body of the States, which will meet at the next Diet. They will each have a salary.

Thus (says the account) one of the most important articles of the Congress of Vienna is executed.

BERLIN.

The long protracted business of the constitution for the Prussian territories has still remained in an indecisive state, though not without indications of something like progress. A Berlin paper of the 20th of August mentions it is already known, that during the last days on which the council of State met, there was a sitting of the Constitutional Committee,