to see their country formed into one independent state, and no longer either parcelled out among a number of petty sovereigns, or subject to the dominion of a foreign power. And certainly on many accounts this would be desirable; it would thus be less exposed to those in vasions from which it has suffered so much; and it would at last take its place, where it ought, among the kingdoms of Europe. But it was early seen that there would be great and serious obstacles in the way of the independence of Italy. Austria would look not only to her ancient possessions, but also to indemnity there for having ceded Belgium to Holland. And yet in no other part of Europe had the allies such an excellent opportunity of carrying into execution their plan of securing the continent against future wars by the consolidation of powerful states; for in Italy the people were anxious for that which the people of Saxony were averse to; and therefore, by uniting the northern and middle parts of Italy into one independent state, a fruitful source of, as well as a strong temptation to, future wars would be destroyed, and a free, happy, and enlightened race would be secured, sufficient to protect and defend themselves. If, therefore, the allies are really desirous of contributing to the good of Europe; if they even entertain sound notions respecting the means of preserving themselves from future wars; they ought to accede to the wishes of the people of Italy, and form the

'northern and central parts of it into one independent kingdom.

With respect to the pope, it was soon apparent that he no longer would be regarded as possessed of spiritual power, and that even his temporal power would be much curtailed. Whatever evils may have arisen from the French revolution, it certainly has greatly contributed to shake the power of spiritual tyranny, and to render the obligations and the benefits of toleration better understood.

The case of Murat, as king of Naples, it was naturally supposed, would give rise to much discussion : on the one hand, it was understood that Austria had actually guarantied him his throne, and the other allied sovereigns had nearly pledg ed themselves to the same extent; while, on the other hand, France would naturally wish a Bourbon restored to his entire dominions : and England could not entirely overlook the interests of an ally who had remained so steadily faithful to her. So far as the people of Naples were concerned, it was understood that under Murat they were much better off than they had been under their former sovereign: he had done much to render them more active and industrious. Besides these considerations, Murat had formed a numerous and well disciplined army; and it might not be prudent to provoke him, with such an army at his command, and with Italy disposed to join any man who would promise them independence.

CHAP

the river Eyder, were soon compelled to submit to the terms which they before had rejected. On the 14th of January a treaty of peace was signed between Sweden and Denmark, of which the following are the principal articles: By ar ticle 2d, the king of Sweden engaged to use his mediation with his allies, to bring about a peace between them and the king of Denmark.. By article 3d, the king of Denmark engaged to take an active part against the emperor of the French, to declare war against that power, and in consequence to join an auxiliary Danish corps to the army of the north of Germany under the orders of his royal highness the crown prince of Sweden. This was to be done in pursuance of a convention between Denmark and Great Britain, by which the number of men to be supplied by the former was fixed at 10,000, and the sum to be paid by the latter at 400,000Z.

The 4th article is the most important: by it his majesty the king of Denmark, for himself and his successors, renounces for ever and irrevocably all his rights and claims on the kingdom of Norway; which with its dependencies (Greenland, the Ferroe Islands and Iceland excepted,) is to belong in full and sovereign property to the king of Sweden, and make one with his united kingdom. On the other hand, by the 5th article, the king of Sweden binds himself in the 'most solemn manner to cause the inhabitants of the kingdom of Norway and its dependencies to enjoy in future all the laws, privileges, rights and franchises, such as they have hitherto subsisted.

By the 7th article, the king of 'Sweden, for himself and his successors, tenounced irrevocably and for

ever, in behalf of the king of Denmark, all rights and claims to the dukedom of Swedish Pomerania, and the principality of the island of Rugen; to the inhabitants of which the king of Denmark solemnly engaged himself to secure all their laws, rights, franchises and privileges.

By the 13th article it is stated, that "as the king of Sweden, so far as is practicable, and as depends upon him, wishes that the king of Denmark may receive compensation for the renunciation of the kingdom of Norway, of which his majesty has given satisfactory proof in the cession of Swedish Pomerania and the island of Rugen; so his majesty will use all his endeavours with the allied powers, to secure in addition, at a general peace, a full equivalent to Denmark for the cession of Norway.”

of

"

There was good reason to apprehend that this cession of Norway by the king of Denmark would not be palatable to the Norwegians: they had always resisted with great spirit and success every attempt Sweden to conquer them; and regarding their country (as indeed it was styled in the treaty of peace) as a separate kingdom from Denmark, they did not conceive that the king of Denmark had any right to transfer them to Sweden. Accordingly, soon after the treaty, it was rumoured that the Norwegians meant to resist the transference, and to declare themselves an indepen dent state. Prince Christian of Denmark was fixed upon to rule over them, under the title of regent. This circumstance certainly did no good to the cause of Norway, because a strong suspicion went abroad, that the king of Denmark was at the bottom of the resistance of this country to be trans

ferred

ferred to Sweden. On this account, it would have been better if they had chosen as regent a person entirely unconnected with Denmark, a native Norwegian.

About a month after the treaty between Sweden and Denmark, prince Christian put forth a proclamation to the Norwegians, in which he called upon them in strong and animated language to stand forth in defence of their national independence, and to repel every attempt to transfer them to Sweden. At the same time he issued a proclamation respecting the relation which was to exist between Norway and other powers; and the abolition of privateering. The hope that Great Britain would at least not oppose the endeavours of the Norwegians to secure their independence, is strongly expressed in the preamble to this proclamation; in which prince Christian, in his own name, and in the name of the nation of Norway at large, states, that he considers it a great blessing, and favour on the part of the king of Denmark, that, before hé absolved them of their oaths, he established peace between them and Great Britain. The first declaration in the proclamation is, that Norway is at peace with all the world; the others relate principally to the preservation of neutrality and the encouragement of com

merce.

As soon as the Norwegians had gone so far in their opposition to Sweden as to declare themselves independent, and to elect a sovereign, it became necessary for them to seek the means of defend ing their country from the invasion of the Swedish army. They trust ed much to the almost impenetrable nature of their frontier, to which they had been more than once in

debted for their protection, and the destruction of the invading Swe dish army: but as there was a part of their frontier which was accessible, it was necessary to raise as large an army as possible to defend it. Of troops, Norway had abun, dance; for all ranks and ages, as well as both sexes, seemed animated with a fixed determination to repulse the Swedes, or perish in the attempt. Their regular army probably amounted to 30,000 men; but they were half starved, badly armed, and inexperienced. Famine indeed was what they most dreaded: and against this they knew they could not protect themselves, if the maritime powers, and especially Great Britain, took an active part against them. But they did hope that Britain would assist them; at least, they did not doubt but Britain would allow the importation of grain.

In order to enable prince Christian more effectually to wield the powers of Norway in the arduous contest, he was raised to the dignity of king. In the beginning of July, envoys were sent to him from Austria, Russia, England and Prussia, who called upon him to agree to an armistice till the assembling of a diet, into whose hands he might return that crown which he had received from the nation. The terms of the proposed armistice were three. From Christian was demanded an immediate agreement to resign the crown to the diet, and the evacuation of a frontier, together with the surrender of certain forts on it. On the part of the Swedes it was conceded by the envoys, that the blockade of certain ports should be raised during the truce. With respect to the resignation of the crown, Christian replied, that he should make known

to

to the nation the danger to which it was exposed, and represent to it the advantages which would be secured to it on its acceding to a constitutional union with Sweden: "But (he added) you know me sufficiently to be convinced that, faithful to my engagements, I will never separate my fate from that of Norway, in the event of a brave though useless resistance against the united forces of Europe being employed to an honourable reconciliation, for which I shall employ all my credit !" He next deprecates the introduction of Swedish troops into the forts during the truce, as calculated to excite commotion; and speaks of himself as determined, even upon this point, to head that commotion when it has once sprung up-to avoid it, he proposes that the forts shall be put in the custody of armed citizens. Lastly, he demands that the blockade shall be raised universally; but upon that subject, and the truce generally, he writes a letter to the king of Sweden. In this letter he candidly acknowledges, that if he should relinquish the defence of Norway, it will be only through necessity!-He will assemble the diet; he will make known to that body the conditions proposed; he will point out all the perils of a perseverance in the contest. "If (says he) the nation accept the conditions, I shall instantly abdicate the throne; if they reject them, my fate shall not be separated from theirs."

Soon afterwards he gave in a second note to the envoys; in which he calls on them, in the name of their respective powers, to guaran ty the bases of the union of Norway with Sweden, as well as the conditions of the intermediate armistice he likewise requires that

the sittings of the diet shall be prolonged, so as to enable it to close its deliberations without interruption;" and that the blockade shall be raised, so as to admit a free im portation of corn into Norway.

In reply, the envoys grant the contingent guarantee required of their several sovereigns; but complain that all the conditions which they had proposed as the bases of the armistice had been altered. Yet still are they willing to convey his royal highness's propositions to the king of Sweden, with this intimation also, that they will second them by their recommendation, inasmuch as they will afford his majesty an occasion of commencing by a signal benefit the exercise of his influence in Norway.

On the 17th of July, the envoys returned from their mission: and on the 26th of that month military operations commenced betwen the Norwegian and Swedish flotillas. The former were stationed near the Hualorn islands, protected by about 23 batteries raised there. The Norwegian commander on the advance of thewedish fleet evacuated the islands, and retreated towards Frederickstadt. This circumstance put the Swedes in possession of positions of the highest importance for the opening of the campaign. Soon after this, the plenipotentiaries of the four powers set out again for Underwallda, to repair to Christiana to make a last effort for arrangement; and at the same time the prince royal of Sweden put himself at the head of his army against Norway. The people of Britain, who from their constitution, their habits and feelings, are much disposed to sympathize with all attempts made by the people of any country to gain or retain their independence, and generally to ex

press