from it, and to employ all his influence with the people to induce them to consent to the union.

2. The country between the Glommen and the Swedish frontier shall be evacuated by the Norwegian troops, as well as the isles of Walcheren, and the fortresses of Frederickstadt, with its citadel, Frederickshall, Frederickstein, and Konigswinger. The country shall be declared neutral, and the fortresses shall be occupied by Swedish troops.

3. After the occupation of the fortresses, the blockade of Norway shall be raised, in respect to the ports of Christiana, Christiansand, and Bergen, with the necessary modifications, and during the period of the truce.

After giving in this ultimatum, with regard to which the undersigned demand a categorical answer, they also address themselves to his Highness, in order to learn his resolution in regard to the let ter of his Danish Majesty.

They have, at the same time, the honour to declare to his Highness, that whatever may be his answer to this official Note, they will consider their negociations as terminated, and will demand their passports, whether for the purpose of continuing to bring about the union of the two kingdoms in a pacific manner, or to follow up an ineffectual negociation by more efficacious measures.

They seize with eagerness this opportunity of presenting to his Royal Highness the expression of their profound respect.

!

(Signed) STEIGENTESCH. ORLOFF. FORSTER. MARTENS Christiana, July 7, 1814. To his Highness Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark,

The Answer of his Majesty.

To the note from you, Gentlemen, the envoys of the courts allied to Sweden, charged with a special mission to Norway, I hasten to reply conformably with my duties to the people of Norway, and to the regard due to the overtures you are commissioned to make.

The happiness of Norway is the sole object of my actions. The Norwegian nation, delivered from the oath of fidelity to the King of Denmark, and not acknowledging his power to cede them in full sovereignty and property to the King of Sweden, as well as justly irri tated by learning it was a principal condition that Swedish troops should take possession of fortresses never occupied by Danish troopsduring the union, wished to avail themselves of those rights, which in similar cases belong, according to public opinion, to every nation.

Aware of this general sentiment, which an inveterate hatred between bordering nations rendered more marked than ever, I perceived that internal disturbances and anarchy would result from a forced union and I put myself at the head of the nation in order to prevent these calamities. The regard due to the sovereignty which resides in the nation itself, made me assemble a Diet, and it formed a constitution calculated to consolidate the happiness of the people. Their affection and confidence offered me the crown, which I then thought it my duty to accept; and desirous of contributing to the happiness of the people, I was persuaded that the independence of Norway, under a government which the nation itselt had formed, and an alliance with

Sweden guaranteed by the great powers, which should secure the repose of the North with that of the Norwegian people, who wish only to live free among their rocks, would be the most desirable state of things for Norway. I founded my hopes on the application, in our favour, of the same principles in support of which such generous efforts had been lavished in Germany and in Spain. The great powers of Europe have otherwise decided; the declarations which you have made, persuade me that the safety of Norway demands that we should yield to the law of the strongest; and I perceive that these same powers, not wishing to bring the calamities of war on Norway, are desirous of attending to every thing that may secure as much as possible the happiness of Norway united to Sweden. I even see it in my power to stipulate for the welfare of Norway, by the sacrifice of a situation personally flattering to me. I do not hesitate to make such sacrifice, in a manner worthy of a man of honour, worthy of the crown which I wear, and of the people who have conferred it on me.

You have recognised that it is only into the hands of the Diet that I can resign my rights; and it is also only that assembly of the representatives of the nation which can decide, whether the nation should prefer an unequal struggle for its independence to the honourable conditions which shall be offer ed to Norway as a kingdom united to Sweden. I acknowledge it to be my duty to make known to the nation the dangers to which it is exposed, and to represent to it the advantages which must be secured to it on its acceding to a constitutional union with Sweden; but VOL. LVI.

you know me sufficiently to be convinced, that, faithful to my engagements, I will never separate my fate from its, in the event of a brave though useless resistance against the united forces of Europe, being preferred to an honourable reconciliation, for which I shall employ all my credit. It is to this effect that I have written the letter to the King of Sweden, a copy of which is herewith subjoined, and by which I accede to your first basis for the truce which you also have deemed necessary, and which I demand of the King of Sweden, on honourable and admissible conditions.

To the second basis of the truce, I reply, that if the point at issue be the. rupture of negociations which can alone lead to au amicable union, I will accede to the evacuation of the country, between the Glommen and the Swedish frontier, as well as of the isles of Hualoerne, and the fortresses of Frederickstein and Frederickstadt, by the Norwegian troops, on condition that the territory, as well as the fortresses be neutral during the armistice. Kongsvinger being on the north bank of the Glommen, and a league on this side the neutralized ground, I think it will not be proper to insist on its evacuation. In regard to the occupation of the fortresses by Swedish troops, I deem it my duty to represent to you, that conditions which have once already animated the whole people to the defence of the country, ought not to be redemanded, if it is wished to soothe the public mind; that the inevitable consequence of the entrance of Swedish troops would be a general rising of the people, and that, in that case, I must prefer war against the enemy to the civil 2 F

war which I should have occasioned by outraging the constitution in the eyes of the whole nation by a criminal weakness. If the King of Sweden wish an amicable union and not war, he will not insist on this, and will accede to the proposal which I have made to him of leaving the two fortresses of Frederickstein and Frederickstadt in the custody of the citizens of these cities. The evacuation of these two fortresses by the Norwegian troops, which leaves them without the necessary defence, will give every military advantage to the Swedes; and when I consider the generous sentiments which should guide his Swedish Majesty, I trust that that monarch will at the same time be satisfied to fix the neutral ground on the east bank of the Glommen to a circle of three leagues around these fortresses.

With respect to the third basis, I must also observe to you, that the proposed raising of the blockade of Norway, which I consider as a condition inseparable from the truce, and as an unequivocal mark of the humanity and benevolence of the allied powers towards the people of Norway, must also be extended to all points of the coast, if it is wished that it be regarded as a real benefit. Any other condition would give rise to embarrassments and perpetual quarrels, which might too easily lead to a rupture of the armistice, and of the negociations consequent thereI have also demanded this of the King of Sweden, and I hope that he will acknowledge the truth of all these observations on the subject of the raising of the blockade, if it be wished to avoid every thing that might yet bring on a disastrous war in the North.

on.

I will furnish Major-General Peterson, and my aide-de-camp Captain Holsteen, with my full powers to conclude the truce at Frederickshall, or at Swinemund; and I sincerely wish that this negociation may be happily terminated, and be only preliminary to reconciliation and amicable union. I demand the guarantee of the allied powers for the truce, and for the propositions regarding the basis of union, to which his Swedish Majesty shall please to accede.

On the subject of the King of Denmark's letter, as to which I abstain from all reflection, I shall beg of you to take charge of my reply. It will contain in few words the declarations which my present position and my honour have required my making to you, and of which you have acknowledged the weight. It will show his Majesty that it is impossible for me to follow his orders until the Diet or the fate of arms shall have decided the future condition of Norway; and for the rest I must leave it to his wisdom and his conscience whether he judge it proper to carry into effect his threats against me and the Danish officers, which, however, would change greatly my personal situation, and the line of conduct which I have resolved to pursue.

This note being the last which I shall have to hand over to you, Gentlemen, envoys from the allied courts, I seize this opportunity of begging you to be persuaded of the very particular consideration with which I subscribe myself,

Your very affectionate, CHRISTIAN FREDERICK. (Signed) HOLTEN.

Christiana, July 13, 1814.

SO

Letter to the King of Sweden. Sir and Brother; There is nothing on earth valuable to me as the satisfaction of a good conscience. This I have never forfeited; and I still desire that my conduct may be directed as honour and as duty prescribe.

It is with these sentiments I have been induced to place myself at the head of a people, who, released from their allegiance to their king, sigh only for independence, and have tendered to me all their affections and confidence. I have sworn to defend the constitution, and shall readily lay down my life in support of their rights and independence. I have not forgotten, however, that I am likewise responsible for their happiness.

Now that all Europe has declared against Norway, against that cause which I defend with no other means than those afforded by my country, such considerations present a necessity against which it would be impossible to contend.

That I have never been misled by personal motives, I shall evince by restoring the crown into the hands of the nation who conferred it on me. I choose rather to save Norway than to reign over her: but before I consent to separate myself from a people to whom I am at present united by the most sacred ties, I am anxious to secure their happiness by a guarantee of the constitution, and other stipulations, to serve as bases to the union with Sweden. I shall assemble the Diet, and make the conditions known to the nation. I shall point out to them all the perils to which they will be exposed by a brave but fruitless perseverance in the contest. If the nation accept the conditions, I shall

instantly abdicate the throne; if they reject them, my fate shall not be separated from theirs. Before, however, I convoke the Diet, I desire that two important points may be previously arranged.

First, That the bases of the union be accepted by Sweden, under the guarantee of the four powers whose envoys are present.

Secondly, That the deliberations be free and mature, and to this end that a suspension of hostilities be agreed on.

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I am sensible that the advantages to result from a suspension of arms demand sacrifices side. These sacrifices are expressed in the projet of armistice which I annex. The envoys of the allied powers have contended that the Swedish troops should occupy the fortresses; but I have not been able to concede this point, both because the constitution restrains me, and because I well knew, from the character of my nation, that they would not suffer, without opposition, the entrance of Swedish troops within their frontiers. I am compelled, therefore, to prefer the misfortunes of a foreign to the horrors of a civil war. confidently rely, however, on your wisdom, Sir, in assenting to the means of avoiding a war which would render the projected union inadmissible, and entail upon the Swedish nation as many calamities as on the people whom you desire to govern, and whom you cannot conciliate so effectually as by measures of mildness, by a respect for public opinion, and a relaxation of the blockade; measures which will be considered as derived from your generosity, and your regard for the welfare of this people. My situation is painful, but my

I

affection for the Norwegians remains the same.

- If you accept the terms of the armistice, and the bases of the union, I pledge my word to employ all the influence I possess in persuading the people of Norway to submit to the union as the only means of security in their power. Honour me, Sir, with your confidence. I have deserved it, in cheerfully subscribing myself,

Your Majesty's, &c. CHRISTIAN FREDERICK. Christiana, July 13, 1814.

Note to the Envoys of the Allied

Powers.-Note B.

Although you, Gentlemen, envoys of the allied powers, charged with a special mission in Norway, have declared that you are not mediators between Norway and Sweden, it is doubtless inseparable from your character to be the guarantees of such stipulations as shall be agreed to between the two kingdoms. It is with this view that I invite you to give me the assurance that you will guarantee the bases of union which the King of Sweden may accept, as well as the armistice, in all the points that may be definitively arranged for the period of its duration. If the commissioners of the allied powers acquiesce, I am equally desirous that they should assist in settling differences of a serious nature, which may arise during the armistice; and I shall submit to their decision whether the period ought to be so far prolonged as to enable the Diet to close its deliberations without interruption. I require of you to guarantee, so long as the armistice shall continue, the raising of the blockade by the maritime forces of England and Russia, in order that commerce

and free navigation, both with rẻgard to importation and exportation, be restored to the ports of Norway, and likewise, that permission to ship grain and other provisions for Norway, be immediately given in Denmark, and in the ports of the Baltic, as well as in England, Holland, and the White Sea. If the exportation of corn from Archangel for the province of Drontheim, for Nordland and Finmark must be limited, I require 25,000 zetverts.

I would again call your attention to the situation of the King of Denmark, as it affects this country. You will admit that the King of Denmark has done the utmost in his power to carry the treaty of Kiel into effect. The evils which he assists in imposing upon his ancient subjects, who have given to him unexampled proofs of their fidelity, exceed those limits which humanity prescribes to Sovereigns. It is fit that he revoke these rigorous measures. The circumstances in which I am placed direct my conduct; the King of Denmark can have no influence on the fate of Norway. It is consequently cruel to make him answerable; and I invite you to employ your good offices with your respective sovereigns to relieve him from this obligation, and that his subjects, after so many sufferings, may have no more numerous and foreign armies to maintain.

1 require your answer to this note, Gentlemen, before you quit Norway, accompanied, be assured, by the good wishes of all those who have had the opportunity of knowing you, and who have learned to esteem you as highly as does Your's, &c.

CHRISTIAN FREDERICK. Christiana, July 13, 1814. .