Letter to the King of Sweden. Sir and Brother, There is nothing on earth so 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 indepen dence, and have tendered to me all their affections and confidence. I have sworn to defend the consti tution, 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 bands 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 perse verance in the contest. If the na tion 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. I am sensible that the advantages to result from a suspension of arms demand sacrifices on my 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 from the character of my nation, me, and because I well knew, 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. I My situation is painful, but my affection for the Norwegians remains the same. 2 F2 If 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. Christiania, July 13, 1814. Note to the Envoys of the Allied 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 commere and free navigation, both with re gard 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. I 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. Christiania, July 13, 1814 Answer Answer of the Envoys to his Highness Prince Christian Frederick. The undersigned have received the communications which his Highness Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark has thought proper to transmit to them. In presenting their note of the 7th ult. they had flattered themselves that in entering into the views of his Highness for the convocation of the Diet, and the negociation of an armistice, they would probably succeed in removing every considerable difficulty, and obtain a confidence which might admit their propositions without restriction. Not one of the three points, however, submitted by the undersigned, has been fully accepted as part of the basis of an armistice. Each has suffered modifications which, if they do not annul the general effect, at least render doubtful the concurrence of his Swedish Majesty. Without entering into any details which could only give rise to fresh discussions, they feel themselves obliged to declare, that the concessions demanded as bases of the union are not compensated by any advantages afforded by the proposed armistice. The undersigned are therefore compelled to rest their hopes of the success of their negociation upon the generosity of the King of Sweden; and painful as it is to see all their efforts for the accomplishment of a pacific union frustrated, they are still happy to submit entirely to the conscience of his Swedish Majesty the acceptance of his Highness's propositions, in order thereby to furnish him with an occasion of commencing by a signal benefit the exercise of his influence over Norway. With respect to the guarantee of the bases of union, the armistice, and of all the points that shall be definitively arranged and accepted by Sweden, the undersigned are convinced, that none of the Powers of whom they are the representatives, nor even Sweden herself, will object to this act of justice. Indeed, the raising the blockade, if his Swedish Majesty shall consent to it, necessarily involves the revocation of all those belligerent measures which were taken against Norway. The observations added by his Highness with respect to the painful situation of Denmark, induce the undersigned to remark, that the resolution of the Prince to place himself at the head of an illegitimate opposition, is the sole cause of the misfortunes of his true country, and that he might at once have spared to Denmark the suspicions of the Allied Powers, and to the undersigned the chagrin of stating this in an official note. At the close of this communication, the undersigned have the honour to ask of his Highness, a last proof of his frankness, in the publication of their official notes as speedily as possible. They demand this on the principle that Norway should be informed of all the dangers to which she is exposed, and of the real object of their mission. The departure of the undersigned being irrevocably fixed for Sunday the 17th of July, they have the honour to present to his Highness, their homage, and the reiterated assurances of their profound respect. FORSTER. MARTENS. STEIGENTESCH. ORLOFF. Christiania, July 15, 1814. CONVENTION CONVENTION Between his Royal Highness the Prince Royal of Sweden, in the name of the King of Sweden, on the one part, and the Norwegian Government on the other part, concluded at Moss, Aug. 14. Art. 1. His Royal Highness Prince Christian shall, as soon as possible, convoke the States General of the Kingdom of Norway, according to the mode prescribed by the existing constitution. The Diet shall be opened on the last day of September; or, if this be impracticable, within the first eight days of October. Art. 2. His Majesty the King of Sweden shall communicate directly with the Diet by one or more Commissioners whom he shall appoint. Art. 3. His Majesty the King of Sweden promises to accept the Constitution framed by the Deputies of the Diet of Ewswold. His Majesty will propose such changes only as are necessary to the union of the two kingdoms, and engages to make none other but in concert with the Diet. Art. 4. The promises of his Swedish Majesty, and of the Prince Royal, to the Norwegian people, shall be strictly fulfilled, and confirmed by his Majesty to the Norwegian Diet. Art. 5. The Diet shall assemble at Christiania. Art. 6. His Majesty the King of Sweden declares, that no person shall be molested, directly or indirectly, for any opinions heretofore expressed adverse to the union of the two kingdoms. The Norwegian civil and military functionaries, or those who are foreigners, shall be treated with all regard and courtesy. None of thein shall be harassed for his opi nion. Those who decline con tinuing their services shall be pensioned according to the laws of the country. Sweden shall employ his good Art. 7. His Majesty the King of offices with his Majesty the King of Denmark, to procure the revocation of the ordinances or edicts promulgated since January 14, 1814, against the public functionaries, and the kingdom of Norway in general. Done at Moss. Aug. 14, 1814, Pope's Bull re-establishing the PIUS, BISHOP, SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD. (Ad perpetuam rei memoriam.) The care of all the churches confided to our humility by the Divine will, notwitstanding the lowness of our deserts and abilities, makes it our duty to employ all the aids in our power, and which are furnished to us by the mercy of Divine Providence, in order that we may be able, as far as the changes of times and places will allow, to relieve the spiritual wants of the Catholic world, without any distinction of people and nations. Wishing to fulfil this duty of our Apostolic Ministry, as soon as Francis Karen (then living) and other secular priests resident for many years in the vast empire of Russia, and who had been members of the company of Jesus suppressed by Clement XIV. of happy memory, had supplicated our permission to unite in a body, for the purpose of being able to apply themselves more easily, in conformity with their institution, to the instruction of youth in religion and good morals, to devote themselves to preaching, to confession, and the the administration of the other sacraments, we felt it our duty the more willingly to comply with their prayer, inasmuch as the then reigning Emperor Paul I. had recommended the said priests in his gracious dispatch, dated the 11th of August, 1800, in which, after setting forth his special regard for them, he declared to us that it would be agreeable to him to see the company of Jesus established in his empire, under our authority; and we, on our side, considering attentively the great advantages which these vast regions might thence derive; considering how useful those ecclesiastics, whose morals and doctrine were equally tried, would be to the Catholic religion, thought fit to second the wish of so great and beneficent a prince. In consequence, by our brief, dated the 7th of March, 1804, we granted to the said Francis Karen, and his colleagues residing in Russia, or who should repair thither from other countries, power to form themselves into a body or congregation of the company of Jesus; they are at liberty to unite in one or more houses to be pointed out by their superior, provided those houses are situated within the Russian empire. We named the said Francis Karen general of the said congregation we authorised them to resume and follow the rule of St. Ignacius of Loyola, approved and confirmed by the constitutions of Paul III. our predecessor, of happy memory, in order that the companions, in a religious union, might freely engage in the instruction of youth in religion and good letters, direct seminaries and colleges, and with the consent of the ordinary, confess, preach the word of God, and administer the sacra craments. By the same brief we received the congregation of the company of Jesus under our immediate protection and dependence, reserving to ourselves and our successors the prescription of every thing that might appear to us proper to consolidate, to defend it, and to purge it from the abuses and corruption that might be therein introduced; and for this purpose we expressly abrogated such apostolical constitutions, statutes, privileges, and indulgencies granted in contradiction to those concessions, especially the apostolic letters of Clement XIV. our predecessor, which begin with the words, Dominus ac Redemptor Noster, only in so far as they are contrary to our brief, beginning Catholice, and which was given only for the Russian empire. A short time after we had ordained the restoration of the order of Jesuits in Russia, we thought it our duty to grant the same favour to the kingdom of Sicily, on the warm request of our dear son in Jesus Christ, King Ferdinand, who begged that the company of Jesus might be re-established in his dominions and states as it was in Russia, from a conviction that, in these deplorable times, the Jesuits were instructors most capable of forming youth to Christian piety and the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, and to instruct them in science and letters. The duty of our pastoral charge leading us to second the pious wishes of these illustrious monarchs, and having only in view the glory of God and the salvation of souls, we, by our brief, beginning Per alias, and dated the 30th of July, 1804, extended to the kingdom of the Two Sicilies the same concessions which we had made for the Russian Empire. The |