1809-1810.
Sir James's third year in the command of the Baltic
Fleet.--Proceeds to Gothenburg and Havre.--Correspondence with
Mr. Foster, Admiral Krusenstjerna, and others.--Swedes shut
their ports.--Death of the Crown Prince.--Murder of Count
Fersen.--Restrictions of the Swedish commerce.--Sir James's
judicious conduct in that and in several disputes.--Election of
Bernadotte, and his entry into Sweden.--Correspondence on the
subject.--Sir James returns to England, and receives the
approbation of the government and the nation.
We must now revert to the state of affairs in the central continent of
Europe, on which the fate of Sweden so materially depended.
Buonaparte, having withdrawn the greatest part of his troops from
Spain, had planted his eagles at Vienna, and, after the battles of
Aspern and Wagram, had obliged the Emperor of Austria to sue for
peace, which was concluded on the 14th October 1809; by this the whole
sea-coast had been ceded to France, and Prussia was recompensed for
her neutrality by the cession of a part of Galicia; while Joseph
Buonaparte was declared King of Spain, and acknowledged as such by the
Emperor of Austria, who consented to the union of his daughter, the
Arch-duchess Maria Louisa, with Buonaparte, as soon as he had divorced
his wife Josephine, an event which took place in December.
Meanwhile, the ruler of France had proclaimed himself mediator of
Switzerland, and declared that every port in Europe should be shut
against British commerce. Early in 1810 he began to unfold his designs
upon Holland, which, he gradually occupied and annexed to France,
obliging his brother Louis to resign his throne. He subsequently took
possession of the mouths of the Scheldt, the Meuse, the Rhine, the
Weser, and the Elbe. Rome, Holland, Valais, and the Hanse Towns, with
a population of thirty-eight millions, were added to France; while
Hanover was given to the kingdom of Westphalia.
That the politics of Sweden should have undergone a change in
consequence of the extraordinary success of Buonaparte, can hardly
excite surprise; but another untoward circumstance took place, which
seemed to militate against a continuation of an alliance with Great
Britain, namely, the untimely death of the Danish prince, who had been
unanimously elected to succeed Charles XIII, and who, having acted in
Sweden as Crown Prince since the 21st of January 1810, had endeared
himself to the nation as well by his amiable disposition and the
admirable regulations he had made, as by his conduct in Norway, while
opposed to the Swedes, particularly in forbearing to attack them from
Norway, where he commanded a Danish army during the revolution. It had
been falsely and unfortunately circulated that he had been poisoned by
Count Fersen, then Riks-Marskall (prime minister) of Sweden. On the
arrival of the remains of the deceased prince at Stockholm, the Count
fell a victim to the indignation of the lawless and infuriated
populace. The following is an authentic account of that lamentable
event.
21st June 1810.
All Stockholm was in an uproar! At noon, the corpse of the
lamented Crown Prince entered the city by Horngatan, escorted
by only a company of dragoons, and preceded by several members
of the court, and finally by Riks-Marskall Fersen, Fabian
Fersen, and Doctor Rossi. On entering the street, the mob began
to insult the Riks-Marskall, and soon after to throw stones and
other missiles. When the windows of his carriage were broken,
the mob gave a loud hurrah. The people now followed the
carriage into Nygatan, opposite the inn called Bergstratska
Husset, into which Count Fersen jumped, already covered with
blood, but followed by the infuriated mob, who first tore off
his order riband and threw it into the street; then, having
stripped him naked, they threw him out of the window into the
street. Here the mob proceeded to beat him with clubs, and
trample on him, until death put an end to his sufferings. In
the mean time, General-adjutant Silversparre and Aldercreuts
rode through the street, and in vain talked to the people;
they had no troops, and the assistance came too late, being
only in time to preserve the lifeless body being torn to
pieces.
The fury of the mob being now satiated, and the soldiers having
fired a few shots among them, they began to disperse, but not
before many were killed and wounded, and it is believed that
the remainder of the suite which attended the lamented Prince
at his death would have shared the same fate as Count Fersen,
had the military not arrived in time to save them. The body of
Count Fersen was with difficulty carried off on a sledge. In
the night the windows of Count Ugglas and several others were
broken, and it was not until some days that tranquillity was
restored.
Buonaparte had now sent peremptory orders to enforce his commands that
the port of Sweden should be shut against British commerce, but it was
evident that these orders could never be carried into effect, unless
they had a superiority by sea. The principal ports might, indeed, be
nominally shut, but Sweden could neither prevent the British navy from
entering her numerous unfortified harbours by her own army, or support
troops sufficient for the purpose of defending them. It was therefore
only necessary to make a show of compliance, in order to satisfy the
despotic ruler of France, who had absurdly declared Great Britain to
be in a state of blockade.
It was under these delicate circumstances that Sir James resumed the
command of his Majesty's fleet in the Baltic, and having rehoisted
his flag on board the Victory on the 11th March 1810, he proceeded to
Hawke Roads, which is the outer roadstead to Gottenburg, and was
followed by Rear-admirals Reynolds, Dixon, and Morris. Before leaving
England, Sir James had communicated with Lord Mulgrave, then first
Lord of the Admiralty, on the relative situation of the two countries;
and as it was the wish of his Majesty's ministers to avoid, as long as
possible, committing any hostile act against Sweden, they confided in
the tact of Sir James to pursue the course which he judged most
advantageous to the interests of commerce, and at the same time to
uphold the honour and naval superiority of the nation. The Swedes had
already a sufficient knowledge of the British Admiral's high
character, and our government could not have afforded them a more
decisive assurance of their desire to remain on amicable terms with
them than by sending Sir James with extraordinary powers to act
according to circumstances. On the one hand, they knew that in all
matters of a delicate nature they could place the utmost reliance on
his word, and that they were treating with a person quite incapable of
deception or intrigue; on the other, they were aware that if coercion
became necessary, he would act with decision, and baffle every evasive
manoeuvre.
The following correspondence with Mr. Foster and others, with some
occasional remarks, will convey to the reader some idea of the
important and difficult situation in which Sir James was placed.
Victory, Hawke Road, 21st May 1810.
SIR,
I have the honour to acquaint your excellency of my arrival
here with part of the squadron under my command, and of my
intention to proceed into the Baltic as soon as the wind will
permit. It will afford me the highest satisfaction to renew a
correspondence from whence I derived such great benefit during
the time I was employed upon this station last year; and
although the unfortunate exclusion of British ships from the
ports of Sweden will render it more difficult at this time, I
hope it will not be the means of entirely depriving me of the
honour of hearing from your excellency. As I propose calling
off Ystad, on my getting into the Baltic, I shall detach a
vessel to that place for any letters you may have done me the
honour to write.
I have, &c.
JAMES SAUMAREZ.
The Victory arrived off Ystad on the 6th June, when Sir James received
the following letter from Mr. Foster:
Stockholm, 25th May 1810.
SIR,
I hasten to reply to the letter which you have done me the
honour to write from Gottenburg, and to return you my best
thanks for the communication of your arrival off the Swedish
coast. It is with great pleasure that I renew a correspondence
which, as you are kind enough to say, was of benefit to you
last year, and from which I certainly derived most important
assistance, and the highest satisfaction.
I am afraid, however, that the opportunities of writing to you
will be few. Ystad, from its neighbourhood to Denmark, seems to
be too much exposed to observation, for this government to wink
at the correspondence passing that way. It has been hinted to
me, however, that it might proceed without difficulty through
the small town of Soelvitzborg on the frontiers of Blekingen and
of Scania, and I write to Mr. Fenwick by this day's post to
recommend his making arrangements for the purpose.
Mr. Consul Smith has transmitted to me a copy of an article in
your printed instructions, which he says you allowed him to
make known at Gothenburg, and which, if acted upon, will strike
at the coasting trade of this country in a manner that I
scarcely think was contemplated by Government. Indeed it
appears to me, particularly when I consider the previous notice
that has regularly been given in Sweden, where measures have
been taken against his Majesty's interests, that it will be
liable to the imputation of unfairness, if acted upon
immediately, vast quantities of Swedish shipping, which was
sent to sea in the confidence of security from capture, being
exposed to its operation. I was in hopes that I should have
heard from you on the subject, and I cannot but flatter myself
that his Majesty's Government will have forwarded to me
explanations respecting it.
The Danes have annoyed the Swedish trade so considerably, that
I understand strong representations will be made on the subject
at Copenhagen, and possibly some retaliation may take place
from this side of the water, if they do not cease their
proceedings.
I trust you will have the goodness to let me know if it is your
intention to order the capture of Swedish ships of all kinds
which shall be proceeding from one port of Sweden to another.
I am, &c.
A. FOSTER.
Sir James had made known at Gothenburg the article in his instructions
referred to in Mr. Foster's letter, for the express purpose of giving
the Swedes timely notice of the step Government had found it necessary
to take; and being still in hopes that the order would be rescinded,
he had not given directions to his squadron to act upon it, although
it appeared from a communication of the same date from Mr. Foster that
his recall was required by Buonaparte, and that his stay at Stockholm
could not exceed six weeks.
The following is Sir James's reply to Mr. Foster:
Victory, off Ystad, 7th June 1810.
SIR,
I had the honour to receive both your letters, dated 25th ult.,
on my arrival at this place yesterday evening, and I request
you will accept my best thanks for them. I was much surprised,
before I sailed from Hawke Road, to find from Mr. Consul Smith
that you had not received from Government any communication
relative to the restrictions upon the trade of Sweden, having
taken it for granted, at the time I received instructions upon
the subject, that intimation of it would have been made to you
by the same conveyance. I trust that you have before this
received explanations respecting it, and that they will prove
as satisfactory to the government of Sweden as the
circumstances will admit.
I have hitherto acted on that part of my instructions with the
utmost moderation; but, in conformity to these instructions, it
will not be in my power to desist in future from allowing the
cruisers to make captures of such Swedish vessels as they fall
in with, who are not provided with licences from England. The
depredations by the Danish armed vessels have determined me to
give orders to his Majesty's ships stationed off Kioge Bay not
to admit any vessels to enter the Sound, which I have signified
to our Government.
The place you have been pleased to point out for the
correspondence in future is perfectly well adapted, more
particularly from its vicinity to Hano Bay, the rendezvous
which I have appointed for the trade, and where I propose to
proceed on receiving despatches which I daily expect from
Gothenburg: I shall therefore hope to have the honour of
hearing from you next by way of Soelvitzborg.
The information I have received from Mr. Fenwick of the
lamented death of the Crown Prince must have thrown this
Government under very considerable embarrassment, and possibly
may lead to some change in the politics of the country.
I request you will favour me with any information you receive
relative to the Russian fleet, as it will in a great degree
decide the time when I may proceed towards the Gulf of Finland.
It is with great satisfaction I have the honour to inform you
that the numerous convoys that have sailed from Gothenburg have
all cleared the Belt without loss, and the two homeward bound
convoys are, I hope, by this time far on their way. The one
under protection of the Edgar and Saturn was off Romsoe last
Sunday, and the one which sailed more recently was yesterday
off Dars Head.
I hope the time is yet very distant, but I trust you will be
pleased to signify to me the proposed period of your leaving
Sweden. I will give directions for one of the ships under my
orders to convey you and suite to Yarmouth, or any other port
you prefer.
I have, &c.
JAMES SAUMAREZ.
The Author, then lieutenant of the Victory, was despatched to
Soelvitzborg, where he made arrangements with the authorities for the
correspondence between the Admiral and Mr. Foster, and also for a
supply of fresh beef and vegetables for the fleet, which occupied the
Roads of Hano, where the convoys assembled, the merchants having built
store-houses on the island of Hano, previously inhabited by a few
fishermen. The convoys at anchor there consisted of ships under
various neutral flags, which had licences from Government. These
entered St. Petersburg and every port in the Baltic with British
manufactures or colonial produce, returning with timber, hemp, tallow,
&c. the produce of Russia and Prussia. As soon as they had accumulated
to about 500, and the wind came fair, they sailed from Hano under
convoy to the Belt, where a strong force was always kept to protect
them from the attacks of the Danish gun-boats. The tyrannical decrees
of Buonaparte were thus rendered null and void on this part of the
Continent.
The following letter from Mr. Foster to Sir James exhibits in strong
terms the alarm excited in Sweden by the communication of the
Admiral, while it points but the excellent policy of his not acting
under the circumstances upon his instructions.
Stockholm, 31st May 1810.
SIR,
The situation in which this country has been placed by the
publication of your orders to capture Swedish ships employed in
the coasting trade, has created such an alarm that even private
individuals are afraid to take their passage in the packet
boats, between Sweden and Stralsund, without they have letters
from me. Among the rest a M. de Bon, a merchant of my
acquaintance, who is shortly to proceed to Germany in order to
be married to a young lady, the sister of a friend of mine, has
urged me to ask if your excellency means to include the
Stralsund packet-boat in your general orders for capture, or if
he can safely hire a vessel to take him there. Any information
you can give me on the matter will be very agreeable to me.
Swedish subjects are of course free from being made prisoners,
as we are not declared at war with Sweden; but my assertion of
the fact is not considered here of sufficient satisfaction
without a particular letter to the commanders of his Majesty's
ships.
I beg you will let me know if you can allow a young Swedish
officer to serve on board any of the ships under your command,
as application has been made to me on the subject.
Admiral Puke is directing all his attention to the defence of
Carlscrona; sailors and soldiers have been sent there from
hence, the latter belonging to the Queen's German regiment, in
some transports, which it is feared may be captured by some of
your cruisers. I had the honour to write to you twice by the
medium of this Government.
Mr. Jacobi will deliver to you a letter which Mr. Millander, a
merchant of this place, has requested I would forward to your
excellency.
I have the honour to be, &c.
A. Foster.
The letter conveyed by Mr. Jacobi respected his making a settlement in
Gothland, which might be of use to the Admiral. This, however, became
unnecessary, in consequence of the occupation of Hano, where supplies
were plentifully obtained. Hano was also more convenient for convoys,
and for communicating with England, &c.
Several letters passed between the Admiral and Mr. Foster on the same
subject; at length Rear-admiral Krusenstjerna was deputed to
communicate verbally what could not be committed to paper. This
officer pointed out the harbour of Matwick, only a few leagues to the
northward of Hano, as the situation most suitable for the collection
of convoys under the circumstances. This, being surveyed, was found to
be safe and capacious. It was formed by a number of small islands,
while it was impossible for any power, unless with a superior naval
force, to molest the ships in the harbour.
On the 6th of June directions to rescind the orders to capture Swedish
ships were given. These reached Sir James in a week, after which
things went on smoothly and agreeably, no captures of any consequence
having been made during the time the order was in force. Buonaparte,
finding that his views of restricting British commerce were
frustrated, insisted that the British minister should quit Stockholm;
and Mr. Foster, having only forty hours' notice, arrived at Gothenburg
on the 14th June. Here he wrote the following letters to Sir James,
which will show the state of affairs, and the propriety of the steps
the Admiral had hitherto taken.
Gothenburg, 14th June 1810.
SIR,
I should have written from Stockholm to inform you of my being
obliged to quit that capital; but the Swedish minister's
letters to me, conveying the wish of the Government that I
should depart, gave me but forty hours to prepare myself, and I
had scarcely time for any other occupation than that of getting
ready during so short a period. I left Stockholm on the morning
of the 8th inst. and arrived at Gothenburg this evening. I am
anxiously waiting to receive orders from home, in order to take
my departure.
The Swedish Government has now notified in London its intention
to shut the ports of Sweden to his Majesty's packet-boats;
therefore, I expect from day to day that an order will arrive
for their exclusion. Captain Honeyman of his Majesty's ship
Ardent has been kind enough to offer me a passage on board the
Chanticleer, if she can be detained a few days, and I shall
very willingly and thankfully accept of the offer.
Baron d'Engestroem considered my departure, and the cessation
of the correspondence between England and Sweden, as a
necessary consequence of the treaties of peace lately concluded
by this country, and therefore as not likely to produce any
change in the present relations with Great Britain; indeed they
have both long been announced as being to take place. The
communication, therefore, will still be winked at, as I have
reason to believe, by the Swedish Government, but it must be
done privately.
I have, &c. &c.
AUGT. FOSTER.
The next letter was dated Gothenburg, 16th June; and after reiterating
the above and acknowledging a despatch from Sir James, he adds,--
I am sincerely rejoiced at the modifications which have been
made of your original instructions how to act towards the
Swedes, and I have great satisfaction in telling you that, even
previously to my leaving Stockholm, your conversation with Mr.
Brinkman had been reported to the Swedish minister, and the
language you had held, and your moderate conduct subsequently,
in regard to their trade, had made upon his mind the most
favourable impressions. Both he and the rest of the cabinet of
Stockholm seemed convinced that you had executed your orders
with as much mildness and consideration for this country as
could possibly be expected.
The following is Sir James's reply to these letters:
Victory, Hano Bay, 20th June 1810.
SIR,
I have received the honour of your letters dated the 14th and
16th inst., informing me of your sudden departure from
Stockholm, of which I had been previously apprised by Admiral
Krusenstjerna. However deeply I must regret being deprived at
this crisis of your important communications, I hope your
arrival in England will be the means of furnishing Government
with information relative to the state of Sweden, of which they
could not otherwise have been in possession.
The instructions I have received, containing the modifications
upon the coasting trade of this country, have given me infinite
satisfaction; and I am happy to find, from what you have been
pleased to mention on the subject, that the moderation with
which I have acted has been highly approved of by the Swedish
Government.
Having written my last courier to Captain Honeyman, senior
officer in Hawke Road, directing him to appropriate one of the
ships upon the station to convey you and your suite to
Yarmouth, or any other port you desired, I trust he will be
able to accommodate you to your satisfaction.
With my best wishes for your speedy and safe passage.
I have, &c. &c.
JAMES SAUMAREZ.
To his Excellency Augt. Foster, &c. &c. &c.
The following farewell letter, written by Mr. Foster to Sir James on
leaving Sweden, gives a more decided opinion on the state of Sweden
than has hitherto been offered. It concludes the correspondence.
The politics of Sweden have necessarily undergone a great
change. The death of the Crown Prince has completed the
disasters of the nation, and such is its present state of
weakness and discouragement, that I cannot consider the Swedes
as having any longer a shadow of independence. Their exposed
local situation, will prevent their taking any offensive
measures of hostility against us; the futility of any effort of
the sort prevents its being exacted from them by Buonaparte;
but I have recommended strongly to the merchants here, who have
British property, to place it under neutral cover, and by no
means to expose themselves in any way through a want of proper
precaution. I have had the satisfaction to find they have
attended to my advice.
Give me leave, sir, to repeat my best thanks for the
communications you continued to honour me with during my
residence in Sweden, and to assure you that I am, with great
regard and esteem,
Sir, &c. &c.
A. Foster.
To his Excellency Admiral Sir James Saumarez.
Some false reports having been circulated that the cruisers under the
orders of Sir James had captured several Swedish ships bound to
England and other ports, from which the English flag was not excluded,
the Right Hon. Charles Yorke, then first Lord of the Admiralty, wrote
a private letter to Sir James accompanying the modification of the
order already alluded to, and directing that any captures made under
its operation might be restored. To which communication Sir James made
the following reply:
Victory, 20th June 1810.
SIR,
I have this morning received the honour of your letter on the
subject of the trade of Sweden, in which you are pleased to
observe that the Marquess of Wellesley had communicated to you
that he had received information that some of the ships under
my orders have detained and captured some ships from a Swedish
port destined to the port of London, to which I beg leave to
state that the information must have been incorrect, the
detention or capture of any vessel of that description being
contrary to the orders I have given to the cruisers on this
station, and no report having been made to me of any having
been detained. I beg further to observe, that to every
application made to me by any of the merchants, I gave my
decided opinion that Swedish ships trading to England, or to
those countries where Swedish produce was admitted, were not
liable to detention, and that they would not be molested by the
cruisers under my orders. Knowing the extreme distress that
Sweden must suffer from the interruption of her coasting trade,
I acted upon the instructions I received with the utmost
possible moderation, consistent with the tenor of those
instructions. They were not acted upon until I had an
opportunity of communicating with the Consul at Gothenburg, and
some of the principal merchants, who appeared perfectly
satisfied with the indulgence I allowed to the trade of Sweden
under the existing circumstances, and the same has been
signified to me by the Swedish Government, who have expressed
themselves satisfied with the mildness and consideration with
which I have uniformly acted to this country. I shall therefore
feel most sensibly, if any unfavourable cases have been made by
misstatements upon any part of my conduct since I came upon
this station. There being no immediate appearance of the
Russian fleet putting to sea, I propose to remain here some
time longer, for the greater facility of communicating with
England, as well as for accelerating the trade from this
rendezvous.
I have the honour to be, with great regard, &c.
JAMES SAUMAREZ.
To the Right Hon. C. Yorke.
Everything being now adjusted to the satisfaction of both Governments,
the trade was carried on by means of licences to the ports in Russia
and Prussia, while the Swedish coasters and packets met with no
interruption. The Swedes began to look for a successor to the throne
to fill the place of the late lamented Crown Prince. The candidates
were the King of Denmark, the Prince of Oldenburg, and the French
General Bernadotte, the Prince of Ponte Corvo. The last was proposed
by Count Moerner, to whom he had shown much kindness when a prisoner.
In order to secure his election he sent over a large sum of money by
means of the Swedish Stralsund packets, which performed their voyage
unmolested; and the first intimation of this event was obtained by the
author about the 15th of August, when he met the waggons loaded with
specie on their route from Ystad to Stockholm. Soon after which he was
informed that Admiral Krusenstjerna was to arrive at Carlsham on the
20th, and he accordingly met him with Sir James's assurance, that he
would be received on board the Victory and permitted to depart after
having made his communication to the Admiral.
This will be best explained by Sir James's public despatches to the
first Lord of the Admiralty, of which the following is a copy.
Victory, Hano Bay, 21st Aug. 1810.
SIR,
Admiral Krusenstjerna has done me the honour this morning to
come on board the Victory, with a verbal communication which he
has been charged to make to me from the King of Sweden relative
to the election of an heir apparent to the throne. After
expressing to me the regard and confidence of his Swedish
Majesty for my services to Sweden, Admiral Krusenstjerna
signified to me that he was desired by his Swedish Majesty to
communicate to me his Swedish Majesty's intentions to maintain
the harmony and good understanding that subsist between the
respective nations, in which the interest of Sweden is so
particularly concerned. In order to the maintenance of that
harmony, as well as for the existence of Sweden, it was
indispensable that the Government should be headed by a person
who was independent, and not liable to submit to the will of
others. He was directed to inform me that of the four persons
who have been proposed to be successor to the throne of Sweden,
the Prince of Augustenburg had declined the acceptance of that
distinction, in favour of his Majesty the King of Denmark, but
who, from political circumstances, was _not_ considered
eligible. The Prince of Oldenburg had also been mentioned, but
insuperable objections also arose to prevent the choice fixing
upon his Serene Highness. The Prince of Ponte Corvo, through
the medium of the Swedish minister at Paris, had offered
himself a candidate for the high situation, and was the person
recommended by the King of Sweden to the Diet now assembled at
Orebro, to be successor to the late Crown Prince.
Admiral Krusenstjerna was also instructed to signify to me that
the Prince of Ponte Corvo, in offering himself for this
distinction, had professed his firm intentions, as far as
depended on him, to maintain the relative situations between
England and Sweden, and that his proposing himself was without
the participation of Buonaparte. He further mentioned that he
was of all others the person who would have the firmness to
oppose the intentions of Buonaparte, or his agents and
ministers, in the intercourse with other countries.
The Admiral was further directed to signify to me that the King
of Sweden earnestly hoped that this communication would be
acceptable to the King, my august sovereign, and that it would
be considered as an additional proof of his earnest wish to
preserve the harmony and friendship that have so long subsisted
between the two nations.
I requested that Admiral Krusenstjerna would put down in
writing the substance of the communication he had to make to
me, which he declined, being contrary to the instructions he
had received. I have, however, stated the particulars of the
whole communication, as nearly as I possibly can from memory.
I have the honour to be, &c.
JAMES SAUMAREZ.
To the Right Hon. C. Yorke, &c. &c. &c.
The Swedish Government, aware that objections would probably be made
by the English ministers to the election of a French general in the
service of Buonaparte, as successor to the throne of Sweden, had so
managed that the above communication should not be made until too late
for any remonstrance. The following message from the King to the Diet
had been delivered, and their decision was expected before Admiral
Krusenstjerna could return to Orebro.
"His Royal Majesty Charles XIII, King of Sweden, &c. Our most gracious
proposition and message to the Diet now assembled respecting the
election of a successor to the Crown of Sweden," &c.
Orebro, 10th August 1810.
At this crisis the States of Sweden having met, and since the
last Diet more than three months having elapsed, every good
Swede must have reflected on his situation. After great
misfortunes and innumerable troubles, the kingdom appeared to
be a little calm. Three treaties of peace which have taken
place have unfortunately diminished the territory of Sweden. A
noble Prince at the side of the throne, by his virtue, talents,
and abilities, promised new regulations and orders, which the
King and the people had already forwarded. His manner of
appointing the army gives an excellent proof of the good choice
made by our native country; but a great national misfortune
occurred, by which our hopes were destroyed.
His Royal Majesty dwelt on that hope, and overwhelmed with
grief, his sorrowful heart beheld Sweden's last misfortune. The
Crown Prince, Carl August, is no more, and a cloud has overcast
the joyful and bright days of our native country. With a heart
rent by sorrow and affliction, his Royal Majesty has assembled
the Diet, on this occasion to repair the loss. His Royal
Majesty sees on our side endless disputes and disturbances
throughout the realm. His Royal Majesty's years are far
advanced, and he wishes to employ his last days for his
people's repose. He will be happy when he has seen his people
unanimous, and their swords sheathed, and the laws and
constitution kept sacred; then he will end his days happily,
and at the present time will give them a proof of his love for
his native country by proposing a successor to the throne,
whose talents, virtues, and abilities are universally admitted.
With the utmost tenderness for the welfare of his subjects, he
now recommends a prompt decision on the choice of an heir to
the Crown, and offers to the voice of his people, as his
choice, the Prince of Ponte Corvo, whose name is brightened by
his glorious deeds and laurels of honour, and whose
unparalleled services deservedly obtained them. His renowned
knowledge as a statesman has astonished every body; his
mildness and compassion, even to an enemy, have gained him the
respect and affection of all ranks. Separated from the
misfortunes which have hitherto attended Swedish warriors, we
must judge of the Prince with the most tender sensations, and
with them he will use the sword. Indeed, all the circumstances
have convinced his Royal Majesty, and having maturely
considered the nation's public and secret affairs, his Royal
Majesty recommends him to be elected as his heir.[11]
[11] Translated from the Swedish by Lieutenant J. Ross.
According to this recommendation the Prince of Ponte Corvo was elected
on the 21st of August, the very day on which the communication was
made by Admiral Krusenstjerna, but, as it was reported, not without
opposition by the friends of the son of the deposed King, Gustavus
the IVth, Adolphus, and it was even said that had the numbers on each
side been counted the majority would have been in his favour.
After Sir James had sent off the despatch of the 21st, he had another
conference with the Swedish Admiral, who then returned with Sir
James's assurance that the conference should be faithfully reported.
On the 22nd he sent off another courier with a despatch, of which the
following is an extract:
Victory, Hano Bay, 22nd August 1810.
SIR,
Having heard the various motives assigned by Admiral
Krusenstjerna for the election of the Prince of Ponte Corvo to
be the successor to the Crown of Sweden, I observed to him that
I extremely regretted that this communication had not been made
in time to enable me to obtain the sentiments of my Government,
previous to the election taking place. That it was probable the
election of a general officer in the service of the most
inveterate enemy that England had to oppose would be highly
obnoxious to his Majesty's Government, and I earnestly urged
him to entreat the King of Sweden to delay the election until I
could receive a return to the letters I would immediately send
to England by an express. I repeatedly pressed this point to
Admiral Krusenstjerna, who intimated that the election would be
decided before he could return to Orebro, as it was understood
to take place during the present week.
On his observing that Prince Ponte Corvo was the only one of
the four candidates that could be accepted by Sweden, and
requesting me who, in my opinion, ought to be elected, I
immediately replied that I considered the son of the deposed
monarch, Gustavus Adolphus, was the person who naturally
presented himself as the most proper successor to the throne of
Sweden, and that the age and state of health of the reigning
monarch led to the expectation that he would live until the
Prince became of age. He stated that the King at this time
required the aid and assistance of a military character,
possessed of strength of mind and energy to govern the country,
and who also would have the spirit to maintain her in her
foreign relations, and in resisting the power of Russia and
France, which he said Bernadotte had faithfully promised to do.
Admiral Krusenstjerna expressed repeatedly his confidence in my
reporting the communication in the most favourable terms to his
Majesty's ministers, adding, that on this would greatly depend
the light in which it would be considered. I uniformly replied,
that was not in my power, but that his Swedish Majesty might be
assured of my transmitting a faithful report of what he had
done me the honour to communicate.
In a Postscript to this letter, which was addressed to the Right Hon.
Charles Yorke, he says,--
Lieutenant Ross of the Victory, who went on shore with the
Swedish Admiral, was requested to inform me, that he had
omitted to mention, that the Prince of Ponte Corvo had promised
to invest all the property he possessed, said to amount to
eight millions sterling, in Sweden, as a pledge of his
intentions to maintain the country in her foreign relations.
The next packet from England brought the accounts of Sir James's
promotion to the rank of Vice-admiral of the Red, and also the
confirmation of several appointments made by the Admiral on the station.
We may now mention the answer given by Mr. Yorke to the two last
despatches, although dated on the 18th of September. After acknowledging
the receipt of them, communicating the election of Bernadotte as
successor to the Crown of Sweden, he says,--
These interesting papers, which confirmed accounts that had
been previously received of this extraordinary transaction,
have been communicated to the King's ministers. I have at
present only to express to you my sense of the prudent and
proper manner in which you appear to have conducted yourself on
this occasion in your conversation with the Swedish Admiral,
and to acquaint you that the earnest desire entertained by his
Majesty's Government of preserving the relations of peace and
amity with Sweden, as long as possible, remains unalterable.
About this time two untoward events took place, which threatened a
commencement of hostilities between the two nations. The one was the
attack of the Hero's boats on a Danish privateer lying in the Swedish
harbour of Marstrand, in which a midshipman was killed, and others
wounded; and the second was the conduct of Captain Acklom, of the
Ranger, in spiking the guns of the Swedish armed schooner Celeritas.
On these, however, concessions were made on both sides; Captain
Newman, of the Hero, was wrong in attacking an enemy's vessel under
the guns of a Swedish fortress without apprising the Governor of his
intention, while the Governor was no less so in giving protection to
an enemy's vessel which came there with the avowed intention of
attacking the Hero's convoy. Capt. Acklom, though not justified in his
proceeding, did it under the impression that she was affording
protection to an illicit trade, and to French vessels fitting in
neutral ports; while on the other hand it was notorious that such
trade was carried on.
To return to the correspondence. The following letter was received
from the Swedish Admiral, dated
Orebro, 29th August 1810.
SIR,
I have the honour to inform your excellency of my arrival at
this town on the 24th, and that on the following day I was
introduced to his Majesty, who graciously permitted me to
relate the contents of the conference with your excellency,
which I had the honour to hold on the 21st. His Majesty, of
whose particular regard I have been intrusted verbally to
assure your excellency, expressed to me even on this occasion
his most sincere wishes and his firm resolution to maintain, as
much as will depend on him, the moderate system and good
harmony which still subsist between our respective nations.
The election of a successor to the Swedish throne was executed
on the 21st, three days before my return. I do myself the
honour to enclose for your excellency's information a true copy
of the act of election. The obligation therein prescribed the
successor to turn over to the religion of this country, and to
resign all his foreign titles and employments, will, I hope,
serve as a proof to convince your excellency that no French
interest can have directed or imposed upon the free choice of
the representatives of the nation. The Prince of Ponte Corvo is
really; in my private opinion, the only man who, at the head of
the Swedish Government, will be capable to oppose the despotic
influence of Buonaparte and his agents, to maintain the
independence, and promote the true interest of the Swedish
nation.
I have, &c. &c. &c.
M.P. KRUSENSTJERNA.
The rest of the correspondence related to the adjustment of the
differences before mentioned. Sir James was satisfied with the
declaration on the part of the Swedish Government that no protection
should be afforded to Danish and French armed vessels, while on the
other hand the Swedes were satisfied with Sir James's disapproval of
the conduct of Captains Newman and Acklom, requesting that no further
notice might be taken of these officers. In like manner were adjusted
the differences occasioned by the legal capture of a vessel loaded
with drugs and medicines, and another with oil and tallow from St.
Petersburg; the former had been sent to England, but was released, the
latter was given up on security being pledged for her cargo, which was
eventually repurchased by the owners: on all these occasions the
author was employed confidentially.
Sir James now rendered a great service by prevailing on Government to
allow the trade of Sweden and Swedish Pomerania to remain unmolested,
on condition that French armed vessels should not be fitted out at
Stralsund and other ports on that coast; he also granted licences for
ships to import medicines and grain into Sweden, without which the
country must have been reduced to great misery.
The Russian fleet, which consisted of about eight sail of the line,
made no disposition of moving from Cronstadt; it was therefore
unnecessary for the fleet to proceed to the Gulf of Finland, and Sir
James directed the whole of his attention to the protection of the
commerce, in which he completely succeeded by the judicious
arrangements and the disposition of the naval force under his command.
Towards the close of the season, and in compliance with the wishes of
the Admiralty, he despatched three sail of the line to England, and
left Hano Bay in the Victory on the 10th of October, only two days
previously to the return of Admiral Krusenstjerna, a circumstance much
regretted by both.
On arriving in the Belt, with a convoy of no less than a thousand sail
homeward bound, it was intimated that the French Prince of Ponte
Corvo, the newly elected successor to the throne, was at Nyborg, and
permission to cross the Belt was demanded and obtained from the
Admiral for his yacht to pass unmolested, which he did on the 14th of
October at the time this immense fleet was at anchor off Sproe. A
scene so novel to a French general, and so interesting to his Royal
Highness under the present circumstances, could not but make a deep
impression, while it conveyed some idea of the wealth and power of the
British nation; and he has subsequently told the author that it was
the most beautiful and wonderful sight he had ever beheld, being one
of which he had never formed an idea. The day was very fine; the fleet
was anchored in a close compact body, with the Victory in the centre,
bearing the Admiral's red flag at the fore, surrounded by six ships of
the line, and six frigates and sloops disposed for the complete
protection of the convoy.
The yacht, with a Swedish flag containing the Crown Prince, passing
within a mile of the Victory, was distinctly seen, and escorted by
some barges from the men-of-war until past the whole of the ships; the
convoy soon after weighed anchor, when the Royal stranger had the
pleasure of seeing them all under sail and proceeding to their
destination, regardless of the enemies who occupied the adjacent
shores.
The Victory arrived at Gothenburg on the 18th October, and thence
despatched the large convoy to England. On Sir James's arrival he
received despatches informing him of the probability of the
Franco-Dutch fleet at the Scheldt attempting, if they escaped the
north sea fleet under Admiral Pellew, to force their way into the
Sound; at the same time it was not yet certain that the Russian ships
at Archangel would not try to effect a passage into the Baltic. Sir
James therefore found it necessary to concentrate his force in Hawke
Roads, and felt confident that he could still protect the trade, if
not prevent the superior fleet from entering the Sound, to Copenhagen.
An event now took place which occasioned considerable embarrassment,
namely the escape of the deposed King of Sweden, Gustavus IV,
(Adolphus) who got on board the Tartarus, from Riga, and, after
calling at Matvick, came through the Belt and arrived at Gothenburg
before Sir James could have an answer from Government as to his
permission to go to England, which was his avowed intention. Sir
James, after paying his respects to him, complied with his urgent
request to be sent in the Tartarus to England, and Sir James, without
waiting longer, ordered Captain Mainwaring to take his Majesty to
Yarmouth. The Swedes were much pleased at this, as they dreaded the
consequences of his remaining long on board an English ship of war at
Gothenburg. His arrival and residence in England need not be further
referred to: the anxiety of the Swedes on his account was soon
relieved by the intelligence that it was not the intention of
Government to interfere in his behalf, or with the internal Government
of Sweden.
The new Crown Prince arrived safely at Stockholm, and contrary to the
expectation of every officer on board the fleet, excepting Sir James,
gave manifest proofs of his independence of French influence, and of
his intentions to cultivate the friendship of Great Britain, although
he could not be pleased that the Swedish Government Stock, into which
he had placed so large a sum when at a high rate, fell again to par,
as it was before. It would appear, however, that Buonaparte, who had
given his sanction to the advancement of Bernadotte with great
reluctance, was displeased at the beginning with his conduct, and he
consequently gave an order for the confiscation of all British
property in the Swedish harbours. Notwithstanding the earliest
information of this decree was given by the Swedes, a considerable
number of shipping and merchandise came under it, and Sir James having
withdrawn his force from within the Baltic, owing to the lateness of
the season, it was no longer in his power to rescue it in that
quarter; but he had still a sufficient force in Hawke Roads, and
might, had he been compelled to retaliate, have totally destroyed the
city of Gothenburg.
On this occasion the author was sent to communicate with Count Rosen,
the worthy governor of that city, whose word and honour could be fully
depended on, and he received his solemn assurances that it was not the
intention of the Swedish Government to act upon the declaration which
it had been forced to make, contrary to the wishes of the Swedish
nation, and particularly offensive to the Crown Prince. He had
represented to Government the incalculable injury which the British
Admiral, with the force still at Hawke Roads, might do to the city and
the commerce, and recommended that every facility should be given to
the English merchants to cover and remove their property.
The following are the declarations and explanation of them given by
Count Rosen.
1st. The Swedish Government declares war, it is true, against
Great Britain; but it is not said that _any measures_ of active
hostility are to be had recourse to.
2nd. Should it be found that there are any British merchant
ships in Swedish ports they are to be _detained_ (no mention is
made of confiscation or even sequestration). It will be
recollected that the declaration of the 24th April prohibited
the entry of British vessels, and we believe there are none in
Swedish ports.
3rd. It is declared that there is a sufficient quantity of
colonial produce now in Sweden for the internal consumption of
the country; no more shall be allowed to be imported, nor
shall any be exported from Sweden _to the Continent_; but
nothing is said of the trade with the islands or with America,
nor is it stated that a fresh supply shall not be imported when
the stock at present on hand is consumed, and we apprehend that
it will be difficult to fix the precise quantity necessary for
the home consumption, without leaving any surplus for
exportation. It is understood that the communication with
England will be continued, but it is necessary it should be
done with caution, and the Government recommends it should be
weekly, and that the mails and passengers should be landed at a
place to be pointed out.
Count Rosen assured the Admiral, both through the author, Consul
Smith, and others, that he was instructed by the Swedish Government to
inform Sir James Saumarez that it was not their intention to follow up
the declaration by any act of hostility.
Having received these assurances, Sir James, notwithstanding that the
officers with whom he was surrounded were of a different opinion,
conceived he could rely on the sincerity of the Swedes, and determined
that, at all events, he would not commit the first hostile act. With
his usual moderation he therefore remained quiet at anchor until he
had given time to the merchants to do all that could be done, and then
prepared to leave Sweden without firing a shot against her.
In the mean time Sir James received the approbation of Government for
his judicious, firm, and moderate conduct, which was fully
acknowledged on all sides to have been hitherto the means of
preserving peace and good will between Sweden and England. Mr. Yorke
says in his last letter,--
I embrace this opportunity of expressing the high approbation
of the Board, as well of the steps you have taken for receiving
and sending to England the King of Sweden (Count Gottorp) as of
those for collecting such a force in Hawke Roads for the
purpose of checking the enemy.
Admiral Krusenstjerna concludes his farewell letter to Sir James in
the following words:
I am perfectly persuaded that my Royal sovereign will enjoy the
greatest satisfaction in accepting the assurances your
excellency has been pleased to communicate, of his Britannic
Majesty's intentions to preserve the harmony and good
understanding that exist between both nations, intentions
which, for the benefit and prosperity of both countries, it has
been an object of his Swedish Majesty's earnest wishes and most
studious endeavours to inspire in the British Government. The
zealous support which your excellency has been pleased to give
for promoting this great interest, entitles your excellency to
the GRATITUDE of the Swedish nation and the most distinguished
regard from its sovereign. It is with sentiments of the most
perfect esteem and consideration that I have the honour to be,
&c.
P.K.
Sir James had now received accounts from England that the enemy's
fleet in Holland had moved up the Scheldt for the winter, and that
the Russians had abandoned their project of bringing their ships from
Archangel. Peace had been made between Russia and the Porte, and their
troops were withdrawing towards Poland. The Victory sailed from
Gothenburg on the 28th of November, and on the 3rd December arrived
safely in the Downs, whence Sir James proceeded to London to receive
the thanks of his Majesty's ministers and the nation for his zealous,
able, judicious, and temperate conduct, and for the important services
he had rendered to his country during this eventful period.