+ |
Back to main Index
THE WEEKLY MESSENGER
Boston, Friday, October 14, 1814
PROCLAMATION OF THE PRINCE ROYAL OF SWEDEN TO THE NORWEGIANS
Norwegians -- Destined by nature to a union with the Swedish nation, your fate was decided when the King of Denmark ceded to Sweden, by the peace of Kiel, his rights over Norway. The advantages which your old sovereign derived from that peace, are known to you. He obtained immediately after its signature, the evacuation of the Duchies of Schlesvig and Holstein, the restoration of the fortresses of Gluckstadt and Fredericsort, an acknowledgment of the Sound duties, the giving up of more than 12 millions of contributions imposed on the duchies, the renunciation of an equal sum for captures made during peace; a considerable sum in money, of which part has been paid; and finally, the promise of the cession of Pomerania, upon the surrender and occupation of the forces of Kongswinger, Frederickshall, Frederickstadt and Aggerhnus.
These great sacrifices were made to Denmark, only because she promised that you would peaceably, and without opposition, acknowledge the authority of the King of Sweden; and you will appreciate them, on reading the treaties which united Sweden, Russia, England, Prussia and Austria against the common enemy. Norwegians, if in this age these treaties could be eluded by civilized nations, good faith would no longer exist upon earth.
At the period when your government furnished to France some thousands of seamen to man ships of war, Sweden perceived the indispensable necessity of rendering herself independent of the continent; she refused to bow before the idol of the day, and confidently relying on herself, and on her constitutional laws, she dared to invoke them in favor of her children, and rejected the demand of an equal number of seamen; she did more -- she unites herself at a period the most critical recorded in our annals, with a monarch whose destruction Napoleon had swore. She feels proud, however, in having anticipated the resolution of so many other nations.
Norwegians -- Small states are always moved by the more powerful: you cannot form an insulated government; and the plan of the man who misleads you, is to unite, one day, the crown of Norway to that of Denmark; but nature, in accordance with sound policy, wills that the Norwegians and the Swedes should be friends and brothers. It is also as brothers that the Swedes wish to live with you. Sweden and Norway united, and lending each other mutual support, will present, on every side, an impregnable front. Insulated and disunited, they will have every thing to fear, both from themselves, and from others. Look at England -- that island, so famous, founded her prosperity on a similar union. That of Norway to Sweden is guaranteed by the first powers of the world.
An experience of many centuries proves that the divisions of the North always led to its ruin. This idea had struck the great Gustavus. After having laid the foundation of the peace of Europe, and consolidated the Protestant faith, his plan was to effect your union with Sweden. Death put an end to his design. Its consequences have been pernicious to you.
Norwegians -- After the memorable battle of Leipsic, your interests must have told you, that your union with Sweden could alone constitute your happiness and establish your security. The great powers wish this union. All of them have recognized that it was time to put an end to the discontents which must result from the separation of the two nations. Will you alone oppose the general will? Will you alone combat the Swedes and the sovereigns who have guaranteed your union with us? Their glory, their interests, the sanctity of treaties in fine, demand its accomplishment.
I come in the midst of you, with the hope that you will treat as brothers, that brave army which I lead back from a campaign as glorious as astonishing. Neither this army, nor that which has been for a yearstationed on your frontiers, desire laurels, which must be tinged with your blood. The Swedes are like you, members of the Scandinavian family; and battles between the two nations are equally repugnant to nature, to reason, and to sound policy.
Norwegians -- Suffer not yourselves to be heated by the instigations of the individuals who have only their personal interest in view. Sacrifice not the welfare of your country to the deceitful illusions which they present to you. Open your eyes to the dangers into which a criminal ambition is precipitating you. Sweden will not lay down her arms until she has effected a union necessary to her safety and repose. You may prevent the calamities of a war which can only be advantageous to your seducers. Look forward to the futurity which awaits you, and to the glory and prosperity which must ensue from a union of the two nations.
Norwegians -- Reject, then, an influence and errors, equally unworthy of you; let the national will speak, and fix its laws under the aegis of an enlightened and beneficent monarch. He offers you, with the removal of every semblance of war, independence and liberty, and the guarantee of all our privileges. Your fidelity shall be the pledge; his virtues shall be your security.War in Norway
Gottenburg, July 16 -- All hopes of peace have vanished. The four commissioners, English, Russian, Austrian and Prussian, have returned from Christiana, without having obtained the least success in their negotiation. The new King of Norway, Prince Christian, has resisted all the arguments and even all the entreaties pressed upon him in the name of the Allied Powers.
There is no longer any doubt that hostilities will commence. The Prince Royal of Sweden, pushes his preparations with extreme activity. Prince Christian is not idle on his part. All the fortresses of Norway are put in the best state of defense, particularly that of Frederickshall, which is impregnable, and defends the kingdom on its southern side.
People are now curious to learn what part the allied powers will take, and whether they will furnish succors to Sweden. Russia is bound by the treaty of Abo, to furnish an auxiliary corps of 18,000 men to assist Sweden to conquer Norway, after all means of negotiation had been exhausted. It is generally supposed that this kingdom can only be reduced by famine.
It is true that considerable stores of provisions have been laid to, but these provisions will be consumed, and cannot be replaced by the next harvest, which will totally fail in that country, the summer there being very cold.
+ |
-Napoleon Bonaparte Internet Guide-
optimized for browsers 4+ (600x800)