The Swedes are divided, as we are in England, into two great parties, who are diftinguished by the peculiar names of hats and caps, the former being thofe who efpoufe the intereft of the court, and the latter, the country or patriotic party. The principles of one are to extend the power of the crown, and of the other, to confine it ftrictly within the limits prescribed by the capitulations of the year 1720; at the time the ftates prefented the government of the kingdom to the hereditary Prince of Heffe.

Great exertions were made by both parties in the elections for the enfuing diet, which took place during the King's abfence, and in which the caps, contrary to expectation, were thought to have much the fuperiority. This was the lefs to be expected, as befides the many circumftances favourable to his intereft which generally attend the acceffion of a new, and particularly of a young Prince, the prefent King had alfo the advantage of being a native of Sweden, a matter of the greater importance, as both his immediate predeceffors were foreigners.

The King made a June 25. fpeech at the opening of the diet, which has been much admired, especially in thofe countries, where from the nature of the government, addreffes of fuch a kind, from the Prince to the people, are not cuftomary. It certainly contained feveral noble and generous fentiments. Among other profeffions, he declared, that born and educated among them, he had learned from his earliest youth to love his country; that he confidered it as the greatest happinefs

to be a Swede, and as the greatest glory, to be the first citizen of a free country; that to fee it happy was the first object of his wishes; and to govern it free and independent the last object of his ambition; and concluded by defiring in the moft endearing terms, that these may not be confidered as empty profeffions, belied perhaps by the fecret motions of his heart; but as the faithful expreffions of what that heart felt; which was too upright not to be fincere, and too haughty ever to be falfe to its engage

ments.

The happy effects of concord and union, and the fatal confequences of divifions among themfelves, were much dwelt upon in this fpeech; the evident drift of which was, to reconcile, as far as it could be done, the contending parties; and at least, by leffening their animofity, and removing all jealoufies of the crown, to foften the temper of oppofition in fuch a manner, as that fome favourite points which were in view, might be gained in the courfe of the Diet. The fpeech gave univerfal fatisfaction to both parties, and a grand deputatation was appointed next day to return thanks for it, and to request that it might be printed.

Nothwithstanding these favoura ble appearances, the oppofition in the Diet was too strong to be overcome, and too firm to be cajolled. They knew that Princes are too generally as little fcrupulous of breaking through their profeffions, when they find themselves poffeffed of fufficient power to enable them to do it with fafety, as they are free in making them, in order to attain that power. The great ob

jea

ject of the court party, was to obtain a relaxation of those capitulations, which every king at his coronation is obliged to fubfcribe to, and to confirm by his oath as well as his fignature. These capitulations are a kind of bond or obligation from the king to the people, which confift of a great number of articles, and reftrict the power of the crown within very narrow limits indeed. The wifdom of Sweden, has not left thofe rewards in the hands of the crown, which might have infured fuccefs to an attempt of this nature. Being thus left to their natural and undifguifed fentiments, the jealoufy of the Swedes got the better of their complaifance to the crown, and of the favourable opinion they entertained of the reigning Prince. This matter however prevented the coronation from taking place until the enfuing year.

The noble efforts of (that faithful repofitory of the laws, and remembrancer of the ancient rights of the people) the parliament of Paris, in the cause of liberty and mankind, have fatally terminated in its own final diffolution. Its fall was not more glorious from the cause in which it was engaged, than from the circumftances that attended it; feveral of the other parliaments having become voluntary facrifices at its funeral pire.

That ancient fpirit from which the Franks derive their name, though ftill gloriously alive in the breafts of a few, no longer exifts in the bulk of the people. Long dazzled with the fplendor of a magnificent and voluptuous court, with the glare of a vast military power, and with the glory of fome great monarchs, they cannot now, in the grave light of

the fhade, behold things in their natural ftate. Nor can those who. have been long ufed to fubmit without enquiry to every act of power, who have been fuccefsfully encouraged in diffipation, and taught to trifle with the most important fubjects, fuddenly acquire, that ftrength and tenor of mind, which is alone capable of forming great refolutions, and of undertaking arduous and dangerous tasks. Thus has this great revolu tion in the history and government. of France, taken place without the smallest commotion, or without the oppofition, that in other periods would have attended, an infraction of the heretable jurif diction of a petty vaffal.

The parliament of Paris hav ing perfifted in its refufal, towards the clofe of the last year, to regifter an edict of the king's, by which they were to acknowledge as a law of the ftate, the indifpenfible obligation of all the fovereign courts to register any edicts he addressed to them, even though in oppofition to their own remonstrances, if he thought proper to perfift in enforcing the execution of his will;, they were at length fummoned to attend a bed of justice at Verfailles, where the King acted in perfon, and the edict Dec. 7. was obliged to be regiftered. The parliament 1770. had previously entered protests againit every thing that should be, done at the bed of juftice, as the effect of a force which they could not refift, but which they neither ought, nor could affent to, being contrary to the laws, which they were fworn to defend, and under which, alone, they had any right.

to act.

The

The Swedes are divided, as we are in England, into two great parties, who are diftinguished by the peculiar names of hats and caps, the former being those who efpoufe the intereft of the court, and the latter, the country or patriotic party. The principles of one are to extend the power of the crown, and of the other, to confine it ftrictly within the limits prefcribed by the capitulations of the year 1720; at the time the ftates prefented the government of the kingdom to the hereditary Prince of Heffe.

Great exertions were made by both parties in the elections for the enfuing diet, which took place during the King's abfence, and in which the caps, contrary to expectation, were thought to have much the fuperiority. This was the lefs to be expected, as befides the many circumftances favourable to his intereft which generally attend the acceffion of a new, and particularly of a young Prince, the prefent King had alfo the advantage of being a native of Sweden, a matter of the greater importance, as both his immediate predeceffors were foreigners.

The King made a June 25. fpeech at the opening of the diet, which has been much admired, especially in thofe countries, where from the nature of the government, addreffes of fuch a kind, from the Prince to the people, are not cuftomary. It certainly contained feveral noble and generous fentiments. Among other profeffions, he declared, that born and educated among them, he had learned from his earliest youth to love his country; that he confidered it as the greatest happiness

ments.

The happy effects of concord and union, and the fatal confequences of divifions among themfelves, were much dwelt upon in this fpeech; the evident drift of which was, to reconcile, as far as it could be done, the contending parties; and at least, by leffening their animofity, and removing all jealoufies of the crown, to foften the temper of oppofition in fuch a manner, as that fome favourite points which were in view, might be gained in the courfe of the Diet. The fpeech gave univerfal fatisfaction to both parties, and a grand deputatation was appointed next day to return thanks for it, and to requeft that it might be printed.

Nothwithstanding thefe favoura ble appearances, the oppofition in the Diet was too ftrong to be overcome, and too firm to be cajolled. They knew that Princes are too generally as little fcrupulous of breaking through their profeffions, when they find themselves poffeffed of fufficient power to enable them to do it with fafety, as they are free in making them, in order to attain that power. The great ob

jec

ject of the court party, was to obtain a relaxation of those capitulations, which every king at his coronation is obliged to fubscribe to, and to confirm by his oath as well as his fignature. These capitulations are a kind of bond or obligation from the king to the people, which confift of a great number of articles, and reftrict the power of the crown within very narrow limits indeed. The wifdom of Sweden, has not left those rewards in the hands of the crown, which might have infured fuccefs to an attempt of this nature. Being thus left to their natural and undifguifed fentiments, the jealoufy of the Swedes got the better of their complaifance to the crown, and of the favourable opinion they. entertained of the reigning Prince. This matter however prevented the coronation from taking place until the enfuing year.

The noble efforts of (that faithful repofitory of the laws, and remembrancer of the ancient rights of the people) the parliament of Paris, in the cause of liberty and mankind, have fatally terminated in its own final diffolution. Its fall was not more glorious from the cause in which it was engaged, than from the circumftances that attended it; feveral of the other parliaments having become voluntary facrifices at its funeral pire.

That ancient fpirit from which the Franks derive their name, though still gloriously alive in the breafts of a few, no longer exifts in the bulk of the people. Long dazzled with the fplendor of a magnificent and voluptuous court, with the glare of a vast military power, and with the glory of Tome great monarchs, they cannot now, in the grave light of

the fhade, behold things in their natural ftate. Nor can thofe who have been long ufed to fubmit without enquiry to every act of power, who have been fuccefsfully encouraged in diffipation, and taught to trifle with the most important fubjects, fuddenly acquire, that ftrength and tenor of mind, which is alone capable of forming great refolutions, and of undertaking arduous and dangerous tasks. Thus has this great revolu tion in the history and government, of France, taken place without the smallest commotion, or without the oppofition, that in other periods would have attended, an infraction of the heretable jurif diction of a petty vaffal.

The parliament of Paris hav ing perfifted in its refufal, towards the clofe of the laft year, to regifter an edict of the king's, by which they were to acknowledge as a law of the ftate, the indifpenfible obligation of all the fovereign courts to regifter any edicts he addreffed to them, even though in oppofition to their own remonftrances, if he thought proper to perfift in enforcing the execution of his will;„ they were at length fummoned to attend a bed of juftice at Verfailles, where the King acted in perfon, and the edict Dec. 7. was obliged to be regiftered. The parliament 1770. had previously entered protests against every thing that should be. done at the bed of juftice, as the effect of a force which they could. not refift, but which they neither ought, nor could affent to, being contrary to the laws, which they were fworn to defend, and under which, alone, they had any right to act.

The

The parliament having again affembled, deputed the firft prefident, to the King, with a fupplication to withdraw his edict, or elfe to make him, after the example of the ancient magiftrates their predeceffors, the unanimous offer of their employments and their heads; voluntary, yet indifpenfible facrifices, when the conftitution is attacked.

The King's answer to the first prefident was, that the conduct of the parliament fufficiently proved the neceffity of the law which he had caufed to be registered; and concluded with a peremptory command, that they fhould refume their functions. This anfwer produced another deputation, by which reiterated reprefentations were made, of the impoffibility of regiftering the edict, as the act being contrary to the law, was in itfelf null and void, and concluded with the following remarkable words, "Your edict, Sire, is deftructive of all law; your parliament is charged to maintain law, and the law perishing, they should perifh with it. Thefe are, Sire, the laft words of your parlia ment." ??

"

Some time after letters were iffued by the King, commanding the parliament to refume their, functions, and proceed on bufinefs; with which they abfolutely refufed to comply. Thus matters continued for fome time after the opening of the year. At length the King fent a meffage to the parliament, that if they did not obey his letters of juffion, and refume their functions, he would remove the magiftrates from their employments; and that it was in vain for them to continue their

oppofition, from any hope that he would either withdraw his edict, or even fufpend the execution of it; to which it was anfwered, that they could not obey the King's letters; but that they would wait for his Majesty's orders with equal refolution and fubmiffion.

The final refolution was now taken, and a party of mufquetaires went at night to most of the members at their Jan. 19th. own houfes, and prefented to each of them a letter de cachet, which enjoined them to declare immediately, whether they would refume their ufual duty, or perfist in their refufal; in teftimony whereof they were to fign Yes, or No. They were informed at the fame time, that their refufal would be confidered as an act of disobedience. The greater part figned No; fome were furprized in the confufion to fign Yes, who afterwards retracted; and a confiderable number refufed to explain themselves, faying, that as private men they were all fubmiffion to the King's orders, but that as magiftrates they could do nothing feparately. About forty, who had not been ferved with letters de cachet, went to the parliamenthoufe two days after, with the first prefident at their head, amidft the acclamations of the people, and paffed an act against what had been done, merely to put themfelves in the fame predicament with their brethren.

When the members went to court to receive their difmiffion, previous to their banishment, three of them propofed to relax in their oppofition, and reprefented that it would be prudent to hold fome measures with the court, but the

pro