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FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN. 491
would be dangerous for Sweden fhould he be imitated by his fucceffors: had he con-
fented to the peace propofed by the Czar in the midft of his victories, he might have
diétated what terms he would, and have ranked on a level with the greateft fovereigns ;
but thirfting for vengeance he fancied fortune harnefled ‘to his chariot wheels. This
confidence was one of his greateft faults ; another his advancing too far into a country
in which, fhould he gain a battle, his condition would not be ameliorated, but in cafe
of defeat (which happened to him) he would be deftitute of all refources. It appears
certain that the principal caufe of his lofing the battle was the incapacity of Mezeppa to
fulfill his engagements, to which likewife the wound which Charles received might
not a little have contributed. Had the King appeared on horfeback at the head of his
army there is no faying what influence his prefence and example might poflibly have
had on the event. Shortly after his death Baron Geettz, accufed of tyranny and ex.
tortion on the people, was beheaded at Stockholm. We look upon him lefs as really
guilty, as he did but obey his mafter’s order, than as a victim to the misfortunes of the
times ; a victim poflibly requifite in the difaftrous pofition of the kingdom. As we
proceed we fhall-fpeak at large of the death of this King.
Freperic I.
Charles XII. never having been married, the {tates and fenate conceived no occafion
more favourable could offer for annihilating arbitrary power. Upon fuch conditions
the crown was offered to Ulrica Eleanora, the fifter of Charles XII. She accepted them,
and the conftitution was placed upon the ancient footing. The Queen was proclaimed
King, according to cuftom for Queens ruling themfelves, and was crowned in 1719;
but the year following the engaged the ftates to approve of her yielding the crown to
her hufband, the Prince of Heffe Caffel, who was crowned in May 1720. Ruffia refumed
hoflilities againft Sweden, the death of Charles annulling all treaties between him and
the Czar. At length the peace of Nyftadt, in 1721, reftored tranquillity to Sweden at
the price of feveral provinces on the coafts of the gulf of Finland. During the twenty
years this peace continued Frederic employed himfelf on internal affairs, commerce, in-
duftry, and finance. In 1731 he eftablithed the Eaft India Company; in 1734 entered
into a treaty of commerce with Turkey. At length, in 1741, Sweden, having caufe to
complain of her conduét, declared war againft Ruffia; but the {tates failed in taking
the neceflary precautions in fimilar circumftances. ‘The Swediih army under Wrangel
was. defeated near Wilmanftrand by troops fuperior in number ; and this was the only
action during the war in which the Swedes conduéted themfelves with their ufual valour;
after this they kept continually retreating, fcarcely ever obtaining any but flight and unfre-
quent advantages, a matter to be attributed to the mifunder{tanding among the generals,
and the almoft utter impoflibility of war being carried on with fuccefs by divided coun-
cils at the helm. Generals Buddenbrek and Levenhaupt, who commanded in the two
laft campaigns, were arrefted, and, as it frequently happens, they were made the {cape-
goats for the bad fuccefs of the war, and beheaded in 1743, regarded, by all impartial
_ men, rather as unfortunate than guilty victims.
To complete the misfortunes of Sweden, fhe had to contend with enemies in her
bofom; the Dalecarlians revolting were fubjected by force alone: at length the king-
dom exhaufted by fuch a difaftrous war felt itfelf obliged to fue for peace with Ruffia.
‘The peace of Abo, in 1743, guaranteed the poffeflion, on the part of Ruflia, of the
provinces before ceded, and fixed the limits of the two ftates as they are at the prefent
time.
ae The
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