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FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN. 505
a matter already effected. It has been faid that the predominant party in France, ap-
prehenfive with juft reafon of the influence of Guflavus, contributed to his death:
this is poffible ; and this Prince was fo firmly perfuaded of its being the fa& chat, upon
his receiving the blow, he exclaimed, it is a Frenchman. It is believed that the mur-
derer, after making his efcape from the ifle of Gothland, to which he had been banith-
ed, (for treafon in Finland during the war with Ruffia,) travelled to Paris: this we do
not affirm, but fhould it have happened there can be little doubt of this monfter having
been inftigated to the deed by thofe who had the meannefs, the impudence to place
the buft of a regicide in their hall of audience *.
On the night of the 16th March 1792 the King, according to cuftom, was at the
mafked ball at the opera; while walking he felt himfelf fhot in the fide: he did not
fall, but had ftrength enough, by leaning on a perfon near him, to reach his apartment
adjoining the theatre. ‘This frightful event became immediately public: Baron Arm-
feldt arrived in a condition difficult to defcribe; and as his confternation was at its
height, the King comforted him by obferving, ‘‘ do not be alarmed, my friend, it is only a
wound, you have been wounded yourfelf and know what it is. In the mean time the mur-
derer, favoured by his accomplices, efcaped, and two days expired before he was dif-
covered: the piftol he had ufed, being found on the ground, was inftrumental to his
detection ; upon its being fhewn to the gunfmith he pointed out the purchafer.
Surgeons were fent for from all quarters. ‘The King immediately direéted them to
give their opinion, adding that, fhould he have but a few hours to live, he was defirous
of employing them in his affairs and thofe of the State; and confequently that it would
be but loft time to probe and drefs the wound. After the furgeons had examined it they
declared as their opinion that it was not mortal: His Majeity thereupon confented to
have it drefled, and was carried to the caftle.
The next day Countefs Ferfen, Count Brahé{t, and Baron Geer, all of whom
had for a long time abfented themfelves from court, came to vifit His Majefty, who re-
ceived them with great kindnefs, and expreffed the pleafure their vifit afforded him in
thefe memorable words: my wound is of fome utility I find, fince it brings me back my
friends. What remorfe muft not a fimilar phrafe occafion in thofe who had turned their
backs on fuch.a fovereign!
‘The remaining twelve days of the life of the King were employed in the affairs of
State ; his indefatigable activity was ftill the fame, and every intervai between his pains
was put to profit. His laft aét of fovereignty was to appoint his friend General Arm-
felt Governor of Stockholm, an appointment which the Regent did not fuffer him long
to enjcy, as he acted upon the fyftem of keeping in the back ground the greater part of
thofe attached to his brother.
The King defired to be kept ignorant of the names of his aflaflins ; the murderer’s
* This fociety (the jacobin) fo fearfully famous, wifhed, by the honours paid to the villain Anker fraum,
to perfuade the world that it contributed to his crime; not indeed becaufe it fancied the ation laudable,
but becanfe it was defirous of a new kind of glory worthy only of itf-lf; that of difpofing at evill of the
lives of fovereizns. ‘They are well aware, are its members, that people of fenfe are far from giving them
credit for fuch authority ; but fools, that is to fay thie mob, are fure of it, and this is all that is wanted by
a horde of plunderers who govern but by terror, How much muft they not be furprized that their reign
has been {fo lone.
+We were of the company when Count Brahé and his lady fupped with the Duchefs of Sudermania: we
do not now recollect upon what occafion, but we mentioned the circumftance to His Majeliy fome few
days after: this for example you mut look upon as fomewhat indecent, was His Majefty’s ebfervation, We
mult allow His Majetly’s remark was juit indeed. ;
VOle Vie or alone
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