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FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN. 509
nefs, an’inconteftible proof of my furprize, and the real grief I felt at this fatal event.
Moreover, who can reafonably imagine that an eld man of feventy years of age, weighed
down and watted by the viciflitudes he has undergone, dropping by degrees into the
grave, and occupied wholly on his latter end, could have allied his phlegm and indif-
ference to the violence and ambition of a parcel of madmen, and plot with them a con-
{piracy againft the perfon of the King, and a revolution, contrary to his confcience, to
his reafon, and to prudence.
«* But, Sire, fince no half-proof, nothing circumftantial, admiffible by law, has been
produced againft me, how can the parliament, wholly unprovided with thefe, have
ventured to impofe on me a real punifhment, a punifhment the molt fevere that in my
unfortunate fituation it poflibly could do, that of depriving me of my liberty, and thotle
attentions which my age requires, by confining me in a fortrefs the reft of my days.
** The chief motive of this fentence cannot be, as alledged by parliament, to induce
me, through the remonftrances of the clergy,to make confetfion of fault ; for if this were
abfolutely neceflary, it would be equally practicable in a houfe here in the city, where
clergymen are to be found more enlightened and more eloquent than could be in a dif-
tant fortrefs.
< And fuppofing the parliament to be influenced by the three royal letters cited by the
King’s folicitor, Your Majefty will perceive that the King’s letter, dated 11th November
17506, ftates, that ‘* doubtle/s for the purpofe of difcovering others concerned, fome of the
accomplices may, even before trial, be confined in a fortre/s until more ample information be
procured ;” and it is exprefsly ordained in this letter, that the prifoner fhould be crimi-
nal, and his crime proved; but this citation cannot be looked upon as regarding him
arrefted merely on fufpicion. As for the other two letters of His Majefty, neither can
be deemed as applying to the cafe.
“< To conclude ; as he who committed this horrible crime has been legally and juftly
punifhed, and as thofe who formed this infamous confpiracy have been difcovered and
condemned; while againft me, as 1 have fhewn, no witnefs or legal charge has been
brought in the whole courfe of the trial, I live in hope that Your Majelty will decide
that a more rigid confinement, for the purpofe of extorting confeflion, ought not to take
place; imploring, if I fhould have miftaken the meaning of the law, the clemency of
Your Majefty.
“Tam, for the few remaining days I have to live, with conftant zeal
and the moft profound fubmiffion, Sire,
“ Your Majelty’s moft humble, &c.
“¢ Cu. Frep. Peckuin.’”’
Copy of the anonymous Letter of Liliehorn to Guftavus Ill. on the day of his
affaffination.
*¢ Deign, and gracioufly allow an anonymous perfon, whofe pen is guided by the
voice of honour and confcience, with the moft perfect franknels, to warn you that there
are individuals, as well in the provinces as here in the city, who breathe nothing but
hatred and vengeance againtt you, to the length even of your deftruction by fome mode
of affaffination. ‘That they fhould have failed the night of the laft matked ball has
been a fubje&t of regret with them; and they notice with pleafure that another is an-
nounced for to-day. Affaflins fhun the day ; nothing, they fay, can be more favourable
to
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