mands a conciliation of views, a union of interests. "Some provinces, especially the northern, have suffered by a failure of the harvest: the public beneficence has rewarded the efforts of the government, and contributed to remedy the most pressing wants. Distresses of this urgent nature, however, must not be renewed, and the necessity of some measures of precaution will certainly draw your attention, as it constantly has done. "The cholera morbus has threatened this kingdom, but has been arrested by the gracious protection of the Almighty. Whatever differences of opinion may prevail respecting the contagiousness or noncontagiousness of this disorder, I have considered the doubt as sufficient to command, and to carry into effect, the necessary precautionary measures. "The statement which will be laid before the Diet of what has been done in the administration of the kingdom, will acquaint you with the principles that have guided the course of the government. The secret committee which I intend to call together, will have an opportunity to inform itself respecting the application of these principles in the vicissitudes through which we have passed. "Every proposed improvement in our social system must, in order to be truly useful, be subjected to mature deliberation, and be found ed on the lessons of experience; the fundamental laws prescribe the forms that are to be observed; those must serve as a guide to the two legislative powers of the state. These fundamental principles themselves remind us, that Sweden is bound in the estates of the kingdom to the maintenance of its existence, and the preservation of its name. The Swedes have their national peculiarities and customs; but it would be unjust to consider them as indifferent to other nations, even though they did not adopt all their doctrines. The Swedes have already gained a degree of general cultivation in which few nations can pretend to excel them. The advantages of this civilization are diffused among all classes of society. Swedish liberty is as old as the monarchy. Our glorious recollections go back into the night of antiquity; but this glory, the support of freedom, cannot be maintained without independence. This again is inti mately connected with the use of the power which makes independ ence respected. The experience of all ages shows that nations the most used to war are wearied by war; but states which have been founded by arms cannot subsist, unless the inhabitants, remembering their origin, are always ready again to take up arms. Our army, which is drawn from the people, and will have five kinds of arms, consists of 100,000 men, and can inspire only confidence, for it lives amidst its fellow-citizens, who rely as well on the sentiments of the army, as on its sense of its own interest. Every proposal respecting the situation and the wants of the government will now be laid before you. The extraordinary estimates are separated from the ordinary expenditure. I have endeavoured to confine all of them within the bounds of the existing resources. Consider conscientiously the want of these estimates, which are so necessary for the safety and the existence of the kingdom. In the repose of peace a government must, without reserve, place the extent of several wants before the eyes of the representatives of the people. This will be rendered more easy to you, gentlemen, by the happy situation of the provinces. The first duty of the government and of the representatives is to secure to every citizen the peaceable enjoyment of his rights, and the unmolested use of his property. Nothing can prosper when the representative coin has not a fixed value. Let us, therefore, hasten to give those who possess anything security for the preservation of what they have acquired. Let us open new prospects to diligence, activity, and frugality. Let us prepare encouragement and support to all allowed professions. Let us acknowledge the truth, that a good system of finance is one of the main foundations of the exist ence of the state. Let us improve and encourage agriculture and manufactures. Thus we shall obtain in exchange for our own produc tions those which are produced beyond sea. Private and public in terest must here be blended together. Necessity commands that political views and the system of finance should tend to one subject. The law of the 1st of March, 1830, regulating the coinage, is our guide; it determines our reciprocal obligations. Projects of laws on the bank and its directors will be laid before you let us not forget that the bank belongs to the state; that the people are entitled to have the full extent of the right granted to the managers of a capital of a loan of the value of a circulating me dium; and, lastly, that the laws and regulations for the bank must be clear, simple, easy of execution, and therefore inviolable. "Never do we perform our duties to ourselves better than when we remember that our posterity will reap the fruits of our efforts. The terrestrial goal of the individual man is death, but nations await a prolonged life; therefore, when man labours for himself, he labours more for the society to which he belongs. 1 "When, almost a quarter of a century ago, I took the oath to your fundamental laws, I observed to the estates of the kingdom that it was not the extent of a state alone that constitutes its strength and independence, but also its laws, its commerce, its industry, and above all its national spirit. I now repeat to you these truths. "The agreement between your views and mine has prepared for the country the tranquillity and undisturbed order, the fruits of which it has reaped for more than 22 years. Independence, peace, friendly connexions with foreign countries, tranquillity, and obedience to the laws at home,—such is the posture that the united kingdom of Sweden and Norway now offers to Europe. "I invoke upon our labours the blessing of the Almighty, and assure you all together, and each in particular, of the continuance of my royal favour and affection." PUBLIC DEBT of FRANCE on the 1st of January, 1834. Bons Royaux and Treasury Bills out-standing on the 1st of Advances from the Bank Securities deposited in the Treasury by public servants, con- Total (principal) SINKING FUND. 5,760,960 $56,203,959 246,667,252 Rents. An account of the amount of Rentes standing in the name of the "Caisse d'Amortissement," on the 1st of January, 1834, deducting 32,000,000f. 5 per Cent. taken from this fund, and cancelled by the law of the 26th of June, 1833, Total amount of the Sinking Fund on the 1st of January, 63,557,477 An Account of Rentes purchased by, and transferred to, the "Caisse d'Amortissement," in the year 1833: 5 per Cents Average price. Francs. Ct. fi Fr. Ct. 232,367 cost 4,681,356 91 100 52 49,309 1,025,755 0 99 94 • Total amount of Rents purchased by the Sinking Fund, from Francs. 66,961,108 48,020,094 |