ommission--the king-having gone to Weymouth
for his health--on the 11th of August. The speech was delivered by the
lord chancellor, in his majesty's name; and in it his lordship observed,
that, although the good offices of the king and his allies had not been
effectual for the restoration of general tranquillity, yet the situation
of affairs abroad continued to promise to this country the uninterrupted
enjoyment of the blessing of peace. But this view of the state of
Europe was superficial: in reality it promised nothing but strife and
bloodshed. This will be manifested in the next section.

CONTINENTAL AFFAIRS.

At this period war and anarchy were disturbing a large portion of the
continent. In the preceding year, Gustavus, King of Sweden, offended at
the intrigues of Russian emissaries; jealous of the extended power of
the Czarina Catherine; and anxious to recover the territories which had
been wrested from his predecessors, had commenced a war with Russia.
Gustavus was aided by a subsidy from the Turkish Sultan, who was at war
with Russia, and he entertained hopes of assistance from Great Britain
and Prussia. The Danes were engaged by treaty to assist the Russians,
and fearing the result of this alliance, the courts of Great Britain and
Prussia, without engaging directly in the contest, encouraged diversions
both in Poland and Sweden. But Gustavus had enemies in his own
dominions. His nobles had never forgiven him for overthrowing their
unbounded power, in 1772, and the war against Russia, which he began
without the assent of the states, was the signal for revolt. Many
of these nobles were superior officers in the Swedish army, and they
conspired against the king; and, declaring that the war undertaken was
contrary to the constitution, they sent deputies to St. Petersburgh, in
order to negociate an armistice, which was effected. At the same time
a Danish army invaded Sweden and menaced Gothenburg. The situation of
Gustavus was a critical one, but he was delivered from all danger by his
high courage, and the good offices of the courts of England and Prussia.
These courts, having in vain offered their mediation between those
of Petersburg and Stockholm, so effectually intimidated the Prince
of Denmark, who governed the state for his incapable father, that he
promised to abstain from all hostilities. Gustavus now convoked a diet
at Stockholm, in which an act of union and security was proposed and
adopted by the t