. b o o k thofe juft and neceflary prerogatives, which in a monarchical
■ ■rnnfl-itntinn can alone form a barrier againft ariftocratical
ufurpation and popular factions 5 as i f they were ignorant
o f any medium between abfolute dominion and anarchy, or
between licentioufnefs and fervitude.
'The grofs defe&s in this new form o f government occa-
lioned conftant ftruggles between the kings of Sweden and
their fubje&s, on one fide to increafe, on the other to deprefs
the royal prerogative, until his prefent majefty effected the
revolution o f 1772.
It is needlefs to enter into any detail of this extraordinary
event, as Mr. Sheridan, who, at the period in queftiou, was
fecretary to the Britifh envoy at Stockholm, has given to the
world a molt ample and accurate detail o f the whole tranf-
a£tion fc Perfons of the molt oppofite parties in Sweden all
unanimoufly concur in commending the fidelity of Mr. Sheridan’s
hiftory, and in preferring it to the numerous narratives
o f that important event; and the king has frequently acknowledged
its general authenticity. The ingenious author
has developed with the utmoft precifion and truth the dreadful
abufesoccafioned by the fyftem of government eftablifbed
in 17 20; and has traced, with a mafterly hand, the judicious
and fpirited conduit o f his prefent majefty.
But in this account of the new government, admirable as
it is, he has unfortunately advanced a capital miftake, which,
as it has fallen from a perfon o f luch refpectable authority,
and feems generally prevalent in all foreign countries, de-
ierves a particular difcuffion. What I allude to is his afier-
tion, that the king of Sweden is “ no lefs abfolute at Stock-
“ holm than the French monarch at Verfailles, a n d the Grand
* A Hiftory o f the late R e volution in Sweden, & c , b y C h a r le s F ranc is Sheridan, Efq.
“ Signor
M Signor at Conftantinople * whereas his Sw.ediih majefty, ' C h a r ,
though now poffefled .of very great prerogatives, is yet in , ,
many important inftances a limited monarch, as will be af-
certained by a review o f the prefent conftitution.
The whole executive power is virtually -veiled in the kings
for though it is faid -to be entrufted to him conjointly with
the fenate, yet as his majefty appoints and removes all the
•members o f that council, and in the .adminiftration o f affairs
:aiks only their advice, without being bound to fallow it, he
is abfolute mailer o f the fenate t. The king has the command
o f the array and navy, and fills up all commiffiqns;
he likewife nominates to all civil offices J. He has the foie
power o f convening and diftblving o f the ftatea, and is not
obliged to affemble them at any ftated period § ; he has rendered
the taxes perpetual, enjoys a fixed revenue, and has-
the entire difpofal o f the publick money.
Such are the prerogatives which his Swediffi majefty has
annexed to his crown ; but however enormous they may appear,
efpecially when compared with the ilender degree o f
authority poffeffed by the throne before that period, yet they
by no means, I apprehend, amount to defpotifm. The two
great features, which eifentially diftinguiffi an arbitrary from
a limited monarch, are the uncontrouled right of enabling
T f t • ' f in in g o f feven fen a to rs, to w h ich a f in a lsn *
t A r tic le 4 th . I-n fome few in ftan ce s,h ow - p e a l lies from a ll th e in ferior cou r ts , th e
'«er, namely, in-th e negotiations o f p e a ce , k in g has o n ly two vo ice s, and a carting v o te ,
duces, and alliances, th e k in g is bound to - i f .the opinions are equ al. B u t y e t , in this
fallow the opinion o f th e fenators, in' cafe inftance, as be nominates and removes at
( m ' e UBanimpas I tiu t as it is fcarc e ly his pleafu re .th e ir ju d g e s , he m u ll h a ve th e
poffible that feventepn fenators, ap p o in ted , en tire difpofal o f th e ir fu ffia g e s . A r t . S th .
« d removable, b y his majefty, Ihould b e $ee th e artic le s o f the new fo rm o f g o ve rn -
unanimous in th eir oppofttion to him , w e m e a t in th e A p p en d ix to this vo lume.
™ay fairly allow the k in g to have th e com - % A r t . 6 ; alfo 23 , 35, and 3 1 .
•uland o f thc fenate. A r t . 6 th . . , ' § A r t ic le 38,
In the high cou rts o f jiuilice, indeed* <jon