b d o e have neither any vote in the choice o f reprefentativ'es, nor
< ^ . can be reprefentatives themfelves • a ftrange inconiiftency,
that tliofe perfons, who arejuftly efteemed the moft refpect-
able and incorrupt part of the body politick; ihould not enjoy
the leaft ihare in the legiilature, while many mechanicks
and farmers, who are both as unqualified to canvafs intricate
political queftions, as they are incapable of refifting the
influence of bribery, poffefs that important privilege. Soon
a f t e r the eftabliihment o f the limited monarchy in 1720 by
the ariftocratical party which raifed Ulrica Eleonora to the
throne, many country gentlemen figned an addrefs to the
diet, reprefenting the impropriety o f excluding fo important
an order of men from the ftates o f the realm. But as the
articles o f government were finally fettled, their application
was not complied with : fo well founded,and juft, however,
were the principles of their remonftrance, that the king, at
the recommendation of the diet, advanced feveral o f the petitioners
into the order o f nobles.
The ftates o f the kingdom, thus compofed o f the reprefentatives
chofen in the manner juft delcribed, aifemble at
Stockholm in feveral places. The nobles in the houfe of
nobles; the clergy in the church adjoining fo the palace;
the citizens in the town-hali; and the peafants in another
apartment of the fame building."
Having, taken their feats, and chofen their refpective fpeak-
ers, the four houfes repair in due form to a hall o f the palace,
where the king, clad in his royal robes and feated upon
the throne, informs them, in a fhort fpeecb, o f the reaions
for which they are convened ;.defiring them to aftift him with
their advice in the prefent jundture o f affairs, and deliberate
for the good o f the kingdom. In anfwer to this h a r a n g u e ,
the four fpeakers compliment his majefty in the name of
■ ;, . . . . their
their refpedlive houfes; after which ceremony the repre- c h a p .
fentatives immediately retire. . .
Laws are enadted in the following manner. During the
fittings o f the diet, every member of the four houfes has the
privilege o f propofing a queftion to the confideration o f the
aflembly to which he belongs. A debate takes place upon
the motion, which is carried,or rejected by a majority. I f
itpaffes in one houfe, it is fent by a deputation to each o f
the others; and, i f affented to by three, is prefented by the
four fpeakers to the king : his majefty afterwards fummons
the ftates to the palace, and communicates to them his affent
or diflfent in form. The latter negatives the bill, and the
former gives to it the fandtion o f a law.
If the bill originates from the king, it is thus brought in :
his majefty lays it before the fenators, and having obtained
their opinions in writing, refers it to the difcuffion o f the
ftates; i f they approve it, the four houfes repair to the palace,
and communicate their affent to his majefty ; i f it is
rejected, they tranfmit their determination in writing by their
fpeakers, and accompany it with the reafons which had induced
them to diffent.
When the king chufes to put an end to the diet, he fummons
the ftates to the palace, and diffolvos them by a fpeech.
C e c a C H A P .