Silfversparre took the sword out of his hand; the King then cried out,
“ They are going to murder me, help! help!”— They endeavoured to
re-assure the King, and he promised to be more composed i f they
would return his sword; this request they endeavoured to evade, and
when the King obstinately insisted on it, he was told that in this
respect he could not be gratified, nor be permitted any more to interfere
in the management of the kingdom.
The King’s outcries had alarmed some of the body guard, who had just
arrived, and the servants of the palace, who endeavoured to force open
the door; but not being able to succeed, they broke the upper pannel
with pokers and sabres. Baron Adlerereiitz commanded the door to be
opened, and rushed into the middle of the crowd, seized a sabre from
a hussar, snatched from the Adjutant-General his staff o f office, and
holding it up before him said, that he now considered himself as
Adjutant-General, and in that capacity, commanded the guards to
retire; this command was obeyed with some hesitation, and several
officers who were not in the conspiracy were put under arrest. The
Baron then went up to the room where the guards usually assembled;
he assured them that the King’s person was not in the smallest
danger, and that the on y object in view was to save the country from
ruin; he conjured them not to attempt any thing that might occasion
bloodshed and endanger the life of the King. After some hesitation
and argumentations, the Baron had the address to persuade them to
remain tranquil. Proper regulations were then made for the security
of the capital. The citizens mounted guard at the bank and publick
offices, and the streets were kept quiet by patroles of the burger
cavalry and cuirassiers, who had orders not to molest any person who
was not openly riotous.
Mean while the King had entreated to be spared the mortification of
seeing the officers who had been concerned in his arrest, and who had
been left with him by Baron Adlercreutz in order to secure his person.
They retired in consequence, and Count Ugglas and General Count
Stromfelt were sent in to his Majesty to endeavour to tranquillize him.
The King contrived to draw General Stromfelt’s sword from the scabbard,
and when the General missed it, and entreated to have it returned,
his Majesty answered, that the Generalwas just as good a
general as he a King without a sword. Baron Adlercreutz, who had
just returned, being informed o f the circumstance, thought it necessary
that some officers should be placed in the room as a guard upon
the King. He went out accordingly to procure them, and the King,
seeing him return with two officers through the door that had. been
demolished by the guards, immediately made his escape through the
opposite door, and locked it behind him.
The Baron was alarmed at the danger which would result from the
escape o f the King, leaped against the door and burst it Open, and ran
in pursuit o f him. In the next room there is a spiral staircase, open
all round, which leads up to the floor above. When the Baron entered
the room, he saw the King on the highest step of this stair. He threw
a bunch o f keys in the Baron’s face, and immediately disappeared.
When Baron Adlercreutz got to the top of the stair, the King was no
where to be seen. By accident he took the same road as the King, and
meèting some servants in the way, was by them directed in his pursuit.
But he reached the court o f the palace without having seen the
King. GustavUs had been so precipitate in his escape, that he fell in
the stair and hurt his arm severely.
When the King’s escape was.made known, thè whole conspirators
were filled with consternation, and rushed in a body to the court of
the palace to endeavour to intercept his Majesty’s flight. Greiffi
keeper of the King’s game, had precipitately descended the great stair,
and was thé first that reached the court. He saw the King, With his
sword in his hand, making towards the only gate that had been left
open. As soon as GreifFovertook him, the King made a violent push
at him, but with so unsteady an arm, that the sword passed up the
sleeve o f GreifF’s coat, and only slightly wounded him. His sword
being thus entangled, his breath gone, and his strength exhausted, he
was easily overpowered. He was carried up stairs, and at his own desire
taken into the white room. - He iftas there set down upon the chair
nearest the door, and exactly opposite to the portrait o f Marie An-
T