Alexandria Gazette

The Swedish Pretender.

It will be remembered by the readers that Lord John Russell incidentally in the recent debate had in the House of Commons on the resolution introduced by Lord Elcho in relation to the Zurich Conference, that France is not the only country in Europe to whose throne a pretender makes claim on the principles of legitimacy and the divine right of kings; and may not be generally known that the crown of Sweden is also claimed by a lineal descendant of the great house of Wasa, in the person of Field Marshal Prince Gustavus de Wasa of Holstein, Gottorp, who, on the occasion of the recent accession of King Charles XV. to the throne of Sweden submitted a formal protest to the Courts of Vienna, St. Petersburgh, London, Berlin, and Copenhagen designed to "reserve and protect the right of his birth." To this manifesto the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Baron de Martens troem, has replied by the subjoined official despatch:

Stockholm, Aug. 2, 1859.—In the newspaper Deutsche Post of Vienna of the 27th ult., we find the following article: "On the occasion of the accession to the throne of his Majesty Charles XV., Field Marshal Prince Gustavus de Wasa delivered to the Courts of Vienna, St. Petersburgh, London, Berlin, and Copenhagen a reservation to protect the right of his birth." This is, I think, the first time since 1844 that we have heard of this pretender to the throne of Sweden. Then, as now, he addressed a similar protest to the same Courts. You well know, Monsieur—the noble reply made by the late King. As soon as this protest came to the knowledge of his Majesty, King Oscar publicly declared that the ordinance of the 10th of December 1812, which, under severe penalties, interdicted any communication with the members of the ci-devant royal family, was abolished. During the fifteen years of his glorious reign his late Majesty had never for a moment regret that generous inspiration of his noble mind. If the Prince de Wasa can find, in again setting forth this reservation, any consolation for the misfortunes of which the King is pleased to admit that personally he has been the innocent victim, our august sovereign is far from finding anything to say against it. It would be more cruel to refuse him that gratification, as it is, according to all appearances, the last time he will have such an opportunity, since the illustrious race of which he is the last scion appears likely to be extinct with him in the male line." The Stuarts, whenever a change of reign took place, made known a similar reservation; they also did it for a longtime and always in vain; they also became extinct far from the country from whence they had been banished through the faults of their forefathers, but the memory of their ancestors, like that of the great kings of the house of Wasa, who, by their exalted virtues, founded the glory and happiness of Sweden, does not remain less imperishable and less brilliant, and the respect due to exalted misfortune closes the eye to a pretension which with the Swedish people meets with neither justification nor sympathy.