Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

CROWN PRINCE OF SWEDEN.

The Swedish Diet was opened on the 30th July, for the purpose of electing a successor to the throne. Among the competitors were the king of Denmark, and the French prince of Ponte Corvo, (Bernadotte) --the former supposed to have been encouraged, and the latter supported by Bonaparte; Bernadotte of course the successful candidate. The Swedes expect from this appointment, that Finland, which they lately lost to Russia, will be restored to them, and that this new heir apparent (to whom are attributed great qualities as a soldier and a statesman) will by a loan of eight millions of banco dollars relieve the financial embarrassments of the government. The object of the journey northward of the exiled king is now stated to have been to procure the succession for his son. He is said to have spent a few days at Berlin, and afterwards to have gone to Dresden on his return to Switzerland --

"The choice of Bernadotte (says the Courier) is a sufficient hint to the king of Denmark and the emperor of Russia, and each will no doubt speedily receive the recompence of his subserviency to Bonaparte. It now appears that Bonaparte was only anxious to have the former take a step which he knew could not succeed, and which would be productive of no other consequences than that of shewing to the king how much he was disliked by the Swedes, and of injuring him even in the opinion of his own subjects, on account of his having offered to make Stockholm the capital of the United Kingdoms. The emperor of Russia will not see in this choice any thing favourable to his interests Quite the contrary. Already it is said that Finland will be restored to Sweden. Bonaparte will advise it, and his good brother Alexander is too much attached to "Bonaparte's system in peace and war" to refuse taking his advice. The object of Bonaparte no doubt is to make himself, and his agent Bernadotte, masters of the Baltic. Denmark dwindles to nothing on the selection of Bernadotte. All the coast on the southern bank of the Baltic, from Lubeck to Riga, will be seized by Bonaparte, there being little doubt, we think, of his intentions with respect to Prussia. He will enlarge the territories of Sweden; and Finland, and we doubt not Norway, will be added to the Swedish throne.-- What then will Russia be? Nothing more than a second rate naval power in the Baltic. If any one wished for a triumph over Denmark and Russia, could he have a completer one than he might now indulge against both ?--Both joined against Sweden --both flattered themselves they should receive the reward of their efforts--both will be punished by the hand that employed them."

Orebro, (Sweden) Aug. 17.

The choice of the Prince of Ponte Corvo, as heir to the crown, is no longer matter of doubt; it is already publicly spoken of, and on the 21st inst. the final decision of the Diet will be announced.

Great advantages are expected to result to our country from this choice, and the financial embarrassments of the government will be surmounted by a voluntary loan from the Prince of eight millions of banco dollars, at a low interest; the present state of our government will be guaranteed to us, and further benefits afforded as soon as the maritime situation of Europe will admit of them; and what is of still greater consequence, we perceive in the present nomination an earnest of the future restoration of Finland.

August 15.

Our Gazette of this day contains the following article:

"The Prince of Ponte Corvo, ci-devant Bernadotte, was born in 1763. As a hero, he has proved himself invincible; as a statesman, he has promoted the welfare and prosperity of France, without any selfish view; as a conqueror, he became the guardian angel of Hanover; and as a philanthropist, he has deserved and obtained the blessings of Swedish Pomerania; as a private man, he avoids all excess and pageantry, and with the same sentiments he inspires his hopeful son, who is eleven years old.

Should it be objected that he is not of high descent, I answer, that the successive steps that he has been obliged to tread, in order to attain the height where he is now placed, have made him acquainted with the concerns and relations of all intermediate situations in life, and his personal merit, which raised him from one exalted station to another, cannot but be the more eminent as it was not supported by any of those birth-rights, to which prejudice or custom frequently, yet undeservedly, assign the highest offices of States.

As to his religion, being no Roman Catholic, but a Protestant, his tenets, therefore, differ but little from our own, merely in matters altogether trifling, and the transition from his religion to ours will be so little perceptible as to leave no room either for blame or reproach. To learn the Swedish tongue will prove an easy task to a man like him. Our Frederick and Adolphus Frederick were German Princes also, not acquainted with our language, when they ascended the Swedish throne and yet their memory will be blessed by the Swedes."