The commerce and trade of Sweden seem to be in
a very miser- able state. In an intended address of the citizens of Gottenburg to the King, which is given in the Hamburg papers of last week, the addressers say—.
" Our mercantile navy, which, before the year 1816, consisted of about 200 ships, the tonnage of which was 15,000 lasts, is now reduced to 73, in all only 6,825 lasts ; most of which ships are now old, and perform their annual voyages at a loss. For several years past, not a ship has been. launched in our dock- yards, the owners of which now look upon the day as a festival on which an old ship is given them to repair. We cannot more forcibly describe the decline of our trade, in a few words, than by stating, that the reserved revenue, which in 1811 brought to your Majesty and the stating, 134,000 rix dollars banco, left last year only 56,000, while the expenditure for the poor amounts to more than 36,000. The course of exchange, which, at the fall of the King, who was deposed for his incapacity to govern, was at 55 schellings only of Ham- burg, is at this moment 148. How are we to account for such circumstances, which, unhappily, with few exceptions, may be said of the whole kingdom ?"
They do not blame the intentions of Government; but they de- precate its perpetual interference, and the irregularity and uncer- tainty which such interference tends to introduce in all mercantile undertakings. The people of all countries are beginning to learn this lesson.
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