7 SEPTEMBER 1839, Page 2

Through the kindness of a friend, we are supplied with

some in- teresting information concerning Sweden; a country whose affairs attract little attention in England at present, but which on the death of its present sovereign will probably become the theatre of important events.

linaNanorrE, at the age of seventy-five, with wonderful vigour of mind and body for such an age, is still ruling the country almost absolutely according to his own whims. Ile has hitherto ma- naged the Representative Assembly such as it is, with little difficulty ; and when a difference has arisen, he has disregarded their opinions. He has gradually formed a Ministry of most insig- nificant persons ; and being really the cleverest man in his Council, he pays not the slightest attention to their opinion or advice. The nation is becoming very much dissatisfied with the management of affairs ; but, on account of 13EnxAnorrE's military fame, the extreme kindness of his manners in private, as well as his old age, the Swedes will probably as long as lie lives refrain from taking any violent measures to obtain greatly needed reforms in the representation, in criminal and civil legislation, in education, and in trade. For a

quarter of a century no system has been followed—nothing but

patching up and getting rid of difficulties for the moment ; in which respect, Swedish legislation and government very much re- semble our own. Disturbances broke out last year at Stockholm,

in consequence chiefly of some Ministerial tampering with the ad- ministration of justice ; and the result was so far good, that it is

likely to deter men in power from again meddling with juries and

judges. The Prince Royal, too, from that time seems to have taken his part/. Till then, Prince OSCAR was known only as a

good husband, a veracious man, of pleasing manners, and accom- plished in literature and the arts. Few had any idea of his public principles. lIe avoided political discussions, and had sur- rounded himself with persons as insignificant as his father's

Ministers ; so the nation could not tell what to expect. Se- rious alarm arose among the friends of the BERNADOTTE

dynasty ; for it was evident that the Swedes would not endure from

a young man the misgovernment which they tolerke in the present King. Prince OSCAR, however, is now known as the author of two

very liberal articles in the Government paper—the only liberal ones which could have been inserted there. One relates to national education, the other to a municipal law for the whole country. When the King was absent last winter for six months in Norway,

OSCAR, at the head of the Government, exhibited much assiduity and good principle. He declared himself strongly against all ex-

ceptional laws, the punishment of death, corporal punishment, and restrictions on commerce. He has discarded most of his insignifi-

cant courtiers, and replaced them by men of good reputation and influence in society. The two last Chamberlains are Baron WREDE and Count SPARRE, men of great learning and unblemished cha- racter. Sweden therefore indulges in pleasing anticipation of bene- fit from the reign of BEasanorres successor ; and the only fear arises from the knowledge that the fair promises of a prince heir- apparent are seldom fulfilled by a king.