Christian August BREV TIL: Frederik 6 FRA: Christian August (1809-11-08)

Fra Samme til Samme.
Christiania, den 8de November 1809.

Allerunderdanigst Rapport.

Jeg holder det for en hellig Pligt uden Ophold at tilstille Deres Majestæt vedlagte nøjagtige Afskrift af en Artikel af en engelsk Avis, som jeg har vovet at lade tilføje en Oversættelse. ¹Artiklen, der findes indrykket i „The London Packet- and Loyds Evening-Post“ Nr. 6604, 1809, lyder saaledes:
„Concerning the extent and causes of the recent relaxation of the Danish severity, we do not profess to be fully informed: but a vessel, which left Gottenburgh a few days after the last Mail, has brought us the following document, which is represented to be the substance of a letter from the Governor of Norway to the Danish Consul residing at Gothenburgh. „„The King of Denmark has agreed for the mutual advantage of England and Denmark, to grant facilities to the British commerce and navigation in the Baltic by prohibiting all Danish privateers. Nor is this all, he has also permitted the exportation of Norwegian produce to friendly and neutral ports, and thus has laid aside the strong measures resorted to on the rupture with England. The British, in consequence, now receive their supplies from Norway, the same as in times of peace. You will therefore perceive, that the commerce with England is really favoured as much as the situation of affairs will allow. But should England receive the only benefit derived from the relaxation of our Decrees ? should that country, or its Government still continue in their barbarous policy of ruining by starvation a nation, which never has merited such treatment. I should deem it my duty, with the same ardour I besought the King to accede to the present moderate measures enforced against his enemies, to endeavour to procure such a change as could not be severely felt. Not only should I try to prohibit all exportation, but at the same time propose that an embargo be laid on all ships or vessels, exceeding the burthen af 20 lasts; — and I most solemnly assure You that not a single piece of timber shall be permitted to be exported from hence to England, at least so long as I have the command in this country. If I am not deceived, the merchants af Sweden would be glad to see the communication with Norway open and that the export trade should continue as at present. Endeavour therefore to convince the English agents and the British Government, that it will prove highly to their own advantage to evince an equal moderation on their part; for otherwise I have a list of the ships and cargoes that have been lately expedited, and have a watchfull eye upon those now shipping their cargoes; so that I might easily have it in my power to adopt such measures, as would prove highly detrimental to the British trade.““ — There are a number of difficulties in the way of receiving this letter as that, which it professes to be If there has been a secret understanding between the courts of Copenhagen and St. James, case would have been taken that it should not be thus indiscreetly published by the Government of Norway. But we do not think that the King of Denmark either fears Bonaparte so little, or loves the British Government so well, as to have entered into any amicable negociation.“) Efter Rygtet skal den samme Skrivelse, men muligen med andre Bemærkninger, være indført i andre engelske Blade. Jeg iler med at oversende samme, da jeg bør befrygte, at dens Indhold kunde kompromittere Deres Majestæt, og det om saa mere, da man siger, at nogle af vores af engelske s. 202Kapere opbragte Skibe, som Skibskapitajnerne dér skulde have kjøbt tilbage, senere paa Hjemrejsen skal være opbragt af franske Kapere, til Dels fordi, som det hedder, deres Papirer ej vare i Orden. Jeg holder det for overflødigt her allerunderdanigst at forsikre, at den ommeldte Skrivelse ej er affattet af Regeringskommissionen eller Undertegnede, da Kommissionen ej var i Stand til med en saa grov Ubesindighed at overskride Deres Majestæts Befalinger; men jeg er mig selv skyldig at gjøre Deres Majestæt allerunderdanigst opmærksom paa, hvor meget jeg ved dette Dokument kompromitteres, da det efter dets Stil, og da enhver maa formode, at ingen her i Landet foruden mit Vidende og dertil af mig at være avtoriseret kunde være saa uforskammet at skrive dette, næsten i mit Navn skrevne, Brev, nødvendig maa tilregnes mig. Saa vigtig det er for min nuværende og tilkommende Stilling, at dette oplyses, saa upassende og uhensigtsmæssig vilde enhver offentlig Retfærdiggjørelse fra min Side være, da den vilde ligne en Undskyldning. Jeg overlader denne Sag, for saa vidt den angaar min Person, til Deres Majestæts Decision, som jeg allerunderdanigst ansøger om snarest mulig at erholde. Det er næsten utroligt, at nogen af Deres Majestæts Undersaatter skulde af Forfængelighed eller Bihensigter kunne have ladet sig forlede til en saa højst ufornuftig og uforskammet Fremgang. Men skulde denne Skrivelse være mere end engelsk Opfindelse, da maa det i Bilaget anførte Udtryk „danske Konsul“ vel være en Trykfejl, da naturlig for Øjeblikket ingen dansk Konsul kan være i Gothenborg, og den fornødne Oplysning kunde erholdes ved den engelske Konsul Smith i Gothenborg. I al Fald har den ej stiftet Nytte; thi desværre ere i de senere Dage over 50 af vores Skibe blevne opbragte, da, som Rygtet nu siger, de svenske Havne først skal lukkes den 15de eller 16de d. M.

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Allerunderdanigst
Christian, Prins til S. Holsten.