Anker, Carsten Tank BREV TIL: William Frederick FRA: Anker, Carsten Tank (1814-11-02)

57.

Til H. K. H. Hertugen af Gloucester skriver C. A. fra London d. 2. Novbr. 1814 om norske Forhold saaledes:

Your Royal Highness.

Prince Christian Frederik has left Norway. This most excellent nobleminded man, our bearer and hope, has bid adieu to my poor and unhappy country.

I have a letter from H. R. H., dated the 11th October, written onboard the ship, then at anchor in the gulf of Christiania and ready to set sail for Denmark. His last act has then been to write to the man, who would never forsake him nor his interest.

The very last words, which that letter contains are: „Rely for ever on my friendly dispositions for You." A deep sorrow is visible through that letter.

The disappointment which he was met with, he feels most deeply, chiefly because the sanguine hopes and ardent wishes of the best part of the nation appear to him frustrated and destroyed.

All he has done both in accepting the crown and in resigning it, both in beginning the war and in stopping its progress s. 539has been dictated by the most noble intentions to benefit the nation who relied on him and loved him.

When they manifested the general and determined will to become independent, he said: I will rnle You. When they made him their King, he swore to govern them according to the very spirit of the constitution. When he refused to acceed to the proposals af the commissioners and to the haughty terms of Bemadotte, he did so, because they were dishonourable and because it was his duty not to suffer the character of the nation to be polluted.

When he took up arms, it was because he was attacked. When he accepted the ennemy's proposal of an armistice, it was done because he was advised to do so. When he promised to resign and to quit Norway at the opening of the Diet, it was because he would prove to the nation that no personal sacrifice was too great, when Norway might be saved from destruction and because he would prove to the enemy the purity of his views. When he resigned and left Norway, though with a broken heart, he did so, because he had promised it. It is to the future to judge him; nay, let even the corrupted age itself come forward and say, if it dared, that this virtuous man, this noble Prince has acted selfish, cowardly or unwise.

Christian Frederik is perhaps lost for Norway, he is lost for that species of glory, which inconsistent mortals abhor and admire, but peace of mind — that celestal friend of the good — will be his lot until the last dav of his life.

Of this government he complains most bitterly, saying that he expected, if not assistance, at least neutrality from this country, the avowed protector of independence. There is not the smallest doubt, but the war might have been carried on with the most probable success, if there had been plenty of provisions. Of this the previous blockade, — this cruel and inhuman measure adopted by the British government, — had deprived the army and the people.

The great and sincere interest, Y. R. Highness invariably have been pleased to manifest in the cause of Norway, has induced me to make the above communication, convince dthat s. 540Y. R. H. will share the sufferings of the Prince, You loveand esteem. 34*

I have the honour etc.

C. Anker.

[Deres Kongelige Høihed!

Prins Christian Frederik har forladt Norge. Denne fortræffelige og ædelt tænkende Mand — vor Forkjæmper og vort, Haab — har sagt mit ulykkelige Land Farvel.

Jeg har faaet et Brev fra H. K. Høihed af 11. Oktbr., skrevet ombord, da han laa til Ankers i Christianiafjorden, færdig til at sætte Seil for Danmark.

Hans sidste Grjerning var altsaa at skrive til den Mand, som aldrig kunde have svigtet ham eller hans Fordel. De sidste Ord, det nævnte Brev indeholder, var: „Stol altid paa mine venskabelige Følelser for Dem".

Der gaar dyb Sorg gjennem dette Brev. De Skuffelser, han har havt, føler han desto dybere, fordi det sangvinske Haab ogde glødende Ønsker, som næres af Nationens bedste Del, forekommer ham at være bleven skuffede og tilintetgjorte.

Alt, hvad han har gjort, baade da han modtog Kronen, og da han gav Afkald paa den, baade ved at begynde Krigen og ved at stanse den, har været dikteret af de ædleste Hensigter for at gavne den Nation, der stolede paa ham og elskede ham. Da Nordmændene offentlig erklærede, at de vilde være uafhængige, sagde han til dem:

„Jeg er villig til at regjere over Eder."

Da de gjorde ham til deres Konge, svor han at ville regjere efter Konstitutionens sande Aand.

Da han afslog at rette sig efter Kornmissærernes Forslag ogefter Bernadottes hovne Betingelser, var det, fordi de var vanserende, og fordi det var hans Pligt ikke at taale, at Nationalkarakteren blev besudlet.

Da han greb til Vaaben, var det fordi han blev angrebet..

s. 541Da han gik ind paa Fiendens Forslag om Vaabenstilstand, var det, fordi man raadede ham dertil.

Da han gav Tilsagn om at opgive sin Stilling" og forlade Norge ved Stortingets Aabning, var det for at vise Nationen, at intet personligt Offer var ham for stort, naar Norge derved frelstes fra at gaa tilgrunde, og fordi han vilde vise Fienden sine Hensigters Renhed.

Da han takkede af og forlod Norge, nagtet med tungt Hjerte, saa var det, fordi han havde lovet det.

Det maa overlades Fremtiden at dømme ham. Lad endog denne fordærvede Tidsalder, om den tør, komme frem og ndtale, at denne retskafne Mand, denne ædle Fyrste har handlet selvisk, feigt eller uklogt.

Christian Frederik er maaske tabt for Norge; han har gaaet Glip af den Slags Hæder, som tankeløse Dødelige paa en Grang afskyr og beundrer. Derimod vil Sjælefreden, der er det godes himmelske Ven, blive hans Lod lige til hans sidste Dag.

Over den herværende [britiske] Regjering beklager han sig meget bittert og siger, at han havde ventet, om ikkeHjælp, saa iallefald Neutralitet fra dette Land, der er en aaben Beskytter af al Uafhængighed.

Der er ikke mindste Tvivl om, at Krigen kunde været fortsat med den sandsynligste Udsigt til Held, dersom der havde været Levnetsmidler nok. Men disse berøvedes Armeen og Folket ved den iverksatte Blokering, denne den britiske Regjerings grusomme og umenneskelige Forholdsregel.

Det er den store og oprigtige Interesse, D. K. Høihed saa uforanderlig har behaget at vise Norges Sag, der har bevæget mig til at gjøre foranstaaende Meddelelse, da jeg er overbevist om, at D. K. Høihed vil tage Del i den Fyrstes Lidelser, som De elsker osr agter.

Jeg har den .Ære osv.

C. A.