Anker, Carsten Tank BREV TIL: Bathurst, Henry FRA: Anker, Carsten Tank (1814-11-05)

59.

[Ordret]

Trykt i Dr. Y. Nielsen: Bidrag til Norges Hist. 1814, 2. D., S. 114-116.

London5th November 1814.

6 York Street, St. James.

The Right Honorable Earl of Bathurst.

His British Majesty's Principal Secretary of State etc.

The undersigned on being sent as a deputy to this country by H. R. H. Prince Christian Frederic, the then legal Regent of Norway, was intrusted with an unlimited power for transacting business with the British Government, as may be seen by the despatches, of which he was the bearer to H. R. H. the Prince Regent and to Lord Castlereagh, H. M.s Secretary of State for the foreign affairs, the copies of which the undersigned has the honour to enclose.

On resigning the Government of Norway, H. R. H. Prince Christian Frederic has given up to the senate of that country the whole of the authority unanimously conferred on Him by the nation.

By conventions, publicly known, the King of Sweden has. acknowledged and accepted the constitution decreed at Eidsvoldr which institutes the senate or council of State. Thus this political body comprehends the deliberative and the executive authorities, in short every branch of the administration, except the legislative, until the act of union is finally concluded and published as such.

As a member of the senate, and intrusted with full power, by the executive, now residing with the said body and eventua s. 547chief of the department for Exterior Relations, the undersigned' in this capacities has the honour to adress His Excellency, Earl Bathurst, His British Majesty's Principal Secretary of State.

The difference in character, interest and in dispositions, which exists among1 the inhabitants of so extensive a country as Norway must naturally be essential. Of course the intended union meets with different opinions, even with opposition from several provinces, chiefly among the mountaineers. This being a race of people, very hardy and tenacious, the consequences might easily prove fatal. It is to the prevention of civil war, that the undersigned takes the liberty to direct the generous attention of the British Government.

Of all the high allied Powers, Great-Britain is the only who, by publicly known treaties, have nobly declared the necessity of stipulating: „That the union of the two countries shall take place with every possible regard and consideration for the happiness and liberty of the people of Norv/ay."

And indeed, if any nation on the gløbe is entitled to the immediate protection, effectual and unlimited friendship of GreatBritain, the Norwegians are that nation, by their attachment, high regard, mutual interest, national character, habits and long intercourse with the inhabitants of these happy islands. They looked up to Great-Britain with fraternal affection and confidence. It was the terrestrial object of their idolatry. The undersigned was not only ordered, but personally disposed to manifest their sentiments by proposal and deeds, which recent events have now rendered of no avail.

The British Government, on learning the consummation of the union, the object of their political solicitude, must not be supposed to have changed their sentiments so favourable to the Norwegians. Resting not only on the express wOrds of the treaty, but chiefly on the spirit thereof, and on the principles of humanity, which in the present moment animate and actuate the administration of this leading Empire, the undersigned comes forward with an unbounded confidence in requesting, that the British Government would grant their unconditional guarantee to the act of union, contracted or contracting between Norway s. 548and Sweden, as the indispensable means of quieting the Norwegians and to prevent the desolation of internal troubles.

The undersigned, conceiving that an unconditional guarantee of an act, not yet known to the high power of whom this security is requested, will be subject to unavoidable considerations, until the said act of union may be officially communicated and perfectly understood in all its clauses, he begs leave to propose, that the British Government would be pleased to prevail on the Swedish Grovernment to prolong the armistice agreed upon under the 14th August between the two countries, until the desired and desirable guarantee has been obtained.

The undersigned in an object of so great moment not wishing to stop at perplexing formalities or to create them, begs leave to suggest to His Lordship, that supposing the armistice,according to military notions and definitions, could no more be prolonged on account of its being expired, before the mediating steps of this Government could be communicated to the cabinet of Stockholm, that the disarming and disbanding of the military forces in Norway, as well as the taking the oath of allegiance — the delicate and dangerous moments, which are to be dreaded — might be suspended, until the foresaid guarantee was granted and effectually given up in the hands of the Norwegian Senate.

The undersigned will not allow himself to enlarge upon the important subject or to enumerable ¹1 Skrivfeil for: enumerate. the several reasons, he feels for this present application. His Excellency the Lord Bathurst’s superior perspicuity, added to his Lordship's general view of unsettled Europe, will see all, and the justice, the wisdom and the preponderance of the government will know to obviate all

The undersigned feels himself very happy in having this opportunity of assuring the Right Honorable Earl of Bathurst, His British Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State, of his high and distinguished consideration and of his sentiments of greatest respect.

C. Anker.

s. 549London d. 5. Novbr. 1814.

[Høivelbaarne Jarl af Bathurst, Hs. Britiske Majestæts Første Statssekretær etc.

Da Undertegnede af H. K. H. Prins Christian Frederik, dengang Norges lovlige Regent, blev beskikket som Udsending til dette Land, betroedes han en nbegrænset Magt i Retning af at føre Underhandlinger med den engelske Regjering, hvilket kan sees af de Fuldmagter, han havde at levere H. K. H. Prinsregenten og Lord Castlereagh, Hs. Ms. Statssekretær for de udenlandske Anliggender, og hvoraf Undertegnede har den Ære at vedlægge Grjenparter.

Da H. K. H. Prins Christian Frederik nedlagde Regjeringen i Norge, afleverede han til Rigets Statsraad al den Magt og Myndighed, hvormed Nationen enstemmig havde forlenet ham.

Ved offentliggjorte Overenskomster har Kongen af Sverige anerkjendt og antaget den paa Eidsvold vedtagne Grundlov, hvorved et Senat eller Statsraad er bleven stiftet. Denne politiske Korporation omfatter saaledes — indtil Foreningsakten bliver fuldstændig afsluttet og offentliggjort — den raadslagende og den udførende Myndighed, kort alle Administrationsgrene undtagen den lovgivende.

Som Medlem af Statsraadet og ndstyret med Fuldmagt fra den udøvende Magt, der nu tilhører den nævnte Korporation, og som eventuel Chef for Udenrigsdepartementet har Undertegnede i disse Egenskaber den Ære at henvende sig til Hs. Eksc. Jarlen af Bathurst, Hs. Brit. Maj.s første Statssekretær.

Den Forskjel i Karakter, Interesser og Sindelag, der finder Sted mellem Beboerne af et saa udstrakt Land som Norge, maa selvfølgelig være væsentlig. Den paatækte Forening vækker naturligvis forskjellige Meninger, endog Modstand, i flere Provinser, især blandt Fjeldboerne.

Da disse Mennesker udgjør et meget haardført og seigt Folkefærd, kunde deres Optræden let blive farlig.

Det er for at hindre Borgerkrig, at Undertegnede tager sig den Frihed herpaa at rette den britiske Regjerings høimodige Opmerksomhed.

s. 550Ifølge de offentliggjorte Traktater er Storbritannien den eneste af de høie Magter, der var høisindet nok til at finde det nødvendigt at fastsætte: „At Foreningen mellem de to Lande kun maa finde Sted under alle mulige Hensyn til det norske Folks Lykke og Frihed.“

Ifald nogen Nation paa Jorden er berettiget til Storbritanniens umiddelbare Beskyttelse, virksomme og ubegrænsede Venskab, saa er det sandelig Nordmændene; — baade paa Grund af deres Hengivenhed og høie Agtelse for disse lykkelige Øers Indbyggere, og paa Grund af gjensidige Interesser, Nationalkarakter, Sedvaner og langt Samkvem.

Nordmændene saa hen til Storbritannien med broderlig Hengivenhed og Tillid. Dette Land var den jordiske Gjenstand for deres Tilbedelse. — Undertegnede var ikke alene beordret, men ogsaa personlig tilbøielig til her at være Tolk for sine Landsmænd baade i Gjerning og ved Forslag, som de nylig stedfundne Begivenheder forresten har gjort overflødige. Man kan ikke forudsætte, at den britiske Regjering, da den erfarede Foreningens Fuldbyrdelse, der havde været Grjenstand for dens politiske Omhu, skulde forandre sine, for Nordmændene saa gunstige Følelser.

Idet Undertegnede ikke alene henholder sig til Traktatens udtrykkelige Ord, men hovedsagelig til dens Aand og til de menneskekjærlige Principer, der fortiden beliver og leder dette indflydelsesrige Monarkis Bestyrelse, vover Undertegnede med ubegrænset Tillid at andrage den britiske Regjering om at yde sin ubetingede Garanti for den Unionsakt, der er eller vil blive afsluttet mellem Norge og Sverige, en Graranti, der er et uundværligt Middel til at berolige Nordmændene og forhindre afskylige indre Uroligheder.

Da Undertegnede forstaar, at en ubetinget Graranti af en Union, der endnu er ukjendt af den høie Magt, af hvem Garantien begjæres, vil blive Gjenstand for uundgaaelige Overveielser, indtil den nævnte Akt er bleven officielt meddelt og alle dens Artikler rigtig opfattet, anholder han om at maatte foreslaa, at den britiske Regjering vil behage at formaa den svenske Regjering til at forlænge den Vaabenstilstand, som d. s. 55114. Aug. blev sluttet mellem de to Lande, helt til den ønskede og ønskelige Graranti er opnaaet.

Da Undertegnede i en Sag af saa stor Betydning ikke ønsker at opholde sig ved eller fremkalde forvirrende Formsager, beder han om at maatte henstille til Hans Herlighed — for det Tilfælde, at Vaabenstilstanden i Henhold til militære Begreber og Bestemmelser ikke nu kan forlænges paa Grund af, at den vil være udløben, førend den britiske Begjerings Mægling kan naa frem til Kabinettet i Stockholm — at den norske Armes Afvæbning og Opløsning samt Troskabsedens Aflæggelse, delikate og farlige Foretagender, som man maa ængste sig for, maa blive opsat, indtil den førnævnte Graranti er tilstaaet og faktisk leveret i det norske Statsraads Hænder.

Undertegnede vil ikke tillade sig at udbrede sig over denne vigtige Sag eller at opregne de forskjellige Grunde, han har for denne Henvendelse. Hs. Eksc. Lord Bathursts overlegne Klarsyn og Hans Herligheds Opfatning af den europæiske Forvirring vil gjennemskue alt. Begjeringens Betfærdiglied, Visdom og Overlegenhed vil vide at imødegaa alt.

Undertegnede føler sig meget lykkelig ved nu at have Anledning til at forsikre den høivelbaarne Jarl af Bathurst, Hans Brit. Majestæts Første Statssekretær, om sin udmerkede Høiagtelse og hans Følelser af dyb Respekt.

C. Anker.]