the respect due to his royal person, or oblige him to condescend to any thing beneath his dignity, he resolved to keep his bed, during his captivity, under pretence of sickness. This resolution he kept for ten months.(1)

While the naturally active and indefatigable Charles, who held in contempt all effeminate indulgences, and had set even the elements themselves at defiance, was wasting, from caprice, his time and his constitution in bed, or harassing his mind with fruitless intrigues, the northern princes, who had formerly trembled at his name, and whom he might still, by a different conduct, have made tremble, were dismembering his dominions. General Steenbock, who had distinguished himself by driving the Danes out of Schonen, and defeating their best troops with an inferior number of Swedish militia, defended Pomerania, Bremen, and all his master's possessions in Germany, as long as possible. But he could not prevent the combined army of Danes and Saxons from besieging Stade; a place of great strength and importance, situated on the banks of the Elbe, in the dutchy of Bremen. The town was bombarded or reduced to ashes, and the garrison obliged to surrender, before Steenbock could come to their assistance.

The Swedish general, however, with twelve thousand men, pursued the enemy, though twice his number, and overtook them at a place called Gadesbush, in the dutchy of Mecklenburg, in December, 1712. He was separated from them, when he first came in sight, by a morass. The Danes and Saxons, who did not decline the combat, were so posted as to have this morass in front, and a wood in the rear. They had the advantage of numbers and situation; yet Steenbock, notwithstanding these adverse circumstances, passed the morass at the head of his troops, and began one of the most furious and bloody battles that ever happened between the rival nations of the north. After a desperate conflict of three hours, the Danes and Saxons were totally routed, and driven off the field with great slaughter.

But Steenbock stained the honour of his victory, by burning the flourishing, thoug' defenceless, town of Altena, belonging to the king of Denmark. In consequence of that severity, many thousands of the inhabitants perished of hunger and cold. All Germany exclaimed against so shocking an insult on humanity; and the ministers of Poland and Denmark wrote to the Swedish general, reproaching him with an act of cruelty committed without necessity, and which could not fail to awaken the vengeance of heaven and earth against him. The enlightened but unfeeling Goth replied, that he never should have exercised such rigour, had it not been with a view to teach the enemies of Sweden to respect the laws of nations and not to make war, for the future, like barbarians. They had not only, he observed, laid waste the beautiful province of Pomerania, but sold near a hundred thousand of its inhabitants to the Turks; and the torches which had laid Altena in ashes, he affirmed, were no more than a just retaliation for the red-hot bullets, which had wrapped in flames the more valuable city of Stade.(2)

Had the king of Sweden appeared in Pomerania, while his subjects carried on the war with such implacable resentment, and even with success, against their numerous enemies, he might, perhaps, have retrieved his ruinous fortune. His troops, though so widely separated from his person, were still animated by his spirit. But the absence of a prince is always prejudicial to his affairs, and, more especially, prevents his generals from making a proper use of their victories. Steenbock lost, almost instantly, the fruits of his valour and conduct; which, at a happier crisis, would have been permanent conquests. Though victorious, he could not prevent the junction of the Russians, Danes, and Saxons, who obliged him to seek an asylum for himself and his gallant army in Toningen, a fortress in the dutchy of Holstein.

That dutchy was then subjected to the most cruel ravages of any part of the north. The young duke of Holstein, nephew of Charles XII., and presumptive heir to the crown of Sweden, was the natural enemy of the king of

(1) Hist. Charles XII. liv. vii.

(2) Id. ibid.

Denmark, who had endeavoured to strip his father of his dominions, and to crush himself in the very cradle. The bishop of Lubeck, one of his father's brothers, and administrator of the dominions of this unfortunate ward, now beheld himself in a very critical situation. His own territories were already exhausted by continual contributions; the Swedish army claimed his protection; and the forces of Russia, Denmark, and Saxony threatened the dutchy of Holstein with immediate desolation. But that danger was seemingly removed by the address of the famous baron de Goertz, who wholly governed the bishop, and was the most artful and enterprising man of his time; endowed with a genius amazingly penetrating, and fruitful in every

resource.

Goertz had a private conference with general Steenbock, at which he promised to deliver up to him the fortress of Toningen, without exposing the bishop-administrator, his master, to any inconvenience: and he gave, at the same time, the strongest assurances to the king of Denmark, that he would defend the place to the utmost. The governor accordingly refused to open the gates; but the Swedes were admitted partly within the walls, and pa tly under the cannon of the town, in consequence of a pretended order from the young duke, who was yet a minor. This indulgence, however, procured by so much ingenious deceit, proved of little use to the brave Steenbock, who was soon obliged to surrender himself prisoner of war, together with his whole army.(1)

The territories of Holstein now remained at the mercy of the incensed conquerors. The young duke became the object of the king of Denmark's vengeance, and was doomed to pay for the abuse which Goertz had made of his name. Finding his original project thus rendered abortive, the baron formed a scheme for establishing a neutrality in the Swedish provinces in Germany. With this view, he privately entered into a negotiation, and at the same time, with the several princes who had set up claims to any part of the territories of Charles XII., all which, the kingdom of Sweden excepted, were ready to become the property of those who wanted to share them. Night and day he continued passing from one province to another. He engaged the governor of Bremen and Verden to put those two dutchies into the hands of the elector of Hanover, by way of sequestration, in order to prevent the Danes from taking possession of them for themselves; and he prevailed with the king of Prussia to accept, in conjunction with the duke of Holstein, of the sequestration of Stetin, which was in danger of falling a prey to the Russians.

In the mean time, the czar was pushing his conquests in Finland. Having made a descent at Elsingford, the most southern part of that cold and barren region, he ordered a feigned attack to be made on one side of the harbour, while he landed his troops on the other, and took possession of the town. He afterward made himself master of Abo, Borgo, and the whole coast; defeated the Swedes near Tavestius, a post which commanded the gulf of Bothnia; penetrated as far as Vaza, and reduced every fortress in the country. Nor were the conquests of Peter confined to the land. He gained a complete victory over the Swedes by sea, and made himself master of the island of Oeland.

These successes, but more especially his naval victory, furnished the czar with a new occasion of triumph. He entered Petersburg, as he formerly had Moscow, in procession, under a magnificent arch, decorated with the insignia of his conquests. After that pompous ceremony, which filled every heart with joy, and inspired every mind with emulation, Peter delivered a speech worthy of the founder of a great empire. "Countrymen and friends," said he, "is there one among you who could have thought, twenty years ago, that he should fight under me upon the Baltic, in ships built by ourselves? or that we should establish settlements in those countries now conquered by our valour and perseverance?-Greece is said to have been the birthplace

(1) Hist. of the Russian Emp. part ii. chap. iv.

of the arts and sciences. They afterward took up their abode in Italy; whence they have spread themselves, at different times, over every part of Europe. It is at last our turn to call them ours, if you will second my designs, by joining study to obedience. The arts and sciences circulate through this globe, like the blood in the human body; and perhaps they may establish their empire among us, in their return back to Greece, their native country. I dare even venture to flatter myself, that we will one day put the nations most highly civilized to the blush, by our polished manners and illustrious labours."(1)

During these important transactions, so fatal to the power and the glory of Sweden, Charles continued to keep his bed at Demotica. Meanwhile, the regency, at Stockholm, driven to despair by the desperate situation of their affairs and the absence of their sovereign, who seemed to have utterly abandoned his dominions, had come to a resolution no more to consult him in regard to their proceedings. And the senate went in a body to the princess Ulrica Eleanora, the king's sister, and entreated her to take the government into her own hands, until the return of her brother. She agreed to the proposal; but finding that their purpose was to force her to make peace with Russia and Denmark, a measure to which she knew her brother would never consent, on disadvantageous terms, she resigned the regency, and wrote a full and circumstantial account of the whole matter to the king.

Roused from his affected sickness, by what he considered as a treasonable attempt upon his authority, and now despairing of being able to make the porte take arms in his favour, Charles signified to the grand vizier his desire of returning, through Germany, to his own dominions. The Turkish minister neglected nothing which might facilitate that event. In the mean time, the king of Sweden, whose principles were perfectly despotic, wrote to the senate, that if they pretended to assume the reins of government, he would send them one of his boots, from which they should receive their orders!—and all things being prepared for his departure, he set out with a convoy consisting of sixty loaded wagons and three hundred horse.

On his approach to the frontiers of Germany, the Swedish monarch had the satisfaction to learn, that the emperor had given orders he should be received, in every part of the imperial dominions, with the respect due to his rank. But Charles had no inclination to bear the fatigue of so much pomp and ceremony. He therefore took leave of his Turkish convoy, as soon as he arrived at Targowitz, on the confines of Transylvania; and assembling his attendants, desired them to give themselves no farther concern about him, but to proceed with all expedition to Stralsund in Pomerania. The king himself, in disguise, attended only by two officers, arrived at that place, after making the tour of Germany. And without considering the wretched state of his affairs, he immediately despatched orders to his generals, to renew the war against all his enemies with fresh vigour.(2)

The approach of winter, however, prevented any military operations being prosecuted until the spring. Meanwhile, the king of Sweden was employed in recruiting his armies: and in order to strengthen his interest, he gave his only surviving sister, Ulrica Eleanora, in marriage to Frederic, prince of Hesse Cassel, who had distinguished himself in the imperial service in the Low Countries, and was esteemed a good general. But Charles, on the opening of the campaign, was surrounded by such a multitude of enemies, that valour or conduct, without a greater force, could be of little service. The German troops of the elector of Hanover, now king of Great Britain, together with those of Denmark, invested the strong town of Wismar, while the combined army of Prussians, Danes, and Saxons, marched towards Stralsund, to form the siege of that important place. The czar was at the same time in the Baltic, with twenty ships of war, and a hundred and fifty

(1) Hist. of the Russian Emp. part ii. chap. v.

(2) Hist. Charles XII. liv. vii. "These particulars," says Voltaire, "which are so consistent with the character of Charles XII. were first communicated to me by M. Fabricius, and afterward confirmed to me by count Croissy, ambassador from the regent of France to the king of Sweden." Id. ibid.

LET. XXV.]

transports, carrying thirty thousand men. He threatened a descent upon Sweden; and all that kingdom was in arms, expecting every moment an invasion.

Stralsund, the strongest place in Pomerania, is situated between the Baltic sea and the lake of Franken, near the straits of Gella. It is inaccessible by land, unless by a narrow causeway, guarded by a citadel, and by other fortifications which were thought impregnable. It was defended by a body of twelve thousand men, commanded by Charles XII. in person, and besieged by the kings of Prussia and Denmark, assisted by the gallant prince of Anhalt, with an army three times the number of the Swedes. The allies were animated by a love of glory and of conquest; the Swedes by despair, and the presence of their warlike king. Unfortunately, however, for the latter, it was discovered that the sea, which, on one side, secured the Swedish intrenchments, was at times fordable.

In consequence of this discovery, the Swedes were unexpectedly attacked at night. While one body of the besiegers advanced upon the causeway that led to the citadel, another entered the ebbing tide, and penetrated by the shore into the Swedish camp, before their approach was so much as suspected. The Swedes, thus surprised, and assailed both in flank and rear, After a terrible slaughter, they were obliged were incapable of resistance. to abandon their intrenchment: to evacuate the citadel, and take refuge in the town, against which their own cannon were now pointed by the enemy, who henceforth pushed the siege with unremitting vigour.(1)

In order to deprive the king of Sweden and his little army of all succours, or of even the possibility of escape, the allies had begun their operations with chasing the Swedish fleet from the coast of Pomerania, and taking possession of the isle of Usedom, which made a gallant defence. They now resolved to make themselves masters of the isle of Rugen, opposite Stralsund, and which serves as a bulwark to the place. Though sensible of the importance of Rugen, and of the designs of the enemy, Charles was not able to place in it a sufficient garrison. Twenty thousand men, under the prince of Anhalt, were landed in that island, without any loss. The king of Sweden hastened to its relief, the same day, with four thousand choice troops.

Putting himself at the head of this small body, and observing the most profound silence, Charles advanced at midnight against the invaders. But he did not find them unprepared. The prince of Anhalt, aware what incredible things the unfortunate monarch was capable of attempting, had ordered a deep fosse to be sunk as soon as he landed, and fortified it with chevaux de frize. The king of Sweden, who marched on foot, sword in hand, was not therefore a little surprised, when plucking up some of the chevaux de frize, he discovered a ditch. He was not, however, disconcerted. Having instantly formed his resolution, he leaped into the fosse, accompanied by the boldest of his men, and attempted to force the enemy's camp.

The impetuosity of the assault threw the Danes and Prussians at first into some confusion. But the contest was unequal. After an attack of twenty minutes, the Swedes were repulsed and obliged to repass the fosse. The prince of Anhalt pursued them into the plain. There the battle was renewed with incredible fury, and victory obstinately disputed; until Charles had seen his secretary, Grothusen, fall dead at his feet; the generals, Dardoff and Daring, killed in his sight, and the greater part of his brave troops cut to pieces. He himself was wounded; and being put on horseback by Poniatowski, who had saved his life at Pultowa, and shared his misfortunes in Turkey, he was obliged to make the best of his way to the seacoast, and abandon Rugen to its fate.(2)

Stralsund was now reduced to the last extremity. The besiegers were arrived at the counterscarp, and had already begun to throw a gallery over the principal ditch. The bombs fell as thick as hail upon the houses, and half the town was reduced to ashes. Charles, however, still preserved his

(1) Hist. Charles XII. liv. viii. Mem. de Brandenburg, tom. ii.
17
VOL. II.-B b

(2) Id. ibid.

firmness of mind. One day, as he was dictating some letters, a bomb bursting in the neighbourhood of his apartment, his secretary dropped his pen. "What is the matter?" said the king, with a degree of chagrin, as if ashamed that any one belonging to him should be capable of fear. "The bomb!" sighed the intimidated scribe, unable to utter another word. "Write on!" cried Charles, with an air of indifference; "what relation has the bomb to the letter that I am dictating?" But he was soon obliged to admit less heroic ideas. After two desperate attacks, during which the king of Sweden fought among his grenadiers, like a private man, the besiegers made themselves masters of the hornwork. The grand assault was every moment expected, and Charles was determined to sustain it; but the danger of falling into the hands of his enemies, and being a second time made prisoner from his obstinacy, induced him to listen to the entreaties of his friends, and quit a place which he was no longer able to defend. He accordingly embarked in a small vessel, that was fortunately in the harbour; and, by favour of the night, passing safely through the Danish fleet, reached one of his own ships, which landed him in Sweden.(1) Stralsund surrendered next day.

The king of Sweden, not choosing to visit his capital in his present unfortunate circumstances, passed the winter at Carlscroon; from which he had set out, in a very different condition, fifteen years before, animated with all the high hopes of a youthful hero, ready to give law to the north, and who flattered himself with nothing less than the conquest of the world. Those hopes ought now to have been moderated. But Charles had not yet learned to profit by adversity. And, unhappily for his subjects, he found, in his distress, a minister who encouraged his most extravagant projects, and even suggested new schemes of ambition. This was the baron de Goertz, whom I have already had occasion to mention, and who, from a congeniality of ideas, became the particular favourite of the king of Sweden, after his return to his own dominions. To such a king and such a minister, nothing seemed impossible. When all Europe expected that Sweden would be invaded, and even overrun by her numberless enemies, Charles passed over into Norway, and made himself master of Christiana. But the obstinate defence of the citadel of Fredericshall, the want of provisions, and the approach of a Danish army, obliged him to abandon his conquest.

Meanwhile, Wismar, the only town that remained to Charles on the frontiers of Germany, had surrendered to the Danes and Prussians; who, jealous of the Russians, would not allow them so much as to be present at the siege. Of this jealousy, which alienated the czar's mind from the cause of the confederates, and perhaps prevented the ruin of Sweden, Goertz took advantage. He ventured to advise his master to purchase a peace from Russia at any price; intimating, that the forces of Charles and Peter, when united, would be able to strike terror into all Europe. Nor did he conceal the sacrifices necessary to be made, in order to procure such a union. He declared that, disgusted as the czar was with his allies, there would be a necessity of giving up to him many of the provinces to the east and north of the Baltic. And he entreated the king to consider, that by relinquishing those provinces, already in the possession of Peter, and which he himself was in no condition to recover, he might lay the foundation of his future greatness.(2) Pleased with this mighty project, without building upon it, Charles furnished his minister with full power to treat with the czar, or any other prince with whom he should think proper to negotiate.

Goertz accordingly, by himself or his agents, secretly entered into negotiations, which he conducted at the same time with the heads of the English jacobites, and with the courts of St. Petersburg and Madrid. Alberoni, the Spanish minister, a man of the most boundless ambition, and in genius not inferior to the northern statesman, had resolved to place the pretender on the throne of Great Britain; and the duke of Ormond, whose, zeal knew no bounds, projected a marriage between that prince and Anna Petrowna,

(1) Hist. Char. XII. liv. viii. Mem. de Brandenburg, tom. íi.

(2) Id. ibid.