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James T. Fields: Gustavus

The first piece opened by the sudden entrance of an officer in the costume of the Ming dynasty, followed by two attendants. He began a long recitative, interspersed with gymnastic exhibitions, and such feats as balancing his lance on his nose. The officer at last retires, and the princess enters with her attendants. This daughter of the dethroned emperor comes to The Assassination of Gustavus of Sweden.

A MONG the most thrilling scenes of history is the assassination of Gustavus the Third, of Sweden, who was killed by Count Ankerstroem, at a grand masked ball in Stockholm, on the sixteenth of March, 1792.

Gustavus was the oldest son of Adolphus, Duke of Holstein, and had ascended the throne in 1771. The country was at that time divided by two factions, the Hats and the Caps, as the aristocratic adherents to the Russian and French policy, respectively called themselves. Gustavus took the bold resolution of subverting both these parties with the assistance of the people. The execution of the king's plans was commenced by the insurrection of the commandant of Christianstadt, who issued a violent proclamation against the States- General.

W Musical Fish.

Gustavus sent Prince Charles with a powerful force HEN Sir Emerson Tennant visited Batticaloa, ostensibly to subdue the rebel, but in reality to unite in the northern forests of Ceylon, about with him. On the nineteenth August, 1772, the king twenty years ago, he made inquiries relabegan to follow out his plans in person. He arrested tive to a story which had reached him of musical the heads of the parties and the most powerful mem- sounds said to be heard issuing from the bottom of a bers of the States, and publicly announced his plans lake, at several places, both above and below the for the establishment of a new constitution. The ferry opposite the old Dutch fort. The sounds were next day the magistracy of the capital took the oaths of fidelity, and the States-General were invited to assemble. Gustavus entered the assemblage in order to submit to them the proposed new constitution.

His armed force was apparently sufficient to subdue every scruple of the assembly; but, as the constitution only restricted and circumscribed the privileges of the nobility, and did not infringe the liberties of the citizens, it was received by the majority with real satisfaction, and confirmed by oaths and signatures. said to be heard at night, and most distinctly when the moon was at the full. They were described to him as resembling the faint sweet notes of an Eolian harp. On conversing with the fishermen of the lake, they confirmed these statements, and expressed their belief that they proceeded from a shell known by the Tamil name of oorie coolooroo cradoo, or the "Crying shell."

One moonlight evening, when not a breath of air was stirring, and not a ripple was to be seen on the Those who had been arrested were immediately water except that caused by the dip of their oars, Sir afterward released, and the revolution was completed. Emerson Tennant accompanied the fishermen to the The nobility were silenced, but they nourished a spot. On arriving at the point mentioned, he avers secret hatred, which at length broke out in the year 1788, when they prevailed on the States to refuse the supplies while the king was engaged in a war with Russia and Denmark.

In order to free himself from the ever active intrigues of the nobles, the king, on April 3, 1789, caused the leaders of the opposition in the Diet to be arrested, and a law to be passed by which the royal prerogatives were very considerably increased.