Adolphus, and it was even said that had the numbers on each
side been counted the majority would have been in his favour.

After Sir James had sent off the despatch of the 21st, he had another
conference with the Swedish Admiral, who then returned with Sir
James's assurance that the conference should be faithfully reported.
On the 22nd he sent off another courier with a despatch, of which the
following is an extract:

Victory, Hano Bay, 22nd August 1810.

SIR,

Having heard the various motives assigned by Admiral
Krusenstjerna for the election of the Prince of Ponte Corvo to
be the successor to the Crown of Sweden, I observed to him that
I extremely regretted that this communication had not been made
in time to enable me to obtain the sentiments of my Government,
previous to the election taking place. That it was probable the
election of a general officer in the service of the most
inveterate enemy that England had to oppose would be highly
obnoxious to his Majesty's Government, and I earnestly urged
him to entreat the King of Sweden to delay the election until I
could receive a return to the letters I would immediately send
to England by an express. I repeatedly pressed this point to
Admiral Krusenstjerna, who intimated that the election would be
decided before he could return to Orebro, as it was understood
to take place during the present week.

On his observing that Prince Ponte Corvo was the only one of
the four candidates that could be accepted by Sweden, and
requesting me who, in my opinion, ought to be elected, I
immediately replied that I considered the son of the deposed
monarch, Gustavus Adolphus, was the person who naturally
presented himself as the most proper successor to the throne of
Sweden, and that the age and state of health of the reigning
monarch led to the expectation that he would live until the
Prince became of age. He stated that the King at this time
required the aid and assistance of a military character,
possessed of strength of mind and energy to govern the country,
and who also would have the spirit to maintain her in her
foreign relations, and in resisting the power of Russia and
France, which he said Bernadotte had faithfully promised to do.

Admiral Krusenstjerna expressed repeatedly his confidence in my
reporting th