IN SWEDEN TT

The King of Denmark complained that this was a breach
of the treaty, but as his own preparations for war were un-
mistakable, no one could blame the Duke of Holstein for
taking steps to defend his territories. As you know,
Christian of Denmark died about this time, and was suc-
ceeded by his son Frederick the Fourth.

“Last August he commenced the war by sending a naval
squadron to cover the passage of four regiments into
Pomerania. Charles of Sweden, seeing that Holstein
must be crushed by its powerful neighbour, called upon
Holland and the Duke of Lunenburg, who were with
Sweden guarantors of the treaty, to enforce its provisions;
and a joint protest was sent to the King of Denmark, who
was informed that if he invaded Holstein they should con-
sider it a breach of the Treaty of Altena and treat him as
a common enemy. Frederick replied by sending some
troops into the duchy.

“No active operations took place until the beginning of
this year. Up to that time Sweden had not doubted the
friendship of the King of Poland, and Charles at first could
hardly believe the reports he received from the governor
of Livonia, that the Saxon troops were approaching the
frontier.

“A few days later, however, came the news that they were
advancing against Riga. The governor prepared for defence
and hastily mounted cannon on the wails. His powers of
resistance, however, were lessened by the fact that the river
Duna was frozen over. Fleming, who commanded the Saxon
troops, arrived before the town early in February with four
thousand men. ‘The governor had set fire to the suburbs on
the previous day; and Fleming was surprised to find that
instead of taking it by surprise, as he had hoped, the place
was in a position to offer a stout resistance. However, he
attacked the fort of Cobrun, on the opposite side of the
river, and carried it by assault.

“The news was brought to young Charles XII. when he