The American Company and the Twelfth Expedition; the Swedish Settlements Under Dutch Rule, 1654–1664. CHAPTER IX. THE AMERICAN COMPANY, THE LAST EXPEDITION AND THE EFFORTS OF SWEDENTO REGAIN THE COLONY. I. Shortly after the sailing of the _Haj_ (April 15, 1654) Printz and Huygen arrived in Stockholm and delivered written and oral reports to the commercial college. The soldiers and servants, who had accompanied the governor, gradually made their appearance in the capital also. The condition of the colony was therefore well known to the authorities and officers of the company, and Eric Oxenstierna, who continued to be the leading spirit in the effort to promote the interest of New Sweden, brought the matter before the commercial college; but although the company had decided as early as the previous March to despatch a new ship to the Delaware, no immediate journey became possible, due to the impoverishment of the treasury, which in April was heavily drawn upon by the returning people. The government still owed the company several thousand R. D., but the political situation was not favorable for presenting these bills. The pleasure loving Queen no longer attended to the duties of a sovereign. The state treasury was empty, owing to her extravagances, and everything was in confusion. But a change came. Christina surrendered her sceptre to the great Carl X. Order was restored in the various departments of the government, and the King found time to direct his attention even to New Sweden. [Illustration: Queen Christina.]