Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

CHAP. (II.

hibited.

The prohibition respecting the use of coffee was at this time so strictly observed in Stockholm, Coffee pro- that in genteel families it was never presented: in some of the inns they offered it to strangers in a contraband way. We have seen even the most gay and dissipated of the young Swedes refuse to drink it, when invited by a company of foreigners who have had it before them. The use of tea had been substituted in its place. This beverage the Swedes call Te-Watn, or TeaWater; a very appropriate name for the infusion, as they prepare it; for, in general, that which they offer under this name is nothing more than warm water served in small tea-cups. Soon after the prohibition respecting coffee had been issued, his Majesty's own valet de chambre, a man of tried fidelity and very amiable character, either through some inadvertence on the part of his servants, or a momentary thoughtlessness in himself, having invited a party to visit him at Dröttningholm, was known to have violated the prohibition; coffee having been served upon that occasion. The next morning, one of the attendants, from a desire to supersede the valet in his place, and actuated by envy at the confidence reposed in him by his royal master, informed his Majesty of the transaction. The King took no notice of it at the time; but

Anecdotes

of the King.

when his valet came to undress him, he said,
"Is it true that you gave coffee to a party which
visited you from Stockholm, yesterday evening."
"It is but too true, sire," said the valet," and
I saw the extent of my transgression in the
moment it was committed." 66
Well," said his
Majesty, "go now to the Intendantof the Police,
and tell him what you have done, and pay the
penalty'; and then come back to me."-When
the valet returned, and the King found that his
orders had been obeyed, he sent for the informer,
and thus addressed him: " My valet confesses
he has been guilty of violating the prohibition
with regard to coffee, as you told me he had
done; and he has paid the penalty for so doing.
It is therefore only necessary for me to add, that
in future I shall have no further occasion for
your services."

Another circumstance also occurred, which placed the character of Gustavus the Fourth in a very amiable light;-and we can vouch for the truth of both of them.

A Swedish Colonel, by an accidental fire which consumed his house, lost the whole of his property. Some time after, a lottery was set on foot by his friends, to reimburse him. In the

(1) One rix-dollar for every cup of coffee used.

CHAP.

II.

II.

CHAP. opening of this business, a letter arrived from Pomerania, inclosing one hundred and fifty rixdollars, without the name of any donor, but with a short note, requesting that the Colonel would remember the "broken punch-bowl." It was a long time before he could unravel this mystery; but at last he recollected that, many years before, being in a tavern where there was a great concourse of people and much rejoicing, a female servant dropped from her hands a large China punch-bowl full of punch. Her mistress, in violent anger, threatened her with instant dismissal, and that she should be sent to prison if she did not make good the loss: upon which, the Colonel interceded in behalf of the poor girl, and himself paid for the damage which had been sustained. This curious anecdote becoming the subject of conversation in Stockholm, at length reached the ears of the King. Gustavus was much pleased with it, and sent a present of one thousand rix-dollars, with this message: "I am aware that the Colonel's friends have instituted a lottery upon his account. It is prohibited, by the laws, to undertake any lottery, without previous permission from the Master of the Police. Tell the Colonel I know that officer; that he is an humane and polite man, not likely to refuse a reasonable request: it is my wish that the Colonel

II.

should ask his permission for the lottery, that CHAP. I may be enabled to bear a part in it."

We have the more readily inserted these traits in the character of the reigning monarch, because the anecdotes related of him, in general, were neither numerous nor interesting. Having no favourite, and relying altogether upon his own judgment, which however was very incapable of guiding him, it was not easy to penetrate the reserve that shrouded his private life from observation. The few things that had transpired afforded a favourable view of his disposition. From his earliest boyhood he was little disposed to familiarity with any one. When only eight years of age, he attended Gustavus the Third to a grand Council. Upon this occasion, stepping before his father as he advanced to the regal chair, and placing himself upon it, he repeated, with affected gravity, a passage from one of the Swedish tragedies "Let us sit on the throne of our ancestors." The King, instead of being pleased with his son's humour, seemed rather piqued; and abruptly handing him down, said, "Come, come, young usurper! there will be a more proper season for these sentiments, when I am gone!"

With regard to other stories circulated in Stockholm, respecting either the young Sovereign

CHAP.

II.

Probable contents of

the Chests at Upsala.

or his fair consort, as it was impossible to give credit to them, so it will not be necessary to relate them. The general tenor of all of them was to represent the King as a haughty, imperious, but benevolent man, destitute of sound judgment and literary talents; without any love of the Fine Arts, but desirous of enforcing strict obedience to the laws, both by precept and example: and the Queen, as a giddy cheerful romp, more disposed towards laughter than serious reflection, who would prefer a game at blindman's buff to any State ceremony, however splendid the situation she might be called upon to fill.

We met with a bookseller in Stockholm who assured us and we saw no reason to doubt the truth of what he said-that he had often been employed by the late King, Gustavus the Third, as his amanuensis. He declared that he assisted that monarch in arranging and in copying many of the manuscripts now deposited at Upsala under such strict injunctions of their being kept secret until the time arrives for opening the chests containing them'. He seemed well acquainted with the nature of these manuscripts; and, as his character is highly respectable, and the informa

(1) See the former Chapter, p. 19.

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »