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art. In other parts of this stately palace are many other pictures and statues: among the latter, a small statue of A cumbent Fawn, one of the finest works of Sergell.

We were conducted from this Gallery to the private apartments of the King, and much interested in viewing the elegant suite of small rooms in which Gustavus the Third exercised a taste of which he was vain, in shewing how much it was possible to contrive within a narrow compass. This was what he used to call his Multum in parvo. Master of a palace vast enough to accommodate all the Sovereigns in Europe, he would creep into closets, in order to convince his friends how snug, convenient, and withal how elegant, a room might be made, in which the head of a tall man would touch the ceiling, and his arms, when extended, the side walls. It was with this view he used to retire to his little chambers in the Opera House, where he would frequently lodge; quitting a palace like Hadrian's Villa, to dwell in Diogenes' tub. At the end of a series of such small cabinets which were once occupied by him in this palace, we were shewn an elegant boudoir, or closet for writing; the table being raised, and adapted to a rich couch surrounding the apartment. The doors of all the rooms leading to this boudoir being placed in a

CHAP.

II.

Private Ca

binet of

Gustavus

the Third.

CHAP. straight line, and glazed, enabled the King, as

IL

he sat, to view the whole extent of these chambers, and the persons of all who might be in them, even when the doors were shut.

[graphic]

IGNEOUS BASALT, from the bottom of a Copper Furnace in Siberia. The original Specimen in the possession of the King of Sweden.

CHAP. III.

STOCKHOLM.

Public Women-Mildness of the Season-VauxhallWatchmen-Balls of the Society-Manners of the Inhabitants-Public Executions-Artists-Royal Palaces-Views of Stockholm-Description of Drottningholm-Lake Molar-Sudden Change induced by the coming of Winter-Frozen Game-Population

State

III.

State of Trade-Boot and Shoe Market-Cabinet of Models-College of Mines-Igneous Basalt-Apparel worn by Charles the Twelfth when he was assassinated -Cast of that King's face after death—Royal Library -Codex Aureus-Codex Giganteus-Curious Manuscript Code of Medicine-Typographical RaritiesCollection of Original Designs-Royal MuseumObservations on the Literature of Sweden-Literary Productions-Establishments-Gymnasia-Committee for Public Education-Chirurgical and Medical Colleges-Remarks on the Swedish Poetry-List of Poetical Works-Operas-Dramas-Comedies-Works in the higher order of Literature.

CHAP. THE streets of Stockholm are not paved for foot~ passengers; neither do they swarm with prosti

Public

Women.

Mildness

of the Season.

Vauxhall.

tutes, like the public streets of London. Women of this description are, however, not the less numerous here, for being less public in their appearance. During the month of November we were surprised at the mildness of the temperature; the thermometer of Fahrenheit, towards the latter end of the month, varying from 40 to 44 degrees, when we had expected that we should have been going about in sledges upon the snow. We went to what are called the Vauxhall Gardens, upon Sunday, November 17, after visiting the Theatre, which we found more than usually dull. These gardens have but little resemblance to those in England, whence

III.

their name has been borrowed: a few rows of CHAP. trees, and a narrow room for walking or dancing, about eighty yards in length, make up the whole. This room is lighted by lustres of cut glass. In a gallery upon the left was a band of musicians, who played during the evening, from six to ten, when a trumpet sounded for the company to disperse. The principal part of the persons present were women of the class before mentioned: the company, consequently, with the exception of several officers of the army, being of the lower orders.

We were a good deal amused by the grotesque Watchmen. appearance of the watchmen, in the streets at night. Their dress consists entirely of the skins of animals; and they walk in pairs, carrying in their hands a curious instrument for seizing culprits who may endeavour to make their escape from them. It is so contrived as to shut fast about the neck, being applied below the back part of the head; and becoming tighter, the more a person struggles to get free. When once, therefore, this instrument is fixed, the prisoner is sure to remain quiet, through fear of being choked: afterwards, it opens with a spring. Perhaps this portable trap, or thiefcollar, might be made useful in our own country, to aid the apprehension of midnight robbers by

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