736 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. xx. 



Beck-Fkiis, the Swedish consul-general Everlof, the re- 

 presentatives of the University, of the merchants, and of the 

 Geographical Society under the presidency of the former President 

 of the Council, Count Holstein-Holsteinborg, to bring us a 

 welcome from the corporations they represented, and accompany 

 us to the Toldbod, where we were received by the President-in- 

 chief, the Presidents of the Communal A.uthority, and the Bourse, 

 and the Swedish Unions of Copenhagen. We then drove through 

 the festively ornamented city, saluted by resounding hurrahs, 

 from a countless throng of human beings, to the Hotel 

 d'Angleterre, where apartments had been prepared for us. On 

 the I7th a fete was given by the Geographical Society in the 

 Casino Hall, which was attended by the King, the Crown Prince, 

 and Prince John of Gliicksborg, and nearly all the distinguished 

 men of Copenhagen in the fields of science, business, and politics. 

 The speech of the fete was delivered by Professor Erslev. 

 Thereafter a gay and lively banquet was given, at which the 

 Crown Prince of Denmark presided. 



The 18th Aprih Grand entertainment given by the King. — 

 The 19th April. Magnificent banquet given by the Society of 

 Merchants to the members of the Vega expedition at the Bourse, 

 the rooms being richly ornamented with flowers and flags, and 

 with busts and paintings executed for the occasion by eminent 

 artists. Councillor of state Melchior presided, and amongst 

 those present, were observed the Crown Prince, the ministers, 

 the speakers and vice-speakers of the folke- and lands-ting, and 

 a number of the principal scientific and military men and 

 officials. Speeches were delivered by the Crown Prince, State- 

 councillor Teitgen, Manager of the Great Northern Telegraph 

 Company, Admiral BiLLE, Professor Madvig, State-councillor 

 Melchior, &c. At another place, an entertainment was given at 

 the same time to the crew. In the evening, /e7e of the Students' 

 Union, the Swedish National Union, and the Norwegian Union. 



I was obliged to decline an invitation to Lund, because his 

 Majesty, King Oscar, had expressed the wish that we should first 

 set foot on Swedish ground at the Palace of Stockholm. 



It was settled that our entry into Stockholm should take place 

 in the evening of the 24th April, but we started from Copen- 

 hagen as early as the night before the 20th in order to be sure 

 that we would not, in consequence of head winds or other 

 unforeseen hindrances, arrive too late for the festivities in the 

 capital of Sweden. In consequence of this precaution we 

 arrived at the archipelago of Stockholm as early as the 23rd, so 

 that we were compelled during the night between the 23rd and 

 24th to lie still at Dalaro. Here we were met by Commander 

 Lagercrantz, who by the King's orders brought our families on 

 the steamer Skoldmoii to meet us. 



