SK\l!(iAi:l)S-FIX)TTA. 



northern fortresses. To the iron of the enemy," says the 

 valorous parson in conclusion, " Carlsten will never suc- 

 cumb, and we are convinced that the saying as to gold 

 being more perilous to Swedish might than steel, was for 

 the last time exemplified when the three crowns (the 

 arms of Sweden) were sold :it Sweaborg." 



Carlsten Castle was erected chiefly to render the harbour 

 a secure refuge for the Swedish navy in case of war and 

 disaster. At one time it was contemplated, I believe, to 

 remove hither the \/Y//;V/.S'-;//O//", or flotilla of gunboats, 

 pertaining to the western coast, then stationed at ( !ot hen- 

 burg ; and this as well for its greater security, as that in 

 the winter-time it might be enabled, on an emergency, to 

 proceed to sea, which, if lying in the river (Jotha, would 

 be difficult, if not impossible, owing to the great accu- 

 mulation of ice. Objections were, however, made to the 

 change, the most serious being that the ship-worm (Tfi-alu 

 nacalis, Linn.) abounds to a remarkable degree in the 

 Marstrand waters. I myself, indeed, have now in my 

 possession a piece of wood taken from a vessel that had 

 been wrecked there a year or two previously, that is 

 jierl'eetly honeycombed by these destructive creatures. 



On the summit of the Castle, and at a height of about 

 300 fret above the sea-level, stands the celebrated beacon- 

 light so well known to mariners navigating the Cattegat. 

 It was first erected in 1781; and in 1830 was enlarged 

 and converted into a light-house of the first rank. The 

 apparatus is of English manufacture. The 10 parabolic 

 reflectors, 4 of \\hieh are attached to each side of a square 

 frame, are of (silver) plated copper, '1\ inches in diameter, 

 and the number of lamps is the same. It re\ol\es in s 

 minutes, and in that time uives out four brilliant lights. 

 each lasting from -"> '" -"> (l seconds, with equal intervals of 

 darkness between them. Marstrand Light, which in clear 

 \\eather can be seen ;it a very great distance, may be 



