736 STEWART, ALEXANDER T. 



SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 



is said to be the largest retail store in the 

 world. The cost of the land and building was 

 nearly $2,750,000. About 2,000 persons are 

 employed on the seven floors, and the current 

 expenses of the establishment are more than 

 $1,000,000 a year. Besides these two immense 

 establishments, Mr. Stewart had branch con- 

 cerns in various parts of the world. During 

 the war, Mr. Stewart's income averaged near- 

 ly $2,000,000. In 1869 he estimated it at $1,- 

 000,000. In 1867 Mr. Stewart was chairman 

 of the honorary commission sent by the United 

 States Government to the Paris Exposition. In 

 March, 1869, President Grant appointed him 

 Secretary of the Treasury, but his confirma- 

 tion was prevented by an old law, which ex- 

 cludes from that office all who are interested 

 in the importation of merchandise. President 

 Grant sent to the Senate a message recom- 

 mending that the law be repealed, in order 

 that Mr. Stewart might become eligible to the 

 office ; and Mr. Stewart offered to transfer his 

 immense business to trustees, and to devote 

 the entire profits accruing during his term of 

 office to charitable purposes. But the law was 

 not repealed, and it was believed that Mr. 

 Stewart's proposed plan would not effectually 

 remove his disabilities. Mr. Stewart's acts of 

 charity were numerous and liberal. During 

 the famine in Ireland in 1846 he sent a ship- 

 load of provisions to that country. After the 

 Franco-German War he sent to France a ves- 

 sel laden with flour, for the relief of the suf- 

 ferers; and in 1871 he gave $50,000 for the 

 relief of the sufferers by the Chicago fire. He 

 was also one of the largest contributors to 

 the sum of $100,000 presented by the mer- 

 chants of New York to General Grant as an 

 acknowledgment of his services during the 

 war. At the time of his death he was pushing 

 to completion, at a cost of more than $1,000,- 

 000, the magnificent structure on Fourth Ave- 

 nue and Thirty-second Street, New York, in- 

 tended as a home for working-girls. He was 

 also building, at Hempstead Plains, L. I., the 

 town of Garden City, the object of which was 

 to afford comfortable homes at a moderate cost. 

 At the time of his death Mr. Stewart's wealth 

 was estimated at about $50,000,000. His real 

 estate in New York City was assessed at $5,- 

 450,000, which did not include property val- 

 ued at more than $500,000 on which the taxes 

 were paid by the tenants. He had no blood- 

 relatives, and by his will the bulk of his estate 

 was given to his wife. He bequeathed $1,000,- 

 000 to Judge Henry Hilton, who had long been 

 his confidential and legal adviser, and who was 

 made one of the executors of the will, and 

 appointed to wind up Mr. Stewart's business 

 affairs. Several bequests were made to per- 

 sons in Mr. Stewart's employ, and to other 

 persons. Mr. Stewart left a letter dated March 

 29, 1873, and addressed to Mrs. Stewart, say- 

 ins that it had been his intention to make pro- 

 vision for various public charities, and that he 

 depended on her to carry out his plans in case 



he should fail to complete them. After Mr. 

 Stewart's death his mercantile interests were 

 transferred by Mrs. Stewart to Mr. Hilton, 

 who, with Mr. William Libbey, the surviving 

 partner of the firm, continued the business un- 

 der the firm-name of A. T. Stewart & Co. A 

 short time prior to his death Mr. Stewart had 

 completed, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 

 Thirty fourth Street, a marble edifice, which is 

 one of the handsomest private residences in 

 the United States. His art-gallery was one of 

 the most valuable in the country. 



STRINGHAM, SILAS HORTON, an American 

 naval officer, died in Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb- 

 ruary 7, 1876. He was born at Middletown, 

 N. Y., November 7, 1798. He entered the navy 

 as midshipman in 1809, became lieutenant in 

 1814, and served in Decatnr's squadron- in the 

 Algerine War. Subsequently he assisted in the 

 capture of slaves off the coast of Africa. In 

 command of the Ohio, in 1846, he took part in 

 the bombardment of Vera Cruz. He was in 

 constant service on sea or shore duty till 1861, 

 when he became flag-officer of the Atlantic 

 blockading squadron, and in August cooper- 

 ated in the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark, 

 on the coast of North Carolina. He was pro- 

 moted to rear-admiral on the retired list in 

 1862, was commandant of the Charlestown 

 Navy-Yard in 1864-'66, and was made Port- 

 Admiral of New York in 1867. 



SWEDEN AND NORWAY, two kingdoms 

 of Northern Europe, united under the same 

 dynasty. King, Oscar II., born January 21, 

 1829 ; succeeded to the throne at the death of 

 his brother, Charles XV., September 18, 1872; 

 married, June 6, 1857, to Sophia, born July 9, 

 1836, daughter of the late Duke Wilhelm of 

 Nassau. Oldest son: Gustavus, heir-apparent, 

 Duke of Wermland, born June 16, 1858. 



The executive authority is in the hands of 

 the King, who acts under the advice of the 

 ministry, formerly called the Council of State. 



The ministry at the close of 1875 was com- 

 posed as follows : President of the Ministry and 

 Minister of Justice, Baron B. von Geer ; Minis- 

 ter of Foreign Affairs, C. M. von Bjornsterna; 

 Minister of the Interior, C. J. Thyselius ; Minis- 

 ter of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Dr. J. F. Carlson; 

 Minister of War, E. O. von Weidenhielm ; Min- 

 ister of the Navy, Baron F. W. von Otter ; 

 Minister of Finances, Dr. H. L. Forssell ; and 

 three ministers without portfolio: II. G. von 

 Lagerstrfile, C. J. O Alstromer, and Dr. J. H. 

 Loven. The composition of the ministry is es- 

 sentially the same as that of the old Council of 

 State. In Norway, the King is assisted by a 

 Council of State, consisting of two ministers of 

 state and seven councilors. One section, com- 

 posed of one minister and three councilors, re- 

 side with the King while he remains in Sweden ; 

 the others form the Government in Christiania. 



The following table shows the area of Swe- 

 den, inclusive of inland lakes, according to a 

 new survey by the Swedish general staff, and 

 the population on December 31, 1875 : 



