64 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



It is a curious thing that we very rarely see a Swedish 

 gentleman much the worse for liquor. They take their 

 social glass, but they do not drink in the business-like 

 manner of the English. They appear to be in possession of 

 the famous secret which an old incorrigible friend of mine 

 once told me he had been sixty years trying to discover. 

 " He always knew/' so he told me, "when he had drunk too 

 little, and also when he had drunk too much, but never when 

 he had drunk just enough." 



The laws against drunkenness in Sweden are rather 

 severe, but very little heeded except in towns. It is clear 

 that a very great change has been effected for the better 

 within the last twenty years in the habits and condition of 

 the Swedish peasant ; and I believe much is owing to the 

 increased difficulty of procuring spirits except in towns ; for 

 we all know 



" What Shakspeare observes, in his play of King John, 

 Is undoubtedly right ; 

 That oft times the sight 

 Of means to do ill deeds, will make ill deeds be done." 



Much more attention is paid to the education of their 

 children, which is proved by the number of priests in 

 Sweden, who have risen from the ranks of the peasants. 



In 1861, 56,861 persons were employed throughout the 

 land in handicraft. 



The inland commerce, which was formerly hampered with 

 many restrictions, is now free : and in 1860, 1929 small 

 vessels of 70,000 English tons burden were employed in 

 transporting goods up and down the country, and in the 

 coasting trade. But much of the inland commerce is carried 

 on by small steamers, the total number of which in 1860 was 

 203, of about 9,332 horse-power. 



The foreign commerce shows a decided increase within 

 the last few years. The total value of exported and imported 

 goods into this country in 1835 was taxed at 51,000,000 of 

 rix-dollars; in 1840, at 58,000,000 rqr.; in 1850, at 

 73,000,000 rqr. ; and in 1860, at 169,000,000 rqr. 



