JET. 22.] AND SCANDINAVIA. 185 



They are by much the best of them, and the bravest, 

 as well as simplest. Gustavus III. was peculiarly 

 anxious about cultivating their good opinions, but he 

 never succeeded well. The Swedish language has 

 been much cultivated by the natives, at least they 

 have many more authors than the Danes or other 

 northern nations, perhaps from their being more in- 

 sulated and having less intercourse with foreigners. 

 The history of their own country has been written by 

 their two best authors, Dahlin and Lagobring. The 

 latter being written according to a clear method, and 

 without the tedious prolixity of the former, is esteemed 

 the best. The Chevalier Ihre, famous for his know- 

 ledge of northern antiquities, has published a work of 

 great labour and information, ' Dictionarium Suedo- 

 Gothicum/'* Their chief poet is Kelgren, who, besides 

 several poems and imitations, is celebrated for his 

 opera of ' Gustaf Yasa/ in the composition of which 

 the late king is said to have had a share. The poetry 

 is said to be extremely fine ; and the decorations, &c., 

 are splendid in the performance, beyond conception. 

 But probably much of its merit consists in its being 

 a grand national subject. Besides, I am told, it is a 

 good deal imitated from Eichard III. Their other 

 chief authors are Leopold, who has written some small 

 poetical things ; and Silvertalp, a satirist and author of 

 the ' Ser Review/ There are, besides, a multitude of 



* Johan Ihre, born at Lund 1707, died 1780. The Dictionary re- 

 ferred to was published at Upsala in 1769, in two volumes folio. A list 

 of his works will be found under his name in Adelung's Supplement to 

 the ' Allgemeines Gelehrten Lexicon ' of Jocher. 



