SEATS OF THE GENTRY. 3 



Cooking utensils and crockery were nearly as cheap, as well 

 as fire-wood. 



And Ronnum had the farther advantage of being so 

 near to Wenersborg, then considered one of the cheapest 

 market-towns in that part of Sweden, as to give me the 

 opportunity of supplying the larder expeditiously, as well as 

 economically. 



As it may be of interest to some, I insert below the prices 

 of a few of the common necessaries of life. But it must 

 be remembered, that in seasons of scarcity, the prices of 

 some of the articles enumerated, such as grain, &c., vary 

 often from fifty to one hundred per cent. These prices also 

 apply to twelve or fifteen years ago; for since that time, 

 owing to various circumstances, the cost of provisions has 

 considerably advanced in the town in question : A score of 

 eggs, 4d. to 6d. ; a pound of beef or mutton, 2d. ; a pound 

 of cheese, 2d. ; a pound of butter, 4d. ; a gallon of milk, 

 2d. ; a sack (four bushels) of potatoes, Is. 6d. ; a sack of 

 oats, 35. ; a sack of barley, 6s. to 7s. ; a sack of wheat, 

 12s. to 14s. 



There were several pretty places belonging to the gentry 

 in my vicinity. Amongst the rest, Gaddaback, or the pike 

 brook, where afterwards I lived myself. For the most part, 

 the residences were delightfully situated on the banks of 

 the Gotha. 



Thus I had no want of neighbourhood, and all evinced 

 towards me, as a stranger, the utmost courtesy and good-will, 

 which made my residence in that part of the country very 

 agreeable. Hospitality and a hearty welcome, as regards 

 the rural districts at least, may be said to be amongst the 

 characteristics of the Swedes. 



B 2 



