.94 SWEDEN. 



at Stockholm, Gotheburg, Carlscrona, and Norkiieping, in 1778. In 

 1781 the catholics were likewise permitted to profess their religion 

 publicly. Swedes who abandon their religion are, however, punish- 

 able by banishment and the loss of their civil privileges. 



Literature. ...In natural history, chemistry, and metallurgy, seve- 

 ral natives of Sweden have attained to particular eminences ; and in 

 these departments of science the names of the great Linnaeus, pro- 

 fessor Bergman, Wallerius, Quist, Klingenstierna, and Thunberg, 

 are especially conspicuous. The Swedes have also not neglected the 

 Culture of the politer arts, and literature of almost every kind. 



Universities. ...There are three universities in Sweden ; those of 

 Upsal, Lund, and Abo. Of these, the principal is that of Upsal. This 

 university contains about 500 students ; that of Lund has about 300 ; 

 and that of Abo nearly as many. There are, likewise, twelve semi- 

 naries for the education of youth, called gymnasia. In every large 

 town there is also a school, maintained at the expence of the crown, 

 in which boys generally continue till the age of eleven, when they are 

 sent to the gymnasia, and thence, at sixteen, to one of the universities. 

 The university of Upsal has a library containing about 40,000 volumes. 

 There are in Sweden twelve literary academies, most of which pub- 

 li h memoirs of their transactions. 



Language. ...The language of Sweden has a considerable resem- 

 blance to the Danish and Icelandic, and, like them, is derived from the 

 ancient Gothic. The Lord's Prayer in Swedish is as follows. 



Fader war som ast i himlom ; helgat nvarde tit namn ; tilkomme tit 

 rike ; ske tin wilje, saso?n i himmelen sa ock fia jordene ; gif oss i dag 

 wart dagclige brod ; ochforlat oss ware skulder, sasom ock wi forlatoin, 

 thern oss skyldige aro ; och inled oss icke ijrestelse, utan frels oss ifran 

 ondo ; ty riket ar tit, och machten, och herligheten i cwighet. Amen. 



Antiquities... .Sweden contains numerous ranges of stones, similar 

 in some degree, though not comparable in dimensions, to those of 

 Stonehenge. There are also great numbers of small mounts or 

 tumuli, like the barrows of Britain, and ancient monuments inscribed 

 with Runic characters. Near Upsal is the morasten, or stone, on 

 which the king used to be enthroned, as the Scottish monarchs 

 anciently were at Scone. 



History.. ..The history of this kingdom, and indeed of all the 

 northern nations, even during the first ages of Christianity, is con- 

 fused and uninteresting, and often doubtful ; but sufficiently replete 

 with murders, massacres, and ravages. That of Sweden is void of 

 consistency till about the middle of the fourteenth century, when it 

 assumes a more regular appearance. At this time, however, the 

 government of the Swedes was far from being clearly ascertained or 

 uniformly administered. The crown was elective; though in this elec- 

 tion the rights of blood were not altogether disregarded. The great 

 lords possessed the most considerable part of the wealth of the king- 

 dom, which consisted chiefly in land ; commerce being unknown or 

 neglected, and even agriculture itself in a very rude and imperfect 

 state. The clergy, particularly those of a dignified rank, from the 

 great respect paid to their character among the inhabitants of the 

 North, had acquired an immense influence in all public affairs, and 

 obtained possession of the lands that had been left unoccupied by the 

 nobility. These two ranks of men, enjoying all the property of the 

 state, formed a council, called the Senate, which deliberated on all 

 public affairs. This system of government was extremely unfa.vour= 



