44 
TRAVELS 
the engines continued for fome time to play, and the water they 
difeharged was frozen almofl the inflant it came in contact with 
the walls already covered with ice. Thus a houfe was formed of 
the mofl extraordinary appearance that it is poffible to conceive. 
It was fo curious an object that every body came to gaze at it as a 
fomething wonderful. The whole building, from top to bottom, 
was incruflated w'ith a thick coat of ice : the doors and windows 
were clofed up, and in order to gain admiffion it was neceffary 
with hammers and hatchets to open a palfage ; they were obliged 
to cut through the ice another flair-cafe, for the purpofe of amend¬ 
ing to the upper {lories. All the rooms, and what remained of 
the roof, were embellifhed by long flalactites of multifarious 
fhapes, and of a yellowifh colour, compofed of the treacle and con¬ 
gealed water. This building, contemplated in the light of the 
fun, feemed to bear fome analogy to thofe diamond caflles that 
are raifed by the imaginations of poets. It remained upwards of 
two months in the fame (late, and was vifited by all the curious. 
The children in particular had excellent amufement with it, and 
contributed not a little to the deflruction of the enchanted pa¬ 
lace, by fearching for the particles of fugar, which w 7 ere found in 
many places incorporated with the ice. 
The change of the feafons produces at Stockholm, as every 
where elfe, a difference in the amufements and occupations of 
the people. But it is not in many places that this difference is 
fo fenfibly felt as at Stockholm. During the long days of fum- 
mer, when the twilight for more than a whole month fuperfedes 
the 
