THROUGH SWEDEN. 
5 l 
the throne revived this yearly fefiival, which during the regency 
had been for fome time difcontinued. When I was in Sweden, 
the day fixed for the celebration was the 30th of Auguft. A few 
days before a grand ball was given, during which the crown herald 
entered the room, and proclaimed the royal challenge in the fol¬ 
lowing words: “ Guftavus the fourth, Adolphus, by the grace of 
“ God, the molt puilfant king of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals, 
to all our faithful and beloved counts, barons, knights, and gen- 
“ tlemen of our kingdom, pofiefled of gallantry and virtue, health. 
“ We make them a tender of our royal good will, and we pray God 
“ to have them in his holy keeping, all and every one of them, 
“ according to his birth, rank, and dignity. Having obferved with 
“ pleafure that the nobility of our kingdom in general, and more 
“ efpecially thofe who are nearelt our perfon, the officers of our 
“ crown, and other gentlemen belonging to our court, are ftill 
“ animated with the noble defire of glory, with the valour and 
“ ardour for brave a<fiions, by which the knights of Sweden were 
u fo greatly diftinguifhed of old ; and that our faid nobility hath 
“ on all occafions given finking proofs of courage ; and being 
“ willing, after the example of our anceftors, to do all within our 
** power to cherifh and fupport that precious love of honour, 
“ which forms heroes in the very midft of peace ; and further, 
“ to preferve a tafte for warlike exercifes, by affording opportu- 
u nities to thofe pofiefled of military fpirit to fignalize themfelves : 
“ for thofe reafons we have refolved, according to antient cuftom, 
^ to hold a public tournament at our caffle of Drottningholm, 
H 2 “ where 
