THROUGH SWEDEN. 
?3 
refource. In the centre of the building is a large ball-room, and 
on either fide apartments for card-players. Thefe balls are fre¬ 
quented only by people of fafhion ; but thofe at Vauxhall are open 
to every body, and in general abound with bad company. The 
affemblies at the Exchange afford a very pleafing fight. There, in 
one evening you may fee all the beauties of the capital collected 
together. 
The ladies of Sweden are, generally fpeaking, very handfome. 
Their countenances bear the characteriftic of northern phyfiog- 
nomy, which is an expreffion of the moft perfect tranquillity and 
compofure of mind, indicating nothing of that paffion and fire 
which, to every difcerning obferver, is vifible in the features of 
the French and Italian ladies. As there is but little gallantry or 
attention fhewn them by the men, and as they pafs a great part of 
their time either alone or amongft themfelves, their converfation, 
though they are well educated, poffeffes but a fmallfhare either of 
variety or intereft; and of that happy art of fupporting conver¬ 
fation with vivacity, which fo eminently diflinguifhes our Italian 
ladies, they are wholly deftitute. The principal object that em¬ 
ploys their time and attention is drefs; and this anxiety is rather 
the effect of an ambition to outfhine their rivals in elegance and 
fplendour, than the refult of an eagernefs to pleafe the men and 
make conquefts. They are, however, not free from the imputa¬ 
tion of coquetry, becaufe they are certainly fond of admiration and 
praife: they would like to fee every man at their feet, and would 
wifli to be called the belles of the North : but their predominant 
paffion. 
