THROUGH SWEDEN. 
7 l 
rent branches of the royal family Rand behind the chair of the 
perfonage to whom they belong : the fenators at his Majefty’s 
left hand, and the ambafladors with other foreigners of diftindlion 
at his right. The king fpeaks to every one according to their 
rank, the degree of favour they poffels with him, or other cir- 
cumftances. The diflies are ferved, and the plates prefented to 
the royal family by an officer called gentleman of the court. 
The marffial (lands diredtly oppofite the king during the whole 
of the entertainment, and the (leward of his Majefty’s houffiold 
a little to the right behind him. Though the prefence of thefe 
officers be wholly ufelefs, it is thought neceflary to complete 
the group. When the king has dined, he makes a (ign to the 
queen, and to the reft of the family, and all having anfwered 
with a bow, he rifes from the table, takes a mod gracious leave 
and withdraws to his own apartments, followed by the officers 
of the court. The reft of the royal family do the fame ; no 
one prefumes to retire before they have quitted the room. An 
inftance of the exadl formality of the court of Sweden was ex¬ 
perienced by the Prince Bifhop of Holftein, when he came to 
Stockholm on a vifit to the royal family, to whom he is related. 
Before he could appear in public, he was obliged hr ft to wait in 
form upon the prime minifter, Prince Ulric Scheeffer, who was 
to prefent him to the king as foon as he had received his ma¬ 
jefty’s orders to that purpofe. By this minifter the prince biftiop 
was, after fome previous circumftances, introduced to the court, 
and met with a reception as diftant and ceremonious as if he 
had 
