8 o 
TRAVELS 
the affembly at the Exchange was frequented by the royal family* 
people above a certain rank fliould not appear there without 
having been previoufly prefented at court. 
Though Stockholm be at prefent on the whole jnot one of the 
leaf! expenfive towns in Europe, yet public entertainments are 
very cheap. The firft places at the play-houfes are to be had for 
half-a-crown. Admiffion to the grand affembly at the Exchange 
is at the fame price, including tea and coffee, and other refrefh- 
raents. The entrance to the opera cofts about three (hillings and 
fixpence. But the moft agreeable place for ftrangers to refort to, 
is the club called the Society , which has been before mentioned. 
It is open at all times, and is the beft regulated of all the clubs I 
ever knew. The houfe is magnificent, and furnifhed with great 
taffe ; neatnefs, elegance, and good order reign throughout the 
whole. At half after two o’clock you find an excellent dinner 
on the table ; of which, however, none can partake except mem¬ 
bers of the club, and perfons introduced by members, fo that you 
al ways meet with good company. Mr. Martin, a Frenchman, 
who keeps the houfe, has always the beft cooks in his fervice. 
There are few private families in Stockholm where you can dine 
better than you do at this club for half-a-crown : the wine is mot 
included in this charge. The houfe contains a billiard-table, a 
great ball-room, a parlour where people meet for the .purpofe of 
converfation, a reading-room, where you have journals and news¬ 
papers of all countries and in all languages, a card-room, and a 
dining-room : all thefe apartments communicate with and form 
a ftiit 
