THROUGH SWEDEN. 
j 91 
than Denmark. When we told him that it was three hundred 
Swedifh leagues beyond Denmark, he looked at us with amaze¬ 
ment, and, after a lhort paufe, faid, that he could not imagine 
from what motives we could have come to his country at an ex¬ 
pence of fo many rix dollars for poft-horfes. His particular amufe- 
ment in converfation feemed to be to fpeak ill of the clergy, whom 
he turned into ridicule with a very happy vein of humour. He 
was a great partizan of Guftavus the Third, with whom he faid 
he had converfed, and who not unlikely may have diverted him- 
felf with this peafant. He never quitted his favourite topic of 
abufmg the clergy, but conftantly returned to it from any digref- 
fion which we had indulged. “ Guftavus III. (faid he) was a 
“ great man and a great king. Still, however, he did not make 
44 any pretenfions to half the refpe6l and veneration that are ex- 
“ a&ed by our clergy. The clergy preach humility, but are them- 
“ felves proud. Our parifh priefts enjoy good ftipends in the moft 
“ tranquil eafe : and that they may be difturbed by nothing, they 
“ hire a poor clergyman to preach a fermon for them on Sundays, 
“ while they themfelves do nothing but fit ftill on a feat, and re- 
“ ceive the homage of the peafants as they pafs by them. This 
“ idlenefs of theirs, I can allure you, is not to be imputed to any 
** want of capacity or knowledge : for when any queftion arifes 
“ concerning the payment of tythes, or of a portion of our hard 
“ earnings, they immediately Ihew themfelves to be the moft 
4 ‘ learned and acute men in the world. They are not only ready 
44 reckoners, but have at their fingers ends all the laws, ordinances 
“ and 
