192 
TRAVELS 
“ and flatutcs of the kingdom.” I repeat here what was faid by 
the peafant almofl word for word, as it may give fome idea of the 
way of thinking on this fubjed that prevails among that clafs of 
people in this part of the country. What encreafed our furprife 
at this man’s intelligence was, that he had received no education, 
nor ever read any books; what he faid was merely the refult of 
his own obfervation. Our philofopher intermixed in his conver- 
fation fome meteorological obfervations, and predided a very late 
fummer from fome fpots he had remarked in that great luminous 
belt which goes acrofs the heavens, and is called the Milky-way. 
He related fome anecdotes of the lafl war in Finland, and told us 
that the battle of Hogland was not fo decifive in favour of the 
Swedes as it might have been, had every thing been executed in 
due manner: but Prince Frederic could not fend the flotilla to 
fuccour the fleet, which was fhort of ammunition. This is one 
of the molt remarkable circumftances in the whole hiflory of the 
war ; and of the truth of it I was well aflured afterwards by per- 
fons who had the befl opportunities of knowing the fad, and 
whofe veracity was above all doubt. The following was the fitu- 
ation of affairs: The land army was polled at Lavifa, under the 
joint command of Prince Frederic and General Toll. When the 
battle began, Prince Frederic, knowing that the Swedifli fleet 
was in want of ammunition, was defirous of fending it a fupply 
by the flotilla which lay at anchor in the road of Lavifa, and gave 
orders to General Toll to that purpofe : but the general refufed to 
execute the prince’s intentions; and when the latter was proceed- 
