THROUGH FINLAND. 
s ?5 
In provincial towns there are a number of circumflances in the 
traveller’s favour, which afford him ample compenfation for the 
privation he fuffers in refped of thofe amufements fo common in 
the capital. Hofpitality exifls there in a much greater degree ; 
the flranger is treated as a perfon of the firfl diflindion ; every 
body is defirous of fhewing attention to him, partly from vanity ,, 
no doubt, and partly to fill their own time by an agreeable variety. 
The cheapnefs of provisions doubles the traveller’s pecuniary re¬ 
sources, infomuch, that he is in a condition to play the firfl part 
with the fame means that would be neceffary to his a<£ling the 
lafl in a great metropolis: in fliort, every thing is at his difpofal, 
every thing bends before him; and his partiality for himfelf, as 
well as his natural Sentiments, will influence him to prefer an eafy 
and peaceful life, in the bofom of a Small circle, to the noify plea¬ 
sures and diffipation of large Societies. 
The tafle for Social entertainment at Uleaborg is not very ge¬ 
neral. The merchants are a diflind clafs of themfelves, whom 
you never meet in other company : thefe are the mofl unfavour¬ 
able to friendly intercourfe, and alfo the leafl informed. The 
perfons who compofe the ufual Society of the place, are Such as 
are in the employment of government, from the governor down 
to the judges of the tribunal. The governors of provinces, in 
Sweden, are inflruded to invite and entertain at their houfes all 
Strangers of any diflindion. General Carpelan not only obeys his 
inflrudions, but adds to the offices of politenefs and hofpitality 
the moll flattering marks of perfonal friendfhip, infomuch, that 
N n 2 he 
