fortrefe o f Warberg. During his confinement at this place, as
he had not been convidied o f any crime, though fufpedted, he
was in the full enjoyment o f all his wealth and income : and,
whether from malignity, rage, or madnefs, he one day formed
a refolution to execute a ftratagem for raifing a famine in the
little town o f Warberg. He gave orders early in the morning
for buying up all the provifions in the market-place, and bringing
them forthwith to him. It was a matter o f farisfadtion and
pleaiure to him, to think that all the inhabitants o f the town
would be pinched with hunger, while he himfelf polfeiTed the ut-
moft abundance j and that m this manner, the befiegers being
reduced to famine by the befieged, the ufual operations o f warfare
would be completely reverfed. This adt o f extravagance was
not more afflidting to the citizens o f Warberg, than it was
acceptable to the officers and foldiers o f the garrifon, and the pri-
foners confined befides himfelf in the caflle. This anecdote,
which is in perfedt conformity with the charadter o f Peckling,
who united with excellent talents a confiderable fhare o f excen-
tricity, though told by every body at Warberg, I have not feen in
any public prints, or books o f travels. General Peckling had a •
great reputation for eloquence and political acquirements, and
above all, for an intimate acquaintance with the laws o f his
country. By means o f his legal knowledge, he always efcaped
with fafety from the various law-iuits in which he was involved.
He was wont to amufe himfelf with teazing and making game o f
his judges, who were often confounded by his fubtleties and leoeal
fophiftry.
ibphiftry. T he court-martial by which he was tried in 17 72 ,
after a confinement o f more than four months at Stockholm, was
held under the direction o f General Horn, who had been created
a Count after the revolution in 1772, more from his zeal,
it is faid, than on account o f any real fervice. This nobleman,
being a near relation to Baron Peckling, feemed to fear nothing
fo much as to be thought partial to his kinfman. As the charge
laid againft him was no lefs than rebellion and high treafon, it
was very difficult to find a lawyer who would undertake his defence
; till, at laft, a young man, o f the name o f Blix, generoully
offered his'fervices. T he court-martial being at a lois how, on
any plaufible grounds, to find the General guilty, but yet not
daring to acquit him before they knew the intentions o f the
King, who was then at Elkofund, at the distance o f near fifty
miles from the capital, they adjourned till they ihould receive
farther inftrudlion. But as it was contrary to the privileges o f the
Swediih nobility, that any o f their members ihould be kept in
prifon without being fully conviâed o f a crime, the General’s
counfel aiked the Court i f they had any other rules for their proceedings
than the laws o f their country ? They anfwered they
had none. Y e t Baron Peckling was not fet at liberty, but in
confequence o f a petition to the King. So fudden and deplorable
was the effeét produced by the revolution on the high-ipirited
nobility o f Sweden.
Gothenburg is the fecond city o f the kingdom. Its environs
are almoft every where naked, barren, and dreary. They prefent
an