viouily writing to order lodgings, we were greatly embarraffed,
becaufe there are no inns at Stockholm, as in other towns. There
was indeed one fet up by a Frenchman; but having made a fortune
in a few years, this man retired from bufineis, and left his
houfe to a Swede, who knew not how to manage it. When we
arrived at this inn, all the apartments were occupied; and we
ihould have been utterly at a lofs how to pafs the night, i f we
had not been lo fortunate as to meet at the door Mr. Malmgrein,
the moll amiable and obliging man in all Sweden. There is not
a traveller that has ever been at Stockholm, but will fee with
pleafure in thefe pages the name o f that gentleman, and perhaps
recoiled!:, upon this occafion, lome adt o f kindnefs ihewn to him-
felf by that truly benevolent and eftimable perfon. Mr. Malmgrein,
who has but little to do or care for, places his happinefs in
adls o f complaifance and goodnefs to others, and particularly in
Ihewing attention and kindnefs to ftrangers. He is always in
motion, and always in an equal good humour. I believe he was
never known to be ruffled or difcompofed by fpleen or anger. He
is the friend o f every one in Stockholm, from the greateft lord to
the humbleft burgefs, and equally refpedled, beloved and carelfed
by all. Every body is happy to gratify any wifh o f Mr. Malm-
grein’s, a circumftance which he rarely turned to his own account,
though he never miffed an opportunity o f ufing it for the benefit
o f others. He is the inventor o f a game at cards in great vogue
at Stockholm. He has his eye on every thing that paffes; he is
the great mailer o f ceremonies on all occafions; and wherever
you
you meet Mr. Malmgrein, there you alfo find harmony and good
order. T o the ladies he fliews all the little attentions in his power,
and appears ever ready and eager to oblige them. It may fur-
prize the fair, that this man, who poffeffes the advantage o f a fine,
perfon, ihould be fo adlive and conftant in their fervice from
motives o f the purefl and moil diiintereiled nature: in ihort, this
man Hands fingle in his k in d ; he has no enemies, becaufe he has
no ambition ; he has no care, becaufe he has no intereil -to pur-
fu e ; he has no flatterers, becaufe he has no favourite weakneis
he never experiences any aggreffions, becaufe h e . poffeffes in his
integrity a fhield for their repulfion. Such was the firfl perfon
we met with at Stockholm, when we -were ieeking for fome
place to pafs the night in, that we might not be obliged to remain
in the carriage till morning. It will not appear furprizing, after
the charadter I have given o f Mr. Malmgrein, that in the fpace o f
half an hour he provided us with lodgings, a coaeh-houfe for our
carriage, a valet de place, and fent to our apartments an excellent
fupper. On the very fame evening he would needs fhew us
the city. As we were looking about for lodgings, he pointed out
us the ftatue o f Guftavus III. the Princels’s Palace, the Opera- '
Houfe, and the North Bridge, at the fame time giving a particular
account, with the greateft rapidity, o f the fums employed in the
conftrudtion o f thofe edifices, and other particulars; when th e y .
were begun, and by whom ; how they were carried on, accidents
that delayed their accompliihment, and when they were finiihed.
A t firfl I took him for a valet de place; but when I perceived
V o l . I. F that