“ is built on an iiland.” But the fa il is, that the greater part o f
what is called Stockholm is fituated, not on one, but feven or
eight iflands, o f which fome are furrounded by the freih water o f
the lake Malar, and fome by the fait water o f the fea. T he city,
properly fo called, ftands on an ifland in the midft o f the whole ||
to the weft it is waihed by frefh, and to the eaft by ialt water,
being placed at the junction o f the lake Malar with the Baltic Sea.
T h e aggregate o f the liles o f Stockholm is as follows : 1. Staden-
holmen, or City filand : 2. Riddarholmen, or the Knights’ Ifland,
in which is the T ow n Houfe, and in front o f this a ftatue o f
Guftavus Vafa. 3 . Helgelandiholmen, or the ifle o f the Holy
Ghoft. It was here, in the time o f Magnus Ladiflaus, that ah
important a ft was palled by the dietr or parliament, in the year
1 2 8 2 , for annexing many large domains to the crown. 4 . Skip-
pifliolmen, or the ifle o f Ships, called in the map Admiralftates-
holmen. Here are barracks and magazines for the flotilla. W ith
this, the little ifland o f Caftelholmen is connefled by a fmall bridge.
5. Blasiiholmen, or the ifle o f Blafius : this, however, cannot be
ftriftly called an ifland, becaule on one fide the channel has beeti
filled up by the formation o f the king’s gardens, fo that it is now
joined to the continent. It is here that the faflion o f the Hats,
which was in favour o f king Albrecht, in 1389, committed the
horrid cruelty o f burning alive two hundred Swedes. T h e party
in oppofition to the Hats, as is well known, were the Caps; becaule
they wore this article o f drefs, which was confidered as the
patriotic diftinflion o f the nation. It was in Albrecht’s reign that
Sweden
Sweden fell under the fway o f the renowned Semiramis o f the
North, Margaret o f Norway.* 0 . Ladugradflandet, or the land
o f Farms, which was formerly, but is no longer, an ifland.
7. Konungaholmen, or King’s Iiland. 8. Longholmen, or Long
Ifland.
There is a great variety o f ftations in this infulatcd and penin-
* In 1365, Magnus, king o f Sweden, had formed the defign o f aboliihing th e
fenate, and humbling the pretentions o f the Swediih nobles and prelates, who
were in fadt fo many petty fovereigns. But fo bold a fcheme it Was not in the
power o f Magnus to accomplith, though fupported by an alliance with Denmark.
T h e Swediih arms, in the caufe o f liberty, h ave always been invincible. Magnus,
with his hated adherents, after a feries ofbioodybattles, was driven out o f the kingdom,
and his nephew, Albert o f Mecklenburg, was proclaimed king o f Sweden in
his Head. Albert, inftead o f profiting by the difaiters o f his predecefior, followed his
example, and ihared his fate. H e began his reign with taking poileflion o f all the
cattles and ttrong holds of th e principal nobility, and re-united to the royal domains
more than a third o f the fiefs th a t had for a long time been in the hands
o f the gentlemen, of inferior nobility, and th e clergy. In o rd e r farther to profe-
cute his plans, he introduced into all paits o f the kingdom military corps o f
foreigners; and for their maintenance levied heavy contributions, and feized,
without fcruple or ceremony, the property o f rich individuals, whether o f laymen
or.'Cf th e clergy. T h e Swediih nobles, fired with indignation and refentment,
declared to the king, that they no longer owned him for their fovereign, and
offered the crown and fceptre to Margaret, queen o f Norway. ' T h e ambitious
Margaret did not heiitate to embrace fo inviting an opportunity for annexing
Sweden to her dominions. She raifed an army, and at its head- marched againft
Albert. Th is prince fancying th a t he had nothing to fear from a woman, amufed
himfelf with various railleries at the expence o f the queen. Among other jokes
he fent her a large Hone, which he defired her to ufe for the purpofe o f iharpen-
ing her fciifars and needles. Similar defiances, embittered by coarie farcafms
we find common to all rude nations. T h e defeat o f A lbert in 1383 put an end
to his jefts. H e was taken captive, carried beforetfhe queen, and by her thrown
into p rifo n ; from which he was not liberated until he had renounced all claims
and prefenfions to th e Crown o f Sweden.
fulated