great inclination to be particular; nor do I apprehend that information
o f this kind is very generally interefting. Theatrical
entertainments, which among nations that have arrived at a high
degree o f civilization and refinement, are confidered as a great
fource o f pleafure, are not fo much fought after by the inhabitants
o f Sweden. Guftavus III. was the firft king who wiflied to
excite a tafte for the theatre; in his reign, therefore, the ftage
met with great encouragement, and rofe high in reputation.
The opera at Stockholm was thought little inferior to that at
Pans. Befides fome very good fingers, feveral excellent ballet-
dancers were engaged ; but fmce that king’s death it has greatly
fallen off, and is now very little attended to. The Swedes have
never at any period difcovered an original genius for mufic. AH
the operas hitherto performed in Sweden are either tranilations
from French or Italian pieces, or the works o f fome foreign maf-
ter. As to mufical compofitions, not a fingle piece has been produced
fince the departure o f Vogler, that comes up even to mediocrity.
I f indeed the mere application o f mechanical rules,,
without any knowledge o f declamation or fenfibility o f foul, were
liifEcient to conftitute a compofer in mufic, we might confer
that appellation on Mr. Hofner, and with the fame juftice we
might call Mr. Kaiftner a finger, i f voice alone gave a claim to that
appellation. Or, i f it were poffible for any one to excel in vocal
performance without voice, modulation, or method, we might
rank Madame Mello, Mademoifelles Stading and Myaberg, Mr.
Stenborg and others, in the number o f virtuofi. The dramatic reprefentation
fentation that is moll relifhed, and which to thofe who know the
Swedilh language is certainly the moll interefting, is the little
pieces aded by young perfons who-are training up for the opera:
Among thefe there are now and then fome who give true indications
o f genius in their attempts. Thofe little operas, as well as
plays, are exhibited in the old theatre. Befides the royal theatres,
there is that o f Mr. Stenborg, where the comic operas are given.
It is but little frequented by people o f rank, and is in every refpect
much inferior to the other houfes.
I was told an anecdote o f a celebrated adrefs at one o f the royal
theatres in the reign o f Guftavus III. which ferves in fome mea-
fure to pourtray that monarch, and at the fame time to paint the
airs in which th e vain and conceited race o f players were led to
indulge themfelves by the condefcenfion o f the king. The firft
adrefs in the national theatre was a Danilh woman o f the name
o f Walters, who was the daughter o f a common failor, but had
received a good education at Copenhagen for the ftage. Being
handfome, as well as diftinguiihed in her profeffion, ihe had many
admirers, whom it was her delight to torment by every fpecies o f
caprice. Her infolence became fo great through habitual indulgence,
that ihe did not hefitate to difplay it even towards the king
himfelf. Confidering her falary as inadequate to her merit, ihe
petitioned for an augmentation of her allowance, and one day per-
fonally applied to the king in a tone very pofitive and peremptory.
His majefty defired her to be content with the prefent payments,.
and told her, in a very decided manner, that ihe mull not expect
her