him but infipid, and even ignorant and weak men. T he nobles
are now no longer actuated by their former ipirit o f emulation,
and a delire to excel as leading men in the fenate. Eloquence,
with all that variety o f knowledge and information which is ne-
eeffary to the formation o f a good orator, is no longer o f any importance
to them. Application to the iludy o f general knowledge
and the improvement o f the mind, is fufpended by the con-
ditution o f 1772 ; and fo long as that conllitution lalls, it is probable
that we fliall not hear o f any great charaiters among the
nobles o f Sweden. T h e ancient fenate, it is true, was: corrupt,
venal, and ever ready to fell itfelf to the highed bidder : but dill,"
even in that very dilpofition to venality was contained an incentive
to the acquirement o f qualities and accomplifhments that
might lead to didin&ion. Prance and Rufiia purchafed the men
o f abilities in the fenate at no fmall price ; the others were overlooked
and diiregarded.
Under the regency o f the lju k e o f Sudermania, the views and
iydem, and in a word, the Ipirit o f the Swedilh government underwent
a complete revolution. Gudavus was the fworn enemy
o f the French revolution, and was on the point, as has been before
obferved, to join the arms o f Sweden to thole o f the general
confederacy : and had he lived he would at lead: have made a
lacrifice o f fome regiments, and added feme millions o f rix dollars
to that debt with which he had already burthened the nation.
T he regent remained neutral, cultivated a comjeition with
France, and dudied ceconomy. T h e confequence was, that the
• difcount
difcount o f the paper-money o f Sweden at Hamburgh, Riga,
and other places, fell from twenty-five to ten per cent. This
neutrality was calculated to redore to the Swedes fome portion
o f that national character which Gudavus was at fo great pains
to dedroy ; and that brave and honed people were again allowed
to cherilh the idea, and make ufe o f the word liberty without
giving offence. T he duke o f Sudermania had the good fenfe to
form a ju d edimate o f a nation which, in vindication o f their
liberty, had at different times revolted againd tyrants; and whofe
condudl in public affairs had on the whole been fuch as became
an enlightened people. Men o f letters and fcience began to lift
up their voice, and their voice was heard. More freedom was
granted to the prefs; and though the redraints enforced by Guftavus
III. were formally aboliihed, yet writers were not permitted
to difcufs matters even o f a political nature without fear, and to
affert the truth without rcdriction. This alteration was very perceptible
in the trade o f bookfelling, which was greatly encouraged
and augmented.
There is only one fubject on which the Duke o f Sudermania
has been charged with weaknefs, namely, Mefmerifm, or animal
magnetifm, the belief in which is thought by mod men o f learning
and fcience, to be no proof o f either, good lenfe or an enlightened
underdanding. Several perfons o f didinftion at the
court o f Sweden paffed fome time at Paris, when the doftrines
and extravagancies o f Mefmer were in vogue, and lidened to by
every body. Thofe that were initiated in the myderies o f Mef-
V o l . I. N mer