that they are moil flouriihing. When they are more and more
extended, when numbers o f llrangers are introduced, when they
are honoured with public celebrity, and the countenance and interference
o f kings and princes, fimplicity and iincerity o f intention,
mutual goodnefs, and a love o f truth, are exchanged for vanity,
pomp, and fait ion.
There is, perhaps, no country in Europe where initruilion is io
imiverfally diffufed among the very loweft o f the people as In
Sweden, except Iceland, Scotland,* and the late imall republic of
Geneva. AU the people in towns, villages, and hamlets, without
exception, are taught to read. It was not without reafon, therefore,
that Guilavus III. who kept a watchful eye on every event
that might influence the Rate o f foeiety, interdi&ed all mention
in the Swediffijournals o f a French revolution, either good or bad.
He wilhed the people not only to be prevented from thinking o f it,
and reafoning about i t ; but as much as poffible to be kept in the
dark as to its very exiftence. The effeils to be defired or dreaded
in any country from the produitions o f the prels, are, no doubt,
in proportion to the degree and extent o f education which the
people at large have received, i t does not follow, from the cir-
cumflance o f the Swede? being all taught to read, and attached to
* In Scotland I find there is fcarcely any peribn, no not even a beggar, who
cannot both read and write ; nor any in Iceland who cannot read, write, and caft
accounts. In every family in Iceland the children are inftruAed in reading, writing,
and arithmetic, at home, by their parents or other relatives. When the bovs
are fent to fchool it is to acquire Latin, and other accomplilhments, filch as fome
knowledge of geography, and of the elements of mathematics.
eltabliihed
eilablilhed tenets and modes o f worlhip, that they Ihould be an
honeft and good fort o f people: this however is the cafe. The
Swedes, I mean the peafantry, (for as to the inhabitants o f towns
they are corrupt in proportion to their population, their commerce,
and their luxury) are a frank, open, kind-hearted, gay,
hofpitable, hardy, and fpirited people. It would be difficult to
point out any nation that is more diftinguiihed by a happy union
o f genius, bravery, and natural probity o f diipolition. They are
reprefented by their neighbours as the gafcons o f Scandinavia.
This charge, when due allowance is made for the mutual jealoufy
and antipathy o f neighbouring nations, amounts to no more than
this, that they are a&uated by that fenfibility to fame, and love
o f diftinflion, which generally predominate in the breafts of brave,
generous, and adventurous people.
V o l . I. T CHAPTER