b o o k f l t e to their majefties, at a fmall diftance from the lower end
, VII~ o f the table, were ranges of taboarets or ftools for fehators’
and embafTadors’ wives, no other ladies being permitted to lit,
fo that none below thofe ranks ever make their appearance
at thefe entertainments.
The f t r iC t e f t adherence to form is obferved in this court:
while many l'overeigns of Europe are endeavouring to retrench
the ceremonies attendant on royalty, Guftavus III. has
introduced a degree o f pomp and etiquette iimilar to that
ufed at Verfailles, and hitherto unknown in this country.
The king appears to polfefs too enlarged an underftanding
to be, in this inftance, a fervile imitator o f the French ; it is
therefore more probable, that his motive for this conduit is
in fome meafure political, as the increafe o f royal prerogative
may have rendered it expedient to throw an additional
fplendour round the majefty o f the throne. During fupper
the king talked almoft inceffantly with the Swedilh nobility,
and the foreign minifters and gentlemen who flood near
his perfon.
On the following Tuefday, at the fame ceremony of a
drawing-room and a publick fupper, his majefty did me the
honour to converfe with me for ahove half an hour upon
various points o f the Swedilh hiftory. He delighted me with
many lively remarks and judicious reflections upon the different
characters o f the kings-of Sweden ; and particularly
expatiated with rapture upon the eminent qualities o f Guftavus
Vafa and Guftavus Adolphus, who feemed the favourite
objeCls o f his admiration. Among other topicks he mentioned
the propofal made by Eric XIV. to efpoufe our Elizabeth, and
the fplendid embalfy o f that monarch’s brother John to
London, for the purpofe o f demanding her in marriage;
2 •• ' . . ' ' - f adding)
O f/bum . <■/*<//,. M-n,/,:,!
*1784.6v T. dtdell in the Strand.