Befide the fovereigns o f Sweden, this church contains the
aihes of Banier, a general, who no lefs deferves mention than
the moft illuftrious monarch, if we eilimate hiß deferts by the
fervice which he rendered to his country.
John Banier, o f an illuftrious Swedifh family, was bor.n in
1601 ; and,, receiving a very excellent education, made fo
great proficiency in literature, that Guftavus Adolphus ufed
to call him his learned general. Whilft a boy he attracted
by his magnanimity the notice of that monarch, who pronounced
him formed for great events, and placed him in the
army ; where he foon lignalized himfelf in fo particular a
manner, that, under twenty years of age, he was employed
by him in many critical enterprizes, which required no lefs
dexterity than bravery. After the death of Guftavus he
fupported, as commander in chief, the luftre- of the Swedifh
arms by a. feries o f victories, which raifed his military character
higher than that o f any general o f the age.. He fuf-
tained this reputation undiminiihed until his death, which
carried him off at Halberftadt on the 10th öf'May, 16 4 1 , in
the 40th year of his age. Banier was not infenlible of the
glory which he had acquired by his great adlions,but ufually
fpoke o f them with great modefty. He was accuftomed to
fay, that he never formed any expedition, nor hazarded an
adtion, without the moft reafonable hopes o f fuccefs. He was
equally feared and beloved by thefoldiers, and alwaysinfpirecl
them with, the moft unbounded confidence. At the
head of his troops he adled folely from himfelf-, and without!
dependence ; andwould rather have refigped the command,
than have been diredted in his military operations by the
orders o f the cabinet. “ Why do. ye think,” he would.fay
to his confidents, “ thatGaJlas and Picolomini cannot be fuc-
41 cefsful againft. me, but becaufe they dare not adt without
S T O C K H O L M. 341
* the confent o f the imperial miniftry.” He had the abfo- c h a p .
îute difpofal o f all commiftions,!and eftablifhed in general a'—
regular order of promotion g he was humane to the van-
quifhed enemy, extremely cautious not wantonly to. expofe
his troops to action, and blamed-thofe generals who in lieges
facrifice thé lives of their men in- order to raife their own
military character. But though he was. thus'¿paring o f his
foldiers’ blood,he was no. lefs liberal o f his own;, being himfelf
the braveft perfon in. his army, and too frequently feek.
ing,danger with.a. degree- o f rafhnefs fcarcely. pardonable in
a general, but which he inherited from his matter, in the art
of war the great Guftavus..
In our, vifits ta the Swedifh nobility, we found the fame
politenefs and hofpitality as among the Poles and Ruffians,
although much lefs magnificence and expence in their houles,
retinue,and entertainments, which arifes.from a circumftance
that muft give pleafure to ev-ery friend o f humanity. The
paffeffion o f land not being in this country, as in Poland and
Ruffia,. appropriated to any particular defcription o f men,
property is more equally diffufed ; and fuch vaft accumulations.
o f wealth or extent o f domains do not center, in the
hands o f a few grandees,.
During our continuance at Stockholm,.one day excepted,,
in which it fno.wed, we enjoyed as fine fpring weather as I
ever, experienced in England. This favourable ftate o f the
atmofphere is exceedingly uncommon at fo early a feafon in
this Northern climate*, where frequently the fnow remains
upon the ground until the month o f April ; it. was to us .per
culiarly agreeable, as it enabled us to make a few excurlions
into the adjacent country, which, although in many parts
defolate and barren, is always rudely romantick ; and,frequently
exhibits, amidft a magnificent affemblage o f rocks,
- * S to ck h o lm is fituated in 59 degrees 20 minutes o f n orthern la t itu d e .