No doubt can be entertained of die' utility of this inland navigation,
which, when Hniihed, will conned the province of Dale-
carlia with the capital; and it refleds the highelt honour on
the engineer who planned the works ; on the fovefeign who patronized
them; and on the individuals who have rilked their
fortunes in fo arduous an undertaking-.
The expence has already amounted to 100,000 rix-dollars, or
£• 2S,ooo. 50,000 rix-dollars, or £. 12,500, are wanting; and
it is conjedured, that for that fum the whole might be completed
in four years.
From this agreeable excurlion we returned to Mr. Bedouar’s
hofpitable manfion. The next morning we took leave of our
friendly hoft, to whom we could not fufficiently exprefs our
obligations: we departed, and in a few miles entered the province
of Dalecarlia. We foon afterwards came to the lake So-
dra Barken, pafftd the fmall town of the fame name, which itands
on a promontory dividing the Sodra from the Nodra Barken.
The road winded delightfully on the weilern bank clofe to the
margin of the water; and the view o f the lake was enlivened
by a number of boats filled with peafants,' who were returning
from church.
We changed horfes at Norbarke, a fmall village on the north
wefiern extremity of the lake, which will become a place' of
much commerce i f the canal of Stroemiholm ihould ever be
completed, as it mull be the great depofitory for the iron, copper,
per, and other commodities which will be tranfported from thefe
parts to Stockholm.
From thence we foon entered a wilder country, thickly clothed
with foreits, palled a luccefiion of hills and vallies watered with numerous
lakes and rivulets, and on the clofe of the evening arrived
at Ruftgoden, a fmall village in the province o f Dalecarlia. The
firfl: appearance of the inn did not prejudice us in its favour;
but on entering we found feveral very comfortable apartments
and clean beds ; and we had fcarcely feated ourfelves, when part
of the fupper which had been prepared for the family was placed
before us. It confiiled of a cock of the wood, eggs and bacon, potatoes,
and pancakes. At any time fuch a fare would have been
acceptable ; but it was moll unheard of luxury to us, who had
failed from eleven in the morning, and whofe appetites had
been lharpened by the keennefs of the air.
The king, who jullly prides himfelf on his defcent from Guf-
tavus Vafa, ordered a wet-nurfe for the prince royal to be chofen
among the women of Dalecarlia, a province whofe natives had
firll fupported Gullavus Vafa, and enabled him to begin thofe
efforts which ended in the expulfion of Chrillian the Second,
in the freedom of his country, and in thè eftablilhment of the
houfe of Vafa on the Swedilh throne. Accordingly three women
were chofen, amongll whom was our landlady. Although
ihe was not fixed upon to, fuckle the prince, yet ihe llaid fome
time at the palace of Drotningholm. She ihewed us, with
much fatisfaftion, a drefs of buff-filk and Iky-blue, edged with
V ol. III. C c filver