T R A V E L S
I N T O
S W E D E N.
B O O K X.
C H A P . I .
Landfcrona— Lund— Carlfcrona— Calmar— Jonkioping Wadjie*
na— Medvi—Nordkioping.
J U L Y 20th. After exprefling to Mr. Elliott our warmeft acknowledgments
for his polite and friendly attention to
us, we quitted Copenhagen at four in the evening j embarked
in a four-oared boat, and failed to Landfcrona with a favourable
breeze. The diitance is about fixteen miles.
On approaching Landfcrona, we were embarrafled with fhoals
and rocks; and as the Daniih watermen were unacquainted with
the coaft of Sweden, we could not difengage ourfelves, and
fhould have been compelled to return to Copenhagen, if fortunately
L A N D S C R O N A .
nately two Swediih faiiors, obferving our diftrefs, had not waded c H A p .
through the fea, and conduced our veifel into port, ■ — — 1
Landfcrona, a place of very little ftrength, is now ftrongly
fortifying, and will become a fortrefs o f great confequence, if
the works ihould ever be completed. But it feems as i f the
Swedes, in all their undertakings, formed plans much too great
and expenfive for their finances and powers and confequently,
that they feldom can finiih what they begin. Such has been
the fate of Carlfcrona, Trolhaetta, and Sveaborg; and, perhaps,
Landfcrona will furniih another inftance of their attempting to
execute what exceeds their revenue.
The objeil of the works now carrying on at Landfcrona is to
erefl a fortrefs, which fhall command the whole coaft o f Scania
tying oppofite to the Iile of Zealand, and to form a harbour for
gallies.
The old fortrefs or citadel mounts feventy—four guns, and
requires a garrifon of two or three hundred men.
The harbour lies between the continent and a fmall iiland
about half a mile in circumference, and is at leaft twenty feet in
depth, and will form a very commodious ftation for the gallies.
This harbour is to be protefted by a new citadel on the fmall
ifland. For this purpofe the iiland is encircling with walls and
baftions of hewn granite. The works are veiy laborious and expenfive
j for the ground being a morafs, the ifland muft be drained
by means of windmills, and the foundations of the fortifications
and buildings be laid on piles. The town alfo, towards
K 2 the