oi Bartholomew fair. I f any Englishman properly qualified for the
purpose were to set up a good inn at Gottenburg, he would be certain
o f making a fortune in a few years. He ought to have an English,
German, French, and Swedish waiter, and he ought himself to be so
far acquainted with all these languages, as to be able to understand the
orders of his guests. Were he to establish a stage coach between Gottenburg
and Stockholm, running twice or thrice a week, it would be
an additional source o f emolument, and would contribute much to the
convenience o f his guests. It would not be necessary to have all the
horses requisite for such a conveyance in his own possession. In a
country, where there is no chance o f rivalship in such undertakings, the
common post horses of the country would answer. It would be requisite
only to settle at the different post houses the time when the
horses would be required, and to keep exactly to that time.. A very
small capital would be required t® commence such an establishment;;
and if it were rightly managed, nothing could turn out more
profitable.
Gottenburg is entitled to the name of a magnificent city. It consists
o f a long wide street called Stora Hamna Gatan (Great Harbour-
street.) The houses on each side o f this street are three stories high,
built of stone or brick, and covered with white plaster. The windows
are large, and all of them are folding windows after the French fashion.
No sashes are to be seen in Sweden. The roofs are mostly flat and concealed.
The houses are all large, and some o f them are decorated with
pillars. Along the middle Of this street runs a canal, which is crossed
at certain places by wooden bridges. There are two of these bridges
which are built for the convenience o f carriages, and are decorated
with wooden figures of lions and men in’ armour. The other bridges
are only for foot passengers. This principal street is crossed at right
angles by three or four other streets, through some of which the canal
also runs. The principal of these are distinguished by the names of
Nord Hamna Gatan, and Soedra Hamna Gatan (North Harbour-street
and South Harbour-street). Parallel to Stora Hamna Gatan, both on
the north and south, there run other streets which are much narrower
and not nearly so magnificent. Towards the west end o f the town
there is a hill about loo feet in height, up which some streets run. On
the east; side there is a marsh which must be very disagreeable in summer,
though it may have its conveniences in winter. The streets are
all paved with round stones; but there is no foot-path for passengers
either in Gottenburg or in any other town in Sweden. Indeed the
scarcity of flag-stones in that countiy is a sufficient apology for this
omission. In a church at present building in Gottenburg, and which
will be a very magnificent one, the stones for the pillars and other
ornamental parts, and indeed for the whole front, have been brought
from Scotland at a very considerable expense.
Gottenburg having been twice burnt down within these ten years, a
law has been passed prohibiting the building o f any more wooden
houses. This law has contributed considerably to the embellishment
of the city. Gottenburg is the seat of a Swedish bishop. The town
contains two Swedish churches and a German church, and formerly
it contained an English church. I do not know whether it exists at
present.
Gottenburg is perhaps the most thriving town in Sweden, owing in
a great measure to the present state o f communication betwden Great
Britain and the continent. It serves as a kind'of intermediate link, and
of course-has become a depot o f British and 'continental goods. Great
profits have resulted to the Gottenburg merchants,1'and the wealth
which they have acquired is sufficiently apparent in their mode of
living.
In the year 1791, I am told, the population o f Gottenburg was
about 15,000. In 1804 it was 17,760, in 1 8 1 1 it was 24,858. This
is not equal to the rate o f the increase o f some towns in Britain, during
the same period, as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow; and
some others; but it is nevertheless very considerable. As very correct
registers of births and deaths are kept in Sweden, the population is
known with more accuracy than in most other countries. I was at
some pains to procure these documents all over the country, and there-
, C