And so on up to 30 rix-dollars, or 41. 1 Os. sterling, which is the largest
note I met with, though there may be notes much higher. The
government paper is now scarce. The only notes of it that I saw
were the following :
s. d.
16 skillings equivalent to 0 8 sterling, and calleda piote.
: 32 skillings l .4
1 rix-dollar . .......... . 2 o
2 rix-dollars . 4 o
In Denmark, at present, there is nothing but paper currency, as in
Sweden, and their paper has been so much depreciated that their lowest
notes o f eight skillings Danish are only equivalent to a halfpenny
sterling. These facts serve to throw some light upon the depreciation
o f our paper currency, a question which has been canvassed o f late
with so much keenness.
The gentleman at Gottenburg, who appears at present to live with
the greatest splendour is Mr. Lorent, originally a Hamburgh merchant.
He afterwards settled in Copenhagen as a sugar-baker. Whén Copenhagen
was bombarded by the British, his house happened to be the only
one in the row that was not burnt down. On this account solely he
was accused o f being in the English interest,, and obliged’.to leave
Copenhagen. He settled first in London, and afterwards went-to Gottenburg.
Here he established a sugar-refineiy, and seems to '’have
realized a great deal of money. What appears very singular, considering
the size o f the town, he is not able to procure in Gottenburg a sufficient
quantity o f blood for his purpose ; but is obliged to import it at
considerable expense from England. Any new modè of purifying
sugar would therefore be to him of the utmost consequence. He is at
present setting up a porter-brewery in Gottenburg. The Swedes are
very fond of this liqubr, and always drink it at their entertainments,
though it is not much cheaper than claret wine : . we were charged for
it about half-a-crown per bottle, in thè inns òr taverns were we lodged.
The whole of it is imported from London, and it pays a high duty
when landed in Sweden. So that if. Mr. Lorent succeeds in brewing
a tolerable porter at Gottenburg, it will be conferring a very great
favour upon Sweden; though it may at first deprive the Swedish
government of part of its revenue. Mr. Lorent lives at a place he lately
purchased, about four English miles from Gottenburg: the place is surrounded
with wood, and therefore pretty. He has a large garden
under the charge o f Mr. Ferguson, a Scotchman, from the neighbourhood
o f Drummond Castle, in Perthshire, who is introducing the
British style o f gardening. He praised the goodness o f the soil very
much, but blamed, as is usual with foreigners, the mode o f gardening
practised by the Swedes. I saw considerable plantations o f Scotch fir,
which had been imported from Edinburgh. Mr. Lorent employs also
Mr. Homblower, known for his patent steam-engine. His patent
was broke in consequence o f a prosecution on the part o f Mr. Watt.
Mr. Lorent brought over likewise several workmen from England;
but they proved so unruly that he was obliged to send them home
again.
I have been thus particular in my account of Mr. Lorent, because I
lay under greater obligations to him than to any man in Gottenburg.
He introduced me to Count Rozen, the Governor o f Gottenburg, who
was o f essential service to me. He introduced me likewise to Mr.
Smith, the British Consul at Gottenburg, one o f the most agreeable
and friendly men I ever met with. To him I am indebted for my introduction
to the professors at Upsala, and to the mine o f Danemora.
Mr. Lorent likewise gave me letters o f introduction to the principal
literary characters o f Stockholm, and by that means opened my way
to every thing worth seeing in that capital. In short, he was indefatigable
in his endeavours to be o f service. I may say without any risk
of contradiction, that he was the most polite and obliging man I ever
met with.
The other persons in Gottenburg, to whom I lay under the greatest
obligations, were Dr. Lampert, originally from London, but settled as a
physician in Gottenburg. It was he that introduced me to Mr. Lorent,
no small obligation. By his means I was introduced to the whole
medical faculty of Gottenburg, in number about twelve, with whom
D