Neither traces of fading genius, nor of growing talent, were visible in any but one. I found that one was the work of a very young man; and should he meet with adequate encouragement, he may in time become the father of his art in the kingdom.

This exhibition of Swedish genius is open for several weeks, two days in each being free to the public. On others, a few schillings procures the admission; on which times, the beau monde make it their daily resort. The academy which belongs to this institution is at the expense of government: and had its Augustus, Gustavus III., lived, it is probable from his taste influencing the nation, that the art and its professors would now have been in a very flourishing condition. At present, the state of politics withdraws the attention, not only of his majesty, but also of the nobility, from the arts: and the circumstances of the war so drain the country of money, that no encourage ment is given to any of the practitioners: and indeed the talents of the youth for the pencil seem so small, that I confess I should be glad to see the forms of the academy thinned, and the students more usefully employed in thickening the battalions of their intrepid sovereign.

This latter is but an epitome of the conversation of the times: begin on what subject we will, it always ends with war. A theme, not a little stripped of its glittering circumstance, since it brought disasters worse than the roar of cannon upon your wandering friend.

LETTER XLV.

Stockholm, April, 1808. YESTERDAY being the anniversary of the establishment of the order of the seraphim, all the knights of every order attended, dressed in their appropriate insignia. The habiliments of the Swedes, on these occasions, are very picturesque, being, as I before noticed, Spanish habits; a style first used in this country by the late king.

The uniform of the knights of the sword is a light blue, with white lace; that of the vasa knights, is green; that of the polar star, crimson velvet, &c. The knights of the seraphim wear white, with black lace, and black mantles. They were all collared and starred, and adorned with their respective chivalric distinctions.

The ceremony took place in the chapel of the palace, which was richly hung with blue and crimson velvet, profusely embroidered with gold, designating the arms of Sweden in a hundred compartments, surrounded by thousands of martial trophies. The throne stood on the right of the altar. It was velvet, of the same colours; and a massive silver chair, elevated on several steps, was the monarch's seat. Around hung the banners of all the knights. On the left of the altar were placed chairs of state (Banquo like) for the different sovereigns who belonged to the institution.

When I first entered, I saw the banner of Russia. But, a few minutes before the entrance of the king and the brethren of the seraphim, two heralds, attired in the robes of their office, advanced to the imperial banner, took it down from where it hung, and bore it out of the chapel. The invasion of Finland was his majesty's reason for this, and to show that none can remain a knight of the seraphim who takes up arms against its head. Many who deem orders as a mere interchange of trinkets, may think this action savours too much of the chivalrous age so long gone by! and, that it is gone by, the more the pity. It was the era of unblemished honour; when a man's word

bound stronger than oaths of the present period; and when the insignia of valour and virtue were prized beyond the wealth of worlds. To laugh at the titles and customs of honour, is to laugh at honour itself; and both, except in the best minds, fall into contempt together. I remember, and I blush for Englishmen while I write it, many in our island turning the chivalric distinctions of our immortal Nelson into ridicule. They have jested on his crosses and his stars, when, had they looked deeper, they would have seen wounds under every ornament, received in making his breast the shield of their safety. This absurb contempt, or baser envy, is beyond my understanding. So, I shall return to the brethren of the seraphim.

When the king entered the chapel, he was dressed in the robes of the order, and followed by a procession of knights, various officers of his staff, &c. The armour cased drabants were marshalled on each side of the building. His majesty bowed to all with the most affable grace, and took his seat on the throne. An anthem was played. The holy service was entered upon: and a divine read from the pulpit a sermon addres, sed to the body, relative to patriotism, respect for their order, and the indispensable duties annexed to it, of loyalty and valour in the defence of their country, being particularly demanded at this period.

As soon as this discourse, with numerous prayers, were finished, in all of which the king (who I understand is eminently pious), seemed most religiously to take part; the ceremony of creating a new knight began. His royal master read aloud the vow, to which the noviciate, standing between his sponsors, bowed assent. He then approached the king, knelt down before him, and was invested by the hands of his sovereign with the collar of the order; the amiable Gustavus adjusting it with all the attentive suavity of a familiar friend, during which time he continued talking to him in a low voice. He then took the sword of ceremony, and most gracefully, with his chivalric seal, stamped him knight. On this being performed, he embraced him; and count H (the new chevalier) kissed his majesty's hand twice, with a sensibility and enthusiasm that did honour to his heart; and the noble Gusta

vus, by pressing most fervently in both his hands that of his faithful subject, and at the same time saying something, which, from the sweet and benign expression of his face, seemed full of graciousness, proved the tender sympathy with which he received the affections of his people.

The knightly brethren of the count next embraced him. Those prayers were then said, and the benediction given. The king rose, and the procession returned as they entered; his majesty having first bowed to the queen, who sat as a spectator, and next to the ambassadors and nobles of foreign nations. As I sat by our own minister, I had one of the best places in the chapel for commanding a view of the scene. It commenced at eleven in the morning, and was over at two o'clock, when a magnificent dinner was served in the palace for all the knights present; of which his majesty graciously partook, rather as a brother of the various orders, than as a sovereign prince.

The order of the seraphim was instituted so far back as the fourteenth century, by Magnus, king of Sweden, and has been held in the highest honour ever since. Margaret de Valdemar the daughter-in-law of its founder, bestowed it on none but her favoured nobles; and her successors in Sweden have spread its generous bonds even to crowned heads. The institution of an after queen, the romantic daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, arrived not to so brilliant a maturity, but, like its mistress, shed its proudest honours even in the blowing. However, as I am going to tell you a little more on this subject, I beg you will be attentive; and as this letter is altogether a record of chivalry, of ladies fair, and knights and scarfs, and pennons bright, I hope that you at least opened it in style, with a pair of perfumed gloves on!

Having been already, with all serious rites, admitted a knight of Mars; my next honour of the sort, was to issue from a gayer court. The star of the beauteous queen-Christina, the guide of love, and the order of the amaranth, the emblem of its never dy-ing brightness, was to enlist me for ever one of beauty's vassals. Accordingly, a little time ago, at the hour appointed, I went to the hall of installation; and after going through the usual ceremonies of knighthood, taking the delightful vow of being

on all occasions the defender of loveliness in distress, the sword of consecration fell on my shoulders, the Count de la Gardé proclaimed me Champion of the Fair! and, still on my knees, the hands of a beauteous lady, the representative of queen Christina, fastened the shining badge upon my breast; and I rose, another leaf in the royal wreath of amaranth.

This institution, in the reign of its foundress, was supported by her with great pomp: but since then, as the more martial orders have arisen, it is only considered as un ordre de galan-. terie; an occasion for social meetings; balls and festivals being fixed at particular periods, which are numerously attended by the ladies and chevaliers of the order; all of whom are of the first rank and respectability, uniting the exhilaration of pleasure with the sweets of innocence. If any think harm of this, I reply in the true knightly style, honi soit qui mal y pense! That no sour commentaries will be made by you on the votaries of so sweet a flower, is the belief of your ever faithful friend.

3 F