The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-04 00:00:00

The Prince and Princess of Wales in

Sweden.

(From the limes' Special Correspondent.)
STOCKHOLM, Tuesday.

This morning was devoted by the Royal family
and their illustrious visitors to an inspection of some
of the points of greatest interest in Stockholm. In
the first place they drove from the Palace to the
Mosebacke, a hill from which a sight is to be ob-
tained surpassing anything of a similar kind that
offers itself in most of the cities of Europe. From
the level almost of the sea, upon which, as in Venice,
this hill shoots up suddenly to a commanding
height, its sides being covered with buildings which
rise, terrace above terrace, until at the summit there
is a small pleasure ground and tea garden, afford-
ing a view of many miles in all directions—a spot
BO highly prized by residents that the name given
to it signifies "the Mountain of Moses." Any mo-
narch might be proud of having such a capital to
show, and the King with evident pleasure pointed
out to the Prince and Princess localities which are
associated either with historical traditions or which
possess associations interesting to royalty in the pre•
sent day. Ancient Stockholm—literally, the pile
island—lies in what can still be recognised as the
Lake Malar, but its buildings and population have
gradually spread themselves over the surrounding
islets, till the whole is so looped together and tan-
gled with bridges, quays, parks, and public wharves
that it is difficult any longer to distinguish the na■
tural course of the stream from the artificial enclo-
sures that science or commerce has created. Lake
Malar stretches to the left of the town, and to the
right the deep water channel or bay winds towards
the sea, the view for miles in both directions being
so mixed up and blended with hills,woods, and minor
sheets of water that the eye does not fix itself, as in
other scenes, upon some few prominent objects, but
ranges delighted over the whole panorama. The
sheets of water below, not sour and stagnant, but
fresh and teeming with fish, are covered with yes•
eels, perpetually shooting in all directions. Fishing-
smacks, flat boats pulled by natives in their extra-
ordinary costumes, sailing ships of great size, and
trading steamers are moving about all day long, and,
more numerous than any others, tie little steam
gondolas, with extraordinary funnels, dart along
with incredible speed, uttering sharp, shrill notes
of warning to all who venture across their path.
Having gazed sufficiently long at the busy scene,
and noticed the perceptible tinge of red which is
given to the landscape by the colour of most of the
roofs in Stockholm, and even of the walls of country
houses, the Royal party left the MoseLcke in the
same order in which they had proceeded thither,
and visited other parts of the town.
The cavalcade was preceded by a Royal outrider,
wearing a jacket and round hat laced with silver
and a heavy silver tassel—a costume also worn by
the footmen on the King's carriage. His Majesty
drove the Prince of Wales in a handsome mail
phaeton, the Queen, with the Princess of Wales,
following in an open carriage commodiously ars
ranged with a single seat. Prince Oscar likewise
drove his own carriage. The ladies in attendance
belonging to the Swedish and the English Courts
followed, and then came Lord Spencer, General
Knollys, and the other members belonging or at-
tached to the respective households, there being in
all about eight or nine carriages. Everywhere that
the cortege went crowds assembled, and the Royal
party was saluted respectfully and cordially, They
were so constantly on the move that tha guard in
front of Prince Oscar's palace, which from its cen-
tral position lies en route to almost every point of
the city, was perpetually presenting arms and beat..
ing the generate. The soldiers must have been
heartily glad when the day's eight-seeing was
ended, and when in the rolled of their visits a pause
of an hour took place, during which the Royal party
lunched with Prince Oscar.

At this moment, when Sweden is about to enter
on the discussion of a Reform Bill, the building in
which the nobles are accustomed to assemble for
deliberative purposes forms one of the objects most
interesting to the visitor. Hitherto, and up to the
present moment, the affairs of the country have
been administered by four sets of chambers, repre-
senting the nobles, the clergy, the
,burgesses, and
the peasants—a division which, on the whole, re-
presented the different interests fairly enough,
though the owners of small independeiit incomes
complained that, as they did not fall under any of
these heads, they were, as a class, excluded from
power. Manifestly, however, four sets of chambers
acting each of their own motion and each with their
own peculiar forms, interposed great delays, if not
more serious obstructions, to beneficial legislation.
In former times matters jogged on tranquilly
enough. But in the present day, when Sweden,
awakening to the importance of developing her vest
resources, has constructed one line of railway right
across the country, from Gottenburg to Stock-
holm, has nearly completed another to Malmoe,
the nearest point to Copenhagen, is extending
both the railway and telegraphic systems into
her Norwegian provinces, and is hourly stimu-
lating her mining industry, it becomes evident
that the old system is too slow and cum.
brous for modern requirements. Whatever
modification or substitution may eventually; be
agreed on, it is impossible to enter this old hall
without being touched by the simplicity, the plain-

teas even, of its arrangements, in such contrast with
the thrilling events that have taken place on that
spot. It is said to have been in the Riddarhus that
Gustavus Vasa, after the long struggle in which he
secured the liberties, civil and religious, of his
country, received the homage of the Swedish nation ;
it was certainly there that his grandson, Gustavus
Adolphus, delivered the memorable speech preserved
by the historian of the Thirty Years'lVar, and there
that his infant daughter Christina was brought, on
the tidings of her fathet's death at Lutz,3n, to receive
the fealty of the estates of Sweden. In the reign
of Gustavus Adolphus the introduction of nobles
into the Riddarhus was first rendered Aligatory,
heads being selected to represent each family.
There can be no doubt as to the order of seniority,
for the shields of the members to the number of
some thousands hang round the chamber at the
present moment. They may be scanned at leisure,
from the earliest in point of time, the arms of Count
Brahe, whose creation dates from 1561, and from

those of Barons Lewenhaapt, Da la Gardie, and
Osenstiern (Grand Chancellor to Gustavus Ado!-

phus), which stand respectively second, third, and
fourth upon the list, to those of M. Oidevin, who
was enrolled as recently as 1860. With the exception
of these shield©, the only contents of the room are
the benches, covered with blue cloth, upon which
the nobles sit in order of seniority, chairs and a
table in a central position for the clerks of the
house, and a venerable, richly-carved Beat in ivory

and ebony, to be occupied by the president for the
time being. By a curious arrangement, a double
staircase, in the centre of the apartments, leads down
into what formerly was the Sekreta Utskott, or
Privy Committee room of the State, now used as a
club room by the members of the Riddarhus. In
this are preserved the portraits, hung in chrono•
logical order, of all the land marshals of the realm,
the older pictures, which begin in 1627, being:copies
by Kraft, the elder, from originals preserved in the
old castle galleries. A better illustration of the
type of bygone generations of Swedes, or of the
varying costumes of the age, it would be difficult
to procure than is furnished by this collection.
Many of these Presidents of their licuse of Lords
were evidently " bold, bad men ;'' others, again, if
physiognomy can be trusted, were capable states-
men and brave commanders. A remarkable feature
in all the portraits is the wonderful ani—ation that
the
artist has thrown into the features." They are
from the best materials • many of the later ones were
painted from lif,' and a very- slight stretch of ima-
gination is all that i
s needed to seat these shadows
of the ra.9t
actual apartment,
as of yore, with gra and to see them deal-
ing,
theateto,nsiderations of State.
It is thought probable
de-
parture from the original understanding,
e will ho come
te which time Prince and PrincessaonfdaNing, according
Wales were to
have left Steel:holm upon their return'
journey
Denmark nest Friday. The severityevtreme of
to
the recent passage has made a couple of additional
days' rest a matter of some importance to all the
party, but espeeiglly in the else of her Royal High.

nese, before putting to sea again ; and, as the
Swedish Royal family are but too anxious to extend
their hospitalities over the longest period that the
other arrangements of their Royal Highnesses will
permit them to remain in Sweden, the departure
for Copenhagen of the Royal yacht Is likely to be
postponed at any rate to Monday next.
It was wisely decided that the infant Prince
should not be exposed to the fatigue of this jour•
ney, and he has accordingly remained under proper
care at Bernstorff Castle, awaiting there the return
of their Royal Highnesses.

Last night a grand dinner was given in honour
of the Prince and Princess of Wales at the King's
favourite castle of Ulrichsdal, which lies about six
miles from the capital. Invitations were issued to
about 100 guests,all persons of the highestdistinction
in Sweden ; and filled with this brilliant company,
an opportunity presented itself of seeing to much
advantage those rooms of the chateau upon which
the King has lavished a great amount of trade and
no inconsiderable extent of his private fortune. The
building, one of some antiquity, for many years had
been used as an Hopital des Invalides. The King,
however, at that time Crown Prince, took a great
fancy to the place, and the soldiers having been
either pensioned cff or quartered elsewhere, the
castle passed into his possession, was restored
throughout, and fitted for a Royal residence. The
drive from Stockholm lies for a portion of the way
through richly-wooded parks on either hand, have
ing quite the aspect of English demesnes; then
abandoning the high road,it reaches in a very short
time some gardens kept in the English style, on the
edge of which is apparently a beautiful lake, but in
reality an arm of the sea. These are immediately
under the windows of the castle, and only separated
from it by the drive, before the grand entrance, in
the centre of which is one of those circular fountains
that all the northern nations seem so fond of. Last
evening the summit of the grand staircase was
guarded by a detachment of Swedish Life Guards,
wearing their uniform of the time of Charles XII.
The grand reception room lay to their right. This
is fitted up as an armoury, and bears upon the
walls a richly gilt pattern in stamped leather, the
colours, blue and yellow, being those peculiar to
Royalty in Sweden. Curious weapons, entire
suites of armour, &c., meet the eye in all
corners of the room. And in the centre of the
apartment, extending personal welcome to the
more distinguished guests, stood the King of
Sweden, a fine looking man, of unusual height,
with jet black beard, in whose bearing, not less than
in his character, the love at once of the arts and of
tho chase reveals itself. Beyond the armoury, rich
velvet curtains, half dropped and half looped up,
give admission to a set of apartments furnished in
the ordinary manner, in which, for the most part,
the lady guests paid their court to the Queen, and
in some cases here, and in others in the armoury,
some presentations were made to the Prince and
Princess of Waies. In compliment to her Royal
Highness, the collar of the Dannebrog was worn
by all those gentlemen happening to be in pose
session of the order ; and in Sweden there is a very
pretty fashion of wearing miniature decorations
attached to a chain of gold suspended from one
button hole to another, which in combination with
the silk ribands of those who were decores, had
quite an enlivening effect upon sombre evening
dress. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
wore the Order of the Seraphin, the highest in
Sweden, which had been presented to him only
that morning. This Order is of such extreme
rarety that there is a limit even to the number
of crowned heads who at any one time can hold
the distinction. In 1854, when the treaty was made
with Sweden, binding her to a course favourable to
the Allies rather than to Russia, the Order was
conferred, as an exceptional favour, upon the late
Prince Consort, and it has now been continued to
his son. At 6 o'clock precisely dinner was announced
and the King of Sweden led in the Princess of
Wales, his Royal Highness following with the
Queen. The remainder of the Royal party followed
in succession, and then the generdl company took
their places at table. The dining room has been
fitted up and furnished in accordance with the
plans of the King himself, and though the apart.
ment is limited as to size the effect produced is
singularly pleasing. To a height a little greater
than that of ordinary men, a mahogany panelling,
with a deep edge or rim round the top, skirts the
room. This ledge is filled with curious ware of
every description, principa:ly drinking horns or
mugs, ranged as closely together as possible, many of
them being of priceless value from the fact that they
are relics of antiquity, discovered in various parts
of the King's dominions. Above the panelling the
wall is papered with a species of Japanese design,
into which gold and peacocks' feathers largely enter,
and with scarcely more than the spaces necessary
for allowing this pattern to be seen, hunting swords,
daggers, medallions, and other souvenirs of the
chase, may be said to drape the walls. Massive silver
candelabra on the tables, smaller chandeliers of gold
suspended from the ceiling, and modern paraffin in
clusters of light in the recesses, gave to the scene all
the brilliancy that it needed without necessitating
the noxious heat of gas. At the principal table no
one had a seat who was not either a member of the
Royal family or directly attached in some capacity
to those having places there as of right. The inner
circle, however, included one or two bearing the
title of " Excellency," which in Sweden not only
authorises the person so distinguished to take pre.
cedence of all ranks of the nobility, but extends the
honour to " her Excellency" as well. Those who
sat at the Royal table were, their Majesties the
King and Queen of Denmark, her Majesty the
Queen Dowager, their Royal Highnesses the Prince
and Princess of Wales, his Highness the Prince
of Holstein-Glucksburg, his Royal Highness the
Prince Oscar,Duke of Ostrogothia ; his Royal High-
ness the Prince Augustus, Duke of Dalecarlia,
and his wife ; his Excellency the Count Sparre,
Grand Marshal, and the Countess Sparre; his
Excellency the Baron de Geer, Minister of Jus-
tice, and the Countess de Geer; his Excellency Count
de Menderstrom, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and
the Countess de Manderatrom ; Count Platen,
Minister of Marine ; Count Plessen, the Danish
Minister, and the Countess Plessen ; Mr. F. Hamil-
ton, her Britannic Majesty's Charge d'Affaires; the
Count de S!edingk, Grand Chamberlain, and the
Countess de Stedingk ; his Excellency M. Sibbern,
Secretary of State for Norway, and Madame Sib.
bern ; Countess Bonde, the Baron Gripenstedt,
Minister of Finance ; Earl and Countess Spencer,
General Knollys, Hon. Mrs .Grey, Baron Braumden,
Grand Ecuyer ; Countess Piper, and Countess
Delagardie. Behind the Royal table stood a favourite
negro servant, also four servants in the extraordinary
caps which in bygone days distinguished the King's
sniisntsg
offooatmcsepn.richTihye
ai
gnma
nefeaturel ii
coloured
hr teshdi el
vif ter
arattirelace,
s
running
omrgnai
from which a couple of
some fcur feet high spring into the air. The
ber of these footmen in attendance is always re-
gulated by the number of Royal ladies present.
L Ist evening there being four of these, four sets
of feather head-dresses moved about inces-
santly the whole evening. The general coma
pany included the following names ;--M. de Lager.
strale, Minister of the Interior ; M. de Reatersk-
jold, Minister of War; M. Carlson, Minister of
Health ; M. Bredberg, Minister without Portfolio ;
M. Thulstrup, ditto; M. Malmsten, ditto; M. Mff.
ner, member of the Ministry of Norway; M. Mel-

dald, ditto; Baron Braunerhelm ; Count Erin Le
vvenhaupts, First Gentleman of the Chamber of the
King; M. `o❑ do Masse, Secretary of the Danish
Lcgr.tion ; Mr Heneage, Attaché to the British
Legation ; Commanders of the three ships of the
Royal Navy ; M. do Bjornstjerna, Minister for
Sweden at Copenhagen ; Baron Bildt, Grand
Governor of Stockholm ; General Nauckhcff, Com•
mander-General of Stockholm; Baron de Stedingk,
Chief Director of tho Royal Theatres ; M. de San.
stromer, Chief Secretary to the Minister for Fo-
reign Affairs; M. do Sacdels, Chief Mcashal of the
King's Court; Count and Countess do Snoilsky ;
Baron de Wrede, King's Chamberlain ; Baron de
Falkenberg, ditto, &c.
The collection of silver plate used during the
inner was magnificent and app,.!rontly inex--
haustible, and the same expressions apply to the
service of China. Including dessert there were no

less than 20 courses. Daring the entertainment the
Royal band performed the following selections :-
1 Mitt eget Kompani Marsch
2 Ouvertur till, Elverhoj
3 Duet nr Op., Martha ...... Flotow

4 Le Rossignol-Vale
5 Le Carneval de Paris
6 Quartet ur Op., Rigoletto

7 Nordisk Fostbrodra-Galopp Lumbye
8 Potpourri ur Op., Havita Frun
9 Le Profete-Vals
.0 Potpourri ur Op., Karleksdrycken
11 Shottish ur Op., Le Dragon de Villars Maillart
12 Final ur Op., Ernani
WEDNESDAY. I Rule Britannia.

Towards the close of the dinner the grounds at-
tached to the palace and also the edge[of the lake
were brilliantly illuminated, and the royal party as
they moved from the table to the apartments where
supper and refreshments were served had an oppor-
tunity of admiring the beautiful effect produced.
This morning, about 11 o'clock, his Royal High.
ness the Prince of Wales rode with the King of
Denmark to the review ground, a short distance
from the city, to witness the movements of a body
of Lancers of the Guard, the only cavalry regiment
at this moment in Stockholm, except his Majesty's
favourite Charles XII. troop. The King wore
the same costume of general officer in which he
had appeared at the theatre. His Royal Highness,
in compliment, doubtless, to the King and the
force to be reviewed, wore his uniform as colonel of
the 10th Hussars. Prince Hans of Glucksburg,
in the Danish uniform, accompanied them
and among the members of the suite were General
Knollys and Earl Spencer, the latter in the dress of
the Volunteer battalion of which his lordship is chief.
The Volunteer uniform must have been altogether
novel in the eyes of the Swedes; they appeared,
however, to like it greatly, for the opinion gene-
rally expressed was, " Oui, c'est simple, nzais ex-
tremement gentil." The regiment of Lancers was
well, though not very showily, horsed ; and when
the movements commenced the rapidity and grace-
fulness with which they were executed showed the
high state of proficiency to which they had been
brought. The charges were frequently and ex-
tremely brilliant, and the King, who looks remark-
ably well on horseback, and delights especially in a
rapid gallop, placed himself on the right of the regi-
ments on such occasions, and moved in their front
at the utmost speed. His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales rode at his side throughout, and it
was a subject of general remark that when mounted
the stature of his Royal Highness was equal ap-
parently to that of the King.
Nothing could exceed the picturesque appearance
of the line of cavalry as they wound in and out of
every conceivable disposition, their blue and white
pennons distinguishing them from the Lan eels in any
other service. At first the number of spectators
was comparatively limited, the review having been
a spectacle arranged at very short notice for the
gratification of the Priflce of Wales. Before the
Royal party left the ground, however, both the
occupants of carriages and sight-seers on foot had
began to flock in very rapidly.

In the afternoon about 5 o'clock there was a
private dinner confined to the Royal Circle, their
immediate attendants, and members of the diplo-
matic corps. Later still, the great ball at the resi-
dence of the Queen Dowager will take place.
It is now understood that their Royal Highnesses
will leave Stockholm on Monday next, and will
then return, not by Lakes Wenerer and Wettern, but
by railway direct to Oottenburg, where thew will be
met by the Royal yacht Osborne, in which they will
embark for Elsinore. In the mean time, probably,
on Friday next, a grand elk hunting expedition
will take place at a point distant about five hours
by railway from the capital.
Visits of state have been paid the principal mem-
bers of the Swedish Admiralty to the little British
flotilla now lying in their waters. They were re.
ceived with full naval honours, and Capt. Sir F. M.
M'Clintock conducted them in person over the
Aurora. The distinguished visitors seemed much
gratified with their reception, and at having had
the opportunity of meeting an officer so distin-
guished by his achievements.