The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-10 00:00:00

THE KING OF SWEDEN.

The fon.sYving description of the King of Sweden is
extracted from the wprk of Mr. Alexander Daumont,
an intelligent French traveller :
" The King is at present in his sixty-ninth' year.
He was born at Pau, on the 26th of January, 1764.
Years have made but a slight impression on his
vigorous constitution. A profusion of black hair
covers without concealing a lofty forehead, which
neither the cares of state nor the hand of time have
as yet furrowed with a wrinkle. When he speaks,
his features assume the same animated expression
which struck me when, in his thirty-eight year, I
heard him describe the exploits of the army of Italy.
All the muscles of his energetic bead, which reveals,
the activity of thought, and a genius for great under-
takings, are then in full play. His piercing pack eyes
have lost nothing of their brilliancy ; his person has
become but slightly corpulent ; his figure is still noble
and erect, and he still exhibits the same attention to
neatness and the same simple and unaffected elegance
which distinguished his manners.
" There is no Sovereign, without even excepting the
pettiest German Prince, more easy of access ; and it
is much more difficult to obtain an audience of a
public functionary in France than to be admitted to the
presence of the King in Sweden. As he is accessible
to whoever desires to speak to him, the officers on duty
at the palace, and in the ante-rooms, are a mere state
pageant. And this confidence between the Sovereign
and his subjects is peculiarly remarkable, when we
consider that he was by birth a stranger to the nation
he has been called upon to govern. It is easy to see that
this prince, born among the people, has been impressed
with the feeling that he should communicate with the
people ; and this intimate relation existing between the
Sovereign and the lowest of his subjects, far from de-
tracting from the .respect which should surround the
majesty of the throne, only serves to increase it. This
faeLity of communicating -with the prince is one of
those peculiarities which the Swedes take a pleasure
in pointing out to the attention of strangers.
" When the King drives out to Rosendal, to.
Haga, or to Druttniegliohn, it is most commonly in
an open cairiage, preceded by a single courier. He
is accompanied by some of the principal officers of
state or of his household, and unattended by an escort.
If he does not always meet with those factitious
acclamations_ which are carefully got up for the
occasion of the passing of some sovereigns, he
is at least always sure of being received with the most
unequivocal demonstrations of affection and respect.
Every body he meets is on the alert to take off his hat,
and countenances beaming with smiles are a sufficient
indication of the public satisfaction. His Majesty
never fails to acknowledge a salute, and on his part it
is generally accompanied by one of those expressive
and benevolent smiles which communicate such a
charm to his features.

In fact he possesses, in au eminent degree, the
great art of gaining the affections of his people ; and
there can be no doubt that, amid the storms that
threaten Europe, his throne is the most firmly esta-
blished.: - Every succeeding day furnishes an addi"Nial
proof that his prudence and popularity are daily ce-
menting the stability of his dynasty.
" His health, though usually very robust, has under-
gone considerable alterations during the last few years ;
nevertheless, I am of opinion that he is still capable
of sustaining the hardships of war, if necessity should
render them indispensable. A few days after my
arrival at Stockholm, the King was present at a grand
review of the Swedish army, in the plain of Ladu-
gordsgordet. - He was on horseback from eight o'clock
in the morning until nine in the evening, with the ex-
ception of a few moments spent in dining at the pavi-
lion of Drottningberg, which is situate on an eminence
in the middle of the plain. An occurrefice of a trivial
nature in itself gave me au opportunity of judging of
the tact as well as the good nature of the prince. A
regiment of recruits went through some manoeuvres
so awkwardly as to excite the laughter of the
by-standers. The King, perceiving this misplaced
gaiety, immediately rode up to the regiment, and
ordered them to go through the evolution once more ;
this time they were very little better than the first,
when hie-Majesty expressed his satisfaction, and cried
out, Bra! myche bra (good, very good) he shook
the Colonel by the hand, as it were, to encourage the
soldiers, and to counteract the effects of -the sarcasms
of the crowd. The order was again given for per-
forming the manoeuvre, and it was executed with the
utmost percision.
" I saw tii'd ,s-,ung Prince Oscar at this review. He
is as much distingiitsL,ed by the elegance of his person
as by his graceful and diglij,fied manners. He is very
much beloved by the Swedes. He is our own son,
say they : it is we who have trained him up to reign
over Sweden.' And in truth he is a real Swede.. He
has scrupulously adopted all their manners and cus-
toms ; his table is served after the Swedish fashion,
and nothing is there spoken but Swedish, while, at the
table of the King, the French language is more gener-
ally in use.

- -
" Prince Oscar has received a brilliant education.
under the direction of Monsivur Lemoine; formerly a
Professor at Paris. He is well acquainted with the
ancient and modern languages, as well. Rs the history
and literature of almost all the nations in Europe-
He cultivates the sciences, particularly mathematics
and chemistry, with success, and is passionately fond
of music. - His soirees are generally attended by
savans and literary men, and lie frequently spends whole
days at the house of the celebrated chemist, Ber-
zelins. This Prince is now in his 34th year ; the sun-
plicity and modesty of his taste and inclinations have
conciliated universal esteem ; and everything seems to
presage that he will consolidate a dynasty, the only one
which, having owed its birth to the storms of. our re-
volution, has maintained itself unshaken.

" In the audiences kindly granted to us by his
Majesty, he frequently entered into statistical de-
tails, announcing the inoSt extensive knowledge of
the situation of Sweden. When I came to the
throne (observed he), agriculture was • almost in its
infancy. I have helped to give it an immense
impulse. Formerly Sweden imported a large quan-
tity of corn, to supply the deficiency of her pro-
duce ; at present, she exports several cargoes annually ;
and the sustained progress of civilization, the reclaiming
of lands which may be observed in every direction, is a
sufficient indication that this exportation will increase'
from year to year. I have regulated the finances on
the sofindest system ; the public debt is almost annihi-
lated ; the taxes are collected almost without expense—a
notice is posted on the church-door of the amount of
taxes due by each person, and it is paid without. any fur-
ther trouble. The Swedes are a peculiarly moral people,
Among no other • people is crime so unfrequent ; and
an organized police is a thing utterly unknown to
them. The canals which I have cut will at once aid
the development of commerce, and serve for the de-
fence of our territory ; our national army amounts to
a hundred and twenty thousand men, and is the least
burdensome establishment of the kind in Europe ; and
although Sweden is but a third-rate power, I am fully
convinced of the political importance she will achieve
in the eyes of Europe, in the event of my being
forced to draw the sword in defence of her honour or
her interests."

The price of oatmeal has this week risen 4s. per
load, in consequence of a proportional rise in the price of Irish
oats.—Glasgow Chronicle.

MANSLAUGHTER.—Saturday last an event oc-
curred between two young men employed at the slate quarries
of G. H. D. Pennant, Esq., which terminated fatally to one.
Their names were Owen Williams and William Evans, and
each of them was about 18. They had been a considerable
time drinking at Bethesda, and had quarrelled respecting a
flute ; Williams seized. Evans by the collar and shook him.
When they left the house the quarrel continued, and after they
had proceeded about half a mile Williams struck Evans, who
took out his knife, and said that if Williams did that again he
would stab him. Williams said to some persons who were with
them, " Take witness he has threatened to stab me." Evans
added, " Yes ! take witne.,s that I threatened to stab him if h.
struck me again." Williams did strike him again, upon which
Evans stabbed him in the left breast, the knife penetrating be-
tween the fifth and sixth ribs, and into the heart. Williams
spoke a few words, to the effect that he wished to be taken to
the surgeon at Bethesda, and immediately fell flat on his back.
He was conveyed to the toll-house, where he shortly after ex-
pired. Evans was almost immediately taken into custody.
An inquest was held on Monday, when a verdict of " Man-
slaughter" was returned against Evans, who was committed to
the county gaol.—Carnarvos Herald.-