Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-03-13
Letters from Bayard Taylor.
NUMBER TX.
stockholm--Preparati for the North
ern Journey.


STOCKHOLM, Dec. 10, lS06.
have now been here a week, engaged
with preparations for my Winter journey to
tho north. The weather has changed so
entirely in that time that I scarcely recog
nize the place. The day after our arrival a
thaw set in, which has cleared away every
particle of snow and ice, opened the har-
Dor, freed tho Mailer Lake, and given the
white hills around the city their autumnal
colors of brown and dark green. A dense
fog obscurcs the brief daylight the air is
close, damp, oppressive; everybody coughs
and snuffies, and tho air-tight rooms, so
comfortable in cold weather are now insult
ferable. My blood is stagnated, my spirits
descend as the murcury rises, and l am all
impatience to have zero and beaten snow
track again. The Soctkholmers, who like
70 represent their climate as mildly as poss-
ible, say that there will be no moro snow
until after Christmas; but cannot wait that
long, and so am off tomorrow for Norr-
land, Lappmark, and the Artic Circle.
I have had more difficulty in preparing
for this journny than anticipated-not SO
much in the way of procuring necessary ar
ticles, as the necessary information on the
subject. l have not yet been able to find a
man who has made the journey in the Win
ter, or who can tell me what to expect and
what to do. The mention of my plan ex-
cites general surprise, but the people are too
polished and courteous to say outright that
I am a fool, though don't doubt that many
of them think So Even the maps are only
minute enough for travellers as far as Tornea
and the only special map of Lapland car
got dates from 1903. The Government, il
is true, has commenced the publication o.
very admirable map of the kingdom, ir
provinces, but these do not yet extend be
yond Jemteland, about lat. go north
Neither is there any work to be had, excep
some botanical and geological publications
which of course contain but little practica
information. The English and German
Handbooks for Sweden are next TO useless
north of Stockholm.
Many of the Swedish gentlemen whom
have met seem to entertain a feeling o
shyness and dread of the North, which ma,
account for their want of knowledge, but
was not prepared to find so much Ignorance
concerning the geography of Lapland. hav
had some thoughts of making a journe
through the interior of Swedish Lapp
mark, along the eastern base Of the noun
tain chain which divides it from Norway
but have been unable to obtain the least in
formation concerning this region. The prin
cipal assurances are, that shall suffer great
ly from cold, that must take along sur
ply of provisions, for nothing is to be haC
and that must expect to endure hardship
and privations of all kinds. This prospeo
is not at all alarming, for remember tbs
heard much worse accounts of Ethiopi
while making similar preparations in Carl
and have learned that all such bugbea
cease to exist when they arc boldly face
Our outfit, therefore, is restricted TO SON
coffee, sugar. gunpowder, lucifer matche
lead, shot and slug', four bottles of cogni
for cases of extremity, q sword, q butche
knife, hammer, screw-driver, nails, roT
and twiue, all contained in box about l
inches square. A a single yalse holds ol
stock Of clothing, books, writing and dra'
ing materials, and each of us carries, in a
dition, donble-barreled muSket. We ma
negotiations for the purchase of q handson
N01Hhho sieieu, lnufhOefs OF winch con
10 Stockholm at this season ladened wi
wild fowl, but the thaw prevented our col
ing TO a bargain. The preparation of Il
requisite funds however, was work of sor
time. In this / was assisted by Mr.. M,
from, an excellent yalet-de-plaec, whom
hereby recommend to all travellers. Who
after three or four days labor and diplon
cy he brought me the money, thought
had suddenly come into possession Of
immense fortune. There were hundreds
bank-notes, and thousands Of silver pieC
Of all sizes--Swedish paper, silver and cc
per,Norweign notes and dollars, DAN
marks and Russian gold, roubles and copec
The value belicd the quantity, and | ha
no doubt that the vast pile will melt aw
so fast that shall soon be relieved of !
pleasant delusion,
Our equipment should have been ma
Ia Germany, for singularly enough, Sto
holm Is not half so well provided with f
ABd articles Of Winter clothing as Hamb,