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THROUGH SWEDEN. 85
therefore be amifs to inculcate it whenever an opportunity occurs.
Whether in the progrefs of civilization it will obtain greater in-
fluence over the human mind, and fhew its bleffed effects in the
world to a greater degree than it hitherto has done, is an important
and interefting fubject for fpeculation. Unfortunately for Sweden
it was not a Henry IV. but a Lewis XIV. that Guftavus made
the object of his emulation. Afpiring with inceffant ardour to an
illuftrious name among fovereigns, he was wont among his cour-
tiers to make not indirect comparifons between himfelf and that
monarch. Like him he fought to be furrounded with the f{plendour
of literature and the arts, and ftudied in all things to appear a great
and munificent king. Like his maternal uncle, Frederic the Great
of Pruffia, he was ambitious of being an author as well as a war-
rior. Emulating the renown of Charles XII. he threatened like
him to involve his country in ruin. To poets, muficians, and
painters, he extended a high degree of favour and protection. He
inftituted focieties, and patronized learning and f{cience: but all
this did not flow from a pure defire to promote thefe great inte-
refts of the human {fpecies. He made thofe he protected the tools
of his ambition and vanity. They were in fact little more than
echoes of his withes, and ferved as means of operating on the pub-
lic opinion, and predifpofing and preparing it for an acquiefcence
in various {chemes which he had formed for the enlargement of
his own grandeur, and the gratification of his ruling paffions.
Not even the encouragement which he gave to the fine arts was
founded on any thing elfe than political views and felfith motives.
His
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