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TRAVELS OF ERHENMALM. 347
firt fruits. How is it poffible there can be princes and minifters on the earth,
who do not enjoy this fore-tafte of the immortality referved for their labours !
The manufacture of Flors fpreads induftry and fertility around it. In its eaftern
environs which border the fea, few families are found, either rich or poor, who are not
occupied in making fpinning wheels and looms. ‘This labour procures them the
means of living tolerably well, notwithftanding the dearnefs of the corn they mult buy,
and their objection to pay a tax which is well adminiftered. ‘The town of Soderhamni,
which is a mile and a half diftant from Flors, feels but faintly the influence of this manu-
facture. It is {mall, fituated between two mountains, on the banks of arivulet. Few
houfes are feen which are better conflructed than thofe of the peafants around it. To
paint them, would be an idle luxury. The inhabitants only labour in order to
fubfift. The works of their hands clothe them, and their food would be little relifhed
elfewhere. But the method of {pinning and making cloth they have brought to per-
fection. Commerce would thrive well, if the town were not too far fromthe fea. Yet
fifhing, the common refource of all the Nordlanders, a little agriculture and gardening,
in a foil which produces with difficulty, contribute to fupport its inhabitants, in that
{tate of mediocrity, which leaves nothing to wifh for, nothing to regret. Thefe men
who lead a life of innocence, are befides employed in the manufacture of arms for the
chaftifement of vicious nations.
The forge of Soderhamm is the moft ancient of the kingdom of Sweden, and at
prefent the leaft excellent. Yet there is feen a handfome pump, which is worked by
means of a fingle wheel ; a fimple and wonderful invention of Polhem, a man of great
talents in the moft ufeful arts.
Soderhamm is befides remarkable for the church of U/rica Eleanora, a tolerably. good
building. It has fome ornaments of wood, as its dome, fufficiently tafteful, though little
expenfive. As a manis allured even to piety, by the fenfes, an organ has been conftruct-
ed inthis church, and I can affirm, that it will be one of the beft in Sweden, for ftrength,
harmony, and purity of found. When I faw it, befides the ordinary tones of an organ,
it produced thofe of a women’s voice, and German flute: the latter was fo accurate,
that the ear was completely deceived. ‘The name of the artift who conftruéted this
organ is Daniel Strale. ‘This man deferves to be much more known, fince he is un-
affected in his manners, mild, without any arrogance, and without that {pirit of cupidity
by which intriguing men obtain the reward of the inventors.
Helfingheland extends to a village two miles tothe north of the inn of Garp. On
this road, we meet with nine or ten villages, and fome lonely houfes. In feveral places
of this road, we obferved thofe ftones called /apis violarum fpurius. If intelligent
miners were fent to thefe diftri&ts, they would no doubt find mines; and this difcovery:
would be extremely ufeful to the proprietors of the fmitheries, eftablifhed in the
environs. It would even increafe the number of mills with much greater facility, fince
the whole country abounds with woods and water-falls.
Between Igghefunid and Sanna, | {aw on my journey the town of Houdwik/wald.
It is fituated on a {mall tongue of land, ftretching between the fea and the lake Houd-
wik. It has a very good and deep harbour. Its inhabitants are employed in fifhing
and the mechanical arts. ‘They manufafture in particular a great number of wooden
chairs which are tranfported to Stockholm. Every town which labours for the capital,
deferves fome fame. ‘The fmalleft branch of indu(try is interefting in a country where
nature offers few means of fubfiftence. It is pleafing to fee the men ftruggling againft
the cruelty of her denials, endeavouring by labour to avoid that infignificance from
which fhe appears to have drawn them with regret, to involve them quickly
V¥ againe
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