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438 FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN,
the royal flag, the fame he had on board his floop during the action *. After fervice,
a fermon preached by the Bifhop of Vexiceu the grand almoner, His Majefty advanced
towards the altar, and turning to the officers feated on benches at the right and left,
addreffed them for the {pace of a quarter of an hour neariy, (We ufed our belt en-
deavours, but fruitlefsly, to procure his fpeech, the King informing us that he had made
many, and that as he could not call to mind his exact words, it would not be publithed.
It was given in the moft graceful manner, with fuch a feductive tone of voice as caufed
us, from being fpectators of the fenfations it excited, to be greatly anxious to have a
copy.) ‘Two perfons having brought the medals to the King, His Majefty took one
and decorated himfelf therewith; afterwards the names of the officers were read, for
whom any of them were intended, whether abfent or prefent: fuch as were prefent,
knelt before the King and kifled his hand, His Majefty fattening the chain on which the
medal was fufpended, about the necks of the officers of the ftaff, and giving it fimply
into the hands of the others. The medal is of gold, in form of a buckler, and on the
reverfe is infcribed the number of veflels taken at Fredericfhamm and Syenkfund, or at
the one or the other only, according to which battles the party to whom they were given
had been prefent, on the other fide is a winged woman, {tanding on the prow of a gal-
ley, with both arms extended, holding crowns. Notwith{tanding the length of this
ceremony, which lafted more than three hours, the King preferved the fame dignified
and affable manner throughout, without once teftifying the leaft fign of fatigue, or defire
of abridging his duty ; he faluted each of the officers who came to receive medals, in
the moft polite and nobly eafy manner, yet was it not difficult to diftinguifh by his more
or lefs affeGtionate fqueeze of their hands, thofe who moft particularly enjoyed his con-
fidence and efteem. Many officers received the medal, who really appeared mere boys,
which gave additional intereft to the ceremony, and made the ftronger impreflion on
the minds of the f{peétators, at leaft if we are to judge from our own fenfations. How
much is fuch a ceremony as this fuperior to thofe imitations in pra@tice in all countries,
when the fovereign, coldly diftributing ribbons or crofles, (which moft commonly are
but fo many tokens of the old age of the perfon honoured,) if they be the reward of
brilliant actions, is occafionally ignorant where they occurred! Here we fee a monarch
recompenfing his brave fubjects, fubje¢ts who have ferved their country before a mo- —
narch’s eyes, open to appreciate their merit, and who in his diftribution of infignia,
begins with invefting himfelf with the medal, in earning which, he bore with them a
part. The King conftantly wears, and even takes pride in difplaying it, faltened toa
gold chain of exquifite workmanfhip, made at Stockholm. The officers decorated with
the medal, are obliged to wear it conftantly.
Here it may not be amifs to fay fomething of this multitude of orders which exift in
the ftates of the North: they are condemned by fome, but have our approbation. It
is a very fortunate thing for a poor country, that a few ribbons, a few plates properly
diftributed, fhould fatisfy thofe who have well deferved of their country, and whofe fer-
vices it would otherwife embarrafs much the government to reward. We fhall further
add, that orders and honorary employments excite greater emulation than pecuniary
gifts. It would be {till better doubtlefs, if the man who has real claims to the gratitude
* A fimilar flag in one of the ations during this war, was faved by fome Swedifh failors, who rather
chofe to throw it overboard than fuffer it to be taken by the Ruffians. Thefe latter did not aét in the
fame manner with refpeé to that of their admiral, or rather let us fay, the imperial colours entrufted to the
Prince of Naflau, with hopes of Luccefs but rafhly formed, if we be allowed to judge from the refult.
of
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