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522 FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.
mature deliberation, with that of our fenators, which all wife men will applaud: this is
compofed for the ufe of all dwelling as we have delcribed.
« This book of the law was made and written in the year from the birth of God 1295:
the learned lords who follow being prefent :—M. Andre, Provoft of Upfal ; M. Reeud-
Keeuldorffon ; M. Bendict-Bofon ; ; Ulver Lagmanflon ; Hagbarder de Suderby ; An-
dre de Forekar leby ; ‘Thorften deSambran d’Attundalande; M. Philippe de Runeby ;
Jlakan, the great provincial Judge ;~ Efkil-Skielghi, Sighurd the Judge; Jowan Gafa-
bogher de Fiedhundraland; Ulver d’Oldmftum; Gotric and Ulridin, Judges ; befides
thele, the greater part of the learned of the three diftriéts of Upland, as well judges as
feudatories were fummoned, and all gave their confent to this law, which Byrger the
great judge caufed to be eleribed i in this book, according to the advice of all thofe
before-mentioned,
“We, Byrghir, bythe grace of God, King of Sweden and Gothia, falute all thofe
who fhall fee this letter, with the falutation of God, and his own,’* &c.
N. B. It is difficult to tranflate into the French language, and preferve the energy of
the ancient Swedifh laws; the Latin language is better adapted for expreflion; add to
which the language of thefe laws is widely different from that at prefent ufed in Swe-
den, fo much fo that few of the learned are able to comprehend and appreciate the va-
lue of the words.
Torture was abolifhed by Guftavus III.; another benefit conferred on Sweden by this
Prince.
It does not form any part of our plan to fpeak at large of governments; we fhall
only fay that the government of Sweden appears to us more perfect, than thofe the moft
extolled, as to the manner in which the nation is reprefented at the diets; the peafantry
forms a fourth order in the ftate ; this is the only great country in Europe where the
cultivator is looked upon as fomebody*. It might be poffible to correct fome abufes
which exift in the mode of eleétion of the peafants, and the number of members at the
diet, but here the adage may be applied; the bet is /till a foe togood. ‘The Swedes, con-
tent with enjoying a conftitution preferable to that of other people, tolerate the fmall
number of abufes by which it isaccompanied ; they fear damaging the trunk in lopping .
the branches. The real, and poffibly the only abufe, in the Swedith conftitution, is,
that it is impoffible for the King to keep where he is placed by it; but this is an evil
without a remedy; the fovereign, in a monarchical and hereditary ftate, muft neceflarily,
in procels of time, aflume an afcendency over the other powers, of whatfoever defcrip-
tion they may bet. Wherefore, as this evil is infinitely {maller than that of being go-
verned by an elective King, we prefer the Swedifh conftitution, which we regard as
being molt free trom faults of any that we know.
‘The taxes are numerous, and even burthenfome in the cities; yet do they produce
but an inconfiderable fum; the total revenue of the {tate not amounting to more than
thirty-three millions of livres.
Every poft under the government is liable to a certain tax, fuch perfons as hold fe-.
veral, pay but on one, but that is always the molt confiderable. ‘Thofe who have the
title w thout being actually employed, pay double.
* The fame practice exifts in the Tyrol, a {mall province belonging to the Emperor. In France we
conceived the people were reprefented by giving a double reprefentation to the fiers état, as if lawyers, dac-
tors, and coffee-houfe politicians, were the people. What an abfurdity !
+ If he does not affume this afcendancy he will be overwhelmed ; there is forhim no mean ; wherefore,
in order to diitinguifh which of the two be preferable, let a look be caft on the relative fituations of England
and France,
6} The
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