Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Doc. 205.] 79
SWEDENBORG’S TRAVELS IN 1736.
render the gates firm and tight, and to prevent them from
sinking, and the pressure of the water from causing any
friction ; quite as much skill and labour are required for clear
ing out the bottom of the sea there, as time will show. I then
visited the royal stables, where a hundred horses stand with
their names written over them; I examined also [ the building
of] the castle which is lined with hewn, yet sufficiently thick
stone ; the rest is built of brick. The wall is quite three ells
thick; its length is a hundred and fifty paces; it is square, and will
be a magnificent structure. The machine for hoisting the bricks
is curious ; it consists of shelves which are fastened together
like a chain; it goes up on one side and down on the other;
two or three bricks are laid on one shelf; so that a consider
able quantity can be raised by one horse. I noticed besides
that in the town there is a great display of horses, carriages,
liveries, and dinners. They have two hundred hackney coaches.
The town is also infected with pietism or quakerism ; and they
are crazed enough to believe that it is well pleasing to God
to do away with oneself and others ; of which many instances
are on record. The port is very good, so that vessels, even
East-India men, are enabled to come close up to the town.
The country is governed by an intelligent king, who is
prudent and seriously inclined. He gives large pensions,
amounting to from 5000 or 6000 rix-dalers. The Crown-Prince
also, who is thirteen years old, is said to be inclined to everything
that is good. In the large garden is the Treasury with the
crown jewels, of which the king himself is said to keep the key.
During summer His Majesty resides generally at Frederics
berg, four [geographical] miles from town, where there is also
a beautiful garden. The duty on Swedish iron is said to
amount to ten rix-dalers per skålpund; it would have been vain
to say anything on the matter. All gold and silver and pre
cious stones on garments are forbidden.
July 23. I was in the Museum. On the ground-floor I
saw : 1. A small elephant, 2. A very large ox, 3. A horse in
plaster of Paris which formerly existed in Denmark, 4. The
fac-simile of the horns of a stag, from four to five ells in height;
5. The drawing of a giant upwards of thirteen ells high, who
is said to have been found. In the museum itself is a long
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
