FORTIa’S’ TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.
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of Benzelius, and to learn latin, explain Virgil, Titus Livy , QuintusCurtius, and Salluft.The infpeCtion of the gymnafia, and other fubaltern fchools, is the province of thebilhops. The progrefs of the fcholars depends very much on the attention paid to theircharge by thefe ecclefiaftics : proofs of which we faw. The courfe of ftudy in thefegymnafia was appointed by Frederic the Firft in 1724 ; thofe perfons called profeffors inuniverfities, are here called readers ; each gymnafium has feven or eight, they are paidfrom the corn which the King receives out of the tythes paid by the fanner, of whichtythes two thirds belong to the King, the remaining third to the rector.
Public Schools. Each parifli church has its public fchool: the Swedifli fchools arefubjeCt to particular infpeCtion, divided by diocefes, and are independent one of theother. The German fchool at Stockholm is under the infpeCtion of two German paf-tors ; in thefe are taught religion, geography, the Grecian and Roman hilt dry, and theFrench language. One general law regulates the whole of the Swedifli fchools withregard to inftruction ; the courfe to be purfued in the education of the pupils is pre-ferred, and the falary to be paid is eftablifhed, although it varies according to the de-feription of fchools. Scholars are admitted at eight or nine years of age, and remainuntil eighteen or nineteen. The young people generally go from thefe to college, andparticularly to the univerfity of Upfal; rarely finifhing their ftudies at fchool. Thecurrent charge of education is from one to two rix-dollars per quarter: families ineafy circumftances, inftead of paying any rate, make prefents to the profeflors or in-fpeCtors.
Academy of Painting. This was founded by Count Teflin; the director goes outevery three years, and is nominated by the members of the academy. It has four pro-feffors, each of whom acts during his quarter, and receives, during this fervice, 100 liv.monthly. The profeffors in 1791 were Meffrs. Mafrelier, Sergell, Guilbert, and Pafch.The regulations of this academy are modelled pretty clofely after thofe of Paris ; thediftribution of prizes is after the fame manner precifely. It is a gratuitous fchool, thepupils providing themfelves only with crayons and paper; the King gives 12,000 livresannually to this eftablifliment; the houfe was left as a legacy by Mr. Meyer, the fame■who call the ftatues of Guftavus Vafa, and Guftavus Adolphus. The latter was fobadly call, that it would poffibly have been cheaper to have re-founded it, fo muchchipping did it require. The academy has a moll beautiful collection of models fromthe antique in philter, prefented to Charles XI. by Lewis XIV., and part of the bas-reliefs of Trajan’s column, which were modeled entire by order of the King of France .During our ftay, there was an exhibition of paintings; among them were eight or tenportraits by Breda, the chief merit of which were their resemblance. Except thefe,there was not one picture worthy of notice. There were many architectural pieces ofdefigns and ftudies of the pupils, and a handfome picture in embroidery, representing aftaval engagement, an aftonilhing performance.
Certain amateurs at Stockholm have founded an Academy of Mufick ; for lome years*t has fuftained itfelf, which is as much as can be faid. During part of the wintermonths, it gives a concert once a week at the exchange hall.
Patriotic Society. This was founded by individuals, and is occupied in ceconomicalmatters alone. The aCting fecretary in 1791, was Mr. Fifcherftroeum; he was em-ployed on a large ceconomical dictionary, three volumes of which had made their ap-pearance. The tranfaftions of this fociety fill feveral volumes in 8vo. in the Swediflilanguage; the number of its members is unreftriCted ; the fociety augmenting it atpleafure. Its revenue is derived from the annual contributions of its members ; eachu pon his admiffioD fpecifying the fum he can afford. The number is pretty confider-
voe. vj. 3 a able.