F0R.TIA*S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.

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own eftate of Chriftiernholm in 1785. He had a fine library, and in courfe of a longfefidence there, compofed this work. At his death, he confided to Mr. Gioeurwell thenianufcript and edition. He had travelled a great deal, fojourning the longeft in Hol-land ; he married a French woman at the Hague , Marguerite Janicou , daughter of atninifter of the Landgrave of Heffe Caffel, known by his letters on the United Provinces .His library confided of fix thoufand volumes; thofe which regarded hiftory were boughthy Mr. Gioeurwell, who has augmented their number.

Guftavus III., an enlightened prote&or of the arts, invited artifts of great merit toSweden ; it may be boldly advanced that the kingdom is indebted to him for thepoffeflion of a Sergei!, a De/pres, Ma/re/lier, &c. What clearly verifies this affertion,the Swedes themfelves, far from attracting great artifts, did not even profit by theirprefence, or give them any encouragement: they were never employed by any but theKing ; and we have no doubt that fince his death they will have abandoned a countrywhich will no longer afford them any refources, a court which, from its fyftem of eco-nomy, (certainly well imagined,) will look upon, as foolilhly expended, thofe fums re-quifite for the recompenfe and' encouragement of genius.

We Ihall now take a view of the artifts of Stockholm , whofe talents appear to us toHy claim in a greater or lefs degree to public efteem.

Mr. Sergell, a Swede , is the molt celebrated fculptor of the prefent day; Canova , aVenetian, being the only one in any degree comparable tc him. This artift is in higheftimation ; the King frequently reforts to his work-lhop, in which he is imitated by thenobility, and even the ladies ; but thefe vifits have become fo tirefome that his door isfrequently clofed ; fo that it will not be amifs for any one defirous of feeing him to ad-vife of his intention before hand. He is employed on the ftatue in bronze, defigned bythe citizens in honour of their King : the model of the proportions of which was Ihewnto us ; the King is upright, as if walking, his left hand leaning on the rudder of a fihip,(an attribute which accords equally with the fpecies of victory obtained by him, as withhis having the conduCt of affairs fince the revolution;) and in his right hand an olivebranch, the fymbol of peace: it fronts the church on the fide next the caftle, with itsback to the fea, very near to which it is placed ; thus wearing the appearance of beingjuft landed and bringing peace to his people. The height of the ftatue is to be elevenfeet; the fculptor has varied as little as poftible from the Swedilh coftume, w'hich,thanks to the cloak, has a very good effect; he has only taken final! iicenfe in alteringthe manner in which it is faftened. This ftatue, which he experts will be finifhed in1796, is full of grace and life. In his work-lhop we faw the group of Cupid andPfyche in marble, large as life, defigned for the King, who means to place it at Haga.This is one of the fineft. pieces of modern fculpture; Pfyche is on her knees beforeCupid; the poignard and lamp by his fide defignate the inftant. chofen by the artift.At firft he intended that Cupid Ihould have turned his head afide in repulfing Pfyche ;it would have rendered the work more eafy; the expreflion of his countenance as look-ing on Pfyche, however difficult to give, was preferred, and is admirably conceived byMr. Sergell: Cupid regards Pfyche with a cold and tranquil difdain, fuch as is fuitableto an offended deity. The two figures are naked, and the whole of the group pofleffesffriking beauties; it is a mafter-piece which well deferves minute attention : it was ori-ginally intended for Madame du Barry . The fame groupe was executed on a finallfcale for Baron Armfeldt, to whom His Majefty made a prefent of it, and for the Dukedffnfantado. The price of the finall work is 1000 rix-dollars. Mr. Sergell had alfotwo beautiful buffs in hi§ (hop, the one of Guftavus Vafa, the other of Guftavus Adol-phus, ordered formerly by the King of France ; not knowing any longer to whom to

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