F0RTIA*S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.

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blue-lhot ribbon, fattened from the right Ihoulder to the left fide, and a filver plate onthe left fide, on which is engraven, IHS. with a crofs above, furrounded by the threecrowns of Sweden . The chain is formed of erodes and heads of cherubims alternately.The Knights admitted wear the plate without the ribbon until the period of theirinftallation.

The Order of the Sword. This order confined to the military alone, is divided intothree claffes, exa&ly in the fame manner as was the order of St. Louis in France : theribbon is yellow, edged with blue, and is worn from right to left; the plate on the leftfide is of gold. The crofs reprefents on one fide the arms of Sweden , and in the midtta fword upright. On the reverfe, a fword run through a crown of laurel, with thefewords, Pro Patria. The reigning Sovereign has inftituted a fourth clafs, to whichnone are admitted but in the time of war; it requiring the companion propofed Ihouldfirft have gained a victory either by fea or land as commander in chief. The Kinghimfelf could not obtain this diftinCtion but by the fulfrage of the army, and Gufta.Vus III. was unwilling to afiume this honourable order before the third campaign, al-though he had well deferved it previoufly j he flood in the lift for reception only ac-cording to the date of his pretenfions. This order is worn, (by fuch as have no otherthan the fmall crofs, and wear it in its place,) cn fautoir, on the neck. Thofe who are-decorated with the large ribbon, wear a fmall filver fword on the left fide, fuch as wearthe plate, have two filver fwords below, eroded. The cafe is the fame with the Knights of the Seraphim, who moreover wear the cordon crofied at the neck : the number ofKnights of this order is not limited for either of the clafles..

Order of the Polijh Star. This is a civil order, defigned for the reward of minifters,,,ambafladors, and other perfons employed by the government. It is divided into twoclafles, Commanders and Knights •, the former wear a grand white crofs on the breaft,.fattened to a black ribbon, and a ftar embroidered with filver on the left fide. TheKnights have only the fmall crofs, fattened with a black ribbon to the button hole: thenumber of the order is unlimited..

Order of Vafa. This was eftablilhed in 1772, by Guftavus III. It is intended as adiftinCtion for Ikilful artifts, merchants of merit, and perfons employed in mining, ma-nufactories, &c. The Knights wear a golden Iheaf, (the arms of Guftavus Vafa,) fuf-pended from the neck with a green ribbon, of that colour to fpecify.that this honour isfpecially intended for the encouragement of agriculture. The Grand Crofles, whichare four in number, and the eight Commanders, wear a large green ribbon from rightto left, and the plate on the left fide, or the ribbon by itfelf. The Marquis de Mira-beau was made a Grand Crofs at the firft inftitution of the order, and was not replaceduntil 1791. The two firft clafles are obtained at once, without palling from the third,of which latter clafs, few are promoted to the others.

Ceremony of the 13 th February , 1791. In commemoration of the two victories ofFredericlhamin and Svenkund, on the 15th May and 9th June, 1790, the King ordereda medal to be ftruck, defcribing the number of Ihips taken from the enemy in thefetwo engagements, in order to decorate therewith the officers who were prefent. Thefuperior officers (of the llaff) wear it fufpended from the neck, as well as the King’saides de camp : the other officers, of a fmaller fize, at their buttonhole ; each fattenedto a gold chain. In order to make this ceremony the more fplendid, .the King, in theuniform of the navy, (blue waiftcoat and breeches,) entered the chapel with the fametrain as follows him on the molt folemn occafions. He feated himfelf in a filver chair,railed to fome height upon a number of Heps j befide him was the ftandard, or rather