fortia’s travels in Sweden . 445

Paris , at Longchamps , on All Saints. The King appears in his coach. In 1791 we fawhim there with the Prince Royal, the grand equerry, and a Captain of the guards, ef-coited by his life and dragoon guards. The Oueen, Princes, and Princefies make theirappearance as well, with but very few attendants. Prince Charles alone was on horfe-back, efcorted by life guards, afligned him by the King as an acknowledgement of' hisfervices, in the fame manner as did Frederic II. to his brother, Prince Henry. This ce,remony, if a Ample promenade deferve that title, confifts in taking a turn or two iri:the park. The King alighted at the Spanilh minifter’s, who has built a country houfein a fingular pofition. It is upon a fmall promontory proje&ing into the fea, .fq that inhis faloon you may fancy yourfelf on board of Ihip. All vefiels arriving at, or failingfrom Stockholm , pafs by this fpot, and the paflage is in this part fo narrow, that youmay converle with the marines, even at-times without a trumpet. This is in fummeran incomparable fituation. The King has made a prefent to him, as well as feveralother perfoiis (with a view of engaging them to build) of a pretty conftderable extent ofground, which, with what he gains upon the fea, by throwing.out piers, enables him. tooencreafe his eftate, and procure all country enjoyments.

The Camp in the Park. On the 24th June, (St. John's Day,J a may-bufh is plantedbefore the gates of caftles and country-houfes, as in France is done on the ill of May*the King and royal family fhew themfelves again in the park, and remain at the camp.This camp, which lafts all the month of June, is compofed of the garrifon of Stocksholm, that is to ftty, of the two regiments of guards, the artillery corps, one battalion ofthe Queen Dowager’s guards, and the dragoons. Along the lines, on that day; longMay poles are {tuck in the ground, ornamented with garlands and cyphers of . leaves,and fometimes with fhields and devices ; at the foot of each are barrels of beer on. ffands.At fix or feven o’clock, at a certain fignal, the barrels are tapped, and each foldier re-ceives a pipe, a fmall loaf of bread, two herrings, 'and a trifle of money ; a treat oftheir feveral Captains. The mufic of each regiment flrikes-up, and the foldiers begindrinking and dancing. Acrofs every barrel fits a foldier fantaflically drefled either asBacchus, or in fome“other character more or lefs grotefque : he it is who drinks thefirft, and gives the toafts, which are numerous enough, and are always fucceeded by anReclamation of vivat: whenever any of the royal family or a general paffes, their health-is drank with a vivat. Soldiers iri difguife are drawn on carriages all along the line;thefe with drollery and finging ftrive to. pleafe the people who flock in crowds to laughat them : they fometimes take indecent licence. Soon as the evening roll is beat, allimmediately difperfe in good order., The royal family generally fup in camp, in theKing’s tent -; His Majefty himfelf frequently fleeps in it, and notwithftanding. he. wasnot prefent in iyqi, his tent was erected and occupied by General Armfeldt (with.whomthe court flipped)'as. Commandant of the camp and troops ; the King giving him theGeneral’s Staff, at the time of his departure, to hold during the whole of his abfence.This particular ftaffis of bronze, overfpread with fmall crowns in gold from one endto the other. The King commonly at his -levee on Monday gives the ftaff.to one of hisaides de camp , to be entitled to which • the individual mull at lealt ■ be a colonel ; andduring the whole time of his retaining it, he.has fupreme power over all that regardsthe fervice in Stockholm, Princes and Generals not excepted ; in one word, in what-ever regards military matters he reprefents the King himfelf. This ftafr mult never be -laid afide ; it is held generally for a week when the King is at Stockholm , and fome-times longer. His Swedifh Majefty adopted this cuftom from the court of Ruffia ;however if fuch a practice remains there at prefent, it is with a difference.. .

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