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Chap. XL —State of theSwedifh Troops. —Difpofition of the Soldiery. — Abufes in mt-< litary Matters.
THE Swedifh army is compofed' of a ftnall number of regiments, either levies or ingarrifon, and national troops: the firft, as every where elfe, are compofed of foldiers en-rolled, taken wherever they were to be found. The national regiments are on eftab-lilhment only when under order, or during reviews.
The provinces furnilh according to their population and extent, either a regiment of.infantry or cavalry. Each individual foldier, as well as officer, pofleffes a portion ofland and a dwelling’; and the enrolment is made in fuch manner that as nearly as poffi-ble the Colonel fhould live in the center of his regiment, and each Captain in the midltof his men. This collection of refidences is called Bojlelles.
As the revenue of the different eftates very much depends on the nature of the foil,the pods of Colonel and Captain differ accordingly, but maybe eftimated at worth the-one from 1200 to 2000 rix-dollars, the other from 3 to 5C0.
Each diftritt is thus obliged to furnilh one or more men, according to its being more orlefs peopled. Inftantly as one departs for the army his fucCeffor. is defignated immedi-ately, fo that in cafe of death the fubftitution of another man Ihould take place withoutdelay. If a canton be too inconfiderable to furnilh a man, a number unite for thepurpofe.
During the interval of military fervice, (a confiderable part of the year,) he eitherworks at his bufmefs or cultivates the ground, and is paid by the proprietor of the ha-bitation, which affords him {helter, at the fame rate as other workmen. Three monthsafter the death of a foldier, his wife and children are obliged to give up the dwelling tohis fucceffor.
When the clergy were defpoiled of their poffeffions, the crown diftributed them ingreat meafure to individuals upon their engagement at the time, to furnilh perpetually,and maintain a certain number of foldiers. Such was the bafis of the mode which isnow in practice, which having been ratified by divers diets, is become a fundamentalbafe of the military conftitution.
All the troops wear the Swedifli drefs, that is to fay, a jacket and cloak. This cloathingis unfuitable to fo cold a climate ; the cloak does not defend the whole of the body, andmuff needs be cumberfome in engagement. The foldiers wear round hats.
Some regiments, but their number is few (that of the Queen for example) are dreffedafter the French falhion. The general officers wear a blue coat with gold tags : they .mollly have a regiment to themfelves. Lieutenant-Colonels wear two epaulets, thefame as Colonels in France . Officers of whatfoever rank, wear a blue and yellow fcarfunder their jacket, and their handkerchief tied round their left arm. In the lalt warit was perceived that this diftinttion, too liriking not to be vifible, pointed them out asmarks for the enemy. The Swedilh cockade is yellow.
State