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robbed Denmark of three-fourths of her dominions , and gave her in exchange the right to tax English * LSwedish , and American commerce . Sweden lost nearly as much , gained only Norway , and is taxed in her own waters . The United States , which were unrepresented at tlie Congress , demur to the impost per se , and also on the ground that , while English cotton twist—of which nearly fifty million pounds are annually shipped to the Baltic—is taxed one per cent ., raw cotton is taxed treble that amount , W valorem . Of the political constitution of Sweden , Mr . Scott says : — The constitution of the country invests the King with the right to declare and make war ; but , by a singular contradiction , he is deprived of control over the
necessary funds for doing so . By the fundamental law of the kingdom certain sums , called Lilla Kreditivct , or small credit , usually amounting to half a million dollars banco , or 41 , 66 GZ ., and Stora Kreditivet , or large credit , of two million dollars , or 166 , 6661 ., are voted by the Diet for annual extraordinary expenditure . The King and hia council can dispose of the former on defensive works for the country or in unforeseen expenses , but the Diet exercises the right of investigating the accounts , and holding the council -responsible for any misappropriation of the funds . The larger credit , however , can only be employed in case of imminent danger of the country being involved in war , and then only after the King , by the consent of his council , has called the States together , and obtained their approbation .
Thus it apj > ears that , although possessing a nominal , tie King of Sweden has no real , power alone to enter upon an offensive w ar ; we therefore believe that any engagement he may make for joining the Western Powers in the present European struggle , will be on condition of a ratification by the Diet . That he would obtaiu such a ratification is very probable , for the ifeeling of the Swedish people is strongly anti-Russian , while all their material interests are bound up with England . This singular " contradiction is no more than , the English principle , that the Crown may declare war , but that Parliament naav refuse the funds if the war
be opposed to its policy . Mr . Scott argues that , by joining England m an attack upon Russia ., Sweden would have gained immense advantages—the restitution of Finland , and , perhaps , the reversion of the Danish crown- The question of the Danish succession may , at no distant time , again imperil the general peace ; Russia , Austria , and Prussia being parties to the existing settlement , to which the feelings of the people of Denmark are bitterly opposed . . Already , in all acts of foreign policy , the Danes follow the Swedes ; Mir . Scott believes consequently , that a Swedish alliance against Russia ,, would have been tantamount to a league of the Baltic powers .
We have been led by Mr . Scott into an elude on the politics of Scandinavia . We must find room , before dismissing his book , for a sketch of the Court at Stockholm : — The doors were thrown open , aud we followed the courtly train through a fine long gallery , crowded on each , side by the assembled guests . We could now see a splendid range of apartments , of which this gallerywi . s the centre , all handsomely decorated , and having richly-painted ceilings . A line of cnandeliers hung from one end to the other of this noble suite , filled with , thousands of burning wax . caudles , the rays from which were drowned by a flood of red and glowing light , that poured through the open windows , producing an unusual , strange , yet beautiful effect , to be witnessed ± n a high northern latitude alone under such circumstances , and at such a time of night .
Slowly we made our way towards , tlie ball-room , whici formed part of another elegant range , extending at right angles to the one we were traversing . By the time we reached it the dauciug had commenced , and a hundred couples were gliding swiftly over tbe higlily-polished parquet , in the giddy mazes of tb . e deux temps , amongst whom the Crown Pi ince was most conspicuous . Whether the Swedes be unaccustomed to dance upon polished floors we know not , but certain it is that on this occasion we witnessed several very disagreeable falls , not , however / from any fault in the dnnciug , which was -unusually good . » The ladies' toilettes were charming , and there were many among the fair Swedes who well sustained the reputation they havo . of being beautiful ; ' still , judging from this assembly—a good ciiteriou—we did not think the female aristocracy , aa a class , so handsome or so pretty as the lower order of Swedish women . In tlie mamifer and bearing of the Swedish lady , however , there is nothing wanting ; she irf what the French call si gracieuse—that mingling of kindliness with grace which produces fascination .
His Mnjosty is a handsome man with very dark hair , black eyes , an aquiline nose , and good forehead , denoting more than average intellect . His countenance is rather thoughtful in expression , bxit the prevailing tone is benevolent . A . gentle inclination of the head , nud a slight hesitation when speaking , denote only a slight amount of self-esteem , while au unfaltering step , an easy carriage , and a dignified manner , give an imposing presence to a fiue person . The dancers of Stockholm , sliding to the floor , tlo not suggest a picture of royal dignity . There is nothing very attractive in Mr . Scott ' s literary manner ; but his volume presents a lively and interesting account of the Baltic States , and of tl ) eir social and political aspects .
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BURFORD'S NEW PANORAMA . How much pictures and models have contributed to swell the war feeling , and bring about unanimity in the nation , we shall perhaps never know ; but they must have been active influences . Simpson ' s sketches , Fenton ' s photograph's Burford ' s panoramas , all in their way , must have aided in feeding and awakening interest in the battle-fields of the . East . Mr . Buefobd has established a new claim to be considered a public benefactor—he has produced a new panorama of Sebastopol . In most respects , this new picture is superior to that exhibited last year . It has one great advantage over that—it has been painted mainly from photographs . Thus , the Malakhoff is presented as it appeared two days after the triumphant assault , and every f » lank , crack in the stone , displacement of earth , inequality , is reproduced from the photograph upon the canvas . In
the same way , the Karabelnaiaa the dockyard wall , several public buildings , Fort Nicholas * just blown up , and . the surrounding scenery of cliff , and fortress , and sea , are fae-similes of the originals . The spectator is supposed to be standing in a Russian battery , and immediately beneath him is a transcript of its interior , guns , mantelets , gabions , traverses . From this battery he looks upon the lines of the Allies . The moment chosen is when the French have just stormed the Malakhoff and the English are scrambling into the Redan . This terrible combat is on your right as you face the Allied camp . In the rear of the Redan are masses of Russian soldiers , hurrying up from the Malakhoff ; on your left are the Zouaves , sweeping like a torrent into that work , and crowning its summit with the tricolor , Beyond
the Malakhoff lies the ruined Karabelnaia , and beyond that the blue waters of the harbour , crossed by the bridge of boats ; still beyond that , the north side , and the Euxine bearing the British lleet forced to take no part . In front of the spectator are the extensive lines of the Allies , showing like tracks along tlie wide-spread hills . The painting is masterly ; the sea is exquisitely touched—the contrast of its calm with the glare and hurly burly of the "battle is very striking and refreshing . The atmosphere is also painted with rare skill ; and the deception as to magnitude is more perfect , we think , than that of any panorama we ever witnessed . This picture is certainly one of the happiest efforts of Mr . Bubfoud and Mr . Selous , and must attract great notice .
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Lycrum Theatre . —The Pianoforte Makers' Dramatic Society intend giving their eighth performance on Monday evening next , in aid of some workmen who lost their tools at a recent fire . Henry IV . and " Raising the Wind are included in the programme . The Society has enabled several unfortunate pianoforte makers to emigrate , and has also purchased permanent life-governorships of St . Mark ' s Hospital and Brompton Hospital .
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Wo regret to hear from Paris that M . AuUcr ia seriously ill . The production of his newopuru , Mutton Losoaut , at the Opera Cotnique , is delayed in consequence .
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they are pressed into bijou cases of wood or pasteboard , within eilt and enamel , and under portraits of a thousand grisettes and blondes . Once within the box the fruit is said to ferment , and here tradition interposes its < lisa » reeable fancies . Out of each fig , saith the Fancy of the East , is emitted a creature of that legless type , the worm ; but Sayah , who would sit safely under his fig-tree , has examined several new cases , without verifying the legend , redolent as it is of ancient cheese . Still , the captains who carry figs to England , France , and America , declare that their decks are always covered with animalculse , which come and go , and no man knoweth whence they come or whither they go . We have little concern in the matter , seeing that the metempsychosis of the worm is past before the figs reach the London shops , so that we have the fruit without its posteritv .
A propos of tobacco , Sayah remarks that , according to one notion , " meerschaum" Lsnothingmore nor less than a composition ofclay , soft , wheii prepared , manipulated and moulded , but hard and durable after exposure to the air . More poetical traditions describe it as a petrifaction of the cream or froth of the Caspian Sea—exactly as the nest of the Indian sea-swallow is described by the Chinese . But deponent says that it is a mineral production , fbirad at no great distance from the surface , principally near Broussa , and under the shadows of
Olympus . Though yielded by a land of smokers , not a pound . of it is sold in the native market . It is all packed and sent direct to Trieste , and thence to Vienna to be fashioned into those many shapes of elegance and ugliness well known to all classes of tobacco-consumers in London . Meerschaum pipes , however , are often imported into Smyrna from the German factor ies . The true material , of course , is imitated by the mechanical forger , but , byadepts , the fraud is at once detected , as real " meerschaum" absorbs the essential oil , which " composition" does not . _
_ To a perfect inerschaum pipe , an amber mouthpiece is essential—a mouthpiece of amber from the Baltic Sea . In the East it is still considered to be a sort of alchymised gum , or transmuted white of eggs . Of this substance , too , the thievish Greek has many imitations to sell , the best being of Bohemian glass ; but the glass is hot ,, brittle , and disagreeable , while the amber is always cool , pleasant , and pure . In such light gossip Sayah indulges ; and to all who eat figs with wine , or prize aa amber-tipped meerschaum , his gossip will be agreeable .
FIGS AND PIPES . Sayah ; or , The Courier to the East . By the Author of " Soldiors and Sailors . ' Chapman and Hall . A , VL . MASANT and fanciful little volume , taking us lightl y along the route to t 3 ie East , by way of Paris , Marseilles , and the Mediterranean . It has an Eastern colour ; it treats of the fragrance of Eastern coffee , the softness of Eastern pillows , the beauty hidden behind Eastern lattices , of white and purple ( iga . But , among the author ' s topics , the figs are the most interesting , except , perhaps , the pipes . The lig of commerce is not the same that grows , in incorrigible unriponcss , against English walls ; it is small , of a pale colournot
, strong in flavour , but precious to the Smyrniote pickers , prosscrs , and packers . In England it is common to say , tluit he who has seen tigs squeezed into o dnlin will eat of tlie fruit no more ; but Mr . Herbert Byng Hall , —that is " Sayah'a" name , wo think ?—affirms the contrary . He haa seen tho ripe figs fall from the tree , seen them collected , dried , packed with sweet buy loaves in horsehair bags , placed in dry storehouses , and then heaped , with wooden shovels , into broad Hut baskets or trays . All this is fresh and pastoral , —and still more pastoral aud fresh ia tho sight of tho Greek girls sorting the large ri j > o figs for tho market , and the men dipping them into water sweetened with bay luavett , and arranging thorn lovingly into boxes , formerly , the drum was the only form of box known to Europe ; but now
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February 23 , 1866 J THE LEA . BEB . -1 > 87
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Covknt Gardkn . —Professor Anderson has broken ground again , with popular English operas , introducing a Mr . Henry Haigh as u British tonor , who has made a favourable impression upon tho general public m the Bohemian Girt , Tho Professor , who appears disposed to mark Scotland for his own , announces another favourite old Scottish play , in which he will personsito the principal character . Observing this dramatic predominance of Caledonia , wo are tempted to exclniui , O ! for one hoar of Samuel Johnson .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 23, 1856, page 187, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2129/page/19/
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