Of this great extent of country the is not great. The number of inhabitants, in Novem ber 1828, was ascertained to be 2,860,000, or so small as only to average about 17 to a square mile. There is, as may be conjectured, great difference in this respect, in different provinces. Gothland con tains about 42 to a square mile; Sweden Proper about 24; while Norrland, including Swedish Lap land, not much above 2_ The relative dcnaity, when compared to other countries, may be under stood, when it is mentioned, that the average popu lation of the Netherlands is 212 to a square mile; of England and Wales 207; of the Lowlands of Scot land 127. But the population of Sweden is advanc ing at a considerably rapid ratio; the best mark of the prosperity and increase of the capital of the country. Between the year 1820 and 1825, it advan ced at the rate of per cent.; an increase greater than at any former period; though it must, at the same time, be confessed, that between 1825 and 1828, the progress has been comparatively small, being only 37,000 per annum, or about 4 per cent.* Lon gevity, however, is extending: a fact that is found always to result from the improved condition of the people with regard to food, clothing, and cleanli ness. During the five years previously to 1821, the annual average of mortality was 62,329; while, during the succeeding five years, it was only 58,919, making an annual reduction of 3410. Previous to the age of ten, the mortality of boys was ascer tained to be greater than that of girls; between that age and that of twenty, it was nearly equal between the sexes; from that till sixty, it was greater among the males; beyond sixty, it became more prevalent among the females: and with regard to both sexes, it was found to be greatest between the ages of sixty and seventy-five. During the five years last spe cified, 26 individuals, namely, nine males, and fif teen females, exceeded a hundred years of age: of whom six men and eleven women reached 101; two men 102 years; two women 103; one woman 104; one man and two women 105; while one woman at tained the age of nearly 107; a proof that the female life, in this instance, considerably exceeds that of the opposite sex. During the same lust rum, the an nual number of marriages was 23,772,—of which, 18,764 were of persons before in a state of celibacy; 2,628 were of widowers who united themselves to maiden females; 1611 of widows who married bache lors; while 768 widowers married widows. In the same five years, there were 101,941 marriages for the first time; 16,092 for the second; 774 for the third; 48 for the fourth; 5 for the fifth; and only a single instance of one that married for the sixth time. During the same time also, there were 7148 instances of twins: 100 instances of three at a birth; 3 instances of four. The average number of births was 95,706, while that of deaths, as before stated, Was 58,919. The greatest number of births was found to be in the month of September; the smallest in that of June. The proportion of illegitimate children was as 1 to The condition of the people may be thus classified. The number of the clergymen is 3476; that of pub lic teachers, paid by government, is 968. The army extends to 31,000, exclusive of the national militia; marines, of every kind, amount to 10,000. Manufacturers and miners exceed 28,000. None of these calculations include children or servants. The number of poor, including mendicants, is 21,216; that of prisoners, 1833. The peasantry, including their children, amount to no fewer than 1,594,703, more than the half of the whole popu lation.
As the population and the climate of Sweden are so various, its physical appearance must evidently partake of a similar character. Rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, vales, so abound and so succeed each other, as to impart a character equally pic turesque, magnificent, and interesting to this north ern region. Rich pastures, or cultivated fields,
barren rocks, rugged mountains, or foaming cata racts, and scenery of the most opposite description, are so peculiarly blended, that there is, probably, no country in Europe where such contrasts, and such a variety of surface may be seen. Sweden has, of late years, been much denuded of its forests, though these still extend over immense tracts, being calcu lated to cover about a third of the whole country. Towards the north and west, it exhibits chains of lofty and almost inaccessible mountains, an account of which may be found under the article NORWAY. Sweden, however, is not remarkable for any thing so much as for the number and extent of its lakes and rivers. The former have been computed to occupy 9200 square miles, or about an eighteenth part of the whole surface; while the number of the latter, none of wbich are very large, though many of them are navigable, is greater than that of any other country in Europe.
No country in the old world can rival Sweden in the extent and number of its lakes. Wener, lying be tween Skaraberg and Carlstadt, is the largest, being about 100 British miles in length, and 60 in breadth. It is remarkable, however, for little except its great extent. " Its shores," says Mr. Coxe, " are low and level, so that the view over the surface of the water appears boundless like a sea." " The shores of the lakes," says Mr. Derwent Conway, " are not particularly interesting; nor was there any thing to see but a vast expanse of water, enlivened by so few sails, that a feeling of sadness, rather than any other emotion, was produced in viewing so vast an arena of water contributing so little to the utility of life." (Personal Narrative of a Journey through Norway, Part of Sweden, 4-e. Part III. Chap. I. Coxe's Travels through Sweden, 4'c. vol. i. p. 302). Weiler receives the water of 24 rivers, while it is connected with the Cattegat by one only, the Gotha. It is studded with many romantic islands. The \Veter is next in importance after the one now de scribed, and lies about 40 miles to the south-east of it. It is of equal length, namely 100 miles, but its breadth, which is irregular, no where exceeds 20. It is of a different character from the Wener, being surrounded by mountains, so that it is peculiarly liable to storms and hurricanes. Its surface is also variegated by numerous islands: and though its communication with the Cattegat is by a single river, the Motala, it forms the reservoir of no fewer than 40 streams. The Maeler, the only other lake that requires to be minutely described, is like Weter, of irregular form, its greatest length being about 80 miles, its mean breadth about 18. Its islands are numerous and picturesque; on seven of which, on its east coast, is situated Stockholm, the capital of' the kingdom. The waters of the Maeler discharge themselves at this place into an inlet of the Baltic. The only other lake in Gothland or Sweden Proper, is Hiemar, south-west from that of Maeler, a sheet of water chiefly remarkable for its utility in the line of canals which connects the Cattegat with the capital. Many other lakes in the northern portion of the kingdom, some of them of considerable extent, might be mentioned; but as none of them is very large, or of much practical use, such an enumeration is unnecessary. The largest is Enara in Swedish Lapland, 70 British miles in length, and 30 in breadth. All the lakes which we have described, or to which we have re ferred, abound with fish of almost every variety; and their banks are skirted with woods or forests, even to the margin of the water.