Of the vast quantity of iron produced from the mines, about a fourth part is made use of at home, the rest being exported chiefly in the form of bar-iron and steel. There are large foundries for cannon and other pieces of artillery, as also works for ma king muskets and other small arms. The manu factures of copper and brass occupy very few hands. The manufactures, indeed, of Sweden are neither numerous nor important. From the superabun dance of excellent timber, ship-building forms a most extensive and lucrative employment; and ves sels of every species are sent from Swedish ports to many countries, particularly to those of South America. The other manufactures of the country are comparatively inconsiderable, and are carried on, not for exportation, but for family use. The true nature of division of labour is not well under stood, or rather such division cannot in a poor and thinly inhabited country, such as Sweden, be carried very fully into effect; the Swedish peasantry make at home the clothing and utensils required for do mestic purposes.
The foreign trade of Sweden has not of late been in so favourable a condition as it was twenty years ago, and previously to that time. Exports of iron and timber, which were her two most flourishing branches, have decreased to a great degree. The mines of Danemora have not of late been so pro ductive; and the recent great extension of the iron mines of England has lessened the demand, as in England the inexhaustible stores of coal, and the ready command of inland navigation, are gradually rendering it independent of supplies from Sweden. With regard to the timber trade, the arbitrary re strictions which we have imposed on it, in order to give an advantage in this trade to Canada, have diminished, or almost annihilated our imports from the Baltic. Iron and timber, however, still form the staple exports of Sweden; the export consists of copper, pitch, tar, hemp, tallow, hides, saltpetre and alum. The chief imports are corn, wine, bran dy, cotton, both raw and manufactured, silk, drugs, sugar, coffee, and other tropical products. In 1781, Mr. Coxe found the value of exports from Sweden to be L.1,368,830 13s. 5d. and the imports to be L.1,008,392 12s. 44d. In 1825, the tonnage of ves sels trading between Great Britain and Sweden, en tered inward and outward, was 104,968. Chronol. Records of the British Royal and Cornier. Nary, by Cesar Moreau, p. 81.) Such tonnage was much less for the preceding nine years; but in 1814, it amounted to 180,755, and in the succeeding year to 167,112. Since 1825, we presume it has fallen con siderably, owing to our diminished imports of iron and timber. This diminution of foreign demand for the products of Sweden is sufficient to account for the less rapid increase of population which has taken place there within the last four years.
The doctrines and ecclesiastical opinions, pro mulgated and enforced by Luther, were introduced into Sweden in the beginning of the 16th century.
The Bible was soon after translated into the lan guage of the country by Laurentius l'etri, the first protestant arch-bishop of Upsal, who died at an ad vanced age in the year 1570. Several of the Swed ish kings, particularly Gustavus Adolphus, who has been honoured with the appellation of Bulwark of the Protestant faith, have made most signal ex ertions for the maintenance of the reformed doc trines; and the Roman Catholic religion, which the Swedes regard with great abhorrence, has long been banished from the kingdom. Till the end of last century, when all religious intolerance was abolish ed by law, it would not have been safe for a Catho lic priest to have made his appearance openly in the provincial districts of Sweden. The established church resembles that of England; and though some particular sectaries arc to be found, they are far from being numerous or important.* It consists of one archbishop, whose sec is that of Upsal, and eleven bishops, with several archdeacons. The whole number of clergy amounted in 1825, to 3,476. They are supported by the usual tithes; and their condition is very respectable. The par ishes amounted to 2537, of which some, like the thinly inhabited parishes in the highlands of Scot land, are very large. There is one 150 miles in length by 48 in width. In Lapland some of the inhabitants are a journey of three miles distant from any place of worship. A convocation of the clergy virtually elects the prelates, by presenting the names of three to the king, of whom he must nominate one. Some of the parishes are under royal patronage; others are in the gift of private individuals, while some are consistorial, the cler gyman being appointed by the votes of his brethren.
Of the literature of Sweden, though it was not brought to much perfection till about the middle of the 17th century, we can speak in terms of high commendation; indeed, in few countries in Europe has this important subject been more assiduously attended to. It is a rare occurrence to meet with a Swede, however low in rank, unable to read, education being there as generally diffused as in Scotland or Switzerland. A law, in truth, exists, declaring that every person, whether male or fe male, in the kingdom should be taught this neces sary accomplishment. The number of public in structors paid by government in 1825, was 968, in addition to at least an equal number whose remune ration is obtained solely from their employers. Orders have recently been given by the king to es tablish schools on the Lancasterian system. Gov ernment, indeed, is doing all in its power to intro duce improvements in teaching; and pays no less than L. 60,000 annually, in the shape of salaries, allowances to the poorer students, &c. The cler gy take all seminaries of learning, particularly schools, under their particular jurisdiction, and labour by liberal attention to promote the object which such institutions have in view.