* FRYXELL, ANDERS, one of the most eminent living historians of Sweden, was born on the 7th of February 1795, at the parsonage of Heaaelakog in Dalsland, where his father was minister. Anders was the eldest of six children, and though he made his way to the University of Upsal, was obliged to abandon his studies for a time by want of means. In 1820 he was admitted to holy orders; and about the same time began to he known to the public as a writer in the annuals, and as the author of an opera, Wermelanda Flickan ' (' The Lass of Wermeland '), which was acted with much success at Upeal and Carlstad. In 1823 his career as an historian commenced with the first volumes of Beriittelser ur Sveuaka Historien,' or Nar ratives from Swedish History,' a work originally on much the same plan as Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather,' as being intended to contain only the more entertaining portiona of history for the perusal of youth. Fryxell'a lucid and easy atyle made the work so popular that he was induced, perhapa without due consideration, to enlarge the plan, and that to such an extent, that while the whole of the heathen times in Sweden are despatched in the first volume, and of the Catholie times in the second, the single reign of Charles XI., by no means one of the most distinguished kings of Sweden, occupies no less than eight volumes, from vol. xiii. to xx., which is the last we believe that has yet appeared.
In 1844 two volumes of an English translation of this work, by a lady named Schoultz, containing the first three of the original, were published under the editorship of Mary Howitt, but the work was not continued, probably from want of encouragement. The latter portion of Fryxelre work is now generally regarded as an appropriate supple ment to Geijer's history of the earlier times of Sweden ; but the opinions a the two historians are far from coinciding—a controversy having in fact been carried on between them respecting the estimate to be formed of the part which the aristocracy playa in Swedish history, Fryxell undertaking its defence against the heavy censure of Geijer. Some of the beat and most straightforward writing which
has flowed from Fryxell's pen is to be found in hia pamphlets on this controversy. The reputation acquired by hia history led to his being named to some honourable positions, as rector of schools at Stock holm; and in 1833 he was promoted to the dignity of professor. In the following year he applied for a government grant to prosecute his researches by a journey abroad; and failing in obtaining it, raised a private subscription for the same purpose, to which the king and the crown-prince contributed, and he was thus enabled to collect the mate rials for his ' Documents relating to Swedish History' (' Handliegar rorande Sverges Hiatoria '), 4 vols. 8vo, 1836-43. This is a very valuable collection, and the account which is prefixed of the researches which produced it from the libraries of Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Holland, contains passages of singular apirit and interest. A long list of Fryxell's works is given in Palmblad's Biographiaht Lexicon ;' but the only one of importance that remains to be added is hia Swedish grammar, a popular school-book, of which the first edition was published in 1824, and the tenth in 1852; and to which a brief history of the Swedish language and literature is appended. Fryxell is one of the Eighteen of the Swedish Academy, a member of many other learned eocietiee, and clergyman of the parish of Surma, in the diocese of Carlatad.