there scarcely appears a
vestige of cultivation. The scattered huts that stand shivering on the
naked rocks, braving the pitiless elements, are formed of logs of wood
rudely hewn; and so little pains are taken with the craggy foundation
that nothing hike a pathway points out the door.

Gathered into himself by the cold, lowering his visage to avoid the
cutting blast, is it surprising that the churlish pleasure of drinking
drams takes place of social enjoyments amongst the poor, especially if we
take into the account that they mostly live on high-seasoned provision
and rye bread? Hard enough, you may imagine, as it is baked only once a
year. The servants also, in most families, eat this kind of bread, and
have a different kind of food from their masters, which, in spite of all
the arguments I have heard to vindicate the custom, appears to me a
remnant of barbarism.

In fact, the situation of the servants in every respect, particularly
that of the women, shows how far the Swedes are from having a just
conception of rational equality. They are not termed slaves; yet a man
may strike a man with impunity because he pays him wages, though these
wages are so low that necessity must teach them to pilfer, whilst
servility renders them false and boorish. Still the men stand up for the
dignity of man by oppressing the women. The most menial, and even
laborious offices, are therefore left to these poor drudges. Much of
this I have seen. In the winter, I am told, they take the linen down to
the river to wash it in the cold water, and though their hands, cut by
the ice, are cracked and bleeding, the men, their fellow-servants, will
not disgrace their manhood by carrying a tub to lighten their burden.

You will not be surprised to hear that they do not wear shoes or
stockings, when I inform you that their wages are seldom more than twenty
or thirty shillings per annum. It is the custom, I know, to give them a
new year's gift and a present at some other period, but can it all amount
to a just indemnity for their labour? The treatment of servants in most
countries, I grant, is very unjust, and in England, that boasted land of
freedom, it is often extremely tyrannical. I have frequently, with
indignation, heard gentlemen declare that they would never allow a
servant to answer them; and ladies of the most exquisite sensibility, who
were continually exclaiming against the cruelty of the vulgar to the
brute creation, have in m