eighbourhood of
Stockholm, and is one of the best of its kind. It is a fine large
natural park, with an infinity of groves, meadows, hills, and rocks; here
and there lies a country-house with its fragrant flower-garden, or
tasteful coffee and refreshment houses, which on fine Sundays are filled
with visitors from the town. Good roads are made through the park, and
commodious paths lead to the finest points of view over sea and land.

The bust of the popular poet Bellmann stands on an open sunny spot, and
an annual festival is given here in his honour.

Deeper in the park lies the so-called Rosenthal (Rose valley), a real
Eden. The late king was so partial to this spot, that he spent many
hours in the little royal country-house here, which is built on a retired
spot in the midst of groves and flower-beds. In front of the palace
stands a splendid vase made of a single piece of porphyry. I was told
that it was the largest in Europe, but I consider the one in the Museum
of Naples much larger.

I spent the last hours of my visit to Stockholm in this spot, with the
amiable family of Herr Boje from Finnland, whose acquaintance I had made
on the journey from Gottenburg to Stockholm. I shall therefore never
forget this beautiful park and the agreeable associations connected with
it.

I made a very agreeable excursion also to the royal palace of Haga, to
the large cemetery, and to the military school Karlberg.

The royal castle of Haga is surrounded by a magnificent park, which owes
little to art; it contains some of the finest trees, with here and there
a hill, and is crossed by majestic alleys and well-kept roads for driving
and walking. The palace itself is so small, that I could not but admire
the moderation of the royal family; but I was informed that this is the
smallest of their summer palaces.

Nearly opposite to this park is the great cemetery; but as it has only
existed for about seventeen years, the trees in it are yet rather young.
This would be of little consequence in other countries, but in Sweden the
cemeteries serve as promenades, and are crossed by alleys, ornamented
with groves, and provided with seats for the accommodation of visitors.
This cemetery is surrounded by a dark pine-forest, and really seems quite
shut off from the outer world. It is the only burial-place out of the
town; the others all lie between the churches and the neighbouring
houses, whose fronts often form the immediate boundary