e is romantically situated on a fertile hill. But
much more beautiful and surprising is the splendid castle of Skukloster,
a large, beautiful, and regular pile, ornamented with four immense round
turrets at the four corners, and with gardens stretching down to the
water's edge.

From this place the scenery is full of beauty and variety; every moment
presents another and a more lovely view. Sometimes the waters expand,
sometimes they are hemmed in by islands, and become as narrow as canals.
I was most charmed with those spots where the islands lie so close
together that no outlet seems possible, till another turn shews an
opening between them, with a glimpse of the lake beyond. The hills on
the shores are higher, and the promontories larger, the farther the ship
advances; and the islands appear to be merely projections of the
continent, till a nearer approach dispels the illusion.

The village of Sixtuna lies in a picturesque and charming little valley,
filled with ruins, principally of round towers, which are said to be the
remains of the Roman town of Sixtum; the name being retained by the new
town with a slight modification.

After this follow cliffs and rocks rising perpendicularly from the sea,
and whose vicinity would be by no means desirable in a storm. Of the
castle of Rouse only three beautiful domes rise above the trees; a
frowning bleak hill conceals the rest from the eye. Then comes a palace,
the property of a private individual, only remarkable for its size. The
last of the notabilities is the Rokeby bridge, said to be one of the
longest in Sweden. It unites the firm land with the island on which the
royal castle of Drottingholm stands. The town of Stockholm now becomes
visible; we turn into the portion of the lake on which it lies, and
arrive there again at two o'clock in the afternoon.

FROM STOCKHOLM TO TRAVEMUNDE AND HAMBURGH

I bade farewell to Stockholm on the 18th September, and embarked in the
steamer _Svithiold_, of 100-horse power, at twelve o'clock at noon, to go
to Travemunde.

Few passages can be more expensive than this one is. The distance is
five hundred leagues, and the journey generally occupies two and a half
to three days; for this the fare, without food, is four pounds. The food
is also exorbitantly dear; in addition to which the captain is the
purveyor; so that there is no appeal for the grossest extortion or
insufficiency.

It pained me much when one of the poor