able to give us all kind of information. I gather from him that I cannot possibly be in England by the 10th without great and unnecessary fatigue, so you must not expect me before the 13th. If I should be able to reach home before, I will telegraph to you. We shall, I hope, leave Stockholm Monday night, reach Copenhagen Tuesday, leave Wednesday go to Hamburg, leaving Hamburg Friday morning for Flushing, and reaching London Saturday morning early. I feel much rested by the sea-voyage, though I do not sleep sound; the weather and dolce far niente both serve to set me to rights. The food is decent and the company mixed. We have a general, an alderman,[1] a diplomate, a naval officer, an inventor of guns (Nordenfeldt), a shooter of guns (Davidson), a doctor, a lawyer, a clergyman, and a maker of agricultural machinery! So there is no lack of variety in the subjects of our conversation. We left Aboe at ten o'clock last night, and steamed across, leaving the Aland Islands on our right, but keeping within sight of them till we entered the Swedish archipelago. We took in forty horses at Aboe, there being a great trade in horses with Sweden.
Stockholm, 2.30.
After a perfectly lovely progress up the gulf and harbour, here we are in one of the best hotels I ever saw; and I do not know that I was ever more impressed by the first appearance of a reat city than I am as I look out of my window across the river or estuary at the Royal Palace. The brightest of suns, every one in Sunday costume, steamers (little ones, tell Gladys) flying up and down, for you can hire them like cabs. I have had a much-desired tub, and we are going to dine at some gardens as the guest of Mr Nordenfeldt, who seems to be all-powerful here. I found your dear letter of the 31st awaiting me, and am quite at ease about you all. Of course I shall write again, but not till I get to Copenhagen; and after that I shall probably travel nearly as fast as my letters.
Hôtel d'Angleterre, Copenhagen,
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1884.
I wrote from Stockholm on Sunday, giving an account of our prosperous journey across the Baltic; and now I can announce our further advance homewards. We arrived here at eleven o'clock this morning, having left Stockholm at six last night. We had a sleeping-berth, so were comfortable enough, though the carriage shook a good deal. I am quite charmed with Stockholm, and wonder much why more people do not go there for their summer holiday – the people are so nice and wholesome-looking, and there is a look of freedom and contentedness which appeals much to our English taste. My friend Mr Nordenfeldt entertained us royally at the summer-garden, where, in addition to the material advantages of a very good dinner, we had a Hungarian band, as well as the band of one of the Guard Regiments. We were in a balcony, and all the bourgeoisie of Stockholm were enjoying themselves below in the garden, tea-drinking and beer-drinking, wives and children, men and boys, and all so well-behaved. At the end of dinner, at a hint, I suspect, from Nordenfeldt, the band struck up "Rule Britannia" and "God save
- ↑ As I correct this for publication I am reminded that "the alderman" was my lamented friend the late Lord Mayor, then apparently in perfect health, and looking forward to his approaching assumption of high office.
