Protestantism in Germany. His affairs at home were ably managed by the wise Oxenstierna, who, after the death of Gustavus at the battle of Lützen, carried on the government during the minority of Christina. This strange queen's most popular act was her abdication. Carl XI (1660-97) so greatly increased the kingly power that the diet acknowledged it to be absolute. The warlike career of gifted but reckless Carl XII (1697-1718), who humbled Frederick IV of Denmark and Peter the Great of Russia and dethroned Augustus II of Poland, nearly ruined his country. Ulrica, his sister was chosen queen on condition of giving up the absolute power wielded by the last two kings. In the reign of Ulrica the last of the Vasas, and of her husband Frederick of Hesse-Cassel, the country was divided into two factions of nobles—the Hats or French party and the Caps or Russian party. Gustavus III (1771-2) who recovered the lost power of the crown and put down these factions, was murdered. Carl XIII (1809-18) was forced to cede Finland to Russia. Carl was childless and chose Bernadotte, Napoleon's general and prince of Pontecorvo, as crown-prince. Bernadotte's success in getting possession of Norway endeared him to the people, and he ascended the throne in 1818 as Carl XIV. He ruled ably, and was succeeded by his son Oscar I (1844-59) and his grandsons Carl XV (1859-72) and Oscar II (1872-1907). Gustav V, the present king, succeeded in 1907. In 1905 Norway dissolved the union with Sweden. Population 5,476,441. See Charles XII, Christina, Gustavus Adolphus, Gustavus Vasa, Gustavus V, Norway and Oscar II. See Fryxell's History of Sweden (English translation).
Swe′denborg, Eman′uel, was born at Stockholm, Sweden, Jan. 29, 1688, the son of a bishop and of noble family. He graduated at the University of Upsala, and, after four years travel, was given a position in the College of Mines by Carl XII, who became his friend. For some years he busied himself in writing a host of scientific works, mainly practical, on bridges, air-guns, docks, blood-circulation, copper-manufacturing, etc. Suddenly his scientific work stopped, and in 1749-56 appeared a Latin work which he called Heavenly Secrets. He announced that the Lord had appeared to him and sent him to be the herald of a new church and that his office was to interpret the word of God according to its true meaning. The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine and many other theological works followed. Swedenborg made no effort to found a church, but confined himself to the work of announcing the new doctrines which were to be its basis. As a man he was modest and retiring, genial and happy, and lived a most simple and quiet life. He died at London, March 20, 1772. Since his death, religious societies have been founded on Swedenborg's teachings, and are banded together in America as the general convention, in England as the general conference, of the New Church. Consult Wilkinson's Life and compare Emerson's essay in Representative Men.
Sweet′bri′er or Eg′lantine, a prickly shrub of the rose family, native of the eastern states of the Union and to Canada. It grows densely, yet reaches a height of six or eight feet; about midsummer it bears sweet-scented, pink flowers and later produces a scarlet or orange-red fruit. Its dark-green leaves emit a flagrant odor from their russet-hued glands. The sweetbrier is commonly met with in fields and country byways.
Sweet Pea, (Lathyrus odoratus) a familiar garden-plant much prized for its beautiful perfumed flowers. There are not far short of 100 varieties in cultivation; and to raise them to perfection, the seeds should be planted two inches apart in a rich clay-loam, and it will be well to red-lead them, to protect them from mice and birds. As soon as the plants appear above ground, brush or small twigs should be spread around them for shelter, and later they should be given long stakes for support in their upward climb. Through the growing season occasional shallow cultivation will be required.
Sweet Pota′to, an edible, sugary vegetable, the tuberous root of a vine-like plant, grown largely in the southern states of the Union and in tropical and semitropical countries. It is also known as the sugar-yam. The sweet potato is rich in food-constituents (sugar and starch), the extent of its cultivation in this country being annually about 50 million bushels. Besides their use, cooked or canned, for the table the sweet potato is also fed to farm-animals; it is grown best in sandy or loose soils, and is a staple crop in the south.
Swift or Chim′ney-Swal′low, a small bird abundant in the eastern United States, nesting in chimneys. Notwithstanding its common name, the bird is not a swallow (q. v.), having only a superficial resemblance to the latter birds, while in structure it is very different. It is closely related to the humming-birds and the goat-suckers. The bird is about five and one fourth inches long, of sooty-brown color, with a paler throat. The feathers of the short tail end is sharp bristles, which aid in climbing. There is only one kind in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, but there are about 50 species inhabiting the warmer parts of the world. In most of them the salivary glands are highly developed, and the secretion from them is used as a glue to hold the nest together and to its support. In China one species constructs a nest that is used in making soup.
