Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Considering the interest of our commerce and the Americans who reside here, I am inclined to regard it a matter of congratulation that these Vessels were taken by the vessels of other nations than our own. Communism must have its run here, and it will be the better, I think, that we have not interfered between the contending factions.

We are quiet for the present, but will not long remain so.

At Granada, the capital of this kingdom, the red republicans have absolute control, and have adopted rules and regulations for the government of the city, very like those of the Paris commune.

I have, &c.,

A. M. HANCOCK.

No. 187.]

XXX.-SWEDEN AND NORWAY.

No. 434.

Mr. Andrews to Mr. Fish.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Stockholm, April 15, 1873. (Received May 9.) SIR: On the evening of the 11th instant I had the honor to receive your No. 128 of the 22d ultimo and inclosures relative to securing the co-operation of Sweden and Norway in procuring a modification of Cuban tariff laws; and on the day following I sent to the foreign office a note, of which the inclosed is a copy, together with one printed copy of your dispatch and accompanying memorandum of March 21, to the United States minister at Madrid.

Another copy of the last-mentioned document having been received with the next day's mail, I to-day handed it in person to the minister of foreign affairs, believing he would like to send it to Norway.

In course of our conversation he said there having been two (Easter) holidays, my note, just laid on his table, had not received his attention. Í briefly stated what the practices were which we wished modified, and the remedy that was proposed. He replied that Swedish vessels had suffered many hardships from the iorance of Spanish revenue officers, especially in their enforcing str.et quarantine against such vessels, whenever there was cholera in St. Petersburg. In conclusion he said, "We will gladly do all we can to assist you in this matter."

I am, &c.,

C. C. ANDREWS.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Andrews to General Bjornstjerna.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Stockholm, April 12, 1-73.

SIR: In compliance with instructions from my Government, I have the honor herewith to hand you a printed copy of a dispatch of March 21, 1873, and accompanying memorandum, from the Secretary of State of the United States to their representative at Madrid, wherein he is instructed to use his best endeavors to secure a change of the

*For inclosure see page 932.

tariff laws of Cuba, so that fines for errors in manifests may be imposed on goods instead of on vessels, and earnestly to request that your government will instruct its minister at Madrid to make a simultaneous if not identical application to the Spanish government in support of the desired change.

The unjust and burdensome nature of the system of tariff fines which obtains in Cuban ports is abundantly shown in the memorandum. Your excellency will notice that my Government long ago, but in vain, sought relief from the system. The fact that it is still continued seems to render it for the interest of all maritime powers, whose vessels are in the habit of trading to Cuban ports, to make a simultaneous and earnest effort to secure its prompt and just modification.

In the hope that you will lend your valuable influence for the accomplishment of this object, I beg to renew to you, sir, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

His Excellency General O. M. BJÖRNSTJERNA,

C. C. ANDREWS.

Minister of State and Foreign Affairs.

No. 191.]

No. 435.

Mr. Andrews to Mr. Fish.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Stockholm, May 21, 1873. (Received June 11.) The coronation of Oscar II as King of Sweden, and the festivities attending it, are now over. The coronation took place because the King insisted upon it. The constitution does not require, nor did the people generally desire, it. (The constitution of Norway impliedly requires a coronation there.) It is an ancient religious ceremony, consisting of an imposing procession, of numerous prayers, of preaching and singing, of anointing the King by the archbishop on his forehead, temples, breast, and wrists; of the delivery to him of the emblems of authority by the prime minister, and archbishop, each, with nicety, having a hand on the emblem when the King takes it; and, finally, the administration of an oath to the King by the prime minister; a ceremony indeed consistent with what was once supposed to be the divine right of Kings. It seems to have been thought by His Majesty that the omission of this ceremony might at some possible future crisis afford a pretext for his enemies to question his title and authority among the superstitious. He wished to make assurance doubly sure. Another, though lesser consideration, was the obtaining the compliment to his court and country of distinguished embassies for the occasion. In this respect his anticipations have not been disappointed. Five countries sent special embassies, and two spe cial envoys, with attachés. The senior embassador, on account of his arriving first, was General Barail for France, chief of cavalry in Paris, accompanied by his wife. Italy sent the distinguished Ex-Prime Minis ter Menabrea; Germany, the renowned General Blumenthal; Russia, General Liewen; Austria, Prince Metternich, who, for ten years, was em bassador at Paris. Each embassador had a suite of from three to five persons, including in two cases, Russia and Germany, officers of the rank of major-general. The attachés who received most attention in court society here were those most distinguished for aristocratic birth and wealth. Denmark and Holland only sent special envoys.

On Monday, the 12th instant, the day of the coronation, (which was very rainy,) the King and Queen gave a dinner to about six hundred Swedish and Norwegian guests, the latter consisting principally of the deptation sent from Norway; and the minister of foreign affairs the same

evening dined the embassies and diplomatic corps. Wednesday, from 12 to 2 o'clock, their Majesties received the homages of the court society, the foreign representatives and ladies being received last; and at 5 o'clock of the same day the King and Queen gave a dinner to the foreign representatives and ladies. Thursday evening the city gave a splendid ball in honor of the coronation, which was attended by the King and Queen and their four sons. On Friday, at 43 p. m., the queen dowager gave a fine dinner to their majesties, the high Swedish officials, and the foreign representatives; in all, about three hundred guests. On Saturday evening the King gave a ball at the palace to about sixteen hundred guests. At the opening of the ball the Queen was conducted, by her request, in the polonaise, or promenade, by each of the embassa dors and chiefs of missions. The King severally conducted each of their ladies. The same compliments were extended to prominent Swedes. On Monday evening, the 19th, the Norwegian minister of state, Mr. Kieralf, gave a fine ball and supper to about five hundred guests. It affords me pleasure to state that at the three balls, where champagne and other wines were to be had as freely as water, I did not see a person, even after the supper, who was noticeably under the influence of drink.

The weather has been rainy during all the festivities. The embassadors left yesterday.

I am, &c.,

C. C. ANDREWS.

No. 200.

No. 436.

Mr. Andrews to Mr. Fish.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Stockholm, September 4, 1873. (Received September 26.) SIR: In regard to the coronation of the King and Queen of Norway, at Trondhjem, on the 18th of July, I would state that the ceremonies were substantially the same as at Stockholm, with the exception of the oath taking, and passed off in a fine manner.

The city of Trondhjem, the old home of Norwegian rulers, has a population of twenty thousand; is compactly and well built, with regular, wide, well-paved streets, and ample sidewalks of smooth stone, and has picturesque surroundings.

I arrived there with my family on the 15th of July, and as the King and Queen were expected the same evening, the city was already wearing a holiday appearance, the main streets being thronged with welldressed people, the principal dwellings and shops decorated with garlands, and great numbers of flags also being displayed from houses and

the vessels.

Among the distinguished visitors to the coronation were Prince Alfred, of England, and Prince Waldemar, of Denmark-the latter a lad in common sailor's dress-severally escorted to Trondhjem by a squadron of war vessels. Russia and Denmark sent special envoys besides their regular diplomatic representatives. Germany sent a squadron under the command of an admiral; and last, but not least, were the deputations from the Norwegian Storthing and the Swedish Ricksdag, and from the cabinet councils of both states.

The presence of three thousand good-appearing Norwegian soldiers made the event more imposing.

Their Majesties gave a dinner to several hundred guests on the day of the coronation. On the following Sunday evening the city gave a grand ball and supper in honor of the event. A similar entertainment was given by the King the following Tuesday evening; and it was at the latter I first learned that the King had just conferred the new office of minister of state and president of the Norwegian cabinet, with title of excellency, on Mr. Frederick Stang, who for a long time has been at the head of the cabinet, with the title of councillor of state.

Another series of festivities, in honor of the occasion, took place in Christiania during the first week in August, and what was most notice. able with regard to them was the presence of the Prince Imperial of the German Empire.

Considering the avowed sympathy of Norwegians and Swedes for the French in the late war, it is the more to be remarked that this visit of Prince Frederick at Christiania, and subsequently at Stockholm, has left a quite favorable impression both in Norway and in Sweden.

Some American citizens, travelers, were present at the coronation. and I was authorized, in case they had remained in the city, to have them attend the King's ball.

Previous to the coronation His Majesty made an extensive tour to the extreme north part of Norway. Leaving Stockholm in June, he proceeded up the Baltic to Hudiksvall; thence across Sweden, via Ostersund to Levanger, where he embarked on a steam-frigate and went to the North Cape, touching at Strömsö and other points. He met with cordial receptions. Many of his short speeches on the occasions were published, and were much commended for their good taste. Considering how extensively Norwegians are engaged in all branches of the fisheries. it was a somewhat happy incident that His Majesty's vessel during the trip captured a whale.

As many Americans are now in the habit every summer of traveling in Norway to view the scenery, it may perhaps be useful if I put down a few facts as to the experience of myself and family in our late trip.

We went from here to Sundsvall, on the east coast of Sweden, by steamer; thence by carriage-a four-seated landau, lighter than the ordinary Swedish, and procured here for the purpose-via Östersund and Levanger, Norway, to Trondhjem; thence south by rail, a couple of hours, to Stören, and by carriage over the Dovre Mountains, 126 English miles; thence through Lesje and Romsdal to Veblangsnaess, 74 miles; thence by steamer to Molde; thence by steamer to Bergen, occupying twentyfours hours; thence by steamer, half a day, to Bolstadören; thence by carriage and row-boat, via Vossvangen, to Gadvaugen, 50 miles; thence by steamer, through Nersfjord, nine hours, to Laerdal; thence by carriage over the Fille range, through the Valders, to Randsfjord, 126 miles; thence by steamer to Hadelund's Glass-Works, five hours; thence by carriage, via Hönefoss and Ringe Rike, to Christiania, 42 miles; thence by rail to Stockholm.

This route afforded a view of a part, but only a part, of the fine scenery of Norway. The highest mountains of Norway are said to be 8,000 feet high, but even those which are not so high are partly covered with snow. Soon after leaving Östersund, in the middle of Sweden, one begins to see mountains covered partly with great patches of snow. Probably the best view from the road of distant, lofty snow-covered peaks, was had in crossing the Dovre range. What seems most impressive about the scenery is the steepness of the mountain-sides, their apparent closeness

to the traveler as he passes along the road, and the numerous wonderful cascades which drop in silvery sprays from their rocky summits; to which may be added, the effect of the rivers, which, either as beautiful rapids or roaring torrents, are generally closely followed by the roads. The most striking scenery of this sort is in the Remsdal, the Nersdal, and the Laerdal. The prevailing scenery is, however, by no means of a sterile or very wild character; on the contrary, while the lower slopes of most of the mountains are cultivated, and their sides, even to their tops, fairly covered with spruce or pine, there is also a great deal of pasturage, and one sees flocks of cattle, sheep, or goats at very high points. On most of the shores of the fiords and lakes cultivated fields, carefully fenced, extend from a quarter of a mile to two English miles up the slopes, though sometimes there is only room for quaint little triangular patches. In many places the extensive view of cultivated fields on lake shores is delightful. Of course there are many localities with extensive areas of arable soil.

The roads were everywhere excellent, being in many places cut out of solid rock, and nowhere so steep but the carriage could safely descend with the aid of a drag to one wheel, though we frequently found it prudent to walk both down and up hills.

The system of travel requires a few words of explanation, the charges being in some cases constructive. On all the public roads of Norwayand it is the same in Sweden-there are "stations" with hotel accommodations at an average distance from each other of ten English miles, and, as a general rule, the rooms and beds are tidy, the food consisting of fresh mutton, salmon trout, wheat or rye bread, eggs, milk, butter, coffee, the latter invariably being unadulterated and well prepared. The cluttered farm-yard surroundings of the stations, however, lessen their attractiveness as summer-resorts. The station-master is required to furnish the traveler with horses, and, if he should want it, a "carriole" or gig, or even a cart for baggage. If the station-master has not horses enough on hand, he sends out to the neighboring peasant-farmers, who are required to furnish one or more according to their supply. If the traveler has previously sent a written notice to the station at least three hours before the time the horse or horses are wanted, they must be ready at that time. If he has not sent notice he is liable to wait for them two hours, or even more. If a traveler takes a gig, he drives himself, and the boy who is to return with the horse from the next station sits behind. The carrioles or gigs usually furnished at stations are without springs and very jolty. If the traveler has his own carriage, it is necessary also to have his own harness. With a covered carriage with three grown persons and one hundred pounds of baggage, drawn by two horses, the carriage belonging to the traveler, the station-master has the right to charge for four horses. The charges vary according as to whether the station is in or near the city, or in the country. In the country the charge is one and a half marks, 33 cents United States gold, per horse for a Norwegian mile, which is equal to 63 English miles.

With a two-horse carriage, as above mentioned, the charge would be for four horses, viz, $1 32 for one Norwegian mile. A small sum is also expected to be paid to the driver. Drivers and horses are changed at each station. It is said the peasantry complain that this system of travel is burdensome on them. It is apparent that in some respects it is a convenience to travelers, yet it is not without many annoyances. If one travels in a gig, driving himself, he can regulate somewhat his speed, but otherwise the speed is dependent on the whim of the driver fur

« AnteriorContinuar »