MR. WILTON.  “They do not often cross the water in ships, but transact nearly all their business with the opposite shores, during the four months when the waters of this sea, which has no tides, is firmly frozen, and when they can travel across in sledges, comfortably defended from the inclemency of the weather.  The Baltic being full of low coasts and shoals, galleys of a flat construction are found more serviceable than ships of war, and great attention is paid to their equipment by Sweden as well as Russia.  We have neglected to mention the Islands of the Baltic.  There is the isle of Oesal, remarkable for its quarries of beautiful marble; its inhabitants like those of Dagen Isle, are chiefly Esthonians:  Gothland and Oeland are both fertile and productive.  In the Gulf of Bothnia are the Aland Isles, which derive their names from the largest, forty miles in length and fifteen in breadth, containing about 9000 inhabitants, who speak the Swedish language.  These isles form almost a barrier of real granite rocks stretching to the opposite shores.  In the Gulf of Finland lies the Isle of Cronstadt, formerly called Retusavi; it has an excellent haven, strongly fortified, which is the chief station of the Russian fleet.”

CHARLES.  “Is not the chief fleet of Russia that of the Baltic?”

MR. WILTON.  “Yes; it consists of about thirty-six ships of the line; but the maritime power of Russia is trifling.”

MRS. WILTON.  “As in leaving the Baltic we quit the shores of Sweden, we shall have no other opportunity to view Stockholm, the capital.  It occupies a singular situation between a creek or inlet of the Baltic Sea and the Lake Maeler.  It stands on seven small rocky islands, and the scenery is truly singular and romantic.  This city was founded by Earl Birger, regent of the kingdom, about the middle of the thirteenth century; and in the seventeenth century the royal residence was transferred hither from Upsal.  Sweden was formerly under the Danish yoke, but Gustavus Yasa delivered it when he introduced the reformed religion in 1527.  His reign of thirty-seven years was great and glorious in the annals of Sweden.  We will now proceed on our course:  shall we go still further north, into the White Sea, or are you tired of the cold, and prefer journeying to the south, and embarking on the Black Sea?”

CHARLES.  “Oh! the White Sea first, for the distance is much less, and we shall sooner get there; but it must be an overland journey.”

MR. WILTON.  “Yes; for the Bielse More, or White Sea, is reckoned, with the Mediterranean and the Baltic, as one of Europe’s principal inland seas.  The largest gulfs connected with this sea are the Gulf of Archangel and the Gulf of Candalax; the waters of the latter wash the shores of Lapland, and are filled with numerous small islands.  Archangel is a port on the White Sea; and here the Russians build most of their men-of-war:  before the reign of Peter the Great, it was the only port from which Russia communicated with other countries of Europe.”