MOUNTAINS OF DALECARLIA.

107

a visit to the mountains of Dalecarlia, where he was hidden so long, and whose hardy sons enabled him to resist the tyrannical Danish King, Christian II. Among those mountains, and in those mines, he wrought as a common labourer, till an opportunity occured for his declaring himself, and engaging the miners on his side. The inhabitants of those districts have a great veneration for his memory, to this day."

"I suppose," said James, "our visit, as usual, is to be paid by means of your library, while we sit by the fire-side.”

"It will be most convenient. We shall employ several travellers; we have only to fancy, or, as children say, make believe, that we have sent Messieurs So-and-so to gain information, and to report to us.

"One of them says, the miners and blacksmiths of Sweden are well fed, and lodged com

106

FOUNDRIES OF RUSSIA.

der for copper. The peasants, as is common in Russia, belong to the estate, whether private persons own the land, or the sovereign. Almost a hundred thousand of them work in these mines, at the will of their several lords.

They raise, upon an average, nearly one hundred thousand tons' weight of iron annually: part of this descends, by the Wolga, to the eastern provinces; and the greater part of it is towed through rivers and canals to Petersburgh."

IRON.

SWEDEN.

"By all the feelings which belong to liberty, and associate with the name of Gustavus Vasa, the deliverer of Sweden, we are urged to pay

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SWEDISH MINERS.

fortably; and he gives us such a picture of their vigour, activity, and contentment, as makes it pleasant to travel among their villages. When night comes on, the sensations excited, are, however, different, and indeed almost terrific. The din of so many hammers at work all around, and the streams of light, and flame, and black smoke, issuing from so many forges, powerfully impress the mind; even the clouds seem to be on fire with the glowing radiance from the furnaces.

"The most important of the iron-mines is at Dannemora, which was discovered in 1488. The opening of the mine is of great extent, and in it there are twelve pits, in which mining operations are carried on. These pits are deep excavations, like gravel pits, forming so many gulfs. The descent into them is by means of baskets, or buckets, each attached to a rope, which passes over a pulley; much as if there