all-powerful, and set the king and pope | brought to bear on the governor of St. alike at defiance. At last the Mohamme- Thomé; and the Catholic priest owed his dan prince at Golconda, the Arab sheikh deliverance from his Christian persecutors who had married the daughter of the sul to the good offices of the Mohammedan tan, the friend and patron of Father sultan of Golconda. Ephraim, heard how the worthy French priest had been treated by the Portuguese, and interposed lustily in his behalf. The sultan of Golconda was at war against the Hindu rajas of the Carnatic, and sent an order to his general who commanded his forces in the south, to besiege St. Thomé without delay, and to kill and destroy all within it, unless the governor pledged himself that Father Ephraim should be released within two months. The result was that boat after boat was sent from St. Thomé to Goa with pressing entreaties for the release of Father Ephraim. The Inquisition at Goa was compelled to yield to the alarming pressure which had been

Want of space prevents the extraction of more information from the travels of Tavernier. We have been content to draw attention to a few salient facts, which may possibly give the reader an appetite for more. Men of science who may be anxious to gather authentic information respecting the once famous diamond mines in India, and students desirous of realizing the social condition of the people in an age which is fast passing away, will do well to avail themselves of Dr. Ball's reproduction of the quaint descriptions and gossiping stories of the lively old French jeweller.

J. TALBOYS WHEELER.

PRINCE BISMARCK'S STRATEGY.-An anonymous writer in the New Review tells the following suggestive story of Prince Bismarck: When he represented Prussia in the Diet at Frankfort he strongly suspected that his letters and despatches were overhauled in transit, on behalf of Austrian diplomacy; indeed, he complained of it bitterly. Nor was he the only complainant. Others seem to have suffered in like manner; though whether they were equally ingenious in discovering a remedy is doubtful. On one occasion, after a stormy meeting, Bismarck and the Hanoverian representative, or the secretary of the Hanoverian representative, walked away together; and as they walked the Hanoverian touched upon this sore subject, asking Bismarck how he managed to get his letters safely through, if he did manage it. "You shall know by-andby, was the answer, and on they strolled together, talking of indifferent subjects. Presently the Hanoverian remarked that Bismarck led the way out of the more fashionable quarter of the town into more dingy and yet more dingy bye-ways, and wondered a little but went on. As they entered a street which would be called a slum in London, the Hanoverian observed with attention that Bismarck drew out his gloves, which usually reposed in his pocket; and not only did he clothe his left hand, but, more surprising still, he drew on the right glove also, buttoning each carefully. This done, he looked about him, and, apparently discovering what he sought, advanced to one of the little shops called "general," where the poor provide themselves with tea, bread, cheese, pickles, dried fish, lamp oil, and many other commodities. "Come in with me," said Bismarck to his friend, after

"do

looking through the shop window; and as they
entered he raised his voice and continued a
conversation, of which the Hanoverian did
not recollect the beginning. Ruse obvious,
as was at once understood. "Boy," said Bis-
marck, to a dull-looking lad behind the counter
-and interrupting his talk to do so-
you sell soap?” "Yes, sir." What soap?
what sorts have you got? "This, and this,
and here's another," said the boy, putting be-
fore Bismarck a variety of strong-scented
cakes. "Well, and how much is this?" the
diplomatist asked, handling one of the cakes;
"and how much this?" fumbing with an-
other. The price named, a piece was selected,
and the conversation went on while the soap
was being wrapped in paper. Now Bismarck,
as if suddenly recollecting himself, plunged
his hand into a breast-pocket and drew out an
unenclosed letter. Apparently annoyed at his
forgetfulness, he cried: "Do you sell enve-
lopes, boy?-bring them out!" Envelopes
-wretched things-were produced; the let-
ter was placed in one of them, and, asking for
pen and ink, Bismarck set out to write the
address. But, with a monstrous thick glove
on, and tightly buttoned up, this was not easy
to do. So, flinging down the pen impatiently,
he said: "Here, boy; you can write, I sup-
pose? Mr. Smith
etc., etc. The
scrawl finished, Bismarck took the letter and
left the shop. Now," said he to his friend,
when they passed outside, at the same time
putting the letter to his nose, "what with the
soap, the herrings, the candles, and the cheese,
I don't think they'll smell my despatch under
that!" The perfect detail of this expedient
is highly illustrative of Bismarck's way of
doing things.

66

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From The Nineteenth Century. CHARLES THE TWELFTH: A MEMOIR. BY THE KING OF SWEDEN AND NORWAY.

future destiny of the world. The feudal. ism of the Middle Ages had long since seen its palmy days. Its historical rôle was "THAT which never dies, I know, is played out, like an old knight who, with the judgment of a dead man." In these stumbling gait, is approaching nearer and simple words our Hávamál expresses the nearer to the grave, rich in honor and value of the judgment of history. The memories, but tired of life, helpless, and =past appeals to the justice of the future. heavy with sin. The Reformation, which History is the answer, but generations acknowledged the free right of thought, pass away before the final verdict can be was as hostile to secular feudalism as to given. Not until the clamor of contempo- spiritual. On the main continent of Eurary admiration or censure is silenced, not rope, where feudalism predominated to until the heart has ceased to beat, not such an extent that an independent agrauntil adulation can no longer attract and rian class did not exist, the new order of calumny is of no avail, not until then is things resulted generally in the creation the hour of historical judgment at hand; of princely states or the formation of cerand out of the clouds of prejudice and tain mighty free commercial towns. The misconstruction rises at last the brilliant | former was followed by the establishment sun of truth. But although under its of a numerous, influential, and strictly diseffect perception becomes clearer and ciplined bureaucracy, whilst the latter, as views are enlarged, the difficulty of com- a rule, were accompanied by communal ing to a just verdict is great, as it must not oppression under the cloak of republican be based on assumptions, but demands a forms of government. proper understanding of the conditions In those countries where Protestantism and bent of a particular age. The judg- was victorious the spiritual aristocracy ment of which the Hávamál speaks is one was crushed, and before long also the sec demanding an unprejudiced and also mer-ular. In Germany alone some of the ciful view, founded upon a clear and unbiassed conception of a past age, and the forces and individuals that predominated during that age.

Every age has its heroes, who seem, so to speak, to constitute the embodiment of its drift and aspirations. Such men cannot be measured by the ordinary standard. When history adjudges upon their achieve ments it must do so as a whole, and not piecemeal. That would leave but little to cherish and venerate in our heroes, of whom Charles the Twelfth is one.

The memory of Charles the Twelfth is dear to every Swede, his name famous throughout the world, his history rich in eventful vicissitudes, and his personality and qualities have been variously judged; therefore it is with feelings of veneration not unmingled with trepidation that I venture to attempt to delineate the true character of the Lion King of the North.

With the beginning of the sixteenth century dawned a new era. New powerful forces awoke to life within political as well as religious spheres and stamped the

most powerful feudal lords succeeded in gaining an independence which has been first shaken in our days, but more often the less important were soon suppressed. In England the aristocracy became an important factor in the new régime, which, fortunately for that kingdom, was founded in the seventeenth century, and which, favored both by the situation of the country and the temper of the people, devel. oped itself in a most remarkable manner. In France, on the other hand, where amongst the movements of the new age the religious must be reckoned the principal, the centralizing autocracy assumed its most pronounced form. An outward hollow reconciliation between the different sects of religion having been established, the work of centralization increased. The work of Henry the Fourth and Sully, already prepared by Louis the Eleventh, was continued with persevering directness by the important men who afterwards piloted the ship of state, so that at last Louis the Fourteenth could raise his mighty throne on the ruins of feudal France and thence send forth the world.

famed dictum: "L'état c'est moi," in | where the independence of the freehold which is in reality expressed his own farmers, particularly favored by local constatecraft as well as the political creed of ditions and the temper of the people, had the age which bears his name. maintained itself best, and he built his throne from the fragments of that of the union-king, Christian the Second, with the swords and by the voices of the Swedish people. Both Gustavus Wasa and his successor certainly obtained, like the monarchs of France, an increase of power, and this was necessary; but the national strength which asserted itself in Sweden became the safeguard of liberty, and to the honor of our greatest rulers be it said that they were themselves the foremost representatives of our national life and character. "Swedish history is its kings," says our great poet Geijer truly; and these words have another and, to my mind, a far better meaning than those of Louis the Fourteenth quoted above. The greatness of Sweden externally was gained by grand feats of arms, as its regeneration internally was the outcome of religious as well as political reformation.

As to Sweden, we find that, although certain conditions, especially during the last years of the seventeenth and the first years of the eighteenth century, decidedly resembled those existing in France, our country had experienced a social develop ment very unlike that of other countries in Europe, and that with us a social life had grown up which faithfully reflected the peculiar traits of Swedish national temper. Thus the individual sense of independence found a reflection in a class of freehold farmers which has never been so suppressed as to cease making itself felt in opposition to the other powers in the community. The temper of the people counteracted, just as much as the climate and position, the foundation of such great and powerful centres of commerce which in Germany and Italy created communities with independent constitutions, extensive connections, and great It deserves to be remembered that the wealth. A poor soil was not favorable to nobility, through courageous conduct and the feudal system, which requires large official skill, understood how to create for and rich domains in order to prosper, but itself a political position due to personal the system itself was resisted by the free- merits, and which has been preserved born peasantry, who therein saw a danger to the present day. Maybe the leaders to their future, and who therefore became within the party hoped, through distinone of the most faithful if not always dis-guished services under the standards, to interested allies of the monarchy. The regain some day the power which even power of the Catholic Church in Sweden, although great, was never equal to that exercised in countries nearer Rome. All conditions were simpler, the social chains fewer, although not weaker.

the nobility of the North in the mediæval age strove to attain. Two lengthy regencies, with distinguished statesmen belonging to the most eminent families in the land at the head of affairs, the reign of a Thus Sweden was saved from any sud- splendor-loving queen, and the incessant den revolution. In the union of Calmar* wars which called the male regents to serlay a deep and grand idea, but, alas, badly vice outside the country, favored such a expressed, and yet worse applied; there-plan, and at the period of Charles the fore it failed in its object. The specific Swedish consciousness of a distinct nationality may with reason be said to have taken deep root during this period, and caused the most striking events in Swedish history. The first Wasa king founded his throne upon this national consciousness awakened to life; he found protection and help in the province of Dalcarlia,

The union of the three Scandinavian countries

under one crown.

Eleventh attaining his majority the goal seemed indeed near at hand. In power and wealth, in statesmanship and territorial position, our most eminent noble families fully equalled those of Germany. The Swedish councillors of state demanded and were admitted to rank with the princely elector of Germany, and were, moreover, related to Swedish as well as to foreign princely houses. The nobility held a large portion of Swedish soil, and through