ars, not the zephyrs, gently stealing on their senses, which here
lead frail women astray. Who can look at these rocks, and allow the
voluptuousness of nature to be an excuse for gratifying the desires it
inspires? We must therefore, find some other cause beside
voluptuousness, I believe, to account for the conduct of the Swedish and
American country girls; for I am led to conclude, from all the
observations I have made, that there is always a mixture of sentiment and
imagination in voluptuousness, to which neither of them have much
pretension.

The country girls of Ireland and Wales equally feel the first impulse of
nature, which, restrained in England by fear or delicacy, proves that
society is there in a more advanced state. Besides, as the mind is
cultivated, and taste gains ground, the passions become stronger, and
rest on something more stable than the casual sympathies of the moment.
Health and idleness will always account for promiscuous amours; and in
some degree I term every person idle, the exercise of whose mind does not
bear some proportion to that of the body.

The Swedish ladies exercise neither sufficiently; of course, grow very
fat at an early age; and when they have not this downy appearance, a
comfortable idea, you will say, in a cold climate, they are not
remarkable for fine forms. They have, however, mostly fine complexions;
but indolence makes the lily soon displace the rose. The quantity of
coffee, spices, and other things of that kind, with want of care, almost
universally spoil their teeth, which contrast but ill with their ruby
lips.

The manners of Stockholm are refined, I hear, by the introduction of
gallantry; but in the country, romping and coarse freedoms, with coarser
allusions, keep the spirits awake. In the article of cleanliness, the
women of all descriptions seem very deficient; and their dress shows that
vanity is more inherent in women than taste.

The men appear to have paid still less court to the graces. They are a
robust, healthy race, distinguished for their common sense and turn for
humour, rather than for wit or sentiment. I include not, as you may
suppose, in this general character, some of the nobility and officers,
who having travelled, are polite and well informed.

I must own to you that the lower class of people here amuse and interest
me much more than the middling, with their apish good breeding and
prejudices. The sympathy and frankness of heart conspic