King Oscar II. of Sweden, grandson of Bernadotte, died on
Sunday last after reigning since 1872. He is succeeded by his son Gustavus V. The 'Royal house of Sweden, which shows no sign of failing for heirs, is the only survivor of the kingdoms created by Napoleon for his relations and Marshals. Under Oscar II. Sweden advanced in Constitutional liberty and prosperity ; but the most important event of his reign, the divorce of Norway from Sweden, was a deep personal grief to him. He had set his heart on maintaining the dual kingdom ; but when the separation was seen to be inevitable the King at the last accepted it with dignity, and restrained some of his advisers who might have pressed the quarrel to the point of bloodshed. King Oscar was a considerable writer and an ardent patron of the arts, science, and exploration. He rendered the world good service several times when he acted as international arbitrator. It is interesting to remember that the name Oscar was bestowed by Napoleon on Bernadotte's son—the first King Oscar—to whom he stood godfather, not for any Swedish associations, but because it was the name of an heroic character in Macpherson's " Ossian,"—a work which Napoleon continually studied.
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