The military and political organization of Sweden was in advance of the age, offering models to France, Denmark and other countries, but her industrial and commercial development was just beginning. The many wars and intimate foreign relations, however, brought the nation into close touch with the greatest commercial countries of the world. It profited by experience, and made great advances during the period of Swedish rule on the Delaware. The armies needed cannon, muskets, swords and other implements of war. It was cheaper to make them at home than to import them from abroad, as raw material was to be had in inexhaustible quantities, and besides money was lacking with which to buy. The country being new and undeveloped, offered better opportunities to capitalists than the old industrial centres, and in return for special privileges, titles, landgrants, in addition to the regular remuneration that comes to the shrewd business man, wealthy Dutchmen like De Geer, Spiring and others, were induced to invest capital in Swedish industries, and to establish manufactories of various kinds. Foreign laborers were engaged in large numbers, and Swedish mechanics were sent abroad to study the best methods used there. As a result the products of Swedish iron works, especially cannon and firearms, became famous throughout Europe. The latter were manufactured in such quantities that in 1642, the very time when Sweden supported and equipped large armies on German battlefields, a thousand muskets, a thousand cuirasses and quantities of other implements of war “could be sold or given to Portugal.” Swedish cannon had become so famous in England at the middle of the century that Whitelocke was ordered to buy them on his embassy to Stockholm in 1654. [Illustration: The reading-room in the Royal Library (Stockholm), showing volumes relating to the colony.]