Norway in 1848 and 1849: containing rambles among the fjelds and fjords of the central and western districts and including remarks on its political, military, ecclesiastical and social organization. With extracts from the Journals of M. S. Biddulph

Preface

Leaving the beaten tracks of Continental travel which, for nearly the third part of a century, have been trod den bare by hosts of tourists in almost uninterrupted succession, till every point of interest in central and southern Europe has become as familiar as household names, the author and his friend, having a few weeks' leisure at their disposal in the summer of 1848, resolved on turning their steps to some fresh and less frequented field. Though the coast of Norway lies within a few hours' sail of the northern shores of Britain, that country is less generally known than many which are divided from it by the broad ocean ; and yet, viewed under the various aspects of its mag nificent natural features, its old historical recollec tions, its peculiar institutions, and social condition, it presents no ordinary claims to an attentive survey.

Induced by these attractions, they were led to make Norway the scene of their adventures ; and, having - formed this design, were fortunate enough in the course of their preliminary inquiries to obtain information which satisfied them of the practica bility — if it did not suggest the plan (which was the A

PREFACE.

. bent of their own inclination) — of making their tour, for the most part, pedestrian. They learnt that they might rely on the resources of the country, slender and simple as they are in the districts proposed to be visited, and on the kindness and hospitality of the inhabitants, for the substantial aids necessary to the prosecution of their design, and that at least they need " fear no evils But ' hunger' and rough weather." in the wildest parts of their intended rambles. Against these, such precautions were taken as will be detailed in an early Chapter for the benefit of future tourists of their own class ; and they determined to throw themselves on some part of the southern coast, and landing " in light marching order," at once to make for the central districts of the kingdom, without any very defined plan for their future progress, except the intention of reaching, as best they might, certain known points of particular interest.

The free enjoyment of the scenery of this romantic country was the primary object in the proposed excursion ; but in the course of the author's rambles, it was impossible not to be desirous of gleaning some occasional notices of the social and political state of a people so little known and possessing such peculiar institutions. In this remote corner of the civilised world there is found, on the one hand, the law of an equal distribution of inherited property, established for centuries — with what results it was a matter of

PREFACE.

. V some importance to ascertain ; on the other, Ave have the democratic principle entering largely into a con stitution of the newest frame, the present working and future prospects of which it was no less curious to contemplate. Such inquiries, at all times interesting, assumed additional importance at a period when the rest of Europe was convulsed by the keen agitation of questions on constitutional rights, class interests, and the union or independence of races, which seemed to be here set at rest. For of all the states of Christendom, this northern kingdom appeared almost the only one exempt from the desire or the apprehension of change. Had the great wave which, heaving and swelling with portentous fury, rolled over the whole breadth of the continent of Europe, spent itself innocuously against the barrier of its remote and rocky shores ?

Had the Northmen, the adventurous founders of so many ancient dynasties, and to whom we owe more of our own national character and institutions than is generally known, after having for many centuries succumbed to a foreign and absolute rule, succeeded in these latter days in establishing their liberty and modelling their internal economy on principles so sound, so suited to the genius and conducive to the welfare of the people, as to afford no scope for discontent, and to serve as landmarks for other nations struggling for the attainment of similar objects ? To the solution of these questions something, per- A VI

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. haps, may be incidentally contributed in the following pages. They have been discussed by others, who had fuller means than the author, of acquiring in formation ; but he carefully embraced such oppor tunities as offered, for satisfying himself as to the justness of their representations and the correctness of their views. To such writers* he would refer the reader who may be desirous of pursuing the in quiry. The works alluded to are not of very recent date ; and after great normal changes, time is required to ascertain whether they realise the anticipations of their authors, and merit the encomiums of their ad mirers. The lapse of years either tends to consolidate the system and give confidence in its fixity, or sooner or later, betray its weakness. At all events, the ques tion, as regards the political institutions of Norway, so far as the author's observations extended, is brought up to the present time — and that a most trying and important crisis in the general affairs of Europe.

The author had originally designed to arrange his materials in the form of a regular itinerary, giving precise distances, and other minute particulars which might be serviceable to tourists, from the foreign maps and road-books which he had collected, adding the result of his own and his fellow-traveller's observations, and ofthe information they had been able to obtain. But * " Journal of a Residence in Norway," by Samuel Laing, Esq. 1834 to 1836. Second edition, 1837. « Norway and the Norwegians," by E. G. Latham, Esq. 2 vols. 1840.

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. VII shortly after his return, he found that Mr. Murray had just published a new edition of his Handbook for the North of Europe (which was out of print when the present tour was commenced), comprising all such details, so well arranged, and with such accuracy, as far as the author is able to judge of the section which relates to Norway, as to leave nothing to be desired. He determined, therefore, to confine his own details to such notices as he thought might be interesting to the general reader, except in particular instances with regard to the wilder and less frequented districts, where more precise accounts might be useful to future travellers. There are tracts yet unexplored in the geography of Norway, which would, doubtless, reward the toils of the adventurer with fresh discoveries of scenes as interesting as any of those which have been already described ; un trodden fjelds of surpassing grandeur, and secluded valleys where, himself a wonder, he may find all the simplicity of ancient manners amidst natural beauties of the highest order.

The rambles sketched in the following pages, had much of this charm of novelty. Unprepared with guideand road-books, the travellers had to make their way through a country, ofthe general features of which they had but a very indistinct idea ; so that even its most striking objects took them by surprise ; and their want of previous knowledge of the habits of the people and of all the little details of the road, rendered its gradual acquisition a never-failing source of interest. A

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. Should their accounts of what they saw, and of the incidents which attended their progress, appear ex cessively minute in some of the details, it will perhaps be allowed that, it is almost inseparable from the style of a narrative of rambles such as theirs ; and they may be permitted to tell their story in their own way, if only it conveys, familiar ideas of the scenery and state of manners they have to describe. It remains to be mentioned that the author's com panion of the rambles of 1848, made a second excur sion in Norway during the summer of the succeeding year, some of the results of which are presented to the reader in the following pages, which, (with his fellow traveller's previous contributions, and the Observa tions on the fjeld sports of Norway, which appear in the Postscript,) will probably be considered not the least interesting parts of the work.

To him the author is also indebted for the drawings, which have furnished the accompanying Illustra tions. They are selected from the portfolio of sketches made during the rambles, with a view to afford some idea of the peculiar character of Nor wegian scenery. The map has been prepared with considerable care. As far as the scale adopted for the reader's convenience allowed, it presents an ac curate delineation of the singular plan of the country; the coasts deeply indented by fjords, and the central area overspread by a network of rivers and fresh-water lakes, which have their sources in the mountain ranges of the fjelds bounding the greater

PREFACE.

. IX part of its circumference. The shaded contour lines traced on the map describe a level of about 3500 feet above the sea, the average height at which the growth of birch-wood ceases in Norway, but consi derably below that of perpetual snow. An inspection of the map, pursuing these lines will exhibit the vast proportion of high land there is in Norway, of great extent and breadth ; but as the central chain only is embraced, it must not be supposed that, because there are no indications of high ground on the eastern side, this part of the country is flat. The effect of the contour line may be better understood, if it be described as that which would be the line of sea coast, supposing the country were submerged 3500 feet under the present level of the ocean. It will serve also to give some idea of the great depth of the valleys of the fjords, when it is observed how closely the line approaches their shores, to which the fjelds in a great variety of instances fall precipitously.

It has been constructed from the personal observations of Lieut. Biddulph ; the general outline being con structed from " Munch 's Kart over Norge," which will be found invaluable to all travellers in Norway, whose plans lead them to trace minutely the oro graphy of the country ; though " Wergeland and Waligorski's " is generally recommended, and is perhaps preferable, as a map of the post-roads, for the vise of the ordinary tourist. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

The North Sea and the Skaggerack. — Seaport of Arendal. — Shipping Interest of Norway. — Ironworks ofNæs. — Equipments for a pedestrian Tour. — Forest Scenery. — Banks of the Nid - Page 1 — 25 CHAP. II. Forest Scenery continued. — Night Scene. — Falls of the Nid. — Geographical Sketch. — Central Districts contain the finest Scenery. — Historical References, and general Plan of the Journey - 26 — 48 CHAP. IH. The Nisser-Vand. — Navigation of the Lake. — Norwegian Hospitality. — Head of the Lake. — Proceed by Land. — Burnt Forest. — Travel in Cars. — Arrive at Midbo 49—63 CHAP. IV. Church of Sillejord. — District of Tellemarken. — Peasants driving their cows to the Summer Dairies on the Fjelds. — Sauland in Hjerdal. — Norwegian Soldiers of the Landværn. — Cross the country to the Foot of the Tind-Soe. •»- Voyage on the Lake. — Small Farms. — Division of land and Udal tenures. — Ascend the Valley of the Maan to Dahl - - 64—85 CONTENTS.

XII CHAP. V. Valley of the Maan. — Gousta-Fjeld. — Norwegian Students. —Preparations for crossing the Hardanger-Fjeld. — Rjukan-Foss Page 86 —107 CHAP. VI. Mountain Farms. — Guide procured for passing the Fjeld. — Diet of milk and meal. — Habits of the Peasants. — Coast the Mios -Vand — its character of Seclusion. — Effect of the great height of the mountains. — Comparison with Swiss scenery. — Valley above the Lake. — Evening scenes at the foot of the Hardanger-Fjeld. — Preparations for crossing it -------- 108 — 131 CHAP. VH. Passage of the Hardanger-Fjeld. — Reach the Plateau of the Fjeld. — Mode of following the track. — Fall in with fields of snow. — Great elevation. — Rocks covered with Lichens and Rein-Deer Moss. — Desolation increases. — Bad weather. — A night in a lone hovel on the summit. — Strike the waters running to the Atlantic. — Come to the first " Sæter" on that side. — Long descent to the Valley of Sæbo at Ej fiord. — Excursion to the Voring-Foss - - 132 — 156 CHAP. VIH.

The Hardanger-Fjord — Navigation and Scenery of. — View off Ullensvang — Land there. — An awkward predicament. — Kind and hospitable entertainment at the Præste-gaard. — A Clergyman M. P. (Member of the Storthing). — Privilege of a Pastor's Widow. — Bonders or Freeholders. — Ancient Doorway in Church. — Norwegian Architecture. — Old Churches of Timber. — Anecdote of the removal of one to Silesia ------- 157 jyg CHAP. IX. Different Passes of the Hardanger-Fjeld— That from Vinje to Odde accomplished in 1849. — Crossing the Plateau to Roldal. — Descent to the shore of the Fjord at Odde. — Excursien to the Folgefond Glacier — General Description — Compared ,'with other Mountains — Line of perpetual Snow. — Details of the Excursion - . 179_ 19s CONTENTS. XIII CHAP. X. Proposed Route across the country to Bergen. — Navigate the Fjord to Noreim. — Fares of Boatmen, &c. — Steindalen. — Corn-Mills and Saw-Mills. — A Night march. — Embark on the Oster-Fjord. — Post-road to Bergen - - ....

Page 197 — 210 CHAP. XI. Bergen — its Trade Hanseatic League. — The Castle. — German Church. — Fish-Market. — Museum. — Opinions on the Sea-Serpent. Ancient Picture. — Connection with the Greek Empire - 211 — 231 CHAP. XII. Manner of living at Bergen. — Norwegian cordiality with the English. — How interrupted for a short period. — Parade of the Garrison. — Military System of Norway. — Danish War. — Problem of the reunion of the three Scandinavian Kingdoms. — Norwegian Navy 232—247 CHAP. XIII. Mode of travelling Post. — Carrioles. — The Forbud. — Leave Bergen. — Arrive at Vossevangen. — Valley above Gudvangen. — Navigation of the Sogne-Fjord to Lierdalsoren .... 248 — 265 CHAP. XIV. Passage of the Fille-Fjeld. — Compared with the Hardanger. — Quarters at Nystuen. ■ — The Little Miosen. — Sylva of Norway. — Scenery of the Strand-Fjord. — Cross the ridge to Brufladt. — Rands-Fjord. — Fluberg. — Cross to the Miosen- Vand. — Embark in Steam-boat for Lillehammer 266—288 CHAP. XV.

Lillehammer. — Manufactory of Corn-Brandy. — Storekeepers and Trade. — Sunday. — Church Services. — Observance of " the Sabbath." — Forms of the Norwegian-Lutheran Church differ from the Roman. — Correspond with the Anglican. — Reflections. — No Sects in Norway. — Hauger and his Disciples. — Norwegian Clergy. — State of Education. — Ecclesiastical statistics ----- 289 — CONTENTS. CHAP. XVI. Return Voyage on the Miosen. — Steamers. — Trade. — Baths of Eidsvold- Bakken. — Constitution-House. — Convention of 1814. — Proceedings of the Delegates. — The Grund-lov, or Bill of Rights — its leading provisions and character. — Journey to Christiania Page 314 — 339 CHAP. XVII. Simedal. — Crossing from Eifjord to Urland. — Week's Excursion into the Hurungerne. — Fjeld Life. * — The Sæter-Dairies. — Tracking Reindeer in the snow. — The Hurungerne Peaks. — The Morke-kold-dal. — Return to Lierdalsoren - 340 — 367 CHAP. XVIII.

Journal of Route from Lierdal over the Sogne-Fjeld. — Voyage on the Sogne-Fjord. — Reach Fortun at foot ofthe Fjeld. — Ascent to Mountain Sæter. — Fall in with herd of Reindeer. — Cross the summit of the Fjeld. — Descend to the Otte-Soe. — Irrigated Valleys. — Arrive at Vaage 368—387 CHAP. XIX. Continuation of Journal. —Valley of the Laagen-Elv. — Ascend the Dovre-Fjeld — its wild scenery. — Station at Jerkin, near the summit. — Valley of the Folda. — Town of Roraas. — Excursion over the Frontier into Sweden. — Scenery of the Border. — Visit to an Encampment of Lapps — their mode of Living. — Herd of Reindeer. — Return to Roraas. — Journey by Post to Christiania - 387—410 CHAP. XX. Christiania. — City and neighbourhood.— The new Palace. — Hall of the Storthing.— Sittings.— State of political Parties. — Constitutional History and Prospects ----... 4H—432 CONTENTS.

XV CHAP. XXI. Artillery Practice. — Military School. — Cadets' Camp. — Botanical Garden. — Museum. — M. Essmark's Collection. — Climate of Norway. — English Farmers. — Public Gardens. — National Song. — Embark on the Christiania-Fjord. — Concluding Observations - Page 433 — 459 POSTSCRIPT on Field Sports, &c. 460—472

Appendix

. The Lemming The Sea- Serpent 473 475 Observance of Sunday 479 Farming and Value of Land ILLUSTRATIONS Hitterdal Church ._..-- Frontispiece Map or Southern Norway .... page 1 Valley or the Nid - - - - - — 24 Falls of the Nid to face page 36 Sillejord - ----- page 65 Valley of the Ma an and Gousta-Fjeld - to face page 96 Rjukan-Foss - - - - - - — 98 Mios-Vand - - - - - -—115 Næthol, under Hard anger - - - - — 119 Ullensvang, Hardanger-Fjord - - - — 162 Doorway of Church ----- page 174 Hildal and Jordals-Vand - ■■ - to face page 185 Valley above Gudvangen - - - - — 262 The Hurungerne ----- pa-re 365 Forest of Koldedal and Hurungerne Peaks - to face pa****e RAMBLES IN NORWAY,

CHAPTER I. THE NORTH SEA AND THE SKAGGERACK.

SEAPORT OF ARENDAL. SHIPPING INTEREST OF NORWAY. IRON-WORKS OF NÆS EQUIPMENTS FOR A PEDESTRIAN TOUR. FOREST SCENERY. BANKS OF THE NID. Eight days in the North Sea, beating against foul winds, — or, which was still worse, becalmed amongst fleets of Dutch fishing-boats, and ending in a regular gale of wind, which was worst of all, — prepared us to hail the sight of land, and that the coast of Norway, the object of many cherished thoughts and hopes, with perhaps as much satisfaction as either my com panion or myself had felt on the termination of far longer voyages. But if our impatience was heightened by the re flection that every day added to the passage was subtracted from the limited period allowed for our travels, — if our accommodations of every kind were scanty and narrow, — the little Norwegian schooner, in which we had embarked at Gravesend, was a good B SEA VOYAGE. boat, and was admirably handled ; the captain was an excellent fellow ; and we wore away the time, when the weather permitted, in learning from him Norsk phrases, and putting our fishing-tackle and our traps in order for an immediate start.

When the gale abated, the coast of Norway lay right a-head. We gradually got on sail ; and running under it, — our little vessel rising and falling on the long swells into which the wild fury of the storm had now subsided, — as the evening fell we closed in with the land. Delightful were our feelings as we leant over the taffrail, tracing the dusky outline of the cliffs, and inhaling the land breeze which breathed fresh off shore. Our watch was long and late. The night was fair ; and in that latitude it was quite light at 1 1 p. M. The stars were scarcely visible, and the light at Chris tiansand faintly twinkled some fifteen miles off on the larboard bow. At length we turned in, weary with the fatigues of the day, and full of hopes for the morrow. Nor were we disappointed, though it found us again becalmed fifteen or sixteen miles from the land.

At 10 a. m. a light air sprang up ; presently it freshened ; studding sails were set, and we made our course up the Skaggerack with a favourable breeze. The coast presented no remarkable features, the mountain ranges being far inland ; but the cliffs were boldly escarped, and the slopes and folds of the hills were clothed with dense forests. As we ranged along the shore, we distinguished, from time to time, hamlets of COAST OF THE SKAGGERACK. red cottages, each above its little harbour ; and here and there the white spire of a church, peeping out of the pine-woods behind. Boats were out fishing for mackerel, sharp at stem and stern, like whale-boats, and carrying sprit and jib sails. We hail them as they dash across our course, dancing in the lively sea. But our eyes are all for the shore.

Now we discover windmills perched on little green knolls ; and old grey toAvers, (beacons, we understood,) prominent on some projecting point of the undercliff. Groups of low islands were clustered off the shore: — covered with stunted pines, with their intersecting channels, they reminded my companion of the cedar-clothed scenery of Bermuda. The breeze holds on ; it even freshens ; we open point after point. But can we depend upon its con tinuing favourable ? It may fail, and the evening find us again becalmed. We will not trust any longer an element we have found so treacherous. Our vessel was bound to Christiania ; but the master was under engagement to put us ashore at any practicable point we might choose for landing on the south coast. It had been our intention to run up as far as Laurvig ; but it was not very material to our main objects from what part of that coast Ave should start on our progress inland.

Maps were consulted. The little seaport of Arendal was under our lee. It stands at the em bouchure of a fine river, the Nid, the valley of which appeared to open up the communication Avith a chain of lakes, which would favour our plans of B HARBOUR OF ARENDAL. penetrating to the interior. We determined to make good our landing Avhile wind and weather permitted. A pilot-boat was standing on and off, on the look-out ; we hailed her, hauling up the tack of the driver and backing our topsails, and, as she sheered alongside pitching and tossing in the hea\Ty SAvell, about 4 p.m. we jumped on her deck ; our light traps Avere handed after us, and in a few minutes, passing between two light-houses, on opposite points, Ave were in smooth water, running up the harbour. It is formed by the island of Tromoo, stretching along the coast, and branches into creeks and chan nels reminding us, though on a smaller scale, of Milford Haven.

In these, numberless vessels of all sizes were moored, their tall spars tapering amongst the pines which clothed the slopes of the hills to the water's edge; mingled Avith which, wharfs and building yards, stores, and neat houses bordered the shores. At the head of the principal branch lay the town of Arendal, built on two sides of the inlet. Timber framed houses clustered in the hollows and straggled up the declivities of the surrounding heights, one of which was crowned by a picturesque church. Long ranges of white buildings, the dwellings of the merchants, lined the quays, and moored alongside them was a goodly show of shipping. The harbour was enlivened by the number of boats, many of them roAved by women, Avhich were passing to and fro. It was a picturesque and busy scene. We landed at the custom-house.

The precaution which we had taken, LANDING. PASSPORTS. of furnishing ourselves Avith a passport from the am bassador of his Norwegian and Swedish Majesty in London, was needless. The officers, touching their caps, declined to inspect it, and, with great civilitv, sent a messenger to conduct us to our quarters. England and Nonvay may boast of being the only countries Avhere the passport system, with all its vex ations, is unknoAvn. Our baggage was not submitted to the slightest examination. The Giest-giver did the honour of our reception in a sort of undress military uniform, with sword by his side; one might have fancied oneself in the state of NeAV York, only that colonels of militia do not in Norway keep hotels. Probably our host belonged to the burgher-guard. We were ushered into a lofty and spacious apartment, decorated with choice plants.

The zest Avith. Avhich we enjoyed our entertainment, after being on a short and sorry alloAvance of space and fare for more than a week, may be easily conceived. Arendal is a place of considerable trade, possessing nearly two hundred sea-going ships, many of large tonnage ; but most of them Avere now laid up and dis mantled. We heard great complaints of the stag nation of trade. Our still heavy timber-duties is one grievance ; they are perhaps a necessary concession to colonial privileges, but a great evil, inflicting on our selves the too general use of a most worthless and pe rishable material, in place of the hardy groAvth of the forests of the north of Europe, and excluding these good people from the exchange of their principal ex- B WAR IN THE BALTIC. port for our manufactures. Till recently the Norwegian merchants shipped deals in large quantities to the ports of France ; but at this moment the disastrous state of affairs in that country had interrupted the trade, and deprived them of another most important customer.

In addition came the hostilities, the war, or the quasi state of war, in the Baltic. We were reminded, during our voyage in the Norwegian schooner, of the belligerent influences now afloat throughout Europe. Her cargo was of the " villanous saltpetre ; " and we were near anticipating the destructive power into Avhich it was probably destined to be manufactured : for while this main ingredient in war's fatal chemistry was stoAved in the hold, a number of carboys (huge glass jars) of nitric, or some other such powerful acid, were lashed on the gratings above. During the gale of wind, the fastenings gave way. The smash roused me from an uneasy slumber in the bread-locker, which formed my birth, and, rushing on deck, I found the crew dashing buckets of water on the deck, Avhich was hissing with the outpouring of the contents of the bottles.

What might have been the consequences of the mixture between the two combustibles I could not be certain, but it struck me they were shipped in rather perilous propinquity. We found at our hotel the captains of three Prussian ships, detained in the harbour from apprehension of the Danish cruisers. The mercantile classes are na turally opposed to the part taken by the government of Sweden and Norway in that question. They ask, TRADE OF SOUTHERN PORTS. 7 " What have we to do with it ? " Their influence however in the national councils is less than might be supposed ; and I found reason afterwards to think that the Avar was by no means unpopular among the mass of the people. Just before our leaving London, I had seen advertised in the Times newspaper a loan of 250,000 spec, dollars, authorised to be raised by the Storthing of Norway, which was now sitting ; and had concluded that it was intended to supply the sineAvs of the war, in which they were becoming involved as an auxiliary power.

I found, liOAvever, that the loan was destined to relieve the mercantile interest in the present stagnation of commerce, and ultimately the proprietors of forests, by advances to enable them to hold the large stocks of timber in hand till better times. Talking on these subjects Avith a very intelligent gentleman, who resides in the neighbourhood of Aren dal, and is connected Avith shipping, I said, in reply to his enumeration of the various hindrances to which the trade of Norway is noAV subject : " Well, there is a new field of enterprise opening, in the benefits of Avhich your people ought largely to partake. I left our Parliament debating on the expediency of repealing our navigation laws, there is every probability of the measure being passed ; and it will be hard if, Avith your advantages, you do not obtain a considerable share of the carrying trade which will thus be thrown open."

" We have not capital," he replied ; " we are a poor B SHIP-BUILDING. nation ; the means are Avanting to us to enter into competition with you, who have been long in pos session of such abundant resources. A few years ago, we tried the southern whale-fishery. I made tAvo voyages in it myself, but our returns were only 21. per cent., besides our expenses ; so it was given up." " In that speculation," I rejoined, " we have not fared much better ; the Americans at present have it all to themselves. But, speaking generally, in enter prise and industry you resemble us more than any people I have ever met with. We are of the same or a kindred race : I have seen it remarked that, even now, Norway has, in proportion to her population, more shipping than any other country in Europe, except England.

And Avith these noble harbours all round your shores, and these stout ships which I see laid up, and of Avhich I understand the other ports are equally full, — with inexhaustible supplies of the finest timber to build more, and with the best iron in the Avorld, — labour cheap, and the hardy population of your long line of coast inured to employment on what seems to be their natural element, — you have, it appears to me, the most essential materials for success in the coming struggle ; you can build cheaper than it can be done on the Thames or the Clyde ?" " In some points," was the reply, " you are under a misapprehension. All our chains, canvass, and mostly all our copper and rope, are imported, — and chiefly from England. Besides that, we import great MERCHANTS' SERVICE. 9 quantities of oak timber: some of Avhich, especially large pieces for keels, &c, have of late been imported from England."