A Tour in Sweden in 1838, etc

Preface

. The future historian will probably complain that the English travellers of the present generation, while they lavish the highest talents on descriptions of personal feelings or adventures, of romantic natural scenery, of striking objects in the sciences or fine arts, have left few of the more humble facts or observations, from which he can appreciate and describe the advance of society, in differ ent countries, towards a higher condition in morals, laws, good government, . physical well-being, and civilisation. Yet the calm which we have been enjoying for nearly a quarter of a century, after that storm of the French revolution which shook the world, is perhaps the most important period that has occurred in the history of the human race. New powers, it may be said, have been granted to man during this period — new intellectual power, by the general diffusion of knowledge through the press — new physical power, by the general appli cation of steam to machinery and movement. The changes which these mighty agencies are rapidly a

PREFACE.

. producing in the social condition ofthe lower and middle classes of every country, the circumstances in their ancient institutions, laws, and governments, which are retarding or accelerating the progress of these classes to a condition of higher moral and physical well-being, are objects particularly deserving the attention of the traveller. This field of observation, so important to the political philosopher, is scarcely entered into even at home. It is perhaps too homely to attract to it talent in proportion to its importance. To collect ordinary facts of common occurrence in a country, and to draw from them obvious conclusions on the state of its inhabitants, is not a work in which talent and genius are specially required, or from which much literary reputation can be gained. It is a field, however, in which the traveller, with the most ordinary intelligence and observation, may be eminently useful.

In Norway and Sweden, such inquiries are peculiarly interesting at the present period, because these two nations, although the furthest removed from the agitation of the French revolution, have by a singular chance, been affected by it more permanently, and one of them more beneficially, than any others in Europe. Norway received a new and liberal constitution, and has started with the freshness of youth, — a new nation, as it were, called suddenly into life from among the slumbering feudal populations of the

PREFACE.

. V north. Sweden received a new dynasty, — and slumbers on amidst ancient institutions, and social arrangements of darker ages. Having attempted, in a former work, to give a sketch of the present social condition of the Norwegian people, I considered it necessary, in order to complete the view of the present moral, political, and economical state of the inhabitants ofthe Scandinavian peninsula, to undertake the following sketch of the Swedish. Edinburgh, January 17th. 183.9. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Isolated Position of Sweden among the European Powers. Steam. — Hanoverian Impost on Goods in Transit on the Elbe. — Hamburgh. — Lake. — Gas Lights. — Capital employed in Commerce or in Manufacture, which most beneficial. — Kiel. — Improvement in 40 Years. — Doing every thing for the People, and nothing by them. — Steam-Boats and Canoes. — Wordenborg. — Zealand. — Stones on the Surface. — Soil. — Copenhagen. — Despotic Power conferred in 1660. — Lord Molesworth's Remarks on the Effect of Lutheranism on Civil Liberty. — Actual Arrangements of the Absolute Government of Denmark. — Checks. — Beneficial Institutions. — Little Effect on the Condition of the Danish People. — Population. — Proportion of Public Functionaries. — Causes of Poverty in Denmark. — Norway. — Salt W ork. — Holmestrand. — Basalt. — Norwegian Flag. — Neighbourhood of Drammen. — Implements of Hus bandry. — Birch Poles instead of Ropes. — The Rolling of Land. — Rapidity of Vegetation. — Valley of the Glommen. — Lands of First Quality only cultivated. — Ricardo's Theory of Rent exemplified. — Canada and Norway never can repay Capital expended in Agriculture. — Cost of Tra velling. — Kongsvinger. — Sweden. — Roadside Inscriptions. — Carlsbad. — Salmon of the Wener Lake. — Arvika Country from the Glommen to the Wener. — Elevation above the Sea. — State of People and Houses-—Develop ment of civilised Habits. — Christinaham. — Orebro.' — Posting. — Inns. — Aases. — Rolled Stones. — Cottar Popu lation. — Westeraas ... Page CONTENTS.

Chapter II

Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Languages. — Quans or Fins. — Amazons. — Mistake of a Word in Adam of Bremen. — Similarity between Scotch and Swedish. — Intercourse between Scotland and Sweden in the Sixteenth Century. — Troops from Scotland. — Pedlars. — Family Names in Sweden of Scotch Origin. — Language of the Saga. — Doubts of their Value as Pictures of the Manners of the Ages they describe. — Swedish Soldiers. — Appearance. — Accoutrements. — Evening Parade with Religious Service. — Indeldta System of supporting Troops. — Gustavus Adolphus. — Muskets. — Military Movements introduced by him. — Military Exercise before his Time. — Military Colonies introduced by him. Expense of the Swedish Army. — ■ How composed. — Available only to a limited Extent — In what Time could be brought to bear on particular Points if the Country were attacked. — Defenceless State of the North. — The Condition ofthe Swedish Soldier. — Disproportion of Officers. — -Fondness of Titles among the Swedes. — Fru, Froken. — Madame, Mamselle. — Brick Cathedral. — Port of Westeraas. — — Voyage on the Lake Malere. — Scenery. — Stockholm.

Lodgings. — Hotels. — Restaurateurs. — Table d'Hote. — Sup. — Royal Palace. — Population of Stockholm. — Houses. — Means of living of Inhabitants. — Poverty. — Dress Page 44'

Chapter III

The Exercise of Industry abroad is Property. — Reasons. — Effects of this System — On the Continent. — In Sweden Britain the only Exception. — Probable Results M.Cruzenstolpe. — His Trial. — Agitation of Stockholm. — Tumults. Count Fersen's Murder in 1810, connived at. — Charles XIII.'s Character. — War between the periodical Press and the Swedish Government — The Newspapers Aftonblad. Circulation. — Price. — Editorial Talent in Swedish and Norwegian Newspapers - - ... -jg CONTENTS. IX

Chapter IV

Demoralised State of the Swedish Nation. — Amount of Crime in Sweden yearly. — In Norway. — In Denmark. — In Scotland. — In England and Wales. — In London. — In Ireland. — Amount of illegitimate compared to legitimate Births in Stockholm. — Low moral Feeling. — State Brothels. — Causes of Demoralisation. — Construction of Society. — Dissolute Court. — Political Profligacy. — The Reformation. — Different Administration of Law in England. — Manners. — Drunkenness. — Posting Regulations. — Swedish Money. — Palace of Haga. — Labourers. — Dress, — Diseases. — Poverty .... Page 108

Chapter V

Steam Vessel to Tornea. — Isles and Rocks. — Naval Defence of Sweden. — Gun Boats. — Russia to Sweden. — Gefle. — Sodrehamn Appearance of the Coast. — Heat. — Huddiksval Stromming Fishery. — Sundsval. — Hernosand. — Bishop Frantzen. — Umea. — Real State of these little Towns compared to those on the Scotch Coast. — Inns. — Booksellers' Shops. — Raw Salmon. — Roads to Lapland. — Journey. — Aases. — Colonists in the Forest. — Degerfors. — Cows. — Singular Habit of Cattle. — Saltpetre. — Potash. — Tar. — Not to buy, the rule of Living A religious Sect called Lasere among the Settlers in the Forest. — Their Habits. — Increase. — Probable Benefit. — Fishing Apparatus. — A kind of Earth used as Meal Bark Bread. — Education. — Generally instructed State. — Peter Læstadius. — Account of his Parents. — Viaticum to Poor Scholars. — Vegetation. — Angermanland. — Weaving. — State of the People. — Husbandry. — Returns from Seed. — Churches. — Journey. — Rivers. — Sundsval. — Important Position. — Projected Fortification of Vannes. — Stockholm depending on Finland. — Import of Necessaries. — Removal of the Capital - - - - 155 a X CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

Swedish System of Posting. — Journey from Sundsval. — Cheap Travelling. — Aases. — Gefle. — Population. — Moral State. — Proportion of Crime. — Cross Roads. — Crops. — Gustavus Vasa. — Gustavus IV. — Similarity between the Rise and Fall of this Dynasty. — Dalecarlians. — Fahlun. — Mines. — Mining Department. — Amount of Copper. — Of Iron. — Machinery. — Sala. — Roads. — District of the Valleys. — Husbandry. — Upsala. — Old Upsala. — Temple of Odin. — University. — Lund and Upsala. — Professors. — Salaries. — Students. — Numbers studying the different Sciences. — Classes of Society to which they belong. — Number of Nobility at the Universities small. — Clergy. — Number. — Number of Congregations. — Proportion to the Population. — Pressure on the Country. — Clerical Dues. — Education. — Lutheran Religion. — Behind the religious Wants of this Age. — Want of Influence on Morals. — Lite- I rature. — Printing. — Price of Books. — The Historian Geyer. — Sigtuna. — City of the Saga - - Page 203

Chapter VII

Discontent in Stockholm. — Tumult. — Spirit of the Government. — Of the People. — Unfounded Calumnies against the Character of the Monarch. — Emancipation of the Jews. Treaty with Russia. — Land in Sweden. — Hemmans. — Insoken, Utsoken. — Sateri. — Privileges Proportions of Taxes paid by different Classes. — Agricultural Population. — Manufacturing and Town Population. — Public Functionaries Statistical Table Commission. — General Diffusion of Education and Religious Knowledge. — Why without Influence on the moral Condition of Sweden. — Want of free Use of Property. — Flouse Servants in Husbandry. — Married Servants in Husbandry. — States of their Income. — Peasantry. — Qualifications for the Diet People of Condition, Numbers, Property. — Not represented. — Clergy. — Nobi- CONTENTS. XI lity Qualifications Numbers Privileges. — Poverty. — Power Swedish Diet. — Analysis of the Diet. — Con stitution. — Power of Revisal. — Defects. — Administration of Law. — Hered Courts. — Jury. — Lagmans' Courts. — Hof Courts. — Fault of the Courts. — Useless Functionaries. — False Appearances of importance in the Swedish Govern ment - Page 255

Chapter VIII

Steam to the Island of Gothland — Saint Olaf. — Tobacco. — Evening Scenery. — Oaks. — Buoys. — Westerwick. — Wisby. — Ancient Town Walls. — Ruins. — Ancient Greatness. — Old Churches. — Saxon and Norman Style of Architecture in Churches built in 1086. — Purity of Taste. — Mercantile Marks on old Tombs Port of Wisby . — A Day in the Gountry. — Price of Land. — Soil. — Climate. — Meeting of Heritors. — Island of Gothland. — Formation. — Organic Remains. — Population Moral Condition Crime. — Punishment. — Inquisition not abolished in Lutheran Countries, but transferred from the Church Courts to the State. — Different Ideas of Crime in different Countries. — Different Principles on which Punishments are awarded in different Countries. — Political Importance of the Position of Gothland in the Baltic. — Russia. — Swedish Policy Mildness of Climate. — Runic Inscriptions. — Berzelius. — Return to Sweden. — Jonkiopping. — Taberg. — The Wetter Lake. — The Country between the Wetter and Wener Lakes. — Between the Wener Lake and Glommen. — Beds of Shells of existing Species at Uddevalla. — Rise of the Land. — Return to Norway. — Moss. — Drammen .... 296

Chapter IX

Swedish Policy to be studied in Norway. — Supposed Coup d'Etat in 1836. — Why unsuccessful. — Conservative Power of the Civil Institutions. — Storthing Public Institutions. — CONTENTS. State of Denmark and Norway under opposite Systems of Legislation. — Public Debt of Denmark. — Of Norway. — Direct Taxes. — Post-Oflice Transmission of Newspapers in Norway. — Foreign Newspapers. — Norwegian Newspapers. — Editorial Talent. — Political Economy. — Winter of 1836 in Christiana. — Society. — Houses. — Furniture. — Enjoy ments of the lower Classes. — Cold. — Calmness. — Mon tagnes Russes. — Peasants' Costume. — Feasts. — Coffee and Sugar, or Milk, the best Breakfast for a Nation ?— Dead Bear. — Lynx. — Environs. — Shape of Peninsula - Page 337

Chapter X

Will the Dynasty of Vasa or of Bernadotte finally prevail in Sweden ? — State of the Question. — Small Kings. — Swedish History from the Assassination of Gustavus III. — Charles XIII. — Character and Conduct Gustavus IV. — Character. — Diet. — Prince of Augustenburg. — Candidates for the Succession. — Bernadotte. — Views of Parties at his Election. — Permanency of the new Dynasty considered. — Parties opposed to it. — The Legitimate. — The Lutheran. — The Liberal. — Mistaken Policy of the new Dynasty Opposition to liberal Institutions. — Persecution of the Press. Captain Lindenberg Awkward Dilemma of Government from his Heroism. — Character of his Majesty. — False Principle of his Policy. — Acquistion of Norway adverse to the Chance of retaining the Swedish Crown. — Calmar Union. Why ineffective. — Policy of Russia Policy of Europe — Policy of England. — Conclusion - . OBSERVATIONS, &c. &c.

Chapter I. Isolated Position Of Sweden Among The European Powers

STEAM. HANOVERIAN IMPOST ON GOODS IN TRANSIT ON THE ELBE. HAMBURGH. LAKE. GAS LIGHTS. CAPITAL EMPLOYED IN COMMERCE OR IN MANU- FACTURE, WHICH MOST BENEFICIAL. KIEL. IMPROVE- MENT IN 40 YEARS. DOING EVERY THING FOR THE PEOPLE, AND NOTHING BY THEM. STEAM-BOATS AND CANOES. WORDENBORG. ZEALAND. STONES ON THE SURFACE. SOIL. COPENHAGEN. — DESPOTIC POWER CONFERRED IN 1660. LORD MOLESWORTH'S REMARKS ON THE EF- FECT OF LUTHERANISM ON CIVIL LIBERTY. ACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS OF THE ABSOLUTE GOVERNMENT OF DEN- MARK. CHECKS BENEFICIAL INSTITUTIONS. LITTLE EFFECT ON THE CONDITION OF THE DANISH PEOPLE. POPULATION. PROPORTION OF PUBLIC FUNCTIONARIES. CAUSES OF POVERTY IN DENMARK. NORWAY. SALT WORK. HOLMESTRAND. BASALT. NORWEGIAN FLAG. NEIGHBOURHOOD OF DRAMMEN. IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. BIRCH POLES INSTEAD OF ROPES.

THE ROLLING OF LAND. RAPIDITY OF VEGETATION. VALLEY OF THE GLOMMEN. LANDS OF FIRST QUALITY ONLY CULTIVATED. RICARDO'S THEORY OF RENT EX- EMPLIFIED. CANADA AND NORWAY NEVER CAN REPAY CAPITAL EXPENDED IN AGRICULTURE. COST OF TRAVEL- LING. KONGSVINGER. SWEDEN. ROADSIDE INSCRIP- TIONS CARLSBAD SALMON OF THE WENER LAKE. ARVIKA. — COUNTRY FROM THE GLOMMEN TO THE WENER. ELEVATION ABOVE THE SEA. STATE OF PEOPLE AND HOUSES. DEVELOPMENT OF CIVILISED HABITS. CHRIS- TINIHAM. OREBRO. POSTING. INNS. AASES. ROLLED STONES. COTTAR POPULATION. WESTERAAS. Sweden with her splendid court, and her numerous and powerful nobility and clergy, forming B distinct orders in her social structure, and distinct legislative bodies in her constitution, must present a curious contrast to the simple and democratic Norway. I resolved to pass the summer of 1838, in visiting this fairest and most important portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

None ofthe secondary European powers have acted such brilliant and important parts in modern history, as the Swedish monarchs. Gustavus Vasa, Gustavus Adolphus, Charles XII., live in the memory of all nations. If the highest achievement with the smallest means be the test of military genius, the Vasa race have not been equalled by any commanders even in our times. But Sweden has not, like Norway, an heroic age in her ancient history, connecting her earliest exploits with the fate of other countries. She had no Harold Haarfagre in the ninth century, driving her nobility and their followers to the high seas, to conquer new homes and kingdoms in distant lands, for themselves and their posterity. The Swedish " small kings " plundered at home, and became, like the nobility of Poland, a power of which the strongest party disposed of the crown, and ruled the country amidst perpetual factions, tumult, and bloodshed.

The Swedish historian Geyer, one of the most acute and philosophic of modern histo rians, observes that the history of the Swedish nation is but the history of its kings. He might have added, that the history of its kings is often but the history of the factions and intrigues of a nobility governing in reality from behind the throne ; and of whose power the kings, with few exceptions, have, down to the present age, been either the puppets or the victims. The present position of Sweden among the European powers is extraordinary. By the loss of her foreign provinces of Finland and Pomerania, she is severed from the mainland of Europe, and its political affairs : and by the singular chance which has seated upon her throne a new line of monarchs, not connected by family alliances with any other royal dynasty, she stands politically isolated even more than physi sically.

What has been or will be the result of this curious political position ? Hamburgh, 1838. April 24. — A voyage in a steam vessel across the North Sea is in truth a very tedious affair, although it be one of only fifty hours. Steam with all its powers has not the power of making itself agreeable. On board of a sailing vessel you have at least the satisfaction of under standing, or fancying you understand, the trimming of the sails ; of watching the changes of the wind, and are interested in all the circumstances that re tard or accelerate your progress : but in a steam vessel, the passenger who has the luck not to be sea sick, is in a state of ennui almost as pitiable. The tame scenery of the Elbe will scarcely relieve it, and probably the first object that attracts his notice from his leaving the British shores, is the royal navy of Hanover riding at anchor in a muddy bight of the river, in the shape of a cutter of six or eight guns, which apparently has passed her youth in the English revenue service, as she has an English name, and levying a duty upon all goods passing b up and down, in direct contravention of the con vention of Vienna of 1815, by which the naviga tion of all rivers from the sea to the highest navigable point, is declared to be free of all imposts, except for the support of buoys, lights, or towing paths.

The way in which this branch of the royal revenue of Hanover is levied, shows a disregard of equity which, although in a trifle, gives the traveller no favourable impression of the spirit of the go vernment. It is a duty of eightpence upon each parcel — my portmanteau pays eightpence, and Mr. Rothschild's chest of gold pays no more. A carpet bag and a woolpack pay the same duty, neither value, bulk, nor equity being considered, but merely the cheapest way of levying an impost upon goods in transit to a third country, abrogated by a solemn convention of the European powers as contrary to international law. England might just as reason ably levy a duty on goods passing through the channel, or crossing the north sea. Hamburgh has one very striking feature which no other northern city perhaps presents — a square of water surrounded by streets and public walks.

It is too large and pure to have the appearance of a pond or piece of water formed by art, and is, in fact, a natural lake in the bosom of the town, formed by a small river, the Alster. The old fortifications of the city, which were carried across this lake at its narrowest part, have been razed, and the ground they occupied laid out in public walks. The water which filled the ditches of the old works now takes its natural course, and the effect of a really fine lake in the middle of a great city, is exceedingly beautiful. The houses of the Hamburghers, except in the front, sides, and neighbourhood of this sheet of water, are of mean appearance, closely huddled together, and the streets are narrow, dirty, without foot-pavements, and not lighted with gas. Gas-lights, I was told, would interfere with the trade and means of living of those who supply oil for lighting the city.

Their Magnificences — that is, the official title of the town counsellors of this burgh — have, it seems, the aptitude so much admired in burghs on our side of the North Sea, of considering private interests as rights not to be disturbed for the public benefit. The city has a self-elected town-council or senate, four burgomasters, and four syndics, the latter having no deliberative voice, but only discharging administrative functions. The population ofthe city and its little territory is reckoned at 140,000 persons, and its contingent to the forces of the Germanic body as one of its states, is a corps of 1300 men. Edinburgh or Glasgow, each of which has a larger population, would find it an intolerable direct burden, to levy and support a military force of 1300 men, besides a police ; but Hamburgh is a commercial not a manufacturing town, and the employment of people in the transport of goods through the place, can occupy but a small proportion of the labouring class, while the town duties on the transit of goods, however moderate, yield to the town-council or b state a large revenue for levying and supporting its contingent.

The very different effects of capital employed in commerce, and of capital em ployed in manufacture, are brought out strongly here. Around Hamburgh at half a mile distance, all is as still and quiet as if there was not a town within a hundred miles. There is no movement on the roads, no hurry or bustle of business. The great commercial capital of the merchants of Hamburgh gives no employment to the main body of the lower and middle classes in the adja cent country. A third rate manufacturing town with us, as for instance Wakefield or Dundee, ex tends a beneficial influence on the industry, means of living, and social condition of a far wider circle of country. The clothing of the country people and labourers, their waggons, harness, and the workmanship of every thing used by the lower and middle classes in wood, iron, leather, or cloth, show a very low state of the useful arts.

I re member Hamburgh forty years ago, and it strikes me now, that there has been very little change or improvement during that time, compared at least with the advance of our population, in those articles which are the first indications of improve ment in the condition of a people. Kiel, April 26. — I was wrong in saying that forty years have wrought no improvement in the country around Hamburgh. An essential improve ment has taken place, although not produced by the effect of the commercial capital of Hamburgh upon the spirit ofthe people, but by the fiat of the Danish government. Forty years ago I travelled this road — my bones ache at the remembrance — and from Hamburgh to this town was a journey requiring two days by extra post, in a miserable open waggon. Now an excellent diligence, not heavier than one of our six-inside coaches, driven four-in-hand by a smart fellow in a red coat, with a time-piece at his girdle, the horses and harness superior to any usually seen at our ordinary stages in England, brought us to Kiel in ten hours, over a road as well macadamized as any of our highways.

These are improvements — but they are the work of the government, not of the people. It is the ruling principle of the governments of the conti nent, at present, to do every thing for the people and nothing by them. Roads, diligences, steam vessels, schools, savings' banks, all, as well as the laws, emanate from, or are controlled by government, and even ordinary branches of private in dustry, such as mines, iron-founderies, salt-works, are subject to the inspection and regulation of government functionaries, and all trades and handi crafts are exercised under licence. The consequence of this principle of interference in all things, is, that the people remain in a state of pupillage, are trained to an inert dependence on their governments for all things, like that of the soldier on his officer, and do nothing for themselves.

They trust to government, not to their own industry and ex ertion for every improvement. What the govern ments do in this enlightened age, is generally well done, and really beneficial to the people ; but the B hand of government cannot be applied to their mode of living, their supply of useful articles in their households, their manners, habits, morals, and in short, to all that is most important in their social condition. Improvement in these must proceed from a spirit of improvement among the people themselves ; and this spirit is kept down and ex tinguished by the principle of the interference of government in all things, even in branches of private industry. I saw here this morning by the side of a new steam-vessel just fitted out by government, or with its permission and privilege, a canoe, not a boat but a canoe, formed apparently out of a hollowed trunk of a large tree, and as a work of art in no respect superior to the Omiak of the Esqui meaux, paddled by two women with shovels at the prow and stern, and conveying a party of peasants across the bay.

Government may copy the bene ficial improvements of other countries, but cannot penetrate beneath the surface, and effect any im provement in the condition of the mass of the people with all its efforts, not even in the most ne cessary of arts, that of their ordinary transport by water. The canoe exists by the side ofthe steam vessel, barbarism by the side of civilised appearances, because government does everything, and allows the people no interest or voice in what is done. The principle and spirit of a government has more influence than its acts upon the well-beino and social condition of a country. This principle of doing everything for the people and nothing by them, keeps a nation behind in real civilisation, notwithstanding the external appearances its go vernment may display. Copenhagen, April. — The voyage from Kiel to Wordenborg, a little town on the south-east end of the island of Zealand, was not very pleasant.

It was the first trip of the steam-vessel ; and with people evidently unacquainted with steam machinery, and with the coast. There is very little depth of water between the large flat islands of Langaland, Laaland, and Zealand, and from the want of a pilot we had to remain all night at anchor off the coast, with scarcely a foot of water more than the vessel drew. Wordenborg appears to be a little country village, of which the church has been in former days surrounded by some fortification of brickwork. The passengers were accommodated here with very good horses and carriages to Copenhagen, a distance of about fifty English miles over a good road. The country through which we passed is well cultivated, the fields large, and belonging apparently to farms of considerable extent ; but no regular course of crops is kept, at least no distinct proportions of land under green crops, sown grasses, or fallow, are observable.

The inclosures are generally banks of earth, either planted with dead wood, or faced with stones taken from the field. These stones strike the eye as strangers in the country, for they are rounded masses of gneiss, granite, hornblende, and other primary rock, and the ground rock where it can be seen, is of a totally different formation, a sandstone, claystone, or lime stone, with nothing crystalline in the texture. A shower of stones from Norway, falling on the surface of Norfolk, would not appear more out of their natural place. The face of the country is covered with a deep soil somewhat clayey, the under rock protruding but in few places, even on the sea bank, and is raised into gentle swells sufficient to drain it into little lakes or swamps, in the lowest hollows, and to keep the fields, even of clay soil, dry and free from surface water.

Between winter and spring, a country looks its worst, but this is evi dently a fertile land, easily farmed, being naturally drained, unincumbered with fast rock or swamps, and of a strong good soil, and sheltered by gentle eminences not too steep or rough for the plough, nor too high and exposed for corn crops. If these large Danish islands had been joined into one, few countries could have shown such a tract of good soil, uninterrupted by wastes or barren land. But Denmark is a country dismembered by nature. April. — It is one of the most remarkable circumstances in modern history, that about the middle of the 17th century, when all other countries were advancing towards constitutional arrangements of some kind or other, for the se curity of civil and religious liberty, Denmark, by a formal act of her states or diet, abrogated even that shadow of a constitution, and invested her sovereigns with full despotic power to make and execute law without check or control on their ab solute authority.

Lord Molesworth, who wrote an account of Denmark in 1692, thirty-two years after this singular transaction, makes the curious observation, " That in the Roman Catholic religion, there is a resisting principle to absolute civil power from the division of authority with the head ofthe church at Rome ; but in the north, the Lutheran church is entirely subservient to the civil power, and the whole of the northern people of Protestant countries have lost their liberties ever since they changed their religion for a better." " The blind obedience which is destructive of national liberty is, he conceives, more firmly established in the northern kingdoms, by the entire and sole depend ence of the clergy upon the prince, without the interference of any spiritual superior as that of the pope among Romanists, than in the countries which remained catholic."