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第11节

letters on sweden, norway, and denmark-第11节

小说: letters on sweden, norway, and denmark 字数: 每页4000字

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These corps are mostly composed of the sons of the cottagers; who being labourers on the farms; are allowed a few acres to cultivate for themselves。  These men voluntarily enlist; but it is only for a limited period (six years); at the expiration of which they have the liberty of retiring。  The pay is only twopence a day and bread; still; considering the cheapness of the country; it is more than sixpence in England。

The distribution of landed property into small farms produces a degree of equality which I have seldom seen elsewhere; and the rich being all merchants; who are obliged to divide their personal fortune amongst their children; the boys always receiving twice as much as the girls; property has met a chance of accumulating till overgrowing wealth destroys the balance of liberty。

You will be surprised to hear me talk of liberty; yet the Norwegians appear to me to be the most free community I have ever observed。

The mayor of each town or district; and the judges in the country; exercise an authority almost patriarchal。  They can do much good; but little harm;as every individual can appeal from their judgment; and as they may always be forced to give a reason for their conduct; it is generally regulated by prudence。  〃They have not time to learn to be tyrants;〃 said a gentleman to me; with whom I discussed the subject。

The farmers not fearing to be turned out of their farms; should they displease a man in power; and having no vote to be commanded at an election for a mock representative; are a manly race; for not being obliged to submit to any debasing tenure in order to live; or advance themselves in the world; they act with an independent spirit。  I never yet have heard of anything like domineering or oppression; excepting such as has arisen from natural causes。  The freedom the people enjoy may; perhaps; render them a little litigious; and subject them to the impositions of cunning practitioners of the law; but the authority of office is bounded; and the emoluments of it do not destroy its utility。

Last year a man who had abused his power was cashiered; on the representation of the people to the bailiff of the district。

There are four in Norway who might with propriety be termed sheriffs; and from their sentence an appeal; by either party; may be made to Copenhagen。

Near most of the towns are commons; on which the cows of all the inhabitants; indiscriminately; are allowed to graze。  The poor; to whom a cow is necessary; are almost supported by it。  Besides; to render living more easy; they all go out to fish in their own boats; and fish is their principal food。

The lower class of people in the towns are in general sailors; and the industrious have usually little ventures of their own that serve to render the winter comfortable。

With respect to the country at large; the importation is considerably in favour of Norway。

They are forbidden; at present; to export corn or rye on account of the advanced price。

The restriction which most resembles the painful subordination of Ireland; is that vessels; trading to the West Indies; are obliged to pass by their own ports; and unload their cargoes at Copenhagen; which they afterwards reship。  The duty is indeed inconsiderable; but the navigation being dangerous; they run a double risk。

There is an excise on all articles of consumption brought to the towns; but the officers are not strict; and it would be reckoned invidious to enter a house to search; as in England。

The Norwegians appear to me a sensible; shrewd people; with little scientific knowledge; and still less taste for literature; but they are arriving at the epoch which precedes the introduction of the arts and sciences。

Most of the towns are seaports; and seaports are not favourable to improvement。  The captains acquire a little superficial knowledge by travelling; which their indefatigable attention to the making of money prevents their digesting; and the fortune that they thus laboriously acquire is spent; as it usually is in towns of this description; in show and good living。  They love their country; but have not much public spirit。  Their exertions are; generally speaking; only for their families; which; I conceive; will always be the case; till politics; becoming a subject of discussion; enlarges the heart by opening the understanding。  The French Revolution will have this effect。  They sing; at present; with great glee; many Republican songs; and seem earnestly to wish that the republic may stand; yet they appear very much attached to their Prince Royal; and; as far as rumour can give an idea of a character; he appears to merit their attachment。  When I am at Copenhagen; I shall be able to ascertain on what foundation their good opinion is built; at present I am only the echo of it。

In the year 1788 he travelled through Norway; and acts of mercy gave dignity to the parade; and interest to the joy his presence inspired。  At this town he pardoned a girl condemned to die for murdering an illegitimate child; a crime seldom committed in this country。  She is since married; and become the careful mother of a family。  This might be given as an instance; that a desperate act is not always a proof of an incorrigible depravity of character; the only plausible excuse that has been brought forward to justify the infliction of capital punishments。

I will relate two or three other anecdotes to you; for the truth of which I will not vouch because the facts were not of sufficient consequence for me to take much pains to ascertain them; and; true or false; they evince that the people like to make a kind of mistress of their prince。

An officer; mortally wounded at the ill…advised battle of Quistram; desired to speak with the prince; and with his dying breath; earnestly recommended to his care a young woman of Christiania; to whom he was engaged。  When the prince returned there; a ball was given by the chief inhabitants:  he inquired whether this unfortunate girl was invited; and requested that she might; though of the second class。  The girl came; she was pretty; and finding herself among her superiors; bashfully sat down as near the door as possible; nobody taking notice of her。  Shortly after; the prince entering; immediately inquired for her; and asked her to dance; to the mortification of the rich dames。  After it was over he handed her to the top of the room; and placing himself by her; spoke of the loss she had sustained; with tenderness; promising to provide for anyone she should marry; as the story goes。  She is since married; and he has not forgotten his promise。

A little girl; during the same expedition; in Sweden; who informed him that the logs of a bridge were out underneath; was taken by his orders to Christiania; and put to school at his expense。

Before I retail other beneficial effects of his journey; it is necessary to inform you that the laws here are mild; and do not punish capitally for any crime but murder; which seldom occurs。 Every other offence merely subjects the delinquent to imprisonment and labour in the castle; or rather arsenal at Christiania; and the fortress at Fredericshall。  The first and second conviction produces a sentence for a limited number of yearstwo; three; five; or seven; proportioned to the atrocity of the crime。  After the third he is whipped; branded in the forehead; and condemned to perpetual slavery。  This is the ordinary course of justice。  For some flagrant breaches of trust; or acts of wanton cruelty; criminals have been condemned to slavery for life time first the of conviction; but not frequently。  The number of these slaves do not; I am informed; amount to more than a hundred; which is not considerable; compared with the population; upwards of eight hundred thousand。  Should I pass through Christiania; on my return to Gothenburg; I shall probably have an opportunity of learning other particulars。

There is also a House of Correction at Christiania for trifling misdemeanours; where the women are confined to labour and imprisonment even for life。  The state of the prisoners was represented to the prince; in consequence of which he visited the arsenal and House of Correction。  The slaves at the arsenal were loaded with irons of a great weight; he ordered them to be lightened as much as possible。

The people in the House of Correction were commanded not to speak to him; but four women; condemned to remain there for life; got into the passage; and fell at his feet。  He granted them a pardon; and inquiring respecting the treatment of the prisoners; he was informed that they were frequently whipped going in; and coming out; and for any fault; at the discretion of the inspectors。  This custom he humanely abolished; though some of the principal inhabitants; whose situation in life had raised them above the temptation of stealing; were of opinion that these chastisements were necessary and wholesome。

In short; everything seems to announce that the prince really cherishes the laudable ambition of fulfilling the duties of his station。  This ambition is cherished and directed by the Count Bernstorff; the Prime Minister of Denmark; who is universally celebrated for his abilities and virtue。  The happiness of the people is a substantial eul

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