attend and discharge his duties as a member, if the election has not fallen upon him for the third time; his expenses are also defrayed by the State. The king has the power of convening extraordinary meetings of the Stoerthing; but there must always be present at least two-thirds of the representatives. One-fourth of the members form the Lagthing, and the other three-fourths, the Odelsthing, each of which has its own president and secretary. The Stoerthing can decree laws, impose taxes, grant loans, pass naturalizations, inquire into alliances and treaties, and summon every citizen before it, except the king or members of the royal family. Every law must be proposed in the Odelsthing, and afterwards submitted to the amendment of the Lagthing. Should the two chambers disagree in their views of any law, they are convened together, and by a majority of two-thirds, ultimately reject or adopt the law. Having passed the Stoerthing, the law is carried by a deputation to the king, whose approval makes it law. Should he reject any law, the same Stoerthing cannot propose it anew; but the second may; and, on the proposal of the third, the law must pass into effect, whether sanctioned by the king or not. All laws are written in Norwegian; and the Stoerthing deliberates with open doors. Any attempt to endanger its privileges, is construed high treason.

Administration.] The ministry consists of the viceroy, a minister of State, 10 counsellors, and a secretary, who decide by a majority, and afterwards report to the king. The Council of State and the Lagthing, compose the highest tribunal of the State, and take particular cognizance of State-offences. A high court of justice, consisting of three members, is established in each of the four provinces, or bailiwicks, of Norway. And these provinces are again subdivided into inferior districts, with their respective courts. A general civil and criminal code has been projected for the kingdom. The highest tribunal of justice is composed of a president, or justiciary, and six ordinary, and three extraordinary, assessors. No member of this tribunal must be under 50 years of age. The police is very effective.

Ecclesiastical Establishment.] The clerical body consists of five bishops, viz. one for each of the governments, and one for Norland, with 49 deans, and 379 pastors. The king nominates the bishops, and the deans are chosen by the clergy of their diocese. The livings are in the hands of patrons. The bishop of Aggerhuus is considered as metropolitan. The yearly revenues of the bishoprics are calculated to be, the highest £600, and the lowest £400, sterling. From the tribunal of the deans, an appeal lies, in ecclesiastical affairs, to the bishops. Α missionary college at Drontheim is especially devoted to the conversion of the Laplanders.

Literature.] Norway has its own language, but it cannot be said hitherto to have possessed any national literature. Its scholars and eminent men, even its first poet, Holberg, have all written in Danish, and we do not possess a single original work in the Norwegian language. But the Norwegians are by no means destitute of a taste either for the sciences or fine arts. Mathematics, natural history, and history, are much cultivated. Even among the common people, we find good calculators and ingenious mathematicians. A favourite amusement with the country people, is to recount the tales and traditions of ancient times Newspapers were established in this country in 1803. Danish, German,

and Swedish books, are pretty extensively read. The periodicals of Germany have likewise penetrated to the highest north,

Education.] The education of youth is chiefly intrusted to itinerant schoolmasters, who usually reside a fortnight at every hamlet. Nevertheless, it is rare to meet with a peasant in Norway who cannot both read and write. The town-schools are very ill-organized; but the high schools of the five principal cities are nowise inferior to the very best establishments of the kind in Europe. There are two seminaries for instructing schoolmasters. The university of Christiana was founded in 1809. In 1816, it contained 16 professors, and about 150 students. Besides these institutions, there is a royal school of cadets in Christiana; an establishment for the instruction of young Laplanders at Drontheim; and a commercial academy at Christiana.

Societies.] The two principal learned societies of Norway, are the Royal Society of Science at Drontheim, and the Patriotic Society of Christiana. There are upwards of 60 agricultural societies established throughout the kingdom.

Finances.] The revenue and expenditure of the kingdom has been estimated at 1,597,217 specie dollars, or £379,339 British currency. The interest of the national debt of Norway amounts to 41,000 rixdollars, or about £6000 British; but the paper-money, with which the country has been inundated, renders it very difficult to meet this burden. In 1817, a national bank was opened with a capital of 10,000 shares, each share being 200 specie dollars; but we believe the scheme was not popular.

Army.] The military force of Norway is from 10 to 12,000 regulars -2000 of whom are employed in garrison duty, 1,285 artillery, and 1,070 cavalry, and a somewhat larger body of militia. Attached to the former, are three battalions, who wear on their feet long boards, or snow shoes, and are trained to act on the snow and ice. The national troops of Norway, though they are embodied and exercised, upon the whole, much in the same manner as the Danes, are raised in a manner somewhat different. The territory is divided into a number of districts, of which each furnishes a soldier. Every male, at his birth is registered for the militia, and from the first on the list all deficiencies are supplied. After a service of ten or fourteen years, they take their place among the invalids, and having remained in that situation for some time, they are dismissed. Conscription is the mode usually resorted to for supplying the regular forces. A late decree of the Stoerthing, directed the whole fortresses throughout the kingdom to be demolished.

Navy.] The navy of Norway is upon a very small scale, amounting to only 6 brigs, 8 schooners, and 77 gun-boats. These vessels are generally situated at Christiana, Christiansand, and Friedericstadt. At the two latter ports there are docks.

Commerce.] From the earliest period, the Normans have sustained the character of bold and skilful navigators. The sea is still their element, and the vicissitudes and dangers of a maritime life are highly congenial to the national spirit. The internal commerce of the country is very insignificant, on account of the bad roads and difficulties of carriage. In the higher latitudes, almost the only commerce is that of barter. In other districts, the only commercial intercourse is conducted by coasting vessels, the commercial towns being all situated on the coast.

Since the union with Sweden, the passes, or defiles, between the two countries, have been kept in good order. The only mail known in the country is the government post.

Exports.] The principal exports are wood, fish, iron, copper, glass, alum, marble, kelp, dyeing lichens, pickled meat, hides, fur, feathers, oil, tar, and pitch. But the external commerce considerably declined during the transference of Norway from the Danish to the Swedish crown.

Imports.] The imports consist of corn, wine, spirits, salt, and soft goods. In average years, the importations and exportations nearly balance each other; but in bad years, the balance is against Norway.

Fisheries.] The fisheries of Norway are very extensive and productive, employing 80,000 hands, and producing an annual revenue of 1,500,000 dollars. Vaage is the central point and chief place of the northern fisheries. The herring fisheries have of late years been very unproductive, but formerly the exports of herrings to the Baltic, from Bergen, amounted to 100,000 barrels. A small species of herring is exported, under the name of anchovies.

Mines.] The most celebrated silver-mines of Norway are those of Kongsberg, which were discovered during the reign of Christian IV, The silver is generally found in ore, and extracted by the usual process, though sometimes it is found pure in small grains, and instances are not wanting of its having been found in considerable masses. One piece, which is still preserved in the cabinet of curiosities in Copenhagen, weighs 409 marks, and is said to be worth 3000 rix-dollars, or £600. These mines formerly produced about £70,000 annually. In 1805, the working of them was given up on account of their unproductiveness; but they were again opened in 1815. However, as the produce seldom does more than cover the expense, and, it seems, is not sufficient even for that purpose, the mines are of little advantage to government. Their chief utility consists in affording employment to a great number of indigent persons, and in supplying the kingdom with currency. Even at Kongsberg, where the silver is taken from the mine, the workmen are constantly paid in paper currency. At some distance from Kongsberg, at a place called Fossum, is a mine of cobalt. Productive copper mines are open at Roraas. They were discovered in 1614, and yield a considerable revenue to the crown. At Quickore and Selboe, other copper mines are wrought; but they appear to be more inconsiderable than those at Roraas. But of all the mines which occur in Norway, none are more truly valuable than those which produce iron. Of these, the chief are said to be situated in the southern parts of Christiana. Lead mines are found near Kongsberg, and alum in the vicinity of Christiana.

Monies.] The coins and measures of Denmark are still current in Norway.

CHAP. IV. TOPOGRAPHY.

NORWAY is divided into four provinces, called bailiwicks, viz. Aggerhuus, Christiansand, Bergen, and Drontheim.

1st. Aggerhuus.] The bailiwick of Aggerhuus, receives its name from a fortress in the neighbourhood of Christiana. It is a romantic and mountainous district, abounding in lakes and streams. The soil is in the small vallies tolerably fertile. It is separated from Drontheim by the towering

Dovrefieldt. The principal river is the Glommen. The climate is severe; but the winter is not earlier than in the north of Germany. Summer begins in May. The rearing of cattle, and working of iron mines, are the principal employments of the inhabitants. The territorial extent of this district, is about 40,000 square miles, with a population of 450,000.

Christiana.] Christiana, the capital of the bailiwick, and of the kingdom, is situated at the foot of the Egeberg, in a fertile valley upon a bay of the Christianafiorden. It was founded, 1624, by Christian IV., and built according to a plan drawn by himself. Opsloe, formerly stood upon the place now occupied by Christiana, but was destroyed by fire. The streets are generally about 40 feet broad; they cross each other nearly at right angles, and are kept very clean. It has a military hospital, four churches, two theatres, a house of correction, a university, and in 1827 contained 20,581 inhabitants. It has a good summer harbour, and a considerable trade. There are a number of beautiful villas in the neighbourhood. The country round it has many mines, and much metal is exported from it; but deals and tar form the staples of its commerce: besides these articles, it exports soap and some alum.

The town of Friedericshall, which contained nearly 4000 inhabitants, was totally consumed by fire, on the 18th June, 1826. On a high rock, in the vicinity of this town, lies the castle of Friederickstein, at the siege of which Charles XII. was killed in 1718. Not far from this place, is the famous cataract of Sarp, where the Glommen precipitates itself over a rock 60 feet in height. The town of Kongsberg is situated in a deep, dark, wild looking valley, at the foot of the Eans Knuden. In this town there is a mining school. The number of inhabitants is 6,800.

2d. Christiansand.] The most southern and smallest of all the Norwegian provinces is Christiansand; the territorial extent of which is estimated at about 10,000 square miles, with 130,000 inhabitants. This is a very mountainous district, intersected with small but rapid streams. The capital of the same name with the province, is situated upon a spacious bay at the mouth of the Jorredalelf. It is protected by the castle of Friedericsholm, and contains 7000 inhabitants. It has a good harbour, much resorted to by ships frequenting the Cattegat. A part of the busy little port of Arendal in this bailiwick is built upon piles. In the neighbourhood of this place are extensive iron mines. The town of Stavangar contains about 2,300 inhabitants. The town of Findoea, on an island in this bailiwick, contains a very ancient church, in which there is a monument dedicated to commemorate some victory over the Scots, and the pretended grave of the northern hero Torfinn. Askoe, another island, now contains a celebrated spring which is very cold in summer, but is never known to freeze in winter. A very productive lobster-fishing is established at the promontory of Lindenaes.

3d. Bergen.] The bailiwick of Bergen, extends to nearly 14,000 square miles, and contains a population of 156,000. This is a mountainous country with a deeply indented coast. The ridge of the Floyfield and Olrick, rises to the height of 1,800 feet in the interior of this province. The mountains are covered in their lower regions with stunted birch and furze; but have their summits clothed in perpetual snow, which frequently descends in avalanches. There are no large inland lakes or rivers; but a great number of springs, and small ponds. The climate is damp; and the rearing of cattle and fishing form the principal employments.

Bergen, the capital, is situated upon a small gulf of the sea, in a valley, and was founded near the conclusion of the eleventh century. It is strengthened towards the sea by the fort of Berginhuus, the tower of Nordnäss, the fort of Friedericsberg, and the rocky island of Christiansholm. On the land side it is sheltered by mountains. The greatest part of the houses are of wood, though some of them be of stone. The most remarkable edifices are the castle and the cathedral. It has suffered frequently, and severely, from fire. The harbour is good, and the population amounted in 1827 to 20,844, who, from the want of the means for agriculture and manufactures, employ themselves chiefly in navigation, trades, and fishing. The inhabitants of the adjacent province of Norland, and indeed the whole east coast, bring hither their dried fish and train oil, which they exchange with the Dutch, English, &c. for corn and the other necessaries of life, in which Norway is deficient. The merchants of Bergen possess a few ships, with which they trade on their own account. The German comptoir enjoys the monopoly of the Norland trade. It has one hospital, chiefly for persons infected with leprosy, a disease of frequent occurrence among the fishermen along that coast, and arising, most probably, from their mode of life. Here is, also, a school, a theatre, two printing offices, and the Seminarum Fredricanum, founded in 1750, by the well-known bishop Pontoppidan, wherein twelve young men are educated gratis. Holberg, the poet, was a native of Bergen.

In the island of Fidje, belonging to this bailiwick, Harold Halfager, the first king of Norway, is said to have had his residence. The island of Mosteroe, famous for its fine marble quarries, is also celebrated as having been the site of the first Christian church in Norway, which was founded, A. D. 997.

Drontheim.] The province of Drontheim, the most northern of the kingdom, in ecclesiastical administration is subdivided into two different bishoprics; the one, comprehending the bailiwick of Drontheim; the other, the provinces of Norland and the Finmarks. These bishoprics are so different in a geographical aspect, that we shall adhere to this division, in our account of the province itself. The total extent of the province, is nearly 75,000 square miles, with a population of nearly 340,000.

The territory of Drontheim Proper, comprehends nearly a third part of this superficial extent, and more than one-half of the population. In physical features, this district resembles those already described. The Drontheimfiorden, nearly divides the country into two parts. An excellent pass conducts over the Dovrefieldt; but the mountains every where assume a bleak and terrific aspect.

Drontheim, or Tronkiem, the capital of the province, is one of the most flourishing places in the kingdom, containing a population of 12,000. It is situated on the south bank of the Nidelf, on an arm of the sea by which the town is nearly surrounded. The fortifications by which it was once protected have fallen into ruins. The streets are wide and regular, but the houses are mostly of wood. Situated nearly at the point of union of four great vallies, and most conveniently for communicating with Sweden, and having a good harbour, it has a considerable trade. The chief exports are copper, iron, timber, and fish. The imports are groceries, cloths, wine, and corn. Drontheim is very ancient, and was the seat of government while Norway remained a separate kingdom. It is still the residence of a bishop, and has a magnificent cathedral, in which the