justified in apprehending any person who attempts to renew the contest. In some cases this has actually occurred. Ecclesiastical Government.] The government of the Lutheran church of Denmark appears to form a medium between the English hierarchy, and the discipline of the Calvinistic church. The Danish church has no archbishop; and the bishops have no temporal jurisdiction. The bishop of Zealand, who has the first rank, is considered as metropolitan. The following are the bishoprics of Denmark Proper: Zealand, Odensee, Laaland, Aarbuus, Aalborg, Wyburg, and Ribe. Holstein and Lauenburg are formed into superintendencies according to the plan of the Lutheran church. The inferior orders of clergy consist of archdeacons or provosts, to whom belong the inspection of the districts into which the different dioceses are divided; parish priests, who officiate in the parish churches; and chaplains, who officiate in the chapels of ease, which are common in large parishes. The livings of the parish priests consist of their glebe, tithes, and surplice fees, aided, in some places, by voluntary donations from the people. In Denmark Proper, the livings of the clergy seldom exceed £400 yearly, and are seldom below £60. In Jutland, however, there are livings so low as £20 annually. In some parts, the holders of privileged lands are the patrons; in others the parishes; there likewise exist in Denmark several nunneries or asylums for the unmarried females of noble families, who are thus enabled at a small expense to enjoy an elegant and pleasant retirement. Army.] The Danish army, which in 1809 amounted to 107,335 men, is now reduced to 38,829, consisting of Staff officers, Engineers, Artillery, Cavalry, 47 21 4,433 3,302 Infantry, including the Guards, the Militia of 38,829 Besides these regulars, there is an armed militia in the provinces, which can be summoned in cases of emergency. The contingent for the German confederation, from the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg, is fixed at 3,600 men. The regular troops are chiefly composed of natives; and the quota is fixed in rather a curious manner, each district supplying one recruit for every 32 tons of corn reared in it. The period of service is twelve years. There are two arsenals, one at Copenhagen, and one at Rendsburg. The principal fortresses are Copenhagen, Cronenburg, Korsör, Nyburg, Friedericia, Friedrichsort, Rendsburg, Fladstrow, and Friedrichshaven. There is an hospital of invalids at Ecernförde, and an academy for cadets of artillery, and another for those of the regular troops at Copenhagen, Navy.] The Danes have, with justice, been considered as more expert seamen than either the Russians or the Swedes, a qualification owing chiefly to their insular situation, and to the great extent of sea coast which belongs to them. They were formerly the most expert sailors of Europe, but have long been surpassed by many of their southern neighbours. Denmark long possessed a considerable navy, though it affords few of the materials necessary for ship-building. But, the events of 1807, after the loss so lately sustained from Lord Nelson's expedition, nearly annihilated the Danish navy. In 1819, the whole Danish navy, with all the ships in the colonies, amounted only to 5 ships of the line, 7 frigates, 1 cutter, 1 schooner, 1 floating battery, and about 20 smaller vessels of war. There are two hospitals for naval invalids, and an academy of marine cadets instituted in 1701. The naval magazines and docks are situated upon the holms at Copenhagen. CHAP. VI.-ESTABLISHMENTS FOR EDUCATION LITERATURE. Universities.]-DENMARK possesses a number of educationary establishments, among which we notice first the universities of Copenhagen and Kiel. The former of these was founded in 1479. It has one rector, and four faculties; viz. theology, law, medicine, and philosophy, embracing 20 ordinary and 16 extraordinary professors. The university of Kiel was founded in 1665, by the Duke Christian Albrecht of Holstein. Schools.] There are a number of gymnasia, or high schools, in this kingdom; and every town and village possesses a first or priming-school. Since 1819, the Lancasterian method has been introduced under the especial patronage of the king, and adopted by above 1700 schools. Many of the schools are military, and in these gymnastic exercises have been introduced. Under the auspices of the philosophical society of Copenhagen, lectures on experimental philosophy, with a view to the improvement of agriculture, manufactures, and the arts, are about to be established in all the principal towns of Denmark. There is a seminary at Copenhagen for instructing the teachers of the gymnasia, and a number of pedagogical institutions throughout the kingdom. The young nobility are educated at Scröa. Besides these, there are surgical and veterinary institutions, and one or two schools for the deaf and dumb. The rudiments of drawing and singing are also taught in several of the schools. Literary Institutions.] The royal academy of sciences at Copenhagen was founded in 1743, by Christian VI. It has published many volumes of transactions. In 1763, a society was instituted for the advancement of the fine arts. A society for the cultivation of Northern history and Scandinavian literature was erected in 1797, and has likewise published several volumes of its labours. Another society has been instituted for the purpose of inquiring into the literature of Iceland; and a private society directs its attention to the extension of natural science. In 1809, a society was founded, under the name of Olafsen's literary society. In 1810, a society for natural history and language was established. There are likewise the royal medical society of Copenhagen, founded in 1772; the royal agricultural society, founded in 1769; the royal society for the advancement of the veterinary art, established in 1807; a society for the advancement of national industry, founded in 1808; and the patriotic society of Sleswick and Holstein, founded in 1812. The royal library at Copenhagen contains 260,000 volumes, among which are 30,000 volumes printed previous to the date 1500, 30,000 manuscripts, and 50,000 duplicates. The Olafsen library at Copenhagen contains 25,000 volumes. The library of the university at Copenhagen possesses 40,000; that of Kiel, 30,000 volumes; and both universities contain cabinets of natural history and observatories. Scandinavian Literature.] Before noticing the modern Danish literature, we must briefly advert to the literature of ancient Scandinavia, comprehending the earliest literary monuments of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the islands of Feroe, Orkney, Shetland, and Iceland This literature has been traced back to very remote antiquity, and descends to those times when the last traces of paganism were effaced under the footsteps of Christianity. Its history is of extreme interest to Germany and England, both which countries having been christianized at a very early period, possess no other literary relics of their pagan ancestors than those which have been preserved in the extreme North. The most remarkable circumstances attending the Scandinavian literature is, that it has not only preserved the ancient versification peculiar to all German nations, but likewise a distinct mythology, which in elegance of fancy, and boldness of conception, almost equals that of ancient Greece. Nor is it the versification and mythology alone which distinguish this literature its invaluable historical and legislative fragments, and unique Runes,10 open up a wide and rich field of inquiry. Julius Cæsar, Lucan, and Tacitus, notice the wild and fanciful mythology of the North; but a wide and dreary chasm occurs between the age of these historians, and the next mention of Scandinavian literature. In the 8th century, a few relics were saved from destruction by the Longobard author, Paulus Diaconus, who recites, from the traditions of his countrymen, a dialogue between Wodin and Freya. The denomination of the days of the week from the divinities Tyr, Woden, Thor, and Freya, must have been very early adopted, as they were so familiarly known in Charlemagne's time, that in giving new names to the months, that prince did not attempt to change the names of the days of the week. Nearly 300 years had elapsed when Adam of Bremen, who died in 1076, in his work De Situ Regnorum Septentrionalium, mentions a temple at Upsala erected to the gods Thor, Woden, and Freya. In the latter half of the 12th century, Saxo Grammaticus, a Dane by birth, wrote a historical work in sixteen books, entitled Historia Danica, which is a miracle of erudition for that age. Saxo's merits long remained hidden in obscurity, and a like unworthy fate was shared by three Icelanders, his contemporaies; viz. Samund Frode, who died in 1133; Are Frode, who died in 1148; and Snorro Sturleson, who was murdered in 1241. The darkness which rested upon the literature of the North, 10 The date of these ancient alphabetical characters called runes, has occasioned a good deal of controversy among scholars; some placing their invention at a period many centuries antecedent to the Christian era, and others, apparently with more justice, referring it to a later period. However, we can hardly adopt the opinion of those who fancy that they can trace the runes to the Roman alphabet. The similarity of some of the characters proves nothing, as it occurs only in a few, and in others has no place. Besides the Runic alphabet has only sixteen characters, which it is not likely could have been the case had they been imitated from the Roman alphabet. As it is not very probable that the rude nations of the North, who remained so long in the grossest ignorance, should have discovered for themselves a peculiar mode of writing, the hypothesis of Frederick Schlegel, in his lectures on ancient and modern literature, seems not at all improbable. According to that ingenious critic, the Phoenicians, who at a very early period had pushed their commercial enterprise into the Baltic, must have taught the inhabitants of the surrounding provinces the use of written characters, and the runes were first fashioned from the ancient Phoenician alphabet, and preserved by the priests in their sacred or magical writing. The similarity already mentioned scarcely affects the hypothesis, for the Romans themselves derived the characters of their alphabet from the same eastern source. This opinion is confirmed by the fact, that in Spain and other countries of the S. W. of Europe, anciently peopled from the North, there are frequently found stones engraved with Runic characters. was only slowly withdrawn, even after the introduction of printing, as that invaluable art found its way into Denmark at a comparatively late period. The first printed work, viz. Exequia Frederici Secundi, Danai regis, bears the date of 1590. The 15th century witnessed the discovery of the invaluable treasures of Scandinavian_literature. The parchment MS. of the prose or later Edda, written by Snorro Sturleson, was the first relic which attracted the attention of the learned of Europe. In 1628, Arngrim Johnson, a learned Icelander, forwarded to the celebrated physician Ole Worm, the MS. of the later Edda, with its appendix, the Scalda, now preserved in the University library at Copenhagen. Ten years afterwards, another Icelander, Brynjulf Svenson, discovered MS. of the poetical or earlier Edda. In these Eddas, the whole Northern mythology is developed. The most ancient Edda is supposed to have been collected by Samund Sigfussom, a learned Icelandic priest, and Are Frode, the most ancient historian of the North. It consists of a series of songs of the Scalds, besides a variety of ancient traditions; and it would appear, that the younger, or prose Edda, was extracted from the ancient work, by Snorro Sturleson. a Danish Literature.] Modern Danish literature has kept pace with, or rather followed that of Germany, the literature of the duchies being almost exclusively German. Danish literature is confined to a very limited circle. However, Denmark has produced scholars whose names would confer honour on any nation; and the number of her skilful lawyers, physicians and divines, is not small. Philosophy has employed several acute scholars; but the greater number have devoted themselves to the study of ancient and modern languages. The learned Danes generally speak very elegant Latin; German is almost universally understood and spoken, and even French and English are very generally known. The physical sciences, chemistry, and natural history, are not neglected; but we do not find any distinguished name in these walks of learning. In mathematics and astronomy, a very high rank must be given to Tycho Brahe, who stands undoubtedly at the head of Danish science. Thom Bugge is also an eminent name in science. In history, Pontanus and Duhm are distinguished; in geography, Pontoppidan, Djurberg, Thaarup, Nyrup, Schlegel, and Malte Brun, who though he has not written in Danish, was a Dane by birth; and in political science, several Danes have been distinguished, among whom we will only name Olafsen. The modern Danish poetry begins with popular songs and hymns; but its dawn can only be reckoned from Louis Holberg. He was followed by several esteemed poets, as Ewald, Rahbeck, Tode, Nordahl Brun, and, above all, the spirited Jens Baggesen. Danish literature is particularly rich in dramatical works, and almost all the above mentioned poets have also written Dramas. Oelenschläger is a Dane, though his dramas are written in German. In the fine and plastic arts, Denmark possesses few distinguished masters; but Thorwaldson will be ranked among the first sculptors of the age, and Jual holds an eminent rank among painters. In 1814, there were 195 new works published in Denmark, and 244 the preceding year, but the greater part of these works were written in German. The first journal published in Denmark appeared in the year 1644. This was soon followed by several others, one of which was in verse! There are at present 80 periodical works, published daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly in Denmark, of which 70 are in the Danish language. The censorship is said to be liberal. CHAP. VII.-TOPOGRAPHY OF DENMARK PROPER. General Topography] IN the political administration of Denmark, the kingdom is divided into three parts, the first comprehending the kingdom of Denmark Proper; the second the three duchies of Sleswick, Holstein, and Lauenburg, which belong to the German confederation, and possess different laws, constitution, and language from those of Denmark Proper; and the third embracing the Feroe Islands, and Iceland, which are considered as foreign colonies, The kingdom of Denmark, consists of the Danish islands and the peninsula of Jutland. It is divided into seven bailiwicks. 1st, Zealand.] The bailiwick of Zealand, or, as it is written in Danish, Sealland," comprehends, besides that large island, those of Amak, Saltholm, Scyerde, Amoe, Agersöe, Möen, Samföe, and Bornholm. The principal island is entirely flat, and, except in a small part of the coast, very little elevated above the level of the sea. The soil is evidently a deposite of shells, mixed with sand, clay, and flint, and the whole covered with a strata of fertile vegetable mould. Here and there, at considerable depths beneath the surface, occur large blocks of granite,—a phenomenon which has given rise to a variety of speculations among geologists. Several inland lakes occur in the N. E. and a number of small rivers or Asas. The climate is damp and variable, but very mild and favourable to vegetation. The winter is long and rainy; but seldom severe enough to freeze the surrounding straits, which are only blocked up during winter by the shoals of ice from the Cattegat. Summer commences in June, and terminates in August, when high winds begin to blow. The territorial surface of this bailiwick amounts to 3103 square miles, and the population is estimated at 350,000 of whom about 96,000-including the garrison and 2400 Jews-reside in the capital. Copenhagen called by the Danes, Kioebenhavn—the metropolis of the Danish dominions, is situated on a low and marshy promontory on the east of the island of Zealand, where the island of Amak forms a small bay. It formerly belonged to the bishop of Roeskilde, and did not become the residence of the Court till 1443. None of the cities of Northern Europe equal Copenhagen in their appearance. Some of them, particularly Petersburg, have a few buildings which excel any thing to be seen in Copenhagen, but in general neatness they are greatly deficient. Wooden edifices, so common in the North, are here unknown, that material being forbidden to be used for building; and that mixture of elegance and meanness, which gives to the greater part of northern cities an appearance somewhat grotesque, is seldom to be met with in Copenhagen; the greater part of the buildings are of brick, many of them are of stone brought from Germany, and some of the finer edifices are of Norwegian marble. The circumference of the city is about five miles; it is regularly fortified towards the land, and is protected by strong works towards the sea. The town is divided into three parts, viz. the Old and the New town, and Christianshaven. The streets, though narrow, and consequently ill-fitted for the accommodation of the crowd of a metropolis, are in general well paved, and have on each side a pavement for foot passengers. There is a beautiful octagon, called Frederic's place in the New Town, ornamented with a statue of Frederic V. The royal family "The land surrounded by the sea. |
