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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