348 | 
and exaét some feudal observances 
from their tenantry. All the rest 
of the country is divided into smal! 
farms, which belong to the culti- 
vator. It is true, some few, ap- 
pertaining to the church, are lett ; 
but always on a lease for life, 
generally renewed in favour of 
the eldest son, who has this ad- 
vantage, as wellasa right to a double 
portion of the property. But the 
value of the farm is estimated; and 
after his portion is assigned to him, 
he must be answerable for the resi- 
due to the remaining part of the 
family. 
Every farmer, for ten years, 
is obliged to attend annually about 
twelve days, to learn the military 
exercise; but it is always at a small 
distance from his dwelling, and 
does not lead him into any new 
habits of life. 
There are about six thousand 
regulars also, garrisoned at Christi- 
ana and Fredericshall, which are 
equally reserved, with the militia, 
for the defence of their own coun- 
try. So that when the prince royal 
_ passed into Sweden, in 1788, he 
was obliged to request, not com. 
mand, them to accompany him on 
this expedition. 
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 volun- 
tarily enlist; but it is only for a 
limited period (six years), at the 
expiration of which they have the 
liberty of retiring. ‘Whe pay is 
only twopence a day, and bread; 
still, considering the cheapness of 
the country, it is more than six- 
pence in England. 
The distribution of landed pro- 
perty into small farms, produces a 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 17096. 
degree of equality which I ha 
seldom secn cisewhere; 
rich being al! merchants, who are} 
and the}! 
ff 
obliged to divide their personal! 
fortune amongst their children, 
the boys always receiving twice as 
much as the girls, property has 
net a chance of accumulating till 
overzrown wealth destroys the 
balance of liberty. 
You will be surprised to hear me 
talk of liberty: yet the Norwe- 
gians appear to me to be the 
most free community I have ever 
observed. 
The mayor of each town or 
distri@, and the judges in the 
country, ‘exercise an authority al- |* 
most 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 
conduét, 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 representa- 
tive, are a manly race; for not be- 
ing obliged to submit to any de-- 
basing tenure, in order to live, or 
advance themselves in the world, 
they a&t with an independent 
spirit. I never yet have heard of 
any thing like domineering, or op- 
pression, excepting such as has 
arisen from natural causes. ‘The 
freedom the people enjoy may, 
perhaps, render them a littie ‘litt. 
gious, and subje& them to the im. 
positions of cunning practitioners 
of the law; but the authority of 
office is bounded, and the ‘emolu- 
Ments 
is 
