baie Uy 
ye on literature in Denmarb. sg 33 
they have also broken down those barriers tp trade which 
a spirit of monopoly had reared up with a view to opprefs 
one half the natives of these dominions. The trade to 
Finmark and Iceland has been, for many years past, like 
our trade to the East Indies, monopolised by a com- 
pany of merchants, who had the sole and exclusive privi- 
lege of supplying the wants of these people, and of purcha- 
sing the commodities they had to sell. The consequence 
has been, that the people of those countries have thus been 
_ deprefsed to anastoniihing degree, their industry reprefsed, 
_and of course their population greatly diminifhed. The royal 
revenue from these regions was almost annihilated ; and 
though some of the servants of the company picked up 2 
- comfortable subsistence, the company itself has from time 
to time become bankrupt, as ever happens to companies of 
this sort. The enlightened ministers above named, per=' 
ceived these evils, and marked the mischievous cousequen- 
ces that must result to the nation at large from a longer 
continuance of this absurd system*of management. This 
- destructive monopoly of trade, has therefore been aboli- 
 thed, and it is now open-on the terms specified in the note 
below *. Thetrade to Iceland was laid open at thesame 
* 1, Persons of every persuasion establifhed on the tenete of the Chri- 
_ tian religion, fhall have a right to settle in Finmark, and enjoy perfect li- 
_ beriy of worthip. 
2. Every inhabitant, of whateyer sect of the christian’ religion he be, 
fhall have a right to buy lands, to. whatever extent he pleases. 
3- Every citizen fhall be exempted from all taxes, and duties payable to: 
government, during the term of twenty years. 
4. The new settler thall moreover be free from the duty of £ per cent. 
payable on capitals laid out on inteyest, and the use of stamps. 
§. The town establifhed in Firmark, and ‘its inhabitants,’ fhall, for- 
the space of twenty years, be exempted from all customs and excise, spi- * 
Fituous liquors only excepted, which fhall pay one’ milling per-gallon, and, 
Collected by the custom-house odicers, hail be appropriated. to: the public: 
fit of the new settlements. 
6, In the same manner, the export of home productions is free during 
Course of twenty years, 
