124 VISIT TO DENMARK 0799- 



Russian General, Knox, who passed through lately on 

 his way to Holland, stayed only three days in Copen- 

 hagen, and a month at Elsinore. The visiting is 

 confined to \vintcr : in summer the merchants go to 

 the country houses and boxes, and even in winter the 

 parties are said to be dull : the Court is uncommonly 

 so. At present the only Ministers are the Russian, 

 French, Dutch, and Swedish, all of whom live ex- 

 ceedingly private. 



The government of Denmark is absolute, as every 

 one knows. The Act of 1645, which made the Crown 

 elective, was abolished, and in 1665 the Crown was 

 made hereditary, and unlimited in power. The former 

 Act being abolished, Dr Thorkelin mentioned to me 

 that no mention is made in it of the comparison with 

 the government of our State ; but I suspect he mis- 

 understood my question. It has, indeed, every ap- 

 pearance of a despotic government. There are no 

 states acknowledged, no control on the king's power. 

 He names the privy council, who do all in his name. 

 He levies taxes, makes peace and war, publishes 

 edicts, alters, annuls, and makes laws. The titles are 

 Graf, or Count, and Baron. But Court employments 

 or other great offices conferred by the Crown consti- 

 tute the great and almost the only difference of rank 

 and station. These offices, it is true, are only given 

 to such as are noble ; but then letters of nobility are 

 easily obtained. Thus the merchants who have made 

 money become noble, and hold places. Mr Selby is 

 in this way a Baron, and Mr de Konig is besides a 



