*ST. 22.] AND SCANDINAVIA. 125 



Councillor of State. The mercantile influence is very 

 extensive, though Merry seemed to attribute a good 

 deal more to it than was due. Certainly a Govern- 

 ment so much in want of money must depend much 

 on the moneyed men ; but how far these have a direct 

 influence is another matter. However, Mr Merry 

 mentioned a circumstance which, if true, must prove 

 that influence to be very great indeed. He said " that 

 he was astonished at finding so many people em- 

 ployed secretly in trade ; that every day he made dis- 

 coveries of this kind ; and he scrupled not to affirm 

 that almost everybody in Copenhagen was more or 

 less concerned in commerce. The ostensible mer- 

 chants who have the trade in their hands are few in 

 number, and have the ear of the Court/' Mr Otto, on 

 the other hand, seemed to laugh at Mr Merry for 

 ascribing by his behaviour so much to his (Mr Otto's) 

 brethren : he said that Merry was constantly running 

 up and down, and crying, " Why don't you join the 

 coalition ? " All these merchants are enemies to the 

 present war talk without scruple against England 

 and are peculiarly irritated by the Dutch expedition. 

 Nothing can make them join but our success in Hol- 

 land : while matters are doubtful, they keep on the 

 safe side, and remain as they are. The Government 

 is very poor. Last spring, when Hamburg was 

 threatened, four frigates were equipped for the de- 

 fence of Altona and Holstein. A fuss was made about 

 a tax for this. The impost on land had been raised 

 formerly, and was changed. Merry did not know 



