1/4 VISIT TO DENMARK [1799. 



of dependence on England. Then lie went in person 

 to Mecklenburg, where everything was ready for his 

 marriage with one of the princesses there ; and when 

 all was arranged and publicly notified, he suddenly 

 broke off, for fear of English influence. He went to 

 Petersburg (forced to break off the other, it is said, 

 by the emperor) and was waiting there in expecta- 

 tion of being married to one of the grand -duchesses, 

 but he seized the opportunity of the empress's death 

 and returned home. He then married the Princess 

 of Baden (who at first disliked him and the country), 

 and with whom (except her beauty) he got nothing, 

 neither friends nor money ; but then her insignifi- 

 cance secured his apparent independence. 



The people, especially the merchants, are violent 

 against the English; laugh at our liberty, which they 

 call gilded slavery ; talk of Pitt as a monster, and 

 the war as the greatest of all curses. They indeed 

 smart from it, and declare that their trade is ruined. 

 The successes of France always increase the public 

 prejudice in her favour ; and on these depend also 

 the motions of the Government. It is supposed that 

 the king has a mind to follow out some of his father's 

 plans, especially with respect to a Eussian alliance. 



The governors of provinces have the whole district 

 also almost completely under their power; the different 

 chancellories, or the parliaments, being wholly under 

 their direction, while the bishop governs the Church. 



Finland and Pomerania are distinct and separate 

 governments. The raising of taxes is left to the 



