: &Z* DENMARK, 



islands of the Baltic, exclusive of Holstein, will therefore amount to 

 1,081,680. 



National character and manners. ...The ancient inhabitants of 

 Denmark possessed a degree of courage which approached even to 

 ferocity : their national character in this respect, however, is much 

 changed ; but with their former ferocious habits, they have also laid 

 aside in a great measure their ancient simplicity and innocence. 

 Though not a very enterprising, they are a brave and humane people. 

 They value themselves extremely upon those titles and privileges, 

 which they derive from the crown ; and are extremely fond of pomp 

 and show. They endeavour to imitate the French in their manners, 

 dress, and even in their gallantry; though they are naturally the very 

 contrast of that nation. The Danes, like other northern nations, are 

 given to intemperance in drinking, and convivial entertainments ; but 

 their nobility, who begin now to visit the other courts of Europe, are 

 refining from their ancient national habits and vices. 



Cities, chief towns, edifices. ...Copenhagen, which is situate on 

 the island of Zealand, was originally a settlement of sailors, and first 

 founded by some wandering fishermen in the twelfth century, but is 

 now the metropolis, and makes a magnificent appearance at a distance. 

 It is very strong, and defended by four royal castles or forts. It con- 

 tains ten parish churches, besides nine others belonging to the Cal- 

 vinists and other religious sects, and some hospitals. Copenhagen is 

 adorned by several public and private palaces, as they are called. Its 

 streets are 186 in number, the houses about 4,000 and its inhabitants 

 amount to 100,000. The houses in the principal streets are built of 

 brick, and those in the lanes chiefly of timber. The harbour is spa- 

 cious, and is formed by a large canal flowing through the city, which 

 admits only one ship to enter at a time ; but the harbour is capable of 

 containing 500. Several of the streets have canals and quays for ships 

 to lie close to the houses; and the naval arsenal is said to exceed that 

 of Venice. The road for shipping begins about two miles from the 

 town, and is defended by 90 pieces of cannon, as well as the difficulty 

 of the navigation. Yet, notwithstanding all these advantages, there 

 is little appearance of industry or trade in this city ; and Copenhagen, 

 though one of the finest ports in the world, cannot boast of its com- 

 Jfoerce. The police of Copenhagen is extremely regular, and people 

 may walk through the whole city at midnight with great safety. In- 

 deed, it is usually almost as quiet here at eleven o'clock at night as in 

 a country village. 



About twenty English miles from Copenhagen, is a noble palace 

 belonging to his Danish majesty, called Fredericsburg. It is a very 

 large building, moated round with a triple ditch, and calculated, like 

 rnost of the ancient residences of princes, for defence against an ene- 

 my. It was built by Christian IV, and, according to the architecture 

 of the times, partakes of the Greek and Gothic styles. In the front 

 of the grand quadrangle appear Tuscan and Doric pillars ; and on 

 the summit of the building are spires and turrets. Some of the 

 rooms are very splendid, though furnished in the antique taste. The 

 knights' hall is of great length. The tapestry represents the wars of 

 Denmark, and the ceiling is a most minute and laboured performance 

 in sculpture. The chimney-piece was once entirely covered with 

 plates of silver, richly ornamented ; but the Swedes, who have often 

 landed here, and even besieged the capital, tore them all away, and 

 rifled the palace, notwithstanding its triple moat and formidable ap- 



