439 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
4 TOUR in DENMARK, by PROFESSOR 
OLIVARIUS, of KIEL, iz HOLSTEIN, 
(From Le Nord Littéraire, &c.) 
[Continued from p. 248, No. 113.] 
HEN we confider that ever fince 
the year 1718, Denmark has not 
fuffered from any war of much impor- 
tance or duration, it may be faid, that 
fhe has enjoyed, during eighty years, fuch 
a peace as no other country in Europe has 
been favoured with, with the exception, 
perhaps, of Sweden, whofe fhort wars, 
during the fame period, have not been 
much more confiderable. What might 
not confequently have been expected from a 
country fo advantageoufly fituated for com- 
merce ; from a country which has fo large 
an extent of coalt, and which contains {fo 
many and fuch excellent harbours! But 
on a clofer infpection we —fhall find, 
that under the heads of culture, popula- 
tion, manufactures, commerce, civiliza- 
tion, eafy circumftances in general, and, 
laftly, with refpe&t to the revenues, this 
kingdom yields to moft of the fouthern 
(although much fmaller) countries of Eu- 
rope, lefs deftitute of refources, but ha- 
ratied by almoft continual wars. Add'to 
this, that, through the above whole pe- 
riod, Denmark has had the happinefs not 
to be tormented with bad minifters, and 
that, in general, it has been better go- 
verned than many fouthern countries. — It 
would be unjuft to pretend to compare 
this country with the eleCtorateof Saxony, 
which, in general, may be reckoned 
among the beft provinces of Europe.— 
But thofe who know Saxony, cannot re- 
frain from reflecting, that it has taken a 
part in the greater part of the wars on the 
Continent ; that it was exhaufted in the 
Seven Years’ War ; and, laftly, that it 
was very illtreated- under the two Auguf- 
tufes, Kings of Poland. Notwithftand- 
Ing all this, we find there a degree of in- 
duitry, population, eafy circumftances, 
&c. that it would be ufelefs to feek for in 
the Danith Ifles. This obfervation may 
be well-founded, but it occafions no fur- 
prize. The climate alone, and the foil, 
_ may operate this material difference. It 
is, perhaps, only England and Holland, 
that, by a concurrence of favourable 
events, make a fort of exception to the 
rule ; and, moreover, the climate and the 
foil are much better there than in the ge- 
nerality of the provinces of the Danifh 
monarchy. F 
The author, in croffing the Great Belt, 
‘which is four miles over, perceived the Ifle 
ef Sproe, fituared in the middle, and rex 
2 
"4 Tour in Denmar?. 
[June f, 
markable becaufe, during the winter, tra- 
vellers that crofs the Belt are often oblig- 
ed to pafs the night there, and fometimes 
entire days, if the remainder of the paf- 
fage fhould oppofe too many obftacles.— 
There is here only a fingle houfe, but it 
is an inn, which, according to the reports 
which are given'of it, ought to be attend- 
ed to with care, to procure a fort of in- 
demnification for the fatigues, perils, and 
difagreeable circumitances, which have 
previoufly endured. Let us imagine a 
company of travellers, often perfons of 
quality, rich individuals, thrown upon 
this coaft, and condemned to fpend two or 
three days here; frequently more, without 
being able to procure the common necef- 
faries of life. It is true, that more care 
would occafion more expence to Govern- 
ment; but, in return, people would be 
lefs difcouraged with the difficulties of a 
voyage, which has, befides, fo many other 
inconveniencies ; efpecially when the Belt 
is obftructed with ice,. which commonly 
happens in the. months of December, Ja- 
nuary, and February. - During that time 
they are often -obliged to make ufe of a 
fort of fmall boat; named jz/baad, (ice- 
boat,) the bottom part of which has a 
double coating of iron.” Thefe boats may 
be ufed as common boats where the water 
is not frozen, and may ferve for fledges, 
or carriages, according to circumftances, 
over places.that are frozen. In fome win- 
ters the fea is frozen all over to fuch a de- 
gree, that one may pals over on foot, and. 
even ina carriage. .Tiis is, however, 
very rare and very. extraordinary. - ‘Thefe 
boats they navigate as long as is poffible 5 
the crew confifts of five men, who carry 
the embarkation with cords tied to their 
bodies, in cafe that heaps of ice or fnow 
prevent them from trailing it, as they 
ufually do when they no longer find the 
fea open. Ifthe ice happens to break all 
at once, they plunge the boat into the 
aperture formed, Jeap withinfide, and, 
from porters. or trailers, metamorphofe | 
themfelves into mariners. - Sometimes na- ~ 
vigating, fometimes - carrying, fometimes 
trailing, we arrive at length at our defti- 
nation, which is very often quicker than 
one would expect. The editor (Profeffor 
Olivarius,) recolle&ts having crofled ever 
this paflage one fine winter's day in an 
jifoaad ; the travellers and the pafiengers 
were fufficiently numerous to require 
feven of thefe fledge-boats, which 
formed an amufing groupe, that difpelled 
every fentiment of fear, by the idea of mu- 
tual fuccour ready to be afforded to each 
other ; and perhaps alfe from the well- 
ji knows 
