COXE’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK.

3 ° 5 >

villa, about four miles from Copenhagen . The houfe, built by the late Count, Handsin a delightful fituation on a gentle rife, Hoping towards the fea, backed by a ridge ofhills prettily wooded, and commanding a cheerful view of the Sound, the coaft of Swe-den, Copenhagen , and the numerous vefl'els failing to and from the capital.

In our way to the village 'we palled a column of Norwegian marble, eredled to thememory, of the late Count Bernfdorf by the peafants of his eftate, in gratitude for hav-ing received the gift of freedom from their beloved mafler. The pillar is ornamentedwith a wheat-fheaf, a fpade, and a pick-axe, the emblems of agriculture. It contains aLatin and Danifh infcription, attefting the Count’s liberality, and their gratitude *.

The flavery of the peafants is part of the remains of the feudal fyftem, which, how-ever modified and changed in the other parts of the Danifh conftitution, leaves behindit that indelible mark of its former preponderancy and injuftice. Hitherto all the at-tempts to abolifh it, which have fucceeded in Sweden, Norway , and feveral parts ofGermany , have contributed only to rivet Hill more ftrongly a fervitude, no lefs dif-graceful to the government, than prejudicial to the community. I enjoyed, however,great fatisfa&ion in finding that the fpirit of juftice and humanity, and I may add, thefuggeftions of felf-intereft, have lately fpread themfelves among the nobility; and thata few of them were on the point of emancipating their peafants. And as the princeroyal has turned his humanity and attention to this fubjedl f, and feems inclined to fa-vour any well-planned fyftem, which may give new life and vigour to an order of men,the inoft ufeful in the community; it is to be prefumed, that in time the prejudicesagainfl fuch a fyftem will be removed; and that fuch effedive and prudent meafureswill be adopted by government, as may, without convulfion, reftore to the peafantsthe common rights of mankind.

We were prefent at an entertainment given by Admiral Molcke, on board the PrincefsSophia Frederica , carrying feventy-four guns, and fix hundred men, going on a cruifeto the Baltic, with three other fhips of the line. We embarked at the port, and wererowed in the Captain’s boat to the fhip, where we found Count Molcke, and a largecompany, confifting of perfons of the firft condition. From the cabin we had a de-lightful view of the town and dock-yard of Copenhagen ; of the Danifh navy laid up intwo lines in the harbour ; of feveral men of war and frigates lying at anchor near usin the road ; of numerous veffels failing and covering the furface of the fea, which wascurled by a gentle breeze; of the diftant coafts of Sweden , and the adjacent fhores ofZealand , richly clothed with wood. Dinner was ferved on deck, under a canopy offails and pendants ; and forty perfons fat down to a fuperb and elegant repaft. Afterdrinking the healths of the King and Royal Family, each health accompanied with afalute of fifteen guns, Admiral Molcke gave, in compliment to Mr. Elliott, the Englifhenvoy, who was prefent, The navy of England j and Mr. Elliott in return gave, Thenavy of Denmark .

Several Danifh fongs were fung to the accompaniment of violins and tambours debafque, which had a pleafing effect. Thefe fongs related to naval engagements, and tothe honour of the Danifh marine ; the chorus was repeated by the company, and re-echoed by the whole fhip’s crew. Books containing the words were handed round,

* Piis manibus Joh. Hartvici Ernefti, Coroitis de Bernftorff, qui arva difcreta fmmunia hereditaria lar-giendo induftriam opes omnia impertit in exemplum pofteritati 1767. P. S. S. grati coloni 1783.

f Since my departure from Copenhagen , the example fet by Count Bernftorff has been followed by theerewn. <r The bonds of fervitude,” to ufe the words of an intelligent Dane, “ are now relaxed, and bondfervice is limited in every part of the kingdom ”—The pleafing refult is vilible in almoft every place you feeand in every countenance you meet.” Bygge’s Travels in the French Republic , Tranflation p. 27.

4

with