COXfi’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK. 3 OT

with the Danifh on one fide, and the Englifh on the other. One fong recorded thegallant behaviour of Admiral Huitfield, who, in an engagement with the Swedifh fleet,finding his own fhip on fire, grappled with two of the enemy’s men of war, and blewthem up with his own fhip. Another fong in honour of their favourite hero Chriftianthe Fourth, is as popular in Denmark as “ Rule, Britannia,” in England. I recollectthe following lines of a doggrel tranflation in the beginning of the fong :

King Chriftian flood high near the mail,

In clouds of fmoke :

His (Timing fword was working faft,

Cleft brains and helmets firlt and laft.

Then funk each Gothic hulk and mail,

In clouds of fmoke, &c.

In vifiting the citadel, I enquired for the cells in which Struenfee and Brandt \vereconfined. The dungeon which ferved as a prifon for Struenfee is on the ground-floor,fourteen feet long and twelve broad. The barrack bedftead on which he lay is ftillthere, and the chain to which he was faftened riveted to the wall. During his confine-ment he was treated with the greateft inhumanity, and frequently deprived of com-mon neceffaries; he was chained fo clofely to the wall as fcarcely to be able to turnhimfelf; and occafionally threatened with the torture, if he would not confefs whathis enemies diftated.

I vifited likewife the fpot where Struenfee and Brandt were executed, on the 28thof March 1772. The fcaffold was conftrufted in the middle of a field, near the eaftgate of the town; and they were conduced to the fpot in two feparate carriages,through an immenfe concourfe of people. They arrived at the place of execution ateleven. Brandt firft alighted, and mounted the fcaffold with a flow flep and undauntedmien ; heard his fentence read, and faw his coat of arms torn, without expreffing theleaf!: emotion ; he then prayed for a few minutes, and fpoke a few words to the peo-ple. When the executioner approached to affift him, he faid to him with firmnefs,yet not without mildnefs, “Stand off, and do not prefume to touch me.” Without anyaffiftance he pulled off his peliffe, and prepared for his fate. He lirfl ft retched out hishand, and bade the executioner do his duty, without fhrinking from the blow, it wasftruck off, and his head fevered from his body almoft in the fame inftant. His bodywas then quartered.

During this dreadful fcene Struenfee remained at the bottom of the fcaffold, anxiouf-ly expecting and dreading his own fate. His whole frame trembled when Brandt’sblood gufhed from the fcaffold ; and he was fo agitated, that he could not walk up thefteps without help. He faid nothing, and permitted the executioner to affift him intaking off his cloak. Inftead of imitating the courage and ferenity of his fellow fuf-ferer, he ftarted up feveral times from the block, before he gave the fignal, drew backhand, was fhockingly maimed before it was cut off, and was at lait held down by*°rce while the executioner beheaded him.

The environs of Copenhagen are exceedingly beautiful. The country is gently un-dulating, produces much corn and pafture, and is finally interfperfed with fin all foreftsof beech and oak. The fea views are enchanting, and the villas and country feats de-bghtfully fituated on the ffiores of the Sound .

The royal park, about four miles from the capital, is perhaps the fined; fpot for thenatural beauty of the gently waving furface, and richnefs of the wood ; and proves,

that