( 35 6 )
By the Same.
Chap. I.— General Remarks on Norway. — Hijlory. — Geography.—Benefits of the Norway
Law.—Peafants. — Climate.
NORWAY was formerly an independent kingdom , governed by its own hereditaryfovereigns. On the demife of Hagen the Fifth, in 1319, without male iflue, his grand-fon in the female line, Magnus Smek, united the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway .Magnus was fucceeded on the throne of Norway by his fon Hagen the Sixth, hufbandof the celebrated Margaret; and at his deceafe, in 1380, Norway was united to Den-mark by their fon Olof the Fifth ; who dying without iflue, Margaret herfelf was raifedto the throne by the unanimous fuffrages of the nation. On her death it defcended, withDenmark and Sweden, to her nephew, Eric of Pomerania. Sweden was afterwards fe-parated from Denmark by the valour and addrefs of Guftavus Vafa; but Norway hascontinued united to the crown of Denmark .
Norway is formed by nature into two great divifxons, Northern, and Southern orNorway Proper, feparated from each other by the fmall Swedilh province of Hern-dahl.
Northern Norway is a long and narrow flip of land, extending as far as North Cape ,beyond the feventy-firft degree of latitude, the mod northern point of Europe ; it is di-vided into Nordland and Finnmark , and comprehended in the government of Dron-theim.
Southern or Norway Proper, is bounded to the north and eaft by Sweden , and tothe weft and fouth by the northern ocean. It is divided into four governments, Agger-huus or Chriftiana, Chriftianfand, Berghen, and Drontheim .
Although Norway comprehends a large tra£t of territory, yet from its rocky foil andclimate, the number of inhabitants is by no means proportionate to the extent of thecountry. Perhaps the following tables, giving the number of births and deaths duringfeven years, may aflift in forming a probable ftatement of the population :
Births.
Deaths.
1777.
-
-
2 3 > 33 r
-
* 5, 6 55
1 778-
-
-
23>487
-
15,222
1779.
-
-
23,862
-
20,768
1780.
-
-
24,711
-
*8,523
1781.
-
-
24,153
-
16,072
1782.
-
-
23,944
-
I 7 > 5°3
*783-
-
-
21,554
-
* 9,357
Sum total
165,042
123,100
By