Even The Manufacturers
Are Not Exempted, Though The Miners Are, In Order To Encourage
Undertakings Which Require A Capital At The Commencement.
And, what
appears more tyrannical, the inhabitants of certain districts are
appointed for the land, others for the sea service.
Consequently, a
peasant, born a soldier, is not permitted to follow his inclination
should it lead him to go to sea, a natural desire near so many
seaports.
In these regulations the arbitrary government - the King of Denmark
being the most absolute monarch in Europe - appears, which in other
respects seeks to hide itself in a lenity that almost renders the
laws nullities. If any alteration of old customs is thought of, the
opinion of the old country is required and maturely considered. I
have several times had occasion to observe that, fearing to appear
tyrannical, laws are allowed to become obsolete which ought to be
put in force or better substituted in their stead; for this mistaken
moderation, which borders on timidity, favours the least respectable
part of the people.
I saw on my way not only good parsonage houses, but comfortable
dwellings, with glebe land for the clerk, always a consequential man
in every country, a being proud of a little smattering of learning,
to use the appropriate epithet, and vain of the stiff good-breeding
reflected from the vicar, though the servility practised in his
company gives it a peculiar cast.
The widow of the clergyman is allowed to receive the benefit of the
living for a twelvemonth after the death of the incumbent.
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