Parts of the city; not
allowing the wind to have any hand in it. So much for the plot.
But the fabricators of plots in all countries build their
conjectures on the "baseless fabric of a vision;" and it seems even
a sort of poetical justice, that whilst this Minister is crushing at
home plots of his own conjuring up, on the Continent, and in the
north, he should, with as little foundation, be accused of wishing
to set the world on fire.
I forgot to mention to you, that I was informed, by a man of
veracity, that two persons came to the stake to drink a glass of the
criminal's blood, as an infallible remedy for the apoplexy. And
when I animadverted in the company, where it was mentioned, on such
a horrible violation of nature, a Danish lady reproved me very
severely, asking how I knew that it was not a cure for the disease?
adding, that every attempt was justifiable in search of health. I
did not, you may imagine, enter into an argument with a person the
slave of such a gross prejudice. And I allude to it not only as a
trait of the ignorance of the people, but to censure the Government
for not preventing scenes that throw an odium on the human race.
Empiricism is not peculiar to Denmark; and I know no way of rooting
it out, though it be a remnant of exploded witchcraft, till the
acquiring a general knowledge of the component parts of the human
frame becomes a part of public education.
Since the fire, the inhabitants have been very assiduously employed
in searching for property secreted during the confusion; and it is
astonishing how many people, formerly termed reputable, had availed
themselves of the common calamity to purloin what the flames spared.
Others, expert at making a distinction without a difference,
concealed what they found, not troubling themselves to inquire for
the owners, though they scrupled to search for plunder anywhere, but
amongst the ruins.
To be honester than the laws require is by most people thought a
work of supererogation; and to slip through the grate of the law has
ever exercised the abilities of adventurers, who wish to get rich
the shortest way. Knavery without personal danger is an art brought
to great perfection by the statesman and swindler; and meaner knaves
are not tardy in following their footsteps.
It moves my gall to discover some of the commercial frauds practised
during the present war. In short, under whatever point of view I
consider society, it appears to me that an adoration of property is
the root of all evil. Here it does not render the people
enterprising, as in America, but thrifty and cautious. I never,
therefore, was in a capital where there was so little appearance of
active industry; and as for gaiety, I looked in vain for the
sprightly gait of the Norwegians, who in every respect appear to me
to have got the start of them. This difference I attribute to their
having more liberty - a liberty which they think their right by
inheritance, whilst the Danes, when they boast of their negative
happiness, always mention it as the boon of the Prince Royal, under
the superintending wisdom of Count Bernstorff. Vassalage is
nevertheless ceasing throughout the kingdom, and with it will pass
away that sordid avarice which every modification of slavery is
calculated to produce.
If the chief use of property be power, in the shape of the respect
it procures, is it not among the inconsistencies of human nature
most incomprehensible, that men should find a pleasure in hoarding
up property which they steal from their necessities, even when they
are convinced that it would be dangerous to display such an enviable
superiority? Is not this the situation of serfs in every country.
Yet a rapacity to accumulate money seems to become stronger in
proportion as it is allowed to be useless.
Wealth does not appear to be sought for amongst the Danes, to obtain
the excellent luxuries of life, for a want of taste is very
conspicuous at Copenhagen; so much so that I am not surprised to
hear that poor Matilda offended the rigid Lutherans by aiming to
refine their pleasures. The elegance which she wished to introduce
was termed lasciviousness; yet I do not find that the absence of
gallantry renders the wives more chaste, or the husbands more
constant. Love here seems to corrupt the morals without polishing
the manners, by banishing confidence and truth, the charm as well as
cement of domestic life. A gentleman, who has resided in this city
some time, assures me that he could not find language to give me an
idea of the gross debaucheries into which the lower order of people
fall; and the promiscuous amours of the men of the middling class
with their female servants debase both beyond measure, weakening
every species of family affection.
I have everywhere been struck by one characteristic difference in
the conduct of the two sexes; women, in general, are seduced by
their superiors, and men jilted by their inferiors: rank and
manners awe the one, and cunning and wantonness subjugate the other;
ambition creeping into the woman's passion, and tyranny giving force
to the man's, for most men treat their mistresses as kings do their
favourites: ergo is not man then the tyrant of the creation?
Still harping on the same subject, you will exclaim - How can I avoid
it, when most of the struggles of an eventful life have been
occasioned by the oppressed state of my sex? We reason deeply when
we feel forcibly.
But to return to the straight road of observation. The sensuality
so prevalent appears to me to arise rather from indolence of mind
and dull senses, than from an exuberance of life, which often
fructifies the whole character when the vivacity of youthful spirits
begins to subside into strength of mind.
