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Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, and various other works relative to the interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures, and to Ecclesiastical History; Dr. Madvig, who is distinguished for his knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, and is the editor of Cicero de Finibus, and author of other works; Professor Molbech, author of a Danish Dictionary, and various other works illustrative of the language and literature of Denmark; Dr. Bromsted, Professor of Greek, and author of Travels in Greece, a work which has been translated into French and other languages; and the late Dr. Mönster, Bishop of Zealand, a very eminent preacher, and author of various collections of sermons and other books, partly of a religious and partly of a literary nature. In 1833, he published his "Considerations on the Doctrines of the Christian Faith," in 2 vols. 12mo., a work full of excellent views, and displaying a profound acquaintance with the mysteries of the human heart.

This catalogue might be greatly enlarged if it were necessary to do so. Few countries of the same extent of population have so many literary men, or so considerable a literature as Denmark. And it certainly must be nothing more nor less than pure love of literature and science, for their own sakes, which can induce a man to write a valuable and extended work in the Danish language, which is a language wholly unknown to the literati of the world at large, and which is probably not read by a population--in Denmark and Norway-of more than two millions and a half; for it must be remembered that Holstein and Sleswic, two very important provinces of the kingdom of Denmark, speak the German, and not the Danish. It can hardly be the love of fame which operates on the Danish savant, inducing him to write tomes of learning. Nor can it be the love of money, for surely very little can be obtained in that way, as the demand for such books in that

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language cannot be so considerable as to enable publishers in Copenhagen to give Danish authors any thing like the intrinsic value of their works.

Denmark is rich in scientific and literary journals,* but she is not rich in newspaper literature of a political character. Not that there are no newspapers in Denmark. On the contrary they are tolerably numerous. But the censorship of the press is rigid, and by consequence, the political journals, if the newspapers of Denmark deserve that name, are exceedingly tame, and contain nothing but summaries of domestic and foreign intelligence, with the omission of every thing which might have a bearing on the government of the country, directly or indirectly. Not only so, but there are other countries respecting which an editor of a newspaper must speak very cautiously, or he will soon find himself in trouble. If anything be said against Russia, or Prussia, or Austria, he will soon have the ministers of those governments, resident at Copenhagen, thundering away at his door, or rather the Danish govern

* The following is a list of the most important of these periodical works. In Theology: Nordisk Tidsskrift for Christelig Theologi (Northern Journal of Christian Theology); Theologisk Tidsskrift (Theological Journal); Tidsskrift for Udenlandisk Theologisk Literatur (Journal of Foreign Theological Literature.) In Law: Juridisk Tidsskrift (Law Journal) by Messrs. Kolderup, Rosenwinge,P. Bang, and A. L. Casse. In Medicine: Bibliothek for Læger (Library for Physicians.) On other subjects: Orion-Historisk—Geographisk Maanedskrift (a monthly work on Astronomy, History and Geography.)-Nordisk Tidsskrift for Oldkyndigh (Northern Journal of Antiquities. Tidsskrift for Literatur og Kritik (Journal of Literature and Criticism)-Naturistoisk Tidsskrift (Journal of Natural History.) Tidsskrift for Landækonomie (Journal of Agriculture.) Archiv for Sövæsenet (Seamen's Journal.) Militairt Repertorium (Military Repertory.) Have-Tidende (Horticulture.) Besides these there might be enumerated among the periodical literature of the country, the Annual Reports of several of the Literary and Scientific Bodies. There are also other periodical publications of less note, which we deem it unnecessary to mention.

ment officers through their instigation. This restricted policy fetters the newspaper press and renders it wholly lifeless and inefficient. The consequence is that newspapers are not much read, or esteemed in Denmark, save for the general intelligence which they contain of what is passing in the world, and still more, for the prices current, which they give of the state of the exchange at Hamburg, at London, and at St. Petersburg. Certainly the newspaper press may be greatly abused, and made an engine of evil. But even some abuse of it is to be preferred to this total inefficiency. The day has come when the world is moved, not by large volumes, however well written they may be, but by the periodical sheet, by the newspaper skilfully conducted. Such a journal contains in the course of the year a vast amount of valuable information, not only of a political, but also of a moral and literary nature. The power of the newspaper press is just beginning to be felt in the world at large. But to this day, that influence has scarcely reached Denmark, nor can it do so, as long as the restrictions which shackle it are suffered to continue.

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CHAPTER XIV.

MORAL AND RELIGIOUS STATE OF DENMARK.

The Danes an amiable people-The higher classes distinguished for refined and accomplished manners-The agricultural and village population generally honest, simple-hearted, and virtuous-The peasantry of the continental provinces more virtuous than those of the Islands-The people of the capital and other cities less virtuous than the inhabitants of the rural districts-The Religion of Denmark almost wholly Protestant-The Lutheran Church the Established Church of Denmark-The number of the Roman Catholics and Jews-The number of the Dioceses and Superintendencies, Deans, and Pastors-The patronage of the Crown-Character of the Danish Clergy-Supply of the Scriptures-Want of convenient religious books-Intolerance in Denmark-Persecution of the Baptists.

THE intercourse which we have had with the Danes, of all classes, has very favorably impressed us. We have seen a good deal of them, in almost all circumstances. We have mingled with the inhabitants of the cities, and we have seen those of the country, and of almost every district of it. We have met them at the social dinner-party, and in the soirée. We have traveled with them in steamboats, and in stages, and in wagons. And we must say, that we think them, taken as a nation, an amiable people.

Amongst the higher classes, whether nobles or commoners, one finds a great degree of cultivation and a large amount of intelligence. The best educated people, and especially the people of considerable wealth-in other words, the people who are in what are called easy circumstances may be called a very refined people. More agreeable manners, more courteous manners, are not to be seen in any country in Europe. We have been perfectly charmed with the accomplished and graceful deportment, and the winning address and intonation of not a few Danish gentlemen and ladies with whom we have met, not

MORAL AND RELIGIOUS STATE OF DENMARK. 307

only in the capital, but in all parts of the kingdom which we have visited. A stranger cannot but remark the great civility which the people of all classes display in their intercourse with each other. It is not only seen in the shopkeeper, who is solicitous to please his customers in order to sell his goods, nor in the wealthy citizen, who takes a pride in a generous hospitality, but also in the poorest mechanic, the most ignorant laborer, whether of the city or the country. We do not remember that we ever received an unkind word or deed from any one during both our visits to this country.

We are convinced, from all that we have heard, as well as from all that we have seen, that the people of this kingdom, taken as a whole, will compare well with those of any other in regard to the virtue of honesty. In all the dealings which we have had with them, we have never met with an instance of an attempt to overreach or impose. It has been far otherwise in most countries which we have visited. The fact that a man is a foreigner, and especially if he speaks and comprehends but imperfectly, the language of the country, too often furnishes an occasion which is seized with avidity to take advantage of him in a bargain. In some countries on the continent the state of morals is such, that falsehood and dishonesty in dealing, especially where a stranger is concerned, are not only not reckoned sinful, but not even disreputable. We are sorry to say, that we have too many amongst ourselves of those people of "seven principles," as Mr. John Randolph used to call them, who always go for the "five loaves and two fishes," and the only motive and rule of whose conduct is, an undiluted selfishness. The Danish character is, in this respect, very much like that of the Germans. There is a great amount of simplicity, honesty, and justice in their character, and in their dealings with their fellowWe speak of course of them as a whole. Individuals there are, without doubt, of a very different descrip

men.

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