he dark speck of life
to come.

We turned with regret from the cascade. On a little hill, which commands
the best view of it, several obelisks are erected to commemorate the
visits of different kings. The appearance of the river above and below
the falls is very picturesque, the ruggedness of the scenery disappearing
as the torrent subsides into a peaceful stream. But I did not like to
see a number of saw-mills crowded together close to the cataracts; they
destroyed the harmony of the prospect.

The sight of a bridge erected across a deep valley, at a little distance,
inspired very dissimilar sensations. It was most ingeniously supported
by mast-like trunks, just stripped of their branches; and logs, placed
one across the other, produced an appearance equally light and firm,
seeming almost to be built in the air when we were below it, the height
taking from the magnitude of the supporting trees give them a slender
graceful look.

There are two noble estates in this neighbourhood, the proprietors of
which seem to have caught more than their portion of the enterprising
spirit that is gone abroad. Many agricultural experiments have been
made, and the country appears better enclosed and cultivated, yet the
cottages had not the comfortable aspect of those I had observed near Moss
and to the westward. Man is always debased by servitude of any
description, and here the peasantry are not entirely free. Adieu!

I almost forgot to tell you that I did not leave Norway without making
some inquiries after the monsters said to have been seen in the northern
sea; but though I conversed with several captains, I could not meet with
one who had ever heard any traditional description of them, much less had
any ocular demonstration of their existence. Till the fact is better
ascertained, I should think the account of them ought to be torn out of
our geographical grammars.

LETTER XVI.

I set out from Fredericstadt about three o'clock in the afternoon, and
expected to reach Stromstad before the night closed in; but the wind
dying away, the weather became so calm that we scarcely made any
perceptible advances towards the opposite coast, though the men were
fatigued with rowing.

Getting amongst the rocks and islands as the moon rose, and the stars
darted forward out of the clear expanse, I forgot that the night stole on
whilst indulging affectionate reveries, the poetical fictions of
sensibility; I was not, therefore