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