have seldom seen elsewhere; and the rich being all
merchants, who are obliged to divide their personal fortune amongst their
children, the boys always receiving twice as much as the girls, property
has met a chance of accumulating till overgrowing wealth destroys the
balance of liberty.

You will be surprised to hear me talk of liberty; yet the Norwegians
appear to me to be the most free community I have ever observed.

The mayor of each town or district, and the judges in the country,
exercise an authority almost patriarchal. They can do much good, but
little harm,--as every individual can appeal from their judgment; and as
they may always be forced to give a reason for their conduct, it is
generally regulated by prudence. "They have not time to learn to be
tyrants," said a gentleman to me, with whom I discussed the subject.

The farmers not fearing to be turned out of their farms, should they
displease a man in power, and having no vote to be commanded at an
election for a mock representative, are a manly race; for not being
obliged to submit to any debasing tenure in order to live, or advance
themselves in the world, they act with an independent spirit. I never
yet have heard of anything like domineering or oppression, excepting such
as has arisen from natural causes. The freedom the people enjoy may,
perhaps, render them a little litigious, and subject them to the
impositions of cunning practitioners of the law; but the authority of
office is bounded, and the emoluments of it do not destroy its utility.

Last year a man who had abused his power was cashiered, on the
representation of the people to the bailiff of the district.

There are four in Norway who might with propriety be termed sheriffs; and
from their sentence an appeal, by either party, may be made to
Copenhagen.

Near most of the towns are commons, on which the cows of all the
inhabitants, indiscriminately, are allowed to graze. The poor, to whom a
cow is necessary, are almost supported by it. Besides, to render living
more easy, they all go out to fish in their own boats, and fish is their
principal food.

The lower class of people in the towns are in general sailors; and the
industrious have usually little ventures of their own that serve to
render the winter comfortable.

With respect to the country at large, the importation is considerably in
favour of Norway.

They are forbidden, at present, to export corn or rye on account of the
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