VII.

CHAP. rank weeds, engendered in less healthful territories, and fostered by hotter suns! To what other cause, than to the intercourse with foreigners, can be attributed the change which a traveller finds in Christiania, as to the honesty of the lower orders? It has been already mentioned, as a remarkable fact, that we never saw a beggar in Sweden'; but Norway has many beggars, and Christiania is full of them. In the northern districts they are less numerous, but here they actually swarm. The very passages and chambers of the inn where we lodged were never free from mendicants. They would open the doors of our apartments without hesitation, and enter even into the bed-rooms. If they found any person within, they were clamorous for money: if not, they supplied themselves with whatever they could lay hold of as most portable. Some of them had the audacity to steal stockings belonging to our servants, from their bed-rooms, before their faces. These,

(1) "In passing through the country" (Sweden), "which has the character of being poor, one is surprised in never meeting with any beggars or miserable objects who demand or excite charity. The reason, as assigned by the Swedes, is, that there are hospitals for all such persons; and the poor, who might be expected to sue for charity, are supported by their own parishes. The same plan is in existence in England: why does it not produce the same effect?" Dr. Fiott Lee's MS. Journal.

CHAP

VII.

again, are traits in describing national manners, which will not be quite acceptable in the sight of the Norwegians; but they arise from that mixture with the inhabitants of other countries, to which, as a place of foreign commerce, Christiania is rendered liable. The genuine native Norwegian is neither a beggar nor a thief. The consequence, however, of so much indigence, mixed with so much wealth, is a constant call upon the rich to support and maintain the poor. Nothing conduces more to keep the latter in a state of indigence than the institution of public poor-houses, however benevolent the views of their founders. Bernard Anker, the Institupattern in his own example of benevolence the Poor. towards the poor, supported two houses of this description at his own expense; but then he wisely contrived that they should become houses of industry as well as of charity. He eminently possessed that "voluntary and active charity which makes itself acquainted with the objects which it relieves; which seems to feel, and to be proud of, the bond which unites the rich with the poor; which enters into their houses; informs itself not only of their wants, but of

tions for

(2) There were two asylums for orphans; one public, and the other private. Both were supported by Bernard Anker, and at his own cost.

CHAP.

VII.

their habits and dispositions; checks the hopes of clamorous and obtrusive poverty with no other recommendation but rags; and encourages with adequate relief the silent and retiring sufferer, labouring under unmerited difficulCharacter ties1." If ever there were a man in whose plary Con- individual character every qualification had two Ankers. been combined, fitted to form the patriot, the

and Exem

duct of the

statesman, the friend and guardian of society; the deliverer of the needy; the public benefactor; the patron of genius, of literature, and the arts; it was Bernard Anker. Nor let the tribute pass without rendering also a due regard to the distinguished virtues of his brother; who, retiring from the noise and dissipation of cities, upon the borders of his Norwegian lake, and in the solitude of his magnificent villa, dedicated all his hours to promote the good of his country and the general welfare of mankind. And let it be repeated, that these men were Merchants of Christiania. Excellent examples! EUROPE has not had their parallel. Nor can the history of the world afford more striking instances of the national advantages to be

(1) See the valuable chapter upon “ The direction of our Charity," by Professor Malthus, in his admirable work on "The Principle of Population," Book iv. p. 562. Lond. 1803.

VII.

derived from the exertions of private individuals CHAP. so circumstanced;-who directed the streams of their benevolence into channels where they might flow to the utmost possible public advantage; who, while they "fed the hungry, and clothed the naked, and visited the fatherless and widows in their affliction," were all the while engaged in active scenes of commerce; and who encouraged industry, and rewarded merit, taking the most especial care that the means for these great ends should neither be wasted by want of foresight, nor exhausted by indiscriminate profusion.

CHAP. VIII.

CHRISTIANIA: INCLUDING A VISIT TO THE SILVER-MINES OF KONGSBERG.

Want of Booksellers' Shops-General aspect and condition of the Streets-Cathedral-State of LiteraturePublic Library-Dr. Müller's Collection of MineralsJourney to Kongsberg-Marble Quarries of GilljebekView from Paradise Hill-Drammen-HogsundRiver Louven-Kongsberg-Original Discovery of the Silver Ore-State of the Works-First Settlers-Remarkable Specimens of the Native Metal-Wages of the Miners-Present Establishment-Cause of the loss sustained by Government-The different ExcavationsApproach to the Works Geological nature of the Mountains-Manner in which the Kongsberg Silver is

deposited