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should draw its sole corn supplies from that country. The fleet,
however, was strengthened, an efficient militia organised, and
education promoted. A long peace favoured the growth of
commerce and navigation, and the ‘Black Company’ formed in 1739
furthered manufacturing industry.
In the reign of Frederick V. (1746-66) the grievous sway of
Puritanism came to an end, and art and science were zealously
cultivated. A mining school was founded at Kongsherg, and a
mathematical school at Christiania, and at Throndhjem a useful
scientific society was established by Gunnerus, Schening, and
Suhm, a learned Dane (1760-67). The frontier between Norway
and Sweden was measured and defined (1759), facilities were
afforded to commerce, and skilled miners introduced from
Germany. Complications with Russia connected with the affairs of
Slesvig caused severe financial losses to Denmark and Norway,
and the increased taxation provoked a revolt at Bergen , which,
however, was soon quelled (1763). Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, Norway prospered under the absolute monarchy, while
Denmark languished. The king in Denmark, being separated from
the lower classes by a wealthy and influential aristocracy, was
unable effectually to redress their grievances, and they still
groaned under the evils of serfdom and compulsory service. With the
exception of Copenhagen, the towns were almost equally oppressed,
and in 1769 the whole population of Denmark did not exceed
800,000 souls. In Norway, on the other hand, the peasantry
enjoyed freedom, the towns had thrown off the oppressive Hanseatic
yoke, and feudal jurisdictions were abolished , while complaints
against officials were addressed to the king in person. A class of
native officials had also’sprung up, affording an additional element
of security. While the population had numbered 450,000 only in
1664, it rose to 723,000 in 1769. Within the same period the
number of Norwegian ships had increased from 50 to 1150.
The peasantry had benefited greatly by the sale of the crown
estates, and the trade of Norway now far surpassed that of
Denmark. At the same time frequent intercourse with England and
other foreign countries served to expand the Norwegian mind
and to prepare the way for a period of still greater enlightenment
and prosperity.
During the long reign of the imbecile Christian VII.
(171361808) his authority was wielded by his ministers. Struensee, his
German physician, was the first of these. His measures were those
of an enlightened absolutism. 11c simplified judicial procedure,
abolished torture, excluded the lackeys of noblemen from public
offices, deprived the aristocracy of their privileges, bestowed
liberty on the press, and husbanded the finances. The peremptory
manner in which these and other reforms were introduced gave
great offence, particularly as Struensee took no pains to conceal
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