Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Letter XIX
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
154 LETTERS ON SWEDEN,
to tlie survivors, have, I am persuaded, a quite contrary
effect, by hardening the heart they ought to terrify.
Besides the fear of an ignominious death, I believe,
never deterred anyone from the commission of a crime,
because, in committing it, the mind is roused to
activity about present circumstances. It is a game at
hazard, at which all expect the turn of the die in their
own favour, never reflecting on the chance of ruin till
it comes. In fact, from what I saw in the fortresses
of Norway, I am more and more convinced that the
same energy of character which renders a man a daring
villain would have rendered him useful to society, had
that society been well organised. When a strong mind
is not disciplined by cultivation it is a sense of in-
justice that renders it unjust.
Executions, however, occur very rarely at Copen-
hagen ;
for timidity, rather than clemency, palsies all
the operations of the present Government. The male-
factor who died this morning would not, probably,
have been punished with death at any other period ;
but an incendiary excites universal execration ;
and as
the greater part of the inhabitants are still distressed
by the late conflagration, an example was thought ab-
solutely necessary ; though, from, what I can gather,
the fire was accidental.
Not, but that I have very seriously been informed,
that combustible materials were placed at proper dis-
tance, by the emissaries of Mr. Pitt ; and, to corroborate
the fact, many people insist that the flames burst out
nfc once in different parts of the city ;
not allowing the
wind to have any hand in it. So much for the plot.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
