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206 COXE’S TRAVELS IN DENMARK.
villa, about four miles from Copenhagen. The houfe, built by the late Count, ftands
ina delightful fituation on a gentle rife, floping towards the fea, backed bya ridge of
hills prettily wooded, and commanding a cheerful view of the Sound, the coaft of Swes .
den, Copenhagen, and the numerous veffels failing to and from the capital.
In our way to the village we pafled a column of Norwegian marble, erected to the
memory of the late Count Bernfdorf by the peafants of his eftate, in gratitude for hav-
ing received the gift of freedom from their beloved mafter. ‘The pillar is ornamented
with a wheat-fheaf, a fpade, and a pick-axe, the emblems of agriculture. It contains a
Latin and Danith infcription, attefting the Count’s liberality, and their gratitude *.
‘The flavery of the peafants is part of the remains of the feudal fy{tem, which, how-
ever modified and changed in the other parts of the Danifh conftitution, leaves behind
it that indelible mark of its former preponderancy and injuftice. Hitherto all the at-
tempts to abolifh it, which have fucceeded in Sweden, Norway, and feveral parts of
Germany, have contributed only to rivet ftill more ftrongly a fervitude, no lefs dif-
graceful to the government, than prejudicial to the community. I enjoyed, however,
great fatisfaCtion in finding that the {pirit of juftice and humanity, and [ may add, the
{uggeitions of felf-intereft, have lately fpread themfelves among the nobility ; and that
a tew of them wereon the point of emancipating their peafants. And_as the prince
royal has turned his humanity and attention to this fubject ¢, and feems inclined to fa-
vour any well-planned fy{tem, which may give new life and vigour to an order of men,
the molt ufeful in the community; it is to be prefumed, that in time the prejudices
again{t fuch a fy{tem willbe removed; and that fuch effective and prudent meafures
will be adopted by government, as may, without convulfion, reftore to the peafants
the common rights of mankind.
We were prefent at an entertainment given by Admiral Molcke, on board the Princefs
Sophia Frederica, carrying feventy-four guns, and fix hundred men, going on a cruife
to the Baltic, with three other fhips of the line. We embarked at the port, and were
rowed in the Captain’s boat to the fhip, where we found Count Molcke, and a large
company, coniifting of perfons of the firft condition. From the cabin we had a de-
lightiul view of the town and dock-yard of Copenhagen; of the Danifh navy laid up in
two lines in the harbour ; of feveral men of war and frigates lying at anchor near us
in the road; of numerous veffels failing and covering the furface of the fea, which was
curled by a gentle breeze; of the diftant coalts of Sweden, and the adjacent fhores of
Zealand, richly clothed with wood. Dinner was ferved on deck, under a canopy of
fails and pendants ; and forty perfons fat down to a fuperb and elegant repaft. After
drinking the healths of the King and Royal Family, each health accompanied with a
falute of fifteen guns, Admiral Molcke gave, in compliment to Mr. Elliott, the Englifh
envoy, who was prefent, The navy of England; and Mr. Elliott in return gave, The
navy of Denmark.
Several Danifh fongs were fung to the accompaniment of violins and tambours de.
bafque, which had a pleafing effet. ‘Thefe fongs related to naval engagements, and to
the honour of the Danifh marine ; the chorus was repeated by the company, and re-
echoed by the whole fhip’s crew. Books containing the words were handed round,
* Piis manibus Joh. Hartvici Ernefti, Comitis de Bernftorff, qui arva difcreta immunia hereditaria lar-
giendo induftriam opes omnia impertit in exemplum pofteritati 1767. P. S.S. grati coloni 1783.
+ Since my departure from Copenhagen, the example fet by Count Bernftorff has been followed by the
crown. ‘* The bonds of fervitude,”? to ufe the words of an intelligent. Dane, * are now relaxed, and bond
fervice is limited in every part of the kingdom ”—The pleafing refult is vifible in almoft every place you fee
and in every countenance you’meet.” Byggeé’s Travels in the French Republic, Tranflation p, 27.
4 with
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