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306 COXE’Ss TRAVELS IN DENMARK.
the family of the King. The nobles were thrown into general confternation by fo fud-
den and decifive a communication. Conceiving it, however, imprudent to negative the
propofal, they endeavoured to gain time; and replied accordingly, that declaration ,
yet a matter of fuch confequence deferved the moft mature difcuffion. Nanfen, per-
ceiving the drift of this delay, anfwered, they came not to deliberate but to act; they
had already taken their refolution ; they would lofe no time in debate ; if the nobles
refufed to concur, they would themfelves repair to the palace, not doubting that the
King would gracioufly accept their proffered declaration. During thefe proceedings,
the nobles fecretly difpatched a meflage to the King, that they were willing to render
the crown hereditary in the male line of his iflue, provided it was done with the accuf-
tomed formalities ; a propofal his majefty rejected as a circumftance not defirable, un-
lefs the right of fucceffion was extended to the females alfo. He added, with great ap-
pearance of moderation, that he by no means withed to prefcribe rules for their con-
duct; they were to follow the diftates of their own judgment ; as for his part, he would ~
owe every thing to their free confent, but could not accept the offer with the limitation
propofed.
The nobles, who waited with anxiety for the return of the meflenger, kept the bufi-
nefs in fufpenfe by declining their direct affent to the declaration, and propofing a fur-
ther confideration of the fubject. The other deputies then quitted the aflembly, and re-
paired in folemn proceflion to the court; leaving the nobles in a ftate of irrefolution and
diftraction.
The deputies being admitted, the bifhop of Zealand addreffed the King on the refolu-
tion taken by the clergy and commons; offering, in their name, to render the crown
hereditary, and inveft him with abfolute authority ; adding, they were ready to facrifice
their lives in defence of an eftablifhment fo falutary to their country. Frederic, in re-
ply, thanked them for their favourable intentions; but mentioned the approbation of
the nobles as a neceflary condition, though he had no doubt of their concurrence when
they fhould have had time to accompany the declaration with the neceflary formalities :
he affured them of his protection, promifed a redrefs of all grievances, and difmifled
them with an exhortation to continue their fittings, until they fhould have brought
their defign to perfection, and he could receive their voluntary fubmiflion with due fo.
lemnity.
ae eee will obferve, with much furprize, that in all the public occurrences be-
fore this audience, the only affair apparently in agitation, was to change the form of go-
vernment from an eleétive to an hereditary monarchy; no mention was made of en-
larging the powers of the crown, or of the ftill more extraordinary fcheme of renderin
the King abfolute. It is probable, if the nobles had immediately confented to the declara-
tion, that this ceflion might not have taken place. Was there no medium between here-
ditary right and arbitrary power ? Or can we fuppofe that, according to the fyftem of the
Danifh law, arbitrary power was neceffarily implied in hereditary right? Something like
this was probably the cafe; as it is hardly poflible to conceive that, when the deputies
of the-commons and clergy had voted only for the declaration, the bifhop, of his own
accord, fhould add the gift of unlimited authority. It often happens, that people are
more affected by appearances than realities. The bare mention of arbitrary power
would have revolted the deputies; while the fubftance, being included in the popular
expreffion of hereditary right, was pafled without referve.
On the abrupt departure of the deputies, the nobles could not agree what plan to
purfue in this alarming crifis, ‘They were not, indeed, unantmous in their motives of
oppofition,
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