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344 COXE’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK.
phus fon of Frederic I. King of Denmark, was denominated Holftein Gottorp, which
was loft in the title of Emperor, when Peter the Third afcended the throne of Ruffia.
The church of Slefwic contains the monument of Frederic the Firft, fon of Chrif-
tian the Firft. The tomb is a farcophagus of dark marble, fupported by fix female
figures ftanding on pedeftals, Charity, accompanied by two children, her ufual em-
blem ; Fortitude, holding a broken column; Prudence, with the ferpent; Juttice,
with her fcales; Jurifprudence, with tablets; and Hope, with an anchor: their coun-
tenances are Greek, and uncommonly pleafing, and the drapery truly elegant, after
the antique. ‘Towards the bottom of the farcophagus are four beautiful little angels or
genii, with their reverfed torches, above is placed the figure of the King in armour. At
each end are the figures of two women, of the fame fize and elegance as thofe which
{upport the farcophagus ; one holds the royal coat of arms, the other a {crole contain-
ing Latin verfes in praife of the deceafed. All the figures are of the fineft alabafter,
and were probably executed in Italy,
Frederic received as his inheritance the duchy of Slefwic, and the crown of Den-
mark on the depofition of Chriftian the Second. Seated on the throne by the univer-
fal fuffrages of the nation, he was eftablifhed in it rather by the zeal of his fubjetts, and
by the co-operating afliftance of Guftavus Vafa, his protector and rival, than by his
own prowefs. He feems indeed to have inherited the mild and pacific virtues of his
father Chriftian the Firft; virtues which would never have raifed him to a throne, had
not the general odium confpired to the depofition of Chrillian the Second. He died in
1533, aged fixty years.
That part of the duchy which we traverfed feemed well cultivated : it was in general
flat and open, but occafionally exhibited variegated land{capes of heath, arable land,
and pafture, inclofed with quickfet hedges, and ftudded with woods of beech and oak.
The farm-houfes had the appearance of great neatnefs. We paffed alfo ranges of new
cottages, lately erected for colonifts at the expence of the crown ; they are fpacious,
and refemble thofe of Weftphalia, containing, under the fame roof, a large barn, with
divifions for the cattle on each fide, and two rooms at the further end for the family.
Each colonift is fupplied with ploughs, carts, and other implements of agriculture, two
horfes, and a penfion during three years.
About twenty miles from Slefwic we quitted that duchy, and at Rendfburgh croffed
the Eyder into Holftein, which river is confidered as forming on this fide the limits of
Germany.
Rendfburgh is efteemed the ftrongeft fortrefs in the Danifh territories. . The town,
which contains three thoufand fix hundred inhabitants, carries on but little trade,
{carcely pofleffing three veflels. It muft foon, however, become a place of importance,
as the canal of Kiel will introduce a confiderable degree of commerce. ‘The laft fluice
is to be conftruéted at Rendfburgh. The Eyder is navigable for large veflels within a
fhort diftance of the town, while thofe of inferior burden land their goods on the quays.
The tide, which rifes near four feet, brings fand into the channel; and floating ma-
chines are continually employed to deepen its bed.
The environs are chiefly a flat barren heath; but as we approached Kiel, the coafts
gradually became hilly and more fertile. We paffed between the Wetter and Flemhu-
der lakes, again crofled the Eyder, there only a fmall rivulet, and arrived in the even-
ing at Kiel. The diftri&t of Kiel is that portion of the duchy of Holftein, which de-
{cended to the line of Holftein-Gottorp, and belonged to Peter III. as part of his he-
reditary dominions. In 1773 the Emprefs of Ruflia ceded it to the King of Denmark,
in
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