BOOK and even the Danes themselves. Near Elsineur rises on CXLIX. the coast the fortress of Kronberg or Kronenbourg, where Islands. Aalborg. was shut up, in 1771, the unfortunate queen of Denmark, Caroline Matilda of England, the sister of George III, the victim of intrigue and calumny. A royal mansion, not far from Kronenbourg, is pointed out to strangers as the spot where, in olden time, stood the palace or castle, the scene of Shakspeare's play of Hamlet. The island of Bornholm, situated thirty-two leagues from that of Zealand in the Baltic sea, is peopled by 20,000 inhabitants; it contains seven towns and twenty-one parishes; the capital is Roenne, known for its potteries and watch and clock-making: it annually exports watches to the value of about 13,000 rix-dollars. The little isle of Moen, at the southern extremity of Zealand, containing 7000 inhabitants, has for its chief town Steege, where the only manufacturing establishment is a tanwork. The island of Ficnia, in Danish Fyen, between Sleswick and Zealand, is in length eighteen leagues by twelve of average breadth, and has 154 of surface and 110,000 inhabitants. Odensee, its capital, was first named Othins-Ey, that is, the domain of Odin. It stands in the centre of the island, in the midst of a large plain. Gloves, soap, and cloths are manufactured here. Its cathedral is handsome; it has a university and two libraries, and is one of the prettiest towns in Denmark. Svendborg has tanworks and stocking-manufactures, and carries on a great trade in the exportation of rye. The island of Langeland, which signifies long land, extends from south-east to north-west, between Fionia and Laaland, and contains 11,000 inhabitants; Rudkioebing, its principal town, also exports rye. Laaland or Lolland, peopled by 4000 souls, has for its chief town Marieboe, which is enriched by its trade in grain. The little isle of Falster, to the east of Laaland, numbers 16,000 inhabitants: Nikioebing, its chief town, is magnificently situated; the king possesses there a fine castle, formerly the abode of the queens-dowager of Denmark. Sam-Soee, Fanoee, Anholt, where there is a light-house, Lysoee and other small islands, are too unimportant to be particularly noticed. In the Danish peninsula, Aalborg, in northern Jutland, BOOK CXLIX. the seat of a bishopric, is a city surrounded by moats, and contains soap-works, an academy, schools and libraries, an hospital and two alms-houses. Its harbour, in the LymFiord, receives annually 500 vessels, which export grain and herrings. Viborg, one of the most ancient cities in Denmark, was formerly of more importance than now; there is still held there, about the end of June, a fair which attracts a great number of strangers. Aarhus, in a gulf on the eastern side, has manufactures of tobacco, of woollen and cotton cloth, with a small harbour from which grain and cattle are exported. Its cathedral, a Gothic monument, is said to be the loftiest in Denmark. Randers, on the Guden-Aae, possesses manufactures similar to those of Aarhus. The finest horses and the best cattle come from the environs of this town. Ripe or Ripen, at the m uth of the Nibes, on the western coast, carries on a gra trade in cloth, and contains a cathedral, where are to be seen the tombs of several Danish kings. Fredericia, which wants a good barbour to render it of importance, stands upon a promontory commanding the northern entrance into the Little Belt. There is collected here a duty on all the vessels which pass this strait. In southern Jutland, Sleswick is the capital of Sleswick. the dutchy to which this city gives its name, whose true orthography is Schleswig, because it is situated at the extremity of the arm of the sea called Schley, on the border of which it rises in the form of an amphitheatre. The finest of its buildings is the castle of Gottorp, the residence of the Governor-General of this dutchy, and of that of Holstein. Flensbourg or Flensborg, six leagues to the north of Sles- Flensborg. wick, is a neat well built town; its public squares are adorned with fountains; the town-house, exchange, and theatre, are handsome buildings. This is the most flourishing town in Jutland; it contains 10 sugar refining-houses, besides soap-works, oil-mills, and manufactures of tobacco. Without its ill-preserved walls there is a brass-foundry and extensive tile works. Its harbour, situated at the western extremity of Flensborg-Fiord, is frequented annually by more than 800 vessels, 250 of which belong to the place. The territory lying between Flensborg and Sleswick still bears the name of Angeln. We are bound to believe that this was BOOK CXLIX. the western coast. a part of the country of the Angli, a people who perform so important a part in history, but who, according to the learned Weddegen, formed only a colony of the Angrivarii, who occupied Holstein and a part of Westphalia. Husum, at the mouth of the Hever; Tondern, on the Widau; Apenrade, whose small harbour, at the bottom of a gulf, carries on a considerable trade; Hadersleben, on the eastern coast; small towns which we cannot entirely omit, because they are the capitals of bailiwicks, present nothing Islands on particular. Nor ought we to forget the small islands which border the western coast. Fanoee, more considerable than the island of the same name, which lies in the little Belt, is inhabited by fishermen and builders of small merchant vessels; Roemoee is less industrious; Sylt rears cattle, and produces good seamen; Foehr, peopled by 6000 souls, is frequented for its sea-bathing, and possesses a bed of oysters, of which it sends a vast quantity to Hamburgh it is the rendezvous of so great a number of wild ducks, that it is estimated more than 100,000 are taken annually. Nordstrand possesses a valuable breed of horned cattle: its cows give each day 22 pints of milk. Pelworn, without the strong dikes that protect it, would be swallowed up by the sea; it forms, with Nordstrand and several small islets, the remains of a large island, the greater part of which disappeared under the force of the waves in 1634. Near the Islands on eastern coast, Alsen, 7 leagues in length and 2 in breadth, with a population of about 16,000 souls, is, from its woods, small lakes, and state of cultivation, one of the most agreeable islands in the Baltic. Sonderbourg, its chief town, possesses a royal castle, a good harbour, and an academy. Avroee. consisting of lands fertile in grain and kitchen vegetables, supports more than 8000 inhabitants. Femern, not less rich than the preceding, is better peopled its inhabitants have preserved their ancient and simple manners. Burg, an ancient town which stands in the centre of the island, is the capital of a bailiwick. the eastern coast. Dutchy of The dutchy of Holstein has several subdivisions: Holstein properly so called, Dithmarschen, the lordship of Pinneberg, the county of Randzau, and the territory of the thirty parishes of the noblesse. The capital of this feudal BOOK Gluckstadt assemblage is Gluckstadt. It is regularly built on the right bank of the mouth of the Elbe: many canals intersect it; CXLIX. but drinkable water is so scarce, that the inhabitants are obliged to collect rain water in cisterns. It was founded, in 1617, by Christian IV. Kiel is the most ancient town Kiel. in Holstein, being mentioned in history as early as the eleventh century. It is distant about four miles from the Baltic, at the inland extremity of a small gulf, called the Kieler Fiord, justly celebrated for its beauty. The harbour is secure, and well situated for trade: more than 500 vessels annually enter it. There is no extensive manufacture but that of hats. Kiel is a handsome town, and stands in the midst of delightful scenery. The borders of the firth are eminently beautiful, being lined with gentle rising grounds clothed with woods sweeping down to the edge of the water, while the lands around are in a high state of cultivation. Along the shore are several little villages, which enliven the prospect; and among the hills glides the river Swentin, till it loses itself in the firth. On a hill, in the environs of the city, is seen a handsome royal palace built by the inhabitants. The church of St Nicholas is a fine old building. The university, which was founded in 1665 by Christian Albert, duke of Holstein, is a plain and not very capacious building, affording no accommodation for the residence of students, nor even a sufficiency of apartments for the professors' use, many of whom (thirty in number) give lectures in their own houses. It is particularly distinguished for medical science, and the number of students is upon the increase. In 1806, they amounted to only 100 in 1820, they had increased to 270, of whom 50 were students of medicine. The opening of the new year is celebrated by the students in the following manner. Before midnight, they assemble in the market-place within a circle formed of torches, and when the clock has struck twelve, they sing Voss's celebrated hymn, beginning, 'The year's last hour;' after which a general huzza hails the entry of the new year. They then go round the streets with their torches, halting at the professors' doors; while a deputed select body enter and present the students' congratulations. After receiving the professors' answers, a BOOK bonfire and hymn to liberty close their proceedings. The CXLIX. library of the university contains 60,000 volumes. The Rends bourg. Preetz. tone of society in Kiel is decidedly literary; and the university contains among its professors names of distinguished literary eminence. English literature is held in high estimation. Besides the university, it contains a celebrated Latin school, an orphan-house, a poor-house, two infirmaries, and a botanic garden; besides valuable private collections of pictures and antiquities. Rendsbourg is probably the best built city in Holstein; it stands upon the banks of a canal which unites with the Eyder. It is important on account of its arsenal, its magazines, its barracks, and above all, its fortifications. It is the principal fortress of continental Denmark, since the fortifications of Gluckstadt were razed. Rendsbourg is interesting, as being the ancient limit of the Roman empire, notified by an inscription on one of the gates. Heyde is a small town only interesting from its schools. Preetz, upon the river Swentin, some miles to the south-east of Kiel, contains about 400 houses and 3000 inhabitants, and carries on some trade in the making of shoes and of soap. It contains what was originally a convent, but now converted into a sanctuary for the daughters of the Sleswick and Holstein nobility. It possesses also an orphan and a poor house; and the pastor's library, as it is called, founded in 1681 by a Hamburg clergyman, a native of Probsty of Preetz, contains 9000 volumes. The Probsty of Preetz is a district to the eastward of Kiel, and on the east side of the Fiord, containing a population of 6000 souls, occupying twenty-four towns or villages. The name is as old as the thirteenth century: and the people, who have lived during several centuries secluded from their neighbours, are believed to be a colony of the Wendians or Vandals, who inhabited the borders of the Baltic Sea, towards the mouths of the Oder and the Vistula. They are large in stature, with a physiognomy essentially distinct from both Danes and Germans; and their dress and manners also differ materially from the people around them, retaining, at their marriages and other great occasions, a variety of customs and ceremonies peculiar to themselves. Till within Preetz. |