File:Landvig Lake (JW Edy plate 14).jpg

With the exception of a singular barren rock in the lake, the scenery of Landvig is rather agreeable than romantic. The lake is well stored with fish, and the country abounds with excellent oak and fir timber, with which the inhabitants construct vessels. Mr. Fasting builds ships on the banks of the lake, and launches them over the ice by means of machinery till they have passed the bar, and arrived where there is a sufficient depth of water. Here the vessels wait for the thaw to set them afloat.

An undulating range of rocky hills, moderately elevated, forms a beautiful screen which shelters the valley from the North winds. The neighbouring mountains contain iron ore and chalk ; and an attempt was once made, but in vain, to discover silver, in a mountain which has since borne the appellation of the Silver Mountain. The Dragon Mountain derives its name from the circumstance of a dragon having, according to ancient tradition, watched there over a treasure. The dragon is said to have been shot by the Reverend Anders Madsen Been, who lived in 1631, and was minister of the parish for the space of fifty years.

The salmon-fishery is very considerable, especially near two cataracts. The rock contiguous to the largest waterfall exhibits the names of Kings Christian IV. and Frederick 111. who, together with their ministers, witnessed from that spot the manner of catching salmon. The latter monarch is understood to have been twice here, although the concerns of Norway did not receive from him the attention bestowed upon them by his immortal father, who undertook nearly fifty journies into that country, and, there can be no doubt, gave birth to those enthusiastic, romantic, and religious feelings of love, devotion and veneration, still cherished among the peasantry towards the bare name of King. This fact, so honourable, cheering and consoling to human nature,and more particularly creditable to the people in question, affords the most exquisite illustration of the public virtues of Christian IV. who has been justly styled the idol of Danish story, the glory of the Danish name, and the delight of human kind. The Kings of Europe called him their father; Elizabeth of England was his friend, and Algernon Sidney would have been his best subject. Christian IV. was the last limited king in Denmark; and contented himself with rendering his citizens as happy, as firm in power, as splendid in glory, and as eminent in virtue, as they could be made according to the political maxims of Cicero. For the personal aggrandizements of Christian IV., and many important objects of public benefit, were but too successfully counteracted by the disguised and even open resistance offered by an overbearing, selfish, and besotted aristocracy; but the removal of that evil, however desirable, was not perhaps to be then accomplished except by measures which, instead of remedying the grievances under which particular classes of the community laboured, might perhaps ultimately have become equally oppressive to all; and Christian IV. was too honest a man to attempt any such experiments.

The unlimited confidence placed by the Norwegian in the king is, however, productive of a disposition which has been much censured, but probably only by safe and flourishing politicians or cautious placemen. It is a fundamental principle with the Norwegian, that the king can do no wrong; but he is not equally liberal in extending the benefit of that principle to the king's officers, who are frequently objects of his jealousy and suspicion. In a discussion of this subject by a thorough paced Danish courtier, it is therefore strongly recommended, that no attention should be paid to a peasant, whenever he prefers any complaint against a person in authority, because civility to a peasant renders him only more suspicious, and prone to mischief; for he will then infallibly conclude, that the person in office is afraid of him, and he will use high words about going to Copenhagen for redress, in which he is generally seconded by the whole parish. "Nothing is more dangerous," says the writer, whom I have consulted with great pleasure on other points, "than to do immediate justice to a peasant, because innumerable examples prove, that if his complaints against placemen and his equals are once founded in justice, they are twenty times without cause." The same writer also observes, that a republican spirit now and then manifests itself among the inhabitants of the coast, owing to their frequent intercourse with England. How far this assertion is founded in fact, I shall not now stop to inquire, as I intend, in another place, to examine the effects produced on the Norwegians in moral and intellectual respects by their intercourse with England. But admitting a change of political sentiments to be one of the results, it must give every Englishman, and every friend to national independence and civil liberty, sincere pleasure to note the observations made by the same writer on the inhabitants of this part of Norway. "Gross transgressions," he says,* "are not common here. Now and then theft may be committed, or a girl may be guilty of improper conduct during an illicit pregnancy; but the peasant finds it necessary and fair, that he should be punished according to law for whatever offences he may commit, punishment being the only corrective that can be administered. Neglect of punishment will, on the other hand, produce a mean opinion of government and persons in authority, which is altogether incompatible with the existence of a state."

It is impossible sufficiently to praise the soundness of this doctrine; but it is at the same time impossible to refrain from wishing, that it had been more generally acted upon. The nations of Europe might then have escaped those awful, calamitous and disgraceful scenes, by which mankind has suffered, does suffer, and may long continue to suffer. At least thousands of Continental courtiers would probably have been relieved from much prospective and retrospective anxiety: and the energies of the human race might have been directed to nobler achievements than those which obtrude themselves on this enlightened age.

* Topographical Journal of Norway, No. X. Article : A description of the bailiwicks of Lister and Mandal, by T. Holm, Councillor of State and Governor of a District, page 49.