For the Monthly Magazine.

WHE

A TOUR in DENMARK, by PROFESSOR OLIVARIUS, of KIEL, in HOLSTEIN. (From Le Nord Littéraire, &c.) [Continued from p. 248, No. 113.] HEN we confider that ever fince the year 1718, Denmark has not fuffered from any war of much importance or duration, it may be faid, that fhe has enjoyed, during eighty years, fuch a peace as no other country in Europe has been favoured with, with the exception, perhaps, of Sweden, whofe fhort wars, during the fame reriod, have not been much more confiderable. What might not confequently have been expected from a country fo advantageously fituated for commerce; from a country which has fo large an extent of coat, and which contains to many and fuch excellent harbours! But on a clofer infpection we fhall find, that under the heads of culture, popula tion, manufactures, commerce, civilization, eafy circumftances in general, and, Jaftly, with respect to the revenues, this kingdom yields to most of the fouthern (although much smaller) countries of Europe, leis deftitute of refources, but haraffed by almoft continual wars. Add to this, that, through the above whole period, Denmark has had the happiness not to be tormented with bad minifters, and that, in general, it has been better governed than many fouthern countries. would be unjust to pretend to compare this country with the electorate of Saxony, which, in general, may be reckoned among the best provinces of Europe. But thofe who know Saxony, cannot refrain from reflecting, that it has taken a part in the greater part of the wars on the Continent; that it was exhausted in the Seven Years' War; and, lastly, that it was very ill treated under the two Auguf tufes, Kings of Poland. Notwithstand ing all this, we find there a degree of indultry, population, eafy circumftances, &c. that it would be useless to seek for in the Danish Ifles. This obfervation may be well-founded, but it occañons no furprize. The climate alone, and the foil, may operate this material difference. It is, perhaps, only England and Holland, that, by a concurrence of favourable events, make a fort of exception to the rule; and, moreover, the climate and the foil are much better there than in the ge nerality of the provinces of the Danish monarchy.

It

The author, in croffing the Great Belt, which is four miles over, perceived the Ifle of Spröe, fituated in the middle, and re

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markable because, during the winter, travellers that erofs the Belt are often obliged to pass the night there, and fometimes entire days, if the remainder of the paffage fhould oppofe too many obftacles.There is here only a fingle house, but it is an inn, which, according to the reports which are given of it, ought to be attend ed to with care, to procure a sort of indemnification for the fatigues, perils, and difagreeable circumftances, which have previously endured. Let us imagine a company of travellers, often perfons of quality, rich individuals, thrown upon this coaft, and condemned to spend two or three days here, frequently more, without being able to procure the common neceffaries of life. It is true, that more care would occafion more expence to Government; but, in return, people would be lefs difcouraged with the difficulties of a voyage, which has, befides, fo many other inconveniencies; especially when the Belt is obftru&ted with ice, which commonly happens in the months of December, January, and February. During that time they are often obliged to make use of a fort of fmall boat, named jifbaad, (iceboat,) the bottom, part of which has a double coating of iron. Thefe boats may be used as common boats where the water is not frozen, and may ferve for fledges, or carriages, according to circumstances, over places that are frozen. In fome winters the fea is frozen all over to such a degree, that one may país over on foot, and even in a carriage. This is, however, very rare and very extraordinary. Thefe boats they navigate as long as is poffible; the crew confifts of five men, who carry the embarkation with cords tied to their bodies, in cafe that heaps of ice or fnow prevent them from trailing it, as they ufually do when they no longer find the fea open. If the ice happens to break all at once, they plunge the boat into the aperture formed, leap withinfide, and, from porters or trailers, metamorphofe themselves into mariners. Sometimes navigating, fometimes carrying, fometimes trailing, we arrive at length at our deftination, which is very often quicker than one would expect. The editor (Profeffor Olivarius,) recollects having croffed over this paffage one fine winter's day in an jibaad; the travellers and the paffengers were fufficiently numerous to require feven of thefe fledge-boats, which formed an amusing groupe, that dispelled every fentiment of fear, by the idea of mutual fuccour ready to be afforded to each other; and perhaps alfo from the well

known

known argument of Commune naufragium dulce. Chance would have it, that we met with none of the pieces of ice, that, drawn on by the current, fometimes impede the progrefs of the boats, and confequently our navigation was made without interruption. All these circumstances rendered the paffage one of the most agreeable ever known; and he recollects it always with new pleasure, although he has offen had occafion to make others with much fatisfaction.

Our traveller having now arrived in Zealand, he defcribes the town where he has just landed, viz. Corsöer. His portraiture of it is but a forry one. It is not, however, the lefs true in point of refemblance; but M. Kuttner is not in the right, when afterward he compares the disjoined, diftant houfes of the great street with thofe which he has feen between Salerno and Pæftum in Italy, and which had not the appearance of having been conftructed to ferve for an asylum to human beings. You will find in the cottages of Italy all the fymptoms of poverty, that indifference for the very circumfcrib. ed wants of life, which a climate fo mild and happy is fure to produce. You will find many fymptoms of indigence in the Swedish country; but your eye will be rarely ftruck with that afflicting fpectacle in the country places of Denmark, and ftill lefs at Corsöer, and in the other towns. M. Kuttner proceeds next to Slagelfe, in his way on the high road to Copenhagen. He here takes occafion draw up an eulogium on the fuperb caufeway which croffes Zealand, and to remark, that we can advance at the rate of a Danish mile, or near two French leagues, in less than an hour. He admires, in paffing, fite of the ci-devant equestrian academy of Soröe and its environs. It was founded by the Danish Moliere, and celebrated hiftoriographer, Baron de Holberg, who is faid to have gained fo much by his appointments and writings, that by means of a rigorous economy, he was able to accumulate a fum fufficient to form fuch an establishment. This inftitution is but little frequented, by reafon of its proximity to Copenhagen, which is only ten Danifh miles diftant from it, and where there is a complete university, endowed with great privileges and prerogatives.

to

We cannot help, fays the editor, find ing fome exaggeration in cer ain circumftances of a tour by night, in these environs, as related by our guide. He preMONTHLY MAG, No. 115.

tends, for inftance, to have read at the window, without artificial light, fome printed matter, at one o'clock at night; but the effect of the moon, he adds, was fuperfluous. However beautifu " however clear, certain nights may be in the height of fummer in this climate, we entertain much doubt of the fact, unless our traveller be endowed with a very extraordinary acuteness of vifion, or that he was fingularly affifted by the brightness of the moon. The nights in Zealand are not like thofe in Norway, or at a certain latitude of Sweden. To be fatisfied of this, we have only to confult the maps.

we

The town of Ringfted, where changed horfes, is more confiderable than the two former; but it is hardly till we arrive at Röefkilde, four miles further on, that we are tempted to imagine we are approaching a capital; ant in general, it must be admitted, that the road which leads to Copenhagen in that quarter is not at all agreeable, nor adapted to prepoffefs foreign travellers in favour of the metropolis. Befides, near large cities we are accustomed to fee cultivation, horticulture, &c. advanced to the highest degree of perfection. Here we perceive, nothing of all this. In other places we find a number of buildings, manufactures, country houses, &c. We remark a certain air of luxury, eafy circumstances, tafte, &c. Here we find, indeed, a fort of progreffion towards a more felicitous kind of existence towards the delights and conveniencies of life; but it is fearcely perceptible, and only becomes striking, at the distance of about half a mile from the city.

So much has been faid on the maufolea of the Kings of Denmark at Röefkilde, lays our author, that it would be impof fible to difpenfe with a vifit to them; but we are not a little disappointed there is our expectations. The cathedral wherein thefe maufolea are inclosed, is vast, and forms a fine coup d'œil; but it neither exhibits the marks of good tafte, nor of magnificence. Many confift of marble, but they leave much to be defired in respect of workmanship and of grandeur. We cannot fay much with refpect to the plan, the defign, the execution, and the effect of the ensemble. Befides, these monuments have contracted a yellowish tinge, either from impure exhalations, or from the qualities of the materials themselves. We fhall obferve, that if these maufolea have not been so inuch admired, it is from the comparing them to fimilar ones in the 3 L

largest

largest states, as with the farcophagi of St. Denys, with thofe of the Roman Emperors, &c. and certainly, adds the editor, none fuch are to be feen at Westminfter.

In other refpects, the town of Röefkilde is fo much decayed from its priftine fplendour, that it is hardly credible; and in general, from Cor-öer to Copen. hagen, in a track of fourteen miles, we do not find a town that would deterve to be mentioned in Germany. The foil of the Isle of Zealand not being of a quality equal to that of Fionia, and its agriculture being lefs improved, its population must, of course, he proportionably less.

The road from Copenhagen to Elfingore reaches about fix miles; but if you wish to take a turn to visit the royal chateau of Fredericfburg, it would take about another mile. This is the best and most interesting canton, fays the author, that I have seen in Zealand; the foil more fertile, the lands better cultivated, and the population more confiderable, than elsewhere. Generally, the aspect of the country is finer than in all the rest of the Ifle. We first meet with the chateau de Sorgenfoire, (Sans Souci,) the property of Prince Frederic, onamented with a handfome garden. Next coines the chateau of Hirfcholm, which was for fome time the favourite refidence of Queen Matilda. This is one of the King's domains, but is no longer inhabited by the Royal Family. Here we remark many fine particulars in detail, but no care, no management, on the whole.

Fredericfburg, diftant four miles from Copenhagen, may well excite the curiofity of travellers. It is the finest edifice, the moft complete monument, of the tafte and magnificence of the latter ages. It was built by Chriftian IV.; and although feveral parts have undergone alterations, and the apartments, likewise, have been fomewhat arranged in the modern ftyle, the principal matters remain hitherto untouched, and exactly as they were, efpecially the Church and the Hall of the Knights, which forms a very beautiful ftructure of its kind. Moft of the other chateaux which date from that epoch, are decayed, or have been fo much repaired in the modern tafte, that we can no

longer diftinguish the priftine archetype.

This is not the cafe here; this teau has been perfectly well preserved in its primitive ftare, and gives a high idea of the luxury and Gothic pomp 'that prevailed at the time of its conftruction. It is composed of three parts, the first of

which, forming the corps de logis, appears fo beautiful, fo majestic, yet perfectly confiftent with the Gothic ftyle that the most extravagant admirer, the most exclufive partizan, of Grecian architecture, cannot contemplate it without feeling himself highly interested.

As to the Church and the Hall of the Knights, I fhall obferve, that I found in them a degree of luxury, a profufion of ornaments, of which I fcarcely could have believed that they had any idea in Denmark. What I perceived there had a greater refemblance to the art, fuch as it was cultivated in Germany in the fifteenth and fixteenth centuries; but in the latter country I know of no monument of this kind to pompous; and, indeed, there remain very few fuch, with the exception of the churches. You will find, however, at Augsburg and at Nuremburg, fome chef d'œuvres of Gothic art, and fome reliques of decorations, which refemble thofe here referred to. The cieling of the Church, as likewife that of the Hall of the Knights, is compofsed of a number of pieces, decorated with flutings in wood, gilt, and other works of feulpture, exhibiting figures which reprefent entire paffages of history. Whatever is not gilded, has been at least painted the natural colour. The style of inlaid-work is every where predominant. The altar, made of ebony-wood and ivory, is of invaluable workmanship; the figures, in massive filver, are not ill executed. The flooring of the Hall of the Knights, larger than the church, is all of marble. The paintings, which decorate both the church and the royal apartments, are not without their fhare of merit. The ftatues remarked in the court-yard, are of fuperior value to any of thote of that period that are commonly feen in Germany, France, and England. The environs contain beauties of more than one kind, and among others, vaft and magnificent forefts."

For the Monthly Magazine. CASE of a PERSON who during TWELVE YEARS was in a STATE of complete

INERTIA.

Tis of fo remarkable, and, I imagine, HE following well-authenticated cafe of fo fingular a nature, that I even suspect the faculty would find it difficult to give a name to it. Hiftory has indeed recorded a curious story concerning the Seven Sleepers, who awoke after having flept

during many years, and then returning to their native city, found themfelves fo many strangers at home. In the cafe I lay before you, you will see a man who, during twelve years, appears not to have exifted; and though his eyes were open all that time, he had loft their ule, with the rest of his fenfes, till he as fuddenly recovered the ufe of them all.

This fingular and terrible diforder, in which the foul fuddenly lofes the full exercife of its faculties, has, I think, been called by phyficians by the Greek name katochos. In this ftrange diforder the patient remains in the fame pofition of his members in which he happ ns to be when all his intellectual and corporeal powers have been fuddenly interrupted. He remains with his eyes open, but without fee ing; he has neither perception nor hearing during this ftate; and frequently it is only a few drops of blood which produce thefe terrible effects, unless they occafion fudden death.

In the Memoirs of Stockholm, of October 1784, Mr. Arvid Faxe has defcribed the following cafe; and perhaps, being written in the Swedish language, it may come with fome novelty to your readers.

"Oluf Olufson, a peafant, in the parish of Rænneby, in the province of Blet. ting, now aged 41, had been a failor in his youth, was of a ftrorg conftitution, and had once nearly perished in a form. He was feized with fever in June 1771, which appeared by pains in his body, great heats, and violent head-ache; he foon loft his fpeech, and shortly after, his internal and external fenfes.

About a month afterwards, the fever and heats abated; but he had become fo Jean during this malady, that it was difficult to difcover in him a flethy fibre. His body refembled that of a skeleton covered by a flight skin.

"He remained lying on his back conftantly, and immoveable; his hands on his breaft, his legs ftretched out, and his eyes generally clofed. He paffed eleven years in this helpless ftate, till the fummer of 1782. Except a little milk infinuated between his lips, and fometimes a spoonfui of wine or brandy, and at the fame time, a pinch of fnuff, he absolutely took no other food. No one can recolle&t, during all this time, that he ever expreffed a wish for food. He could pafs over four days, and sometimes a week, without taking milk. As he had neither flesh nor fat, this conftant pofition did not @ccafion him any ulcers in his back.

"His brother, Anders Olufson, fhewed every fraternal affection for him, and during these tedious and melancholy years, he fought every means to restore him to life, (for his prefent ftate could scarcely be called life,) which the moft tender friendfhip fuggetted. He boiled fome plants, with which he fomented his head frequently. Oluf appeared to recover a certain degree of fenfation, regain a little strength, and feemed gradually restored, but he gave no mark of perception nor reafoning. He appeared in a reflefs ftate, and full of alarm, in the prefence of any perfon.

"In this ftate he remained a confiderable time before he would fuffer himself to be obferved ftepping out of his bed, which, therefore, he generally did in the night, or when the family were out in the fields; then would he drag himself to the spot where he could take a little milk; but frequently, by the unexpected entrance of any one, he was feized with great trepidations,and frequently remained ftretched out on the ground, without the leaft capability of motion.At length his brother, refolved to make him quit his ufual abode, would take him out, give other nourishment, (though he ever preferred milk,) adding fome ftrengthening fubftances, bathed his head with cold water, by a fpring at fome diftance from the house. Although the patient had recovered his hearing and feeling, he ftill remained extremely feeble and megre, without powers of articulation, and with fcarcely any trace of reafon habit, however, made him capable of going himself to draw water from the fpring to bathe his head.

:

"Twelve years had paffed fince the commencement of this malady; and he aftonifhed the village, when they faw him fuddenly recover the ufe of his phyfical faculties. This happened on the 8th of August 1783, when he returned with water, in the prefence of his brother, of his two fifters, and the fervants, as they were preparing to dress for church. It was then he was feized with fhiverings, tremors in his arms and legs, and said, in a hurrying voice, Lord God! this is amazing! where have I been all this time?

"At this moment a vein in the crown of his head opened of itself, and there fell out about fix drops of blood; another vein opened at the extremity of the right nof tril; another at the chin; and there ran, as if from both ears, nearly as much blood.

"Nearly about this time he also recover3L2 ed

ed his fpeech, fpoke what he wifhed, had his perfect understanding, called by their names all thofe who were in or out of the house, and whom he had known before his malady, and was aftonifhed to find them grown fo old; but he did not recognize one of those whom he had not known befo e his diforder, although they had appeared daily before him during its proJonged ftate.

Oluf confidered this accident as a mere dream, without knowing whether it had lafted a long or a fhort time. But what is more remarkable is, that he did not feem tenfibly to have loft his memory during these twelve years, and did not recollect any thing which had passed during his malady.

"The people of the house feating them felves at table for fupper, he defired to read the ordinary prayers and grace, and he performed it without much hefitation. Some days after, he defired to perform his devotions, and according to the account of Dr. Henfchens, be appeared to have a perfect knowledge of the articles of his faith.

"The opening of the veins mentioned, were followed by flight fears on the crown of his head, as alfo on the nose, and by a red fpet on his chin, the wound in the middle remained open a longer time, and the fear gave the nofe an obliquity it had not fore.

His

"When the patient had recovered the ufe of his fpeech, he fpoke for fome time with precipitation; but at the prefent moment in the mot orderly manner. eyes appear fomewhat disfigured; but that arifes from his fquinting. In all other refpects he is in good health, gains corpulency, and performs his daily labour.

"Scarcely had Oluf Olufson recovered his health, than I was informed of his extraordinary malady; but its fingularity induced me to take the most minute and well-authenticated information 'ere I laid it before the Royal Academy. Thefe details, therefore, are equally remarkable and true."

Such is the fact, of which we shall not probably meet with a fimilar cafe. However, the natural means by which the fudden cure was accomplished, is not fo in Conceivable. Hippocrates had forefeen the probability in head-pains of an analo, gous kind, although not followed by that ftate of ftupor and abfolute inertia. S. S.

For the Monthly Magazine.

CANTABRIGIANA. CLXXVIII.-LINES by DR. LONG, fora merly MASTER of PEMBROKE-HALL.

IR William Jones's lines, in the last paper, will probably remind the readers of our promife relative to the verses of Dr. Long, the aftronomer.

Thele veries were spoken at the public commencement, July 6th, 1714, in St. Mary's church. The occafion, as hinted in a former number, was as follows:The ladies of Cambridge had been a long time indulged with the privilege of fitting in the feats of the doctors, and heads of houfes, called the THRONE. They were, however, obliged at length to defcend from this eminence, a place being affigned to them under the throne, in the chancel. Dr., then Mr. Long, being appointed to deliver the music fpeech, chofe for his subject the complaint of thefe ladies, which he delivered in the form of a petition from them; fubjoining fome remarks on the proceedings at the time of taking doctor's degrees. The remarks, also, he threw into verfe, and addreffed to his fair auditors. But enter the Aftronomer.

The humble petition of the ladies, who are To think they are to be locked up in the chanall ready to be eaten up with the spleen,

cel, where they can neither fee nor be seen, But must fit i' th' dumps by themselves, all ftew'd and pent up,

And can only peep through the lattice like fo many chickens in a coop; Whereas laft commencement the ladies had a gallery provided near enough To fee the heads fleep, and the fellow-commoners take fnuf

This will fuffice as a fpecimen of the petition; which is fo much in the manner of Swift,as o make it matter of furprize how the learned gentleman could deliver it in fo facred a place as St. Mary's; for in good truth (though they fay good fun, like good coin, is current any where,) fome parts of it could hardly be admitted into the Cantabrigiana.

The following lines are extracted from the addrefs in this whimsical performance, of which it may be faid, that it begins comically, and proceeds indelicately; and after bubbling up into humour, flows off very seriously.

Some here, fince fcarlet has fuch charms to

win ye,

For fcarlet gowns have laid out many a gui. Though