Enough,you will say,of inanimate nature and of brutes,to use the lordly phrase of man;let me hear something of the inhabitants.
The gentleman with whom I had business is the Mayor of Tonsberg.He speaks English intelligibly,and,having a sound understanding,Iwas sorry that his numerous occupations prevented my gaining as much information from him as I could have drawn forth had we frequently conversed.The people of the town,as far as I had an opportunity of knowing their sentiments,are extremely well satisfied with his manner of discharging his office.He has a degree of information and good sense which excites respect,whilst a cheerfulness,almost amounting to gaiety,enables him to reconcile differences and keep his neighbours in good humour."I lost my horse,"said a woman to me,"but ever since,when I want to send to the mill,or go out,the Mayor lends me one.He scolds if I do not come for it."A criminal was branded,during my stay here,for the third offence;but the relief he received made him declare that the judge was one of the best men in the world.
I sent this wretch a trifle,at different times,to take with him into slavery.As it was more than he expected,he wished very much to see me,and this wish brought to my remembrance an anecdote Iheard when I was in Lisbon.
A wretch who had been imprisoned several years,during which period lamps had been put up,was at last condemned to a cruel death,yet,in his way to execution,he only wished for one night's respite to see the city lighted.
Having dined in company at the mayor's I was invited with his family to spend the day at one of the richest merchant's houses.Though Icould not speak Danish I knew that I could see a great deal;yes,Iam persuaded that I have formed a very just opinion of the character of the Norwegians,without being able to hold converse with them.
I had expected to meet some company,yet was a little disconcerted at being ushered into an apartment full of well dressed people,and glancing my eyes round they rested on several very pretty faces.
Rosy cheeks,sparkling eyes,and light brown or golden locks;for Inever saw so much hair with a yellow cast,and,with their fine complexions,it looked very becoming.
These women seem a mixture of indolence and vivacity;they scarcely ever walk out,and were astonished that I should for pleasure,yet they are immoderately fond of dancing.Unaffected in their manners,if they have no pretensions to elegance,simplicity often produces a gracefulness of deportment,when they are animated by a particular desire to please,which was the case at present.The solitariness of my situation,which they thought terrible,interested them very much in my favour.They gathered round me,sung to me,and one of the prettiest,to whom I gave my hand with some degree of cordiality,to meet the glance of her eyes,kissed me very affectionately.
At dinner,which was conducted with great hospitality,though we remained at table too long,they sung several songs,and,amongst the rest,translations of some patriotic French ones.As the evening advanced they became playful,and we kept up a sort of conversation of gestures.As their minds were totally uncultivated I did not lose much,perhaps gained,by not being able to understand them;for fancy probably filled up,more to their advantage,the void in the picture.Be that as it may,they excited my sympathy,and I was very much flattered when I was told the next day that they said it was a pleasure to look at me,I appeared so good-natured.
The men were generally captains of ships.Several spoke English very tolerably,but they were merely matter-of-fact men,confined to a very narrow circle of observation.I found it difficult to obtain from them any information respecting their own country,when the fumes of tobacco did not keep me at a distance.
I was invited to partake of some other feasts,and always had to complain of the quantity of provision and the length of time taken to consume it;for it would not have been proper to have said devour,all went on so fair and softly.The servants wait as slowly as their mistresses carve.
The young women here,as well as in Sweden,have commonly bad teeth,which I attribute to the same causes.They are fond of finery,but do not pay the necessary attention to their persons,to render beauty less transient than a flower,and that interesting expression which sentiment and accomplishments give seldom supplies its place.
The servants have,likewise,an inferior sort of food here,but their masters are not allowed to strike them with impunity.I might have added mistresses,for it was a complaint of this kind brought before the mayor which led me to a knowledge of the fact.
