IV.

naturally but this intense frost lasted only CHAP. three days; and throughout the northern part of Norway, it had generally been considered as a mild winter, although great apprehensions were entertained lest every thing would be killed on account of the small quantity of snow. The inhabitants complain much of the uncertainty of Climate. the weather in the summer: one day may be excessively hot, and the next quite cold: the transition sometimes takes place in the course of a single hour. In winter, the climate is much more regular: and they have, in general, a clear sky. As a proof that cultivation is going rapidly forwards, it is sufficient to state, that, notwithstanding the great increase in the popu lation, of late years, there has been no increase in the importation of corn, but rather the contrary. The people on the sea-coast are the poorest, and suffer the most: in general, they marry young, and have large families, which they hope to support by fishing; and in a bad year, when the fisheries are unsuccessful, they are reduced to extreme poverty. The people in the interior parts of the country seldom marry till they can get a place in which they may support a family; and this does not always happen while they are very young. The chief exports Exports. of Trönyem are, fish, deal-planks, tar, and copper:

IV.

CHAP. three hundred thousand shippounds of copper are exported at Trönÿjem from the mines of Röråås only.

Rapidity of Vegeta

tion.

The rapidity of vegetation on some spots, and in some years, has been very extraordinary. On a farm to the south of Trönijem, two crops of barley were reaped in the same year and the year before our arrival, a similar instance - had occurred on a farm ten miles north of Trönjem. It is not uncommon for barley to be reaped six weeks after it has been sown. Some of the valleys have a most fertile soil; and being shut out from all winds, retain the heat very much add to this, that the sun is so long above the horizon, that the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer, during the short night, often does not fall below 60°; and it may be imagined what the effect must be upon vegetation. It generally happens, that the ground is prepared, the seed sown, and the harvest reaped, in the course of two months. The grass grows under the snow; and it is a custom here to throw ashes upon the snow, to hasten its melting. The severest cold in winter is in general about 17° or 18° of Réaumur: last year, for two days, the mercury in his thermometer was at 20° : in summer it is sometimes as high as 21.-The state of the thermometer, estimated according to

IV.

the scale of Réaumur, is noted every day, and CHAP inserted in the Gazette which is published every Saturday morning. Very erroneous accounts have been given, in other countries, of the climate here. Linnæus, describing the temperature of the same latitude, says the winter returns, without autumn, before the end of August. We did not leave Trönijem before the third of October; and the heat of the sun was at this time so great in the streets, that we could not walk without undergoing a copious perspiration. The inhabitants had then in their gardens many plants in flower; a beautiful blue Gentian, the Gentiana campestris, covered the tops of the hills; and ripe cherries, apples, plums, and pears, were hanging upon their trees. The birch, it is true, was dropping its leaf, but every other forest-tree was in full foliage. During the time we staid, we had neither frost nor snow, but the most serene and delightful weather imaginable. At the same time, the English papers mentioned very stormy weather in our own country.

with Ire

land.

The commerce of Trönijem is carried on chiefly Commerce with Ireland; and it is to the Irish that the strange names of Dronton and Drontheim, as applied to this city, are to be attributed. With England the inhabitants have little intercourse;

IV.

CHAP. which is a principal cause of the ignorance that has so long prevailed in England respecting this place and its worthy enlightened inhabitants. A French author describes the latter as "wild Laplanders, very like bears!." The trade with Ireland is owing in great measure to the shortness of their deal planks, for which they would hardly find a market in England; but, besides this, the duty in England is the same whether the deal planks be short or long; whereas in Ireland it is said to be proportioned to the length. Their ships sail also to the Mediterranean; whence they return with freightage for Hamburgh, and from thence proceed to the Baltic. In the Baltic they are freighted with corn, and then return to their own port.

(1) Voy. Nouveau Voyage vers le Septentrion, &c. Amst. 1708.

91 Bay of Trünjem, and Castle of Munkholm, as viewed from the City.

2

Public Buildings-Cathedral-Church of Nôtre DameHospital, and Baklan Church-Latin School-Public Library-Antiquities found in the Isle of Lekoe-Other Rarities-Schools-Asylum for Widows-Almshouses Arsenal-Fortress of Christiansteen-Fortress of Munkholm-Narrative of Count Griffenfeld's ConfinementCustom House, and Town Hall-Other Public WorksCourts of Justice-Education of the Lower OrdersFair-Anecdotes of Two Finn-Lapps-Military Force of the Government-Manners of the InhabitantsEntertainments-Cascades of Leer Fossen-Friendship of the Norwegians towards the English-National Prejudices-Aphorisms-Lake Törgvillan-Route to North Cape-Prospects-Skill of the Natives in carving wood

Wild