informed you, that the Ode on the approach of Summer, published in the Union, was written by a Mr. Seton. I must beg to inform you that it was written by my brother, the late Mr. Thomas Warton, and that I saw it, at the very time it was written, forty years ago, and have, this moment, lying before me, the first original rude draught of it. I often pressed him to own it; and, as I have just collected all his poetical pieces, I have inserted it in the collection to be immediately published. I imagined you would like to be informed of this; and I must assure you I shall be happy to see you, if you ever come this way, and shall be glad of finding some opportunity of visiting you in town. DR. THORKELIN TO MR. PINKERTON. Copenhagen, Aug. 29th, 1791. "Praise from thy lips 'tis mine with pride to boast: Accordingly, I esteem your encomiums on my Sketches as the most illustrious mark of your friendship toward me and my native country. In my judgment, indeed, you have conferred on me a service in so generous a manner, that it alone demands my highest gratitude. But how far I may be able to give you proofs of my obligation, time will learn. Since I came here, I have been busy in getting my things in order; and yet two years at least will expire till every thing is settled. The archives require an immense time; for, as I am a stranger in that honorable office, I have thought it prudent to petition his majesty for the appointment of a committee, through the hands of whom I may receive the records, and know for what I am to become answerable. In the mean time, that is to say, till the archives shall thus be delivered, you will think my leisure hours are not very few; nor are they few, I must confess; but these are sacred to the continuation of the diplomas of the Arnea Magnean Legacy. Besides, I intend writing some sketches of my tour in Scotland. The people here are mighty fond of knowing distant countries, while they are charged with forgetting their own home. However, the liberty of the peasantry is at length settled in a manner, which will, in all probability, never suffer any inroads. In my Sketches, I mentioned that some of the Jytlandish nobles had complained of the proceedings of those, who were appointed commissioners. The attorney-general answered these complaints; and the nobles found themselves violently hurt, and filed an action against him before the High Court of Justiciaries. The attorney-general, too, was not idle: the cause was tried, and the gentlemen totally defeated. Besides pecuniary fines to a considerable amount, two of the plaintiffs have lost their badges of distinction (obtained formerly from the Court,) on account of their behaviour unbecoming gentlemen. The whole affair on both sides is published and laid before the public. In fine, the liberty of the press gets new friends every day, under the fostering auspices of the prince royal, whose answer to every one complaining of the press, is by no means favorable to their wishes. He has lately told some gentleman, who advised him to procure his father's consent to certain declaratory laws in this respect, the common law of the land was the best guardian of personal and real security if any body found himself injured through the press, he had recourse to the author and the printer, cited before a court of justice-so this matter rests. The king and his beloved son are now about to abolish the ill-fated feodal services, which have proved the greatest ruin of this country. But, in order to effect this salutary affair in the most equitable manner, both the lords of manors and their tenants are ordered to enter into a friendly agreement in this point among themselves. In case of a difference, the cause is to be submitted to arbitrators, and the covenants thus made shall be kept inviolable to eternity. In order to lead the way, the king and the prince have begun on their own estates, many of which are already parcelled out to the peasants, and the parcel sold to the tenant, who, having already paid the full sum for it, is now a freeholder instead of a wretched slave. I wish you could read Danish, and satisfy your generous heart with the writings of Count Cristian Reventlow and Messrs. Colbiornsen in the cause of liberty. These writings are printed in a collection of papers bearing title, "Transactions of the Royal Committee appointed to inquire into the present state of the Peasantry in Denmark." Copenhagen 1788-89, 2 vols. It is remarkable that the last spark of liberty among the peasants was extinguished in 1742, under a king who has been extolled to the skies on account of his piety; and deservedly indeed, for it can never be supposed that he knew the least of the matter. Thus the feudal slavery has been advancing by degrees from the thirteenth century down to the present; for in the thirteenth century all men were free in Denmark, in case they held land. I send you a curious tract" De Matrimoniis Veterum Septentrionalium;" the Voyage under ground of Nicolai Klim, by Baron Holberg, containing a Satire on the University, with prints; and the Landnama Book. Pray give my best compliments to Mrs. Pinkerton and the two young ladies. DR. THORKELIN TO MR. PINKERTON. Copenhagen, Nov. 1st, 1791. Since my last letter, directed to you under the care of Mr. Silberschildt, the Royal Icelandic Society of Sciences have elected you their honorary member. Accordingly, I have the honor to transmit along with this the diploma, which my friends wish you will receive as the basis of a mutual correspondence and good offices. As to myself, I heartily rejoice at finding your literary merits meeting in Denmark with that esteem which is their due. Your Essay on Coins and Medals and your Introduction to the History of Scotland are read and read again with applause and pleasure. Should a new edition of the former enrich the world, which I sincerely hope, I beg you will consult the description of our royal cabinet, containing the Danish coins. Two copies have already been sent to England, one to his Grace of Canterbury, the other to the Duke of Marlborough, as presents from the prince royal, accompanied by letters of his excellency the Marshal Bulow, agreeably to the orders of his royal highness. Besides, I am well informed by Count Reventlow, the president of his majesty's library, that the said work has been at length transmitted, along with some other literary productions, to the Honorable Mr. Walpole, whose regard to his majesty is conspicuous in the works of Strawberry Hill, the much valued ornaments of the royal library. Now to yourselves.-The Scriptores Danici you will receive as soon as the navigation shall be opened in the next spring; provided you will favor me, in the mean time, with a proper direction of a friend in London, who is to make them free of the Tower ward, and to prevent them falling among robbers, when I shall be so happy as to receive your commands. Pray inform me about the laws still observed in Scotland, and the method of studying and practising that divine science in the courts. But, above all, give me your advice relative to a matter which I wish to execute: this is a new edition of my Sketch of the Character of the Prince Royal of Denmark. You would infinitely oblige me by |
