Nevertheless The Inhabitants Of The Town Speak Of The
Size Of His Estate As An Evil, Because It Obstructs Commerce.
The
occupiers of small farms are obliged to bring their wood to the
neighbouring seaports to be shipped; but he, wishing to increase the
value of his, will not allow it to be thus gradually cut down, which
turns the trade into another channel.
Added to this, nature is
against them, the bay being open and insecure. I could not help
smiling when I was informed that in a hard gale a vessel had been
wrecked in the main street. When there are such a number of
excellent harbours on the coast, it is a pity that accident has made
one of the largest towns grow up on a bad one.
The father of the present count was a distant relation of the
family; he resided constantly in Denmark, and his son follows his
example. They have not been in possession of the estate many years;
and their predecessor lived near the town, introducing a degree of
profligacy of manners which has been ruinous to the inhabitants in
every respect, their fortunes not being equal to the prevailing
extravagance.
What little I have seen of the manners of the people does not please
me so well as those of Tonsberg. I am forewarned that I shall find
them still more cunning and fraudulent as I advance towards the
westward, in proportion as traffic takes place of agriculture, for
their towns are built on naked rocks, the streets are narrow
bridges, and the inhabitants are all seafaring men, or owners of
ships, who keep shops.
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