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The inference to be drawn from the above tables is too evident to require much elucidation. In the space of 22 years, and those the most active in commerce that were ever known, (while England, engaged in a most expensive war, has doubled its trade,) Denmark, with all the advantages of peace and neutrality, remains stationary. The decrease is partly accounted for by vessels of a smaller size being excluded from the last account.

Account of Merchants Ships that have been built in Denmark, Norway, and Holstein, in the Year 1802.

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All the foreign ships which come into the Danish harbours, as well as their own ships, are measured, and the number branded fore and aft in the ship. An attestation is likewise drawn up and given to the master, of their measurement and number of seamen, which is done by the custom-house officer of any port, but it is not conceived valid. It is at Copenhagen where vessels are measured, if they have not been there before, particularly if they have not on any part the brand to denote that they have previously been in a Danish port; when this is done, an attestation is then given in due form.

This is a very good plan, and might be adopted with advantage in every country, as it would cost little trouble at first, and might save a good deal afterwards.

A Table, shewing the State of the Navigation of Denmark in the

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In times of peace it is estimated that Denmark gains by the carrying trade nearly four millions of rixdollars. If then we consider the almost exclusive trade she now has in that branch amongst the Eu

ropean powers, and the considerably higher freights her ships now obtain, (at least treble the sum to what she makes in time of peace), it is wonderful her shipping does not increase.

On the state of the commerce of Denmark as it is, many remarks are not necessary, its amount at the present time, compared with the past, proves how slow the progress is that that country makes towards wealth, though better situated even than Holland, for a commercial nation: and on the Atlantic shore of the continent, no country, either enjoyed such natural advantages, or employed them so well, as the Seven United Provinces.

We have already shewn how the nations living on the Baltic Sea, at a very early period, enjoyed commerce, and carried it on to a great extent; we have explained how the trade to the interior of the continent may be so advantageously and easily carried on by that channel, adverting to the necessity of applying to it under the present circum

stances.

At all times, Denmark, from its situation, ought to be wealthy. The nature of the government is likewise favourable, as it affords liberty and security, and the taxes are low; yet still the country advances so slowly, that in comparing it with others, it may be said to go backwards. If the same persecution is continued over the inhabitants of the Dutch provinces, that has taken place since they fell into the power of France, there is no doubt, that many of them will emigrate to Holstein, and carry with them the true spirit of commerce, which appears to be the only thing wanting, to make that one of the most flourishing countries of Europe.

The Danes are particularly backward in introducing inventions, either for the abbreviation of labour, or for increasing its result; but as wealth and all its concomitants are comparative, so long as other na tions invent or copy inventions, those who refuse to do the same, must necessarily fall more and more behind.

Good roads (and perhaps iron railways) are in a most particular. manner wanted in Denmark; first, because there is a great deal of passing with heavy goods; and next, because they are remarkably bad.

The facility with which new inventions are now introduced from one country to another, and the means that the inhabitants have of knowing what will suit their purpose, precludes the necessity of pointing out to the Danes, in what their inferiority lies, particularly as they have so excellent an example set before them by the Kings of Prussia, who, for half a century, have been occupied in attempts to increase the wealth and prosperity of their subjects.

When a nation is in the situation of England, superior to others, there may be some difficulty of discovering by what means its prosperity can be increased; but in the case of Denmark, or any other people, that are behind, there can be no difficulty; all that is necessary, is to copy, to imitate, and to follow the example of others.

To be able to do this, however, the government should have a disposable sum for the encouragement and protection of new establishments; but this is what neither Denmark nor Sweden has, and perhaps, it is one of the principal causes of those two nations being so far behind others in their progress.

It cannot have escaped observation, that though all the northern nations have bank paper, and seem to have paid considerable attention to the subject; yet none of them have been very successful in establishing a bank on a good plan, though they have had the example of the Banks of London and Amsterdam, either of which, might be taken as an excellent model; instead of which, attempts have been made to improve and alter the plan, by which means the establishments that have been formed, are of little utility.

The exportation to Denmark has been rapidly on the increase, even before the last war, but since then, it has totally altered its proportion, owing to the causes already so frequently mentioned, that have driven the trade of the continent to the northern parts of Europe. Our imports from that country have not increased with nearly equal rapidity, though still the increase is very great, and particularly so, when we `consider the nature of those articles, and the way they are rated in the books of the custom-house. Timber, and the other sorts of produce received from Denmark, are rated as they were when the prices were not half what they are now, while a great part of the goods we send

over, consist of articles, some unknown altogether 60 years ago, and others, which have no fixed value at any time, and are rated according to their real worth.

The increase of importation may be principally considered as an account of the increased quantity, not value; but on the exportation, it is value, not quantity.

The neglect of our timber at home, and the general waste and consumption of the produce of other countries, enrich the whole of the north of Europe. The activity of our trade makes us do every thing in the building way for the present purpose, and in the end, costs double what it does in nations whose operations are less rapid, and the works of men more permanent. This is a subject that deserves some attention. Wherever buildings are slight, rents are high in proportion to the money laid out, and a considerable portion of the industry of a country, building in a temporary manner, is employed on repairs. As for the materials, so far as they come from other nations, they are a drain on us. This theory may be the better to be confirmed by a fact. Though England is a manufacturing nation, timber is scarcely a material on which any of its manufacturers are employed; but it purchases more than all the rest of Europe; and yet, all throughout Europe people have houses and furniture, as well as in England. Formerly we consumed much less, even in England, and our waste seems to have gone on nearly in proportion to the general activity of commerce.

Table of the Imports and Exports of Great Britain, to and from Denmark and Norway, in the following Years.

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