The discussion of this subject is not so general as in England,
being confined to the few, the clergy and physicians, with a small
portion of people who have a literary turn and leisure; the greater
part of the inhabitants having a variety of occupations, being
owners of ships, shopkeepers, and farmers, have employment enough at
home. And their ambition to become rich may tend to cultivate the
common sense which characterises and narrows both their hearts and
views, confirming the former to their families, taking the handmaids
of it into the circle of pleasure, if not of interest, and the
latter to the inspection of their workmen, including the noble
science of bargain-making--that is, getting everything at the
cheapest, and selling it at the dearest rate. I am now more than
ever convinced that it is an intercourse with men of science and
artists which not only diffuses taste, but gives that freedom to the
understanding without which I have seldom met with much benevolence
of character on a large scale.

Besides, though you do not hear of much pilfering and stealing in
Norway, yet they will, with a quiet conscience, buy things at a
price which must convince them they were stolen. I had an
opportunity of knowing that two or three reputable people had
purchased some articles of vagrants, who were detected. How much of
the virtue which appears in the world is put on for the world? And
how little dictated by self-respect?--so little, that I am ready to
repeat the old question, and ask, Where is truth, or rather
principle, to be found? These are, perhaps, the vapourings of a
heart ill at ease--the effusions of a sensibility wounded almost to
madness. But enough of this; we will discuss the subject in another
state of existence, where truth and justice will reign. How cruel