Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark by Mary Wollstonecraft
page 58 of 177 (32%)
page 58 of 177 (32%)
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freedom the people enjoy may, perhaps, render them a little
litigious, and subject them to the impositions of cunning practitioners of the law; but the authority of office is bounded, and the emoluments of it do not destroy its utility. Last year a man who had abused his power was cashiered, on the representation of the people to the bailiff of the district. There are four in Norway who might with propriety be termed sheriffs; and from their sentence an appeal, by either party, may be made to Copenhagen. Near most of the towns are commons, on which the cows of all the inhabitants, indiscriminately, are allowed to graze. The poor, to whom a cow is necessary, are almost supported by it. Besides, to render living more easy, they all go out to fish in their own boats, and fish is their principal food. The lower class of people in the towns are in general sailors; and the industrious have usually little ventures of their own that serve to render the winter comfortable. With respect to the country at large, the importation is considerably in favour of Norway. They are forbidden, at present, to export corn or rye on account of the advanced price. The restriction which most resembles the painful subordination of Ireland, is that vessels, trading to the West Indies, are obliged to |
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