commenced before the parties have discussed the dispute at their
weekly meeting. If a reconciliation should, in consequence, take
place, it is to be registered, and the parties are not allowed to
retract.

By these means ignorant people will be prevented from applying for
advice to men who may justly be termed stirrers-up of strife. They
have for a long time, to use a significant vulgarism, set the people
by the ears, and live by the spoil they caught up in the scramble.
There is some reason to hope that this regulation will diminish
their number, and restrain their mischievous activity. But till
trials by jury are established, little justice can be expected in
Norway. Judges who cannot be bribed are often timid, and afraid of
offending bold knaves, lest they should raise a set of hornets about
themselves. The fear of censure undermines all energy of character;
and, labouring to be prudent, they lose sight of rectitude.
Besides, nothing is left to their conscience, or sagacity; they must
be governed by evidence, though internally convinced that it is
false.

There is a considerable iron manufactory at Laurvig for coarse work,
and a lake near the town supplies the water necessary for working
several mills belonging to it.

This establishment belongs to the Count of Laurvig. Without a
fortune and influence equal to his, such a work could not have been
set afloat; personal fortunes are not yet sufficient to support such
undertakings. 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