Rorevannet tegnet i 1800
No. XVII. VIEW OF RORVAND NEAR ARENDAL. This lake appears to be connected with Lake Sinli; it is situated amidst rocks of tremendous forms, is of moderate width, and sprinkled with several islands and peninsulas. It is the receptacle of the waters from several considerable mountains, which, on the Northern sides, are covered with snow almost during the whole of the year. They are exceedingly rugged, and abound in dreadful precipices and corresponding abysses, through which innumerable streams pursue their courses to the river Nid. These mountains abound in iron ore of singular richness. Iron forms the most important of Norwegian metals, and is generally well adapted for every kind of application. The pre-eminent excellencies of the ore are most particularly discernible in its progress through the forge ; it being very rarely necessary to add any unproductive matter, which can only promote the smelting of the ore without enlarging its substance. The iron mines of Norway, compared with those of other countries, occasion but a small expence ; the strata of the ores being most generally of an extent corresponding with their intrinsic excellence. The mountains are at the same time covered with vast forests to supply the iron works with the requisite fuel, and make ample amends for the absence of pitcoal, which is not found in the primeval mountains of Norway. In regard to machinery, the Norwegian iron works also possess pre-eminent advantages; the abundance and the height of water-falls fully effect in the simplest and most economical manner all those purposes which, in other countries, require the most complicated and expensive machinery. Thus nature herself has pointed out this branch of industry as a principal means of promoting the welfare of the country, and that in a manner most conducive to the real happiness and honour of the people. The iron manufacture, while it calls the physical powers of the lower orders into action, at the same time affords ample scope for the display of their intellectual faculties. That innate turn for mechanics which characterizes the Norwegian peasantry must in consequence be expanded, and, to use a thought of Addison's, a beautiful statue may be disinterred from many a block, which only required some skilful hand to remove the rubbish. On a view therefore what may, and ought to be done for that large proportion of fellow-creatures, who may apparently be doomed to the drudgery of daily labour, the iron manufacture of Norway must be regarded as a national blesssing. The conduct and superintendance of the iron manufacture likewise require something beyond the mere possession of capital, or the aid of good fortune. Profound and varied knowledge, seconded by the suggestions of an elegant taste, must be instrumental to that degree of success, by which this branch of industry may eventually be raised to that estimation at home, and distinction abroad, which it deserves to obtain. As an article of trade, iron must be ranked very high, since it is one of the first necessaries of life, and, in consequence, readily to be disposed of. Iron is subject to no perishment from time ; and most of the raw materials requisite for its manufacture being produced in the country itself, too high importance can scarcely be attached to the beneficial effects which that branch of industry must necessarily produce on the commercial interests of the nation. Various objections have, however, been made to the iron manufacture. It is said to occasion the destruction of the woods, to impose very oppressive burthens on the peasantry, who are compelled to furnish charcoal, and perform a variety of work at stated prices in virtue of privileges granted by law to the iron works. The iron manufacture is also charged with increasing the want of provisions, under which the nation labours, by accumulating, in particular situations, a vast number of people, from whose labours agriculture derives but little assistance. In regard to the destruction of the forests, it should be observed, that no wood fit for any more valuable purpose, is converted into charcoal. The manufacture of charcoal, in reality, tends to the benefit of the woods ; they are by that means cleared from useless, ill-shaped trees and parasitical plants, which occupy the space and draw the nourishment required by the nobler and more promising part of the forest. Hence the finest woods are frequently observed to be in the vicinity of iron-works. In particular instances the charge of destroying the woods may perhaps be supported; but if generally applied to the iron works, it must evidently fall to the ground. With respect to oppressive burthens imposed on the peasantry for the benefit of the iron works; it is certainly true, that very considerable privileges were granted to the iron works in the earliest period of their establishment—privileges which, if now asserted, would unquestionably prove very oppressive to the peasantry. But though the letter of the law remains, the spirit has long ago fled, of which the proprietors of the iron works and the peasantry have been mutually satisfied. As for the third charge, it is too ridiculous and absurd to call for any refutation. If a country were to contain no more inhabitants than the produce of the soil could support, an amazing reduction must immediately take place in some of the freest, happiest and most energetic nations, that ever advanced the welfare and honour of human kind. With immediate reference to Norway, the lowest drudge in an iron mine could less be spared than the person who held the argument, concerning which I have some hesitation whether it ought at all to have been noticed. The grounds upon which every encouragement should be afforded to the iron manufacture being thus stated, it is proper to notice the discouragements under which it has laboured, and does labour. An almost total want of mineralogical seminaries must be considered as the first cause, why the iron works of Norway have not, generally, been conducted so much to the honour and advantage of the country as they easily might be. Experience is the chief, if not the sole guide of the Norwegian miner; to theory he has hitherto been almost an entire stranger. Another cause must be sought in the difficulties attending the establishment of iron works, and in the little prospect which the founder formerly had of deriving himself any substantial benefit from his endeavours. But this as well as the preceding cause may easily be removed by a dissemination of proper knowledge, and an application of those scientific improvements to which mankind has now more or less ready access. Another, and perhaps the most material cause which has checked the extension of iron works in Norway, is to be found in the disinclination of Government to entertain propositions from enterprizing individuals who feel desirous of establishing iron works, but whose private resources may not enable them to embark in undertakings of that magnitude without some public aid. Applicants of this description appear to labour under great doubts and fears as to final success, even though their schemes may in the outset have received the most flattering encouragement. In Denmark, grants of public assistance are not made on light grounds, and must necessarily be preceded by strict investigations, relative to the pretensions of the applicant in point of wealth, talents or connections; the nature of the situation proposed for the establishment, and innumerable other particulars, which require a large fund of scientific and local knowledge, and a very patient spirit of inquiry. But by some fatality these investigations have frequently been entrusted to men, who happened to know nothing at all about the matters submitted to their consideration, and who had, in consequence, to take upon trust the grounds of their decision from persons who were, perhaps, equally unfit, and probably less disposed to give the subject due attention. The Court of Denmark, or rather many dependents of that Court, having a very strong interest in the iron manufacture of Norway, it is neither uncharitable nor unfair to presume, that the calls of patriotism may have been overpowered by the dictates of loyalty, and that popular reasoning may have yielded to official arguments. The advice of some Royal Councillor of Mountains (however unable or unwilling to give advice) may have been held perfectly conclusive, and proved fatal to schemes which might, perhaps, have curtailed the proceeds of the iron works belonging to his Danish Majesty; and what was more to be dreaded, satisfied the Government and the people, that there was but too much truth in the following very uncourtly language : "The Court of Denmark is not yet cured of the folly of entering into commercial speculations on its own account. From the year 1769 to 1792, 78,000 rix-dollars1 per annum have been lost on the royal mines alone.2 But however unfortunate the court of Denmark may have been in its own commercial transactions, it never could have noticed the fact, that previous to the war with England, the value of iron annually produced in Norway amounted to upwards of a million and a half of rix-dollars, or about £300,000 sterling, without feeling impressed with a desire of extending a branch of industry, which in a commercial point of view alone, must have had signal influence on the prosperity of the country. If the Danish government has therefore, at any time, evinced an indisposition to encourage a diffusion of iron works in Norway, such indisposition may probably be traced to that distrust which has been produced in the rulers of Den mark, by the very extreme liberality they have upon all occasions shewn in encouraging the trading and manufacturing interests of the country. But while every praise is due to that liberality, it should, at the same time not be forgotten, that the countenance of Government has in but too many cases been afforded in such a manner, as to be equally disgraceful to itself and injurious to the people. No government has ever been more egregiously imposed upon by foreign adventurers, who dexterously stepped in between that diffidence of its own powers, which I scarcely know whether to call a virtue or a vice in the Danish people, and that predilection for exotic merit, from which but too many Danish statesmen have not been wholly exempt. Jews and broken mechanics from England pretended to render Denmark independent of those supplies which she had been accustomed to draw from the former country; they fretted their busy hour upon the stage, and were heard of no more, except when the losses which they had occasioned to Denmark became topics of discourse. Frenchmen, Germans, Swedes, etc. proposed similar projects, obtained the same encouragement, and closed their respective careers with equal satisfaction to the government and people of Denmark. Had Holberg lived within the last fifty years, he might have rendered the most essential service to his country, by exhibiting on the stage the various characters, from the highest to the lowest, who kindly came even from distant countries to polish the minds and the shoes of his countrymen. What loyal and patriotic Dane can read the following extract, without feeling his blood boil and his heart throb with indignation ? " The discovery of pitcoal in Norway would undoubtedly be of the utmost importance. The lord of nature did not create our mountains in vain; but mountebanks have cheated our government, and it has lost a relish for any attempts to improve the condition of Norway. During the first years of my residence at the university, Tydell, a Swede, travelled, I remember, on account of Government, to discover coals in Norway. He found them, it is true, but Newcastle coals which he had himself put into the ground." 3 The Danish government is not therefore to be blamed, if it receives with extreme caution and jealousy such proposals as foreigners, generally, may still submit with a view to benefit Denmark. It ought long ago to have been perceived that self-interest could only be their chief motive. But it is much to be lamented that a suspicion of a similar incentive should in these times be applied to such propositions for the good of the country as natives may think entitled to support from the general stock of the nation. In touching upon this subject, a most spirited Norwegian writer observes : " It may be objected, that the suggestions of selfishness are but in very few cases overpowered by a love of honour and of the country. But to place a sense of hoaour in a rank subordinate to the lust of gain, discovers but a sligbt knowledge of human nature. The establishment of illustrious monuments to commemorate a spirit of patriotic devotion and a desire of being useful, affords far superior enjoyments to the soul which pants for honest farne, than the largest profits can bestow." 4 It is impossible to join in these sentiments without bearing testimony to the unshaken loyaltjr, unabated patriotism and most patient endurance, uniformly displayed by the Danish and Norwegian nations in the cause of their king and country, and which but for the nature of the times, might have left the most ardent of their well-wishers little to desire. 1.^ In those times about £6OOO. 2.^ Edinburgh Review, No. 4, 1803, page 302, Article 11. Tableau des Etats Danois, par Jean Pierre Catteau. 3 tornes, 1802, a Paris. 3.^ Letter from Mr. Bernt Anker of Christiania, F. R. S. to Count Moltke, inserted in the Topographical Journal of Norway, No. 5, page 128, 4.^ Patriotic Ideas by Jacob Aall, Knight of the Danbrog, and Owner of Naess Iron works near Arendal, page 63.