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pe； in a north…westerly direction； and after leaving settlements along the southern shores of the Baltic； finally established themselves in the forests and valleys of what has come to be called the Scandinavian Peninsula。 That children of the South should have sought out so inclement a habitation may excite surprise； but it must always be remembered that they were； probably； a comparatively scanty congregation； and that the unoccupied valleys of Norway and Sweden； teeming with fish and game； and rich in iron； were a preferable region to lands only to be colonised after they had been conquered。
Thus； under the leadership of Odin and his twelve Paladins； to whom a grateful posterity afterwards conceded thrones in the halls of their chief's Valhalla；the new emigrants spread themselves along the margin of the out…ocean； and round about the gloomy fiords； and up and down the deep valleys that fall away at right angles from the backbone； or keel； as the seafaring population soon learnt to call the flat； snow…capped ridge that runs down the centre of Norway。
Amid the rude but not ungenial influences of its bracing climate； was gradually fostered that gallant race which was destined to give an imperial dynasty to Russia； a nobility to England； and conquerors to every sea…board in Europe。
Upon the occupation of their new home； the ascendency of that mysterious hero； under whose auspices the settlement was conducted； appears to have remained more firmly established than ever； not only over the mass of the people； but also over the twelve subordinate chiefs who accompanied him； there never seems to have been the slightest attempt to question his authority； and； though afterwards themselves elevated into an order of celestial beings； every tradition which has descended is careful to maintain his human and divine supremacy。 Through the obscurity； the exaggeration； and the ridiculous fables； with which his real existence has been overloaded； we can still see that this man evidently possessed a genius as superior to his contemporaries； as has ever given to any child of man the ascendency over his generation。 In the simple language of the old chronicler； we are told； 〃that his countenance was so beautiful that； when sitting among his friends； the spirits of all were exhilarated by it； that when he spoke； all were persuaded； that when he went forth to meet his enemies； none could withstand him。〃 Though subsequently made a god by the superstitious people he had benefited； his death seems to have been noble and religious。 He summoned his friends around his pillow； intimated a belief in the immortality of his soul； and his hope that hereafter they should meet again in Paradise。 〃Then；〃 we are told； 〃began the belief in Odin； and their calling upon him。〃
On the settlement of the country； the land was divided and subdivided into lotssome as small as fifty acresand each proprietor held his shareas their descendants do to this dayby udal right； that is； not as a fief of the Crown； or of any superior lord； but in absolute； inalienable possession； by the same udal right as the kings wore their crowns； to be transmitted； under the same title； to their descendants unto all generations。
These landed proprietors were called the Bonders； and formed the chief strength of the realm。 It was they； their friends and servants； or thralls； who constituted the army。 Without their consent the king could do nothing。 On stated occasions they met together； in solemn assembly； or Thing； （i。e。 Parliament；） as it was called； for the transaction of public business； the administration of justice； the allotment of the scatt； or taxes。
Without a solemn induction at the Ore or Great Thing； even the most legitimately…descended sovereign could not mount the throne； and to that august assembly an appeal might ever lie against his authority。
To these Things； and to the Norse invasion that implanted them； and not to the Wittenagemotts of the Latinised Saxons； must be referred the existence of those Parliaments which are the boast of Englishmen。
Noiselessly and gradually did a belief in liberty； and an unconquerable love of independence； grow up among that simple people。 No feudal despots oppressed the unprotected； for all were noble and udal born； no standing armies enabled the Crown to set popular opinion at defiance； for the swords of the Bonders sufficed to guard the realm； no military barons usurped an illegitimate authority； for the nature of the soil forbade the erection of feudal fortresses。 Over the rest of Europe despotism rose up rank under the tutelage of a corrupt religion； while； year after year； amid the savage scenery of its Scandinavian nursery； that great race was maturing whose genial heartiness was destined to invigorate the sickly civilization of the Saxon with inexhaustible energy； and preserve to the world； even in the nineteenth century； one glorious example of a free European people。
LETTER XIII。
COPENHAGENBERGENTHE BLACK DEATHSIGURDRHOMEWARDS。
Copenhagen； Sept。 12th； 1856。
Our adventures since the date of my last letter have not been of an exciting character。 We had fine weather and prosperous winds down the coast； and stayed a day at Christiansund； and another at Bergen。 But though the novelty of the cruise had ceased since our arrival in lower latitudes； there was always a certain raciness and oddity in the incidents of our coasting voyage； such aswaking in the morning； and finding the schooner brought up under the lee of a wooden house； orriding out a foul wind with your hawser rove through an iron ring in the sheer side of a mountain；which took from the comparative flatness of daily life on board。
Perhaps the queerest incident was a visit paid us at Christiansund。 As I was walking the deck I saw a boat coming off； with a gentleman on board； she was soon alongside the schooner； and as I was gazing down on this individual； and wondering what he wanted； I saw him suddenly lift his feet lightly over the gunwale and plunge them into the water； boots and all。 After cooling his heels in this way for a minute or so； he laid hold of the side ropes and gracefully swung himself on deck。 Upon this； Sigurdr； who always acted interpreter on such occasions； advanced towards him； and a colloquy followed； which terminated rather abruptly in Sigurdr walking aft； and the web…footed stranger ducking down into his boat again。 It was not till some hours later that the indignant Sigurdr explained the meaning of the visit。 Although not a naval character； this gentleman certainly came into the category of men 〃who do business in great waters；〃 his BUSINESS being to negotiate a loan； in short； to ask me to lend him 100 pounds。 There must have been something very innocent and confiding in 〃the cut of our jib〃 to encourage his boarding us on such an errand； or perhaps it was the old marauding； toll…taking spirit coming out strong in him： the politer influences of the nineteenth century toning down the ancient Viking into a sort of a cross between Paul Jones and Jeremy Diddler。 The seas which his ancestors once swept with their galleys； he now sweeps with his telescope； and with as keen an eye to the MAIN chance as any of his predecessors disp