BvmK *s ^u®cient depth for veffels to keep at a di-fiance from.
— ,— j the batteries, and1 the largeft ihips can even fail clofe to the
coaft of Sweden. The conftant diicharge, however, o f the
toll is not fo much owing to the ftrength o f the fortrefs, as to.
a compliance with the publick law o f Europe. Many disputes
have arifen concerning the right by which the crown
o f Denmark impofes fuch a duty. The kings o f Sweden, in
particular, claiming an equal title to the free palfage o f the
Strait, were for fome time exempted by treaty from paying it ;
but in 1720, Frederick I. agreed that all- Swediih veffels
ihould, for the future, be fubjeCt to the ufual impofts.
All veffels, befide a fmall duty, are rated at i | per cent, o f
their cargos,except the Englifh, French, Dutch, and Swediih,
which pay only one per cent.; and in return, the crown
takes the charge o f conftructing light houfes, and ereCting
Signals to mark the Ihoals and rocks, from the Categate to
the entrance into the Baltick. The tolls o f the Sound and
o f the two Belts Supply an annual revenue o f above ¿100,000*.
The palace o f Cronborg, which ftands in the fortrefs, is a
fquare Gothick- building o f free ftone : as appears from an
infcription over the gate, it was begun by Frederick II. and
has been iihce repaired and augmented by fucceeding Sovereigns.
Itcontains nothing worthy o f particular defcription,
excepting two good portraits o f Frederick II. and his fon
Chriftian IV. and feveral battle pieces reprefenting the wars
o f the latter, a prince o f eonfummate courage and eminent
abilities, the greateft, yet the moft unfuccefsful,, among^ the
Daniih monarchs.
In this palace was imprifoned’ the late unfortunate queen
Matilda. During her confinement fire inhabited the governor’s
apartment, and had permiifion to walk upon the fide-
batteries, or upon the leads o f the tower. She was uncertain
of
o f the fate that awaited h er; and had great reafon to appre- c h a p .
hend, that the party which had occafioned her arreft medi- ,
tated ftill more violent meafures. When, the Englilh mi-
nifier at Copenhagen brought an order for her enlargement,
which he had obtained by his Spirited conduit, ihe was fo
Surprized with the unexpected intelligence, that ihe inftantly
burft into a flood o f tears, embraced him in a tranfport o f
jo y , and called him her deliverer. After a ihort conference
the minifter propofed, that her majefty ihould immediately
embark on board o f a ihip that was waiting to carry her from
a kingdom, in which ihe had experienced Such a train o f misfortunes.
But, however anxious ihe. was to depart, one circumfiance
checked the excefs o f her joy : a few- months before
herimprifonment ihe had been delivered o f a princefs
whom ihe fuckled herfelf. The rearing o f this child -had
been her only comfort-;, and file had conceived a more than
parental-attachment to it; from its having been the Conftant
companion o f her mifery. The infant was at that period
afflified with the meafles ; and, having nurfed it? with unoeafing
folicitude, ihe was-defirous oft continuing her atten*
tion and care. All thefe circumftances had fo endeared the
child to her, rendered more fufceptible o f tendernefs in a pri-
fon than in a court, that when an order for detaining the
young princefs was intimated to her; ihe teftified the ftrong-
eft emotions o f grief, and could not, for fome time, be prevailed
upon to bid a final adieu. At length, after beftowing
repeated carefies upon this darling objeCt o f her affcCtion,- ihe
retired to the veflfcl in an agony o f defpairv She remained
upon deck, her eyes immoveably directed towards- the palace
o f Cronborg, which contai ned her child th at had- been fo long
her only comfort, until darknefs intercepted the view. The
veffel having made but little way during night,.at da.y-break
Ihe