BO O K . * ' e n d u e d w i t h t h e h i g h e f t a u th o r i t y , in f o m u c h , t h a t a l l t h a t c a n b e fa id
Bn(j ^ ¡.¡{ (en t0 t i ie a d v a n t a g e o f a ' c h r i f t ia n h e r e d i ta r y , a n d a b f o lu t e k in g ,
“ lh a l l b e e x t e n d e d u n d e r t h e m o i l f a v o u r a b l e in t e r p r e ta t io n t o t h e h e r e d i -
t a r y k i n g o r q u e e n o f D e n m a r k a n d N o r w a y , ” & c . & c . * .
Upon reviewing the principal circumftances which led to
this revolution, we cannot but remark, that the nobles were
the victims o f their own imprudence and obftinacy. Had
they yielded in due time, they might have fecured many o f
their privileges but as they did not comply until their concurrence
was fcarcely neceffary, they could not command any
compenfation for what they could not keep, and furrendered
with the moft evident reluctance : the deputies o f the clergy
and o f the towns were hurried away by their refentment
againft that order, whofe tyranny they had long experienced,
and whofe future afcendancy they dreaded; and they were
io warmly animated by their admiration o f the king, that
they thought no facrifice too great which could affure him o f
their confidence, and teftify their gratitude. Strange infatuation,
that they iliauld ■difcover no means o f humbling
their oppreflbrs, and fecuring their own immunities, without
the eftabliihment o f an abfolute government! Might they
■not have loofened the king’s lhackles without tearing them
o f f ! The referve o f the legifiative ¡power and right o f taxation
in the three eftates, would fufficiently have fecured the
freedom o f the people, as well againft the encroachments of
the- crown as the iniblence o f a proud nobility.
But the voice o f reafon is feldom heard amid the tumult
-of publick amimofities and the uproar o f faCtion. Self-inte-
refted and defigning perfons, who have previouily fettled
their end, and the mode of purfuing it, take advantage of
* T h e reader w ill- fin d an abridged e x - fu r L e Dannemarc , p . u 8 , w h ich tran ila -
t r a f t o f th e feveral articles in M o le fw o r tb , tion is alfo infer t ed in M a lle i’s H ift . d eD a -
.p. 1-86 ; and a F ren ch tranilation in L e tt re s rtemarc, V o l. H I . p . 4 7 5 .
every
every cafual incident; and the generality are blindly led CHAPaway
by their paffions to effeCl what they ever a f t e rw a r d s . . ■
regret.
“ Thus this great affair,” concludes Lord Molefwortb,
“ was finiihed, and the kingdom o f Denmark, in four days
“ time, changed, from an eftate little differing from arifto-
“ cracy, to as abfolute a monarchy as any is at prefent in the
“ world.” But thefe expreffions have been confidered as-
too ftrong by feveral o f the native hiftorians ; and even one
o f our own countrymen*, who wrote againft his account of.
Denmark by defire o f the Danifh minifter, has contradicted
his conclufion; becaufe Frederick 111. did not abufe his
power, and becaufe he confirmed the privileges to the diff
ferent orders. But furely when the fovereign, according to
the expreffions o f the royal law, is declared “ independent..
“ upon earth, acknowledging no higher power, than God ■ :
when he has an unlimited authority to make, alter,’ repeal}.
“ and difpenfe with laws; when he alone can. make, peace
“ and declare war, form alliances and levy taxes ; when, !rr
“ a word, he enjoys alt the rights and’prerogatives which an.
“ hereditary, abfolute, defpotick king can enjoy what
ffgnify privileges which he can annul i f pleafnre ? of-what
force are laws which he can repeal with a word ? Allowing
what is true, the kings of Denmark have feldom abufed their
authority ; and without pretending to deny that the tyranny,
o f the nobles had rifen to an exceflive height, we furely mav
conclude, that it would have been happier for the kingdom"
i f the power o f the crown had been in fbrne due degree limited,
while the rights of the. nobles had been qualified, not
abofifhed ;. and the people continued ihbjeCts-of a limited'
monarchy, not enilaved to arbitrary will and dominion.
* K in g ’s A n im a d v e rfio n s o n a p r e te n d e d a n im a d v e r ts u p o n fe v e ra l u jiC e p re fe n ta tio n®
A c c o u n t o f D e nm a rk ,, in w h ic h th e a u th o r o f L o r d M o kX w o irh ’s..