第18章 LETTER VI(1)

The sea was boisterous,but,as I had an experienced pilot,I did not apprehend any danger.Sometimes,I was told,boats are driven far out and lost.However,I seldom calculate chances so nicely--sufficient for the day is the obvious evil!

We had to steer amongst islands and huge rocks,rarely losing sight of the shore,though it now and then appeared only a mist that bordered the water's edge.The pilot assured me that the numerous harbours on the Norway coast were very safe,and the pilot-boats were always on the watch.The Swedish side is very dangerous,I am also informed;and the help of experience is not often at hand to enable strange vessels to steer clear of the rocks,which lurk below the water close to the shore.

There are no tides here,nor in the Cattegate,and,what appeared to me a consequence,no sandy beach.Perhaps this observation has been made before;but it did not occur to me till I saw the waves continually beating against the bare rocks,without ever receding to leave a sediment to harden.

The wind was fair,till we had to tack about in order to enter Laurvig,where we arrived towards three o'clock in the afternoon.

It is a clean,pleasant town,with a considerable iron-work,which gives life to it.

As the Norwegians do not frequently see travellers,they are very curious to know their business,and who they are--so curious,that Iwas half tempted to adopt Dr.Franklin's plan,when travelling in America,where they are equally prying,which was to write on a paper,for public inspection,my name,from whence I came,where Iwas going,and what was my business.But if I were importuned by their curiosity,their friendly gestures gratified me.A woman coming alone interested them.And I know not whether my weariness gave me a look of peculiar delicacy,but they approached to assist me,and inquire after my wants,as if they were afraid to hurt,and wished to protect me.The sympathy I inspired,thus dropping down from the clouds in a strange land,affected me more than it would have done had not my spirits been harassed by various causes--by much thinking--musing almost to madness--and even by a sort of weak melancholy that hung about my heart at parting with my daughter for the first time.

You know that,as a female,I am particularly attached to her;Ifeel more than a mother's fondness and anxiety when I reflect on the dependent and oppressed state of her sex.I dread lest she should be forced to sacrifice her heart to her principles,or principles to her heart.With trembling hand I shall cultivate sensibility and cherish delicacy of sentiment,lest,whilst I lend fresh blushes to the rose,I sharpen the thorns that will wound the breast I would fain guard;I dread to unfold her mind,lest it should render her unfit for the world she is to inhabit.Hapless woman!what a fate is thine!

But whither am I wandering?I only meant to tell you that the impression the kindness of the simple people made visible on my countenance increased my sensibility to a painful degree.I wished to have had a room to myself,for their attention,and rather distressing observation,embarrassed me extremely.Yet,as they would bring me eggs,and make my coffee,I found I could not leave them without hurting their feelings of hospitality.

It is customary here for the host and hostess to welcome their guests as master and mistress of the house.

My clothes,in their turn,attracted the attention of the females,and I could not help thinking of the foolish vanity which makes many women so proud of the observation of strangers as to take wonder very gratuitously for admiration.This error they are very apt to fall into when,arrived in a foreign country,the populace stare at them as they pass.Yet the make of a cap or the singularity of a gown is often the cause of the flattering attention which afterwards supports a fantastic superstructure of self-conceit.

Not having brought a carriage over with me,expecting to have met a person where I landed,who was immediately to have procured me one,I was detained whilst the good people of the inn sent round to all their acquaintance to search for a vehicle.A rude sort of cabriole was at last found,and a driver half drunk,who was not less eager to make a good bargain on that account.I had a Danish captain of a ship and his mate with me;the former was to ride on horseback,at which he was not very expert,and the latter to partake of my seat.