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appeared at Elsineur just in time to be a witness of the splendid rites which Fengo (supposing him now to be murdered) had prepared for his funeral. On the proclamation of his arrival, he was welcomed with enthusiasm by the people, whose idol he was; and who had been overwhelmed with grief, when Fengo publicly announced to them his sudden death in England. - The King, inflamed with so ruinous a disappointment; and becoming doubly jealous of his growing popularity, now affected no conciliation, but openly manifested his hatred and hostility. Hamlet again had recourse to his pretended madness; and committed so many alarming acts, that Fengo, fearing their direction, ordered his sword to be locked in its scabbard, under a plea of guarding the lunatic from personal harm; but the true reason was, he dreaded the point of it himself.- After various adventures, at last the Prince accomplishes the death of his uncle's adherents, and vengeance on the fratricide himself, by setting fire to the palace during the debauch of a midnight banquet. - Rushing in amidst the flames, he kills Fengo with his own hand, reproaching him at the moment with his murder, adultery, and incest. — Immediately on this act of retribution, he was proclaimed lawful successor to the throne, and crowned with all due solemnity.

Thus far Shakspeare treads in the steps of the annalist: the only difference is in the fate of the hero; in the one he finds a kingdom, in the other a grave. Saxo Grammaticus carries the history further; and after the crowning of Hamlet as King, brings him again into Britain; where, in compliment to that land of beauty, he marries a second wife, the daughter of the Scottish King. Polygamy was no crime in those days: and where person was usually the sole attraction, it is not wonderful that the heart should wander from fair to fair. The soul had then little to do in the attachments between man and woman; she, un

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educated in every thing, but the doctrine of passive obedience and the instinct of self-preservation, bestowed her hand where policy inclined her parents to give it; and loved the warrior she espoused, for the valour that afforded her protection: he, devoted to arms and to glory, saw in woman only the object of dalliance, and the continuer of his race. Such was the state of the most endearing band in society, till the promulgation of that religion which now happily fills the greatest part of the globe, taught woman the rank she holds in creation; and imparted to man the power she has to bless his days.

Hamlet brought both his wives to Denmark, and prepared for a long life of prosperity and peace. But the sword hung over his head; war burst around him, and he fell in combat by the hand of Vigelotes the son of Ruric. Saxo Grammaticus sums up his character in a few words. "He was a wise Prince and a great warrior. Like Achilles he had the principal actions of his life wrought on his shield. The daughter of the King of Scotland casting her eye on it, loved him for the battles he had won, and became his bride." So much for Hamlet.

In my way from the Garden which bears his name, I came up with a regiment of Danish soldiers, exercising near the castle. They were about a thousand strong; and with five hundred artillery, did the duty of the town and citadel. I never saw a stouter, and I may add, seldom a more awkward body of men. Their clothing was coarse and ill-made; but had it been on the well-appointed figure of a well-drilled soldier, I could fancy its looking even elegant. The jacket is scarlet, with sleeves and tassels of light blue; long white pantalooned gaiters; a round hat bound with white, and turned up on the right side with a white feather. A broad belt, to which hangs an unwieldy cartridge-box (a fashion prevalent in every country I have seen excepting England);

another belt round the waist, carries a very long bayonet. Their muskets are lighter than those used by the French, and differ little in appearance from ours. I cannot say any thing very flattering either as to the manual exercise, manœuvres, &c. or even of the military air of this specimen of Danish soldiery. I learnt that six years is the limited time for their constant service: after this period they are set at liberty, with no other reserve than being obliged, for two months in every year, to attend parade and go through the usual duty of a soldier. Their pay is about three pence a day, including every thing. Clothing is issued to them once in three years; and as they are not very nice disciplinarians, you can easily imagine what a Falstaffian array they are in by the time their new wardrobe comes round. Being abridged of time,

I could not examine further into their merits; else, perhaps, we might have found that within which passeth shew!" but, as in temporal as well as spiritual matters there is generally an outward and visible sign of the inward ability, much cannot be augured from the surface of the Danish corps militaire, by your obedient servant, &c.

LETTER II.

St. Petersburgh, September, 1805.

ON re-embarking and leaving Elsineur, the accidental disagreeables

of that city were soon forgotten in the natural beauties of the view. The shore, all along the Danish side, presents the most lovely stretch of landscape I ever beheld. Mount Edgecumbe is looked upon as the paradise of England: and what Mount Edgcumbe is in one spot only, so appears the whole of Denmark from Elsineur to Copenhagen. The land is high, and undulating in various romantic and sublime forms. Rich woods, broken by park-like openings and verdant pastures, and interspersed with country-houses and villages for an extent of twentythree miles, form the clothing of these beautiful hills. A striking contrast to the black and naked line of the opposite coast.

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We were too far at sea to discern the capital as distinctly as we wished; but by the assistance of a glass I could plainly perceive its ramparts, and those floating batteries whose cannon bereft England of so many of her gallant sons. Since the action with Lord Nelson off this city, Denmark has been solicitous to increase its strength, by replacing all the works (and adding to them), which were destroyed by the fleet of our great Admiral.

Being on this subject, I will not deny myself the pleasure of relating an anecdote of that distinguished hero; the circumstance took place during the battle of the Sound. It at least proves that no situation,

however dangerous, can disconcert the truly brave man, or render him inactive to those minutiæ, which being watched by the enemy, betray our weakness, or proclaim our power. You must well remember, from the gazettes of that period, and private accounts, how tremendous was the engagement, and how dreadful the slaughter. In the midst of these horrors, surrounded by the dying and the dead, the British Admiral ordered an officer, bearing a flag of truce, to go on shore with a note to the Crown Prince. It contained a proposal to His Royal Highness to acquiesce, without further delay, in the propositions of the British government; not only to put a stop to the present effusion of blood on both sides, but to save from total destruction Copenhagen and its arsenals, which he would otherwise level with the water. Whilst His Lordship was writing with all the calmness of a man in his study, he desired Colonel Stewart to send some one below for a light, that he might seal his dispatch. Colonel Stewart obeyed; but none appearing with a candle; when Lord Nelson had nearly completed his letter, he enquired the reason of such neglect, and found that the boy who had been sent for it was killed in his way by a cannon shot. The order was repeated upon which Colonel Stewart observed, "Why should Your Lordship be so particular to use wax? why not a wafer? The hurry of battle will be a sufficient apology for the violation of etiquette." "It is to prove, my friend," replied Lord Nelson, "that we are in no hurry; that this request is not dictated by fear, or a wish on our part to stop the carnage from the least apprehension of the fate of this day to us, that I am thus particular. Were I to seal my letter with a wafer, it would still be wet when it reached the shore; it would speak of haste, Wax is not the act of an instant; and it impresses the receiver accordingly." The reasoning of the Admiral was duly honoured by the result, The Danes acceded to his proposal, and a cessation of hostilities was the consequence.