CHRISTIANA, a city and sea-port town of Norway, in the government of Aggerhuus, is situated at the ex tremity of a bay of the same name, which runs almost sixty miles up the country. It is covered with a number of islands of various sizos, filled with mountainous rocks, and rising from the water in the most beautiful and pic turesque forms.
The town, which covers a considerable extent of ground, is divided into the city and suburbs of Wats:Hunch, Pe terwigen, and Fierdingen, the fortress of Aggerhnus, and the town of Opsloe. The city was rebuilt after a plan designed by Christian IV, in which the st; . ets were at right angles to each other, and all of them 40 feet wide. The town has thus a great appearance of elegance, which is increased by the cleanness with which it is kept. The principal public buildings and establishments are, a gymnasium or Latin school, toe parish church, a house of correction, a bank, and a printing house. T.m Latin school, endowed by Christian IV. in 1635, is governed by an upper and under master, and three assistants. In 1734, it contained only 37 scholars. A collection of 6000 volumes, lately left to the town by M. Deichman, has laid the foundation of a public library. Many at tempts have been made by Mr Anker, to establish a uni versity in Christiana, but this wise plan has hitherto been prohibited. Such is the low state of literature, that there is not even a bookseller's shop in the town, and when any book is wanted, it is ordered from Copenhagen or Hamburgh. The castle of Aggerhuus, which stands on a rocky eminence on the west side of the bay, at a short distance from the town, is strong though small. The garrison in the time of war is 1000, but during peace it is reduced to 500.
" Christiana," says Mr Coxe, " has an excellent har bour, and carries on a considerable trade. The principal exports are tar, soap, iron, copper, planks, and deals ; alum manufactured at Mr Cooper's works for about 30001. ; iron from the four works of Edswold, Narkedahl, and Ondahlen, 14,0001. ; copper from Fol dahl, 10,0001. ; planks and deals, 90,0001., principally to
England.
The planks and deals are of superior estimation to those sent from America, Russia, and from the different parts of the Baltic, because the trees grow on the rocks, and are therefore firmer, more compact, and less liable to rot than the others, which chiefly shoot from a sandy or loamy soil. The planks are either red or white fir, or pine. The red wood is produced from the Scotch fir, and the white wood, which is in such a high estimation, from the spruce fir. This wood is the most demanded, because no country produces it in such quantities as this part of Norway. Each tree yields three pieces of tim ber eleven or twelve feet in 'length, and is usually saw ed into three planks. A tree generally requires 70 or 80 years growth, before it arrives at the greatest per fection.
The environs of Christiana not yielding sufficient planks for exportation, the greater part of the timber is hewn in the inland country, and floated down the rivers and cataracts. Saw mills arc used for the purpose of cutting the planks, but must be privileged, and can only cut a certain quantity. The proprietors arc bound to declare on oath, that they have not exceeded that quan tity ; and if they do, the privilege is taken away, and the saw mill destroyed. There are 136 privileged saw mills at Christiana, of which 100 belong to the family of ,An ker. The quantity of planks permitted to be cut amounts to 20,000.000 standard deals, twelve feet long, and one inch and a quarter thick." The greater part of the country round Christiana be longs to the inhabitants of the town. An account of the family of the Ankers, distinguished by their opulence, their hospitality, and their intelligence, and of the splen did prospects in the neighbourhot d of Christiana, will be found at considerable length in Travels through Denmark, Cc. Let. vii., and also in Coxe's Travels in Poland, Russia, &c. y ol. v. 5th edit. p. 24. The population of Christiana in 1801 was 9005. East longitude 10° 2S' 45", and north latitude 59° 55' (ir)