The revenue drawn from Norway arises from nearly the same sources as in Denmark ; such as. land-tax, tithes of grain, fish, iron and copper. capitation-tax, customs, stamps on cards and paper, a per-centage upon income. The revenue amounted in 1787 to 1,140,230 rix dollars, but is understood to have iecetvcd a consi derable increase since that period.
A national militia is regularly maintained in the coun try, the amount of which is in a great measure regulated by the population, but which of late has generally amounted to about 26,000 men, of whom 8000 composed the corps of Landvaern, or the country's guard, whose services are restricted to the defence of passes, and the garrisons of fortresses. The kingdom is divided into a number of small districts, each of which furnishes a militiaman, who serves ten years, and is then transferred to the Landvaern, where he serves six years more be fore receiving his discharge. Formerly the peasants might be taken at any age into the army under 36, and the officers used to prefer them between 25 and 30 ; but, by a rccent regulation, they are taken first at 20, and then at 22, till the requisite number be completed. The militia, in time of peace, are only exercised twelve days in the year. There is one corps which merits a parti cular description, who ate trained to the use of skates, and whose duty it is to climb the mountains in case of in vasion, and to harass the enemy among the defiles. They are clothed in a short jacket, pantaloons, leather bonnet, and great coat ; and armed with a carbine, long hunting knife, and staff, pointed with iron. Their baggage is conveyed on sledges dragged by men, There are also some volunteer corps, composed of the miners near the fronticrs.
The principal fortifications in Norway are those around Frederieshald, particularly the fortress of Fredericstein. situated on a high rock above the town, at the siege of which Charles XII. of Sweden received the death-wound which terminated his frantic career. Fredericstad, near the last mentioned town, Aggerhuus, near Christiania, Frederieswarn, in the county of Laurvig, and the citadel of Vardochus, in Finmark, the most northerly fortifica tion of Europe, are also places of considerable strength.
The religion of Norway, and its ecclesiastical polity, resemble that of Denmark. The king nominates to the
greater part of the benefices, and there are about 518 clergy of all ranks in the country. There are a few in dividuals connected with the reformed churches, but not a sufficient number to form regular communities. No Jews have ever found a footing in Norway ; and the ap prehension of their engrossing the _ traffic in metals is supposed to have contributed chiefly to their exclusion. There are several missionaries sent to Lapland by the bishop of Drontheim, ho suffer severe privations among the miserable inhabitants, and who receive a salary of 100 crowns per annum. The means of education are very limited in Norway. Some districts have no sta tionary schools, and are only. visited occasionally by teachers, who go from house to house : but means have beem employed by several patriotic societies for reme dying this 'defect. Several villages have grammar schools, like those of Denmark. The youth who wish to prosecute a course of literature and science, are un der the necessity of repairing. to the University of Co penhagen ; but, for some time past, a plan has been in agitation for establishing an University at Christiania ; and there are, in the mean time, at Bergen, Drontheim, and other principal cities, academies instituted fur im parting to young persons the elements of general know ledge. The Gymnasium, a public school of Christiania, supplies, in the mean time, the place of a university ; and, besides the rooms required for the instruction of the youths, contains several collections, and a very use ful library, which is open to the citizens. There is a military academy fronting the school-house, where 100 cadets receive their education, and which is supported almost wholly by the contributions of wealthy indivi duals.
The Danish language is also the vernacular tongue of the Norwegians, who are distinguished by a rapid and forcible utterance of their words, and in this respect resemble the Swedes more than the Danes. In sotne of the northern districts there are still perceptible many expressions of the ancient Gothic, which once formed the language of all Scandinavia, but in the principal towns the clialect is purer than in Denmark itself, or even in Copenhagen.