large veffels. Naval, engagements have been formerly fought upon these inland feas; in fome of which are fmall floating inlands, or parcels of earth, with trees on them, feparated from the main land, and preferved in compact maffes by the roots of trees, fhrubs, and grafs, interwoven in the foil. In 1702, the family feat of Borge, near Frederickstadt, a noble edifice, with lofty towers and battlements, fuddenly funk into an abyfs 100 fathoms deep, which was inftantaneoully filled by a piece of water 300 ells in length, and about half as broad. Fourteen perfons, with 200 cattle, perished in this cataftrophe, which was occafioned by the Glaamen falling down a cataract near Sarp, and undermining the foundation. Of all the water-falls in Norway, this of SARP is the moft tremendous for its height and rapidity. The current drives 17 mills; and roars with fuch violence, that the water being dained and comminuted among the rocks, rifes in the form of rain, and always exhibits a beautiful rainbow when the fun fhines. In ancient times this cataract was made ufe of for the execution of traitors; who were thrown down alive, that they might be dafhed in pieces on the points of rocks, and die in a dreadful commotion, analogous to those they had endeavoured to excite in the community.

(10.) NORWAY, MINERALS OF. A great diverfity of ftones is found in Norway, fome of which are of a furprifing figure. Several mountains confift chiefly of a brown pebble, which decays with age; nay, it fometimes diffolves, and drops into the fea, and the cement being thus loofened, a terrible difruption enfues. In fome places the grey and black pebbles are intermixed with iron, copper, lead, filver, and gold. The ground in certain diftricts is covered with the fragments of rocks that have been precipitated from the fummits of mountains, and broken by their fall into innumerable fhivers. Between 30 and 40 years ago, in the neighbourhood of Bergen, a man was fuddenly overwhelmed with fuch a mafs, which formed a kind of vault around him. In this dreadful tomb he remained alive for feveral weeks. By his loud cries the place of his confinement was difcovered; but it was found impoffible to remove the huge ftones by which he was inclofed. All that his friends could do for him, was to lower meat and drink through fome crevice; but at length the ftones fell in, and crushed him to death. In Norway are inexhauftible quarries of excellent marble, black, white, blue, grey, and variegated; together with many detached pieces of alabafter, feveral kinds of fpar, chalk stone, cement-ftone, fand-ftone, mill-ftone, baking-ftone, flate, talc, magnets, and fwine-ftone, a production natural to Norway and Sweden, of a brown colour, fetid fmell, and in texture refembling cryftal: alfo the amianthus or ftone flax, of which incombuftible cloth may be made. (See AMIANTHUS.) Norway affords no flints, but plenty of pyrites or quartz, beautiful cryftals, granites, amethyfts, agates, thunderstones, and eagle-ftones. Gold was formerly found in fmall quantity in the diocefe of Chriftianfand, and coined into ducats. There is a very confiderable filver mine wrought at Kongsberg on the king's account; the ore is fur

prifingly rich, but interrupted in fuch a manner, that the vein is often lost. Many maffes of pure filver have been found; one piece weighing 560 lb. is preserved in the royal museum at Copenhagen. Such is the richness of these mines, that the annual produce amounts in value to a ton and an half in gold. About 5000 people are daily employed in thofe ftupendous works, which, Mr Coxe fays, produced formerly 70,000 l. a-year, but at prefent little more than 50,000l. The mines of cobalt produce a clear profit of 16,000l. a-year. Other filver mines are profecuted at Jarlsberg, mixed with lead and copper. In many parts of this country copper mines have been difcovered; but the principal and perhaps the richest in Europe, is at RORAAS, about 100 English miles from Drontheim. This work yields annually about 1100 fhip pounds of pure copper; the founderies belonging to it confume yearly about 14,000 lafts of coal and 500 fathoms of wood. The next in importance is the copper work at Lykken, about 20 miles from Drontheim. A 3d mine is carried on at Indfet, or Quickne, 30 miles from the fame place; where they precipitate the copper from its menftruum by iron. There is a 4th copper work, at Silboe, about 30 miles from Drontheim. Other copper mines of lefs note in different parts of the kingdom. Iron is ftill in greater plenty, and was the first metal wrought in this country. Many hundred thousand quintals are annually exported, chiefly in bars, and part of it in ftoves, pots, kettles, and cannon: the national profit arifing from this metal is estimated at 300,000 rix dollars. There is a fpecies called moor iron, found in large lumps among the moraffes: of this the peafants make their own domeftic tools and utenfils, fuch as knives, fcythes, and axes. The lead found mixed in the filver ore is an article of small importance in Norway; yet fome mines of this metal have been lately opened in the district of Scloer by the proprietors of the copper work at Oudal. A vitriol work has been begun near Kongsberg: the mines yield great plenty of fulphur; which, however the Norwegians will not take the trouble to melt and depurate, because immenfe quantities are found at a cheaper rate in Iceland. Alum is found between the flate flakes near Chriftiania in fuch plenty, that works have been fet up for refining this mineral. The K. of Denmark has eftablished falt works in the peninfula of Valoe, about 6 miles from Tonsberg.

(11.) NORWAY, MOUNTAINS, CAVERNS, PRECIPICES, &c. OF. The great chain of mountains, running from N. to S. called indifferently Rudfield, Sudefield, Skarsfield, and Scoreberg, is known in different parts by other appellations, fuch as Dofrefield, Lamsfield, Sagnefield, Filefield, Halnefield, Hadangerfield, Joklefield, Byglefield, Hicklefield, and Hang field. The height and breadth of this extenfive chain likewife vary in different parts. To pafs the mountain Hardanger, a man muft travel about 70 English miles, whereas Filefield is only about 50 over, and rifes about 24 in perpendicular height. Dofrefield is counted the highest mountain of Norway, if not of Europe. The river Drivane winds along the fide of it in a ferpentine courfe, fo as to be crossed nine times by thofe who travel the winter road to the other îde of

the

runs with a rapid courfe through Nordale into the fea: Gulen rifes near Sffarsfield in the north, and running 20 leagues W, through Aalen, Hlotaalen, Storen, and Melhuus, difcharges itself into the fea, about a league W. of Drontheim. In 1344, this river buried itself under ground; from whence it again burst forth with fuch violence that the earth and stones thrown up by the eruption filled the valley, and formed a dam; which, however, was foon broken and washed away by the force of the water. Several churches, 48 farm-houses, with 250 persons, were deftroyed on this occafion. OTTEROEN, a large river, taking its rife from the mountain Agde, runs about 30 leagues through Seeterdale and Efie, and falis into the cataract of Wiland. The SYRE rifes near the mountain Lang, and winds its courfe through the vale of Syre into the lake of Lunde in the diocefe of Chriftianfand; thence it continues its way to the fea, into which it runs through a narrow ftrait formed by two rocks. This contraction augments its impetuofity, fo that it fhoots like an arrow into the fea, in which it produces a very great agitation. NID and SHEEN are two confiderable rivers, iffuing out of Tillemark. Their water-falls have been diverted, with vast labour, by canals and paffages cut through the rocks, for the convenience of floating down the timber. TYRESIORD, or Dramme, is in the neighbourhood of Honifoffe, joined by two rivers from Oedale, Bragnefs and Hadeland, and falls into the fea near Bragnefs. Loven rifes in the highest part of Nummedal, and runs through Kongsberg to the sea near Laurwig. Glaamen is the largest river of Norway, hence named Stor Elven, or the great river. It rifes from the mountain Dofre, whence it winds along the plains of Oefterdale and Soloe; then joins the Vorme, another confiderable river rifing out of Mioes and Guldbrandsdale. These being united, traverse the lake OEYEREN; and thence iffuing, run on to Sarp near Frederickstadt.

the chain. The bridges are thrown over roaring cataracts, and but indifferently faftened to the fteep rocks on either fide; fo that the whole exhibits a very dreadful appearance, fufficient to deter the traveller from hazarding fuch a dangerous paffage. Travellers therefore generally prefer the road over Filefield, though it is much more tedious. This, however, is the poft-road ufed by the king's carriages, and is diftinguished by pofts fixed at the diftance of 200 paces from each other, that, in fnowy and dark weather, the traveller may not be bewildered. For reft and refreshment there are two houfes maintained on Filefield, and fome upon other mountains, at the expence of the public, and furnished with fire, light, and kitchen utenfils. Nothing can be more difmal and dreary than these mountains covered with eternal fnow, where neither houfe, tree, nor living creature is to be feen, but here and there a folitary rein-deer, and a few wandering Laplanders. In travelling from Sweden to NORDENFIELDS, there is only one way of avoiding this chain of mountains; and that is, where it is interrupted by a long deep valley, extending from Romfdale to Guldbrandídale. In 1612, a body of 1000 Scots, commanded by Sinclair, and fent over as auxiliaries to the Swedes, were put to the fword in this defile, by the peasants of Guldbrand, who never give quarter. Befides this chain, there is a great number of detached mountains all over the country, that form valleys and ridges, inhabited by the peasants. Some of these are of incredible height, and others exhibit very remarkable appearances. The vast mountains and rugged rocks that deform the face of this country are productive of numberlefs inconveniences. They admit of little arable ground: they render the country in fome parts impaffable, and every where difficult to travellers: they afford fhelter to wild beafts, which come from their lurking holes, and make terrible havock among the cattle: they expofe the fheep and goats, as well as the peasant, to daily accidents of falling over precipices: they occafion fudden torrents, and falls of fnow, which defcend with incredible impetuofity, and often fweep away the labours of the hufbandman: and they are fubject to dreadful difruptions, by which huge rocks are rent from their fides, and, hurling down, overwhelm the plains below with inevitable ruin.

(12.) NORWAY, POPULATION OF. The population of Norway it is difficult to afcertain to certainty. Mr Coxe fays it amounts to 750,000 fouls. (13.) NORWAY, PRODUCTIONS OF. See § 3, 16, 17, 18.

(14.) NORWAY, REVENUE AND FORCES OF. The annual revenue exceeds 800,000 rix dollars: Norway can produce above 14,000 excellent feamen; and the army amounts to 30,000 effective

men.

(15.) NORWAY, RIVERS OF. The remarkable rivers of Norway are thefe: The NIED, iffuing from Tydalen, on the borders of Sweden, runs weftward into the lake Selboe; and afterwards, turning to the northward, paffes by the city of Drontheim, to which it anciently gave the names of NIDEROS and NIDROSIA; and falls into Drontheim Bay: Sule Ely, defcending from Sulefield,

The

(16.) NORWAY, SOIL AND PRODUCE OF. The foil of Norway varies in different places according to the fituation of rock or valley. The moun tains, as in other countries, are bare and barren; but the earth washed down from them by the rains enriches and fertilizes the valleys. In these the foil generally confifts of black mould, fand, loam, chalk, and gravel, lying over one another in unequal ftrata, and fometimes in 3 or 4 fucceffions: the uppermost mould is very fine and mellow, and fit to nourish all forts of vegetables. There is alfo clay in different parts of the kingdom, of which the inhabitants make earthen ware; but bricks and tiles are not ufed. face of the country is in many places deformed by large fwamps and marshes, very dangerous to the traveller. Near Leeoffoe in the diocese of Chriftianfand, a wooden caufeway is extended near a mile over a morafs; and if a horfe or any other animal fhould make a falfe ftep, he will fink at once into the abyfs, never to rife again. In a cold country like Norway, roughened with rocks and mountains, interfperfed with bogs, and covered with forefts, we cannot expect to find agriculture in perfection. The ploughed lands, in refpect to mountains, woods, meadows, and waftes, do not exceed the proportion of 1 to 80; fo that

the

(V.) NORWAY RAT. See MUs, § IH. N° 27. NORWEGIAN, adj. Of or from NORWAY. NORWEGIANS, n. f. The people of Norway. See NORWAY, N° I. § 6, 8, and 12.

annually to 100,000 rix-dollars. Thefe commodities are, copper, wrought and unwrought; iron, caft into cannon, ftoves, and pots, or forged into bars; lead, in small quantity; mafts, timber, dealboards, planks, marble, mill-stones, herrings, cod, ling, falmon, lobsters, flounders, cow-hides, goatfkins, feal-skins, the furs of bears, wolves, foxes, beavers, ermines, martens, &c. down, feathers, butter, tallow, train-oil, tar, juniper and other forts of berries, and nuts; falt, alum, glass, vitriol, and pot-afhes. All other commodities and articles of luxury the Norwegians import from different nations. Many are employed in grazing and breeding cattle: but a much greater number is engaged in felling wood, floating timber, burning charcoal, and extracting tar from the roots of the trees which have been cut down; in the filver, copper, and iron-mines; in the navigation and fishery. A confiderable number of people earn a comfortable livelihood by hunting, fhooting, and bird-catching. Every individual is at liberty to pursue the game, especially in the mountains and commons: therefore every peafant is expert in the ufe of fire-arms; and there are excellent marksmen among the mountains, who make use of the bow to kill those animals, whose skins, being valuable, would be damaged by the shot of fire-arms.

(18.) NORWAY, WOODS OF. Great part of Norway is covered with forefts of wood, which confitute the principal article of commerce in this country. They chiefly confist of fir and pine, for which great fums are received from foreigners, who export an immenfe number of mafts, beans, planks, and boards. An incredible quantity is alfo confumed at home, in building houfes, fhips, bridges, piles, moles, and fences; befides the vaft demand for charcoal to the founderies, and fuel for domeftic uses. Nay, in fome places, the trees are felled for no other purpose but to clear the ground and to be burned into ashes for manure. A great quantity of timber is yearly exported to Scotland and Spain: but this is inconfiderable when compared to the vaft exports from Drammen, Frederickstadt, Chriftiania, Skeen, Arendal, Chriftianfand, Chriftian's-bay, and Drontheim. The mafts and large beams are floated down the rivers, and the rest is divided into boards at the faw-mills. Thefe works fupply a vast number of families with a comfortable fubfiftence. A tenth part of all fawed timber belongs to the king, and makes a confiderable branch of his revenue. The forefts in Norway are so vaft and thick, that the people feem to think there can never be a scarcity of wood, as the foil is peculiarly adapted for the production of timber: More wood is therefore allowed to rot in Norway than is burnt in the whole kingdom of Denmark. The best timber grows in the provinces of Saltan, Helleland, Romfdale, Guldbrandfdale, Oefterdale, Soloe, Valders, Hallingdale, Sognifiord, Tellemark, and the lordship of Nedene. See § 16.

(II.) NORWAY, a township of the United States in Maine, and county of Cumberland.

(III.) NORWAY, a township of New York, in Herkemer Co. incorporated in 1792, and containing 2164 fouls in 1796, of whom 353 were electors. (IV.) NORWAY MOUSE, or LEMMING. See Mus,

III, N° 33. i.

(1.) NORWICH, the capital of Norfolk. This city is pleafantly feated along the fide of a hill, 1 miles long from N. to S. but much lefs in breadth, which contracts towards the S. It is fuppofed to have had its name, which fignifics a caftle to the north, from its fituation in refpect to Caftor the ancient Venta Icenorum, 3 or 4 miles S. of it, out of whofe ruins it seems to have rifen. In its infancy, in the reign of Ethelred, it was plundered and burnt by Sueno the Dane, when he invaded England with a great army. Afterwards it recovered; and in the reign of Edward the Confeffor was a confiderable place, having 1320 burghers. But it suffered again much in the reign of William I. by being the feat of a civil war, which Ralph earl of the Eaft Angles raised against that king. So much was it impaired by the fiege it then under went, that there were scarce 560 burghers left in it, as appears from Doomsday book. But it began to recover, after Bp. Herbert tranflated the episcopal fee thither from Thetford in the reign of William II. in 1096; and built a beautiful cathedral, of which he laid the first ftone, and, by a licence from Pope Pafchal, declared it the mother church of Norfolk and Suffolk. It was made a corporation by K. Stephen, and became famous for merchandise, but was miferably haraffed in the reign of Henry II. by Hugh Bigod earl of Norfolk, who was an adherent of Henry's fon. In the time of Edward I. it was walled round by the citizens, under the authority of parliament. Henry IV. allowed them, inftead of bailiffs, to elect a mayor yearly, and made the city a county. In 1348, near 58,000 perfons were carried off by the plague; and in 1505, the city was almost destroyed by fire. For the flourishing state to which it has fince arrived, the citizens are much indebted to the Flemings, who fled hither from the tyranny of the duke of Alva and the inquifition, and taught them the manufacture of thofe ftriped and flowered damafks, camblets, druggets, black and white crape, for which the place is now so noted, as well as for baizes, ferges, shalloons, stockings, and woollen cloths; and which have been computed to yield fometimes 200,000l. a-year. In 1583, the citizens procured water to be conveyed by an engine, through pipes, to the higheft parts of the city, which is now one of the most confiderable cities in Britain for wealth, populoufnefs, neat buildings, beautiful churches (of which it had once 58, but now only 36), and the industry and civility of the inhabitants. The cathedral is a venerable ftructure, with a curious roof, adorned with the hiftory of the Bible in little images, carved to the life, and a lofty steeple 105 yards high. The wall of flint ftone, beautified with 40 towers and 12 gates, finished in 1309, is now much decayed. The city, though there is a great deal of wafte ground within the walls, was computed about 1730, to contain 8000 houfes and 50,000 inhabitants. The other moft remarkable buildings are, the duke of Norfolk's house, one of the largest in England; the caftle, which is now the county gaol, is in the heart of the city, with a deep moat round