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On the first sight of the vast basin at Christiania, the mimd is prepossessed with an idea, that it is capable of containing 500 sail of ships, when in fact, the navigable and mooring part is comparatively of very limited extent, immediately under the wharfs and walls of the garrison, where alone there is deep water, as remarked in describing the preceding view. The building on the right of the picture, is a pavilion, at the bottom of the late honourable Chamberlain Anker's garden, the blinds of which are removed on gala occasions, to afford a view to the company, and allow them to be seen from the harbour. These gardens are spacious, and replete with lofty trees, flowers, and shrubs, broad gravel walks, decorative and convenient buildings, containing hot and cold baths, fountains, green-houses, hot-houses, with elevated skreens to protect the tender plants and flowers from the north winds. The mansion is quadrangular, and encloses a spacious court-yard, for carriages. The front towards the garden, extends from one side of it to the other, and commands a full view of it from the windows of its drawing rooms. The apartments are spacious, and most elegantly furnished; Italian, and other pictures, collected by the proprietor when in Italy, England, and elsewhere, decorate the walls ; brilliant cut glass chandeliers depend from the ceilings; cabinets and curiosities, among which is a model of a ship, made entirely of glass, a rare collection of minerals, fossil, and shells, of Norwegian production, a library, billiard-table, &c, present a varied circle of amusement to the visitants.
The building in a line with the garden wall, is the custom-house, and near it is a place covered, for landing or shipping dry goods. A range of warehouses extends from the castle wall. Two of the Crown Islands, behind the ships at their moorings, drying their sails, and receiving their cargoes, lead the eye to the great crane, used for the masting of ships, &c. A rope manufactory, and a few more warehouses, of which two only are in view, complete the harbour on the left, to the commencement of the extensive timber-yards, which form the foreground.
On the 4th of May, 1819, a most destructive fire raged on this spot, which destroyed some warehouses and other buildings, with the extensive rope walks, and 600,000 deals. The origin of the calamity has not been ascertained.
A very vague idea only can be formed of the imports and exports of Christiania, without consulting the custom-house books, an enquiry which would be justly deemed impertinent, and prudently denied, particularly to a foreigner. Suffice it to say there has been a fluctuation annually, within a few years, of from 200 to 500 ships. Of this number, the house of Anker alone have had seventy ships traversing the ocean to various countries. Perhaps a liberty is taken, in asserting my confirmed belief, that not any nobleman ever had the welfare of his country more at heart, than the late honourable Bernard Anker; he munificently patronised every undertaking for promoting its interests with his purse, and by the practical and scientific resources of his mmd. He was a chamberlain to the king of Denmark, a member of our Royal Society, and of most other institutions of the same class in Europe. His high honours sat easy on him, and he cheerfully imparted his great intellectual stores, in the most liberal manner to all. He received part of his education at Eton school, in England. He was, in his own country, commonly called the friend of Englishmen, none of whom, when in distress, or in want of advice, ever regretted the application, or, I hope, ever forgot the obligation. His table was magnificent, convivial, and always open to the stranger; and sur rounded generally by friends and nobles, he shone like the king and father of his country. He has also conveyed the most munificent bequests to posterity, in founding and endowing scientific institutions and charities, which are justly the boast of Norway, an everlasting blessing to the country, a noble monument to the memory of this great man.
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