File:City of Drontheim (JW Edy plate 72).jpg

This ancient and venerable city has for centuries been the Capital of Norway. It is large, and since the great fire in the year 1770, which consumed the greater part, it has arisen out of its ruins, with better houses, and more spacious streets. It is built on a plain, surrounded by hills and water, at the head of an extensive bay. Being in such a high northern latitude, it suffers severely by cold winds and frosts in the inclement winters. The harbour is very spacious, and possesses excellent anchorage, and tolerable shelter for ships; it is well defended by a strong castle, built on a rock in its centre, called Munkholm, and another in the town, seen beyond the ships at anchor. The town on the land side is also strongly fortified and defended by an impregnable fortress, seen on the top of the hill beyond the city, called Christiansteen, which is always kept well garrisoned with troops, and supplied with provisions and stores, to guard against surprise, and sustain a long siege, of which history records many instances, during the reigns of the former kings of Norway, who resided here. Drontheim is the see of a bishop ; and the great dom kirker, or cathedral church, is an admirable specimen of Saxon Gothic architecture, with a massive tower, and high-pointed roof. It is very lofty and spacious, and nchly decorated within. Here the ceremonies of coronation were performed, and the regalia kept. In the vaults are the remains of a long race of kings, queens, princes, nobles, and bishops; and in the church, are many ancient tombs and inscriptions to their memory, and also to that of many other eminent natives of Drontheim, who did honour to their age. The church is situated nearly in the centre of the town, and has a curious light dome at the east end. The next church on the left with a square tower, is called frue kirker, i. e. lady church. By the water side are ranges of spacious warehouses, with wharfs and landing-places between. In the street are public fountains of indifferent water. Drontheim being the great depot of the north, a considerable trade is carried on there; vast quantities of copper, brought from the mines of Rocraas and Mehldahlen, one species of which is black, are annually exported. Timber in deals, spars, and ufers seem plentiful in the yards. Particular attention is paid to fishing, and great pains are taken in curing, and extracting oil. There is also a sugar-work ; and the people are famous for making a small delicious brown cheese, well known among men of taste. Drontheim may justly boast of its royal society, museum, library, collections of minerals fossils and shells, its learned professors, opulent inhabitants, and numerous charitable institutions, and per manent endowments for the aged, and the orphan, to a greater extent, than any city in that once flourishing kingdom. The most recent transaction of Royalty in Drontheim, was performed by Bernadotte, on the cession of Norway to Sweden. The considerable river Nea, after passing through a lake, falls into the harbour, among the mountains near its source, one of which is 3139, feet in perpendicular height. An army of 7000 Swedes were frozen to death here in February 1716. At a place two miles from Drontheim, vast quantities of Eider down are collected. The great road from Christiania extends to this city.