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OF THE BEFORMATION.aristocracy than of a monarchy. The dissolution of theUnion of Calmar, and the* restoration of the Swedish throne,although considered as losses by Denmark, were yet, assoon as the of possession Norway was secured to it, perhapsQS great advantages to this country as to Sweden itself.The kingsof Denmark had hitherto exhausted themselvesin for struggles,the most part fruitless, to secure their dominion'overSweden ;and the disadvantages of these warswere naturally, on that account, much greaterto Denmark thanto Sweden. By the dissolution of the Union of Caiman, theformer was restrained within its true sphere ;and after a fewineffectual attempts to extend itself beyond this ? it was taughtto prize that golden mediocrity, the maintenance of whichhas ever since proved the palladium of Danish prosperity.The Reformation acquiredits political importance in Denmark nearlyin the same wayas in Sweden. It was introduced very early,and by the confiscation of the estates ofthe clergy gave the first opportunity of extending the powerof the' crown. But although Christian III. accomplishedthis important object, the aristocracy was much less brokendown in Denmark by the propagationof the new doctrinesthan it had been in Sweden, because it was here accomplished without the aid of a revolution. Moreover, the kingwas not only obligedto divide the estates of the clergy withthe nobility, but to share them very unequally.He receivedfor his share only the lesser half,, the demesnes of the bishops;and even from this a considerable portion was deducted forthe purpose of pious foundations. The project of converting the electoral into an hereditarysuccession was not inthose days to be for a moment entertained ;on the contrary,every change of government producedthe exaction of harderconditions from the king.Denmark remained, therefore,even by its constitution, much behind Sweden. That whichwas rapidlyeffected in Sweden by a revolution, was slowlyprepared here by the of the times.spirit It required the enterprising reign of Christian IV., andthe decisive superiorityof the middle orders over the nobility, to obtain the adoptionof that constitution which Frederic III. (I860) introduced, under a rare combination offortunate circumstances, and with still rarer success in theresult. The only fundamental articles of it,were tie here-