which were restored to her, however, by the treaty of peace which followed. In 1807, Napoleon having threatened to make Denmark take part in the war against England, the latter sent a large armament to the Baltic to compel the surrender of the entire Danish navy. The British forces landed near the capital, and soon forced the government to give up its fleet. A war of exasperation naturally followed. Hostilities were carried on by sea, partly at the entrance to the Baltic, partly off the Norwegian coast, the Danes fighting with spirit, and sometimes with success, and both parties suffering severely in their commerce. Denmark again lost her West India islands, and again recovered them on the peace concluded in 1814, but Heligoland and her fleet remained in the possession of her enemy. It was stipulated that Norway should be ceded to Sweden, as an equivalent for Pomerania, which province Denmark had received from Sweden, and which in 1815 she made over to Prussia, in exchange for the duchy of Lauenburg and a large sum of money. Serious complications now arose between the crown and the duchies. The population of Holstein especially sympathized more with the German empire than with Denmark, and an antipathy of races sprang up, which various political measures deepened into an alarming disaffection. A prominent subject of complaint was the royal succession. The expected extinction of the male line in the reigning family afforded a prospect of rendering the duchies independent of the Danish crown, and the project of annexing Schleswig to the German confederation was openly advocated in the provincial assembly. In this state of affairs the king issued letters patent, proclaiming that with the exception of certain parts of Holstein the laws of succession should be uniform in all parts of his dominions, the effect of which was to add greatly to the popular discontent; and when the present monarch, Frederic VII., mounted the throne in 1848, the duchies resorted to arms, and appealed to their German brethren for assistance. They were aided by Prussia, who, being pressed by the revolutionary movements of Germany, sent a large force into Schleswig, drove out the Danes, who had found little difficulty in putting down the insurgents there, and followed up her success by an invasion of Jutland. Meanwhile England and Russia interfered; an armistice was signed, Aug. 26, on terms highly displeasing to the duchies; and although Prussia undertook a second campaign in the spring and summer of 1849, Schleswig and Holstein thenceforth relied mainly on their own resources. They placed their army under Gen. Willisen, a brave and able soldier, and maintained a spirited resistance, until signally defeated at Idstedt, July 23, 1850. Prussia had now definitely withdrawn from the contest, and with Austria gave her influence on the side of Denmark. The mediating powers prepared to occupy the strongholds of the country; the duchies were forced to submit, and the question of succession was referred to a convention of VOL. VI.-25

the plenipotentiaries of the principal powers of N. and W. Europe. By a treaty signed by these representatives, May 8, 1852, the succession was settled upon Prince Christian of the Sonderburg-Glücksburg line and his male heirs; an arrangement which gave great dissatisfaction both to Denmark and to Schleswig and Holstein, as in the event of the extinction of this family Russia reserved the ancient right of succeeding to a portion of the duchies. The new order was announced to the diet in Oct. 1852, and was at once rejected. It met the same fate before a new assembly in Feb. 1853; but the king, feeling himself pledged to the foreign powers, resolved upon a second dissolution, and the measure was finally adopted by a third parliament, June 24.

DENMARK, LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE OF. The Danish language (Danske Sprog) is a sister of the Swedish and Norwegian, and a descendant of the Danska or Norræna Tungu, northern tongue, as the Sagas call what became the Icelandic, which is also called in Danish gamle Nordiske, the old northern language. After the separation of its offspring, the Norræna received the name of Islenzka, from Iceland, discovered in 860 and settled in 870, by Norwe gians. The Dansk, Svensk, Norsk, with their still hale and vigorous mother in Iceland, constitute a group collateral to that of the Germanic or more southern tongues; both groups issuing from one powerful and deeply rooted trunk. Both Northmen and Germans are traceable to the regions about the Euxine, to Thrace, and eastward as far as the region of the Oxus river, where they had been connected with other branches of the Aryan family, whose most developed eastern language was the Sanscrit. Relations with the Lettic and Latin, with the Doric and Æolian dialects, and with adventitious Armenian, Finnic, and other elements, cannot be discussed here. The Moso-Gothic, Norræna, and Anglo-Saxon are the 3 ancient branches of the Scandinavo-German stem. The branches of the Norræna are, in the order of their affinity to it, the following: that on the Färöe (sheep) isles, that of the Dalarne or dales of the Swedish highlands, the Svensk, the Dansk, and the Norsk, which last differs by a peculiar accent from the Danish. This stands in a similar relation to the Icelandic with that of the Italian to Latin; having become weaker, simpler, more vocal, and shorn of most of the original grammatical forms. It is also most affected by German influence.-Beside the literary language in Denmark proper, there are two groups of popular dialects, the first of which consists of the idioms of northern Seeland, of southern Seeland, of Fyen (Fünen), of Falster, and of Langeland, together with the very peculiar idiom of Bornholm; while the second group comprehends the North Jutic or Normano-Jutic in the N. and W. region of the peninsula, and the South Jutic or Dano-Jutic in Schleswig on the coast of the Little Belt. The dialect of Mors, near the N. coast of Jutland, is very peculiar, and that of Schonen has

become Svio-Gothic since the commencement of the 17th century. Owing to the extraordinary richness of the Icelandic in roots, the Danish abounds in compact and intuitive words for all natural objects, especially in nautical and economical, also in concise ascetic and law terms. This great store is increased by the modifying influence of prefixes and suffixes, and by the Germanic facility of combining simple words into clearly intelligible compounds. The Danish is, however, more mild than the German, having fewer aspirated and hissing sounds. Germanic elements were introduced into it in two ways, to wit: Anglo-Saxon, by the Danish invasions of and rule (Canute the Great, 1016-35, Hardicanute, 1035–242) in England, whence missionaries were also sent to convert the Danes; German, in consequence of the warlike expeditions of the Waldemars (1st, 1157-'82; 2d, 1202-'41; 3d, 1340-'75, &c.) and of other Danish kings, of the wars and commerce with the Hansa, of the rule of German dynasties (Eric VII. of Pomerania, Christopher of Bavaria, Christian I. of Oldenburg, 1448, and his successors), also in consequence of the journeys of Scandinavians during the 13th century and afterward, and their studies in German universities. Luther's reformation, however, exerted the greatest influence on the Danish language; although it was, independently of this event, rapidly rising in vitality and importance, probably from the same predisposing circumstances which gave birth to the general reawakening of the European mind. This is evident from Pedersen Jertegn's Postille of 1518, and his version of the New Testament in 1529, both of which exhibit an energy, fulness, and flexibility of speech, that cannot be ascribed to the religious metamorphosis of the century. Obstacles to the free expansion of the national language were found in the use of the German as the court language on the one hand, and in that of the Latin as the literary language on the other. Toward the close of the 17th century the Danish, however, began to flourish again, thanks to the fashion of writing hymns in it. The inroads of French taste soon blasted this tender vegetation, and overwhelmed the language with Gallicisms in words and phrases. In the 2d half of the 18th century, German culture, becoming predominant, overcame that evil, aided by the reformatory efforts of native poets, such as John Ewald and others. The independent development of the Danish into a literary language, in the beginning of the 19th century, is due to the revival of ancient Norsk studies, as well as to its masterly management by Baggesen, Oehlenschläger, Grundtvig, &c.; so that it now stands in the front rank among the mildest and richest languages of Europe. It is spoken not only in Denmark, but also exclusively in the islands and in Jutland, and in a part of Schleswig. It is used in the churches among the Esquimaux in Greenland; as a business language on the isles of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and San Juan, and in the former Danish factories in Guinea. Well educated Icelanders and Nor

wegians also speak Danish.-In time the ancient 16 runes (Runir), brought from Thrace, were supplanted by the German angular alphabet, which in its turn was superseded by the Roman characters. At present, the Danish letters, according to Erasmus Rask and other authorities, are 27 in number, as follows: a, i, o, u (all pronounced as in German and Italian), e (both é and è French), y (u French, ü German); b, c, f, k, l, m, n, p, t, (all as in English), d (of 4 kinds: final after a vowel, like the English ih in birth; between vowels very soft; final after a consonant, as in English; after 1, n, r, almost silent, rendering those liquids nearly double, as in vold, full, voll), g (always hard, as in go, give), h (always aspirated), j (like the English y in yes, aye), r (always rough), 8 (always hard as in son), a (always ks); the peculiar 4 vowels: å or aa (like English a in warm, or oa in broad), æ (like ai in sail, German ā),

(French eu in peu), ō (French eu in veuve, œu in cœur). Diphthongs: aj, ej, oj, uj, öj; av, ev, iv, ov, av, ov (the j like our y, and both j and v softer than before vowels, as ja, va, &c.); improperly so called, since they rather form impure syllables. The combinations kj, gj, somewhat resemble the French mouillé sounds, the j (our y) being very mild and liquid. The Danes have not the sounds of our j in jar, ch in chat, sh in shell, th in thick.-The accent of genuine Danish words is mostly on the radical vowel; but in many foreign words it affects the last syllable, as in French. The grammatic forms are less explicit than in the Icelandic. The definite article of adjectives is dèt, neuter or objective, dèn, common or personal, dé, plural; thus: det skönne Land, the fine country; dèn gamle Stol, the old chair; plural, dé gamle Stole. It is suffixed to substantives, after dropping the d; thus: Land-et, Stol-en, the country, the chair; but it is ne or ene in the plural, as Lande-ne. The indefinite article, derived from eet, een, a, one, is et, n, en; e. g.: et Land, a country, en Stol, a chair; Lande, countries, without the article. The declension of substantives is confined to the suffix 8 or es for the genitive of both numbers. The plural is indicated in 4 ways, viz.: by change of the radical vowel (as in English mouse, mice), as Sprog, language, Sprog, languages; or by suffixing e, as Land-e; or by er, as Sag, thing, Sag-er, things; or by both metaphony and the suffix er, as Bog, book, Bög-er, books. Adjectives become neuter by the suffix t; thus: stor, Latin magnus and magna; stort, magnum; plural store. The comparative degree is formed by adding re or ere; the superlative by ste or este; e. g.: et lærd-ere Fruentimmer, a more learned woman; den hvideste Farve, the whitest color. Some of the irregulars are: ung-t, yngre, yngst, young, younger, youngest; lidet, mindre, mindst, little, lesser, least; meget, mere, meest, much, more, most; mange, flere, fleest, many, more, most; god-t, bedre, bedst, good, &c.; ond-t, or slem-t, værre, værst, evil or bad, worse, worst; gammel-t, ældre, ældst, old, &c.; nær-t, nærmere,

nærmest, near, nearer, next; ud, ydre, yderst, out, utter, utmost, &c. The numerals are: eet, een, 1; to, 2; tre, 3; fire, 4; fêm, 5; sex, 6; syv, 7; aatte, 8; ni, 9; ti, 10; elleve, tolo, tretten, fjorten, &c.; tyve, 20; tredive, 80; fyrretyve, 40; but the following 4 decades are peculiar halotrés or halvtrésindstyve (half 60 and 20) for 50; tres or tresindstyve (3 times 20), 60; halvfjers or halofjersindstyve (half 80 and 20, only equal to 60), used for 70; firs or firsinstyve (4 times 20), 80; halvfems or halvfemsindstyve (also unaccountable literally), 90; hundrede, 100; tusende, 1,000. Tres, firs, and fems being taken for 60, 80, 100, supposing them to be doubled, the halvtres, halvfjers, and halvfems are taken for 50, 70, and 90, as the decades halfway toward 60, 80, 100. The ordinals are: det, den forste, the first; det andet, den anden, the other, or 2d; the rest are formed by suffixing de or te. Time (French fois) is Gang, as anden Gang, the 2d time, &c. The personal pronouns are: jeg, I; mig, me; du, thou; dig, thee; han, he; hún, she; hans, his; hendes, (of) her; ham, him; hende, her; vi, we; vores, ours; os, us; I, you; eders (jer), yours; eder (jer), you; sig, himself, herself, themselves. The demonstratives de, deres, dem, are used for they, their, them. Selv, self, selves; but han self, himself, means also master of the house, hún selv, herself, the house-lady, &c. The possessives are: mit, min, plural mine, my, mine; dit, din, dine, thy, thine; sit, sin, sine, its, his, her, their; vort, vor, vore, our, ours; jer, jere, your, yours. The demonstratives are: det, den, genit. dets, dens; plural de, dem, genit. deres (also used in conversation with one or more persons, like the German Sie, Ihnen, Ihr, you, your); dette, denne, disse, this, these; hint, hin, hinne, that, those; saadant, saadan, saadanne, and sligt, slig, slige, such. The relatives are: der, who; som, who, whom, that; and also interrogatives: hvem, who; head, what; hvilket, &c., which; hvordant, &c., how. Indefinite pronouns: der, it, there, also with passive verbs; man (also German, the French on), one, some one; noget, nogen, plural nogle, some, any; somme, some people; intet, ingen, nobody; alt, al, plural alle, all; hvert, ethvert, every; hinanden, each other; hverandre, one another. The theme of the verb is the imperative; the conjugation comprehends 2 orders subdivided into 3 classes each, according to the form of the past tense.

L-SIMPLE ORDER (present and past indicative, and par. ticiple past).

(1. Klager, complain, klagede, klaget. 1st conj. 2. Brænder, burn, brændte, brændt. 3. Felger, follow, fulgde, fulgt.

distinguished in writing. The passive voice admits of no distinction of numbers or persons, but merely of tenses and modes. It is, however, distinguished from the Germanic dialects by having a simple form in the present and past, by means of the suffix s or es; thus: Jeg elskes, I am loved; jeg elskedes, I was loved (from jeg elsker, I love; jeg elskede, I loved or have loved). The infinitive is sometimes denoted by at, to; thus: at elske, to love; the participle present by nde final. There are also deponent verbs, analogous to those of the Latin. The auxiliary or periphrastic verbs are: skal, plural skulle, shall; skulde, should, &c.; vil, plural ville, will; vilde, participle villet, would; har (from haver), have; passive haves, be possessed by; er, am; var, was; vær, be; faar, get; maa, may, must; kan, can, may; tör, dare, need; lader, let, cause to, &c. Bliver, remain, forms the passive sense; e. g.: bliver fundet, is found. Har and faar with an infinitive also express duty: Jeg har at sige Dem, I have to say (to) you. The Danish has more varieties of circumlocution than the English, and its auxiliaries are less defective. The syntax resembles that of the English. The definite article may be omitted; but it is sometimes used where the English omits it; thus: Natur-en, nature; Liv-et, life, &c. The noun which governs a genitive is usually without the article; e. g.: Verdens Alder, the age of the world; et Legemes (body) Tyngde, the gravity of a body; Mange Vandes Lyd (many waters loud), the sound of many waters. The preposition af is omitted with quantities, as en Mængde Mennesker, a crowd of people; unless the thing measured be definite, as en Skæppe af den ny Hvede, a bushel of the new wheat. Adjectives follow only surnames, as Knud den Store, Canute the Great. De, when used instead of thou, takes the singular of the verb, as Gaar De paa Komedie? Do you go to the theatre? The active participle in ende final is never used as a gerund, but mostly as an adjective, and the English participle in ing must often be rendered by the infinitive; thus: det er næppe vord at se, it is scarcely worth (to see) seeing. Prepositions sometimes must be translated by other words; thus: i, in; i Gaar Aftes (in yester eve's), last evening; i Morges, this morning; i Aar, this year; i Morgen, to-morrow, &c. Paa, on, upon: paa Söndag, next Sunday. Ad, to, up, of: ad Aare, next year. Om, for, about: 5 Rigsbankdaler om Maaneden, $5 a month, &c. We subjoin a specimen of Danish construction: En Købmand módtog en Fem-shillings-Mynt merchant received (took) a five shilling coin der ikke syntes ham at være ægte, og (mint) that not seemed him to be good, and spúrgde dèrfor en Sagferer, som gik forbi asked therefor a lawyer (sake-farer), who went by meente hans Butik, hvad han om den. his shop, what he thought (meant) about it. Denne besaae den opmærksomt, This (he) looked at (be-saw) it attentively (upmarksome), forsikrende den var gód, puttede den til assuring (for-securing) it was good, put it to

A

For a thorough study of this admirable language the following works may be consulted: Peder Syv, Simbriske Sprog (1663), the Cimbric being the basis of the Danish orthography; Erasmi Pontopidani Grammatica Danica (1668); Otho Sperling, De Danica Lingua Antiqua Gloria (1694); J. Baden, Roma Danica, sive Harmonia Lingua Danica cum Latina (1699); Hjösgaard made the system of 10 vowels, (1743); J. H. Schlegel on the advantages and defects of the Danish language (in Danish, 1763); Erasmus Rask's grammar for Englishmen (1830 and 1846). Dictionaries: H. van Alphelen, "Royal Dictionary" (in Danish, 1764-72), and Dictionnaire Français- Danois et Danois-Français (1772-'6, 3 vols.); Dansk Ordbog (Danish Wordbook), under the direction of the society of sciences, by Möller, Viborg, Thorlachus, Müller, &c. (1793-1825, 5 vols.); Björn Halderson, lexicon, Icelandic, Latin, and Danish, edited by R. K. Rask (1814); Danish-English, by Ferral (1845-'54); Dansk ancient glossary, by Molbech (1853); history of the language, by Petersen (also Swedish), Molbech.-During the middle ages there appears to have been no Danish literature, and from the general Scandinavian literature, of which the ancient popular and heroic songs, or Vjämpeviser (collected for the first time by A. S. Vedel, 1591; latest edition by Ras mussen and Nyerup, 1821), are the most noteworthy remains. The codes of the ancient Danish kings, dating back to the 12th century, the "Book of Medicine," by Henrik Harpestreng, supposed to have been written in the 13th century (latest edition by Molbech, 1826); a "Chronicle in Rhyme," written in the latter part of the 15th century (ed. by Molbech, 1825); and Peder Lolle's collection of proverbs, probably dating from the earlier part of the 16th century (ed. by Nyerup, 1828), are the only extant relics of the Danish literature of the middle ages. The separation of Denmark from the united Scandinavian empire (1523), and the reformation (1527-1537), wrought as great a change in the literary as in the political development of the kingdom. The reformation introduced into Denmark not only German intellectual culture, but at the same time the classical study as opposed to the dry scholasticism of the middle ages. From that time the literature of Denmark began to emulate that of the other European nations. Christian Pedersen's first translations into Danish of the New Testament and the Psalms (1529), raised the Danish to a national language. Its musical softness as well as its clearness and perspicuity in the expression of abstract ideas favored its application to poet

ical effusions in preference to prose writing, and even now the prose writing of Denmark is hardly equal in value to its poetry. Thus, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the principal Danish works were poems, mostly of a religious character. Anders Arreboe (1587-1637) may be called the father of Danish poetry. Anders Bording (1619–1697), Thomas Kingo (1634–1723), the author of a number of excellent hymns, and Jörgen Sörterug (died 1722), who revived the old Scandinavian epic in a true national spirit, are the most prominent among the many writers of that time whose names are preserved in the history of Danish literature. A more popular kind of poetry was cultivated by Peder Dass (died 1708), Jens Sten Schested (died 1695), and Povel Inul (died 1723). Dramatic versions of biblical history were a favorite subject of the Danish poets. Of this class of productions, Kong Salomons Hylding, by Justesen Ranch (1585), Samsons Fängsel (1633), Karrig Nidding (1633), and Susanna, by Peder Hegelund (1578), were the most successful. As a humorous poet, Töger Reenberg (1656-1742) distinguished himself by his ready wit and sound moral sentiment. Researches into the earlier times of Scandinavian history were prosecuted with great eagerness by Danish scholars, and some of their historical writings are of great value even now, though they partake more of the character of chronicles than of modern philosophical historiography. Arild Hvitfeld's Danmarks Riges Krōnike (1595-1604), Lyschander's Danske Kongars Slägtebog (1622), and Arent Berndtsen's Danemarks og Norges frugtbare Herlighed (1656), deserve to be mentioned. Northern archæology was cultivated by Gudmund Andree, Runolf and Arnin Johnson, Thomas Bartholin, Peder Rosen, Broder Bickerod, and Peder Syv. Still, the poetical and historical writings of that period of Danish literature were not sufficiently conspicuous to attract the attention of other nations. During the 17th century Denmark's fame in the republic of letters was principally established by such scholars as Tycho Brahe, the great astronomer (1546-1601), Kaspar Bartholin (1585-1630), Thomas Bartholin (1616–1680), the greatest anatomist of his time, Christian Longomontanus (died 1647), Ole Römer (1644 -1710), Holger Rosenkranz (died 1642), &c. The classical period of Danish literature was inaugurated by Holberg (1684-1754), who, as a dramatic poet, a historian, a writer of fiction, and a popular philosopher, held a prominent place in the literary history of the last century. A strong, bracing realism pervades his productions. Most of his works have been translated into German, and the near affinity between the literature of the two countries having become evident, a close reciprocity ensued. Johannes Ewald (1743–1781), a lyrical poet and dramatist of great merit, holds a relation to Holberg similar to that of Schiller to Goethe; both their names stand as representatives of what has been termed the golden era of Danish literature. Next to them the following authors

of that period have justly obtained an extensive popularity: Joh. Herrmann Wessel (died 1785), Johann v. Wibe (died 1782), Frederik Wilh. Wiwet (died 1798), Joh. Clemend Tode (died 1806), Enevold Falsen (died 1808), and Christian Olufsen (died 1822), by their comedies, none of whom, however, rank with Peder Andreas Heiberg (1758-1841); Ole Johann Samsöe and Levin Christian Sander, by their excellent tragedies; Thomas Thaarup, by his vaudevilles; the brothers Friman and Joh. v. Brunn (died 1816), by their lyrical poems; Jens Zetlitz and the brothers Trojel, by humorous songs; Christian Pram by his romantic epic Stärkodder (1785); Wilh. Helf and Christian Falster (died 1752), by their satirical poems; Hans Adolf Brorson by his hymns; Johann Nordahl, by his patriotic songs; and Jens Baggesen, the favorite songster of the nation, by his lyrics and his comic epics. A new impulse was given to the national literature by Adam Oehlenschläger (1779-1850), who holds an equally conspicuous place in the literature of his own country and in that of Germany. Imbued with the spirit of the romantic school, he sought in the primitive history of his country for those popular traditions and reminiscences by which the individuality of national literature is defined and intensified. As an epic poet, Oehlenschläger holds a position among the greatest of modern times. Next to him stand Bernhard Severin Ingemann (born 1789), the author of the epics, Waldemar de Store, Dronning Margrete, and Holger Danske, and Fr. Paludan-Müller, whose Adam Homo (a composition which may with equal justice be classed among epic, didactic, or satiric poetry) is perhaps the most remarkable production of modern Danish literature. Among living lyrical poets, Chr. Winther, Hendrik Hertz, Chr. Hendersen, Chr. K. F. Molbech, and Rosenhoff, are the most eminent. As a composer of hymns, F. S. Grundtvig is unrivalled. The most fertile field of modern Danish literature is found in the drama and the novel. Johann Ludwig Heiberg (born 1791), a son of Peder Andreas Heiberg, a philosophical and archæological writer of great merit, is also the first among the living Danish dramatists; but he confines himself to comedy and vaudeville. The tragedies of Oehlenschläger have not yet been equalled by more modern poets. Most of the lyrical poets mentioned before are also authors of serious dramas or comedies, and some of them, as Hendrik Hertz and Ingemann, have obtained a well deserved reputation beyond the limits of their own country. P. Chievitz, Th. Overskou, C. Hostrup, F. H. Guldberg (died 1852), and Erik Bögh, deserve to be noted among modern Danish dramatists. The number of popular novelists is large. The first place among them seems to be conceded to Hans Christian Andersen, though the novels published anonymously by Heiberg are scarcely inferior to his. Sten Stensen Blicher, Ingemann, Kierkegaard, H. P. Holst, F. C. Sibbern, Torkel Trane, E. Lobedanz, and several others have

published novels, some of which rise above the average of modern works of fiction. Great activity prevails in Denmark in the writing of history, national archæology, and philology. In metaphysics and æsthetics the modern Danish authors have, with few exceptions, followed the track of the Germans. F. C. Sibbern is perhaps the most independent thinker. In natural philosophy, Oersted has acquired a worldwide reputation. His most celebrated work, Aanden i Naturen, has been translated into all European languages. J. F. Schouw ranks highly among modern physicists and geographers. Eschricht, Paulsen, Sars, Steenstrup, are authors of valuable works on zoology; Schumacher, Hornemann, Dreier, M. Vahl, and Lieb mann, have written meritorious works on botany; Forchhammer and Puggaard, on geognosy; Johann Madtvig and G. F. Boissen rank high among modern philologists; Peder Olaf Bröndsted (died 1842), Johann Ludwig, Ussing, and F. Chr. Petersen, among archæologists. To Rask, Westergaard, and Fausböll, linguists are indebted for valuable researches. Among those scholars who have devoted themselves particularly to the study of Danish literature and literary history, Nyerup, Petersen, Rask, P. E. Müller, and Molbech are the most prominent. Of the remains of the ancient Scandinavian and Danish literature, numerous critical editions have been published by Halfdan Einersen, Johann Erichsen, Olaf Olavius, Hans Finsen, Finn Johnsen, Björn Haldersen, Steph. Björnsen, John Olavsen, Skule Thorlacius, G. J. Thorkelin. The number of Danish historians within the 2 last centuries has been very great. Erik Pontoppidan (died 1764) stands at the head of those of the 18th century, while Grundtvig has attained to the highest reputation among those of the present day. See Nyerup's Almindelig Moerskabsläsning i Danmark og Norge (1816); Molbech's Forelæsninger over den nyere Danske Poesie (1831-'32); Thortsen, Hist. Udsigt over den Danske Litteratur (1839); Th. H. Erslew, Almindeligt Forfatter-Lexicon for Danmark (1843-'53, 3 vols.; suppl. vol., 1856-'58).

DENNER, BALTHASAR, a German portrait painter, born in Altona or Hamburg in 1685, died in the latter place, April 14, 1747, or according to another account at Rostock, in 1749. He was employed by Frederic II. and many other German princes, and was also invited by George I. to England, where, however, he met with little encouragement. His chief, if not his whole merit, consists in the mechanical finish of his pictures, some of which, it is said, require to be examined by a magnifying glass in order to appreciate the labors of the artist. There is a head of an old woman by him in the gallery of Vienna, in which even the down on the cheeks and the pores of the skin are represented with scrupulous exactness. This picture was purchased by the emperor Charles VI. for 4,700 imperial florins, and the artist was commissioned to furnish a companion piece of an old man, which is not less carefully finished.