As we approached Horten, the chief naval station of Norway, I saw a new church, apparently built in red stone, and in the Gothic style; which, as far as I could judge, reflected no little credit on the architect. At this moment, a Norskman tapped me on the shoulder, and asked—
“Are you an Englishman? Do you live in London? Have you seen the great ship that is building on the banks of the Thames? They say it is twice as long as the magazine at Horten yonder; but I can’t believe it.”
“You mean the Great Eastern, as they call it? I don’t know how long the magazine is; but the ship is 680 feet long.”
“Vinkelig! det er accurat dobbelt.” (Really! then it is exactly double, just as I heard.)
The daily steamer from Christiania to Fredrickshall met us here, Halden, by name; and separated me from the intelligent lieutenant, with whom I exchanged cards.
As we steamed out of Horten, past the gun-boats and arsenals, a naval-looking man said—
“We have had a great man here lately, sir: the Russian Admiral G——. The newspapers were strongly against his being allowed to pry about our naval station; but he was permitted by the Government. After examining everything very accurately, he said, ‘It’s all very good, too good: for England will come and take it away from you.’”
“And what did the dockyard people think of that? Did they agree with him?”
“Heaven forefend! They knew whom they had to deal with. As he walked through the arsenal, he saw some shells lying about. ‘What is that? some new invention?’ ‘Oh! no,’ said the officer; ‘it is only shells, after the old fashion.’ The Russian admiral seemed contented with the reply; but he was not going to be put off the real scent by a feint of this kind. In fact, a Norwegian captain, not long ago, did invent a peculiar kind of shell, which, with unerring precision, can be so managed as to burst in a vessel’s side after effecting an entrance. The Russian knew this, but kept his counsel then. Subsequently, he found an opportunity of drawing a subaltern officer aside, to whom he offered two hundred dollars to reveal the secret. But the Norskman would not divulge the secret (shell out), only telling his superior, who took no notice, but merely chuckled at the Russian’s duplicity.”
“It is an old Russian trick, that,” replied I; “if I remember rightly, the Muscovites obtained the secret of the Congreve rocket by some such underhand manœuvre.”