ICELAND,

&c. &c.

CHAP I.

Voyage from Copenhagen to Iceland-Copenhagen Roads Island of Hveen-Tycho Brahe -Elsineur-Gottenburgh-Shetland--IceMountains-Cape Reykianess-Land at Reykiavik-Description of the Town-Visit to the Archdeacon at Garde-Hafnarfiord-Preparations for an Inland Journey-Divine Service in the Cathedral.

HAVING, by the blessing of God, brought the printing of the Icelandic Scriptures to a termination, and seen the foundation laid of a Bible Society for the Danish dominions, on the principles of the British and Foreign Bible Society, I began to make the necessary arrangements for my voyage to Iceland. The natural forma tion of that island rendering it impossible to con

vey any quantity of Bibles from one place to another, it was requisite to forward a proportionate number to each harbour. In the execution. of this measure, I would here acknowledge my obligations to the Icelandic merchants in Copenhagen, who not only allowed the copies to be sent by their respective vessels without charging any freight, but furnished me with much important information, derived from their local knowledge of the country. To Westy Petræus, Esq. in particular, I am deeply indebted for the facilities which he afforded me on the occasion, and for conveying, in his own vessel, no less than 1183 Bibles, and 1668 New Testaments, free of expense.

On the 8th of June, 1814, I embarked on board the Seyen, commanded by Captain Petræus, brother to the gentleman just mentioned, who also accompanied us, and did every thing in his power to provide for my accommodation and comfort. We got under weigh about five o'clock, P. M. The evening was serene; and the prospect, which embraced the Danish metropolis, the two opposite coasts of Zealand and Scania, and the island of Hveen, was extremely picturesque and beautiful, and peculiarly calculated to inspire the mind with a train of delightful meditations. Lifting up my heart to Him who dwelleth on high, I implored his blessing on the important undertaking in which I had embarked, and prayed that he would graciously be pleased to render the precious seed which I

was honoured to carry over to a distant island, productive of a most luxuriant harvest.

There was something peculiarly gratifying in the idea, that our vessel, instead of proceeding on any predatory or murderous expedition, was freighted with provisions for the inhabitants of a barren island; grain, and other articles for the support of temporal life; and the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, the germ and staff of spiritual existence. Considering every circumstance, I could not help viewing the following lines of Cowper as strikingly appropri

ate:

"Soft airs, and gentle heavings of the wave,
Impel the fleet, whose errand is to save,
To succour wasted regions, and replace
The smile of opulence in sorrow's face.
Let nothing adverse, nothing unforeseen,
Impede the bark that plows the deep serene,
Charg'd with a freight, transcending in its worth
The gems of India, nature's rarest birth,
That flies, like Gabriel on his Lord's commands,
An herald of God's love to Pagan lands."

Not, however, that I regarded Iceland as a pagan land. On the contrary, from all that I had been able to learn, I was persuaded that there were few places in Europe where Christianity is professed, to which the epithet could with less justice be applied, than to that island, notwithstanding its manifold local disadvantages. Yet, as genuine Christianity can only be main

tained by the continued propagation of its principles, of which the Bible is the repository, it is evident the Icelanders must soon have made a retrograde motion, had not measures been adopted for providing them with a fresh supply of the Holy Scriptures.

Early the following morning, we passed the island of Hveen, famous on account of its having been the residence of the celebrated astronomer Tycho Brahe. A more eligible spot he could not perhaps have found, as the island lies high, and the coasts on both sides being low, a most extensive horizon presents itself to the view. The observatory, which he erected here, and to which, from its destination, he gave the name of Uraniaborg, was raised at great expense, part of which was borne by the king of Denmark, and the rest defrayed by the astronomer himself. He is said to have expended no less than 100,000 rix-dollars on its erection. It was not only built in a highly ornamental style, but regularly fortified; yet it did not remain in a perfect state for more than twenty years, and now there is scarcely a single vestige remaining to tell the inquisitive traveller where it stood. Some years ago, I recollect having spent a night here with Major Stuart, a natural son of the Pretender, in whose possession the place at that time was; but all I could discover was merely the remainder of a vault, and a few slight traces of the fortification. Its history, in connection