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 appropriate :

"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 maintained 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 with that of its master, furnishes a striking lesson of the uncertainty and vicissitude of every sublunary object.

About nine o'clock we made Elsineur, which, with the castle of Cronborg, we passed on the one hand, while we left behind us the town of Helsingborg, in Sweden, on the other. The two countries are divided here only by the Sound, (Öresund), which does not exceed four British miles in breadth. In times of peace, Elsineur roads are crowded with the flags of all nations, it being necessary for every

vessel to call on passing, in order to pay the Sound dues. In consequence of an unremitting influx of strangers from all parts of the busy world, most of whom had no other object in view than the acquisition of earthly riches, that town used to present a melancholy spectacle of indifference to the momentous concerns of religion. Adversity, however, has a natural tendency to generate reflection; and we may indulge the hope, that the severe stroke with which its inhabitants have been visited by the total failure of their resources for these last seven years, has not been without effect in leading many to turn their attention to the things which belong to their everlasting peace.

From Elsineur, we proceeded in company with upwards of seventy vessels into the Cattagat, in which, for the two following days, we had either calms or contrary winds, so that we made but little progress; but a fresh breeze sprung up on the 12th, which carried us into the harbour of Wrangö, a few miles below Gottenburgh. We were under the necessity of putting in here, in order to wait for a Swedish convoy-ship to take us past Norway: the Swedes not being without suspicions that our going to Iceland was merely a pretence, and that it was our real intention to supply the Norwegians with grain. By this means we were detained more than twelve days; but to me the loss was amply compensated, by the opportunities that were afforded me of visiting my friends in Gottenburgh. Our interviews were short, yet highly interesting, and tended in no small degree to strengthen those bonds of Christian love, which no length of time shall ever be able to dissolve. The Bible Society, which had been formed at this place, towards the close of the former year, by the active and enlightened zeal of the late Rev. Dr Brunmark, was going on prosperously only it was with concern I learned that they were soon to lose one of their valuable secretaries, my dear and much respected friend, the Rev. Professor Rosen, who was about to enter on a living to which he had lately been presented in the country.

On the 21st we left the Swedish coast, in company with

a large fleet, that proceeded under the same convoy to the westward. We had scarcely got clear of Marstrand Castle, when it blew a violent gale of wind, which lasted several hours, and completely dispersed the convoy. It was succeeded by a series of calms, in which we had ample room for the exercise of patience; and it was not before the evening of the 30th, that we descried Fair Isle, and the eastern coast of Shetland. We entertained the fullest expectation, of being able the same night to pass, what the seamen call "The Hole," i. e. between the islands just mentioned; but the wind veered round to the N. W. and increased, during the night, to such a degree, that we were driven back to the eastward of the Orkneys. The sight of my native country excited the tenderest emotions in my mind, and nothing but the importance of the mission on which I was proceeding, could have reconciled me to the idea of passing it without paying it a visit.

The first view we obtained of Iceland, was on the evening of the 12th of July. At the distance of forty miles we could discover some of the Ice Mountains, towering to an immense height in the horizon, surrounded below with clouds, and completely covered with snow. From about the middle of the highest, a black rugged ridge commenced, which continued to dip gradually towards the west, till it was intercepted by two small conical snow-capped mountains, that bore the most perfect resemblance to sugar loaves. When the tediousness of the voyage is taken into consideration, an allowance will easily be made for my attaching the idea of beauty to these masses of perennial snow, notwithstanding the revolting presentiment of cold which necessarily forced itself into my mind. The weather becoming foggy, we lost sight of the land for the two following days; but on the morning of the 15th, we descried a high land directly a-head, and, on its clearing up about nine o'clock, we were happy to find we had made the south-west extremity of the island, or Cape Reykiness, which it was necessary for us to pass, before we could reach Reykiavik, the place of our destination. On the left we had the Elld-eyar, or Fire Islands;

so called from their having been thrown up at different periods by the agency of submarine volcanoes. They consist entirely of barren and precipitous rocks, and are almost always covered with sea-fowl, on which account the Danish traders have given them the name of Fugleskierene. Passing between the innermost of these rocks and the Cape, which is also of volcanic origin, and presents a very bold and rugged appearance, we were rapidly carried by the tide into the Faxè Fiord, and, having now got into smooth water, and both wind and current being in our favour, the close of our voyage was the most agreeable that can be imagined.

As we sailed along, I was delighted by the successive opening of the creeks and bays on our right, and especially the discovery of Hafnarfiord, the school of Bessastad, the Ness, and other places in the vicinity of Reykiavik. Nor was my curiosity less gratified by the survey of the Esian, Akkra, and other mountains on the left side of the bay. Their lofty height, the beautiful girdle of silver clouds that surrounded them considerably below the top, the magnificent appearance of the summit above, and the solemn gloom which covered the inferior regions:-all conspired to impress the mind with reverential and admiring ideas of that Power who laid the foundations of the earth, and at whose wrath the mountains tremble and shake. About eight in the evening, we got our pilot on board, when a number of reciprocal inquiries took place; and a little past ten we anchored before the town of Reykiavik, where the Danish flag was displayed from the tops of the mercantile houses, in honour of our arrival. The first act of kindness shewn us by the natives, was their mounting us on their shoulders, and carrying us ashore from the boat. On landing, we were met by a crowd of men, women, and children, who filled the air with the exclamations, "Peace! come in peace! the Lord bless you! !" &c. salutations that were at once calculated to prepossess a stranger in favour of the religious disposition

* Fiord signifies a bay or frith.