my power, during that season, to put m
execution a projected voyage to a tropical
climate, that I should take my passage in a
merchant-ship, then expected to leave England
in the space of three days, and spend
mv summer in Iceland., To this I most readily
and thankfully acceded; and, having
made such preparations as the shortness of
the notice would allow, I repaired to Gravesend
and was on board the Margaret and
Anne at the time appointed.
The unfortunate accident, which has deprived
me of nearly the whole of the fruits
of this excursion, and has obliged me to
rely, in no small degree, upon my memory,
needs not here to be detailed, it will find its
place in the narrative of the voyage^ suffice
it now to observe, that the only things rescued
from the flames were, a portion of my
journal, containing little more tnan the occurrences
of the first four weeks of my stay
on the island, and an Icelandic lady s wedding
dress, which was saved by the extraordinary
exertions of the steward of the ship.
Of the rest of my manuscripts and collections,
including plants, books, drawings, minerals,
and other subjects of natural history,
nothing could be preserved.
With the slender materials that remained
to me, I should not have ventured upon
committing the following Recollections to
paper, even as they were originally in-!-
tended, merely for the perusal of some of
my friends, but at the solicitation of the
most valued of those friends. It is to Mr.
Dawson Turner, of Yarmouth, that these
sheets owe their existence.
To Sir Joseph Banks, besides being honored
with his counsel and assistance preparatory
to the undertaking of the voyage, I
am indebted for the truly hospitable entertainment
that I experienced from the inhabitants
of Iceland, who felt, I am sure, a
real pleasure and satisfaction in having it in
their power to offer their services and to pay
every possible attention to a stranger, visiting
their country with an introduction from their
great and generous benefactor. Not, however,
satisfied with this, on my return to
England, no sooner did Sir Joseph learn
that I was preparing my Recollections o f