night, at this season, is about as great as that
of a moderately dull noon in winter in England.
In a walk of a few miles to the south
of the town this evening, I met with Rubus
saxatilis (sparingly in flower), Polypodium
arvonicum, plentiful, Trichostomum ellipti-
cum, and ffypnum Jilctmentosum, growing
among the rocks. In bogs I found two new
species of Carex, and Meesia dealbata,
with fully-formed capsules.—This evening
Mr. Jorgensen took possession of the governor’s
house, and removed his residence
thither; but I do not recollect, exactly,
whether it was from this period, or, as I rather
think, shortly after, that he was. considered
as governor of Iceland.
Tuesday, This being the day appointed for
June 27 • • paying our respects to the old Stifts-
amptman *, Olaf Stephensen, who has the
* Stiftsamptman is the Icelandic title for the governor,
and, consequently, belongs to Count Tramp.
But, as this gentleman (Stephensen), on account of
his services to the country, was allowed to retire from
his government, and still retain the title of Stiftsamptman,
I shall, by way of distinction, apply it in this work
to him, and, in mentioning Count Tramp, shall use the
term of Governor.
title of Geheime Etatsroed, and was formerly
governor of the island, Mr. Phelps,
Mr. Jorgensen, and myself embarked at
twelve o’clock in an Icelandic sailing-boat,
with eight rowers, and had a passage of about
four miles to his house, which is on the
pleasant little island of Vidoe. As we approached
this island, we got a view of the
house, standing in a well-sheltered situation,
between two hills, and, at a little distance,
it had the appearance of a very respectable
residence, being larger, and with something
more imposing in its exterior, than any other
I had yet seen. It is built of stone cemented
together, has a number of glass windows,
arid is covered with a boarded roof. However,
when we landed and came nearer, we
perceived a lamentable want, as well of carpenters
and bricklayers, as of glaziers. The
glass, in such of the windows as still preserved
any, was of the most ordinary quality ; and
in most instances the panes were broken,
though this was concealed from view on the
outside by a wooden shutter. The door-way
was in the centre, but hid by a miserable
sort of wooden porch, on each side of which
was a door for entrance, which, if kept in