the merchant of Oreback just mentioned, ors
his return to Iceland from Denmark, confident
in the security afforded him by his
British Majesty’s licence, was in like manner,
ordered to appear at Reikevig, where he was
for some time detained, and the cargo he
had brought to the country was confiscated. *
* The second and fourth of these charges are of so
notorious a kind, that little as I interested myself in
political aflairs in the island, it struck me while perusing
them, that such facts could not well have transpired
without their coming under my knowledge; but as I
could not call to mind any such circumstances I thought
it best to inquire of Mr. Jorgensen how far they were
correct. From his answer, which confirms my own
ideas, I have a further proof of the inaccuracy of the
information which Count Tramp obtained from the
Danes and other interested persons in the island, who in
these instances have plainly imposed upon him,- “ and
who, ” to use Mr. Jorgensen’s words, very probably
square their accounts at his expence. ”—The situation
o f Westmannoe is such, that^ it never would have answered
the purpose to have confiscated property there;
besides which the goods belonged to, Mr. Petreus, who
had none o f his property touched either there or at
Reikevig. Mr. Lambertsen’s cargo was exempt from
confiscation; or, had it not been so, there would not
have been time to have seized it, since it came to the
island but just before Captain Jones’ arrival, after
whose interference nothing was confiscated. It is true,
An event as unforeseen as it was unfavorable
to the present state of political and
commercial affairs happened in the arrival
at Havnfiord of the Talbot sloop of war;
commanded by the Honorable Alexander
Jones, to whom the factors of the Danish
merchants resident in that place lost no time
Mr. Lambertsen had an order to deliver ten thousand
dollars, public money, brought in his ship, but it was
never done.—The following information is all that I
have been able to procure upon the subject of the revolution
in addition to what is related in the first edition
of this work. It was communicated to me by my friend,
Mr. Clausen, whonl I have lately had the pleasure of
seeing in England, and whom I particularly requested
to point out to me any error or mis-statement which he
might find on perusing the narrative.— “ I know that
Mr. Poulsen was detained some days in Reikevig,
charged with oppressing the inhabitants in Westmannoe,
which, however, never was proved, and that he
was not permitted to speak in his defence, or to get
any satisfaction for the improper accusation. But if
any goods were confiscated I am unacquainted with the
circumstance. During my stay in Reikevig I saw a
letter from Mr. Jorgensen, in the possession of Mr.
Lambertsen, ordering him not to leave Reikevig without
his (Mr. Jorgensen’s) permission; which letter
afterwards was destroyed by Mr. Jorgensen himself,
who obtained it from Mr. Lambertsen under pretence
of wishing to peruse i t ."
VOL. II. E