ing all its windings as far as Svartfcnup. From
this place it stretches over the valley towards
the south, to a distance not exceeding three
miles and three quarters, so that its greatest
length, taken from the volcano itself cannot
be reckoned at more than nine miles and
three quarters, or, at the utmost, at ten
Danish miles. From the farm-house of Skal,
which, together with the church and other ?
buildings, were deluged and covered by the
torrent, it runs two miles and a quarter
towards the south, and in general cannot be
estimated at more than two miles of breadth,
in the Medalland, where it has nevertheless
most extended its ravages, and has done the
greatest damage.
From what has been now said, it will
readily be perceived that the actual destruction,
caused by the fire in the district of
West-Skaptefield, is by no means of the
extent that many people have described it
to b e ; and, as I have always regarded it to
be my sacred duty to adhere to the truth of
facts, as far as it has been in my power to ascertain
them, it is impossible that,my account of
the eruption should coincide with that given in
a publication by the student, Mr. Saemund
Magnussen Holm. A work so inferior and
faulty in its nature, does but little honor to
Danish literature, and still less to its author
; yet it is now not only widely circulated
at home, but has likewise abroad been
"honored by the decoration of a foreign dress,
and may possibly be received, and readily
credited, among such persons as have not
had the opportunity of obtaining more
correct knowledge. With regard to Mr.
Holm’s account of the fire, after having
myself personally investigated the spot, and
correctly estimated the extent of the damage
sustained, I dare venture publicly to assert
that his description is faulty to as great a
decree, as is the difference that will be found
to exist between his two geographical charts
and that which accompanies my statement.
It is a matter of real satisfaction, that the
estates of Holmur, Hunkurbackur, Heidi,
Skaptardalur, Hvammur, Svinadalur, and
the farm of Buland, together with the church
at that place (which Mr. Holm describes as
being totally destroyed by the stream of fire),
are all yet standing in good condition, not