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3 1 4 LEAVE-TAKING. [Chap. X .
the Governor Avas, as usual, full of his jokes and
good humour. No one felt under any restraint,
and Ave passed a most agreeable evening. After
dinner Ave all Avalked up to the Scholar’s Alonu-
ment on the hill, and enjoyed a fine view of the
grand panorama of mountains that skirt the Bay
of F axé.
Having taken our leave of the Prince, who again
repeated to each of us his hope that we should
come and see him in Denmark, and re-assured
ns of the kind attention he would pay to us; and
having taken a parting farewell of the Governor
and his guests, we Avent on board the yacht to
sleep, with the intention of getting under weigh for
England at break of day.
fo u g h t to state that the Avhole conduct of the
Prince gave great satisfaction to the resident merchants
and the settled inhabitants of Reikiavik:
he never once complained of his banishment, nor,
of course, did any one presume to hint at a wish
to knoAV the cause of it ; but he once observed
to h i s countrymen, that he supposed he oAved his
visit to Iceland to his having spoken his mind too
freely at Court. The inhabitants, previous to his
northern tour, had given him a public ball, at
Avhich he made himself very agreeable, and danced
a great deal, particularly with the belle of
Reikiavik, the shoemaker’s daughter, who was
reckoned a great beauty, and to whom he Avas very
attentive.
Chap. X .] LEAVE-TAKING. 315
It is to be hoped that this visit of the Prince will
have the good effect of being attended with benefit
to those who, in all probability, will become his
future subjects—indeed I am confident he will neither
forget nor neglect them. A small addition to
the public expenditure of Denmark might be made
an important boon to these poor people, and above
all to the clergy, whose lamentable condition he
must have witnessed on his travels. An addition
of ten pounds a-year to each of their miserable
stipends, which would not entail an increase of
three thousand pounds—nay,,even half that sum
—-would bring down the blessings of the Avhole
community on his head. It would not appear that
he IS much out of favour at home, for I perceive,
by the papers, th a t he has returned, and is appointed
to the command of the fortress and toAvn of
Fredericia, on the eastern coast of Jutland, opposite
to Zealand.
And now I must bid adieu to Iceland, in all probability—
though I hope not—for ever. I must not,
however, talie leave of Reikiavik, without recording
the expression of my warmest thanks for the kindness
we received from the Danish gentlemen with whom
A v e had the pleasure to become acquainted. The
marked attention and eivility which we experienced
from one and all were truly gratifying; and I may
safely say that, during all my rambles, which have
been somewhat excursive, I never met with a more
friendly and hearty welcome than at Reikiavik.
p 2