We leave it to the unprejudiced!
reader to form a judgment o f this performance,
which is replete with variety
of matter, treated on in an in-
ftruclive and iatisfaflory manner; and
jikewife on the great learning relative
to natural hiftory, hiilorical, antiquarian,
and philological fubjedls,
that are every where blended in the
context o f the following letters : and
we are of opinion, that, in refpecl to
thefe points, this work requires no
apology for offering it to the impartial
public.
As to Its utility, it will not be un-
neceifary to prefix a few obfervations
on the importance o f Icelandic literature.
The Englifli language was originally
fo nearly related to that o f Iceland,
that we need only cafl our eyes on a
gloffary, to fee the affinity o f both
languages, and the great light the one
receives from the other.
The Normans and Danes, who were
during a conhderable time maflers
o f England, introduced into it many
cufloms,
cuiloms, laws, and manners, which
would remain inexplicable ; but the
Icelanders being originally defcended
from the fame Normans, and living
on an ifland that has very iitlle in-
tercourfe with the rell: of the world,
have preferved their language, manners,
and laws in their primitive iiin-
plicity ; nay, all the hiftoricai accounts
of the North arc contained in
the hiilorical fayings (fagas) o f the
Icelanders, which are very numerous,
and would be of very important fer-
vice in the invefligation of the origin
o f the language, manners, and laws
o f England. Nor can it be advanced
that this kind of fludy could not be
purfued amongfl us for want o f thefe
hiilorical monumentsof the Icelanders;
lince by the known indefatigable zeal
for the promotion of all branches o f
literature, and the moil difintereiced
generofity o f Jofeph B nks, Efq.
P. R, S. one hundred and fix y-two
Icelandic manufcripts have been pre-
fentcd to, and are depoiited i i tfie
Britifh Miifeum.
h T h e