if
gale under the name o f Societas iii-
viiibilis; and I was intimately acquainted
with the rc6lor Halfdan
Ejnarfon, and the late iyiTelman Bjarne
Halidoribn, who were both members
o f that fociety, though I believe it does
not exlil at prefent. I could mention
feveral whole learning and tafte did honour
to their country, but I fliall only
name thofe Who have acquired moft
fame in the literary world.
Among thefe the biihop o f Skallholt,
Dr. Finnur Jonfon, deferves the firft
place ; who, befides many learned
writings on the antiquities of Iceland,
fome o f which have been pub-
liilied, has lately prefented the public
with an ecclefiaftical hiftory, in
three volumes quarto, replete with
information, criticifm, atid erudition.
I was happy in becoming more intimately
acquainted with this worthy
prelate, who has been bifliop ever
fince 1754, and found no lefs inftruc-
tion than pleaiure in his company.
You may eafily conceive how much I
wiilied, at taking leave of him, that
his advanced age would permit him to
put
put a fiiiiiliing ftroke to his other
works. We have ibme reafon to hope
for this at prefent, as one of his fons,
the learned Mr. John Finifon, has lately
been appointed his father’s ailiftant and
provoft.
To this number alfo belong Halfdan
Ejnarfon, re£Ior o f the fchool of Hoolum,
who has publifliefl the Speculum
Regale, and is now employed in writing
the Hiftoria Literaria Iflandise. The
provoft and miniiler of Hiardarholt,
Gunnar Paulfen, is juftly celebrated on
account of his great knowledge in antient
poetry. Bjarnejonfen, redorofthe
fchool at Skallholt, compofes very good
Latin verfes, and has a diilertation o f
Gangdagarne ready for the prefs. Bjarne
Paulfen, in company with Eggert O-
lofsen, made ajourney through Iceland
to colle(ft manufcripts and curiofities at
the expence o f the fociety of fciences.
The lagman Sven Solvefcn has publiflied
feveral law-works; as has likewife the
vice-lagmaii Jon Olftbn, and the pro-
vofts Vigfus Jonfen and Gudlaug Thor-
geirfon, befides feveral others.
The profeflbr and coun feilor of ft ate,
Erichfen, who is not fettled in Iceland,
'.I
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