ever, in order to keep together and
employ the draughtfmen and other
perfons whom they had engaged for
their voyage to the South-Sea, they re-
folved upon another excuriion. It was
impoffible to chufe a better one than
that to Iceland ; and you may eafily
conceive, Sir, that though I was ready
to fet out on my return to Sweden, I
did not hefitate a moment in accepting
their offer to accompany them. To
fay the truth, I was glad to viiit a
country where I could not only hope
to find many remains o f our antient
language, but where I was alio certain
to fee nature in a new point of view.
I have not been difappoiiited in
either o f my expedations ; and I could
never have found a happier opportunity
than that of making this voyage
in the company o f Mr. Banks and
Dr. Solander, o f whom it would be
iinneceifary to fay more, as they are
fo well known both to you and to the
learned and ingenious throug-hout
Europe,
I know, Sir, that every information
will be welcome to you, which con- '
eerns
cerns thofe objefts that attraricd my
attention there ; and there is no one
who would comiuunicate this information
to you with more pleafure than
myfelf; but as it would require too
much prolixity to mention every thing,
I ihall only in this letter fpeak of the
principal operations of the fires in
Iceland, a fubjefl which, I am convinced,
is one of the moil important.
On our arrival in Iceland on the
28th of Auguil 1772, we diredlly law
a profpedl before us, that, though not
pleaiing, was uncommon and ilirpriz-
ing. Whatever prefented itfelf to our
view bore the marks of devailation ;
and our eyes, accuftomed to behold
the pleaiing coails of England and
Scotland, now law only the veiliges
of the operation of a fire, heaven
knows how antient!
The defcription of a country, v/here
quite clofe to the fea you perceive al-
moil nothing but craggy cliffs vitrified
bv fire, and wdiere the eve lofes itfelf
in high and rocky mountains covered
with eternal fnow, cannot poffibly produce
fuch emotions as at firil fight
A 2 might
Hi
.
ill