in which the Geysers are situated, of the year; besides which, a tricontains five churches; while the fling perquisite is occasionally ob salary of the priest and his assistant, tained for the performance of par amounts scarcely to 30 dollars. ticular services, as baptism, marIn numerous instances, however, riage and burial. These are all the stipends are still much smaller; the sources from which the Iceand there are two or three parishes landic priest obtains a livelihood in the island, where the annual for his family. sum of five dollars, forms the whole In the preceding narrative of provision which is made by tithe our travels, the general appear. for the support of the ministers of ance and construction of the religion. The stipends, though churches in Iceland has been mispecified according to their value nutely described. It would be in money, are very generally paid, difficult, indeed, to convey to one like the taxes, in different articles who has not visited the country, of produce; which the priests either consume in their own fami. lies, or barter with the merchants for other articles which they more immediately require.

an adequate idea of the extreme wretchedness of some of the edifices which bear this name. But it must be recollected, that if a greater size, or more decoration, These scanty pittances would had been given to these places of obviously be insufficient to the worship, their number would have support of the religious establish- been diminished in the same proment, were they not assisted by portion; and in looking therefore the value of the glebe-land, which at the Icelandic churches, as they is annexed to the church in each now are, no feeling of contempt parish. Every priest thus becomes can have place in the mind, but a farmer; and though the land rather a sentiment of admiration which they hold is in general of for the propriety and judgment small extent, yet there are certain with which the means of the people rights attached to it, which aug- have been applied to the great ment considerably the profits de. object in view. The charge of rived from this source. Beside attending to the condition of the the tithe upon his rent, each far- churches, is committed to the mer in the parish is required to Hreppstiore of each parish; while give annually to the priest, either to provide for any necessary rea day's work, or an equivalent pairs, a small tax is levied upon value in money; and likewise to the inhabitants, and the personal keep one of his lambs during the labours of the peasants are occawinter season; taking it home in sionally required. The present October, and returning it in good war between England and Dencondition the following spring. It mark, unfortunate for Iceland, in is customary also, for the more so many points of view, has here wealthy of his parishioners, to also inflicted some of its evils. The make him a small offering of the accustomed supply of timber from value of eight-pence, in English Norway being suspended, many money, three times in the course

* Geysers-boiling fountains.

land.

Hreppstiore-a civil officer in Ice

of the churches in the country are voyed to the Bishop, at Reikiavik, getting into ruinous state; and by those who come down to this, during the last summer, commu- part of the coast to fish, or to disnications were made to the bishop, pose of their tallow and other comfrom different parishes, represent-modities to the merchants. After ing the impossibility of continu- a certain period of probation, and ing public worship from this cause. a personal examination by the The education of the priests, at bishop on the doctrines and duties the school of Bessestad," was de- of their profession, the candidates scribed in the last chapter. When are received into orders, and await a young man, intended for this the occurrence of vacancies, which office, has undergone the required may afford them a place of final examinations, he leaves the school, settlement. It is not, however, and usually returns to his native a life of luxurious ease which they place; where, in assisting his family enjoy, when their abode is thus to obtain their scanty and hardly determined. From the scantiness earned provision, he submits to of the provision which is made the same labours as the meanest of for them in their public situation, those around him. During our the toil of their own hands is nefirst journey in Iceland, we were cessary to the support of their attended by a person in this situ. families; and besides the labours ation, who performed for us all of the little farm which is attached the menial offices of a servant and to his church, the priest may often guide. These young men are still be seen conducting a train of loadcalled upon, however, to pursue cd horses from the fishing-station their theological studies, in as far to his distant home; a journey as their limited means will allow; not unfrequently of many days; and, to provide for this necessary and through a country wild and part of discipline, the superinten- desolate beyond description. Their dance of the bishop is still conti- habitations are constructed merely nued, who annually transmits to of wood and turf, like those of each candidate for the priesthood, a series of Latin questions, as a test of his diligence and profici. ency. The nature of these questions will be seen from the sub. joined list, which was sent to some of the students of divinity in the summer of 1810t. The disser. tations in reply to them, are con

prophetiis Veteris Testamenti explicandis?

2. Quid libri Veteris Testamenti docent de resurrectione, mortuorum ?

3. An mali genii homines ad peccandum solicitant?

4. In quo consistit venia peccatorum nobis per Jesum parta?

vitam quibus argumentis probatur, et 5. Eternitas pænarum post hanc quomodo cum benignitate Summi Numinis concilianda est?

6. Explicentur Matt. xv. 4, 5, 6; et 1. Cor. iii. 15, 16.

7. Qualis fuit status religionis in patria nostra ante reformationem?

8. Cur Deus hominibus salutem æternam, tantum conditione vitæ emerdandæ, pollicetur ?

the farmers of the country, and and must be received merely in the light of an exception to a general statement.

are equally destitute of all internal comforts. A stove, or place for containing fire, is scarcely ever to The moral and religious habits be found in them: often there is of the people at large, may be only one apartment in the house, spoken of in terms of the most exto which the light of the sun has alted commendation. In his dofree access, or where there is any mestic capacity, the Icelander perflooring but the naked earth; and forms all the duties which his the furniture of this room seldom situation requires, or renders poscomprehends more than a bed, a sible; and while by the severe broken table, one or two chairs, labour of his hands, he obtains a and a few boxes, in which the provision of food for his children, clothes of the family are preserved, it is not less his care to convey to Such is the situation during life of their minds the inheritance of the Icelandic priests; and amidst knowledge and virtue. In his inall this wretchedness and these pri. tercourse with those around him, vations, genius, learning and moral his character displays the stamp excellence are but too frequently of honour and integrity. His reentombed. ligious duties are performed with The ordinary service of the cheerfulnes and punctuality, and churches in Iceland consists of this even amidst the numerous prayer, psalms, a sermon and obstacles, which are afforded by readings from the scriptures. The the nature of the country, and the prayers and readings are rather climate under which he lives. The chaunted than spoken by the priest, Sabbath-scene at an Icelandic who performs this part of the ser. church is indeed one of the most vice at the altar of the church. singular and interesting kind. The The sermons appear in general to little edifice, constructed of wood be previously composed, and are and turf, is situated, perhaps, delivered from notes. Of the style amid the rugged ruins of a stream and character of these composi- of lava, or beneath mountains tions we had not the means of which are covered with neverforming an accuratejudgment; but melting snows; in a spot where in those instances where we at the mind almost sinks under the tended the public worship of the silence and desolation of surround. country, it seemed, from the ing nature. Here the Icelanders warm and empassioned manner of assemble to perform the duties of their delivery, and from the fre- their religion. A group of male quent use of the figure of inter- and female peasants may be seen rogation, that a powerful appeal gathered about the church, waitwas made to the feelings, as well ing the arrival of their pastor; as to the understanding, of the au. all habited in their best attire, dience. In the conduct of the re- after the manner of the country; ligious service, much decorum is their children with them; and generally maintained. One strik- the horses, which brought them inginstance to the contrary occur from their respective homes, grazred indeed to our observation; ing quietly around the little asbut the case was a singular one, sembly. The arrival of a new

1

secution for selling Mr. Gilbert Wakefield's Reply to the Bishop of Llandaff's Address, in Erskine's "Miscellaneous Speeches," 8vo. published by Ridgway. 1812. pp. 241-243.]

comer is welcomed by every one with a kiss of salutation; and the pleasures of social intercourse, so rarely enjoyed by the Icelanders, are happily connected with the With regard to the book itself, occasion which summons them to though I leave its defence to its the discharge of their religious eminently learned author, yet there duties. The priest makes his ap- are some passages which I cannot pearance among them as a friend; help noticing. (Here Lord Ers. he salutes individually each mem- kine commented upon several of ber of his flock, and stoops down them, and then concluded as folto give his almost parental kiss to lows.) I was particularly struck, the little ones, who are to grow up indeed, that the following passage under his pastoral charge. These should have made any part of the offices of kindness performed, they indictment: "We sons of peace, all go together into the house of or see, or think we see, a gleam of prayer. glory through the mist which now There are two versions of the envelops our horizon. Great reBible in the Icelandic language; volutions are accomplishing; a gcthe first of which was translated by neral fermentation is working for Gudbrand Thorlakson, Bishop of the purpose of general refinement Hoolum, from the German Bible through the universe."-It does of Martin Luther, and published not follow from this opinion or prein 1584; the second was executed possession of the author, that he chiefly by Bishop Skulasson, in therefore looks to the consummaconformity with the Danish ver. tion of revolutions in the misery sion of Resenius, and appeared or destruction of his own country; about sixty years afterwards, un- the sentiment is the very reverse: der the more immediate patronage it is, that amidst this continued of the King of Denmark. The scene of horror which confounds latter of these versions is prefera- and overwhelms the human imagi. ble to the former, merely from the nation, he reposes a pious confi. division of the text into verses; dence, that events which appear which division the edition of Bi- evil on the surface, are, in the shop Thorlakson did not supply. contemplation of the wise and beAt present, owing to the length of nevolent Author of all things, time which has elapsed since any leading on in their consequences edition appeared, there is a great to good, the prospect of which deficiency of Bibles in every part Mr. Wakefield considers as a of Iceland; an evil which, from gleam of glory through the mist the depressed state of the printing- which now envelops our horizon. establishment of the island, it is I confess for one, that, amidst all scarcely possible that the unaided the crimes and horrors which I efforts of the people should be en- certainly feel mankind have to comabled to remove. miserate at this moment, perhaps beyond the example of any former Issue of the Present Political period, crimes and horrors which I

Convulsions.

[From Mr. now Lord) Erskine's Speech for Mr. Cuthell, Feb, 21, 1799, on a pro

trust, my humanity revolts at as much as any other man's, I see nothing to fear for our country or

its government, not only from what-all this ruin, falling upon tyI anticipate as their future conse- rannous and blasphemous establishquences, but from what they have ments, has the remotest bearing produced already: I see nothing against the noble and enlightened to fear for England from the system of our beloved country.destruction of the monarchy On the contrary, she has been the and priesthood of France; and day-star of the world, purifying I see much to be thankful herself from age to age, as the earfor in the destruction of pa- liest light of heaven shone in upon pal tyranny and superstition. her; and spreading with her triThere has been a dreadful scene umphant sails, the influence of a reof misfortune and of crime, but formed religion and a well-balanced good has, through all times, been liberty throughout the world. If brought out of evil. I think I England, then, is only true to the see something that is rapidly ad- principles of her own excellent vancing the world to a higher constitution, the revolt of other state of civilization and happiness, nations against their own systems by the destruction of systems cannot disturb her government. which retarded both: the means But what, after all, is my opinion, have been, and will be, terrible; but they have been, and will continue to be, in the hand of God. -I think I see the awful arm of Providence, not stopping short here, but stretched out to the ly at the surface we stand on; yet destruction of the Mahometan ty- affecting to dispose of the universe, ranny and superstition also.-I and to prescribe its course, when think I see the freedom of the we cannot see an inch beyond the whole world maturing through it; little compass of our transient and so far from the evils antici- existence. pated by many men, acting for the best, but groping in the dark, and running against one another. -I think I see future peace and happiness arising out of the disor. der and confusion that now exists, as the sun emerges from the clouds: nor can I possibly conceive how

or the judgment of the court, or the collective judgment of all human beings, upon the scenes now before us? We are like a swarm of ants upon an ant-hill, looking on

I cannot, therefore, bring myself to comprehend how the author's opinion, that Providence will bring, in the end, all the evils which afflict surrounding nations, to a happy and glorious consummation, can be tortured into a wish to subvert the government of his country.

MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

Analysis of the Idea of Pleasure. has been preceded by the pain of If pleasure be not merely the hunger? What breast so alive to result of a comparison of sensa. the joys of self-approbation, as tions, it is at least undeniably that which has been previously What lacerated by the stings of remorse? heightened by contrast. repast so pleasant as that which May not then all the pains of the sentient creation, whether proceeding from physical or moral causes

See M. Repos, vi, 419.