Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
VON TROIL’S LETTERS ON ICELAND. 623
afembe their regular configuration to cryftallization: others pretend the fubterraneous
fire to be the caufe of their regular columnar fhape ; but theingenious Chevalier Tor-
bern Bergman proves, by the moft folid arguments, that the bafalt pillars are no lava, or
any ways related to volcanic fubftances, and that their regular columnar fhape, he fug-
geits, is owing to another caufe, and by his reafoning renders it highly probable.
We are at the fame time prefented with a view of the primitive earths, that originally
compound all earthy and ftony bodies hitherto difcovered on the furface of our globe ;
and their chara¢ters are here alfo fet forth inthe moft eafy and obvious manner by ex-
periments.
This great and interefting circumftance alone would be fufficient to recommend the
prefent performance to the perufal of chemifts, mineralogifts, and philofophers.
The letter of the Archiater Bach to Dr. Troil on the difeafes of Iceland, contains
the moft curious and interefting obfervations for the ufe of medical gentlemen. In
fhort, there is fearcely a clafs of {reader who will not find inftru€tion and en-
tertainment in the ingenious performance of Dr. Uno Von Troil, the author of this
book.
He isa Swede by birth, and defcended of a noble family: his father Samuel Von
Troil, was archifhop of Upfal.
After having ftudied divinity, the oriental and northern languages and antiquities,
together with the various branches of natural philofophy, he travelled, and vifited Ger-
many, France, England, and Holland.
‘During his ftay in England he was introduced to Mr. Banks, who was then returned
from his voyage round the world, and preparing to go on a fecond;. but that not taking
place, he was prompted to make a fhort excurfion towards the Weftern Iflands and
Iceland ; and eafily prevailed upon Dr. Von Troil to accompany him on this literary
voyage.
‘er the return of Dr. Von Troil, he wrote letters to feveral learned men in his own
country, eminent in the various profeflions and branches of literature and fcience, on
the different matters he had obferved in Iceland during his voyage ; they were at firft
only intended to fatisfy the folicitations and curiofity of his friends, who wifhed to be
made acquainted with whatever he had difcovered worthy the notice of a literary man,
and that might likewife bid fair to afford amufement.
The fenator Charles Count Schetfer, a man of a benevolent character, and who
patronizes learning in all.its branches, together with its profeffors, folicited our author
to communicate them to the public: in compliance with which, they were publifhed at
Upfatin 1777 in oftavo; and the next year after they appeared at the fame place
tranflated into German, very much enlarged with additions of the author and alfo of
Chevalier Bergman.
Dr. Von Troil has for his talents, learning, and character been promoted in his ma-
tive country to feveral places of honour and emolument, fo that he may now be cone.
fidered as the firft man in Sweden in point of eminence in the ecclefiaftical line, and in
point of learning inferior to none: he has taken his degree of do¢tor of divinity, is
principal chaplain to the king, prefident of the confiftory, rector of the great church.
of Stockholm, and prelate of all the Swedifh orders of knighthood.
Thefe curfory hints were thought neceflary for_ufhering his letters on Iceland into the
literary world ; the public will, no doubt, be curious to know the particular obferva-
tions made by a learned man on an ifland that Mr. Banks, one of the firft characters of
this country, thought deferving a nearer infpection by a voyage he undertook at a great
expence, accompanied by feveral learned and ingenious men.. r
or
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
