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VON TROIL’S LETTERS ON ICELAND. 673
who has been above three years at Upfala, has likewife on all occafions fhewn himfelf a
man of great merit.
We fhould therefore form a very wrong judgment of Iceland, to imagine it abforbed
in total ignorance and obfcurity: on the contrary, I can affirm, that | have found
more knowledge among the lower clafs, than is to be met with in moft other places.
You will feldom find a peafant who, befides being well-inftructed in the principles of
religion, is not alfo acquainted with the hiftory of his country, which proceeds from
the frequent reading of their traditional hiftories (/agas) wherein confifts their princi-
pal amufement : nor isit uncommon to find perfons among them who can repeat the
poems of Kolbein, Grimfon, Sigurd, Gifles, Gudmund, and Bergthors by heart, all of
them poets who flourifhed in later times; and among whom Vigfus Jonffon has par-
ticularly diftinguifhed himfelf by his wit, though fornetimes at the expence of decency.
The clergymen {peak Latin well; and I have found better libraries in many parts of
Iceland than could have been expected.
A learned fociety was erected here, which is fpoken of in the preface of the above-
mentioned Speculum Regale under the name of Societas invifibilis ; and I was intimately
acquainted with the rector Halfdan Ejnarfon, and the late fyffelman Bjarne Haldorfon,
who were both members of that fociety, though I believe it does not exift at prefent.
I could mention feveral whofe learning and tafte did honour to their country, but I fhall
only name thofe who have acquired moft fame in the literary world.
Among thefe the bifhop of Skallholt, Dr. Finnur Jonfon, deferves the firft place ;
who, befides many learned writings on the antiquities of Iceland, fome of which have
been publifhed, has lately prefented the public with an ecclefiaftical hiftory, in three
volumes quarto, replete with inforrnation, criticifm, and erudition. I was happy in be-
coming more intimately acquainted with this worthy prelate, who has been bifhop ever
fince 1754, and found no lefs inftruction than pleafure in his company. You may
eafily conceive how much I withed, at taking leave of him, that, that his advanced age
would permit him to puta finifhing ftroke to his other works. We have fome reafon
to hope for this at prefent, as one of his fons, the learned Mr. John Finffon, has lately
been appointed his father’s affiftant and provott.
To this number alfo belong Halfdan Ejnarfon, rector of the fchool of Hoolum, whe
has publifhed the Speculum Regale, and is now employed in writing Hiftoria Literaria
Iflandie. The provoft and minifter of Hiardarholt, Gunnar Paulfen, is juftly celebrated
on account of his great knowledge in ancient poetry. Bjarne Jonfon, rector of Skall-
holt, compofes very good Latin verfes, and has a diflertation of Gandagar ready for the
prefs. Bjarne Paulfen, in company with Eggert Olofsen, made a journey through
Iceland to colleé&t manufcripts and curiofities at the expence of the fociety of {ciences.
The lagman Soen Solvefen has publifhed feveral law-works; as has likewife the vice-
lagmen John Olffon, and the provofts Vigfus Jonfen and Gudlaug Thorgeirfon, be-
fides feveral others. _
The profeflor and counfellor of ftate, Erichfen, who is not fettled in Iceland, is like.
wife known on account of many differtations on antiquities, and is a ufeful member of
the Collegii Magnani. Arnas Magnius, Torfeus, and feveral other Icelanders, have
alfo particularly diftinguifhed themfelves for literature in this and the former century. I
fhall give a fuller account of them in another letter, wherein I propofe to treat of the
Icelandic antiquities in particular, where I fhall alfo mention thofe who have peculiarly
diftinguifhed themfelves in that branch of literature.
The language in Iceland is the fame as that formerly fpoken in Sweden, Denmark,
and Norway, and has preferved itfelf fo pure that any Icelander underftands the moft
antient traditional hiftory, as eafily as we do letters written in the time of Charles IX.
VOL, I. 4R The
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