36 MEMOIR OF 



The hot springs were thus examined ; the 

 volcanoes, diseases, government and laws, the 

 literature, and manners and customs of the 

 inhabitants, were all eagerly inquired into. 

 Numerous curiosities of all kinds were purchased 

 and brought to this country, which they reached 

 in safety in November ; and Mr Banks presented 

 to the British Museum no less than one hundred 

 and sixty-two Icelandic manuscripts, which he 

 had procured at his own expense. Many years 

 afterwards, the inhabitants of Iceland received 

 a grateful testimonial of the interest they had 

 excited in the bosom of the travellers ; for, on the 

 breaking out of the war between Great Britain 

 and Denmark in 1807? the Icelanders were appre- 

 hensive of starvation, from the customary supplies 

 from the mother country being intercepted by our 

 ships of war. Sir Joseph Banks, however, not 

 forgetful of his old friends, humanely exerted 

 himself, and, by his interest with his Majesty's 

 Government, procured licences for Danish vessels 

 to proceed to Iceland on condition of their touch- 

 ing at the port of Leith, and subsequently pro- 

 cured an Order in Council, dated February 7, 

 1810, prohibiting all acts of hostility against Ice- 

 land, and the rest of the Danish colonies in the 

 Arctic Seas, and taking the inhabitants, and their 

 property, under the special protection of Great 

 Britain, 



