in Iceland respecting the Gare-fuwl. 385 



guns, under British colours, and commanded by one John Gil- 

 pin, but probably owned by Baron Hompesch, who was also on 

 board, appeared at Thorshavn, the capital of the Faeroes, which 

 her crew almost entirely plundered, ending by carrying off a 

 certain Peter Hansen, whom they forced to pilot them to Ice- 

 land. Arrived at Reykjavik, July 24th, 1808, they repeated 

 their outrages, and before they finally quitted the island paid a 

 visit to the Geirfuglasker, where they remained a whole day, 

 killing many birds and treading down their eggs and young. 

 After this they sailed away, August 8th, and deposited Hansen 

 again in the Fseroes. On February 7th, 1810, at the solicitation 

 of Sir Joseph Banks, an order in council was set forth by the 

 British Government, exempting the northern possessions of the 

 Danish Crown from any molestation on the part of English 

 cruisers, and permitting the inhabitants of the same to ti-ade 

 with either London or Leith, though not with the mother- 

 country. The Court of Copenhagen met this act of common 

 humanity by issuing decrees, strictly prohibiting, on pain of 

 death, all intercourse with the British*. The consequence was, 

 that the unfortunate Fferdese were nearly reduced to a state of 

 starvation; and in 1813, as a last resource, their Governor, 

 Major Lobner, determined to send a vessel to Iceland to obtain 

 some necessaries. This vessel, the schooner ' Fseroe,' of twelve 

 guns, he placed in charge of Hansen, as one already acquainted 

 with the coast. When they came off Cape Reykjanes, they were 

 becalmed ; and a boat being lowered, a party went off to one of 

 the skerries, on which, as their Captain expected, they found 

 abundance of birds, and among them many Great Auks. They 

 killed all they could, and loading the boat quite full, yet left 

 many dead ones on the rock, intending to return for them ; but 

 the wind springing up, Hansen made sail for Reykjavik, where, 

 about a week later, they arrived on the 29th of July, having 

 then on board among their victims no less than twenty-four 

 Gare-fowls, besides others which were already salted down. One 

 of these birds is said to have been given to the Bishop (Vidalin), 

 and by him sent to a friend in England. Mr. Wolley conversed 



* Journal of a Tour in Iceland in the Summer of 1809. By William 

 Jackson Hooker, F.L.S. &c.. 2nd ed. London, 1813, vol. ii. pp. 57 etseqq. 



