SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 29 



next morning, the conversation turned upon the 

 island of Staffa, which another guest of M'Lean, 

 an Englishman of the name of Leach, had been 

 visiting a few days before. His account stimu- 

 lated the curiosity of the new visiters, whom he 

 politely offered to accompany to the spot. This 

 was eagerly accepted. Previous to this visit, this 

 magnificent specimen of " nature's architecture" 

 had never been examined by scientific observers, 

 and was scarcely known beyond its immediate 

 neighbourhood. Mr Banks took a minute survey 

 of the whole, with measurements and drawings of 

 -he basaltic columns, and transmitted his account 

 to Pennant, who printed it in his Tour to Scotland, 

 which had been made the same year. Dr 

 M'Culloch has more recently described this 

 celebrated wonder, which is now familiar to every 

 one. His measurements differ from those of his 

 predecessor, and are probably more accurate. 



On the 28th of August they arrived at Iceland, 

 and cast anchor at Bessestedr, on the western 

 part of the island, where the dismal appearance 

 of the country alarmed them. " Imagine to 

 yourself," says Von Troil, " a country which, 

 from one end to the other, presents to your view 

 only barren mountains, whose summits are 

 covered with eternal snow, and between them 

 fields, divided by vitrified cliffs, whose high and 

 sharp points seem to vie with each other to 



