128 



LETTER Vt 



Good Sir, 



I Would not have any one infer from my pre- 

 ceeding Letters, and particularly from the 

 laft, that Vulcandes are confined folely to ex- 

 tream hot Latitudes : no ; let us remember, that 

 in the wonderous cold Climate of Icelafid we 

 have an account of a Burning Mountain called 

 Mount Hecldy v^hich (if we may give credit to 

 the teflimony of Mariners) rages moft horribly 

 as well as almoft inceffantly, fending forth amaz- 

 ing quantities of Smoke, Flame, and combufti- 

 ble matter. But our great misfortune is, that ve- 

 ry few (if any) Perfons of Learning and Judg- 

 ment competent enough have travelled thither, 

 to bring us an accurate defcription of it : And as 

 for the poor Natives of fuch a difmal Country, 

 they are fo unpoliihed (or rather wild and fa- 

 vage) that they want all forts of Literature, and 

 confequently can relate nothing certain about its 

 EfFeds beyond their own Times \ nay it is with 

 me a queftion, whether any other European un- 

 derftands a fingle word of their Language, or 

 whether the boldeft of fuch ignorant Creatures 

 durft venture to approach within a mile of its 

 mouth. Bi(hop Nicholjan in page 51. of his 



Englijh 



